Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees No. 130/2026 and 131/2026, which put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on the application of new sanctions packages. Ukraine imposed sanctions Saturday against 225 ship captains who export Russian petroleum products as part of efforts to counter Russias shadow fleet, according to the Ukrainian presidents website. The captains are citizens of 11 countries, including Russia, India and the Philippines. "We continue to convince partners of the importance of individual sanctions against tanker captains. Systematic work on a sanctioned tanker is sufficient grounds for consequences. We must discourage people from working with Russian oil, as it directly finances the war," said Vladyslav Vlasiuk, adviser and presidential envoy for sanctions policy. Monitoring of the Black, Red and Baltic seas showed that the captains commanded vessels of Russias shadow fleet and transported oil in circumvention of sanctions imposed by the European Union, the Group of Seven and other nations. The majority of those tankers 188 are already under sanctions by the EU, the United States, Britain, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. A second sanctions package targeted 46 Russian citizens, two Iranian citizens and 44 Russian companies servicing Russias military-industrial complex. Among those targeted are companies that supply, develop, manufacture and repair equipment, electronic warfare systems and spare parts for Russias military-industrial complex. Their products are used in the production of ballistic and cruise missiles, strike and reconnaissance drones, small arms and ammunition. "Two Iranian citizens were involved in supplying aviation spare parts and components in circumvention of sanctions. This was done in the interests of the Iranian Aviation Industries Organization, which is a partner of Russia in the development and production of Shahed drones and is already under sanctions by Ukraine, the United States, Switzerland and New Zealand," the statement said. Ukraine will share the relevant information with partners for coordination and will continue to expand sanctions against other individuals and entities facilitating Russian aggression, the statement said. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Photo: https://www.facebook.com/robertficosk Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced his intention to terminate emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if Ukraine does not restore oil supplies interrupted after the accident on the Druzhba oil pipeline near the Ukrainian city of Brody, Lviv region in January on Monday, February 23. "IF THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT DOES NOT RESUME OIL SUPPLIES TO SLOVAKIA ON MONDAY, ON THAT SAME DAY I WILL ASK THE RELEVANT SLOVAK COMPANIES TO STOP EMERGENCY ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE," Fico wrote on X. "The Ukrainian president refuses to understand our peace-oriented approach and, because we do not support the war, he is behaving maliciously toward Slovakia," Fico wrote. "First, he halted gas flows to Slovakia, causing us damages of EUR 500 million per year. Now he has stopped oil flows, causing us further losses and logistical difficulties. If the West does not mind that the Nord Stream gas pipeline was blown up, Slovakia cannot accept Slovak-Ukrainian relations as a one-way ticket benefiting only Ukraine," the Slovak Prime Minister wrote. "I am a proud and sovereign Slovak. If oil supplies to Slovakia are not resumed on Monday, I will ask SEPS, the state-owned joint-stock company, to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. In January 2026 alone, these emergency supplies, needed to stabilize the Ukrainian energy grid, were required twice as much as during the entire year of 2025," he added. "Since the beginning of the war, Slovakia has been helping Ukraine. Around 180,000 Ukrainians are currently on our territory, we provide humanitarian assistance, and we organize joint government meetings. We are doing substantially more for Ukraine than some other countries," Fico wrote. As previously reported, Hungary halted diesel fuel exports to Ukraine on Feb. 18 until transit of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored, Hungarian Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations Zoltan Kovacs said. He argued that Ukraine "for purely political reasons unilaterally stopped supplies on January 27, even though their restoration is technically possible." Slovakia also announced it was halting diesel exports to Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia had earlier asked Croatia to allow Russian oil supplies to flow through the Adria pipeline. Slovakia has since declared a state of emergency in its oil sector due to the lack of supply. Croatian Economy Minister Ante Susnjar said the Adria pipeline is ready to operate, adding that there are no longer any technical justifications for any EU country to remain dependent on Russian crude oil. Transit of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine was halted at the end of last month following large-scale Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. 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. Palestinians sit at a long table amid the rubble of destroyed buildings as they gather for iftar, the fast-breaking meal, on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Photo: t.me/KyivCityOfficial Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo arrived in Kyiv for the sixth time since the start of the full-scale war, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. "Today, Anne Hidalgo did not come empty-handed. Our French friends brought generators that Kyiv so badly needs amid the energy crisis. Four generators arrived today. We expect four more in the coming days, for a total of eight, each with a capacity of 112 kilowatts. On behalf of the Kyiv community, I thanked our partners for all the assistance and support provided. And I presented the mayor of Paris with Kyivs highest honor the Sign of Honor," Klitschko wrote on Telegram on Saturday. Paris and Kyiv signed a Friendship and Cooperation Agreement in April 2022, and since the start of the full-scale war the French capitals city hall has been sending Kyiv various forms of humanitarian aid, including generators and other necessary equipment, he said. Tue Tuesday 70 /35 More sun than clouds. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid 30s. Russian Woman, Who Allegedly Drunk-Texted FBI Agents, Pleads Guilty To Lying About FSB Ties By Mike Eckel February 20, 2026 A Russian woman who was charged with lying to the FBI about her ties to Russia's main intelligence agency -- and then drunk-texted an FBI agent while out on bail -- has pleaded guilty. Nomma Zarubina changed her plea on February 19, according to federal court filings, about two months after a judge revoked her bail for repeatedly messaging an FBI agent and ordered held in jail. In addition to pleading guilty to the lying charge, she also admitted to a second charge related to her immigration status, court filings showed. "Zarubina's intentional concealment of her misconduct and her lies about her affiliation with Russian intelligence were an affront to law enforcement's national-security efforts," the Justice Department said in a statement. Her defense lawyer did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. Zarubina was initially charged in December 2024 after being interviewed multiple times by FBI agents beginning in October 2020. FBI Investigation A native of the Siberian city of Tomsk, Zarubina moved to the United States in 2016 and built up a network of professional and personal connections among Russian emigre groups, as well as at American think tanks and activist organizations. She was first approached by federal agents several weeks after the FBI searched the Manhattan apartment of another Russian woman, Elena Branson, and seized dozens of computers and other electronic devices. Branson, who fled to Russia shortly after the raid, was later charged with being an unregistered foreign agent. According to FBI affidavits, Zarubina allegedly lied about her communications with two officers from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) who had guided her networking, identifying people and organizations she was supposed to contact. After being charged, Zarubina was released on bail. However, in the months after, she allegedly sent scores of e-mails and photographs to FBI agents who had been interviewing her -- sometimes in the dead of the night. Prosecutors, and her defense lawyer, told a federal court that Zarubina had a drinking problem, and she was ordered to seek mental health counseling. In November 2025, a judge revoked her bail and ordered that she be sent to jail, pending trial. Her sentencing is set for June. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-zarubina-fbi- fsb-guilty/33683111.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Samaneh Ghandali, Mohammad Khosravi, Soroor Ghandali A federal grand jury in San Jose formally indicted three Silicon Valley engineers on 19 February 2026 for their alleged roles in a sophisticated conspiracy involving the systematic theft of trade secrets from Google and other prominent technology firms. The defendants, identified as Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her husband Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40, and her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32, faced multiple felony counts including conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, attempted theft, and obstruction of justice. Federal authorities apprehended the trio at their San Jose residences, and they subsequently made their initial appearances in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California to face the specific allegations brought against them by the Department of Justice. The detailed indictment outlined how the defendants leveraged their technical expertise to secure high-level employment at various leading technology companies specializing in the development of advanced mobile computer processors. During their tenure, Samaneh Ghandali and Soroor Ghandali were employed by Google before transitioning to a separate entity referred to in court documents as Company 3. Meanwhile, Mohammadjavad Khosravi maintained employment at a different technological firm designated as Company 2. This strategic placement within multiple organizations allegedly provided the defendants with broad access to proprietary hardware designs and sensitive software architectures that formed the basis of the intellectual property they were accused of misappropriating. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants intentionally exploited their positions of trust to bypass internal security protocols and obtain unauthorized access to highly confidential and sensitive industrial information. The exfiltrated data reportedly encompassed a wide range of critical trade secrets, specifically those pertaining to processor security protocols, advanced cryptography, and other next-generation mobile technologies. These stolen documents were allegedly moved to unauthorized third-party platforms and personal storage locations. Furthermore, the government claimed that the defendants transferred this sensitive data to work devices associated with each others respective employers and, in several instances, directly to recipients or locations within the borders of Iran. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian emphasized the severity of the breach, stating that the defendants actions represented a blatant exploitation of their professional standing for the purpose of personal gain and the potential benefit of foreign interests. He remarked that the Department of Justice remained committed to protecting American innovation from such predatory practices and would vigorously prosecute any individuals who attempted to steal advanced technologies. FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani echoed these sentiments, describing the alleged scheme as a calculated betrayal of trust. He noted that the methods utilized by the defendants involved deliberate, multi-step processes specifically designed to evade detection by corporate security teams and to conceal their digital footprints. The indictment further detailed the specific mechanics of the theft, noting that while Samaneh Ghandali was employed at Google, she allegedly transferred hundreds of proprietary files to a third-party communications platform. These files were organized into specific channels that bore the first names of each of the three defendants, suggesting a collaborative effort to catalog the stolen information. Soroor Ghandali was similarly accused of uploading numerous Google trade secrets to these same channels. Once hosted on the external platform, the files were allegedly redistributed to various personal electronic devices and onto the company-issued work computers of Khosravi at Company 2 and Soroor Ghandali at Company 3, effectively circulating the stolen property across multiple corporate environments. To mask their illicit activities, the defendants reportedly engaged in an extensive cover-up that included the submission of false, signed affidavits to their victims, in which they claimed to have returned or destroyed all proprietary materials. The indictment alleged that they destroyed exfiltrated files and wiped electronic records from their devices when they suspected they were under investigation. In an effort to avoid triggering automated data loss prevention software, the defendants reportedly resorted to manual methods of data collection, such as taking physical photographs of computer screens displaying sensitive documents rather than downloading the files directly. This manual approach was intended to circumvent the digital audit trails typically generated by traditional file transfers. The investigation revealed that Googles internal security systems first flagged Samaneh Ghandalis suspicious activity in August 2023, leading the company to revoke her access to all corporate resources. Despite this, she allegedly executed a sworn affidavit falsely stating she had never shared confidential information with external parties. Following this interaction, she and Khosravi reportedly conducted numerous internet searches regarding data deletion and the retention policies of cellular providers to determine if their messages could be used against them in court. The couple allegedly continued to access the stolen Google trade secrets stored on their personal hardware and spent months manually photographing hundreds of additional screens of confidential data from both Google and Company 2. The situation escalated significantly in December 2023, just hours before Samaneh Ghandali and Mohammadjavad Khosravi departed for a trip to Iran. On the eve of their travel, Samaneh Ghandali allegedly used her mobile phone to capture approximately two dozen photographs of Khosravis work computer screen, which contained highly sensitive trade secrets belonging to Company 2. Forensic evidence later indicated that while the couple was in Iran, a personal device linked to Samaneh Ghandali accessed these specific photographs. Additionally, Khosravi was alleged to have accessed further Company 2 trade secret information during their time abroad, highlighting the international scope of the alleged intellectual property theft and the ongoing risk to national economic security. expanded_draft = """ A federal grand jury convened in the Northern District of California formally returned a multi-count indictment against three engineers based in the Silicon Valley region on 19 February 2026. This significant legal action stemmed from an extensive investigation into a sophisticated criminal conspiracy allegedly designed to facilitate the systematic theft of highly sensitive trade secrets from Google and several other prominent technology firms operating within the global semiconductor and mobile computing industries. The named defendants in the criminal case were identified as Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her husband Mohammadjavad Khosravi also known as Mohammad Khosravi age 40, and her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32. All three individuals resided in San Jose, California, at the time of their arrest by federal agents. Following their apprehension, the trio appeared before a federal magistrate judge in San Jose to face charges that included conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, the actual theft and attempted theft of proprietary trade secrets, and significant counts of obstruction of justice intended to derail the subsequent federal inquiry into their activities. The detailed allegations contained within the formal indictment described a calculated strategy in which the defendants sought and obtained high-level engineering positions at leading technology companies specifically concentrated in the competitive field of mobile computer processor development. Court documents clarified that Samaneh Ghandali and her sister, Soroor Ghandali, were both employed as engineers at Google for a significant duration before they eventually transitioned to new roles at another technological firm, which the government identified in court filings as Company 3. Simultaneously, Mohammadjavad Khosravi, who was legally married to Samaneh Ghandali, maintained a professional position as an engineer at a separate technology firm designated by the prosecution as Company 2. This strategic placement of the three family members within multiple interconnected organizations provided the defendants with a unique and broad level of access to proprietary hardware designs, confidential software architectures, and sensitive internal documentation that constituted the foundation of the intellectual property they were ultimately accused of misappropriating for their own benefit. Federal prosecutors alleged that the overarching scheme involved the defendants intentionally exploiting their specialized professional roles and the high level of trust granted to them by their respective employers to bypass standard internal security protocols. By doing so, they allegedly secured unauthorized access to vast quantities of confidential and highly sensitive industrial information. The exfiltrated data reportedly encompassed a wide range of critical trade secrets, specifically those relating to advanced processor security protocols, sophisticated cryptography algorithms, and various other next-generation mobile technologies that are central to the modern digital economy. According to the government's findings, these stolen documents were systematically moved from secure corporate servers to unauthorized third-party communication platforms and various personal electronic storage locations controlled by the defendants. Furthermore, the indictment claimed that the defendants frequently transferred this sensitive technological data to work-issued devices associated with each others respective employers and, in several documented instances, directly to recipients or physical locations situated within the borders of Iran, thereby raising significant concerns regarding international industrial espionage. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian underscored the gravity of the alleged security breach during a public statement regarding the case. He emphasized that the defendants had allegedly betrayed the core responsibilities of their professional positions by choosing to steal the very innovations they were hired to develop and protect. He noted that the actions represented a blatant exploitation of professional standing for the purposes of improper personal gain and the potential benefit of foreign interests that may be hostile to the technological interests of the United States. Missakian asserted that his office remained steadfast in its commitment to leading the national effort to protect American innovation from such predatory and illegal practices. He further declared that the Department of Justice would continue to vigorously prosecute any individuals found to be involved in the theft of sensitive advanced technologies, particularly when those actions were intended to benefit countries that sought to undermine American economic or national security through the acquisition of illicitly obtained intellectual property. FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani provided additional context regarding the nature of the investigation and the specific behaviors of the accused engineers. He described the alleged actions outlined in the grand jury indictment as a calculated and multi-layered betrayal of the trust typically extended to high-level employees in the tech sector. Virmani pointed out that the methods utilized by the defendants to transfer confidential data involved numerous deliberate and technical steps specifically engineered to evade internal detection systems and to mask the true identities of the individuals involved in the data transfers. He reiterated that protecting the innovation hub of Silicon Valley and defending the groundbreaking technologies that serve as the primary drivers of the national economy and security infrastructure remained the top priority for the FBI. Virmani also emphasized that the bureau would continue to foster close working relationships with private sector partners to ensure that anyone seeking to unlawfully exploit American ingenuity would be held fully accountable under the law for their actions. The formal indictment provided a granular description of the mechanics of the alleged theft, focusing on specific actions taken by the defendants during their periods of employment. While Samaneh Ghandali was working at Google, she reportedly engaged in the transfer of hundreds of proprietary files, which included core Google trade secrets, to an external third-party communications platform. These files were allegedly organized into specific digital channels that were conveniently named after the first names of each of the three defendants, which investigators interpreted as evidence of a coordinated and collaborative effort to catalog and share the stolen intellectual property. Similarly, Soroor Ghandali was accused of uploading a large volume of Google-owned files, including highly sensitive trade secrets, to these same external channels while she was still an active employee at Google. Once these files were hosted on the third-party platform, they were reportedly redistributed across various personal hardware devices and onto the company-issued work computers belonging to Khosravi at Company 2 and Soroor Ghandali at Company 3, effectively propagating the stolen trade secrets across three different corporate environments. In an effort to hide their illicit activities and protect themselves from potential discovery, the defendants allegedly engaged in an extensive and multi-faceted cover-up operation. The indictment alleged that they submitted multiple false and legally binding affidavits to the victim technology companies in direct response to internal inquiries about their conduct. In these signed documents, the defendants falsely claimed that they had either returned or completely destroyed all proprietary materials in their possession. Furthermore, the government alleged that the defendants intentionally destroyed physical and digital evidence, including exfiltrated files and relevant records from their personal electronic devices, whenever they suspected that they were becoming the subjects of a corporate or federal investigation. To circumvent the automated data loss prevention software installed on corporate networks, the defendants reportedly resorted to manual methods of data collection, such as using their mobile phones to take physical photographs of computer screens displaying sensitive documents rather than initiating direct digital file transfers. This manual approach was intended to bypass the digital audit trails and forensic markers typically generated by standard downloading or emailing of large datasets. The investigative timeline revealed that Googles internal security infrastructure first detected Samaneh Ghandalis suspicious activities in August 2023. Following this discovery, the company took immediate action by revoking her access to all corporate resources and company facilities. Despite being confronted with these security concerns, she allegedly executed a sworn affidavit under the penalty of perjury, in which she falsely stated that she had never shared Googles confidential information with any external parties or unauthorized individuals. Following this confrontation, forensic analysis of her devices indicated that she and Khosravi began conducting numerous internet searches regarding advanced data deletion techniques and the specific records retention policies of cellular service providers. Their goal was reportedly to determine if their private digital communications could be recovered and used as evidence against them in a court of law. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, the couple allegedly continued to access the stolen Google trade secrets that remained stored on their personal hardware and spent the following months manually photographing hundreds of additional computer screens containing sensitive information from both Google and Company 2. The situation reached a critical point in December 2023, just hours before Samaneh Ghandali and Mohammadjavad Khosravi were scheduled to depart on an international flight to Iran. On the evening prior to their departure, Samaneh Ghandali allegedly used her mobile phone to capture approximately twenty-four high-resolution photographs of Khosravis work computer screen, which was displaying highly sensitive and proprietary trade secret information belonging to Company 2. Forensic evidence later recovered by federal investigators indicated that while the couple was physically present in Iran, a personal electronic device linked to Samaneh Ghandali was used to access these specific photographs. Additionally, the indictment alleged that Khosravi accessed further Company 2 trade secret information during their stay abroad. These actions highlighted the international dimensions of the alleged intellectual property theft and emphasized the ongoing risks posed to national economic security when advanced American technologies are illicitly transferred across international borders. The ongoing legal proceedings in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California will continue to examine the breadth of the evidence collected by the FBI and the Department of Justice. If convicted on all counts, the defendants face significant federal prison sentences and substantial financial penalties. The prosecution of this case serves as a warning to other professionals within the high-technology sector that the unauthorized removal of proprietary information is a serious federal crime that carries severe consequences. As the trial approaches, the focus remains on the preservation of the integrity of American technological research and the protection of the intellectual property that forms the backbone of the Silicon Valley economy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Contracts Contracts for Feb. 20, 2026 ARMY Exyte US Inc., Albany, New York, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for CH-53K aircraft bed down and construction. The amount of this action is $96,248,142. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Israel, with an estimated completion date of March 23, 2029. Fiscal 2026 Foreign Military Sales (Israel) funds in the amount of $96,248,142 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Middle East District, is the contracting activity (W912ER-26-C-A013). PAF Electrical Inc., Gilbert, Arizona, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for transformers and ancillary components. The amount of this action is $56,977,894. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Fort Peck, Montana, and Pierre, South Dakota, with an estimated completion date of July 6, 2032. Fiscal 2026 civil construction funds in the amount of $56,977,893 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Adelphi, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W9128F-26-C-A013). Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $43,508,345 modification (P00018) to contract W31P4Q-22-D-0021 for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-3 product assurance and launcher recapitalization. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $223,000,977. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 22, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. NAVY Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is being awarded a $78,429,802 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost only contract for engineering labor, program management, engineering other direct costs, travel, and material in support of development, qualification, certification, and integration initiatives required to maintain fielded AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship Undersea Warfare Combat System baselines and perform integration and certification of future baselines. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (82%); and the governments of Japan (13%); and Australia (5%), under the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $479,933,956. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (73%); Fairfax, Virginia (12%); Uniontown, Pennsylvania (8%); Reston, Virginia (6%); and San Diego, California (1%), and is expected to be completed by February 2027. If all options are exercised, work will continue through February 2031. Fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,098,645 (55%); fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,486,759 (33%); fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $516,538 (7%); fiscal 2026 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $250,000 (3%); and fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $115,993 (2%), will be obligated at the time of award and will not at expire the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-26-C-5203). Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is awarded a $16,858,705 hybrid firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, modification to the delivery order for the procurement of Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires carriers for use in the Navy and Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (60%); Gaithersburg, Maryland (20%); Alexandria, Virginia (10%); and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (10%). Work is expected to be completed in December 2026. Fiscal 2026 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $12,270,247 will be obligated at the time of the modification and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $4,588,459 will be obligated at the time of the modification and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This action is a negotiated modification to the delivery order in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3403(c). Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-22-F-1005-P00008). Detyens Shipyards Inc.,* North Charleston, South Carolina, is awarded a $15,145,663 firm-fixed-price contract (N3220526C0008) for the 76-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability of Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler vessel USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201). This contract includes a base work package and two unexercised options for additional work and time which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of this contract to $15,227,744. Work will be performed in North Charleston, South Carolina, beginning Jume 8, 2026, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 22, 2026. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,145,663 are obligated and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Government wide Point of Entry website and four offers were received. The U.S. Navy 's Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded $76,655,632 contract modification (P00009) to previously awarded (FA8820-24-C-B001) for Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability Site 2. This modification provides for long-lead hardware items and vendor design support for the DARC Site 2 radar, including transmitters, antennas, and receivers. The modification brings the total cumulative value of the contract to $279,441,415 from $202,785,783. Work will be performed at Colorado Springs, Colorado and is expected to be completed by Feb. 4, 2030. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Space Systems Command Directorate of Contracting, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado is the contracting activity. Sigmatech, Inc., Colorado Springs, Colardo has been awarded a $10,139,300 firm fixed-price contract for technical support. This contract provides for systems engineering and technical assistance support for Office of the Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration. Work will be performed at the National Capital Region and is expected to be completed by Aug. 23, 2026. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,100,337 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland is the contracting agency (FA7014-26-C0013). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4411029/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address February 20, 2026 By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News This Week in DOW: Securing the Seas, Arsenal of Freedom, Nuclear Power for the Win The U.S. military was busy again this week on the world's oceans, stopping narco-terrorists and enforcing an embargo on Venezuelan oil shipments. On the Indian Ocean, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command forces stopped an oil tanker after having tracked it nearly halfway around the world. "U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Veronica III without incident," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said today in the department's Weekly Sitrep video. "The vessel tried to defy President [Donald J.] Trump's quarantine hoping to slip away." Wilson noted that the ship was tracked from the Caribbean all the way to the Indian Ocean. "No other nation has the reach, endurance or will do this," she said. "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." Also this week, Joint Task Force Southern Spear part of U.S. Southern Command conducted strikes on three vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations. "Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations," Wilson said. "Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, four 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." To provide energy security to the War Department, warfighter and America, this week the department also took a major step toward advancing Trump's nuclear power goals. "At March Air Reserve Base, California, a next-generation nuclear reactor was loaded aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for historic transport to Hill Air Force Base, Utah," Wilson said. "For military use, such a reactor could provide energy security on a military base, ensuring the mission there will not need to depend on the civilian power grid; and in military operations overseas, such reactors would mean U.S. forces could operate without concern that an enemy might cut fuel supplies." The Ward 250 is a 5-megawatt nuclear reactor that fits into the back of a C-17 aircraft and could theoretically power about 5,000 homes. The future of warfare is energy-intensive, Wilson said, adding that this includes artificial intelligence data centers, directed-energy weapons, and space and cyber infrastructure. The civilian power grid was not built for that, and so the War Department will need to build its own energy infrastructure. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth this week continued his Arsenal of Freedom tour, this time in St. Louis, where Boeing manufactures the F-15EX Eagle II, along with other munitions, aircraft and unmanned systems. "[The secretary] delivered remarks to the Boeing workforce to encourage the hardworking men and women who work shoulder-to-shoulder alongside our warfighters," Wilson said. Speaking to Boeing employees, Hegseth acknowledged the vital work they and the defense industrial base as a whole do in support of the warfighter. "You're the workers who pour their lives and careers into these planes; planes that fly ... 1,900 mph, ready to go to battle and then give our pilots safe passage home," Hegseth said. "You're the ones that give them the advantage." Hegseth's nationwide Arsenal of Freedom tour, launched just over a month ago, shows the War Department's support for the defense industrial base by delivering a call to action to revitalize America's manufacturing might and reenergize the nation's workforce. While in St. Louis, the secretary also administered the oath of enlistment to 24 recruits at the Naval Reserve Officer Recruiting Station. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nuclear Weapons Engineer Sentenced for Orchestrating 15-Year Kickback Scheme Friday, February 20, 2026 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A Kansas man was sentenced yesterday to 29 months in prison for conspiring to fraudulently steer and award subcontracts by a major engineering firm for work on nuclear weapons manufacturing projects for the National Nuclear Security Administration's Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC). "For more than a decade, the defendant exchanged his integrity and his employer's trust for kickbacks from a dishonest contractor," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "To satisfy his greed, he corruptly steered contracts that were essential to ensuring the integrity of the nation's nuclear weapons. Yesterday's sentence reaffirms the Criminal Division's commitment to rooting out fraud and corruption related to the procurement and manufacture of critically important products and services for the federal government and, ultimately, for United States taxpayers and to holding those accountable who commit these acts." "The Department of Energy Office of Inspector General (DOE-OIG) is committed to ensuring the integrity of Departmental contracts and programs," said Department of Energy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions. "We take allegations of fraud and kickbacks very seriously and will aggressively investigate these matters to ensure integrity throughout DOE programs. We appreciate the efforts of the DOJ in pursuing these allegations and will continue our collaboration with the DOJ to investigative those engaged in fraud or corruption in Department programs." According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Clinesmith, 70, of Overland Park, Kansas, solicited and received kickbacks and bribes from Richard Mueller, 65, of St. Charles, Missouri, in exchange for steering subcontracts from Clinesmith's employer to Mueller's company (Subcontractor 1). Clinesmith, a long-tenured employee of a major engineering firm (Company 1) working at the KCNSC, was responsible for designing and procuring gages that were specially designed and manufactured to measure the components of nuclear weapons. Mueller paid Clinesmith over $1 million for surreptitiously performing some or all of the work and, in exchange, Clinesmith used his position and authority at Company 1 to steer gage subcontracts to Subcontractor 1. Clinesmith told Mueller how much money he wanted to perform work under the gage subcontracts, and Subcontractor 1 included those amounts in its bids to Company 1. Clinesmith then approved those bids and told his employer, Company 1, that those bids were fair and reasonable without disclosing that, in exchange for the subcontracts, Mueller would secretly funnel to Clinesmith money awarded to Subcontractor 1. In addition, Clinesmith provided Mueller with insider information, like Company 1's budget for the gage subcontracts, that Subcontractor 1 used to its advantage when bidding on the subcontracts. In total, Clinesmith accepted over $1.2 million in kickbacks over the course of approximately 15 years. In October 2025, Clinesmith was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. The DOE-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Andrew Jaco and Shy Jackson of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section Press Release Number: 26-165 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address E5 Ministers of Defence meeting: Press conference by High Representative Kaja Kallas European External Action Service (EEAS) 20.02.2026 Krakow, Poland EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Thank you, Minister for hosting us today here. A lot was already said, we discussed many important points. I would want to stress on a few. First, on defence. Europe's security is more uncertain than it has been in decades. Russia poses a major threat, that is clear for everybody. The Middle East remains unstable, and China is a long-term challenge. And the transatlantic link is being redefined, with the United States expecting Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence. These are structural shifts, not just temporary glitches. If we want to keep our countries safe, we must strengthen our hard power. The good news is that we are already investing record sums in defence. Europe is stepping up, but it is not about competing with NATO. It is about making Europe stronger within NATO. A stronger Europe makes the Alliance also stronger. The announcement that the five countries today made to develop low-cost air defences to protect European skies is an example of taking responsibility. At the same time, we need clear vision. This is why President von der Leyen and I are working together on a new European security strategy. Today we also focused and discussed the sharp rise of hybrid threats. While Russia's army is stalled in Ukraine, its hybrid warfare is intensifying. Moscow is trying to weaken Europe without crossing the threshold of open warfare. From cyber-attacks to sabotage and drone incursions, we have seen reckless and deliberate escalation, but Europe is also responding. We are sanctioning those responsible. We have tightened control of the movements of Russian diplomats. We have stepped up actions against Russia's shadow fleet, and we deployed hybrid response teams to partner countries at risk. All this goes together with more investments in drone and cyber defences. And finally, on Ukraine. The talks in Geneva, once again, showed that Russia is not moving away from its maximalist demands. By most measures, the war has grown even more brutal for Ukraine over the past year. Russia is dragging out of negotiations rather than moving towards peace. Europe's answer remains straightforward: more support for Ukraine and more pressure on Russia. The EU is moving ahead with the 90 billion loan and the first funds are expected to be disbursed in April. Planning also continues on the EU's contribution to the future security guarantees. At the same time, we also need to shift the narrative to the one who is actually responsible for this war. We need to also see the concessions from the Russian side in order to have a sustainable peace. Next Monday, we aim to adopt the 20th sanctions package against Russia. Sanctions are working, they are severely hurting Russia's economy, and each new measure further limits its ability to wage the war. Moscow is not invincible. Its army is suffering record casualties, and its economy is under heavy strain. But Putin won't end this war until the costs are higher than the benefits. And that is the point we must reach. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in particular, negotiations in a trilateral format on ending the war, the energy situation and the need for further work on the PURL program. "I spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. We touched base on all key aspects of our diplomatic work, and Im glad that, in many areas, our views align," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. "I shared updates on preparations for the next trilateral format with the United States and Russia, as well as what we know about possible shifts in the parties positions. We also discussed the energy situation and the need to continue work under the PURL initiative," the president added. Foreign Minister Tsahkna in meeting with Chair of the NATO Military Committee: the most serious threat to NATO can best be deterred by increasing defence spending and capabilities Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 20.02.2026 | 12:06 Today, 20 February, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, who is on a visit to Estonia. They discussed increasing defence spending among NATO Allies, strengthening deterrence and defence posture, preparations for the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara this summer, and support for Ukraine. "It is very welcome that, during his multi-day visit, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee can gain first-hand insight into the security challenges of our region and Estonia's national defence activities," Tsahkna said. "Estonia's contribution to strengthening its defence capabilities is highly valued within NATO. At the same time, Admiral Dragone reaffirmed NATO's full commitment to defending Allied territory." According to the foreign minister, in order to meet the Alliance's force capability targets and strengthen its deterrence and defence posture, it is essential that all Allies move swiftly towards the goal agreed at last year's NATO Hague Summit of raising defence spending to 5% of GDP. "Russia's increasingly frequent hybrid attacks have in recent years affected nearly every NATO Ally, and Russia continues to build up its military capabilities beyond our borders. All of this indicates that Russia is and will remain the most serious long-term threat to NATO's security," Tsahkna said. "Increasing defence spending and capabilities is the most effective way to deter Russia. At the same time, NATO must remain prepared to respond to threats in the Arctic and on NATO's southern flank," Tsahkna said, noting that NATO has demonstrated its ability to respond rapidly to immediate threats through the recent launch of vigilance activities such as Eastern Sentry, Baltic Sentry and Arctic Sentry. Discussing support for Ukraine, Tsahkna emphasised that Estonia will continue to allocate military assistance each year at a level of at least 0.25% of GDP, and has also contributed to NATO's PURL weapons assistance initiative. "As long as Russia has not abandoned its objectives, we must support Ukraine militarily, politically and economically, and continue to increase pressure on Russia in order to compel a change of course," Tsahkna said. He added that, in addition to strengthening sanctions, it is important to move forward with imposing a Schengen-wide entry ban on Russian combatants. "This would have a clear deterrent effect, as any man considering fighting on Russia's behalf would have to weigh whether that step is worth being placed on the Schengen blacklist," Tsahkna explained. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senior Allied Officials meet in Istanbul to boost NATO's efforts to address Security Challenges in the Southern Neighbourhood NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 20 February 2026 The NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, Javier Colomina, convened a meeting of senior Allied officials on the Southern Neighbourhood, on 18 February 2026 in Istanbul, Turkiye. Organised in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting featured the participation of Turkiye's Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Z. Levent Gumrukcu. "Our gathering in Istanbul is a step forward in NATO's commitment to stronger, more proactive, and results-driven engagement with our Southern partners," Mr. Colomina said. "Since the adoption of the Southern Neighbourhood Action Plan at the Washington Summit in 2024, NATO has made significant strides in deepening political dialogue and expanding practical cooperation across the region. The Southern Neighbourhood remains a cornerstone of NATO's 360-degree approach to security," he added. During the meeting, officials assessed the latest developments in the Middle East, North Africa and Sahel regions, and the implications for Allied security. Discussions focused on the evolving dynamics shaping the regional security environment, in particular terrorism and the influence of geostrategic competitors. Officials agreed on the need to continue to work with partners in the region to strengthen their capabilities to more effectively address shared challenges and increase our security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OSCE Chairman-in-Office Cassis concludes visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Date: 20 February 2026 Place: SARAJEVO Source: OSCE Chairpersonship SARAJEVO, 20 February 2026 -- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Switzerland's Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, today concluded his visit to Sarajevo, where he met with members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and leadership of the Central Election Commission. He also visited the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina to discuss the Organization's ongoing work in the country. In his meeting with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, the Chairman-in-Office emphasized the importance of respecting the constitutional framework, avoiding divisive narratives and guaranteeing the functionality of State level institutions, as well as focusing on key reforms leading to tangible progress for all citizens. In his meeting with the Central Election Commission, Chairman-in-Office Cassis discussed the October 2026 general elections, with a particular focus on electoral integrity, and the Organization's support for democratic processes through the OSCE Mission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Throughout his visit, the Chairman-in-Office reaffirmed the OSCE's support for the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stressed the importance of constructive dialogue, respect for democratic institutions, and adherence to international commitments. "The OSCE remains firmly committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence. This is best exemplified by the continued efforts driven by our Mission," the Chairman-in-Office stated. "The OSCE has worked with Bosnia and Herzegovina for over 30 years, supporting peace and stability alongside local authorities, civil society, and international partners and this will remain the course of our partnership with the country and its institutions." The Chairman-in-Office also visited the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he was briefed on the Mission's work on a host of areas, including security co-operation, democratization, elections, rule of law, human rights, education and environmental protection. The Chairman-in-Office's visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of Switzerland's 2026 OSCE Chairpersonship priorities to strengthen security and stability across the OSCE region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DFA Statement Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs MANILA 20 February 2026 -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is pleased to report on recent developments in pursuit of the four core dynamics of Philippine maritime statecraft. Over the past weeks, the DFA convened two Maritime Dialogues with key partners: the inaugural Philippines-Canada Maritime Dialogue on 19 January 2026, and the Fourth Philippines-United States Bilateral Maritime Dialogue on 17 February 2026. Both dialogues covered a broad range of topics, including regional maritime developments, defense and security cooperation, maritime law enforcement, the blue economy, marine conservation, and the upcoming 10th Anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. The inaugural Philippines-Canada Maritime Dialogue reflects the strong momentum of bilateral engagement between the two countries on maritime domain awareness, ocean governance, and the promotion of international law and multilateralism. Notably, the Philippines is the first country with which Canada has established a dedicated thematic dialogue focused specifically on maritime issues. The Fourth Philippines-US Bilateral Maritime Dialogue built on the outcomes of prior exchanges and sustained the positive momentum of the two countries' deep and wide-ranging collaboration on maritime security, marine environmental protection, and the blue economy. The media and the public are encouraged to refer to the Joint Press Statement issued following that dialogue. These engagements are central to one of the core dynamics of Philippine maritime statecraft: actively leveraging alliances and partnerships to uphold a rules-based maritime order grounded in international law. The Philippines now maintains a total of 11 maritime dialogues, which collectively reinforce the goal of building the capacities and capabilities of the country's defense and security agencies. In this regard, the DFA plays an essential role by identifying alignments between domestic requirements and partners' areas of strength and expertise. The core dynamics of Philippine maritime statecraft do not operate in isolationthey are mutually reinforcing and pursued simultaneously. Accordingly, even as the DFA deepens alliances and partnerships with like-minded countries, it also maintains open lines of communication with the Chinese side in pursuit of candid, constructive dialogue and practical cooperation. In this context, the DFA welcomes the Senate's openness to holding a dialogue with the Chinese Embassy in Manila, viewing such an interaction as an opportunity for frank, cordial, and professional discussionone that can candidly address divergent positions while also identifying areas of common understanding. The DFA likewise welcomes the diversity of opinion inherent in our democratic tradition. At the same time, it encourages that official statements on foreign policy matters be considered in their full and proper context, particularly on issues that directly bear on the national interest. The DFA calls for constructive engagement that advances the country's shared defense of its position in the West Philippine Sea, consistent with President Marcos' independent foreign policy and in accordance with international law. Finally, the DFA reiterates that the Philippines' sovereignty over its archipelago and other territoriesincluding Bajo de Masinloc (BDM), the high-tide features of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), and other relevant areasas well as its jurisdiction over maritime entitlements under UNCLOS as clarified by the 2016 Arbitral Award, are incontrovertible. These rights are firmly grounded in international law, established legal principles, effective control, and recognition through international treaties and agreements. The DFA further notes that the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) has issued an Administrative Map that clearly delineates the territories over which the Philippines exercises sovereignty, including the KIG, Bajo de Masinloc, and other relevant areas. Together with all relevant national agencies, the DFA reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting the Philippines' sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, and will continue to champion the country's maritime rights and interests through effective and principled diplomacy. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strengthening allied relations and the will to act within the E5 Group Poland - Ministry of National Defence 20.02.2026 First of all, we have all confirmed our allied relations and willingness to continue as the E5 Group: to support each other, pursue military and defence industry cooperation and fulfil the obligations undertaken in the Hague, including reaching 5% spending on defence. We have also confirmed the fulfilment of our Armed Forces' declared capabilities within the NATO programmes and national deterrence and defence systems. Our main task is to be strong enough that no one ever thins about attacking the countries of the European Union, including the E5 countries. We approach all obligations in a solidary manner. In Poland, the word "Solidarity" has a special meaning - it's a value that led us to freedom. Solidarity means two-way actions: helping those who need it, and supporting each other. We are giving support, but we also know that we can count on the support of our allies if the need arises. I am grateful for this declaration - stressed the deputy prime minister - minister of national defence, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, after the conclusion of the seventh meeting of the ministers of defence of the E5 Group. On 20 February, the minister of national defence hosted in Cracow the ministers of defence of France, Germany, Italy and Great Britain. High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and deputy Secretary General of NATO, Radmila Shekerinska, were also participating in the meeting, seventh of this kind since 2024. Minister of defence of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, participated remotely. - Every country present here has increased defence spending. Europe has launched the SAFE programme. For the first time, the European Union has begun actions aimed at financing the defence industries and strengthening the capabilities of national armies at this scale. We are grateful for that. We have received the signal from across the ocean - we are in favour of great trans-atlantic relations and relations with the United States, but we are convinced that Europe, which is doing much more today than it has been doing a year ago, has to adopt this strategy for years in order to be a real military partner for the US. The countries gathered here are doing more than over the last 30 years - since the end of the Cold War. There hasn't been armament and building a strong, independent defence industry in Europe on this scale for over three decades. This is a breakthrough in responsibility for our own security, while maintaining the best possible relationship with and keeping the soldiers from the United States in Europe. Our strengthening of capabilities is an action for the cooperation with the United States, not against them. - noted the deputy prime minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz. During working sessions, the delegations were focused on strengthening deterrence and defence within NATO structures, as well as countering rising hybrid threats. Continuing the comprehensive support for Ukraine - in the military, political and industrial dimension - as a prerequisite for building a lasting and just peace in Europe was an important element of the agenda. During the event, a declaration on strategic cooperation in the area of Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms (LEAP) was signed. The initiative concerns the development of modern, scalable and cost-effective weapon systems, which are the answer to the rapidly changing character of modern armed conflicts. - We have also signed a very important obligation to jointly develop drone strike capabilities, low-cost shared production and joint procurement of drone effectors - combat missiles, using Artificial Intelligence. Technologies and combat techniques change rapidly - we have to react quickly and accurately. - noted the Polish minister of national defence. - Increasing the scale of defence investments is an important obligation. The stronger member states are, the stronger the Alliance is. European allies increase spending and take greater responsibility for NATO, and countries of the #E5 Group are a good example of this. Poland is also a leader of spending increases, and a strong ally. - said the deputy Secretary General of NATO, Radmila Shekerinska - We have a shared responsibility for security. We continue our mission collectively and develop our defence capabilities. I wish to stress here, in Cracow, how important the possibility to use Polish infrastructure is - for example in Rzeszow, which is a key logistical hub used by allied countries to support Ukraine. We all know that we must strengthen the European dimension of security, especially with the coming summit in Ankara - stressed the minister of defence of France, Catherine Vautrin. - We discussed starting an initiative for low-cost weapons production. Another matter on the agenda was the Ukraine and implementing conclusions from the ongoing war into the operation and development of the Armed Forces of the allied nations. - noted the deputy minister of defence of Great Britain, Luke Pollard *** Joint Statement from the Meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers in Krakow 20 February 2026 We met today in the format of the Defence Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom to reaffirm Europe's unity and shared responsibility for the security in the Euro-Atlantic area. Our discussion focused on three areas: (I) deterrence and defence within NATO and strengthening European defence readiness, (II) preventing and countering hybrid threats, and (III) sustained support for Ukraine, also in the context of ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace. We support Ukraine now and are building durable foundations for Europe's security in the future. I. Euro-Atlantic and European Defence NATO remains the cornerstone of collective defence, and we are ready to take greater responsibility for Europe's security. We commit to further strengthening deterrence and defence, including increasing the readiness and scale of available forces and capabilities, as well as taking a more proactive approach to our security. In doing so, we aim to prevent potential aggression by Russia and ensure the capacity to respond to a broad range of threats. We will continue to focus on a fair burden-sharing among Allies. Effective responses to current threats and challenges require a proportional contribution of Allies. We are implementing the commitments from the NATO Summit in The Hague to increase defence spending. We will deliver a more European NATO, bolstering European defence readiness, strengthening the defence of the Alliance and reinforcing the transatlantic bond through increased capability, coordination, and responsibility. To this end, we commit to driving forward multinational capability initiatives and cooperative programmes, consistent with NATO and EU frameworks, including space. We asked our policy and military planners to come up with proposals on how cooperation in this format could help us assume greater responsibilities within the NATO framework. A greater contribution to its conventional deterrence and defence. We support a real increase in the production capacity of the European defence industrial base. We need shorter delivery times, greater standardization and lower prices for key categories of armaments to build Europe's long-lasting resilience. We welcome the EU's commitment to providing Member States with increased fiscal flexibility for defence spending and to create lending instruments. We reaffirm that the EU's role is to provide enabling instruments in support of defence competences that remain at the national level. We are also committed to further identifying and removing regulatory and administrative barriers. Non-EU Allies' fullest involvement in EU defence efforts is essential. We agree to launch the Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms (LEAP) initiative, to increase our cooperation on the development and procurement of low-cost effectors and autonomous platforms to deliver military effect. Alongside co-operation on traditional weapons systems, this will improve our collective security within the Alliance, help fulfil NATO capability requirements and strengthen European cooperation with a view to greater burden-sharing among Allies. We share the vision to coordinate our efforts in the Western Balkans, where we will work together to support a secure, stable and prosperous region, in complementarity with NATO and EU initiatives, and the Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries concerned. II. Preventing and Countering Hybrid Threats Europe is facing increasing Russian hybrid pressure and complex cross-domain challenges. We aim to strengthen early warning and response mechanisms, as well as societal and institutional resilience. NATO and the EU have an important role to play in this area. We intend to ensure coherence and complementarity between their actions. III. Support for Ukraine and Efforts Toward Lasting Peace Ukraine's ability to defend its sovereignty is critically important for ensuring the future of Ukraine's and Euro-Atlantic collective security. Therefore, we will continue to support Ukraine. This support will be closely coordinated within the UDCG, with NATO and EU to reinforce unity of effort and operational effectiveness. For this purpose, we underline: strong Ukrainian Armed Forces are the first security guarantee for a Ukraine in peace. We also support efforts to bring hostilities to an end. As members of the Coalition of the Willing, we welcomed the Minister of Defence of Ukraine for the dedicated segment of our meeting and heard updates on the diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. We declare our support for these efforts. We also declare our support for Ukraine's security after the cessation of hostilities. We confirm that ensuring the sovereignty and lasting security of Ukraine shall be an integral part of a peace agreement, and that any settlement will have to be backed up by robust security guarantees for Ukraine. We have taken steps to implement the Paris Declaration of 6 January 2026 on Robust Security Guarantees for a Solid and Lasting Peace in Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Next SCS code of conduct negotiations set in Singapore this month Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora February 20, 2026, 7:22 pm MANILA -- The next round of negotiations on a South China Sea (SCS) code of conduct (COC) will be held in the last week of February, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday. At a press conference in Pasay City, DFA maritime affairs spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva said senior officials from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet in Singapore. The increased frequency of talks aligns with the Philippines' push, as this year's ASEAN chair, to fast-track negotiations and finalize a COC by the end of 2026. "As chair of the ASEAN, the Philippines has committed to pursue the momentum in the negotiations for the substantive and effective Code of Conduct," Villanueva said. "We are prepared to facilitate more meetings. Actually, we are holding, in coordination with the other ASEAN member states and China, monthly face-to-face meetings to increase the opportunity to sit down and negotiate," he added. On the bilateral front, Villanueva said the DFA continues to engage China to manage tensions and resolve the West Philippine Sea dispute through peaceful and diplomatic means. Both sides are also discussing the schedule of the next Philippine-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea. He said the government is also strengthening alliances and partnerships to uphold a rules-based maritime order anchored in international law. The Philippines currently maintains 11 maritime dialogues to boost its capabilities. "Even as the DFA deepens alliances and partnerships with like-minded countries, it also maintains open lines of communication with the Chinese side in pursuit of candid, constructive dialogue and practical cooperation," Villanueva said. Meanwhile, he welcomed the Senate's openness to hold talks with the Chinese Embassy in Manila following recent public exchanges. Villanueva said the DFA sees the planned dialogue as "an opportunity for frank, cordial, and professional discussion one that can candidly address divergent positions while also identifying areas of common understanding." The Senate is already coordinating directly with the embassy to set the meeting, he said. "If the Senate reaches out to the DFA, definitely we are prepared to extend the necessary assistance," Villanueva said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DFA reasserts Philippines' claim over Sabah Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora February 20, 2026, 5:30 pm MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reaffirmed the Philippines' claim over Sabah amid renewed discussion over a 2012 Philippine map depicting the contested territory. At a media briefing in Pasay City on Friday, DFA maritime affairs spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva said the country maintains its sovereignty claim over Sabah, which is currently administered by Malaysia. "[T]he Philippines, with the enactment of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act of 2024, Republic Act 12064, has not repealed Section 2 of Republic Act 5446, which defines the baselines of the territorial zones of the Philippine archipelago and is without prejudice to the Philippines' existing and valid claims on the portion of North Borneo," he said. The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) earlier clarified how the country's maritime zones in the West Philippine Sea are reflected on official maps, citing its 2012 administrative map. Villanueva explained that the depiction of Sabah in the cartograph intended to illustrate the Philippines' different regions provides a geographic approximation of North Borneo in relation to the main Philippine archipelago. Integrating new law On the West Philippine Sea, Villanueva said the DFA will coordinate with NAMRIA on the release of a new map incorporating the 2016 Arbitral Award and the 2024 Maritime Zones Act. However, he stressed that submission of the map to the United Nations is merely an administrative requirement to inform other states. "The rights of the Philippines as to its sovereignty and sovereign rights, and maritime entitlements is not dependent on the submission of these maps to the United Nations because it is grounded in international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and as clarified by the 2016 Arbitral Award," he said. Villanueva added that the DFA will continue to protect the Philippines' sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea "through effective and principled diplomacy." (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AFP reiterates defense ties with Thai Armed Forces Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno February 20, 2026, 3:16 pm MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has reiterated its commitment to further enhance its defense ties with the Kingdom of Thailand as ranking officials of the Filipino military joined the celebration of Royal Thai Armed Forces Day Reception in Manila. In a statement Friday, the AFP said the event highlighted the enduring friendship and defense cooperation between the Philippines and Thailand. AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. attended the reception, which was hosted by Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Philippines Makawadee Sumitmor, alongside senior defense and diplomatic officials from both nations, at the Dusit Thani Hotel on Feb. 19. "The AFP reaffirmed its commitment to deepening its defense ties with Thailand through continued engagements and high-level exchanges. The celebration of Royal Thai Armed Forces Day is a testament to a shared vision of peace and prosperity," the AFP said. One of the highlights of the evening was the martial and cultural showcase featuring the Royal Thai Army Martial Arts Team and the Philippine Army Arnis Team, alongside the traditional Thai "Khon" dance and the PAF String Ensemble, demonstrating a shared respect that goes beyond defense cooperation and celebrates the rich heritage of both nations. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH-Canada deal vital in addressing cyber threats, Palace says Philippine News Agency By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos February 20, 2026, 2:14 pm MANILA -- Malacanang on Friday emphasized the importance of the Philippines' cyber defense partnership with Canada in strengthening the country's national cybersecurity posture amid the evolving cyber threats. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Philippines is stepping up its collaboration with other countries like Canada and Japan to address state-sponsored attacks and espionage, foreign interference and misinformation, ransomware and data breaches, critical infrastructure protection, talent and infrastructure gaps. "Evolving po kasi iyong cyber threats. So, kaya dapat patuloy na nagbibigayan, nagpapalitan ng kaalaman para po mas maproteksyunan ang bansa sa mga cyber-attacks na katulad nito (These cyber threats are evolving. That's why we must continue to provide, exchange knowledge so that the country can be better protected from cyber-attacks like this)," Castro told reporters. She stressed the need to partner with countries that have extensive and deeper knowledge of cyber defense mechanisms. The Philippines and Canada have stepped up cooperation in cyber defense and information security following a high-level meeting between officials of the Department of National Defense and Canada's cyber security leadership. The discussions focused on strategic cyber threat intelligence exchange, updates on emerging threats, and joint training programs and professional exchanges. Both countries agreed to sustain cooperation through the regular convening of an annual Philippines-Canada Cyber Working Group to ensure continuity and measurable outcomes. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US lawmakers move towards vote on limiting Trump's Iran strike authority Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 9:54 PM Members of the US Congress could vote as soon as next week on legislation aimed at blocking President Donald Trump from launching military strikes against Iran without explicit congressional approval. Reporting on Friday, Reuters said both Democrats and a small number of Republicans had repeatedly attempted to pass war powers resolutions that would bar the president from initiating military action against foreign governments without lawmakers' consent. Those efforts have failed, with Trump's Republican allies arguing that Congress should not restrict the president's authority in the area. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Senator Rand Paul filed a Senate resolution late last month to block hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a congressional declaration of war. "If some of my colleagues support war, then they should have the guts to vote for the war, and to be held accountable by their constituents, rather than hiding under their desks," Kaine said in a statement on Friday, as US military assets moved towards Iran. An aide to Kaine said there was no timetable yet for when the Senate might take up the resolution, but in the House of Representatives, Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna said they planned to force a vote on a similar measure next week. "Trump officials say there's a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can't without Congress," Khanna said in a post on X. The congressional push comes as the United States has been amassing military assets near Iran. US officials said on February 12 that the Department of War was sending an additional aircraft carrier, along with thousands of troops, warplanes, and guided-missile destroyers, to the region. Trump said most recently, referring to the USS Gerald R. Ford, "In case we don't make a deal, we'll need it." The military buildup has unfolded alongside indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva. Oman, the intermediary, has said the latest round of indirect talks concluded with tangible progress, paving the way for further discussions. On Thursday, Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani said Tehran would not initiate war, but would respond firmly to any aggression. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stated at the highest level that it neither seeks tension nor war, and will not initiate any war," he wrote in a letter to the UN chief and the Security Council president. "However, in the event that it is subjected to military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations." The envoy added that in case of military aggression, all regional bases, facilities, and assets belonging to the "hostile force" would constitute "legitimate targets" for Iran's retaliatory operations, warning that the United States would bear responsibility for any "unpredictable and uncontrolled" consequences. Earlier this week, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addressed repeated US military threats, saying that the weapons capable of sinking American carriers were "more dangerous" than the warships themselves. "The American president 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 Khamenei said. "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," the Leader added. Referring to Washington's long-standing opposition to the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "For 47 years, America has failed to destroy the Islamic Republic," and added, "I say this: You will not be able to do so in the future either." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that he is considering a targeted attack against Iran to pressure the country into agreeing to a deal on its nuclear program. Speaking at a breakfast with state governors at the White House, he responded to a question about whether he was considering such a move: I guess I can say I am considering that, he replied. For its part, Iran insists that, in the event of an attack, it will respond with force. Trump was speaking as the Pentagon amasses a massive military buildup in the Middle East, amid the possibility that the president might order an attack if the current indirect talks between Washington and Tehran fail to produce results. On Thursday, the U.S. president suggested he would wait a maximum of 10 to 15 days before deciding. In the latest round of talks, held last Tuesday in Geneva, the Iranian delegation pledged to present a detailed proposal to bridge the currently very wide gap between the two countries positions. Washington wants Tehran to withdraw its support for the radical Islamist groups it backs in the Middle East and to limit the range of its missiles so they cannot attack Israel, as well as to renounce uranium enrichment and dispose of its existing stockpile. The Islamic Republic refuses to include its ballistic missile program in the negotiations and rejects any commitment to cease uranium enrichment in the future, something it considers its right as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. According to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday, Trump is considering a targeted attack against a limited number of Iranian military or government targets to pressure Tehran into accepting his terms. Should this initial strike fail to produce the desired results, the Pentagon would repeat its attacks, each time on a larger scale. The military plans being considered by the Pentagon include options that foresee attacking specific individuals within the Iranian system, and could even seek regime change if Trump so orders, according to Reuters, which cites two senior U.S. officials. The fact that these possibilities are being considered represents a further sign that the United States is preparing for a serious conflict with Tehran should diplomatic efforts fail, and its calculations include a military operation lasting weeks, the agency notes. This operation could target not only Iranian nuclear sites, as the U.S. strike did last June, but also security facilities. At that time, Trump asserted that Operation Midnight Hammer had annihilated Irans nuclear program, a claim immediately disputed by numerous experts. In response to threats from Washington, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Iran would respond to the United States if it uses the language of force. If you speak to the Iranian people with the language of respect, we will respond with the same language. But if you speak to us with the language of force, we will also respond using your same language. I believe we Iranians have proven to be a very proud people. We will only respond if you speak to us with respect. That is the only way you can speak to us, and then you will see the result, the minister declared in an interview with the MS Now program Morning Joe. As part of the large-scale U.S. military deployment to the Middle East, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is already in the regions waters, along with its escort group, which includes three destroyers. The worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, is en route, also with its escort group. In addition, some 50 military aircraft, including F-22s, anti-missile systems, ammunition, and spare parts have been sent to the region. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Two killed, several injured in Israeli strike on refugee camp in Lebanon Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 6:23 PM Israel has conducted a drone strike on the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon's southern city of Saida, leaving two people killed and several others injured. The drone strike hit the Hittin neighborhood of Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp on Friday. Following the attack, Israeli drones continued to fly over Ain al-Hilweh, and the surrounding areas. Last November, Israeli forces struck an open-air car garage in the camp with three rockets, killing 14 people and injuring many others. The Friday strike marks another breach of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. On Thursday, Israeli forces conducted multiple attacks across southern and eastern Lebanon, including border towns and areas in the Bekaa region. In the south, Israeli artillery fired seven shells toward the outskirts of the town of Yaroun. An Israeli tank also targeted a house on the outskirts of Aitaroun with two shells. Meanwhile, invading Israeli troops opened machine-gun fire toward the Khiam plain from the newly established Israeli position at Hamamis, before targeting the area with additional artillery strikes. Also on Thursday, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on the border town of Odaisseh. In eastern Lebanon, Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on the al-Shaara hill near the town of Nabi Sheet in the Bekaa region. There were no immediate reports on possible casualties or damage. In October 2023, Israel initiated strikes against Lebanon, which intensified into a full-blown war by September 2024. This war resulted in the killing of over 4,000 individuals and left around 17,000 others injured. Under the truce agreement, Israeli forces were expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 2025. However, the withdrawal has been only partial, with a continued military presence at five border outposts. Ceasefire breaches by Israel have resulted in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Lebanese citizens. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Supreme Court strikes down swath of Trump global tariffs Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 5:01 PM The United States Supreme Court has struck down the global tariffs imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump. Trump's sweeping economic tariffs targeted countries across the globe that are considered US trading partners. The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration had been lodged under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). However, the IEEPA was meant to be applied in the event of a national emergency. The US Supreme Court justices, in a 6-3 ruling, decided that the use of the IEEPA exceeded Trump's authority. The Supreme Court upheld the rulings by lower courts rejecting Trump's authority to impose the tariffs. Trump had been the first president to use the IEEPA to impose sweeping tariffs on US trading partners. The move was just one of the many ways Trump has aggressively pushed the boundaries of executive authority. Under US law, Congress, not the president, has the power to impose taxes and tariffs. However, by invoking the IEEPA to impose tariffs on nearly every US trading partner without the approval of Congress, Trump breached the law. Trump has used tariffs and sanctions as a bargaining chip in US foreign policy. The use of tariffs by Trump as an economic and foreign policy tool has antagonized numerous countries, including some that were considered among the closest US trading partners and political allies. What changes now? In the short term, US tariffs are likely to fall. Analysts estimate that without the emergency-based tariffs, the average effective US tariff rate would drop to about 9 percent, compared with nearly 17 percent if they had remained. While still high by historical standards, this would ease some pressure on consumers and businesses facing higher import costs. Economists say the ruling could push the administration toward a more structured and possibly lower overall tariff policy. The struck-down tariffs are estimated to have generated between $130 billion and $140 billion by the end of 2025. If courts eventually require refunds to importers, the government could face an additional fiscal hit. However, refunds would not be automatic companies would have to sue to recover the money, and legal battles are already underway. The decision may also reduce a president's flexibility to impose sweeping tariffs quickly under emergency powers. Still, the ruling does not eliminate other legal tools available to impose trade duties. Observers, meanwhile, warn that tariffs can return. US law provides alternative routes including national security and unfair trade investigations that could allow new or revised tariffs. However, these processes typically take more time and may result in narrower or lower duties than before. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas slams Israeli restrictions on access to al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 3:26 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israeli restrictions on access to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the first Friday of Ramadan have failed to break the will of the Palestinian nation. "We affirm the necessity of continuing mass mobilization and intensifying steadfast presence in our blessed mosque, seizing the virtue of the holy month and protecting Al-Aqsa from the occupation's plans and the ambitions of settlers," Hamas said in a statement on Friday. The Palestinian group further said, "The criminal Israeli occupying regime deliberately humiliates worshippers coming to Al-Aqsa Mosque through strict military measures and ongoing violations." "This constitutes a blatant violation of freedom of worship and an overt attempt to impose a Judaization reality in the blessed mosque," the statement read. The resistance movement denounced a series of punitive measures by Israeli authorities, which include restricting the number of worshippers to around ten thousand only and imposing arbitrary limitations on Palestinians' entry under the pretext of age and permits. On the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, Palestinians in the occupied West Bank faced Israeli restrictions on access to the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds. Hundreds of Palestinians were sent back at checkpoints as they attempted to reach the holy site to perform Ramadan prayers. The Israeli regime earlier said that it would only allow ten thousand Palestinians to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the Friday prayers. Israeli authorities added that they would allow entry for men aged 55 and older, women aged 50 and older, and children up to age 12 accompanied by a first-degree relative. Israel's Channel 12 reported that only about 2,000 Palestinians were able to cross through the Qalandiya checkpoint towards occupied al-Quds by the morning, amid an Israeli military high alert at checkpoints separating the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds. The Israeli military has increased deployments and tightened restrictions across occupied al-Quds. Elsewhere in the statement, Hamas called for a massive presence at the holy compound. Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the longest-serving imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, recently urged Arab and Muslim nations and their leaders to support al-Quds and take responsibility for protecting the holy site. He warned that the Israeli regime, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, was carrying out an aggressive plan targeting the sacred compound. Sabri warned that these measures are expected to significantly reduce the number of worshippers compared to previous years. The new restrictions come amid what Palestinian authorities, rights groups, and the United Nations say is a dangerous surge of violence by illegal settlers in the occupied West Bank and occupied East al-Quds, characterized by the widespread use of live ammunition, direct shooting at Palestinian citizens, the burning of local Palestinian homes, and land seizures. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump plans to establish 'massive' military base in southern Gaza: Report Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 11:20 AM US President Donald Trump has plans to set up a large military base in the Gaza Strip to serve as the "military operating base" for thousands of international troops, a report says. Citing documents from Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" for Gaza, the Guardian reported on Thursday that the plans include "the phased construction of a military outpost that will eventually have a footprint of 1,400 meters by 1,100 meters". It will be ringed by 26 trailer-mounted armored watch towers, a small arms range, bunkers, and a warehouse for military equipment for operations, the report said, adding that the whole site will be surrounded by barbed wire. The base, which is planned to be constructed in southern Gaza, is reportedly supposed to host 5,000 foreign troops set to be deployed to the strip as envisioned in Washington's so-called "peace plan". "A small group of bidders - international construction companies with experience in war zones - have already been shown the area in a site visit," a source close to the planning said. According to an informed source, the contracting document for the base was issued by the Trump-led board for Gaza. "The Contractor shall conduct a geophysical survey of the site to identify any subterranean voids, tunnels, or large cavities per phase," the "Board of Peace" document reads. "If suspected human remains or cultural artifacts are discovered, all work in the immediate area must cease immediately, the area must be secured, and the Contracting Officer must be notified immediately for direction." More than 10,000 Palestinian are believed buried under the rubble in Gaza due to Israel's genocide and the Israeli restrictions on entry of proper equipment. "Whose permission did they get to build that military base?" Palestinian-Canadian lawyer Diana Buttu said. The report came as the inaugural meeting of 'Board of Peace' kicked off. The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas strongly condemned the convening of Gaza's so-called Board of Peace in the United States. Hamas affirmed that any political path or arrangements regarding Gaza must be based on a complete halt to Israeli aggression. The International Stabilization Force (ISF) envisioned in the agreement has not been deployed, as several countries involved in the plan were uncomfortable with potentially being forced into a conflict with Hamas. Trump's plan calls on the ISF to enforce disarmament in the strip. Indonesia has said it would be willing to deploy thousands of peacekeeping troops, and Pakistani officials have also offered peacekeepers but said disarming the resistance is "not our job." The Telegraph revealed that Washington is planning to enlist Israeli-backed gangs and criminal organizations to serve as a local police force in Gaza, including the smuggling and aid looting militias of Hossam al-Astal and the slain Yasser Abu Shabab. "The plan to recruit the new police force from the clans emerged before Christmas, prompting disagreement at the multi-national new Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel", the report said. Some US Army officials opposed the idea. "There was significant pushback along the lines of 'this is ridiculous - they're not only criminal gangs but they're sponsored by Israel,'" a western source said. Another source stressed that Trump's plan "will not work without reliable security partners." Throughout Israel's genocidal war, these gangs received support from Israel. Last December, Israeli collaborator and Daesh-linked leader Yasser Abu Shabab, known for participating in looting aid and targeting Palestinian civilians, was reportedly killed in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli genocidal war has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 172,000 more. The Tel Aviv regime continues to violate the US-brokered ceasefire reached last October on a daily basis and since the start of it, Israeli forces have killed several hundred more Palestinians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kazakh, Uzbek Leaders Seek Trump Approval With Gaza Peace Pledges By Zamira Eshanova and RFE/RL's Kazakh Service February 20, 2026 The decision by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to join US allies in the Arab world in providing cash and other help -- possibly including troops -- for the reconstruction of Gaza marks another moment in efforts to forge a new, close relationship with US President Donald Trump. The move follows last November's 5+1 meeting in Washington, in which the Central Asian nations agreed trade, diplomatic, and mineral deals to strengthen ties. At the inaugural Board of Peace summit on February 19, Kazakhstan promised substantial funding to be administered through the World Bank's Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund. It also said it would deploy troops to an International Stabilization Force (ISF), including security personnel and a field hospital staffed by military medical experts. By doing so, Kazakhstan joins a small group of countries such as Indonesia, Kosovo, and Albania, that have publicly promised peacekeepers. For its part, Uzbekistan emphasized previously announced plans to redevelop a specific slice of territory in Gaza. Former Kazakh diplomat Dulat Baqyshev told RFE/RL that both nations were investing in the relationship with Washington -- and aiming for a concrete return on their money. "Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan need US support. It's been 35 years since our independence. Had any US president visited our region? No," he said. Since achieving independence in 1991, the countries of Central Asia have sought to balance out diplomatic and economic influence from China and Russia. "Our independence, our sovereignty becomes stronger when it's supported by the US," Baqyshev said. Kazakhstan Brings 'Boots And Brains' For now, the pledges made in Washington remain just that -- promises that may, or may not, be delivered on later. But Astana would bring prior experience from United Nations-mandated peacekeeping operations since 2014, including deployments under the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), giving it an established track record in multinational stabilization efforts. Kazakhstan also pledged wheat supplies to stabilize food security in Gaza and 500 university scholarships for Palestinian students over the next five years, aiming to rebuild Gaza's professional class. Still, no specific financial contribution or details on the number of Kazakh soldiers have been published yet, leaving some uncertainty about the scale of commitments. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev presented plans for an "Uzbekistan Quarter" in Gaza, with housing, schools, kindergartens, health-care facilities, and community centers. The plans sit alongside other Gaza reconstruction plans pushed by Washington, which present the war-ravaged region as a luxury holiday riviera. Uzbekistan says its plans draw on experience it has gained rebuilding earthquakeaffected areas in Turkey. No specific financial amount or the financial sources for this project have been made public. Great Expectations While the actual sums were not made clear, Trump signaled that he expected significant financial commitments from participating countries. Both the Uzbek and Kazakh leaders echoed the US president's positive tone. Mirziyoyev described Trump's plan as "bold and historic," while Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev emphasized that "working together on this initiative is a step toward a safer, more stable region." Toqaev also called for a peace prize to be created, named for Trump. "For Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, this is about prestige and reputation, and also about closer relations with the United States," Uzbek political analyst Alisher Ilkhamov told RFE/RL. "Trump expects them to be willing to pay for this opportunity, and they seem prepared to do so," he added. Ilkhamov suggested that Kazakhstan might also have an immediate, specific aim: U.S. pressure on Ukraine to stop attacks on the Russian port of Novorossiysk, a key conduit for Kazakh oil exports. Strikes in recent months have had a major impact on an important source of Kazakh budget revenue. "It is no coincidence that Toqaev has gone out of his way to flatter Trump for the second time," he said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-uzbekistan- gaza-reconstruction-us-ties/33683513.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Kosovo President Osmani US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson February 20, 2026 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, a dedicated partner in the Western Balkans. The Secretary thanked President Osmani and the people of Kosovo for being a founding member of the Board of Peace and contributing resources to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza. The United States looks forward to working with Kosovo's new government to advance our shared agenda of regional peace, stability, and economic prosperity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 20 February 2026 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Secretary-General's Travel All right, good afternoon. The Secretary-General is continuing his trip to India. This morning, in New Delhi, he took part in a panel at the AI Impact Summit, and the panel was on the Role of Science in International AI Governance. The Secretary-General told participants that AI innovation is moving at the speed of light, outpacing our collective ability to fully understand it, let alone govern it. If we want AI to serve humanity, he said, policy cannot be built on guesswork. We need the facts, we need trust, and we need to share that trust across countries and across sectors. That is why the UN is building a practical architecture that puts science at the centre of international cooperation on AI, he said. In the afternoon, the Secretary-General had bilateral meetings with the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, as well as with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. And you will have seen those readouts of those meetings. Throughout the day, the Secretary-General had exchanges with Government and tech leaders, including members of the newly created Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The Secretary-General also took part in a roundtable organized by our UN colleagues to discuss renewable energy and energy transition. The discussion brought together senior figures from industry, finance, policy and civil society in an effort to identify concrete steps to further accelerate renewable energy deployment, strengthen grids and storage, as well as mobilize investment at scale. And, over the weekend, the Secretary-General will travel to Geneva, Switzerland, where on Monday, he will deliver remarks at the opening of the sixty-first session of the Human Rights Council. Later in the day, he will also address the high-level segment of the 2026 Session of the Conference on Disarmament. As we mentioned earlier this week, he will also be having a number of bilateral meetings with senior officials, ministers and others who are in attendance of both those events. He is also scheduled to participate in an event hosted by the Vice President of the Swiss Federal Council, Ignazio Cassis, to mark the completion of a new visitor centre at the UN in Geneva, and he will be heading back here on Monday evening. ** South Sudan Tom Fletcher, our Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, arrived in South Sudan today to visit one of the most under-reported humanitarian crises in the world. He will spend the next five days assessing the situation in the country firsthand and drawing international attention to the acute but largely forgotten crisis there. Mr. Fletcher travelled directly to Malakal in Upper Nile State upon his arrival, meeting with local communities, their leaders, and South Sudanese returnees, hearing firsthand about their needs and the challenges they face amid the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Sudan. He is scheduled to visit Jonglei State, where, as you recall, a recent flare-up of conflict has further intensified humanitarian needs and made our work even more challenging. Throughout the visit, he will meet with local responders on the frontline. He will continue to advocate for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, reiterate our urgent calls for support to the humanitarian response and call for coordinated efforts to tackle the root causes of the crisis. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tells us that families continue to live in overcrowded shelters, which of course pose severe fire risks as well as health risks. Families cook, sleep and store their belongings in small spaces and also use open fire to cook the food that they have. Since November of last year, our partners have recorded at least 12 fires in these shelters. In ten days leading up to 17 February, humanitarians provided shelters to 85 families in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, whose shelters were damaged by a fire in Gaza City. Partners have been raising fire safety awareness among displaced families to reduce the risk. Displaced families need adequate shelter to protect them from the elements and provide more privacy. Our partners working in shelters reiterate the urgent need to move towards more sustainable solutions. In many areas within Gaza, humanitarian movements still require coordination with Israeli authorities. Of 67 movements coordinated between 12 and 19 February, 43 were approved and 9were denied outright. Eight missions were approved but faced impediments, of which six were fully accomplished. Organizers cancelled seven other missions for operational or security reasons. Humanitarian partners coordinated the entry of fuel, medical supplies, animal fodder and hygiene kits. The teams also facilitated the medical evacuation of patients through Rafah and Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossings. Turning to the West Bank, our humanitarian colleagues warn of the continued violence and other coercive practices by Israeli forces and settler communities, resulting in casualties, destruction of property, and forced displacement. Between 3 and 16 February, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, bringing the total number this year to nine, including two children. Palestinian forces killed one Palestinian child in Tammoun, while attempting to arrest his father. During the same period, at least 86 Israeli settler attacks were recorded, during which over 60 Palestinians were injured, and some 146 people were displaced. People in 60 communities have been impacted by the attacks. Overall, since January 2023, and as of 16 February, some 880 Palestinian families that's over 4,700 people have been displaced across the West Bank due to settler attacks and access restrictions. And I just want to flag one particular case, and that the Secretary-General condemns the killing of Nasrallah Abu Siam, a 19-year-old dual Palestinian-American citizen who was shot and beaten in an attack by Israeli settlers in the village of Mukhmas. This took place on [Wednesday] and Nasrallah then succumbed to his wounds later in the day. In the same attack, settlers shot and injured three other Palestinians in the same attack. The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim. That family, sadly, includes your colleague Abdelhamid Siam. On behalf of my office, we extend our condolences to him and his entire family. The Secretary-General calls for a prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of this incident and for those responsible to be held accountable. And he urges the Government of Israel to take concrete steps to halt and prevent all acts of violence by Israeli settlers against the Palestinian population, and that would be following their obligations as the occupying Power. ** Lebanon A quick note up north on the activities of our Blue Helmets in southern Lebanon. This week peacekeepers have found several unexploded ordnances, including rockets, bombs, and rocket launchers, at multiple locations within the area of operations. Yesterday, peacekeepers also discovered anti-tank mines in the ruins of a house in Sector East. As per usual practice, they were all referred to the Lebanese Armed Forces for disposal. The peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) also continues to report daily Israel Defense Forces (IDF) activities on land and air inside Lebanese territory and continues to observe firing across the Blue Line. Yesterday, several projectiles fired from south of the Blue Line impacting near Kafar Kila in Sector East and Yaroun in Sector West. Incidents of obstruction and aggressive behaviour directed at peacekeepers is also continuing. In a serious incident of intimidation, the peacekeeping mission reported that on Tuesday, a peacekeeper performing his duty inside a UN position near Naqoura, which is about 10 metres from the IDF perimeter fence, was approached by IDF personnel who aimed their weapons at him and ordered him to move. We reiterate that any intimidation and interference against our UN peacekeepers must stop. We once again call on everyone to uphold their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701. ** Somalia Our colleagues at the World Food Programme (WFP) are sounding the alarm that its life-saving emergency food and nutrition assistance in Somalia is at imminent risk of stopping. WFP said that urgently requires $95 million to continue supporting the most food insecure people in Somalia between March and August of this year. Without immediate funding, the WFP said that it will be forced to halt humanitarian assistance by April. This warning follows the declaration of a national drought emergency. In 2022, the longest drought in recorded history brought Somalia to the brink of famine. In response, with critical support from donors, partners and the Government, WFP launched a robust scale-up of life-saving assistance, reaching record numbers of the most vulnerable and helping keep famine at bay. But today, the agency said that it is facing a severe funding shortfall that has forced it to reduce the number of people receiving emergency food assistance in Somalia from 2.2 million in early last year to just over 600,000. WFP noted that a quarter of the population in Somalia, the equivalent of 4.4 million human beings, face crisis levels of food insecurity or worse, including nearly 1 million women, men, and children experiencing severe hunger. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo And from the DRC [the Democratic Republic of the Congo], our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that they remain deeply concerned by continued clashes in several villages across the Fizi and Uvira territories in South Kivu province in the east of the country. Since Monday, violence has displaced at least 15,000 people just since Monday from Lemera to the surrounding villages. Residents, mostly women and children, are fleeing into the bush for safety, while others remain confined to their homes. OCHA and their partners continue to engage with all parties to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and humanitarian aid. Our humanitarian colleagues also stress that we need safe movement of supplies to be able to scale up aid operations. Everyone involved in this conflict must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, so we can have sustained and unhindered humanitarian access. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the DRC requires $1.4 billion to assist 7.3 million of the country's most vulnerable people. To date, the plan is only 10 per cent funded. More support is urgently required to maintain humanitarian operations and prevent further deterioration at this point. ** Ukraine Turning to Ukraine: Today, UN-Women noted that four years into Russia's full-scale invasion, millions in Ukraine struggle to keep the lights on and heat in their homes, with the crisis taking a particular toll on women. The Agency points out that many Ukrainian women work in sectors that are the hardest hit by extended power cuts, such as education, health, social services and retail, and they are now losing their jobs. According to UN-Women, 2025 was the deadliest year of the conflict for women so far, and that since 24 February 2022, more than 5,000 women and girls have been confirmed killed and 14,000 injured; the real toll is probably much higher. For its part, WHO [the World Health Organization] today said that the conflict's devastating toll on health is further deepened by attacks on healthcare, which are severe and widespread in Ukraine. ** Haiti A couple of depressing reports to flag. One is a joint one by our UN office in Haiti and the UN Human Rights Office there. They detail the brutal and widespread trafficking of children by Haitian gangs. According to the report, most of the 26 gangs currently operating in Haiti are trafficking in children The report describes the different forms of exploitation to which children are subjected. They range from running errands, monitoring security forces, or collecting extortion payments, to more violent acts like sexual violence, kidnapping and targeted killings. There is no comprehensive data unfortunately on the number of children trafficked by gangs. However, in 2024, we estimated that more than 500,000 children are living in areas that are under the effect of control of gangs. That number today must also be much higher. As per the latest estimates, gang violence has forced more than 1.4 million people to flee their homes. More than half of them are children. More information online. ** Human Trafficking And a report today published by the UN Human Rights Office on scam centres graphically details the lived experiences of some of the hundreds of thousands of people trafficked from dozens of countries around the world into working in entrenched scam operations mostly in South-East Asia, but as well as other places in the world. The report documents instances of torture, sexual abuse and exploitation, forced abortions, food deprivation, solitary confinement, among other horrific and grave human rights abuses. Victims described being lured into scamming jobs under false pretences and then being coerced into perpetrating online fraud. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk noted that rather than receiving protection, care and rehabilitation, as well as the pathways to justice and redress to which they are entitled, these victims too often face disbelief, stigmatization and even further punishment. He stressed that effective responses need to be centred on human rights law and standards. Crucially, he said, that means explicitly recognizing forced criminality within anti-trafficking laws and regulations and guaranteeing the non-punishment principle for victims of trafficking. ** International Days Today is the World Day of Social Justice. As the name suggests, the Day promotes fairness, equity and inclusion for everyone, everywhere. Tomorrow is the International Day of Mother Language. This year's theme, "Youth voices on multilingual education", highlights young people as champions of linguistic diversity and inclusive education that fosters understanding. ** Financial Contribution Lastly, Friday we've got two countries paid today. A little quiz for you, it's challenging. These two countries are both island nations. Both begin with the letter "M". One country is in the northern hemisphere and one country is in the southern hemisphere. They are separated by three time zones. [responses from the crowd] No, not Maldives. [response: "Mauritius."] Mauritius, yes. It is in the southern hemisphere, now think of one in the northern hemisphere that is also an island nation. [response: "Malta."] Exactly, [Malta] very well. So, we thank our friends in Valletta and Port Louis for their full contributions to the Regular Budget. We are now up to 71, thanks to Malta and Mauritius. ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : Pan, you get the first question if you have one. Question : Thank you, Steph. Iranian UN Ambassador [Amir-Saeid] Iravani sent a letter to the Secretary-General and the President to the Security Council yesterday. And he asked the SG and the Security Council to act without delay. So, has the SG read the letter, and what's his reaction? Thank you. Spokesman : The letter from the Permanent Mission of Iran? Question : Yes. Spokesman : Yes. The letter has gone to the Security Council and to the General Assembly, as requested by the Permanent Mission of Iran. And I can tell you and reiterate yet again that we are very concerned about the heightened rhetoric we're seeing around the region, by the heightened military activities, war games, or just increased military naval presence in the region. And we encourage both the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue to engage in diplomacy in order to settle the differences. Edie? Question : First, the United Nations Correspondents' Associations also sends condolences to our colleague Abdelhamid Siam on the death of his cousin. Secondly, at the Artificial Intelligence Summit in India which the Secretary-General attended, the United States said that it opposes any global rules on regulating artificial intelligence. Does the Secretary-General have any reaction to that? Spokesman : Well, you know, I think the reaction is encompassed in what the Secretary-General said. The Secretary-General is not calling for the United Nations to rule over AI. He's calling for and has put in place an architecture with the help of Member States to try to ensure that everybody gets a seat at the table, right? And as he said yesterday that it's not left in the hands of a few nations and on the whims of billionaires. AI will and has already impacted all of us. It is vital that those countries who may not have the technology also have a voice and that science and fairness be put at the centre of AI. Alex? Question : Thanks, Steph. Do you have any comments on the US Supreme Court decision on tariffs, by any chance? Spokesman : No. By any chance, no. But just to reiterate what we've always said is that in a trade war, in a tariff war, there are no winners. Question : And secondly, if I may, do you expect any payments from the United States, like, shortly in the coming days, weeks, or...? Spokesman : Well, I think we've confirmed to some of you that we've received $160 million from the United States a few days ago for payment to their dues in 2025. And obviously, when there are more payments, we will let you know. Question : Did they explain, why it was like 160? Why not less, not more? Spokesman : I think those are questions you need to ask them. Question : Thank you. Spokesman : Thank you. All right. Any question? Yes, sir. Go ahead. Question : President [Donald] Trump said yesterday at the Board of Peace meeting that he would be speaking with the Secretary-General in a little while. So, when is the talk expected to take place? Spokesman : Well, you know, obviously, as you know, the Secretary-General is in India, so it's about [ten] and a half hours ahead of New York. We're still expecting a call, but I think with the time difference, obviously that's a bit challenging. As soon as the call occurs, we will let you know. Okay. Thank you all. I wish you all a peaceful weekend. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: UN humanitarian chief visits South Sudan, shelter fire risks in Gaza, West Bank violence 20 February 2026 - The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator arrived in South Sudan on Friday to visit one of the most under-reported humanitarian crises in the world, as clashes between government and opposition forces continue in Jonglei state. Tom Fletcher will focus on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the world's youngest country and escalating protection risks for both civilians and aid workers. On arrival, he headed directly to Malakal in Upper Nile state, meeting with local communities, their leaders, and returnees. He heard firsthand about their needs and the challenges they face amid the ongoing war in neighbouring Sudan. Raising awareness Mr. Fletcher is scheduled to travel to Jonglei, where a recent flare-up in conflict has further intensified humanitarian needs, displacing roughly 280,000 people, according to authorities. He will also use the five-day mission to South Sudan to draw international attention to the worsening humanitarian situation. "Throughout the visit, the humanitarian chief will meet with local responders on the frontline," UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during his regular briefing in New York. "He will advocate for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, reiterate our urgent calls for support to the humanitarian response and call for coordinated efforts to tackle the root causes of the crisis." Gaza: Fire risks mount in shelters Humanitarians continue to highlight the need for adequate housing solutions in Gaza, where displaced Palestinian families are still living in overcrowded shelters which pose severe fire risks as well as health risks. "Families cook, sleep and store their belongings in small spaces where they also use open fire," the UN aid coordination office OCHA said, noting that partners have recorded at least 12 fires in shelters since November. Over a 10-day period this month, humanitarians provided shelters to 85 families in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis whose shelters were damaged by a fire in Gaza City. Aid missions blocked Meanwhile, in many areas within the Gaza Strip, humanitarian movements still require coordination with Israeli authorities. OCHA said that out of 67 movements coordinated between 12 and 19 February, 43 were approved and nine were denied outright. Eight missions were approved but faced impediments although six were fully accomplished, while organizers cancelled seven others for operational or security reasons. [Were these among the 43 above? If so, how about "Eight of the approved missions faced..."] Humanitarian partners coordinated the entry of fuel, medical supplies, animal fodder and hygiene kits, the agency said. Teams also facilitated the medical evacuation of patients through two border crossings - the Rafah corridor with Egypt and Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem with Israel. West Bank: Guterres calls for probe into killing of Palestinian-American man UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the killing of a Palestinian-American man in the West Bank this week. Nasrallah Abu Siam, 19, was shot and beaten in an attack by Israeli settlers in the village of Mukhmas on Wednesday and succumbed to his wounds later that day. Three other Palestinians were shot and injured in the same attack. "The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim," UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York. He noted that the family includes journalist Abdelhamid Siam, a member of the press corps at UN Headquarters, and extended condolences to him and the entire family. The Secretary-General called for a prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the incident and for those responsible to be held accountable. He also urged the Government of Israel to take concrete steps to halt and prevent all acts of violence by Israeli settlers against the Palestinian population, in line with its obligations as the occupying power. Violence and attacks continue Humanitarians warned of the continued violence and other coercive practices by Israeli forces and settler communities in the West Bank, which have resulted in casualties, destruction of property, and forced displacement. Between 3 and 16 February, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, the UN aid coordination office OCHA reported. This brings the total number this year to nine, including two children. Palestinian forces also killed a Palestinian boy in Tammoun while attempting to arrest his father. "During the same period, at least 86 Israeli settler attacks were recorded, during which over 60 Palestinians were injured, and some 146 people were displaced," OCHA said. People in 60 communities also were impacted by the attacks. Since January 2023, some 880 Palestinian families - over 4,700 people - have been displaced across the West Bank due to settler attacks and access restrictions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territory Fire risks mount in Gaza displacement shelters OCHA reports that families continue to live in overcrowded shelters, which pose severe fire risks. Families cook, sleep and store their belongings in small spaces where they also use open fire - since November 2025, our partners have recorded at least 12 fires in these shelters. In the ten days leading up to 17 February, humanitarians provided shelter assistance to 85 families in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis whose shelters were damaged by a fire in Gaza city. Partners have been raising fire safety awareness among displaced families to reduce the risk. Displaced families need adequate shelter to protect them from the elements and provide more privacy. Humanitarian partners reiterate the urgent need to move towards more sustainable solutions. In many areas within Gaza, humanitarian movements still require coordination with Israeli authorities. Of 67 movements coordinated between 12 and 19 February, 43 were approved and nine were denied outright. Eight missions were approved but faced impediments, of which six were fully accomplished. Organizers cancelled seven other missions for operational and security reasons. Humanitarian partners coordinated the entry of fuel, medical supplies, animal fodder and hygiene kits into Gaza. Teams also facilitated the medical evacuation of patients through Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. In the West Bank, OCHA warns of the continued violence and other coercive practices by Israeli forces and settler communities resulting in casualties, destruction of property and displacement. Between 3 and 16 February, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, bringing the total number this year to nine, including two children. Palestinian security forces killed one Palestinian child in Tammoun, while attempting to arrest his father. During the same period, at least 86 Israeli settler attacks were recorded, during which over 60 Palestinians were injured, and some 146 people were displaced. People in 60 communities were affected by the attacks. Overall, since January 2023, and as of 16 February 2026, some 880 Palestinian families - over 4,700 people - have been displaced across the West Bank due to settler attacks and access restrictions. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory with urgent support. South Sudan UN humanitarian chief in South Sudan to press for civilian protection Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher today began a five-day visit to South Sudan to draw international attention to the acute but largely forgotten humanitarian crisis there. Fletcher travelled directly to Malakal in Upper Nile State to engage with local communities and their leaders, as well South Sudanese returnees who have fled the conflict in neighbouring Sudan. He also met local humanitarians on the frontline of the response. Fletcher is also scheduled to visit Jonglei State, where a recent flare-up in conflict has further intensified the humanitarian needs. During his mission, Fletcher will advocate for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers and call for urgent support to the humanitarian response, and concerted action to address the drivers of the crisis. Democratic Republic of Congo Clashes displace thousands in eastern DRC The humanitarian community remains deeply concerned by continued clashes in several villages across the Fizi and Uvira territories in South Kivu province in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since Monday, violence has displaced at least 15,000 people from Lemera and surrounding villages, according to humanitarian partners. Residents, mostly women and children, are fleeing into the bush for safety, while others remain confined to their homes. OCHA and partners continue to engage with all parties to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and humanitarian teams, as well as the safe movement of supplies to scale up the aid operations. The humanitarian community continues to urge all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to facilitate safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the DRC requires US$1.4 billion to assist 7.3 million of the country's most vulnerable people. To date, the plan is 10 per cent funded - more support is urgently required to maintain humanitarian operations and prevent further deterioration of the crisis. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with urgent support. Posted on 20 February 2026 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WFP warns of catastrophic shortfalls in Somalia with millions at risk of deepening hunger crisis World Food Programme 20 February 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is sounding the alarm that its lifesaving emergency food and nutrition assistance in Somalia is at imminent risk of grinding to a halt without new immediate funding commitments. The organization's resources are expected to be depleted within weeks without urgent replenishment. This warning follows the declaration of a national drought emergency, triggered by severe water shortages, crop and livestock losses, and largescale displacement - conditions reminiscent of the 2022 crisis when famine was narrowly averted thanks to large-scale international support. Somalia is facing one of the most complex hunger crises in recent years, driven by two consecutive failed rainy seasons, conflict, and a sharp drop in humanitarian funding. A quarter of the population - 4.4 million people - face crisis-levels of food insecurity or worse (IPC3+), including nearly one million women, men, and children experiencing severe hunger. "The situation is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Families have lost everything, and many are already being pushed to the brink. Without immediate emergency food support, conditions will worsen quickly," said Ross Smith, WFP Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response. "We are at the cusp of a decisive moment; without urgent action, we may be unable to reach the most vulnerable in time, most of them women and children." WFP is the largest humanitarian agency in Somalia, working alongside partners to support the majority of the country's food security response. In 2022, the longest drought in recorded history brought Somalia to the brink of famine. In response, with critical support from donors, partners and the government, WFP launched a robust scale up of life-saving assistance. Working together, we reached record numbers of the most vulnerable, helping keep famine at bay. WFP has the teams on the ground and capacity to push back extreme hunger again. But today WFP faces a severe funding shortfall that has forced it to reduce the number of people receiving emergency food assistance from 2.2 million in early 2025 to just over 600,000. This means WFP is currently supporting only one in every seven people in need of food assistance to survive. Nutrition programmes have also been slashed from assisting nearly 400,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children in October 2025 to just 90,000 in December. Without immediate funding, WFP will be forced to halt humanitarian assistance by April. "In 2022, WFP showed that when we have the resources, we can scale up quickly and reach people at the very moment they need us most. Today, we're facing that critical moment again," said Smith. "If our already reduced assistance ends, the humanitarian, security, and economic consequences will be devastating, with the effects felt far beyond Somalia's borders. WFP and partners are ready to deliver, but we need urgent support to avoid a preventable catastrophe." WFP urgently requires USD95 million to continue supporting the most food insecure people in Somalia between March and August 2026. Without immediate funding, WFP will be forced to halt humanitarian assistance by April. # # # The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The US president responds with a global tariff of 10%, considerably lower than the one currently in place for partners such as Mexico, Canada, or the EU If anything has defined Donald Trumps aggressive tariff policy since his return to the White House, it has been its volatility and the difficulty for the trading partners punished with those levies which the President of the United States called reciprocal to know what to expect. This Friday, the Supreme Court ruled in a decision that dealt a near-fatal blow to Washingtons trade agenda by determining that those indiscriminate rates are unconstitutional and therefore cannot continue to be collected. The Republican responded as he usually does: by refusing to admit defeat and going on the offensive. That offensive was quite like a tantrum. Or a patch. Trump, after years of saying that tariff is the most beautiful word in the dictionary, celebrated a ruling that, he argued, clarifies things and announced a global 10% tariff applicable to all countries. This time, however, it was not based on the law he had previously relied on (a 1977 emergency powers statute known as IEEPA) but on a different one. This provision allows tariffs to be imposed for 150 days, during which time Congress must agree to approve them. It is a measure set out in Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to address a balance-of-payments issue, and, once again, it does not appear to guarantee stability: if Congress refuses to act, the Administration could, at least in theory, allow the tariffs to expire, declare a new balance-of-payments emergency, and restart the process. The maneuver would raise serious concerns about the separation of powers, but nothing in the statute clearly prohibits it. The President of the United States took it for granted that in its ruling the Supreme Court was giving him permission to seek out new avenues to continue his mission of rewriting the rules of globalization, when in reality the decision warns him that, while he may try, it is far from certain that his new ideas will not be challenged in the courts and possibly struck down, as happened this Friday. That same destination, the courts, also appears to await the disputes that the implementation of the high courts ruling unclear on how to proceed with the roughly $150 billion already collected by the Treasury Department is likely to generate. Beyond the uncertainties that this temporary measure adds, one thing was clear at the end of a dizzying day in Washington: many countries will wake up this Saturday subject to lower tariffs than those Trump imposed on them during 2025, after a process marked by threats, doubts, and back-and-forths. China, among the biggest beneficiaries There are many beneficiaries. Among the biggest is China, the archrival power, which, after months of back-and-forth, had been subject to a 34% export tax to the United States. Then there is Canada, the old friend turned betrayer in Trumps narrative, which he hit with a 35% tariff amid recent threats to further harden the terms of the relationship between two countries that share a border and a free trade agreement with Mexico. Both neighbors welcomed the relief the Supreme Courts decision brought to their bottom lines, although the celebration was incomplete: the ruling does not strike down the sector-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper, or cars all industries that are crucial within the North American economic space. The European Union, the other major trading partner, will see a 50% reduction in the rate on its imports (from 15% to 10%), while other important countries will see a significant improvement in their respective trade balances with the worlds leading power: from India (25%) to Taiwan and Vietnam (20%) and Thailand (19%). Japan and South Korea (15%). Among the remaining capitals, many are staying as they are from London to Canberra, and from Buenos Aires to Quito or Bogota. After Trumps mood swings, they had been left with a 10% tariff and will continue to face a 10% levy, at least for 150 days, while waiting to see what other weapons the Republican president may unveil, having announced that he has no intention of letting up in the trade war with which he has upended the global order forged decades ago by the United States. WFP Geneva Palais Briefing on Somalia: WFP warns of catastrophic shortfalls in Somalia with millions at risk of deepening hunger crisis World Food Programme 20 February 2026 This is a summary of what was said by the United Nations World Food Programme's (WFP) Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Ross Smith, to whom quoted text may be attributed - at a press briefing in Geneva today. ROME/GENEVA - I would like to share the latest updates from WFP about the extremely worrying humanitarian situation in Somalia. Somalia is in the midst of a very complex hunger crisis. Two rainy seasons have failed. Conflict and insecurity persist. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in search of shelter, food, and basic services. All of these have pushed the Somalia humanitarian response to the brink. Making matters worse is that due to a severe lack of resources, WFP's life-saving emergency food and nutrition assistance in Somalia will come to an end in a few weeks unless new and urgent funding is received. I am here today to issue an alert: the world must pay attention to the millions of vulnerable women, men, and children suffering in Somalia. And sadly, we've been down this road before. In November, the Somalia Government declared a national drought emergency - triggered by severe water shortages, crop and livestock losses, and largescale displacement. We saw very similar conditions in Somalia in 2022 when famine was narrowly averted thanks to large-scale international support. Today, most of the food security data points are flashing red. Our early warning systems, which we manage alongside partners and counterparts, indicate that we're on the same path as previous food crises in Somalia. Today, we're seeing: A quarter of the population - 4.4 million people - face crisis-levels of food insecurity or worse (IPC3+). This includes nearly one million women, men, and children experiencing severe hunger. Nearly two million children are suffering from acute malnutrition, including over 400,000 with severe acute malnutrition. Nearly half a million people have also been displaced in the past five months A detailed IPC food security and nutrition analysis report is expected to be published next week, and I expect we'll see a deterioration of the situation. WFP is a lifeline for millions of people and remains the largest humanitarian operator in Somalia. But right now, we are only able to reach one in seven people in need. The lack of resources has meant that we've been forced to repeatedly reduce the vital assistance we are able to provide. We had no choice but to reduce our food and nutrition assistance by more than half in 2025 due to funding shortfalls. Today: We're currently assisting only 640,000 out of the 4.4 million people facing crisis levels of hunger. This is down from the 2.2 million people WFP supported with emergency food assistance this time last year. Lifesaving nutrition services have also been slashed by more than half - from almost 400,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children under five in October to just over 100,000 children in January. Cash transfers have been significantly reduced due to insufficient resources. Cash transfers are the only option for assistance in areas where access is limited but where markets are functioning. Across Somalia, our reach has decreased from 64 districts to 42, leaving entire areas without food assistance. To finish, scaling up WFP's response is critical to meet urgent food and nutrition needs for millions of Somalis, prevent famine, and build resilience for communities to withstand food security shocks and instability in the face of growing insecurity and extreme weather events. When drought conditions began, WFP provided emergency cash-based transfers through government-led systems to more than 380,000 people to buy food on local markets, addressing urgent needs and reinforcing national social protection capacity. WFP has the teams on the ground and capacity to push back extreme hunger again. We are at the precipice of another decisive moment; without urgent action, we may be unable to reach the most vulnerable in time, most of them women and children. WFP and partners are ready to deliver, but we need urgent support to avoid a preventable catastrophe. # # # The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Signal Troops - Telegram In the complex digital battlefield of the war in Ukraine, few platforms have proven as ubiquitous and critical as the messaging app Telegram. For Russian forces, it has been more than just a social network; it has evolved into a core operational tool for coordination, intelligence sharing, and drone warfare. However, in February 2026, the Kremlin initiated a sweeping crackdown on the platform, throttling its services and pushing users toward a state-controlled alternative. This move, intended to tighten control over Russia's information space, has ignited a fierce backlash from the very soldiers and pro-war bloggers who form the backbone of the war effort, leading to what many analysts describe as a case of significant self-inflicted damage. The Frontline Digital Lifeline: Russian Military Reliance on Telegram Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Telegram has become deeply embedded in the daily operations of the Russian armed forces. Its blend of encryption, channel broadcasting, and file-sharing capabilities made it an indispensable tool in a conflict where rapid, decentralized communication is vital. Unlike official military communication systems, which can be cumbersome, vulnerable to jamming, or simply unavailable at the small-unit level, Telegram offers a flexible and accessible alternative. Russian soldiers use the app for a multitude of critical tasks. It serves as a primary channel for receiving orders, coordinating troop movements, and sharing real-time intelligence. The app is particularly crucial for countering Ukrainian drone strikes. Soldiers in anti-drone units rely on Telegram chats to quickly disseminate information about incoming unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), warning neighboring units and coordinating electronic warfare or anti-aircraft efforts. As one soldier from the Albatros anti-drone unit pleaded, the app "allows us to exchange information quickly in order to intercept drones." Restricting it, he warned, would directly lead to a drop in their ability to counter UAVs and would reduce the overall effectiveness of Russian forces, especially in newly occupied territories. Furthermore, Telegram is the primary home of Russia's powerful Z-community, the network of pro-war military bloggers, or "milbloggers." These influencers are not just propagandists; they are often embedded with troops, raising funds (crowdfunding) for equipment, and providing a parallel channel of communication and morale that the official military structure sometimes fails to offer. Their channels are a vital source of information for soldiers and the nationalist public alike, making the platform's functionality a matter of both military logistics and information warfare. The Kremlin's Crackdown: A Bid for Digital Sovereignty The recent restrictions, confirmed by the federal censorship agency Roskomnadzor on February 10, 2026, did not emerge from a vacuum. They represent the latest and most aggressive step in a long-running campaign by President Vladimir Putin to assert greater control over Russia's digital domain and reduce reliance on foreign-owned platforms. Officially, Roskomnadzor justified the throttling of Telegram by accusing the company of failing to combat fraud, protect user personal data, and remove banned content, including child pornography and extremist material. Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev claimed the company had ignored roughly 150,000 government requests. However, a more significant justification emerged from security concerns. Shadayev told State Duma lawmakers that there is "ample evidence" and "numerous indications that foreign intelligence agencies have access to the messenger's correspondence and are using this data against the Russian military." This allegation, which Telegram has vehemently denied as a "deliberate fabrication," serves as a powerful rationale for forcing users onto domestic platforms. The Kremlin's preferred alternative is Max, a state-backed messenger launched in March 2025. Critics and even Telegram founder Pavel Durov argue that Max is engineered for mass surveillance and political censorship, designed to give the state complete visibility over communications. By throttling Telegram, the Kremlin aims to make the platform frustrating to use, thereby coercing citizens and soldiers to migrate to Max, where their conversations can be monitored and controlled. This push for digital sovereignty, however, collides directly with the practical realities of the front line. The Perfect Storm: Telegram Throttling Meets Starlink Shutdown The outrage over the Telegram restrictions is magnified by its unfortunate timing. Just days prior, Russian forces suffered another massive blow to their communications infrastructure. Elon Musk's SpaceX, in response to a Ukrainian government request, moved to disable hundreds, if not thousands, of gray and black-market Starlink terminals that Russian units had been using extensively. Starlink had become a critical asset for the Russian military, providing high-speed, jam-resistant internet that allowed them to use applications like Discord (officially blocked in Russia in 2024) for livestreaming drone footage and coordinating complex assaults. The shutdown of these terminals "turned... useless junk" a key component of their digital warfare capability, forcing units to revert to less reliable Russian networks, including fiber-optic and radio bridge systems. The loss of Starlink was a devastating blow on its own. When combined with the new restrictions on Telegram, it created a communications crisis for frontline units. As one soldier's message, circulating on pro-war channels, lamented: "The front is in shock. Starlinks are gone, now they're jamming Telegram too. How are we supposed to fight? With carrier pigeons?" Voices from the Front: Fury and Desperation The immediate and visceral reaction from the troops themselves underscores the severity of the situation. In video appeals that surfaced on Russian monitoring channels, soldiers directly addressed Roskomnadzor, begging them not to interfere with the app. One serviceman with the call sign DJ stated plainly, "I'm currently on combat duty. Telegram is our only channel of communication. Do not deprive us of it." Another masked soldier questioned the authorities, asking, "Did you even ask us? Did even one of you come here to find out if this would be useful?" The anger was not confined to anonymous soldiers. Prominent pro-war milbloggers, the very voices the Kremlin has cultivated to maintain nationalist fervor, erupted in fury. The channel Fighterbomber posted a sarcastic comment highlighting the absurdity: "Unfortunately, we can't disable Starlink for the Ukrainians. But we can disable Telegram for the Russians. And if we can, then why not do it?" The DShRG Rusich group called the decision "another stupidity of 'let's just ban everything,'" warning it would only generate public irritation. Even regional officials like Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov expressed unease, noting that slowing Telegram could disrupt the flow of urgent security information to civilians in his frontline region. Battlefield Effects: A Measurable Decline in Russian Operations Beyond the anecdotal fury, early data suggested the dual disruption had a tangible, if temporary, effect on the battlefield. According to a review of data published by Ukraine's General Staff, Russian ground attacks, along with artillery and air strikes, fell by between twenty and thirty percent in the week following the Starlink access denial and the subsequent Telegram throttling. Combat clashes, which had frequently averaged 180200 or more per day during the winter offensive, dropped to an average of 130160 per day following the disruptions. While the Telegram slowdown on its own was a secondary factor compared to the loss of Starlink, it compounded the chaos. French military analyst Clment Molin noted that the confusion enabled Ukrainian forces to conduct opportunistic counterattacks, successfully clearing several villages in the "gray zone" without facing coordinated Russian resistance. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also confirmed that Ukrainian forces were able to make gains in areas like the Zaporizhzhia sector, exploiting the temporary disarray in Russian command and control. The Kremlin, however, sought to downplay these effects. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was difficult to "imagine that frontline communications are maintained via Telegram or some other messenger," defending Roskomnadzor's decision and expressing hope that the Defense Ministry had the situation under control. This dismissal stands in stark contrast to the frantic appeals from the front lines. An Unsustainable Contradiction The Russian military's deep reliance on Telegram for frontline operations, juxtaposed with the Kremlin's intense desire for total information control, has created an unsustainable contradiction. The recent restrictions, driven by security concerns and a push for digital sovereignty with the Max platform, have backfired spectacularly, angering the very soldiers and supporters the state depends on to fight its war. By attempting to sever a limb to save the body, the Kremlin has inflicted a self-inflicted wound on its own command and control systems. While the initial drop in combat intensity may stabilize as troops adapt or find workarounds, the episode has exposed a critical vulnerability. It has shattered the trust between the front line and the high command, demonstrating that the Kremlin's domestic priorities can directly and detrimentally impact its war effort. As Russian soldiers are left to plead for the restoration of their "only channel of communication," the Kremlin faces a stark choice: continue its path toward a tightly controlled, surveillance-based digital future, or ensure its army has the tools it needs to fightand communicateeffectively in the modern era. The dissonance between these two goals remains one of the war's most significant and underappreciated dynamics. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 20 February 2026 - Day 1458 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 UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 06 February 2026, the Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), General Syrskyi, confirmed Ukraine had initiated a counterattack near Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia oblast. Since the start of this counterattack, Ukraine has taken over 100 sq km of territory, mostly to the north of Huliaipole. In addition, Ukrainian forces also made limited gains to the north of this sector, most notably in the vicinity of Verbove, 14 km southeast of Pokrovske. It is likely these efforts have disrupted Russian momentum and delayed Russian offensive operations towards Orikhiv city from the east. Orikhiv is an important fortified logistics hub, underpinning the defence of central Zaporizhzhia. Further north, Ukrainian forces maintain control of the city of Kupiansk, a former rail logistics hub in Kharkiv oblast, securing the boundaries to mitigate against continued Russian infiltration attempts. Limited numbers of Russian infiltrators are reported to remain in the city, occupying high rise buildings. Ukrainian forces commenced their counter-attack in the northwest quadrant of Kupiansk in mid-December 2025. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, 130 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day. The defense forces continue to stop the Russian enemy, destroy personnel and deplete the Russian aggressor's combat potential, giving a continuous, effective fire effect. The Russian opponent made one missile strike with the use of one missile and 65 aviation strikes, dropped 161 controlled air bombs. In addition, Russian forces used 5115 kamikaze drones and carried out 2249 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. Two clashes took place in the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions today. The Russian enemy launched two air strikes, dropping three controlled bombs, carrying out 57 shells of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including twice from reactive systems of assault-fire. In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy four times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of settlements of Staritsa, Lyman, Vovchans ki Hutory, Krugle. In the Kupians 'komu direction, Russian troops attacked seven times, in the area of Pi .anogo and in the direction of Novoosinovoye and Kurilivka. The three clashes are still ongoing. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped seven Russian attacks, in the area of Zarichny and in the direction of Drobishevo, Lyman and Stavkiv. Two more clashes are underway. In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent tried to advance eight times in the areas of yampol, zakitny, platonivka and towards rai-oleksandrivka. In the direction of Kramators komu, the Russian enemy did not carry out offensive actions. In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 15 times near Pleshiyivka, Rusiny Yar, Sofiyivka and towards the settlements of Konstantinivka, Ivanopylya, Berestok, Novopavlivka. The Russian enemy committed 22 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The occupiers tried to advance in the areas of the settlements Rodinske, Mirnograd, Pokrovsk, Kotline, Udacne, Molodetske and towards Novooleksandrivka and Kucherovoy Yar. Two Russian attempts to improve his position are ongoing. According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 48 Russian invaders and wounded 33; destroyed 96 unmanned aircraft, four car transport units, three special equipment units, five ATVs, two artillery systems, two personnel shelters, BPLA control point, also hit one combat armored vehicle, 11 vehicles units nsport, Two artillery systems and 70 cover ups of the Russian opponent's personnel. In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers tried to twice improve their position in the area of Stepovoye. Velikomihajlivka suffered airstrike controlled air bombs. In the Gulyaipil direction there were 18 Russian attacks: in the areas of Gulyaipol, Zagirny and towards Varvarivka, Olenokostyantinivka, Zaliznychny and Svyatopetrivka. Two attacks are still going on. Russian airstrikes suffered the upper tersa, zaliznycne, bitter, gulyajpils ke, charming, lubytske, kopani. According to the information, the Russian enemy attacked twice in the areas of Stepovoye and Maliy Scherbakov. The settlements of Komyshuvakh and Yuliyivka were hit by an airstrike. Ukrainian units repelled three Russian attacks in the direction of Antonivsky Bridge in the Pridniprovsky direction. In other directions, no significant changes in the environment have been recorded at this time. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 14 to 20 February, in response to terrorist attacks launched by the AFU against civilian facilities in Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out one massive and six group strikes, which hit enterprises of the Ukrainian defence industry, power, fuel, and transport infrastructure facilities that supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine,missile and artillery weapons depots, production, storage, and launch areas of attack unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas of the AFU and foreign mercenaries. During the week, as a result of active offensive actions, units of the Sever Group of Forces established control over Pokrovka and Kharkovka (Sumy region). Russian troops inflicted fire damage on formations of four mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one airmobile brigade, two assault regiments, one Special Operations Forces' centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades. In total, in the area of responsibility of the Sever Group of Forces, the enemy losses were more than 1,310 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, 94 motor vehicles, and 12 field artillery guns. In addition, five electronic warfare and counter-battery stations as well as 24 ammunition and materiel depots were neutralised. Over the past week, units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops hit manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one territorial defence brigade, and two National Guard brigades. In this direction, the AFU losses were more than 1,115 troops, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, 111 motor vehicles, and 10 field artillery guns. In addition, 23 ammunition depots were destroyed. As a result of resolute actions, the Yug Group of Forces' units liberated Minkovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Over the past week, Russian troops delivered strikes at formations of four mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one airmobile brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and one National Guard brigades. Over the past week, in the Yug Group of Forces' area of responsibility, the AFU losses were more than 1,015 troops, 26 armoured fighting vehicles including eight NATO-made ones. In addition, 84 motor vehicles, nine artillery guns, four electronic warfare stations, 19 ammunition, POL, and materiel depots were neutralised. The Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops launched attacks on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, two jaeger brigades, one airmobile brigade, one air assault brigade, three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, the Azov Special Operations Brigade, and four National Guard brigades. Over the past week, the enemy losses were more than 2,220 troops, 31 armoured fighting vehicles, 50 motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns. The Vostok Group of Forces' units advanced into the depths of enemy defences and liberated Tsvetkovoye and Krinichnoye (Zaporozhye region). During the week, Russian troops launched strikes at formations of one mechanised brigade, three air assault brigades, two assault brigades, four assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one marine brigade. In total, in the area of responsibility of the Vostok Group of Forces, the enemy losses were more than 2,415 troops, 46 armoured fighting vehicles, 80 motor vehicles, 12 artillery guns, two Grad MLRS combat vehicles, and one Czech-made Vampire MLRS launcher. Five electronic warfare stations and three material depots were neutralised. Over the past week, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces liberated Zapasnoye, Magdalinovka, and Primorskoye (Zaporozhye region). Russian troops hit manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one coastal defence brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade. The AFU losses were up to 230 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 83 motor vehicles, seven electronic warfare stations as well as nine ammunition and materiel depots. Attack unmanned aerial vehicles destroyed one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launcher. Air defence systems shot down 13 guided aerial bombs, 37 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 1,808 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 115,765 unmanned aerial vehicles, 650 anti-aircraft missile systems, 27,776 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,669 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,381 field artillery guns and mortars, and 54,816 special military vehicles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DND, AFP join UK-hosted maritime cybersecurity training Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno February 20, 2026, 12:15 pm MANILA -- As part of ongoing efforts to beef up the country's cyber defenses, personnel of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines took part in a two-day United Kingdom-hosted maritime cybersecurity training aimed at boosting the Philippines' cyber defense posture within the maritime domain. DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong, in a statement Friday, said the event ran in Taguig from Feb. 18 to 19 and was jointly sponsored by the UK Embassy Manila, led by Pip Morgan, National Security Lead, and the University of Plymouth. "The training brought together key maritime and defense stakeholders, including representatives from the Philippine Navy, to enhance cybersecurity preparedness in the maritime domain," he added. Andolong said the course was facilitated by Kevin Jones, professor and founder of the Maritime Cyber Threats Research Group, and the Cyber-SHIP Lab, and deputy vice-chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Plymouth. He said Jones "provided expert insights on maritime cyber risks and operational technology vulnerabilities." Meanwhile, Kimberly Tam, associate professor in cybersecurity at the University of Plymouth, discussed emerging risks related to artificial intelligence in maritime systems and the need for robust safeguards in increasingly automated operations. "The activity supports the DND's ongoing efforts to fortify defense-wide cybersecurity standards and build institutional capacity in addressing emerging risks in an increasingly digital and interconnected security environment. Through sustained collaboration with international partners, the department continues to advance a secure, resilient, and future-ready defense posture in support of national and regional stability," Andolong said. Meanwhile, Office for DND Information Security officer in charge Odessa Rossilynz Magisa underscored the operational value of the training in strengthening the country's cyber defense posture within the maritime domain. "We have explored emerging threats, applied practical exercises, and discussed strategies for resilience that will directly strengthen the AFP's operational and cyber defense posture," she added. Magisa also emphasized the importance of translating insights into sustained capability development across the defense sector. "Let us take the lessons learned here and apply them across our units, ensuring that this partnership continues to bear fruit in real-world operational readiness, innovation, and collaboration," she said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Shaping up in the South China Sea By Lieutenant Marcus Middleton 20 February 2026 It was a day of poise, professionalism, and precision as three partner nations sailed and flew in formation off the west coast of the Philippine island of Luzon during the latest multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA). From February 15 to 16, HMAS Toowoomba sailed with Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua, Philippine Navy frigate BRP Diego Silang, and United States Navy destroyer USS Dewey. Together, the ships practiced officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres and replenishments at sea. Overhead, the activity was supported by a Philippine Navy AW109 helicopter, Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, Philippine Air Force FA-50PH and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Royal Australian Navy ships conducting regional presence deployments are routinely involved in MCAs with the Philippines and other partner nations, demonstrating their commitment to regional security. Commanding Officer HMAS Toowoomba Commander Alicia Harrison thanked the Philippines for the opportunity to work together to strengthen the security partnership. "We value our ongoing close cooperation with the Philippines and partner nations in the region," she said. Commander Harrison said it was especially rewarding for her crew to witness the handling and capability of Diego Silang, which was commissioned in December 2025. "It was a wonderful treat for my crew to see the newest addition to the Philippine Navy in action. It's not every day you get to sail up close and in formation with a next generation guided-missile frigate from a partner nation," Commander Harrison said. "This strong cooperation between the Philippines, United States and Australia demonstrates how the ability to work together is critical to supporting a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific." Before the latest MCA, a joint Philippines-Australian replenishment at sea workshop was held during a port visit to Subic Bay. Toowoomba Boatswain Chief Petty Officer Tyler Thomson said the MCA was a great opportunity to put theory to practice. "It was a fantastic opportunity for our crew to provide some real-world experience and exposure to our Philippine Navy counterparts," Chief Petty Officer Thomson said. Chief Petty Officer Thomson said the activity allowed partner nations to build upon shared tactics, techniques and procedures, to enhance interoperability and readiness to respond to shared security challenges. "This type of training not only ensures that our skills stay focused, but allows us to enhance interoperability between close regional partners, enabling us to work together safely and effectively in the future," Chief Petty Officer Thomson said. The multilateral MCA between Australia, the Philippines and the United States demonstrated a shared commitment to transparently promote and strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. It also demonstrated a shared commitment to upholding international law during freedom of navigation and overflight, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Major shipbuilding contracts underpin Army's transformation The Hon Richard Marles MP Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Defence 20 February 2026 The Albanese Government has taken another significant step towards the Australian Army's transformation to a littoral fleet, with the signing of two key contracts for Landing Craft Heavy and Landing Craft Medium. Together, these contracts - signed with Defence's strategic shipbuilder Austal Defence Australia - represent a major investment in Australia's sovereign shipbuilding capability and is expected to create over 1,100 direct and more than 2,000 indirect jobs, particularly in Western Australia. The Albanese Government is the first federal Government to commit to continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia. These contracts are the next step in delivering on this commitment. Landing Craft Heavy The Government is investing $4 billion into Army's future Landing Craft Heavy littoral fleet through a new contract covering the scope, timeline and material requirements that will see eight vessels built at WA's Henderson Shipyard. These vessels, designed by Damen Naval, will be capable of transporting more than 500 tonnes of long range precision strike weapons and other units by sea, greatly enhancing the Australian Defence Force's amphibious capability and humanitarian and disaster relief. Importantly, the contract signed today also represents a commitment by the Albanese Government to support a future made in Australia, with an overall Australian Contract Expenditure of over 60 per cent - supporting local and regional businesses and incentivising industry investments in workforce, supply chains and infrastructure. The first tranche of these vessels will be constructed at the Common User Facility, before the program moves to a permanent location. As part of the Landing Craft Heavy program, the Government will also make available an initial $30 million for the Western Australian Government to commence early works for interim replacement facilities for non-Defence industries that utilise the Henderson Common User Facility (CUF) to ensure they are afforded ongoing access to infrastructure. The Albanese and Cook Governments are committed to minimising the impacts to non-Defence industries at the CUF as work continues to deliver the Defence Precinct at Henderson, which will support 10,000 direct jobs over the next two decades. Landing Craft Medium This follows the Government and Austal Defence Australia having signed a $1 billion contract to design, build and deliver 18 Landing Craft Medium vessels, further consolidating Western Australia as a national shipbuilding hub. Together, these milestones for the Landing Craft Heavy and Landing Craft Medium represent the largest recapitalisation of Army's littoral capability since the Second World War. The expanded littoral fleet is central to Army's rapid transformation under the 2024 National Defence Strategy and will significantly enhance the ADF's ability to hold adversaries at risk, project and sustain capabilities and deny access to Australia's northern approaches. Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles: "The Albanese Government is delivering continuous naval shipbuilding in the West, and the construction of landing craft vessels at Henderson will be the first step. "These contracts will support thousands of direct and indirect jobs, while also equipping the Australian Army with the capabilities it needs for littoral manoeuvre and to undertake long range land and maritime strike. "An increased focus on littoral manoeuvre will enable the ADF to respond more effectively in our region and keep Australians safe." Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy: "The Landing Craft program will further strengthen our sovereign industry, supporting continuous shipbuilding in Western Australia and ensuring Australia has the industrial capability and depth to keep Australians safe. "The combined delivery of landing craft capabilities is expected to create more than 1,100 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs, providing a sustained pipeline of work that incentivises defence industry investment in skills, supply chains and infrastructure." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada advances Defence Industrial Strategy to strengthen security, sovereignty and prosperity Global Affairs Canada News release February 20, 2026 - Waterloo, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada Canada is pursuing a long-term, whole-of-government approach to strengthening the defence industrial base as a pillar of national security, economic resilience and prosperity. Today, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, was in Waterloo, Ontario, to highlight Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy, announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on February 17, 2026. The new Defence Industrial Strategy supports Canada's approach to trade diversification. It aims to increase defence exports by 50% and to strengthen wholeofgovernment line of sight on strategic export opportunities through Global Affairs Canada's Defence Exports Division. The strategy encourages collaboration with trusted allies to deliver capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces while expanding support for Canadian businesses to help them export more of their products and services abroad. The world is changing rapidly. The international rules-based order is fading, and technological change is expanding the fields of conflict. That is why Canada is focusing on what it can control: rebuilding, rearming and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. Canada is pursuing a long-term, whole-of-government approach to strengthening the defence industrial base as a pillar of national security, economic prosperity and strategic autonomy. Through Canada's first-ever Defence Industrial Strategy, Canada is strengthening the industrial foundations that support the country's security and economic resilience. By aligning long-term defence investments with industrial capability, the strategy supports Canadian businesses and workers, strengthening domestic supply chains, and reinforces Canada as a trusted partner to its Allies. Canada is making generational investments in its defence ecosystem to transform its military, to create good, high-paying careers for Canadians across the country and, crucially, to supply the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment it needs to keep Canada safe and sovereign. Quotes "Canada's first-ever Defence Industrial Strategy builds on a sector of nearly 600 companies supporting more than 80,000 workers. These new initiatives will create an additional 125,000 high-paying careers while increasing defence exports by 50 per cent. Nearly half of what we produce is already sold abroad, and by expanding into new markets, we're turning global demand into growth here at home. Today at BlackBerry, we see exactly how export opportunities translate into good jobs, advanced innovation, and long-term economic strength for Canadians." - Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade Quick facts The Defence Industrial Strategy builds on Canada's commitment to increase defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) or approximately $63 billion, in 2025-26, and to 5% of GDP by 2035. TheDefence Industrial Strategypositions 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. Increasing investments in core military capabilities, building up Canadian industry and making dual-use investments are putting Canada on a pathway to meeting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's new Defence Investment Pledge to invest 5% of gross domestic product by 2035. Canada's defence industry contributes nearly $10 billion to GDP and supports over 81,000 jobs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting between Jean-Noel Barrot and his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla (February 20, 2026) France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres Today Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot hosted his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, who is currently visiting several European countries. The two ministers discussed issues pertaining to our bilateral relationship as well as Cuba's economic and social situation and prospects for stabilization. They also addressed the human rights situation and progress with economic reforms. The Minister reaffirmed France's commitment to fundamental liberties and emphasized that progress in this area would help build trust and bring about long-term stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Second-day Sitting of Ninth Congress of WPK Held Comrade Kim Jong Un Starts Report Reviewing Work of Eighth-term WPK Central Committee Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- The second-day sitting of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea took place on Feb. 20. The congress will mark a new milestone in the development of the Party and the history of comprehensive socialist construction. The congress continued its discussion on the first agenda item "Review of the Work of the WPK Central Committee" as it did in its first-day sitting. After hearing about the implementation of the Party and state policies during the period under review, the congress appreciated that the remarkable successes, experience and lessons, gained in the overall work of the Party and the state in politics, economy, culture, defence, diplomacy and other fields under the leadership of the eighth-term Central Committee of the WPK headed by the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , serve as the precious foundations for putting the struggle onto the next-stage development process and as a springboard for making leaps forward in guaranteeing greater changes and successes. The past five years, which witnessed the strenuous efforts to go through the first-stage course towards the comprehensive development of Korean-style socialist construction, were a period of great transformations and turns of profound significance in building up the Party struggling to realize the independence of the popular masses and developing the revolution. The Party Central Committee has consistently adhered to the responsible working attitude of finding shortcomings first rather than successes and learning the secret to development from lessons in adopting Party policies and drawing up and carrying out work, and to the principle of attaching absolute importance to the interests of the state and the people. It has also opened up a new chapter, in which the whole country undergoes progress in a simultaneous and balanced way, steering the trend of accelerated changes in all fields of socialist construction. Amid the struggle for implementing the five-point Party-building line in the new era, the Party's leadership, organizing ability and fighting efficiency have been further strengthened, alongside the creation of appearance and traits for ensuring the eternal continuity of the glorious 80-year-long ruling history of the Party. Furthermore, the five-year plans in all fields, decided by the Eighth WPK Congress, were successfully carried out and creations of prosperity built in all parts of the country to fully demonstrate the daily-growing political and economic potentials of the DPRK, thanks to the great spirit and irresistible might of all the Party members and other people united with patriotism. The congress acknowledged that through the struggle, guided by the eighth-term Central Committee of the WPK, for fresh innovation, bold creation and steady advance, the internal force has remarkably increased to lay a scientific development foundation for putting all fields of socialist construction on a new stage and secure confidence and sufficient ability for further accelerating the struggle for the prosperity of the state. The second-day sitting of the congress heard an important report of weighty historic and practical significance in making the pioneering period of the comprehensive development of socialism lead on to the greatest-ever upsurges. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un started the report on the review of the work of the eighth-term Central Committee of the WPK. All the participants listen carefully to the historic report on the review of the work of the WPK Central Committee which proudly reviews the five years when it brought about eye-opening development and change by waging an offensive struggle with absolute trust in its cause and strong fighting spirit. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INDIAN ARMY HOSTS NATIONAL SEMINAR ON "ENHANCING MILITARY DECISION-MAKING THROUGH WARGAMING AND SIMULATION" AND RELEASES INDIGENOUS DECISION-SUPPORT APPLICATIONS India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 20 FEB 2026 5:27PM by PIB Delhi A Wargaming Seminar themed "Enhancing Military Decision-Making through Wargaming and Simulation - Bridging Knowledge and Industry Gaps" was conducted by the Indian Army today at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. The seminar, organised by the Wargaming Development Centre (WARDEC), provided a national platform for strategic dialogue, bringing together participants from across India's wargaming ecosystem, including senior military leaders, academicians, strategic thinkers and technology industry experts. The event underscored the growing importance of wargaming as a critical tool for operational planning, leadership development and doctrinal innovation in contemporary and future multi-domain battlespaces. The seminar was inaugurated by Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command. In his keynote address, he emphasised that wargaming is not merely a procedural exercise but a strategic instrument to sharpen judgement, validate assumptions and cultivate adaptive thinking. He highlighted the imperative of embedding simulation-driven analysis within institutional planning processes to enhance operational preparedness, decision superiority and the Indian Army's ability to respond effectively to dynamic operational challenges. The address also reflected the growing focus on Atmanirbharta in defence, highlighting the Indian Army's commitment to designing, developing and deploying advanced capabilities indigenously. The seminar featured in-depth discussions across operational, academic and industrial perspectives. From the military perspective, the seminar focused on leveraging multi-domain simulations, institutionalising wargaming as a core professional competency and preparing commanders for complex operational environments characterised by speed, ambiguity and technological disruption. From the academic perspective, the seminar highlighted the role of universities and research institutions in developing human capital, conducting interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence, data analytics, behavioural sciences and systems engineering; and fostering practitioner-academic collaborations to advance wargaming methodologies. From the industry perspective, the seminar emphasised military-civil partnerships, co-development frameworks and the integration of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data analytics, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality into operationally relevant simulation environments. An accompanying exhibition showcased advanced simulation platforms and innovative technological solutions, reinforcing the collaborative ethos and shared vision of the Indian wargaming ecosystem. During the seminar three indigenously developed software applications by WARDEC were also released. These include Auto Evaluation Map Marking Tool; Combat Decision Resolution - Version 9; and Automated Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield. These applications mark a significant milestone in the Indian Army's journey towards technological self-reliance, offering structured decision-support frameworks for commanders at all levels. The closing session was addressed by Lieutenant General Zubin A Minwalla, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Doctrine, Organisation and Training, who underscored the importance of a self-reliant, future-ready wargaming ecosystem in supporting doctrinal innovation, analytical evaluation and leadership development. He emphasised that such an ecosystem is crucial for nurturing anticipatory planning capabilities, preparing commanders for multi-domain operational challenges and ensuring that India remains at the forefront of military thought and technological innovation. The seminar reaffirmed the Indian Army's commitment to complement material modernisation with intellectual preparedness. By convening the Armed Forces, academia and industry on a unified platform, it strengthened the foundations of a resilient, self-reliant and future-ready wargaming ecosystem, advancing India's operational capability and safeguarding national security. The event highlighted the strategic significance of simulation-enabled training, analytical evaluation and decision-support tools in preparing commanders to operate effectively in increasingly complex operational environments and demonstrated India's determination to achieve technological autonomy while fostering collaborative innovation. ________________________ NA/PK (Release ID: 2230790) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeks, Smith, Himes Oppose U.S. Military Force Against Iran, Urge Continued Diplomacy House Armed Services Committee - Democrats February 20, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; and Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement opposing U.S. use of military force against Iran and urging President Trump to continue engaging with Tehran diplomatically: "We strongly oppose preemptive U.S. military action against Iran, which endangers U.S. personnel and risks drawing Israel and Gulf partners into a wider conflict. Absent a broader diplomatic framework, miliary strikes would be destabilizing, dangerous, and counterproductive to efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. "Diplomacy is the most effective tool available to durably constrain Iran's nuclear program and reduce the risk of a broader regional war. Renewed talks with Tehran show that a diplomatic path remains open, which President Trump should not abandon for a short-term, unauthorized show of military force that leaves Americans less secure. "The Constitution is clear: decisions to go to war require Congressional authorization. If the President believes military action is necessary, he must come to Congress and make the case that it is in the national security interest of the United States to do so." ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araghchi: Swift agreement desirable for both Tehran and Washington IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 20, 2026 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has rejected the idea of any deadlines for Iran-US negotiations, saying that a quick deal is something both sides are interested in. Speaking with Morning Joe, Araghchi addressed various questions regarding the latest state of negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Iran and US held very good talks in Geneva Asked about remarks suggesting that failure to reach a deal could imply the possibility of war, Araghchi said that the negotiating teams from Iran and the US had "very good talks in Geneva," adding that they were able to talk about issues related to Iran's nuclear program and US sanctions against Tehran. He said that they had reached an understanding on "a set of guiding principles" for negotiations and the possible framework of an agreement. "We were asked to prepare a draft of a possible deal" so in the next meeting, they will discuss the "language" of the draft and "hopefully come to a conclusion." He also emphasized, "There is no military solution to Iran's nuclear program. That has been tested and there were huge attacks on our facilities. They killed and assassinated our scientists. But they couldn't kill our nuclear program. Why? Because it is developed by ourselves, by our scientists." "This is a technology developed by us and it belongs to us. And it cannot be destroyed by bombings or militarily," he said, adding that "the only solution is diplomacy" and that is why the US has returned to the negotiating table. Iran is prepared for both war and peace, he said. Neither Iran proposed suspending enrichment, nor has US demanded zero enrichment Addressing reports that the US seeks "a permanent suspension" of Iran's enrichment program, Araghchi said that these speculations are "incorrect." He clarified that discussions currently focus on "how to ensure that Iran's nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever" in exchange for sanctions relief. He said, "This is what we have already done - in 2015," adding that "even a better one" can be reached this time. He added that he is in contact with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and that further meetings may take place as needed to reach "a fair and equitable deal" with "creativity and flexibility." "No ultimatum" exists Regarding speculation about imminent military action, Araghchi said that there is no deadline. "A fast deal" has been discussed, he said, adding that Tehran is under sanctions, and the sooner they are terminated, the better for Iran. "so we have no reason to delay a possible deal for buy time." He emphasized that both sides are interested in a quick deal, but the only challenge is how to make it a fair and win-win. He expressed hope that those are seeking war and trying "to drag the United States into another unnecessary and disastrous war once again" will not prevail and that diplomats would be allowed to find a solution. Military buildup around Iran is unnecessary and futile Araghchi defined a "win-win" agreement as one in which: "The US is absolutely confident that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and would remain peaceful. And for Iran sanctions are lifted." He said a military option would only further complicate matters and could have "disastrous consequences" for the region and the international community. Iran's draft proposal will be ready within days Araghchi gave the news that Iran's next step is to present a draft agreement to the US negotiators. He said that another meeting may follow to begin serious negotiations over the text and expressed hoped that a desirable outcome would be reached. Iran does not consider American people enemies Asked whether Iran considers the United States its enemy, Araghchi responded that Iranians do not consider the American people their enemy but see the policies of the US government as "hostile against Iran". "And those hostilities are stopped, then we can perhaps consider having a different kind of relations." War, sanctions, and the snapback mechanism did not work When asked for his message to US President Donald Trump and members of Congress, Araghchi said, "The message is that previous US administrations, even the current US administration, have tried almost everything against us: war, sanctions, the snapback. But none of them worked." "If you talk with the Iranian people with the language of respect, we respond with the same language. But if you talk to us with the language of force, we will reciprocate with the same language. I think Iranians have proved to be a very proud people. We only respond to the language of respect." 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Destroyer Dena docks at Indian port to participate in MILAN 2026 drills IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 20, 2026 Tehran, IRNA -- The destroyer "Dena" has docked at Visakhapatnam Port, eastern India, to participate in the international MILAN 2026 exercise, aimed at developing maritime diplomacy, expanding defense interactions, and showing operational capabilities of the Iranian navy in international waters. The MILAN drills are is held every two years in one of India's largest ports. In the current edition, more than 70 countries are participating. This year's exercise will be held from February 18 to February 25 at Visakhapatnam Port and in the waters of the Bay of Bengal. According to the Indian Navy, the objective of the MILAN exercise is to strengthen professional ties among naval forces, share experiences, enhance operational coordination, and increase cooperation among countries in the field of maritime security. Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, who has traveled to India, attended the opening ceremony of the Milan 2026 exercise, as well as the IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium) Chiefs' Meeting. IONS is a regional forum comprising 25 Indian Ocean littoral states, established in 2008 at the initiative of the Indian Navy. Its goal is to enhance maritime cooperation among the coastal countries of the Indian Ocean region. India will hold the chairmanship of IONS for the next two years. Rear Admiral Irani also met and held talks with several of his counterparts on the sidelines of the exercise. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia supports Iran's legitimate rights in negotiations IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 20, 2026 Moscow, IRNA -- The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed support for a fair political and diplomatic solution that respects Tehran's legitimate rights. Lavrov made the remarks during a phone call initiated by his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, on Friday. During the phone conversation, Araghchi and Lavrov exchanged views on the current status of Iran's nuclear issue, including the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva. The report added that Lavrov once again declared Russia's support for the negotiation process aimed at finding fair political and diplomatic solutions that respect Iran's legitimate rights, enshrined in the principles of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In the phone call, the two top politicians also included several issues of mutual interest on the agenda of bilateral relations. The second round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States concluded at the Omani Embassy in Geneva on Tuesday (February 17, 2026). Negotiators from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America reached general agreement on a set of guiding principles to narrow differences and begin work on drafting a possible agreement. At the conclusion of the second round of talks, Araghchi said that various ideas were raised and seriously discussed, and that ultimately a general agreement was reached. The first round of indirect Tehran-Washington talks was held on February 6, 2026, in Muscat, Oman. During those discussions, the Iranian and US negotiating delegations conveyed a series of views, considerations, and approaches to each other through Badr Albusaidi, Oman's Foreign Minister. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 20, 2026 New York, IRNA -- Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran neither seeks tension nor war and will not initiate any war, but if it is subjected to military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately. In a letter addressed to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Security Council President James Kariuki on Thursday, the Iranian envoy said that the US president threatened the use of the Diego Garcia base in connection with a potential military attack against the Islamic Republic of Iran. He warned that such a move constitutes a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law and risks plunging the region into a new cycle of crisis and instability. Iravani underlined, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stated at the highest level that it neither seeks tension nor war and will not initiate any war. However, in the event that it is subjected to military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations." The following is the full text of the letter: Excellencies, Upon instructions from my Government, and with reference to our previous letters dated 30 December 2025 and 2, 9, 13, 22, and 28 January 2026 regarding the persistent threat of the use of force by the United States of America against the Islamic Republic of Iran, I write further to draw your urgent attention, and that of the members of the Security Council, to the continued threats by officials of the United States to resort to the use of force including the recent public statement by the President of the United States concerning the use of the Diego Garcia base in connection with a potential military attack against the Islamic Republic of Iran-which constitute a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law and risk plunging the region into a new cycle of crisis and instability. On 18 February 2026, in a social media post, the President of the United States once again issued an explicit public threat of the use of force against the Islamic Republic of Iran and stated: "... 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...." Given the volatile situation in the region and the persistent movement and build-up of military equipment and assets by the United States, such a belligerent statement by the President of the United States must not be treated as mere rhetoric; it signals a real risk of military aggression, the consequences of which would be catastrophic for the region and would constitute a grave threat to international peace and security. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains fully committed to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to diplomatic solutions. It has engaged constructively, with seriousness and in good faith, in nuclear talks with the Government of the United States, with a view to clearly conveying its concerns and demanding the full and verifiable lifting of the unlawful and inhumane unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) imposed against the Iranian nation, while, on a reciprocal basis, addressing ambiguities regarding its peaceful nuclear programme, in order to reach a mutually acceptable, results-oriented solution fully consistent with the recognized inalienable rights of all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The Islamic Republic of Iran remains of the view that, should the United States likewise approach these talks with seriousness and sincerity and demonstrate genuine respect for the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the peremptory norms of international law, the achievement of a durable and balanced solution would be entirely possible. Against this backdrop, the Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon Your Excellency and all members of the Security Council, consistent with the Council's primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, to fully utilize the Council's authority and good offices to ensure that the United States immediately ceases its unlawful threats of the use of force, complies with its obligations under the Charter- particularly Article 2 (4) and refrains from any action that could further escalate tensions or lead to a military confrontation, the consequences of which would be severe and far-reaching for regional and international peace and security. The Security Council and the Secretary-General must act without delay, before it is too late. The Security Council must not allow threats of the use of force and acts of aggression to be normalized, legitimized, or treated as an acceptable political norm, or to be used as instruments of foreign policy. Should such unlawful conduct be left unaddressed, another sovereign Member State's turn will soon come. The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stated at the highest level that it neither seeks tension nor war and will not initiate any war. However, in the event that it is subjected to military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. In such circumstances, all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran's defensive response. The United States would bear full and direct responsibility for any unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences. I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as an official document of the Security Council. Please accept, Excellencies, the assurances of my highest consideration Tehran says US has not sought zero enrichment, warns war hawks pushing for 'catastrophic war' Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 3:58 PM Iran's Foreign Minister has said Washington has not demanded zero uranium enrichment in ongoing indirect talks, while warning that hardliners are attempting to steer US policy toward a "catastrophic war." "We have not proposed any suspension and the US also has not asked us for zero enrichment." Abbas Araghchi told the Morning Joe show on US TV network MSNBC on Friday, referring to the latest round of indirect talks, which were held in Geneva on Tuesday. Araghchi also said that the talks focus on making sure that Iran's nuclear program, which includes enrichment, will remain peaceful. He described the latest round as "very good," adding that the sides agreed on a number of guiding principles for the negotiations. He added that Tehran will prepare a draft of a possible agreement in the next "two or three days" and will be handed over to Steve Witkoff, head of the US negotiating team, after approval by senior authorities "There may be a need for another meeting to discuss it, after which we can begin working on the text of that draft," he added. The top diplomat also pointed to the growing US military threats against Iran in the past few weeks despite ongoing negotiations. "I hope that those who seek war and want to drag the United States once again into an unnecessary and catastrophic war will not succeed, and will allow us diplomats to work together and find a diplomatic solution that I believe is within reach and can be achieved in a short time," Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with Morning Joe program on MC Now. His remarks come as a report, citing statements from US officials, said the Israeli regime has been pressing US President Donald Trump to authorize a strike on Iran. Trump on Thursday renewed his threats of military action against Tehran, just days after the Geneva talks, which were largely described in positive terms. Araghchi stressed that no military action can solve the nuclear issue with Iran, noting that it was tried during the US-Israeli aggression in June and proved to be a failure. "There is no military solution to Iran's nuclear program. This has been tried before. There have been widespread attacks on our facilities, our scientists have been assassinated, but they have not been able to destroy our nuclear program. Why? Because this program was developed by us and our scientists. This technology belongs to us and cannot be destroyed by bombing or military action," he stated. He emphasized that "The only solution is diplomacy. That is why America is back at the negotiating table and seeking an agreement." Iran's top diplomat also stressed that "We are ready for peace, we are ready for diplomacy, just as we are ready to defend ourselves." "If someone is looking for a solution to Iran's nuclear program and wants to ensure that it remains peaceful, the only path is [through] negotiation and a diplomatic solution," he reiterated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran 'serious' on achieving a 'fair' deal with US, Araghchi tells Lavrov Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 3:37 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is serious on reaching a "fair and balanced" deal through negotiations with the United States. Araghchi made the remark in a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, a few days after Iranian and American negotiators held indirect talks in the Swiss city of Geneva over Tehran's nuclear program. He said Iran is serious in advancing the talks with the US to achieve a fair and balanced agreement, while observing Iran's rights and interests in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran and the US held the second round of indirect nuclear negotiations at the Omani consulate general in Geneva on Tuesday. As in the previous round in the Omani capital of Muscat, the agenda of the talks focused primarily on the nuclear issue and the lifting of illegal US sanctions. Following the talks, the Iranian foreign minister said the two sides agreed on a set of guiding principles to clear the path for future talks. During the phone call, Araghchi commended Russia's constructive and positive stance at international circles and informed his Russian counterpart of the latest developments regarding nuclear talks between Iran and the US. In a statement on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the phone talks between Araghchi and Lavrov, at the initiative of the Iranian side, saying the top diplomats took into account the "outcomes of the indirect US-Iranian contacts" in Geneva. According to the statement, Lavrov reiterated Russia's support for the negotiation process aimed at finding fair political and diplomatic solutions while respecting Iran's legitimate rights, in accordance with the principles of the NPT. The Iranian and Russian foreign ministers also discussed certain issues on the bilateral agenda of mutual interest, the statement added. In an interview with Saudi Arabia's al-Arabiya television aired on Wednesday, Lavrov warned that any new US strike on Iran is "playing with fire" and will have "serious consequences." "From what we can judge, there were real risks of a nuclear incident... Everyone understands this is playing with fire," the top Russian diplomat emphasized. The US began its war rhetoric against Iran after recent economic protests in the country, which were hijacked by foreign spy agencies and turned violent. Since then, the US president has kept threatening military action, deploying two carrier groups and dozens of fighter jets, bombers and refueling aircraft to regional waters near Iran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Dena destroyer docks in Indian port as Tehran, New Delhi discuss maritime security Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 1:52 PM Iran's Dena destroyer has docked in the Indian port of Visakhapatnam to take part in an international naval drill as senior naval commanders from Tehran and New Delhi held talks on strengthening maritime security cooperation. Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani held a meeting on Friday with Chief of India's Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi. Irani is in India to participate in three events - namely the IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium), the Milan 2026 Naval Exercise, and the International Fleet Review (IFR). "Sustainable maritime security can only be achieved through cooperation and synergy among the countries in the region, and this active and responsible presence guarantees the stability and security of vital energy and trade routes," said the Iranian commander. Pointing to the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region in global trade, Irani added that multilateral exercises offer a valuable opportunity to enhance operational coordination, improve combat readiness, and strengthen defense diplomacy. He also expressed the readiness of Iran's Navy to expand technical and educational cooperation with India and to conduct joint exercises in areas of shared interest. "The exchange of experience in the field of long-range operations and escort missions for commercial vessels can help enhance mutual capabilities," Irani emphasized. Tripathi, for his part, said sustained and constructive engagement among regional naval forces plays a key role in countering common threats such as piracy, organized smuggling, and maritime natural disasters. He pointed to the importance of sharing technical expertise, making use of mutual training capacities, and expanding maritime cooperation within the framework of common interests. According to a statement issued by India's Ministry of Defense, the multinational exercise has brought together navy chiefs and heads of delegations from 74 countries. Meanwhile, Iran's domestically manufactured Mowj-class Dena destroyer docked in Visakhapatnam on Friday to participate in Milan 2026. The deployment is aimed at promoting maritime diplomacy, expanding defense interaction, and showcasing the operational capabilities of Iran's Navy. The Dena is equipped with a range of defensive and offensive systems. It is designed for long ocean voyages and is capable of detecting, tracking, and engaging aerial, surface, and submarine targets. The vessel can also carry helicopters on its deck. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NYT questions Trump's justification for threatening war on Iran Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 11:14 AM A new analysis has highlighted the Trump administration's failure to provide a public justification for a new act of aggression against Iran, as Americans remain broadly opposed to war with the country. The analysis published by The New York Times on Thursday said that the Trump administration made no case at all to explain why it needs to attack Iran after claiming to have "obliterated" the country's nuclear program, in last year's illegal assault launched by Israel against the Islamic Republic. The US president, it added, has also failed to explain why he has chosen this moment to confront Iran instead of, for example, nuke-armed North Korea. "Rarely in modern times has the United States prepared to conduct a major act of war with so little explanation and so little public debate," it said. The US began its war rhetoric against Iran after recent foreign-linked riots which immediately failed to take off, and during which Trump talked about coming to the aid of the armed mercenaries. Since then, the US president has kept threatening military action, deploying two carrier groups and dozens of fighter jets, bombers and refueling aircraft to regional waters near Iran. "Trump has never consistently described his goals, and when he talks about them it is usually in a haze of brief, offhand comments. The president has given no speeches preparing the American public for a strike on a country of about 90 million people, and sought no approval from Congress," the analysis said. It further noted that the US war posture against Iran comes at a time when none of Washington's allies appear to be joining it in military planning, except for the Israeli regime. The analysis referred to a decision by the British government not to give permission for the US to use UK military bases to support a potential US aggression against Iran. Meanwhile, recent polls suggest that American public opinion is largely against a new military confrontation with Iran. According to a SSRS/University of Maryland survey earlier this month, only 21 percent of participants favored a US war on Iran under the current circumstances, while 49 percent opposed. US Democratic Representative Ro Khanna is working with his Republican colleague Thomas Massie, to force the House to vote on a war powers resolution next week, after Congress returns from recess. "A war with Iran would be catastrophic," Khanna said in an X post. "Iran is a complex society of 90 million people with significant air defenses and military capabilities. We also have 30,000 to 40,000 US troops in the region who could be at risk of retaliation. Congress must do its job and stop this march to war." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, China, Russia hold trilateral talks on Geneva nuclear negotiations Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 7:22 AM Diplomats from Iran, China and Russia have met to review the latest developments in indirect nuclear talks held between Iran and the US held earlier this week in Geneva. Late Thursday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X that he met with Russian Ambassador to Iran Alexey Dedov and Chinese Ambassador to Iran Cong Peiwu. "In a joint meeting with the ambassadors of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, we discussed the latest developments related to the nuclear talks in Geneva, as well as some bilateral issues," he wrote. "The three countries will continue their close consultations and coordination on important issues within the framework of their strategic relations," he added. The trilateral consultation came as indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States continued in Geneva. On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a three-hour indirect meeting with American negotiators. The two sides agreed on a set of guiding principles to facilitate future discussions. The Geneva talks are part of a broader diplomatic track that began in Muscat on February 6. The process is being led by Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff. A day before Gharibabadi's announcement, the ambassadors of Iran, Russia and China to international organizations in Vienna met with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi. During the meeting, they delivered a joint letter to Grossi, reflecting their shared positions and emphasizing coordination and joint engagement on these issues. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's envoy to the UN in Vienna, said on X that the "Permanent Representatives of China, Iran and Russia met with the IAEA Director General Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi and delivered to him joint messages on issues related to Iran. A special emphasis was made on the need for a politico-diplomatic solution of all the existing problems." A day earlier in Geneva, Grossi also held consultations with both the Iranian and American delegations regarding the progress of the negotiations. The renewed diplomatic push comes amid US threats against Tehran and increasing US military buildup near Iran. Trump has repeatedly threatened to launch attacks if talks do not yield the result that Washington seeks. Tehran has vowed to respond decisively to any military action. Following US strikes in June against peaceful nuclear facilities, Iran launched a missile operation targeting Al Udeid, the main US airbase in Qatar. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BELGRADE, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday underscored the crucial role of Chinese investment in Serbia's economic development during a visit to the country's eastern region. Sustained Chinese involvement in key industrial projects is "of vital importance" for both local communities and the country as a whole, Vucic said in Bor, eastern Serbia. The president highlighted the tangible impact of Chinese investment on employment and living standards, noting that the investment has preserved thousands of jobs and strengthened economic stability in the region. Throughout his visit, Vucic said that maintaining and expanding Chinese investment is a cornerstone of Serbia's strategy for sustainable growth and modernization. "Our goal is to develop our country together with our Chinese partners," he said. Iran won't initiate war, but will 'decisively' defend itself against aggression: UN envoy Iran Press TV Friday, 20 February 2026 7:16 AM The Iranian ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations has stressed that the Islamic Republic will not initiate any war but will deliver a "decisive" response to an act of aggression against the country. Amir Saeid Iravani made the remarks in a letter sent on Thursday to the UN chief and the Security Council president, one day after US President Donald Trump threatened that Washington may need to use the Indian Ocean's Diego Garcia Island, home to a joint UK-US military base, to attack Iran. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stated at the highest level that it neither seeks tension nor war, and will not initiate any war," he said. "However, in the event that it is subjected to military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations." He also noted that in case of any military aggression against Iran, all regional bases, facilities, and assets belonging to the "hostile force" would constitute "legitimate targets" for Iran's retaliatory operations. The United States, Iravani warned, would bear responsibility for any "unpredictable and uncontrolled" consequences. He further denounced Trump's threats to use force against Iran as a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law that risks plunging the entire region into a new cycle of crisis and instability. "Given the volatile situation in the region and the persistent movement and build-up of military equipment and assets by the United States, such a belligerent statement by the President of the United States must not be treated as mere rhetoric, it signals a real risk of military aggression, the consequences of which would be catastrophic for the region and would constitute a grave threat to international peace and security," he added. Meanwhile, the Iranian envoy emphasized that the country remains fully committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and to diplomatic solutions. He highlighted Tehran's engagement in recent indirect nuclear talks with Washington in Geneva aimed at lifting unlawful US sanctions and addressing ambiguities regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Iravani also said that a durable and balanced solution can be achieved if the United States, like Iran, approaches nuclear talks with "seriousness and sincerity and demonstrate genuine respect for the UN Charter and international law." Additionally, he renewed Iran's call on the Security Council to ensure that the United States immediately ceases its unlawful threats, complies with its obligations under the UN Charter, and refrains from any action that could further escalate tensions or lead to a military confrontation. "The Security Council and the Secretary-General must act without delay, before it is too late. The Security Council must not allow threats of the use of force and acts of aggression to be normalized, legitimized, or treated as an acceptable political norm, or to be used as instruments of foreign policy. Should such unlawful conduct be left unaddressed, another sovereign Member State's turn will soon come," he warned. Trump began to threaten military action against Iran after recent economic protests in the country, which were quickly hijacked by foreign-backed rioters. Since then, the United States has dispatched a number of warships to regional waters near Iran, prompting authorities in Tehran to warn that even a single shot fired at the country would be met with a far-reaching and massive response. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Expects Iran to Present Detailed Nuclear Deal Proposal in Coming Days - Reports Sputnik News 20260220 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Iran is expected to present a detailed and written version of its proposal on the nuclear deal to the United States in the coming days, CBS News reported on Friday, citing sources. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that Iran had 15 days maximum to make a deal with the United States. CBS News reported on Thursday, citing diplomatic sources familiar with the recent negotiations, that Tehran signaled its willingness to engage in economic cooperation, including purchasing US aircraft and providing access to oil and gas fields for joint projects, in an effort to get sanctions relief. At the same time, two unnamed officials in the Middle East told the broadcaster that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was advised to separate discussions of the nuclear program from other topics, including Iran's missile development and support for militants in the region. Witkoff reportedly supported the idea of parallel diplomatic tracks. The second round of Iran-US negotiations regarding Tehran's nuclear program took place on February 17 in Geneva with the Omani mediation. Following the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced progress and noted that Tehran and Washington would work on texts that could form the basis of a potential agreement. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Intends to Complete Middle East Troop Deployment by Mid-March - Reports Sputnik News 20260220 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States plans to wrap up its troop deployment in the Middle East by mid-March in case of a possible operation against Iran, The Washington Post newspaper reported, citing US officials. US President Donald Trump's national security advisers met in the Situation Room on Wednesday to discuss the situation with Iran, the report said on Thursday. Meanwhile, the report noted that the Trump administration is deliberately seeking to publicly demonstrate its beefed-up military presence in the region. On Thursday, Trump said that "bad things" could happen if the US and Iran do not reach an agreement. The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported, citing sources, that Trump is considering launching an initial limited strike against Iranian military and government facilities to force Iran to sign a nuclear deal. The second round of Iran-US negotiations regarding Tehran's nuclear program took place on February 17 in Geneva with Omani mediation. Following the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced progress and noted that Tehran and Washington would work on texts that could form the basis of a potential agreement. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting of the Prime Minister with DG IAEA Prime Miinister's Office - Islamic Republic of Pakistan February 17, 2026 Vienna: 17 February 2026. Meeting of the Prime Minister with DG IAEA Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi at the Vienna International Centre (VIC), today, the seat of the UN offices in Vienna. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mr. Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amb. Amna Baloch were also present during the meeting. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's support for IAEA's role in the promotion of responsible use of nuclear technology in areas such as cancer diagnosis and treatment, agriculture, nuclear power generation and industrial applications. He praised the strong partnership between Pakistan and the IAEA, while observing that Pakistan was not only a beneficiary of the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Programme but was also contributing to the work of the IAEA through the provision of its experts and conducting international trainings for IAEA Member States. Director General Grossi acknowledged Pakistan's experience and expertise in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and the high quality of its engineers, scientists and technicians. Among other things, he appreciated Pakistan's contribution to the work of the IAEA in the areas of nuclear safety and security. He further added that Pakistan was well placed to help other Member States of the IAEA in the peaceful applications of nuclear technology. He looked forward to Pakistan's active participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit being organized by France in March 2026. Later an Agreement was signed on the designation of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL), Lahore, as an IAEA Collaborating Centre. Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and DG Grossi signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan and the IAEA respectively. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov holds talks with Madagascar's Minister of Defence, Corps General Maminirina Ely Razafitombo 19 February 2026 12:40 The head of the Russian Defence Ministry noted that a lot of work had been done during the visit of the Malagasy delegation and, thanks to well-coordinated joint efforts, preparations for the meeting between the presidents of Russia and Madagascar had been completed. 'Today I find it important to check the hours for the implementation of the reached agreements,' the Russian Defence Minister added. In his turn, Corps General Maminirina Ely Razafitombo thanked Andrei Belousov for his assistance in preparing the meeting of the heads of states. The Madagascar's Minister of Defence highlighted the assistance provided by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in dealing with the consequences of devastating cyclones. During the talks, the parties discussed current and promising areas of cooperation between the military departments of Russia and Madagascar, and outlined ways to implement them. Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Deputy Defene Minister Vasily Osmakov holds meeting with First Deputy Minister of Revolutionary Armed Forces, Chief of General Staff of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Republic of Cuba, Army Corps General Roberto Sotolongo 19 February 2026 11:16 The parties discussed topical issues of military and military-technical cooperation. Further steps have been outlined for cooperation between the Russian Defence Ministry and the Cuban side. The mutual intention to continue contacts between the defence departments in accordance with previously reached agreements has been confirmed. Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council The President chaired a briefing session with permanent members of the Security Council. February 20, 2026 17:40 The Kremlin, Moscow The meeting was attended by Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, as well as Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky and Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - Deputy Chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues, Today, we have a significant and, I believe, highly pertinent item on our agenda - namely, measures to enhance the efficiency of fundamental and applied research in the interests of national defence and state security. We will proceed to discuss this matter. However, before we commence our work and move to the main discussion, I would like to invite our colleagues who have recently returned from Geneva - where they held meetings with American and Ukrainian delegations to explore solutions, peaceful solutions, regarding developments on this track - to deliver their remarks. The delegation was headed by Vladimir Medinsky. I would like to give him the floor, to be followed by a colleague from the Defence Ministry, so that our colleagues share with us how the discussions proceeded and what agreements were reached - they have already reported to me, but I would like all permanent members of the Security Council to also be briefed directly, so to speak, first-hand. Please, let us begin. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question regarding the situation around the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction 20 February 2026 11:00 215-20-02-2026 Unofficial translation Question: On February 20, Poland's decision to withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction (APMBC) enters into force. What is the Russian Foreign Ministry's assessment of this decision? Maria Zakharova: Yes, indeed. Earlier, similar decisions were put into effect in Finland (January 10, 2026), as well as in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia (December 27, 2025). The attempts by the above mentioned states to justify their steps by "national security considerations" and some imaginary military threat from Russia, do not withstand any criticism. These insinuations pursue a single goal to excuse their own destructive decisions and evade responsibility. The withdrawal from the APMBC is accompanied by a significant increase in military activities by those states on their eastern borders in close proximity to the Russian territory and serves as a clear example of their disregard for international legal obligations. The restrictions provided for in the Convention simply became inconvenient and unfavorable, and as a result were abandoned. On the whole, the situation around the APMBC is complicated by a series of inconsistent steps by Ukraine in relation to the Convention. As is known, Kiev initially intended to withdraw from this treaty regime, as reflected in the Vladimir Zelensky Decree of 441/2025 dated June 29, 2025. However, due to inability to implement this decision in view of the ongoing armed conflict, Ukraine subsequently abandoned it by sending to the UN Secretary General a notification of the "suspension" of its participation in the APMBC. It is notable that a number of States Parties to the Convention openly opposed Kiev's relevant actions qualifying them as illegal and establishing a dangerous precedent for international law. At the same time, even prior to this notification, Ukraine openly violated its obligations under the APMBC. Kiev failed to destroy all its stockpiles of anti-personnel mines (with the exception of the minimum amount needed to develop mine detection methods and to train specialists) though it was obliged to do so back in 2010, as well as continued to actively use them, including against civilians and civilian facilities. These facts are regularly recorded and documented by the Russian law enforcement agencies. However, neither Ukraine's above mentioned violations nor the withdrawal of a number of Western states from the APMBC have been adequately addressed by its States Parties, including at the 22nd Meeting of the State Parties of the Convention (Geneva, December 1-5, 2025). These circumstances confirm the Russian assessments that this treaty regime is weak and has no instruments of effective leverage over states that evade to follow the provisions of the document. Russia is not a State Party to the APMBC, however it continues to fulfill in good faith all obligations under Amended Protocol II (AP-2) and Protocol V (P-5) to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). With regard to the use of mines the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation act in strict compliance with the Guidelines on International Humanitarian Law for the Russian Armed Forces. The document, inter alia, establishes the basic requirements for the employment of anti-personnel mines in conformity with AP-2. The results of our national efforts to prevent the mines threat are regularly reflected in reports of the Russian Federation on CCW, AP-2 and P-5. The actions by Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Finland and Ukraine are consistent with the course pursued by the "collective West" and its satellites to review and undermine the existing international legal system in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. While demanding from others the strict and rigorous compliance with their obligations, the West does not consider it necessary to adhere to the restrictions stipulated by the treaties, while blames others for decisions to withdraw. The consequences of such actions will follow shortly. In addition to weakening the Convention itself such actions can lead to a "domino effect" when others will follow this example. Against this background, the EU individual members possessing advanced military and industrial capabilities are already seeking to derive financial benefits from the growing demand for anti-personnel mines at the international market. All these developments inevitably lead to further escalation of tension in Europe and deterioration of the regional and international security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The children of Syria deserve a future worthy of their strength UNICEF Remarks This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Muzoon Almellehan - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva 20 February 2026 NEWCASTLE/GENEVA, 20 February 2026 - "I left Syria as a child, clutching my schoolbooks, searching for safety, and thinking home would never be a reality for me again. Last week, I again returned to my country not as a refugee, but as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. And yet the moment I landed in Damascus, I was that girl from Daraa again, carrying the same questions millions of Syrian children still carry: will I be safe? Will I be able to learn? Will I have a future? "These are questions that don't go away. They are questions millions of Syrian children carry. But now, we are starting to have answers. "In a classroom in rural Damascus, I met a girl I will call Tala. She is 18 years old. She told me she had been displaced three times before her tenth birthday. Each time, her education was interrupted. Each time, she had to start again. When I looked at her, I saw my younger self with the same fears, the same hopes, the same fierce determination to learn. "Tala is not an exception. A recent UNICEF survey found that one in three Syrian adolescents aged 15 to 19 has been displaced at least twice, with the search for safety the most common reason for fleeing. For these children, school is not just a place to learn. It is protection. It is stability. It is hope. "Syria stands at a pivotal moment. Across the country, I witnessed something I did not expect to feel so strongly: hope. There is a renewed sense of determination among parents, teachers, young people and local authorities to rebuild. Progress is visible. Communities are coming back together. "But that hope is fragile. While large-scale fighting has reduced in some areas, children still face daily risks from explosive remnants of war, damaged infrastructure and overstretched services. Nearly 1,000 explosive ordnance incidents have been recorded, resulting in close to 1,800 casualties - among them, at least 193 children killed, and 466 children injured. "The scale of what children have endured is staggering. More than four million Syrians remain internally displaced outside camps. Another 1.35 million live in camps. One in four Syrians lives in extreme poverty, and two thirds of the population fall below the lower-middle-income poverty line. "And yet, in every community I visited, I saw young people who refused to be defined by what they had lost. They spoke with strength and dignity. They do not see themselves as victims. They see themselves as the future of Syria. "Young people across this country reminded me of the jasmine that grows throughout Syria: resilient, rooted and determined to bloom again. Like jasmine that grows even in the harshest conditions, Syria's children continue to rise. "But resilience should never have to replace support and investment. And right now, millions of children are being asked to be strong without the resources they so desperately need. "Education remains the most urgent priority. Without safety, children cannot learn. Without school, there is no future. Yet millions of Syrian children remain out of school because the facilities were damaged or destroyed, because their families are too poor, because they were displaced again and again. "In Sbeineh, some 14 kilometers south of Damascus, I met 18-year-old Fatima, who was displaced in Aleppo for many years and struggled to continue her studies. Now, with peace consolidating its path across Syria, she managed to return to her community and back to school, inspired by the possibility to contribute to a new future for her country. Fatima dreams of becoming a doctor to treat sick children, so she can help prevent their suffering. "But the situation remains very challenging and not all girls are lucky as Fatima. Many classrooms are overcrowded and children are being pulled into labour just to help their families survive. Girls are especially at risk of dropping out, of early marriage, of losing the future they deserve. When girls learn, families recover faster, communities grow stronger, and economies improve. Investing in girls' education is investing in Syria's recovery, and I urge the international community to step forward and do this. International investment is imperative to strengthen recovery and reconstruction across Syria. Sustained support is foundational to restore systems to deliver essential basic services, like education, water and sanitation, health, nutrition, social welfare, and social protection. Syrians cannot do this alone. "UNICEF is working across Syria and in neighbouring countries to reach these children. We are rehabilitating schools, restoring water systems, providing health and nutrition services, supporting mental health and psychosocial care, and helping children return to learning. "With local partners on the ground, we are also investing in skills development, vocational training and employment pathways for young people - because Syria's recovery will be built by its youth. "What struck me most on this visit is that young people here are not waiting for help. They are ready to rebuild their country. They are not asking for charity. They are asking for opportunity - for education, for skills, for a seat at the table where decisions about their futures are being made. "But here is the hard truth: the funding gap is now one of the biggest threats to Syrian children. Needs remain immense, while funding is declining. We know what works. We know how to rehabilitate schools, restore essential services and support children's recovery. What we lack is the sustained investment to do it at scale. "Recovery requires predictable, long-term funding, not short-term fixes. As Syria transitions from emergency to recovery, support must be flexible, so partners can strengthen national systems and move beyond stopgap responses. Without that investment, the progress I witnessed will not hold. "Let me be clear: Syria is not only a story of needs. It is a story of potential. Every young person I met on this mission confirmed that. This country's greatest resource is its people, and its children and youth are ready to drive recovery and growth, if given the chance. They must be at the heart of its recovery and reconstruction. "This generation of Syrian children should not inherit the hardships of the past. They should not relive the cycle of loss and displacement that defined my childhood and the childhoods of millions of others. "For me, this visit was a homecoming, but it was a homecoming with a purpose. I returned to Syria to listen to children, to amplify their voices, and to carry their message to the world: they have not given up on their future, and we must not give up on them. "Peace and safety are not privileges. They are the starting point for every child's future. Every child in Syria deserves to grow up safe, to learn, to dream and to rebuild. That is their right, and it is our responsibility to make it a reality. "We must keep Syria seen not forgotten." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan welcomes Japanese FM's remarks on Taiwan Strait peace ROC Central News Agency 02/20/2026 03:01 PM Taipei, Feb. 20 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Friday welcomed Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi's remarks emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The remarks were made Thursday at Motegi's first press conference since being reappointed foreign minister on Wednesday, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi kept her Cabinet unchanged following the recent general election. Motegi criticized what he described as China's "attempt to change the status quo with force," adding that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of great importance. In a press statement, MOFA said Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung () welcomed and affirmed Motegi's remarks. The ministry noted that since taking office in October, Takaichi's Cabinet has repeatedly called on the international community to take cross-strait issues seriously at major forums, including the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 20th East Asia Summit and the Japan-U.S. summit. Japan has also directly conveyed its concerns over regional security to China, adding that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are closely linked to the prosperity and security of Japan and the world, MOFA said. MOFA called on democratic countries to continue working together to counter the spread of authoritarianism, urging them to pay close attention to developments in the Taiwan Strait and take concrete actions to safeguard regional security. The ministry said Taiwan will continue strengthening its self-defense capabilities and whole-of-society resilience, while working closely with like-minded partners to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region. (By Lin Ching-yin and Wu Kuan-hsien) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SAO PAULO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's government on Friday unveiled its strategic vision for artificial intelligence (AI), noting that its development and application should be guided by social inclusion, digital sovereignty and sustainable development. During a panel at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Brazilian officials detailed public policies designed to integrate AI into health care, education, public services and digital infrastructure, according to a statement from the Brazilian presidency. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Luciana Santos noted that in 2024 the government launched the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan 2024-2028, earmarking 23 billion reais (about 4.4 billion U.S. dollars) in public investment over four years. "The goal is to promote the development, availability and use of artificial intelligence in Brazil, directing it to address national economic, environmental and cultural challenges," she said. Minister of Communications Frederico Siqueira said the expansion of digital commerce and the inclusion of millions of people who remain offline require more telecommunications infrastructure and data centers. Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha said Brazil seeks to position itself as a regional leader in the use of AI in healthcare, bringing together government, science and industry to build a secure and sovereign environment in digital health. Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira reiterated the need for global AI governance, warning that "we cannot repeat the mistakes of the past." PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2026.02.21 Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Feb. 20 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Feb. 21 (Sat.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 8 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1150221_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1150221_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Cooper US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson February 20, 2026 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary committed to continue diplomatic efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end through a negotiated settlement. They stressed the importance of ongoing cooperation in Syria and the implementation of Phase Two of the President's Gaza peace plan. They both underscored their shared focus on securing a humanitarian truce in Sudan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies Press release European skies to be defended by advanced surface-to-air weapon under new multinational scheme. From: Ministry of Defence and Luke Pollard MP Published 20 February 2026 Britain and its European allies will be better defended as they group together to develop new air defence weapons to protect European skies, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry has announced today. At the European Group of Five (E5) meeting today, Friday 20 February, in Krakow, Britain along with France, Germany, Italy and Poland have launched the 'Low-Cost Effectors & Autonomous Platforms' initiative, known as LEAP. LEAP will see the development of advanced low-cost air defence systems - such as autonomous drones or missiles - the first project of which will be delivered by 2027, providing an unparalleled opportunity to harness European defence financing, leadership, AI and autonomy. This Government is stepping up on defence, delivering the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War - 2.6% of GDP from 2027 - to ensure that Britain and our allies are safe. Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: European security is at a pivotal moment. The UK and our E5 partners are stepping up - investing together in the next generation of air defence and autonomous systems to strengthen NATO's shield and keep our people safe. From innovation in our defence industries to our ironclad commitment to Ukraine, we're showing that European nations are ready to deter, defend and if necessary, fight, together. "I'm proud of UK leadership on European security - building partnerships, developing capability and standing with Ukraine to protect our shared security. Its first focus will be on a new surface-to-air weapon - a lightweight, affordable weapon designed to counter the drone and missile threat. Rather than lengthy development cycles, and inspired by Ukraine's battlefield innovation, the programme will prioritise speed and adaptability. LEAP will draw proposals from major defence manufacturers and small and medium sized enterprises. The initiative comes as the UK is scaling up cooperation with European allies to develop new long-range precision and hypersonic weapons, with spending on projects exceeding 400 million this financial year. The E5, which brings together Europe's five biggest defence spenders, continues to play a crucial role in reinforcing NATO's defences, boosting industrial resilience, and providing unshakeable support for Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine - Meeting between M. Jean-Noel Barrot and Mr Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine (19 February 2026) France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had a meeting with Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine, in Paris today. Together they discussed the situation in Ukraine, whose energy infrastructure is daily targeted by Russian strikes in the depths of winter, and the assistance provided by France both bilaterally and under the French G7 presidency. The two ministers also talked about the ongoing negotiations, the importance of involving the Europeans in discussions on the parameters directly affecting European security, and the European Union's 20th sanctions package, which is being prepared. The Minister reiterated France's full support for Ukraine in its fight to defend its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, with 24 February 2026 marking four years since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. He said that France will continue its efforts alongside all its partners to promote a just, lasting peace, and reaffirmed our determination to support Ukraine over the long term. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Interceptors of jet Shaheds and cruise missiles: what makes AIM missiles stand out Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 19 February, 2026, 1:00 PM EET U.S.-made AIM missiles have been in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine for several years. In particular, they are successfully employed on F-16 aircraft and NASAMS ground-based air defense systems. They are most effective against enemy helicopters, jet-powered drones, and cruise missiles. During recent talks with Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, Canada's Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty, confirmed that Canada will supply Ukraine with a new batch of AIM missiles. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine outlines what is known about these missiles. Today, there are around ten different AIM missile variants. In Ukraine, three of them are actively employed. AIM-9 Sidewinder is the smallest missile in the AIM series. It is effective for within-visual-range air combat against helicopters and drones. The missile is 3 meters long and weighs around 90 kg. Its 9 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead contains nearly 200 titanium fragmentation rods. The missile can reach speeds of up to 3,000 km/h and has an engagement range of up to 35 km. It uses an infrared seeker, and detonation is triggered by a non-contact proximity fuze (laser or radio-frequency). AIM-120 AMRAAM is a mid-sized missile in the AIM series. It is effective against helicopters, aircraft, cruise missiles, and jet-powered drones. The AIM-120 AMRAAM can engage aerial targets beyond visual range (BVR) because it uses an active radar seeker, meaning it is equipped with its own radar. The missile is 3.7 meters long and weighs around 160 kg. It can reach speeds of up to 4,900 km/h. The missile carries a 20 kg warhead and has an engagement range of up to 75 km. Upgraded variants can effectively engage targets at distances of up to 180 km. AIM-7 Sparrow is the largest missile in the AIM series. It is effective against helicopters, aircraft, cruise missiles, and jet-powered drones such as Shahed-234 or Geran-3. The missile is 3.7 meters long and weighs 230 kg. It is fitted with a 39 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The missile can reach speeds of up to 4,900 km/h and has an engagement range of up to 70 km. The missile employs semi-active radar homing guidance. AIM-series missiles demonstrate high effectiveness thanks to the "fire-and-forget" principle, resistance to electronic warfare, diverse guidance methods, maneuverability, and continuous upgrades. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU-supported State Agrarian Registry enters new phase under full Ukrainian Government ownership European External Action Service (EEAS) 20.02.2026 Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE The State Agrarian Registry (SAR) has entered a new phase under full national ownership, following the completion of its technical transfer to the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. Developed with the support from the European Union (EU), the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the system is now entirely owned by the Government of Ukraine, including all intellectual property rights. This transition strengthens the Government's capacity to independently administer agricultural support and further advance sectoral reform through a unified and digitally managed system. "Digital transformation is central to Ukraine's reform agenda. The State Agrarian Registry demonstrates how technology can improve transparency, simplify procedures and strengthen trust in public support mechanisms. Full state ownership enables us to further integrate SAR into national governance structures and ensure its sustainable development in line with Ukraine's European integration objectives," said Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. Launched nationwide in August 2022, SAR provides farmers with a single digital entry point to access state and donor-funded support programmes. Through the system, agricultural producers can identify and link their land plots to their farm profile, update data, apply for assistance and receive different types of support in a transparent and traceable manner. Today, SAR serves more than 210 000 registered users, channelling over 80 percent of public agricultural support funds in 2025. The EU has played a key role in supporting the development and scaling of the Registry as part of its broader assistance to Ukraine's agricultural reform. With EU funding, the World Bank led the conceptualization, technical design and initial piloting of SAR, providing both strategic policy guidance and hands on technical assistance. FAO subsequently supported SAR's further modernization, maintenance and operational strengthening in close cooperation with the Government of Ukraine. "The EU is proud to have supported the State Agrarian Registry (SAR) as a major step in strengthening Ukraine's agricultural governance and bringing it closer to EU standards. Built and scaled during the war, SAR has earned farmers' trust, with more than 200 000 already registered. It improves transparency, helps target support where it is most needed, and lays the groundwork for Ukraine's future alignment with the EU Common Agricultural Policy," said Katarina Mathernova, Ambassador of the EU to Ukraine. From the outset of the full-scale war, the State Agrarian Registry demonstrated its operational value as a reliable digital platform for registering applicants, verifying eligibility and facilitating more efficient and close communication between the government, support providers and agricultural producers. At a time when traditional administrative mechanisms were disrupted and rapid assistance was critical, SAR enabled structured, transparent and large-scale support to farmers across the country. Back in 2022, FAO became the first international organization to use the system to implement emergency assistance programmes for Ukrainian farmers. Since then, FAO has delivered nearly 50 programmes through SAR, supporting vulnerable agrifood producers across different regions of the country. Beyond programme implementation, FAO also supported the further strengthening of the system itself. With funding from the European Union, FAO contributed to enhancing SAR's functionality by carrying out technical adjustments, supporting system updates and working directly within the platform to refine eligibility settings, application flows and data verification tools, in close coordination with national counterparts. "For FAO and other international partners, the State Agrarian Registry has significantly improved how we communicate with farmers and structure support programmes. Instead of fragmented outreach and manual verification, SAR provides a structured digital channel through which support opportunities can be announced, applications submitted and eligibility assessed based on verified data," said Shakhnoza Muminova, Head of the FAO Office in Ukraine. "For farmers, this means clearer information, simpler procedures and more predictable engagement with both the state and international partners." Now under full national ownership, SAR will continue to function as the core digital system for administering agricultural support in Ukraine. The platform already incorporates key elements aligned with the EU Common Agricultural Policy. In parallel, the adoption of framework law on agricultural support has established the legal basis for the future creation of a national Paying Agency and Integrated Administration and Control System. "Together with the European Union, we will continue supporting the next phase of SAR's development, including through a new EU-funded trust fund designed to strengthen the system's technical capacity and institutional foundations under Government leadership," Bob Saum, World Bank Regional Country Director for Eastern Europe. Continued modernization, technical strengthening and integration of the SAR with other state information systems will remain essential to ensure inclusiveness, efficient use of resources, resilience and interoperability, as well as to support the further development of agricultural policy and public service delivery. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Deputy Secretary General welcomes progress on defence investment and support to Ukraine with the E5 NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 20 February 2026 On Friday (20 February 2026), NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska joined the European Group of Five (E5) in Krakow, Poland, to discuss efforts to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security and NATO's deterrence and defence, hybrid threats, and ongoing support to Ukraine. Representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, attended the E5 meeting. Ms Shekerinska underlined that the NATO Alliance is the bedrock of European security, and commended the efforts of the E5 in strengthening transatlantic security by increasing defence investment and production, in line with the commitments made at the NATO Summit in The Hague last year. "The stronger each Ally becomes, the stronger NATO will be", the Deputy Secretary General stated. In discussions with the Defence Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ms Shekerinska was clear on the need for Allies to step up their support for Ukraine and welcomed efforts to provide Ukraine much needed air defence, both from Allied stockpiles and through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant Now Only Relies on One Last Power Line IAEA Sputnik News 20260220 The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant's (ZNPP) Ferrosplavnaya-1 (Ferosplavna-1) backup line was shut down on February 10, presumably due to nearby military activity, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday. "ZNPP's Ferosplavna-1 330 kV back-up off-site power line was disconnected on 10 February, reportedly as a result of military activity near the 330 kV switchyard operated by the Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP)," the IAEA said in a statement. The plant receives power from the Dneprovskaya line, which ensures the operation of all critical nuclear safety systems, the IAEA said. "The IAEA team stationed at the ZNPP continues to request detailed information on the nature and extent of the damage," the statement said, adding that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi promised to "accurately report on the nature of the damage and any impact on nuclear safety and security." The agency appealed to Kiev and Moscow to establish a temporary ceasefire to safely assess damage and repair the Ferrosplavnaya-1 line, the statement added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih in Kyiv Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 20 February 2026 18:39 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I was pleased to welcome in Kyiv UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih. We discussed sustaining UNHCR support for Ukraine, including winter assistance in response to Russia's energy terror, and the effective implementation of UNHCR's regional plan to support Ukrainians abroad. Ukraine holds the line. Our resilience is proven, and the experience we have gained since the start of Russia's full-scale war is an asset. We are ready to share this experience and contribute it across multiple areas of international cooperation. Even as the war continues, we are already discussing post-war recovery and long-term solutions to ensure safe return, reconstruction, and sustainable development. I also expressed special gratitude for the life-saving assistance provided to vulnerable Ukrainians, as well as for the support to small and medium-sized businesses through local procurement. During the meeting, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the MFA and UNHCR aimed at strengthening the capacity of Ukraine's consular services to provide essential support to our citizens abroad". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SSU, National Police, and Moldovan law enforcement dismantle russian hit squad plotting high-profile assassinations in Ukraine Security Service of Ukraine 10:00, 20 February 2026 The SSU Counterintelligence, together with the National Police of Ukraine and the National Investigation Inspectorate of the General Inspectorate of Police of the Republic of Moldova, thwarted a new attempt by ruscists to carry out a series of contract killings in our country. Thanks to a large-scale special operation codenamed Enigma 2.0, the law enforcement agencies neutralised an assassination squad preparing to eliminate prominent figures in Ukraine. The operation was conducted on the territory of both countries. The enemy's targets were Ukrainian journalists and public figures, the head of a strategic enterprise, and military personnel of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, including servicemen of the DIU's Foreign Legion. The members of the hit squad worked out a number of assassination options: from point-blank shootings to car bombings. The payment for the killings promised by the russian intelligence services reached USD 100,000, depending on the target. As a result of joint actions, the head or resident of the enemy cell, a 34-year-old repeat offender from Moldova, two of his agents, and their accomplices from Ukraine, the EU, and unrecognised Transnistria have been detained. The investigation established that the head of the group was recruited by the russian intelligence while serving a sentence in a russian prison. After release, he was sent to Moldova to form a covert operational group under russia's control. He selected 'like-minded' individuals with pro-kremlin views, especially those with combat experience. The agents were then divided into groups. The first tracked the locations and daily routines of potential victims, while the second consisted of killers who were to carry out the assassinations. The russian agents were then deployed to Ukraine under the guise of tourists and dispersed to rented apartments in several oblasts. As established, the assets were in constant contact with the resident and received funds for preparing the attacks via crypto wallets and bank cards issued by foreign banks. To carry out surveillance, the agents posed as delivery service couriers, photographing and filming the targets, marking their geolocations on Google Maps, and reporting to the resident. According to available data, the russian intelligence services hoped to use high-profile murders to spread panic and destabilise the socio-political situation in Ukraine. Firearms, ammunition, combat grenades, and communication devices were seized from the suspects during the searches. The detainees have been notified of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU: 14.1, p.11 of 115.2 (preparation for intentional murder on commission); 263.1 (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives). The decision on additional charges against the head and members of the hit squad is pending. The suspects face life imprisonment with confiscation of property. The international special operation was conducted jointly with the SSU Odesa Office and the National Investigation Inspectorate of the General Inspectorate of Police of Moldova under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MOSCOW, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A Mi-8 helicopter made an emergency landing in Russia's Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, an Arctic region in northwest Siberia, on Saturday morning, with all passengers and crew members surviving the incident, local authorities said. Law enforcement authorities said the helicopter was carrying three crew members and seven passengers at the time. "There were passengers and crew members on board. All are alive," a representative of Yamal Airlines said. The Ural Transport Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the hard landing. After four years of destruction and the coldest winter yet, UNHCR's Salih urges support for Ukraine UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Press releases 20 February 2026 KYIV -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, today urged sustained international solidarity and stronger support for Ukrainians awaiting much-needed peace. HC Salih travelled to Ukraine as the full-scale invasion enters its fifth year with intensified attacks during the harshest winter of war so far. Repeated Russian strikes on energy infrastructure have left millions without electricity and heating in freezing temperatures, while escalating hostilities along the front line continue to force people to flee their homes. "I've come to Ukraine in this dark hour to show solidarity with its people, to see how UNHCR is contributing to the government-led efforts, and to reaffirm our commitment to stand with Ukraine at this difficult time and beyond," he said, concluding his first visit to the country. "Nothing can compensate the losses in this war, and the many lives lost, but we can help Ukraine and its people recover and rebuild." Over several days in Kyiv and front-line cities - Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv - UNHCR's chief met families whose homes had been damaged by glide bombs and missiles and people recently evacuated from front-line communities. He observed UNHCR's emergency assistance after strikes and in transit centres for displaced people; legal aid for those who lost documents to ensure their access to rights and services; and work to repair war-damaged houses to allow people to remain in their homes or return. "The destruction I have witnessed is immense, and the personal stories of loss and hardship are heart-wrenching. Despite this, Ukrainians continue to show extraordinary courage, compassion and hope. Their strength should compel all of us to action - to protect lives now, to support them in the vital rebuilding that is already underway, and to work tirelessly for a just and lasting peace," HC Salih said. The High Commissioner met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration Oleksii Kuleba; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha; Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity, Denys Uliutin; Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets; and local and regional officials. In addition, he met UNHCR's strong network of Ukrainian partners, community representatives, other UN agencies and the diplomatic community. He reconfirmed UNHCR's commitment to deliver life-saving emergency support, contribute to the recovery work and pursue long-term solutions for the nearly 3.7 million displaced within the country. Since the first days of the war, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, scaled up its presence and response inside Ukraine and in countries generously hosting close to 5.9 million refugees. Over the past four years, complementing the efforts of the authorities, UNHCR and its partners have reached close to 10 million people in Ukraine with assistance. In 2026, the agency is appealing for $470 million to support over 2 million people in line with the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan priorities. UNHCR is grateful for the donor support it has already received. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beyond Europe: How the Russia-Ukraine war is reshaping Africa four years On Next article: Beyond Europe: How the Russia-Ukraine war is reshaping Africa four years On Featured Rental experiences, tears Adeline Quarshie Opinion Feb - 21 - 2026 , 09:57 7 minutes read During these discussions, the tenant reminded us that prior to moving into the current property, he had expressed interest in another property we owned and asked whether he could be transferred to that house instead. That request was not new. Before moving into the current property, he had indeed shown interest in one of our other units. At the time, however, that property was still under preparation and not ready for rental. This had been clearly communicated to him both before and after he moved in. Nothing had changed. The property remained unavailable. More importantly, no advance rent payment had been made in respect of that second property, despite an agreement having been signed. The understanding, though not reduced into writing, was that advance payment would enable us to complete furnishing and make the property ready for occupation. That payment never came. Around this same period, we received a formal letter from the tenants lawyers requesting the execution and enforcement of what they referred to as a second contract. In that letter, they claimed it was binding on us to release the second property to their client. This position ignored a fundamental fact: the tenant had breached that agreement from the outset by failing to make the advance rent payment expressly stipulated in the contract. We responded by reiterating that the property was not ready and that the contractual conditions precedent had not been met. After that response, there was no formal reply; no objection, no request for renegotiation, and no attempt to clarify terms. Silence followed. It was shortly after this silence that we received yet another letter again, from the tenants lawyers. That was the moment we realised this was no longer a simple landlord-tenant disagreement. It had entered a different phase altogether. And that was when the real drama began. Part Three will take us into what happens when lawyers step inand why landlords must be prepared long before that letter arrives. Situation By this point, the situation had clearly shifted. What had started as notices and conversations was now being framed as a legal dispute. In their letter, the tenants lawyers alleged that we were in breach of the tenancy agreement, arguing that the tenancy was for a fixed one-year period and could not be interrupted as we had indicated. They insisted that our notice to vacate was unlawful and premature. We disagreedfirmly. In our response, we made it clear that the issue was no longer about renewal or timelines alone. The tenancy relationship had been fundamentally compromised. We outlined, in plain terms, why the tenants conduct amounted to serious breaches of the agreement and why continuation was no longer tenable. First, we addressed the incident that occurred on the premises. What took place went far beyond a simple disagreement or misunderstanding. It involved individuals connected to the tenant, resulted in physical injury to a guest, and led to arrestsincluding that of one of our own staff members who was on duty at the property. The disturbance was significant, disruptive, and entirely inconsistent with the peaceful residential use for which the property had been let. We also explained that the incident caused serious concern for the safety, reputation, and quiet enjoyment of the propertyboth for us as owners and for neighbouring occupants. This was not a private matter occurring behind closed doors; it spilled into the compound and attracted external attention. That alone altered the nature of the tenancy. Second, we reiterated the issue of unauthorised use. The conversion of the main living area into a podcast studio had been discovered during a routine inspection. This was done without consent and in direct contradiction to the agreed residential purpose of the property. Altering the use of a property is not a minor technicalityit changes risk exposure, wear and tear, noise levels, and legal responsibility. In our response, we emphasised that these issues were not raised lightly, nor were they manufactured to justify a decision already made. They were real developments that materially affected the tenancy relationship. For that reason, we restated our position: the tenancy would not be renewed, and termination was justified based on the tenants own actions. We also made it clear that, despite the escalating tension, our intention was not to act vindictively. We expressed openness to a cooperative handover and indicated willingness to engage constructively to avoid unnecessary escalationprovided the process remained lawful and respectful. What became evident at this stage was something many landlords only learn too late: once lawyers are involved, the issue is no longer just about who is right. It becomes about interpretation, leverage, process, and endurance. And this was only the beginning. What followed would take us beyond letters and legal argumentsinto institutions, enforcement bodies, and a much longer road than we had anticipated. Part Four will reveal how this dispute moved from paper to practiceand why many landlords underestimate what it truly takes to regain possession. Fact After we responded to the tenants lawyers and reiterated our position, another letter followed. By this time, an important fact could not be ignored: the initial four months rent advance had already expired. The tenant was still in occupation, but no new rent had been paid. In their next correspondence, the tenants lawyers demanded that we grant their client an additional three months to search for alternative accommodation. We objected to this request in writing. From our perspective, the tenancy had already run its course, notice had been properly served, and there was no legal or contractual basis for such an extension. Shortly after, another letter arrived, this time with a noticeably softer tone. The lawyers acknowledged receipt of our eviction notice and admitted that their client was in the process of securing alternative accommodation. However, they argued that the timeline we had provided was too short and requested a one-month extension to allow for an orderly relocation. They emphasised that the tenant was willing to comply with the notice and proposed to pay rent for the additional month. Acting in good faith, we agreed to this requeston one clear condition: the tenant would pay rent for the extra month in advance. That payment never came. Instead, the tenant proposed that we apply the security deposit to cover the additional months rent. This directly contradicted the tenancy agreement, which clearly defined the purpose of the security deposit and the conditions under which it could be applied or refunded. We rejected this proposal and communicated our position clearly. What followed was deliberate silence. No payment was made. Repeated reminders were ignored. The tenant remained in occupation while rent arrears continued to accumulate. At this point, two additional months of rent were outstanding, yet possession of the property had not been surrendered. We then decided to make enquiries at the Rent Control Department to understand the way forward. This is often the first institutional step for landlords facing default and non-compliance. At the same time, we sought expert legal guidance. Our lawyers advised that, given the circumstances, the matter should be taken directly to court rather than proceeding through Rent Control. As a result, we limited our interaction with Rent Control to enquiries only and did not formally file a case there. We therefore made the decision to instruct our lawyers to pursue the matter through the courts. It was not a decision taken lightly. Court action is costly, time-consuming, and emotionally draining. But by this stage, it was the only viable path left to protect our rights and recover possession of the property. What we did not yet realise was just how long and complex that path would be. (Part Five will take us inside the court process and why many landlords underestimate what going to court truly means). Artists participate in a parade on water in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A robot performs in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Tourists watch a stilt performance in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Artists perform during a parade in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Artists participate in a parade on water in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Artists participate in a parade on water in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Tourists have breakfast at a morning market in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A tourist shakes hands with a robot in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Artists perform during a parade in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During this Spring Festival holiday, the ancient water town of Wuzhen launched over sixty activities which present the town's rich history and modern vitality reflected in folk customs, drama, science and technology, and culture. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Featured Government considers removing Andrew from royal line of succession BBC International News Feb - 21 - 2026 , 09:29 4 minutes read The government is considering introducing legislation to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession. Defence Minister Luke Pollard told the BBC the move - which would prevent Andrew from ever becoming King - was the "right thing to do," regardless of the outcome of the police investigation. Currently Andrew, the King's brother, remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles, including "prince", last October amid pressure over his ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. On Thursday evening, Andrew was released under investigation 11 hours after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions programme, Pollard confirmed the government had "absolutely" been working with Buckingham Palace on the plans to stop the former prince from "potentially being a heartbeat away from the throne". He said this was "something that I hope will enjoy cross party support, but its right that that is something that only happens when the police investigation concludes". On Saturday, several unmarked police cars were again seen entering Royal Lodge, the 30-room Windsor property where Andrew lived for many years. At one point on Friday more than 20 vehicles could be seen parked at the property, although it is not known it all was connected to the investigation and searches. Thames Valley Police, the force which arrested him, is expected to continue searching Royal Lodge until Monday, the BBC understands. The government's proposal comes after some MPs, including the Liberal Democrats and SNP, signalled their support for such legislation. Some Labour parliamentarians who have been critical of the monarchy told the BBC they were less convinced the move was required - in part because it is so unlikely the former Duke of York would ever get near to the throne. In October, Downing Street said it had no plans to introduce a law to change the line of succession. After the latest revelations, historian David Olusoga told BBC Newsnight there is now "a desperate desire within government and within the palace to draw a firewall between this crisis and the wider monarchy". Buckingham Palace has not publicly commented on the government's plans to remove Andrew from the line of succession. The move would require an act of Parliament, which would have to be approved by MPs and peers and would come into effect when given royal assent by the King. It would also need to be supported by the 14 Commonwealth countries where Charles III is head of state, including Canada, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand. The last time the line of succession was changed by an act of Parliament was in 2013, when the Succession to the Crown Act restored individuals who had previously been excluded because they had married a Catholic. The last time someone was removed from the line of succession by an act of Parliament was in 1936, when the former Edward VIII and his descendants were removed due to his abdication. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said police should be "allowed to get on with their job, acting without fear or favour". He added: "But clearly this is an issue that Parliament is going to have to consider when the time is right, naturally the monarchy will want to make sure he can never become King." The SNP would support removing Andrew from the line of succession if legislation is required, according to the party's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who represents York Central, has also backed the move. She said: "I would support legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession and to remove from the counsellor of state." As for the King, he will be capable of looking at this latest challenge through a lens that separates familial bonds from official duty, said Julian Payne, the monarch's former communications secretary. "They're very clear: this is an individual. It is not a member of the Royal Family," Payne told BBC Breakfast. "And they treat the two very, very differently." Queen Camilla, who Payne noted married into the institution and was a "normal" member of public for decades, is also "very adept at tuning into the public mood". "She will be taking all of the information and using it to help the King when they are formulating their decisions and deciding which way to go on this." Counsellors of state can stand in for a monarch who is ill or overseas although, in practice, only working royals are expected to be called upon to fulfil those duties. Removing Andrew from the line of succession would also strip him of that role too, according to the House of Commons Library. Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019 following a backlash after an interview with BBC Newsnight about his relationship with Epstein. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said "all of us in public life need to give space" to the police investigation to be carried out. Featured Ghana, Burkina Faso sign 7 agreements after talks Jemima Okang Addae Feb - 21 - 2026 , 12:05 3 minutes read Ghana and Burkina Faso have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation following high-level engagements between their leaders and foreign ministers, culminating in the signing of seven new agreements and the reactivation of a key joint commission that had been inactive for six years. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed the outcome of his two-day official visit in a Facebook post, describing his engagements with the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, and his counterpart, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, as frank and constructive. I have held very substantive, impactful and deeply honest conversations with the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, His Excellency Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo. The talks with my counterpart, His Excellency Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore was equally positive, meaningful and forward-looking, he wrote. According to the Minister, both governments reaffirmed what he described as their exceptionally cordial relations and resolved to strengthen cooperation in critical areas, particularly security and disaster management. The governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso have agreed to further deepen our exceptionally cordial relations. We condemned the recent terror attacks, expressed our commiserations with affected families and decided to design and adopt a new security framework aimed at neutralizing the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism, he stated. The agreement on a new security framework comes against the backdrop of rising terrorist activity in parts of the sub-region, with both countries pledging closer coordination to prevent the spillover of violent extremism. Beyond security, the two nations have also established a fresh partnership on disaster management, with a specific focus on addressing the recurring spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso, which has historically caused flooding in northern Ghana. We have also established a new partnership on disaster management which will particularly enhance our capacity to deal with the perennial Bagre Dam spillage and its hitherto devastating consequences, Mr Ablakwa noted. A key outcome of the visit was the reactivation of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation, a bilateral platform that had been dormant for six years. The move follows earlier meetings between President John Mahama and Burkina Fasos leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, in January and March last year. I am delighted that following the meetings last year between His Excellency President John Mahama and His Excellency President Captain Ibrahim Traore in January and March, we have reactivated our Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) which had been dormant for 6 years, he said. At the conclusion of what he described as an extremely successful session of the commission, the two countries signed seven agreements covering a broad range of areas aimed at improving cross-border governance and institutional collaboration. At the conclusion of our extremely successful PJCC, we signed the following 7 agreements: 1) Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of National Driver's Licenses; 2) Agreement on Transport and Road Transit; 3) Framework Agreement on Cross border cooperation; 4) Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of periodic consultation frameworks between the border administrative Authorities; 5) Memorandum of Understanding regarding the creation of a joint commission to reaffirm the border between two countries; 6) Cooperation agreement on the prevention and management of disasters and humanitarian crises; 7) Agreement in the Field of fighting illicit cultivation, production, manufacture and trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and related matters. The agreements are expected to ease movement across borders, strengthen border administration, enhance disaster response mechanisms and improve collaboration in combating illicit drug production and trafficking. Mr Ablakwa concluded his post by expressing appreciation to his hosts. I convey heartfelt appreciation to the Burkinabe government and people for the warm hospitality and frank discussions during my two-day official visit. We cherish our fantastic Ghana Burkina Faso relations. Featured Ghana Health Service condemns attacks on staff Jemima Okang Addae Feb - 21 - 2026 , 11:55 2 minutes read The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued a warning against attacks on its personnel, describing recent incidents as deeply concerning and unacceptable and pledging enhanced measures to safeguard both staff and patients. In a press release dated February 21 and signed by the Director-General Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Service said it had recorded several assaults on health workers while they were carrying out their professional duties. It stressed that such acts undermine the delivery of quality healthcare and will not be tolerated. The statement reaffirmed the organisations commitment to providing the highest standard of care, while insisting that mutual respect between health workers and the public is essential. We equally expect that our staff will be treated with dignity and respect, the release noted. The GHS declared its firm support for employees who continue to serve under challenging conditions, stating that it would not condone any behaviour that compromises their safety, well-being, or ability to work effectively. Acts of aggression, intimidation, or violence against health personnel were strongly condemned. The Service also announced plans to work closely with security agencies to reinforce protective arrangements across its facilities nationwide, ensuring a safe environment for both patients and workers. Mr Akoriyea emphasised that the safety of health professionals and the public remains the Services highest priority. The warning comes amid growing concern about the safety of frontline health workers, with stakeholders urging the public to support medical staff who play a critical role in the countrys healthcare system. Next article: Overstay and face the consequences - US Embassy warns Ghanaian World Cup fans Featured Aftermath of baby theft: Enforce security protocols at hospitals - Minister directs health facilities Juliet Akyaa Safo Feb - 21 - 2026 , 01:23 4 minutes read The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed all health facilities across the country to strictly enforce security and identification protocols to prevent incidents such as baby theft and baby swaps. The directive, which he said was already in force, must be adhered to strictly to safeguard patients, staff and the public. The Health Minister reiterated the directive when he visited the Mamprobi Hospital in Accra yesterday, following a baby theft at the facility. As an additional measure, the Minister of Health introduced a new directive requiring name tags for mothers and their babies to be removed only at the security gate when exiting the facility, after all discharge procedures had been completed. We dont give instructions for the sake of it. These directives are meant to protect all of us. We must not wait for incidents of this nature before we heighten measures that have already been clearly communicated, the Minister of Health said. Stronger surveillance Addressing the management and staff of the hospital, Mr Akandoh said he had directed the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to ensure that every health facility established a strong working relationship with its nearest police station. Under the arrangement, he said, police officers were expected to patrol health facilities regularly or be available to respond promptly when contacted. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, in a closed-door meeting with the staff of the hospital Mr Akandoh stressed the mandatory installation and functionality of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all health facilities, stating that the directive had long been circulated nationwide. Every health facility must have working CCTV cameras; this has been communicated long ago, he stated. Name tags The Minister of Health said it was unacceptable for hospital staff to fail to wear name tags, urging them to have them on at all times. No staff member should be on duty without proper identification. At this point, not wearing your name tag is a serious offence. If anything happens and you fail to enforce this directive, you will be dealt with, he warned. Explaining the new measure of name tags for mothers and babies, Mr Akandoh said: This is one of the ways we can prevent baby theft and baby swaps. Tagging babies and parents is extremely important under these circumstances. Investigations ongoing Responding to questions on whether any hospital staff had been arrested to assist with the investigation, Mr Akandoh said the police were on top of the issue and urged the public to exercise patience. We cannot pre-empt the outcome. Whether anyone will be sanctioned or held responsible will depend on the findings, he said. The Health Minister gave an assurance that the government would work with health facility managers to ensure that all directives were fully implemented to restore confidence in the health system and prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Reforms Beyond security, Mr Akandoh suggested other reforms in health, which include the placement of suggestion boxes at strategic locations to receive complaints and improved aesthetics within hospital environments. I dont want to visit any health facility and see bare land with red soil. If you cannot pave it, at least plant grass or flowers to beautify the place, he said. Mother, baby The Health Minister later visited the mother and her baby, who were receiving care at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. He assured them of the ministrys resolve in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. The father of the child, Mohammed Agyemang, who spoke to the media, expressed gratitude to the Minister of Health and other officials for their intervention and support, and said the most important outcome was the recovery of the child. He called for the law to be firmly applied to bring an end to such incidents, stressing that although it was their first direct experience, reports of similar cases had become too frequent. President commissions B5 Plus Steel Plant - Restates commitment to 24-Hour Economy Kester Aburam Korankye Feb - 21 - 2026 , 09:57 4 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the expanded B5 Plus Steel Plant at Lakpleku in the Ningo-Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region. The President reiterated the government's resolve to create a conducive environment for manufacturing through strategic policy interventions, including the flagship 24-hour Economy initiative. Addressing the management, staff and dignitaries at the ceremony at the factory yesterday, President Mahama emphasised that the plants operations would be a direct beneficiary of the government's policy to ensure reliable and affordable gas supply and enable manufacturers to operate competitively beyond traditional working hours. "This administration is serious about running a 24-hour economy. The allocation of GH110 million in the 2026 budget to operationalise this initiative reflects our commitment. When factories run three shifts instead of one, employment rises, and productivity expands," President Mahama said. He outlined recent fiscal measures aimed at bolstering industry, including a reduction in the effective corporate tax rate from 21.9 per cent to 20 per cent. The President stated that the government was leveraging digital monitoring systems to reduce revenue leakages and unfair cost burdens, to ensure that investors compete on productivity rather than navigating policy unpredictability. Highlighting the critical link between local manufacturing and the extractive sector, President Mahama stated that Ghana's mining industry, encompassing gold, oxide, manganese, and lithium, required significant steel inputs for crushing, grinding, structural reinforcement, and mineral processing. "With expanding mineral processing initiatives and our commitment to local content in mining, domestic steel manufacturing has become strategically important. We must integrate mining and metal processing into a coordinated industrial ecosystem," he added. The President commended the company for its role in skills development, stating that at full capacity, facilities such as the B5 plant create direct factory employment, technical and engineering jobs, transport opportunities, and small and medium enterprise (SME) supply chain linkages. He added that such investments were crucial for building a cohort of local metallurgists, mechanical engineers and plant managers. "Industrial transformation does not happen overnight. It requires strategic policy, a stable macroeconomic environment, private sector confidence, infrastructure investment and skilled labour. Ghana is moving on the right path," President Mahama said. Policy support The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, who accompanied the President, reiterated the ministry's commitment to removing bottlenecks hampering industrial growth. She commended the President for the bold decision to ban the export of non-ferrous scrap materials, a move designed to feed local industries such as B5 Plus with affordable raw materials rather than allowing them to be shipped overseas. "For too long, scrap metals that could feed plants like this one were exported, while local manufacturers struggled with high costs. This decisive intervention is vital to sustaining industries under the One District, One Factory programme," the minister said. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare also announced a significant policy win for exporters following engagements with the Bank of Ghana for the extension of the period for the repatriation of export proceeds from 60 to 120 days. "This measure makes our industries far more competitive internationally, as it accommodates the longer credit terms industries must offer," she explained. The Trade Minister assured the business community that high-level discussions were underway with regional counterparts to address payment delays and non-tariff barriers hindering trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). "We have brought under one roof the Ministers of Energy and Lands to resolve challenges with electricity tariffs and land litigation. Outreach efforts are underway, and results will follow very quickly," Mrs Ofosu-Adjare stated. B5 Plus commits to local content In a welcome address, the Executive Director of B5 Plus, Mukesh Tarkwani, described the commissioning as more than the opening of a factory, calling it "the expansion of Ghanas industrial frontier and the deepening of value addition within our mining and construction sectors." He emphasised that the civil works, structural fabrication and installations were executed by Ghanaian engineers and technicians, reinforcing local expertise and industrial confidence. With this expansion, B5 Plus now operates the largest Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) facility in West Africa and the second largest on the continent. The company directly and indirectly employs more than 15,000 Ghanaians and has remained a consistent member of the prestigious Ghana Club 100 for over a decade. Featured No transit trucks missing, Ghana Link insists amid tax evasion probe Benjamin Xornam Glover Feb - 21 - 2026 , 12:16 4 minutes read Ghana Link Network Services Ltd has dismissed reports suggesting that six transit trucks had gone missing, insisting that all the vehicles have been traced, physically verified and handed over to customs for further action. In a statement issued on Friday, February 20, 2026, the company said all 18 transit trucks linked to Bill of Entry (BOE) 80226125039 had been traced on the electronic tracking system it operates. The company, which manages the Integrated Customs Management System, explained that the six trucks earlier described as missing were never lost on the tracking platform. It stated that as of Thursday, February 19, 2026, and again on Friday morning, Ghana Links field officers had physically verified the locations of the trucks in line with data generated by the tracking system. A report on the findings has since been submitted to the Customs Division for any action required under the law. According to the statement, playback of the tracking data showed that the trucks remained on the declared AkanuKulungugu transit route until authorities directed 11 of the vehicles to move to the Tema Customs Transit Yard. The company noted that because the yard does not form part of the approved transit corridor, the diversion triggered a route deviation alert on the system, which may have been misinterpreted as evidence that some of the trucks had disappeared. It stressed that the alert should be understood as an enforcement-led control measure rather than proof that the trucks had gone missing. Verification Ghana Link further indicated that the six trucks were located at their respective destinations, physically verified and their positions shared with Customs as part of ongoing enforcement and monitoring efforts. The company disclosed that the trucks were verified at various locations, including Aflao, the AflaoAccra Toll Booth, West Point Filling Station at Tsopoli, Galaxy Filling Station at Dawhenya and Akanu. While 11 trucks were moved to a controlled holding point, the remaining vehicles were tracked, located and formally handed over to Customs on Friday. Ghana Link acknowledged the seriousness of suspected breaches of the transit regime and pledged its full support for investigations being conducted by the Ghana Revenue Authority and other relevant state agencies, including National Security. It added that its tracking systems are designed to replace uncertainty with evidence by providing real-time visibility over transit movements, and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting lawful enforcement, strengthening government revenue mobilisation and facilitating trade to promote Ghanas economic growth. Background The clarification follows a joint operation by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and National Security last Wednesday, which led to the interception of 12 articulated trucks loaded with assorted food products in what officials have described as a significant case of suspected tax evasion. The exercise, conducted along the DawhenyaTema Road, was carried out by the Customs Division in collaboration with the Revenue Mobilisation Taskforce of National Security. Preliminary findings by the GRA indicated that the 12 trucks formed part of a larger fleet of 18 vehicles that had been electronically gated out of the Customs system. The GRA stated that although the consignments were declared as transit goods from the Akanu border post in the Volta Region to Niger via Kulungugu, the trucks were found travelling without the mandatory Customs human escort, in breach of established transit protocols. Briefing journalists at the Transit Yard in Tema last Thursday, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, disclosed that the operation uncovered 44,055 packages of assorted goods, including edible cooking oil, spaghetti and tomato paste. Mr Ampem said an initial Customs assessment placed the tax liability on the consignment at approximately GH2.6 million. However, a subsequent reassessment put the actual taxes due to the state at GH85,306,578.33, describing the discrepancy as alarming. The Deputy Minister directed the Commissioner-General of the GRA to conclude investigations within one week, after which the public would be updated on the findings. Next article: Health Ministry sets up committee to investigate alleged denial of emergency care Featured Visible name tags for health staff non-negotiable Health Minister Jemima Okang Addae Feb - 21 - 2026 , 11:52 2 minutes read The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has declared that the wearing of visible name tags by all health professionals on duty is non-negotiable, describing proper identification as a crucial step towards strengthening patient safety and accountability across the sector. The directive follows the February 17 baby theft incident at Mamprobi Polyclinic. The Minister described the incident as unacceptable and preventable, assuring the public that concrete measures are being implemented to avert any recurrence. He called for strict compliance with protocols of the Ghana Health Service, including the immediate reinforcement of baby-and-parent tagging systems at health facilities. He also urged deeper collaboration with security agencies to bolster safety within hospitals and clinics. As part of a working tour, Mr Akandoh visited Mamprobi Polyclinic, the College of Health Sciences, the Nursing and Midwifery Training College and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to assess infrastructure, service delivery and workforce preparedness. At Korle Bu, he met with the mother of the recovered baby to express solidarity and reaffirm the Ministrys commitment to justice and improved safety systems. The Minister also welcomed calls by the Member of Parliament for the area, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, for the expansion of labour, postnatal and recovery wards. He noted that infrastructure enhancement and strengthened security protocols remain central to ongoing reforms in the health sector. Beyond physical infrastructure, Mr Akandoh underscored the importance of human resource development. He outlined plans to deploy newly trained health professionals promptly to facilities facing critical staffing shortages. He further disclosed that selected nursing institutions would be converted into post-basic speciality schools to address gaps in specialised care. The Minister reaffirmed the governments resolve to improve standards, safeguard patients and restore public confidence in Ghanas healthcare delivery system. The dismissed petitions against OSP and EC officials Previous article: The dismissed petitions against OSP and EC officials The church against corruption: Well-meaning but ineffectual? Prof. Jeffrey Haynes Politics Feb - 21 - 2026 , 09:57 4 minutes read Denmark heads the 2025 Global Corruption Index (GCI): that is, it is rated the least corrupt country, scoring 100 out of 100. Highly religious Ghana scores 43 out of 100. Ghana is 76th out of 182 countries for public sector corruption. Transparency International Ghana remarked in a press statement: The score indicates that Ghana continues to struggle with persistent corruption, weak compliance with and enforcement of the legal and policy framework, and weak state institutions dedicated to combating corruption. Corruption: Comparing secular Denmark with religious Ghana While Denmark is a highly secular country with 70 per cent of Danes self-identifying as Christian and the vast majority registered as members of the state-supported Evangelical Lutheran Church (Folkekirken) active participation is low: only three per cent regularly attend church. Ghana is a highly religious country. More than 70 per cent of Ghanaians self-identify as Christians and 80 per cent claim they attend church at least once a week. This active participation positions the country among the most religious globally. Denmark is routinely rated as among the least corrupt countries, enjoying low levels of inequality and high standards of living. This situation persists despite the country having some very wealthy people who could, as in the American system, easily buy politicians and engage in regulatory capture to consolidate their markets. Ghana, a country where public sector corruption is prominent, has high levels of inequality and low standards of living. Ghana has some very wealthy people who could buy politicians. Public sector corruption Why is public sector corruption a prominent and apparently irradicable feature of Ghanas national life? It is the result of a complex interplay of post-colonial structural weaknesses, a winner-takes-all political culture, and weak institutional oversight. Public sector corruption thrives in a context of limited accountability in public procurement, where elites theft of state resources for private accumulation is routine. President Mahama pledged to deal with high-level corruption through the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative. He ordered several entities including the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, and the Criminal Investigation Department to handle ORAL investigations. Top officials from the former government are to be investigated, signalling the end of the inter-party non-aggression pact. This is an informal understanding between senior figures in the two main political parties not to pursue grand corruption cases after a change in government. The end of the non-aggression pact is an attempt to bolster public trust in anti-graft efforts, including ORAL. As of February 2026, ORAL has transitioned from a fact-finding mission to a review of dockets for potential prosecution, identifying billions of dollars in potential recoveries. Yet, there is public scepticism about whether ORAL has teeth, and criticism regarding its pace and legality. The church and corruption The release of the 2025 Global Corruption Index coincides with much public commentary by Ghanas churches about the scourge of corruption. Leaders of Ghanas churches routinely issue strong statements condemning corruption, framing its elimination as necessary to remove moral decay while advocating national repentance. The church not only proclaims that the Bible frowns on both givers and receivers of the act of corruption but also cautions that corruption brings calamity to society, notably in the administration of justice. Christian leaders propose that the state establish anti-corruption policies with teeth and urge the prosecution of persons found guilty of the act. Church leaders strongly condemn citizens involvement in the act of corruption. Many urge the state to establish strong and viable anti-corruption policies, including the prosecution of the guilty. Critics say this is all very well but what is the church doing about corruption within its own ranks? There is a need, at the very least, to intensify teachings on the links between (im)morality and corruption. Church anti-corruption statements are no doubt well-meaning, but face criticism regarding perceived lack of effective action taken by the church itself to eliminate corruption within its own ranks. Key issues include misappropriation of church funds by leaders, commercialisation of gospel messages, acceptance of donations from suspected corrupt politicians, and failure of the Clergy to strongly condemn public corruption. While many churches in Ghana focus on their spiritual mission, these documented issues highlight a significant, well-recognised problem of unethical practices within some, particularly newer, charismatic and independent church structures. The church is a recognised stakeholder in governance. It has every right to condemn corruption. Its suggested measures to tackle it are well-meaning. But much of the corruption in the country must be undertaken by Christians, including high-level public servants, as many hold senior public sector positions. It appears to be a case of Christian on Sunday only and related teachings forgotten during the working week. Until Christians exhibit Christian morality 24/7, the country will not overcome the scourge of public corruption. The writer is an Emeritus Professor of Politics, London Metropolitan University, UK Tourists take a cable car on top of the Victoria Peak, Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 19, 2026. Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 as many people from the Chinese mainland traveled to the city during the Spring Festival holiday, local data showed on Saturday. Among the total, visits from the mainland topped 980,000, data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government showed. Previous estimates put total mainland tourist arrivals during the nine-day holiday at 1.43 million. (Xinhua/Chen Duo) HONG KONG, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 as many people from the Chinese mainland traveled to the city during the Spring Festival holiday, local data showed on Saturday. Among the total, visits from the mainland topped 980,000, data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government showed. Previous estimates put total mainland tourist arrivals during the nine-day holiday at 1.43 million. The long holiday enabled in-depth tours of Hong Kong's nooks and crannies, with many tourists choosing to stay overnight on Lamma Island and other escapes rather than in downtown areas. For families with high schoolers, visits to Hong Kong's world-class universities are a fixture on itineraries. Following a gold price surge, gold jewelers in Hong Kong recorded hefty sales brought by mainland tourists during the holiday. Many customers bought accessories and ornaments with horse motifs to celebrate the Year of the Horse. Tourists visit the Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 20, 2026. Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 as many people from the Chinese mainland traveled to the city during the Spring Festival holiday, local data showed on Saturday. Among the total, visits from the mainland topped 980,000, data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government showed. Previous estimates put total mainland tourist arrivals during the nine-day holiday at 1.43 million. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) Tourists take a yacht at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 17, 2026. Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 as many people from the Chinese mainland traveled to the city during the Spring Festival holiday, local data showed on Saturday. Among the total, visits from the mainland topped 980,000, data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government showed. Previous estimates put total mainland tourist arrivals during the nine-day holiday at 1.43 million. (Xinhua/Chen Duo) Tourists pose for selfies at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 17, 2026. Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 as many people from the Chinese mainland traveled to the city during the Spring Festival holiday, local data showed on Saturday. Among the total, visits from the mainland topped 980,000, data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government showed. Previous estimates put total mainland tourist arrivals during the nine-day holiday at 1.43 million. (Xinhua/Chen Duo) Tourists take a sightseeing bus in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 20, 2026. Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 as many people from the Chinese mainland traveled to the city during the Spring Festival holiday, local data showed on Saturday. Among the total, visits from the mainland topped 980,000, data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government showed. Previous estimates put total mainland tourist arrivals during the nine-day holiday at 1.43 million. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) Tourists enjoy a view on top of the Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 19, 2026. Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 as many people from the Chinese mainland traveled to the city during the Spring Festival holiday, local data showed on Saturday. Among the total, visits from the mainland topped 980,000, data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government showed. Previous estimates put total mainland tourist arrivals during the nine-day holiday at 1.43 million. (Xinhua/Chen Duo) Tourists enjoy a night view at the Wan Chai waterfront in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 20, 2026. Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 as many people from the Chinese mainland traveled to the city during the Spring Festival holiday, local data showed on Saturday. Among the total, visits from the mainland topped 980,000, data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government showed. Previous estimates put total mainland tourist arrivals during the nine-day holiday at 1.43 million. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) Haiti - USA : Haitians in the Top 3 of illegal immigration under Biden The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has just released statistics on the extent of illegal immigration to the United States under the Biden administration. According to official data from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), reported by Fox News, millions of foreign nationals crossed the border between February 2021 and January 2025. The figures published by the DHS show an unprecedented demographic impact on certain Latin American and Caribbean countries. In terms of percentage of their total population, four nations dominate the ranking of illegal entries: Nicaragua : 8% of its total population entered the United States illegally; Cuba : 7% of its population; Haiti : 6% of its population; Honduras : 5% of its population. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), now under Secretary Kristi Noem, strongly criticized the previous administration, calling the Democratic immigration policy a driver of national insecurity. Since Donald Trump's return to the White House, the official narrative has shifted dramatically. In an interview with Fox News, Kristi Noem claimed that the border had gone from a state of "invasion" to the "safest border in the nation's history" in record time, stating, "Thousands of people died at the border because Democrats allowed an invasion that benefited cartels and human trafficking". Since then, the Trump administration has launched a nationwide offensive to deport undocumented immigrants who entered the country during Biden's presidency, a measure that has sparked heated debate in Congress over ICE funding. Currently, the immigration situation is unfolding against a backdrop of a partial government shutdown. Lacking an agreement on DHS funding, tensions between Republicans and Democrats are escalating : nearly 90% of agents are considered "essential" and are working without pay. Tom Homan, the head of border security, assures that border control operations will not be impacted thanks to funding from the "One Big Beautiful Bill". White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accuses Democrats of blocking the budget to politically damage Donald Trump, at the expense of employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Coast Guard. This legislative battle over border security and the deportation of undocumented immigrants remains the major point of contention in American politics in 2026. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Education : Meeting on the school integration of disadvantaged children The Northeast Departmental Directorate of Education recently organized a major meeting dedicated to the educational integration of disadvantaged children. This event, in partnership with UNICEF, brought together key stakeholders in education, including national school principals, parents, school council members, and primary school inspectors. In his opening remarks, Luckner Mompremier, the Departmental Director, emphasized the importance of educational integration for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background. He reiterated that education is a fundamental right and that every child deserves a fair chance to succeed. Inspector Chavanne Jean then spoke, highlighting the challenges faced by children from disadvantaged backgrounds. He mentioned obstacles such as lack of resources, absenteeism, and the need to raise parents' awareness of the importance of education. National school principals shared their experiences and strategies for promoting educational integration. Several participants mentioned tutoring programs, scholarships, and partnerships with NGOs to provide school supplies to children in need. These discussions led to ideas for best practices. Parents expressed their concerns about access to education and requested more support for their children. Some proposed innovative ideas, such as awareness workshops for families on the importance of education. This meeting highlighted the need for collective action to ensure that every child, regardless of their circumstances, can benefit from a quality education. HL/ HaitiLibre ABUJA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 50 people were killed and a significant number of others abducted after a group of armed men launched a brutal attack on a village in Nigeria's northwestern state of Zamfara, a local lawmaker said. The raid on Tungan Dutse village, located in the Bukkuyum Local Government Area, reportedly began Thursday evening and continued into Friday morning, Hamisu Faru, a lawmaker representing the affected area at the Zamfara State House of Assembly, told local media on Saturday. The attackers arrived on more than 150 motorcycles, moving through the community, shooting indiscriminately at residents and razing some buildings, Faru said, citing a preliminary assessment of the incident. "The attackers invaded the village in large numbers, leaving at least 50 people dead," the local official said, noting that the exact number of people abducted during the attack remained unclear, as many fled into nearby bushes for safety. The victims of the attack included traders and farmers, with many of the abducted reported to be women and children, according to Faru. No security agency has so far confirmed the incident. Haiti - News : Zapping... Judge Voltaire Prosecutes Rameau Normil Judge Walter Wesser Voltaire has decided to prosecute former Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Rameau Normil, following his refusal to appear before the investigating judge. The magistrate issued a summons against Normil, which was sent to the Leblanc law firm, representing Normil. Accused of arms and ammunition trafficking, the former PNH commander-in-chief had been summoned to appear on February 3rd to answer the judge's questions. Note that SPNH-17, after an investigation, denied these accusations https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46762-haiti-news-zapping.html Contaminated Drinking Water On Friday, February 20, 2026, at the Montana Hotel (Petion-ville), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) organized an inter-institutional consultation workshop focused on the concerning results of a study on the quality of drinking water in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46803-haiti-health-treated-drinking-water-alarming-findings-report.html . This meeting aimed to establish a common position and formulate recommendations to be submitted to the Government Council. Minister James Monazard announced that an information circular will be published shortly to make public the decisions reached by the participating institutions. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46786-haiti-health-drinking-water-crisis-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46769-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-46754-icihaiti-health-more-than-92-of-treated-water-sachets-analyzed-do-not-meet-standards.html Cap-Haitien : Delivery of 2 armored vehicles and deployment of 150 police officers On Friday, February 20, 2026, in response to the resurgence of insecurity, two armored vehicles intended to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Haitian National Police (PNH) were delivered to Cap-Haitien in the North Department. The armored vehicles were officially received at the international port of Cap-Haitien by Sem Calixte, Departmental Director of the North for the Haitian National Police (PNH). Furthermore, since Thursday, February 19, the PNH General Directorate has deployed 150 additional police officers from the 35th graduating class. Criminal Electrical Cable Break Electricite dHaiti (EDH) accuses a group of unidentified individuals of accessing its electrical grid and causing a medium-voltage cable to break on Thursday in Petion-ville. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46897-haiti-news-zapping.html At least one person was killed and five others seriously injured, according to EDH. DGM : 1,135 Haitians Arrested in 24 Hours The General Directorate of Migration (DGM) reported that on Thursday, February 19, 2026, it apprehended a total of 1,135 people of Haitian origin in an irregular migration situation during nationwide interception operations and deported 1,124 others, 591 of whom were returned to Haiti from the Elias Pina border crossing, the DGM stated. Morne Casse : Tactical Training Center in Operation The Haitian National Police (PNH), in partnership with the Department of Public Security of the Organization of American States (OAS), has begun a 3-week tactical training cycle with 30 officers at the Haitian Tactical Advisory Cell (H-TAC) Tactical Training Center in Morne-Casse, with national and international instructors. https://www.haitilibre.com/article-46835-haiti-morne-casse-centre-de-formation-anti-gang-dedie-aux-unites-specialisees.html HL/ HaitiLibre The decision follows an inspection that revealed breaches of European Union rules on packaging information. The citys environment and permits sub-committee approved the fine at a meeting on Thursday 13 February. Helsinki has imposed a 20,000 euro conditional fine on Armina Oy, the company that operates Alanya Market in the Itis shopping centre, after inspectors found missing Finnish and Swedish labelling on dozens of food products. Helsingin Uutiset first reported the fine. Alanya Market opened in Itakeskus at the end of 2023 in the former premises of Stockmanns Food Market Herkku. The store spans more than 2,000 square metres and stocks over 10,000 items, many imported from the Middle East and other regions. Under EU regulation, mandatory food information must appear in Finnish and Swedish on each retail package or on a label attached to the product. According to the citys food safety unit, a sample-based inspection on 4 December 2025 found that dozens of packaged foods lacked the required language markings. The inspection followed an order issued to Armina Oy on 23 October 2025 requiring the company to correct deficiencies in packaging labels. Inspectors stated that they did not examine every product because of the scale of the selection. Despite the limited sample, they recorded a significant number of omissions. The conditional fine serves as an enforcement measure. If the company fails to comply with the order by 1 April, the city can require payment of the 20,000 euros. Alanya Market ranks among the largest ethnic grocery chains in Finland. The company has expanded in recent years and operates stores in Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere and Turku. Armina Oy reported turnover of about 8.9 million euros last year. Shopkeeper Emin Gurmuc said translating packaging texts requires time and staff resources. There is no such thing that the markings come from the factory, we translate them ourselves, he told Helsingin Sanomat. He added that two employees work on translations and that the store aims to correct the situation before the deadline. Gurmuc described the citys supervision as justified and said he believes the matter will be resolved within the set timeframe. The case centres on compliance with labelling standards designed to ensure that consumers receive information about ingredients, allergens and storage instructions in the countrys official languages. HT On Friday, the Supreme Court held that Trump had exceeded his authority by imposing broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. The move deepens a dispute between the White House and the court and leaves businesses seeking refunds for an estimated $133bn collected under the previous regime. US President Donald Trump has raised global import tariffs to 15 per cent days after the Supreme Court ruled that his earlier levies broke the law. The justices found that the law, designed for national emergencies, did not grant the president power to set taxes. The ruling stated that tariff-setting authority rests with Congress. The court did not address whether the administration must repay duties already collected. Within hours of the decision, Trump announced a new 10 per cent global tariff. On Saturday evening, he increased that rate to 15 per cent in a post on Truth Social. As President of the United States, I will immediately raise the 10% global tariff to the fully authorised and legally tested 15% level, Trump wrote. He said many countries had robbed the United States for decades. The White House said the new tariff will take effect at 12.01am on Tuesday 24 February and remain in force for up to 150 days under a provision of the Trade Act of 1974. That law allows the president to impose duties of up to 15 per cent for 150 days, after which Congress must approve any extension. The administration has excluded goods that were exempt under earlier orders, including passenger vehicles and certain aviation products. Products covered by the existing trade agreement with Canada and Mexico will not face the new duty. Business groups have called for the immediate reimbursement of the tariffs collected last year following the Supreme Court's ruling. According to The Guardian, the US Chamber of Commerce urged the administration to return what it estimates to be $133bn in collected tariffs. Chief policy officer Neil Bradley said: Swift refunds of the impermissible tariffs will be meaningful for the more than 200,000 small business importers in this country and will help support stronger economic growth this year. The National Retail Federation, which represents companies from Walmart to small manufacturers, called for a seamless process to refund the tariffs to US importers. The group said refunds would allow firms to reinvest in operations, employees and customers. Trump criticised the court for failing to address refunds. Its not discussed, he said at a press conference in Washington. Well end up being in court for the next five years. Trump has directed legal advisers to examine other statutes to support future tariffs. In his Truth Social post, he wrote that his administration would introduce new and legally authorised tariffs in the coming months. HT WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic leaders on Friday hailed the Supreme Court's striking down President Donald Trump's sweeping emergency tariffs as "a victory." "The Supreme Court decision striking down the harmful Trump Tariffs is a big victory for the American people. And another crushing defeat for the wannabe King," U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on X after the decision. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the decision a "win for the wallets of every American consumer." "Trump's illegal tariff tax just collapsed -- He tried to govern by decree and stuck families with the bill," Schumer wrote on X. "Enough chaos. End the trade war." In a separate statement, he said that "Trump's chaotic and illegal tariff tax made life more expensive and our economy more unstable. Families paid more. Small businesses and farmers got squeezed. Markets swung wildly." The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs under a law meant for use in national emergencies are illegal. In a 6-3 ruling, the court said that the tariff policies under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unconstitutional, officially striking down the tariffs Trump has introduced since April. The justices ruled that the president did not have the authority under the IEEPA to impose import tariffs on goods from nearly all U.S. trading partners and the voting upheld that it is the right of Congress to impose taxes, not the president. BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Municipality has been hit by strong winds and sandstorms since Saturday afternoon, causing air pollution. The PM10 concentration levels surged, with the city average reaching a light pollution level of 175 micrograms per cubic meter by 2 p.m. Saturday, according to the meteorological authorities of the city. The peak is expected to exceed 500 micrograms per cubic meter late Saturday, reaching a level of severe pollution. Authorities have temporarily closed certain outdoor scenic spots and suspended some Chinese New Year activities from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning due to a yellow warning for strong winds and a blue warning for sandstorms currently in effect in the city. China is enjoying a nine-day holiday for the Chinese New Year celebration. Winds are expected to weaken in Beijing on Monday, the last day of the holiday, the weather forecast said. According to the China Meteorological Administration on Friday, multiple northern regions are expected to experience strong winds and sandstorms from Friday to Sunday, with a Level-IV emergency response for major meteorological disasters activated. Affected by the strong winds, passenger ferries on the provincial route between Liaoning and Shandong were suspended from 12:50 p.m. Saturday. Services are expected to resume gradually on Sunday, according to the local maritime authorities. China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. The emergency response system also has four tiers, with Level I being the most severe. AMMAN, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Jordan is reinforcing its standing as a leading destination for medical and natural therapeutic tourism in the Middle East, attracting more patients from across the region with advanced healthcare services and unique natural healing resources. Official data showed that Jordan received more than 235,000 inbound patients in 2025, up 5 percent year-on-year, which demonstrates rising regional confidence in Jordan's healthcare sector. Ali Farhan Mohammed, an Iraqi patient from Baghdad province, told Xinhua that his family's connection with Jordan's medical sector began in 2009, when his nephew was diagnosed with a brain tumor. "Several doctors in Baghdad advised us to consult a specialist in Amman," Mohammed said. "We found high efficiency, expertise and strong patient care in Jordan, and my nephew fully recovered." The family returned to Jordan years later when Mohammed's sister was diagnosed with a serious illness and underwent surgery and chemotherapy in the kingdom, with what Mohammed described as "positive and reassuring" results. About a month and a half ago, Mohammed developed a kidney problem and once again chose Jordan for treatment. He spent around 20 days in the country receiving medical care. Mohammed said Jordan's high medical standards provided psychological comfort throughout the treatment process. Similar confidence was expressed by Wijdan Adel Al Shaibani, a Libyan doctor accompanying a cancer patient. After conducting extensive research into specialized treatment destinations, she said Jordan stood out for its medical excellence and advanced regional reputation. She described the medical follow-up as comprehensive, covering both therapeutic and humanitarian aspects, with positive treatment outcomes. Fawzi Al-Hammouri, chairman of the Private Hospitals Association in Jordan, said the country holds a leading position in the Middle East and North Africa as a medical tourism destination, supported by advanced healthcare infrastructure and competitive pricing. He noted that the majority of inbound patients visiting Jordan for treatment are from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Yemen and Libya. Jordan offers complex procedures including adult and pediatric cardiac surgeries, cancer treatment, organ transplants and robotic surgery in line with international standards, Al-Hammouri said. "Patients do not face long waiting periods for diagnosis or surgery, enabling faster access to care," he added. Jordan currently has 71 private hospitals with a total capacity of around 6,000 beds. Direct investment in the private hospital sector exceeds 4 billion Jordanian dinars (about 5.6 billion U.S. dollars), employing around 40,000 people directly and nearly 60,000 in supporting sectors, Al-Hammouri said. Medical tourism has become a key pillar of Jordan's economy, generating over 1.4 billion dollars annually and contributing approximately 3.5 percent to its gross domestic product, he added, noting that in June 2023, the World Tourism Organization officially recognized and designated Jordan as a regional hub for medical and wellness tourism. In addition to modern medical facilities, Jordan leverages its natural therapeutic assets, including the Dead Sea and the Ma'in Hot Springs, known for their mineral-rich and sulfuric waters, Al-Hammouri noted. The Jordan Tourism Board said the country occupies a leading position on both regional and global medical and natural therapeutic tourism maps, attributing this to a healthcare system comprising more than 120 hospitals and medical centers, as well as internationally-recognized institutions such as the King Hussein Cancer Center. Ahmad Al-Ahmad, director general of a private hospital in Jordan, said many hospitals in the country "hold international accreditations," adding that studying successful global models, including China's experience in managing economic and service sectors, could help Jordan further enhance its competitiveness. VLADIVOSTOK, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- All three people on board a helicopter that went missing on Thursday have been confirmed dead, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Amur Oblast said on Saturday. The helicopter vanished from radar on Thursday evening after taking off from a logging site in the Romnensky municipal district of the Amur Oblast. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the three individuals on board -- a pilot, an investigator and a police officer -- were returning from a crime scene where the body of a logging worker, who had suffered fatal injuries on the job, had been discovered. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians on Friday warned of a severe threat to the Gaza Strip displaced families from open fires used for cooking in dangerously overcrowded temporary shelters. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that families cook, sleep and store their belongings in small spaces and that the practice poses not only a threat to the community from fire but also to inhabitants' health. "Since November 2025, our partners have recorded at least 12 fires in these shelters," said OCHA. "In the ten days leading up to 17 February, humanitarians provided shelter assistance to 85 families in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis whose shelters were damaged by a fire in Gaza city." "Displaced families need adequate shelter to protect them from the elements and provide more privacy," the office said. "Humanitarian partners reiterate the urgent need to move towards more sustainable solutions." Humanitarians have long been calling on Israel to allow more and more durable shelter supplies into the Strip. The office said that in many areas within Gaza, humanitarian movements still require coordination with Israeli authorities. Of 67 movements coordinated between Feb. 12 and 19, 43 were approved and nine were denied outright. Eight missions were approved but faced impediments, of which six were fully accomplished. In the West Bank, OCHA warned of the continued violence and other coercive practices by Israeli forces and settler communities resulting in casualties, destruction of property and displacement. The office said that between Feb. 3 and 16, Israeli forces in the West Bank killed three Palestinians, bringing the total number this year to nine, including two children. "During the same period, at least 86 Israeli settler attacks were recorded, during which over 60 Palestinians were injured, and some 146 people were displaced," OCHA said. The office said that since January 2023, and as of Feb. 16, 880 Palestinian families -- over 4,700 people -- have been displaced across the West Bank due to settler attacks and access restrictions. YINCHUAN, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- At the foot of the Helan Mountain in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a corridor within the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum has been transformed into a bustling street scene from a millennium ago during the Spring Festival holiday. Actors clad in traditional costumes of the Song (960-1279) and Xixia (1038-1227) dynasties greeted tourists, while images of "Flying Apsaras" -- celestial figures from ancient murals -- danced amidst lighting and mist. The immersive performance, titled "Xixia Musical Gathering," is the centerpiece of the museum's New Year celebrations. By turning a 300-meter passage into a moving stage, the event recreates vivid scenes of multi-ethnic coexistence and cultural fusion in China around 1,000 years ago, offering visitors a unique "walk-and-watch" experience. "It felt like a true time-travel experience," said Wang Fei, a tourist from north China's Shanxi Province who visited with his family. Wang noted that his children were thrilled to interact with performers portraying historical characters and try traditional games like "pitch-pot" and archery. "With technology and cultural activities empowering the museum, history has become vivid and accessible. It allows the younger generation to truly understand fine traditional culture while having fun," Wang said, adding that the experience made the Spring Festival more meaningful. Chen Xiaoxu, head of marketing at Xixia Imperial Tombs Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., said the performance features over 50 professional actors, with costumes and market settings recreated from museum artifacts and historical documents. "We aim to change the stereotype that the Xixia Imperial Tombs are merely 'earthen mounds' and instead, we use immersive experiences to convey the value of the World Heritage site," Chen said, noting a significant increase in visitor numbers due to the performance. The tourist enthusiasm in Ningxia mirrors a nationwide trend as museum tourism has emerged as a new way for many to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Across the country, museums are moving beyond static exhibitions, adopting interactive and immersive activities to attract holiday crowds. In central China's Henan Province, the Zhengzhou Shang Dynasty capital ruins museum launched an immersive theater production, inviting audiences to participate in Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) sacrificial rituals. In north China, the Inner Mongolia Museum introduced a role-playing trade experience, allowing tourists to simulate ancient commerce between the grasslands and the Central Plains. Technological innovation has further enriched these cultural offerings. The Qinghai Provincial Museum introduced virtual reality experiences allowing visitors to "touch" history, while the National Maritime Museum of China offered digital deep-sea explorations. To accommodate the surge in visitors, cultural institutions have expanded services. More than 40 museums in Henan and 79 in east China's Jiangsu Province extended their opening hours during the holiday. "Museums are no longer 'aloof' venues but are becoming popular public spaces for social and cultural engagement," said Zhang Wanjing, a researcher at the Ningxia Academy of Social Sciences. Zhang attributed the trend to the rising living standards and the growing public interest in traditional culture. "When cultural relics meet the festive air of the New Year, the immersive experience becomes an essential part of the Spring Festival holiday," Zhang said. SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A giant puppet parade returned to the streets here in Cambodia's major tourist hub on Saturday evening, captivating crowds of local and foreign tourists. The puppets were marched down the streets of Siem Reap City, where thousands of curious onlookers cheered on the throngs of children, musicians and performers who electrified the night with their great delight and creative achievements. Oun Savann, co-director of the Giant Puppet Project, said this year's theme -- "The Wild Parade!" -- celebrated Cambodia's extraordinary wildlife, from iconic species to rare and endangered animals. He said a total of eight giant puppets hit the streets of Siem Reap province, home to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park. "Those giant puppets include a dove, hog deer, hairy-nosed otter, Asian elephant, gibbon, great hornbill, bent-toed gecko, and lightning bug," he told Xinhua. Savann said the Giant Puppet Project, the largest children's community arts initiative, has taught children and youth that art could enrich their lives, give voice to their imaginations, ignite pride in their rich heritage, and unite their communities. "This annual project has not only promoted Cambodia's rich cultural and natural heritage and wildlife protection, but also helped attract more tourists to the cultural province of Siem Reap," he said. Savann said hundreds of children from local schools and non-governmental organizations had spent weeks designing and constructing these enormous illuminated puppets under the guidance of the project's professional artist team, all graduates of Phare Ponleu Selpak's Visual Arts School in Battambang province. "This vibrant nighttime parade, accompanied by musicians and performers, is expected to draw up to 20,000 spectators," he said. The giant puppet parade was first introduced to the streets in Siem Reap in 2007. By Nazrin Abdul Energy dependence has reached a level where even major powers can become strategically vulnerable. This dynamic is clearly illustrated by the gas trade between Europe and Russia. In 2019, prior to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Europe imported approximately 175 bcm of Russian gas. After the war began in 2022, imports declined sharply to around 75 bcm. Despite this significant reduction, Europe was unable to fully eliminate its dependence, as a substantial portion of its energy demand continued to be met by Russian supplies. As the war enters its fifth year, European institutions have announced plans to phase out remaining Russian gas imports. This trajectory underscores the importance of diversification in energy policy. In this context, the South Caucasus has gained greater strategic attention. Azerbaijan, whose economy has historically been centered on oil and gas production and exports, has increasingly emphasized diversification, both in export destinations and in energy sources. Alongside continued hydrocarbon exports, the country has expanded its focus on renewable energy development. Currently, Azerbaijan exports natural gas to 16 countries, 10 of which are European Union member states. At the same time, renewable energy initiatives are advancing. One of the most significant among them is the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project. The institutional framework for this initiative has gradually taken shape. In May 2024, the energy operators of Azerbaijan, Romania, Georgia, and Hungary signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture for the Black Sea Energy Project. This was followed in September by a shareholder agreement between Azerenerji JSC, Transelectrica SA, Georgian State Electrosystem, and MVM Energy to formally establish the Green Energy Corridor joint venture, which will be responsible for implementing the project. These developments indicate a structured, multilateral approach to the corridors realization. To better understand the broader implications of the project, AzerNEWS spoke with Tinatin Japaridze, Director of Geopolitics at Anadyr Horizon, a venture-backed predictive intelligence firm specialising in simulation-based geopolitical and market risk analysis. She previously led South Caucasus coverage at Eurasia Group. According to Japaridze, the Black Sea submarine cable represents not only an energy initiative but also strategic infrastructure. At approximately 1,195 kilometers, the high-voltage subsea cable is designed to transmit up to 1,000 MW of renewable electricity from Azerbaijan and Georgia to Romania, onward to Hungary, and ultimately into the wider European Union grid. From a benefits perspective, the project could contribute to supply diversification and renewable integration within Europe. For Azerbaijan and Georgia, it may create expanded access to European electricity markets and support the development of renewable energy sectors. Georgia could potentially strengthen its role as a transit country, while Azerbaijan is seeking to complement its hydrocarbon exports with renewable energy exports. However, the project also faces considerable challenges. Technically, it would be among the longest and deepest subsea power cables constructed to date, requiring specialized manufacturing and installation capabilities. Onshore grid infrastructure, particularly in Georgia, would require upgrades to accommodate variable renewable flows at scale. In comparative terms, the longest existing cable with similar capacity is the North Sea Link, a 750-kilometer interconnector between Norway and the United Kingdom. The Black Sea project would exceed this length. From a regulatory perspective, alignment between EU and non-EU frameworks will be necessary. This includes harmonization of permitting procedures, grid codes, and cross-border electricity trading rules, which requires sustained political coordination. Geopolitically, the Black Sea region presents a complex operating environment. Heightened regional tensions and militarization increase infrastructure-related risks. Subsea cables, as critical infrastructure, may be exposed to security vulnerabilities. Japaridze also noted that domestic political developments in Georgia and its relationship with Brussels may influence investor perceptions. As a transit country, regulatory alignment with EU standards is particularly relevant for market integration and financing considerations. She further observed that the broader regional balance of influence is shifting as Europe develops alternative energy corridors, which may alter geopolitical dynamics in ways that affect infrastructure risk assessments. Overall, the projects viability depends on the simultaneous management of engineering, regulatory, financial, and geopolitical factors, with long-term institutional coordination being central to its implementation. As Azerbaijan expands its green energy production, the key question whether there is sufficient market demand in Europe to support this growth remains outstanding. In this context, Azerbaijan has announced plans to add 8 GW of energy capacity by 2032, reflecting an effort to diversify its energy mix and expand its renewable portfolio, which could enhance prospects for supplying Europe with renewable energy. In Japaridzes assessment, European participation appears plausible, as the project aligns with EU objectives related to diversification and decarbonization. "Romania and Hungary are already directly involved in the governance structure, which may facilitate access to EU funding mechanisms. At the same time, Azerbaijans ability to export renewable electricity to Europe depends on two main factors: sufficient generation capacity and effective market integration. While wind and solar projects are currently under development, larger-scale deployment will be required to sustain exports. In addition, regulatory alignment, transparent trading mechanisms, and competitive pricing structures will be essential for successful integration into European electricity markets." European electricity demand is projected to increase significantly in the coming decades, reinforcing the relevance of long-term infrastructure planning. Domestically, Azerbaijan produced 28.4 billion kWh of electricity in 2024, of which 24.1 billion kWh met domestic demand and 1.4 billion kWh were exported. Imports totaled 70.7 million kWh. In the first nine months of 2025, production reached 21.8 billion kWh, with exports of 989.6 million kWh and imports of 145 million kWh. Renewable energy has begun to contribute more visibly to growth dynamics. The 230 MW Garadagh Solar Power Plant significantly increased solar generation following its commissioning. Additionally, the 1,880 MW 8 November Power Plant expanded overall generation capacity. After considering these factors, the question arises whether public-private partnerships could accelerate the project and which models have proven effective in similar cross-border energy initiatives. According to Japaridze, public-private partnerships (PPPs) can play a critical facilitating role in infrastructure projects of this scale. "The joint venture structure, involving transmission operators and governments from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary, reflects a coordinated approach that integrates both public authorities and corporate stakeholders," the expert commented. She also noted that experience from cross-border infrastructure projects in Europe indicates that PPPs are most effective when revenue models are clearly defined, risk allocation is transparent, and regulatory frameworks are stable and predictable. EU-backed infrastructure corridors have also demonstrated how public funding can de-risk early stages and crowd in private capital. For this project, EU designation and financial instruments materially improve its attractiveness to strategic investors, provided regulatory clarity follows, and also stability and security in the South Caucasus region is sustained, which is extremely important, Japaridze added. Supporting the project, the World Bank approved a $35 million loan under the Electricity and Renewable Energy Sources Program (ESPIRE) to finance the initial phase. This includes identifying the optimal corridor and conducting geophysical and geotechnical surveys of the Black Sea seabed. The corridor is scheduled to become operational by 2032, with an initial export capacity of up to 4 GW, to be implemented in phased stages. Electricity will be generated primarily from offshore wind farms in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, transmitted to Georgia via a High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link, and subsequently delivered to Romania and Hungary through the subsea cable. In 2023, Bulgaria expressed interest in joining the project, highlighting broader regional engagement in this initiative. Italy is also reportedly considering joining the project. Following other countries expressed interest in joining the project, it is essential to address the regulatory and legal hurdles necessary to ensure smooth operations and effective cross-border energy trading. Japaridze emphasized that multiple layers of regulation must be harmonized for the project to function effectively. "The subsea cable must comply with EU energy market rules, including grid codes, transparency requirements, and market operation standards. Cross-border electricity trading will require harmonized settlement systems, balancing mechanisms, and compatible trading platforms to enable efficient integration of power from non-EU producers into European markets," she said. The expert also pointed out that interconnection agreements between grid operators must clearly define procedures for congestion management, cost allocation, and dispute resolution. In addition, environmental permitting and maritime law compliance represent critical considerations, given the sensitivities associated with subsea construction. Addressing these regulatory and legal requirements early, while ensuring robust investor protections, will be essential for integrating the corridor into broader European energy markets, Japaridze noted. It should be noted that the project achieved a significant milestone in December 2025, when it was granted the status of a European Project of Mutual Interest, reflecting its strategic relevance for the EU energy landscape. It seems that the two Caucasian countries, Azerbaijan and Georgia, are positioning themselves to export green energy in a manner similar to their oil and gas exports. Japaridze highlighted that Azerbaijan and Georgia have a strong history of cooperation in large-scale energy infrastructure, demonstrating political will, strategic alignment, and institutional capability. There are clear reasons to believe this cooperation can extend into renewable energy. Institutional momentum is already visible through the joint venture managing the Black Sea cable, and EU involvement provides a stronger external anchor than previous projects had. Both countries share a clear economic interest in expanding export access, she explained. The expert also clarified the situation by highlighting the differences between the two types of energy. "At the same time, renewables introduce new technical and market complexities that oil and gas infrastructure did not face, including intermittency, grid balancing, and evolving market structures. Successfully replicating past infrastructure achievements will require investment not only in generation capacity, but also in modernized transmission networks, regulatory alignment, and sophisticated electricity trading frameworks," she elaborated. Clean electricity is a systems challenge, not just a production challenge, Japaridze emphasized. This corridor is about far more than power flows. It reshapes geopolitical and geoeconomic dependencies, redistributes influence, and embeds the South Caucasus more deeply into Europes energy future. Every new corridor reduces one dependency, and creates another, Japaridze said in conclusion. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is very concerned about the situation surrounding Iran, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said Friday. "I can tell you and reiterate yet again that we are very concerned about the heightened rhetoric we're seeing around the region, by the heightened military activities, war games, or just increased military naval presence in the region," Dujarric said at a daily briefing in response to a question posed by Xinhua about a letter the Iranian permanent mission sent to the UN chief and the president of the Security Council on Thursday. "And we encourage both the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue to engage in diplomacy in order to settle the differences," he said. In the letter, Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the country will respond "decisively and proportionately" to any military aggression, exercising its right to self-defense under the UN Charter, and urged the Security Council and the UN secretary-general to "act without delay, before it is too late." According to Dujarric, the letter has gone to the Security Council and to the General Assembly, as requested by Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations. Artists perform during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) People enjoy performances during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province on Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) People watch a Yingge dance performance in Shuimogou District of Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Li Wenwu/Xinhua) A drone photo taken on Feb. 21, 2026 shows people enjoying performances during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) Artists perform during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) A drone photo taken on Feb. 20, 2026 shows people enjoying a Yingge dance performance at a scenic area in Xiaogan, central China's Hubei Province. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/Xinhua) Artists perform during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) Artists perform during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) People watch a Yingge dance performance in Shuimogou District of Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Li Wenwu/Xinhua) Artists perform during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) A drone photo taken on Feb. 21, 2026 shows artists performing during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) A Yingge dance team performs during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) A Yingge dance team performs during a Yingge dance carnival event celebrating the Spring Festival in Chaoyang District of Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2026. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua) A drone photo taken on Feb. 20, 2026 shows people enjoying a Yingge dance performance at a scenic area in Xiaogan, central China's Hubei Province. During the Spring Festival holiday, many Yingge dance teams have staged wonderful performances across China. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As a dynamic blend of theater, dance, and martial arts, it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/Xinhua) Customers shop at a duty-free store during the Spring Festival holiday in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) HAIKOU, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- During the first Spring Festival holiday since the launch of island-wide special customs operations in China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the southern tropical island has become a popular destination for tourists, injecting fresh momentum into the tourism and consumption markets. At the iconic Qilou Old Street in the capital city of Haikou, rows of red lanterns add a festive ambiance. Tourists from home and abroad stroll through the street, immersed in the historical charm and festive joy. On the first day of the holiday, a Dutch tourist, Strobos, toured the Southeast Asian style buildings there with his Chinese wife, stopping frequently to take photos. "It's warm," said Strobos, who was visiting Hainan for the first time. "The Qilou Old Street is very famous, so we came here. It's very beautiful. The buildings and the atmosphere are very impressive." A street festival market features a wide range of products, from traditional festival snacks to creative cultural handicrafts, drawing large crowds. "The Qilou Old Street is full of cultural charm and a strong sense of life," said a tourist surnamed Cao from central China's Hunan Province. Cruise tourism also added to the holiday boost. On the first day of the lunar year, the Star Voyager, a cruise ship under Star Cruises, docked at the Sanya Phoenix Island international cruise port with more than 1,800 passengers on board, bringing new vitality to Sanya's tourism market. A tourist from Sweden, Fredrik, said he was very happy to enjoy the cruise and the atmosphere of the Chinese Spring Festival. According to the Haikou General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, Hainan is expected to see a peak in cross-border travel during the nine-day holiday, with the total inbound and outbound tourists projected to reach 79,300, an increase of 24.1 percent year on year. Duty-free shopping, a key feature of the Hainan FTP, also surged during the holiday, thanks to optimized duty-free policies, an expanded product range, and a combination of government consumption vouchers and store discounts. At a duty-free store in downtown Haikou, decorations themed on the Year of the Horse added to the festive vibe. "Duty-free shopping is a must for traveling in Hainan," said a tourist surnamed Jian from Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. "Skincare and cosmetic products here are much cheaper than malls back home, which really encourages spending." It was her first duty-free shopping experience in Hainan, and she said the store offered a wider selection of goods in a comfortable shopping environment. For many tourists, duty-free shopping has become not only a must-do for their trip in Hainan, but also a bonus for their vacation. "I reserved a whole day just for shopping," said He Jun, a tourist from east China's Anhui Province, who stayed an extra day in Haikou to visit duty-free stores before returning home. "I researched online in advance and secured government consumption vouchers. The prices are really competitive," she said, adding that the duty-free shopping made her trip more enjoyable. Data from Haikou Customs showed that in the first four days of the Spring Festival holiday, duty-free sales in Hainan reached 1.03 billion yuan (about 149 million U.S. dollars), with duty-free shoppers reaching 137,000. The figures represent year-on-year increases of 20.9 percent and 25.7 percent, respectively. According to plans, China aims to build Hainan into a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035. Tourists visit the Qilou Old Street during the Spring Festival holiday in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Tourists visit the Qilou Old Street during the Spring Festival holiday in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Customers check out at a duty-free store during the Spring Festival holiday in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) A staff member disinfects a vehicle in Oroklini containment zone in Larnaca, Cyprus, Feb. 22, 2026. Authorities in southeastern Cyprus have imposed strict quarantine across parts of Larnaca district to contain a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the Cyprus Mail reported on Saturday. The outbreak is centered in the village of Oroklini, about 6 km northeast of Larnaca city, with linked cases reported in nearby Livadia. Veterinary authorities in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus confirmed on Friday the first case of FMD at a cow-breeding unit in Livadia. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) NICOSIA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in southeastern Cyprus have imposed strict quarantine across parts of Larnaca district to contain a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the Cyprus Mail reported on Saturday. The outbreak is centered in the village of Oroklini, about 6 km northeast of Larnaca city, with linked cases reported in nearby Livadia. Veterinary authorities in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus confirmed on Friday the first case of FMD at a cow-breeding unit in Livadia. The veterinary services confirmed two large sheep and goat units in Oroklini as the epicenter, indicating that the virus has been present for at least two weeks. Around 300 livestock at the Livadia farm are being culled under sanitary protocols, and farm products, including milk and meat, have been seized. Any new positive case within the three-kilometre protection zone would trigger culling of all animals on the affected premises. Twenty-three livestock holdings in the containment area are under daily inspection. Authorities have tightly controlled animal movements, blocked roads, disinfected vehicles, and strengthened police patrols. Authorities are mobilizing veterinarians from other districts and the private sectors while investigating possible transmission routes, including animal feed. Restrictions could be lifted after 21 days if no new cases emerge. This photo taken on Feb. 22, 2026 shows a farm in Oroklini containment zone in Larnaca, Cyprus. Authorities in southeastern Cyprus have imposed strict quarantine across parts of Larnaca district to contain a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the Cyprus Mail reported on Saturday. The outbreak is centered in the village of Oroklini, about 6 km northeast of Larnaca city, with linked cases reported in nearby Livadia. Veterinary authorities in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus confirmed on Friday the first case of FMD at a cow-breeding unit in Livadia. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) Staff members disinfect the area in Oroklini containment zone in Larnaca, Cyprus, Feb. 22, 2026. Authorities in southeastern Cyprus have imposed strict quarantine across parts of Larnaca district to contain a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the Cyprus Mail reported on Saturday. The outbreak is centered in the village of Oroklini, about 6 km northeast of Larnaca city, with linked cases reported in nearby Livadia. Veterinary authorities in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus confirmed on Friday the first case of FMD at a cow-breeding unit in Livadia. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) A staff member disinfects a vehicle in Oroklini containment zone in Larnaca, Cyprus, Feb. 22, 2026. Authorities in southeastern Cyprus have imposed strict quarantine across parts of Larnaca district to contain a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the Cyprus Mail reported on Saturday. The outbreak is centered in the village of Oroklini, about 6 km northeast of Larnaca city, with linked cases reported in nearby Livadia. Veterinary authorities in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus confirmed on Friday the first case of FMD at a cow-breeding unit in Livadia. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) This photo taken on Feb. 21, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon. Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported a preliminary toll, stating that over 10 individuals had died and more than 30 were wounded in the airstrike on a building in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon. A source from the Lebanese Civil Defense told Xinhua that the death toll had climbed to 11, with 35 injured, adding that search efforts for missing persons were currently underway. Well-informed security sources revealed to Xinhua that among the deceased were three Hezbollah commanders: Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, Ali Zeid al-Moussawi and Mohammad Ibrahim al-Moussawi. In a statement, Hezbollah mourned commander Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, stating that he had become "a martyr in defense of Lebanon and its people." Lebanese security sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out six airstrikes on areas in eastern Lebanon, including Hezbollah sites. Since Nov. 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect. Despite this agreement, the Israeli army has occasionally conducted strikes in Lebanon. This photo taken on Feb. 21, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon. Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) This photo taken on Feb. 21, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon. Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) This photo taken on Feb. 21, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon. Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) People attend a funeral of Hezbollah fighters and civilians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon, Feb. 21, 2026. Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) People attend a funeral of Hezbollah fighters and civilians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon, Feb. 21, 2026. Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's National Meteorological Center issued a blue alert for a cold wave on Saturday. From February 21 to 23, the cold wave will cause significant temperature drops of 6 to 10 degrees Celsius in the northern and northeastern regions, according to the center. Notably, temperatures in parts of Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning could plummet by 12 to 14 degrees Celsius, according to the center. It urged relevant departments to enhance preparations and implement precautionary measures to protect crops and aquaculture from the cold. China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. GAZA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Two Palestinians were killed on Saturday by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian medical sources. Medical sources at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City told Xinhua that the hospital's emergency room received the body of a Palestinian man killed when an Israeli drone dropped a bomb on him in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. Another Palestinian was killed by Israeli drone fire in the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza, according to medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Gaza City. Meanwhile, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli army shelled eastern Khan Younis, and carried out demolition operations on homes and buildings east of Gaza City. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on these incidents. Gaza's health authorities said on Saturday that 612 Palestinians have been killed and 1,640 others wounded by Israeli army fire since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into effect on Oct. 10, 2025. The authorities said the total number of Palestinian fatalities since Oct. 7, 2023, has risen to 72,070, with 171,738 wounded. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of U.S. troops have been evacuated from U.S. bases in Qatar and Bahrain amid rising concerns about a potential U.S. military strike on Iran, The New York Times reported Friday, citing Pentagon officials. There have been evacuations at the Al Udeid base in Qatar and a cluster of U.S. bases in Bahrain that host the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, said the report. U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier on Friday that he was considering a limited military strike on Iran to pressure Tehran into accepting a nuclear deal. Also on Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran's draft of a possible nuclear deal with the United States will be ready in the next two to three days and after that, the two sides "may need another round of discussion before starting work toward, hopefully, a good conclusion." In an interview with MSNBC, Araghchi said that Iran is ready both for war and peace. On Thursday, Trump said that Iran has 10 to 15 days to reach a deal over its nuclear program, otherwise "really bad things" will happen. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. DHAKA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A head-on collision between a gas tanker and an auto-rickshaw killed five people in Bangladesh's northwestern Kushtia district on Saturday, an official said. Md Abu Obayed, officer-in-charge of the Kushtia district's Chourhash Highway Police station, told reporters that the deadly crash happened at around 2:30 p.m. local time when the auto-rickshaw collided with the liquid gas tanker. All five occupants of the auto-rickshaw, the driver and four passengers, were killed in the road mishap, Obayed said. "Three people died on the spot, and two more were pronounced dead after being rushed to a local hospital," he added. Bangladesh has a high fatality rate for road accidents due to shoddy highways, poorly maintained vehicles, violation of traffic rules by inept drivers, and a lack of monitoring by the traffic department. DAMASCUS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim government has assumed security oversight of Qamishli airport in the country's northeastern province of Hasakah, marking another step in the implementation of a broader agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate institutions and reduce parallel authority in the region. The interior authority said Saturday that its airport and border security department had taken over security responsibilities at Qamishli airport, as part of the deal reached earlier this year between Damascus and the SDF. The latest move follows a series of measures under the agreement, including the deployment of government security forces to parts of Hasakah and Qamishli, joint coordination on security arrangements, and the gradual transfer of control over key infrastructure from the SDF to state institutions. Qamishli airport, one of the few operating airports in northeastern Syria, has long functioned under a complex arrangement involving the SDF and Syrian state authorities. The airport has served both civilian flights and limited government operations during years of conflict and division. The agreement between the interim government and the SDF, announced in late January, calls for a phased integration of military and administrative structures, the withdrawal of forces from certain contact lines, and the transfer of border crossings, airports and other strategic facilities to central government oversight. No immediate changes to flight operations at Qamishli airport were announced. The interior authority said the handover was conducted in coordination with relevant authorities, without providing further details. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has moved to repeal a Biden-era rule that limits the amount of toxic air pollution produced by coal-burning power plants. The action could allow the plants to release more dangerous heavy metals, including brain-damaging mercury and cancer-causing arsenic, marking yet another step by the administration to reverse Biden policies. It comes a week after the EPA announced it would repeal its landmark 2009 finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health. EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi claimed that the 2024 amendments to the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards had imposed burdensome and unnecessary requirements that put grid reliability and baseload power at risk, adding that human health protections established in 2012 remain in place. By repealing these needless and costly changes made by the Biden-Harris administration, we are demonstrating that we do not need to choose between protecting human health and economic grow - we can choose BOTH, he wrote in a social media post. The EPA says rescinding the standards is expected to save an estimated $670 million. open image in gallery The EPA just moved to repeal Biden-era protections aimed at safeguarding Americans health from toxic air pollution. Experts say the decision could be deadly ( Getty Images ) Health experts and environmental groups say that the decision is a grave mistake that could come with deadly consequences for all Americans. It is unconscionable from a public health standpoint and a further betrayal of EPAs mission, the American Lung Association said, pointing out that the EPA had granted exemptions to dozens of power plants earlier this year. The American Public Health Association wrote that the standards had been life-saving, reducing nearly 90 percent of mercury emissions from the power sector. Millions are breathing cleaner air because of these protections under the Clean Air Act, and we urge EPA to rescind this dangerous decision, it said. The Sierra Club said that the Trump administrations action would triple the amount of mercury the nations dirtiest plants are allowed to release, leaving the public at a greater risk of heart and lung disease, developmental delays and learning disabilities, cancer and premature death. This is the complete opposite of making Americans healthy, Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp said in a statement. This is despicable and reckless, and we will continue to defend our communities from these health hazards caused by coal plants. The Trump administration is pushing to ramp up fossil fuel production and revitalize the coal industry, which had taken blows during the Biden administration. The EPA wrote that repealing the standards was another step to reversing Democrats war on beautiful clean coal. John Walke, senior attorney for the National Resources Defense Council and a former attorney in the EPAs Office of General Counsel, said that the industry was in decline regardless, and that dismantling clean air protections wont bring it back. It will only lead to more asthma attacks, more heart problems, and more premature deaths, especially in communities living in the shadow of coal plants, he said. open image in gallery The Trump administration has been pushing to ramp up the production of coal and other fossil fuels ( Getty Images ) Coal plants spew the major greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane, but are also the largest emitters of mercury. They account for 42 percent of total U.S. air emissions, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. American coal plants emitted 45,676 pounds of mercury in 2014, according to the EPAs National Emissions Inventory. The health effects of mercury exposure may depend on your level of exposure, what form its in, your age and health. Methylmercury is the form that Americans encounter most frequently and the majority of exposures occur through eating fish and shellfish that contain high levels. The fish are exposed to the poisonous substance when gaseous mercury from air pollution falls into bodies of water. In the water, bacteria can change it into methylmercury, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Mercury exposure can lead to damage to the kidneys, nervous system and liver in adults, according to scientists. Mercury is the most harmful during the developmental stages. Infants can be exposed when their mothers eat fish that contain methylmercury, affecting their brains with impacts to their thinking, memory, attention, language and spatial skills, according to the EPA. Research from the University of Rochester has shown that mercury exposure may disrupt the early development of the connections between muscles and the brain, potentially leading to motor control problems later in life. Blood mercury levels above 100 nanograms per milliliter - the measurement of mercury - are linked to clear signs of mercury poisoning, such as poor muscle coordination and tingling and numbness in fingers and toes, according to the New York State Department of Health. There are no confirmed deaths from mercury poisoning in the U.S. Notably, Trumps Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said he was once poisoned by mercury due to eating a lot of tuna. The mercury is coming from those coal-burning power plants, Kennedy said while testifying before Congress in 2008. In 49 states, at least some of the fish are unsafe to eat. open image in gallery Air pollution is responsible for more than 135,000 early deaths each year in the U.S. ( Getty Images ) Its been 14 years since the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards were first finalized under former President Barack Obama, resulting in legal challenges. In 2012, the EPA said its rule would help reduce mercury emissions, projecting as many as 11,000 fewer deaths from polluting power plants. In 2024, updates expanded emissions monitoring, set stricter pollution limits and eliminated a regulatory loophole that facilities used to exceed emission limits each time they started up. Repealing these protections will allow more mercury and toxic air pollution, said Surbhi Sarang, Senior Attorney at Environmental Defense Fund. This handout to a dying industry will result in more deaths, chronic health problems, and suffering among children, the elderly, and pregnant women, Ryan Maher, a staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement shared with The Independent. No one voted for dirtier air, higher medical bills, and sicker kids, but thats what Trump is delivering. Air pollution is responsible for more than 135,000 early deaths each year in the U.S., according to the State Department, and a World Economic Forum study found it costs Americans $2,500 a year in health care. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested and released under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office over claims he leaked confidential documents to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest on Thursday, on his 66th birthday, following allegations uncovered in the latest tranche of the Epstein files, that the former prince had shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UKs trade envoy. He was detained for 11 hours for police questioning, before he was pictured cowering in the back of a Range Rover as he was driven away from a police station in Aylesham, Norfolk. Police also raided two addresses, with unmarked police cars and plain-clothed police officers seen outside Wood Farm, where Mr Mountbatten-Windsor now lives on the Kings Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, on the morning of his arrest. Searches are also entering their third day at his former home, the sprawling 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, that he shared with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson until recently. Thames Valley Police previously said the force was also reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor. The former duke is the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested. Policing commentator Danny Shaw told the BBC that the former prince would likely have been held in a cell in a custody suite with just a bed and a toilet, following his arrest. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing. open image in gallery Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office ( PA ) What is misconduct in public office? According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), misconduct in public office is a common law offence and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. People can be charged with the office if it concerns serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held. The CPS also states that there must be a direct link between the misconduct and the abuse of those powers or responsibilities. open image in gallery Mr Mountbatten-Windsors former royal status would not offer him legal immunity ( AP ) Simarjot Singh Judge, managing partner at Judge Law, said: Misconduct in public office is a serious common law offence which requires prosecutors to show that a public officer deliberately breached their duty in a way that represents a serious abuse of public trust. He said: It is not enough for there to have been an error of judgment the conduct must be wilful and sufficiently serious. While an arrest is a significant step, it does not mean that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor will face charges and is not a finding of guilt. To secure a conviction, prosecutors would need to prove that the individual was acting in an official capacity and that the alleged misconduct was deliberate. open image in gallery The former prince was arrested on his 66th birthday ( Reuters ) Would his royal status protect him? Mr Mountbatten-Windsors former royal status and his position as the Kings brother would not provide him with any legal immunity from the criminal justice system. If he were to be charged with misconduct in public office, the case would proceed through the courts in the same manner as usual. Are other forces probing the royals links to Epstein? On Friday, the Metropolitan Police urged Mr Mountbatten-Windsors former bodyguards to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard is relevant to their inquiries. The Met - which is responsible for providing police protection to members of the royal family - said they were identifying and contacting former and serving close protection officers of the former Duke of York, urging them to share any information that could assist with the investigation. Met detectives are also working with authorities in the US to establish whether London airports were used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation, after former prime minister Gordon Brown called for police to urgently re-examine claims that women, or girls, were trafficked to the UK by Epstein aboard flights to Stansted. In a statement, the force said: The Met is identifying and contacting former and serving officers who may have worked closely, in a protection capacity, with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during that period of service may be relevant to our ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist us. While we are aware of the extensive media reporting and commentary about this matter, as of today, no new criminal allegations have been made to the Met regarding sexual offences said to have occurred within our jurisdiction. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has reportedly been banned from horseriding following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Royal aides warned the former prince it would be a bad look for him to be seen enjoying himself on horseback while under police investigation, according to The Sun. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley Police last Thursday on his 66th birthday, and questioned for 11 hours before he was released to return to his new home in Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. He is accused of sharing confidential information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while acting as the UKs trade envoy. A source told The Sun: Since his arrest last week he has been ordered not to go horseriding. Its considered a bad look. They dont think he should be seen grinning and smiling on his horse like he was in Windsor. But it was one of the few things he actually enjoyed doing so what on earth is he going to do with his time? open image in gallery The former prince has reportedly been warned to avoid horseriding ( Reuters ) The reported restrictions would come as a blow to the former prince, who is known for his love of horseriding and was spotted on a horse not long after he was stripped of his titles last year. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter. The UK government is set to release files detailing his appointment as trade envoy as MPs unanimously supported a motion from the Liberal Democrats asking for the public release of papers, including any vetting and any correspondence from Peter Mandelson, from the role he held between 2001 and 2011. Lord Mandelson was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Monday, following similar allegations of having passed sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary. open image in gallery The former prince was trade envoy from 2001 to 2011 ( AP ) MPs from all sides lined up to admonish the former prince in the Commons on Tuesday, with Conservative minister Alex Burghart saying it was possible to identify the hand of Epstein in Mr Mountbatten-Windsors appointment to the role back in 2001. And Sir Keir Starmers trade minister, Sir Chris Bryant, called Mr Mountbatten-Windsor a rude, arrogant and entitled man who was on a constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle. Monica Harding, MP for Esher and Walton, told the Commons the former prince stayed in his post for 10 years despite having a reputation that preceded him while concerns were met with a shrug. open image in gallery The government will release files detailing the former princes appointment as trade envoy ( House of Commons/UK Parliament ) Before entering politics, Ms Harding worked as the director of communications at the British Council, with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor having visited as a trade envoy. Before his arrival, senior staff in both the embassy and the British Council were rolling their eyes his reputation preceded him, the MP said. I was told it was a containment exercise, that overseas missions feared putting him out there in case he said something inappropriate, that he was arrogant and that he wasnt on top of the detail of his brief. Rather than looking forward to his visit as an opportunity to play up Britain, instead, it was thought that he would do damage. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in his links with Epstein but has not commented on the latest developments. open image in gallery Police have concluded their search of the former princes former residence ( Reuters ) Police announced on Tuesday night officers had concluded searching his former residence, the Royal Lodge in Berkshire, after an almost week-long raid in relation to the allegations. Thames Valley Polices assistant chief constable Oliver Wright said: Officers have now left the location we have been searching in Berkshire. This concludes the search activity that commenced following our arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on Thursday. We understand the significant public interest in this case and our investigation remains ongoing. It is important that our investigators are given the time and space to progress their work. We will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so, but this is unlikely to be for some time. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Two teenage boys have been sentenced following the murder of a father who was fatally stabbed in the heart during an unprovoked racist attack. Marcus Staniforth, 17, and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, approached Kamran Aman, 38, after he had delivered groceries to his mothers home in Barry, south Wales. The pair, from Llantwit Major, subjected Mr Aman to a brutal assault, punching and kicking him. During and after the attack, the younger boy was heard shouting racist abuse. Staniforth then retrieved a kitchen knife from a nearby property, where the teenagers had been consuming alcohol, and used it to inflict the fatal wound to Mr Amans heart. Emergency services were called to the scene, but Mr Aman, a married man with a young child, was pronounced dead at 1.07am on 1 July last year. Mr Justice Griffiths told Cardiff Crown Court that he had lifted reporting restrictions relating to Staniforth, meaning he can now be identified, but added that those relating to the 16-year-old boy would remain in place. The judge sentenced both defendants to detention during His Majestys Pleasure, with Staniforth to serve a minimum of 17 years in custody and the 16-year-old boy to serve a minimum of 15 years. open image in gallery Marcus Staniforth, 17, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court ( South Wales Police/PA Wire ) He said: On the night between June 30 and July 1 2025, you both murdered a man you didnt know. Kamran Aman was a dutiful family man. He had just delivered some shopping to his mothers house. He was in his car, ready to go back to his partner and four-year-old child when you picked on him and killed him in the street. As well as ending his life, you ruined the lives of the family he left behind. Mr Justice Griffiths described how earlier that day, the 16-year-old had painted where they n****** at on the wall of a house where he had been. The boy, who had taken cocaine, later spotted Mr Aman through a window as he sat in his car. He noticed he was not white, the judge said. Mr Aman caught his eye because he was black. The 16-year-old boy then tried to open Mr Amans car door, with Mr Aman getting out of the vehicle before being punched. He wanted to hurt him really badly because he was not white that was his only reason, the judge said. He was shouting racist abuse at him, calling him n-word and p-word, over and over again. The judge added that Staniforth was not racist but he was violent and wanted to back the 16-year-old in the attack. Sentencing the 16-year-old, the judge told him: You instigated a deliberate, unprovoked, sustained, violent, racist attack. open image in gallery The pair were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court ( Barry Batchelor/PA ) You were old enough and mature enough to know that trying to cause a complete stranger really serious injury because of his race was wrong, and you knew exactly what you were doing. Prosecuting, Owen Edwards KC told the court that Mr Aman was stabbed while outside his mothers house in an entirely unprovoked attack. He said the defendants had been drinking alcohol on June 30, with the 16-year-old behaving in a volatile and aggressive manner throughout the evening. Mr Aman had been working then saw his wife and young child before taking shopping to his mother, Shenaz Aman, on the night of June 30. The 16-year-old boy noticed Mr Aman sitting in his car and lost his temper, with Staniforth telling him he would back him up, Mr Edwards said. Both young men entered the street and the 16-year-old launched a sustained assault against Kamran, consisting of repeated punches, he told the court. Marcus joined in a limited extent, with punches and one hard kick. Mr Edwards said Staniforth then returned to a nearby property before emerging with a large kitchen knife, which he used to stab Mr Aman. The 16-year-old boy used racist slurs against Mr Aman, calling him the p-word and n-word repeatedly during and after the attack, Mr Edwards added. Both were arrested and later admitted manslaughter. They were convicted of murder following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. During the hearing on Friday, the court was told that both defendants had troubled childhoods and had been diagnosed with ADHD. In a victim personal statement, Mr Amans mother told how she had been left upset and lonely by her sons murder. His wife, Khaleela, described her husband as kind to everyone and someone you could rely on in times of need and devoted to his family. Life for us will never be the same without Kamran, she told the court. Theres a hole in our hearts that can never be filled. The day he died, part of us died with him. Theres no sentence that will ever be enough for these two boys. Detective Inspector Kath Barry, from South Wales Police, paid tribute to Mr Amans family, saying: Kamran did nothing whatsoever to warrant this. The violence could never have been foreseen and was made even more shocking by the abhorrent racist abuse used before, during and after, all captured on video footage. Within a matter of minutes, the lives of Kamrans family changed forever, and they are still trying to comprehend how this could possibly have happened, particularly outside the house they have called home for almost 20 years. They have behaved with dignity and remarkable composure during the proceedings, despite having to listen to the unbearable details of his death. As part of the Great Return Program, the Azerbaijan Road Transport Agency (AYNA) has launched a regular bus service connecting Sumqay?t to Lachin, aimed at providing high-quality transportation for citizens resettling in territories liberated from occupation. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing AYNA, the service will begin operations on February 23. Buses will depart daily from Sumqay?t Bus Station at 07:00, with return trips leaving Lachin at 17:30. The full fare for the Sumqay?tLachin route is set at 16.60 AZN. Intermediate stops include Khojaly, Stepanakert (Khankendi), and Shusha. Fares for these segments are: Sumqay?tKhojaly 14.30 AZN, Sumqay?tStepanakert 14.80 AZN, and Sumqay?tShusha 15.20 AZN. Tickets can be purchased online only via the biletim.az portal. Azerbaijani citizens booking through the portal or mobile app are automatically issued the necessary permits to enter the liberated areas. GAZA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- In a small workshop in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, 20-year-old Wael Siam pedals tirelessly on an old bicycle. The bike's rear wheel is connected to a small generator beside it. With each turn of the pedal, Siam generates electricity to power small motors that transfer gas from larger cylinders to smaller ones. "When I pedal, the generator produces current that powers small motors to pump gas," Siam said. "It is rudimentary, but necessary due to frequent power outages and fuel scarcity." Through this job, Siam supports his mother and three siblings after his father was killed in an Israeli airstrike. In Gaza's war-torn economy, Siam is one of many young people who have turned to this strenuous work as a crucial source of income, given the lack of other job opportunities. "This work requires long hours, sometimes exceeding 12 hours a day, for a financial return of no more than 10 U.S. dollars," he said. Pausing to catch his breath, he added that physical exhaustion is preferable to idleness. According to Siam, his job exists because of the ongoing fuel shortage crisis in Gaza. Before the war, Gaza's monthly demand for cooking gas ranged from 12,000 to 15,000 tons, with the average household using about 40 kg. Currently, each family receives just 8 kg of gas per distribution cycle, which may last up to three months, at a cost of around 8 U.S. dollars. On the black market, however, the same amount can fetch up to 30 dollars. As a result, many families opt to sell their gas rations at high prices to cover basic needs like flour, rice, oil, and medicine. "This falls under the black market and is illegal," he said. "But the exceptional circumstances created by the war have left people with few options." As ordinary people are forced to sell their gas rations to support their families, restaurant and cafe owners also have no choice but to buy expensive gas to keep their businesses afloat. "Prolonged shortages have created a parallel economy based on basic necessities," Siam added. "We are not happy working in this field, but people need gas for cooking, and we need to work to live." Even with the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025, fuel and cooking gas remain in short supply due to Israeli restrictions on imports and damage to storage and distribution facilities during the conflict. The shortage is especially severe as Ramadan approaches, when gas demand typically increases. "This profession has established itself in the Gazan market, like many new trades that emerged to meet urgent needs," Mohammed al-Jaidi, owner of the workshop where Siam works, told Xinhua. Nearby, 45-year-old Ahmed Salem, a displaced man from the northern Gaza Strip now living in Khan Younis, held two cylinders, each weighing only a few kilograms, waiting to sell. "I have to sell my gas to buy medicine for my elderly mother," he told Xinhua. "Without selling part of this gas, I cannot afford her medicines, nor the food we need each day." Just a short distance away, Ibrahim Hamto clutched an empty cylinder, ready to pay the steep prices for gas. "I fear a return to previous gas embargoes," he told Xinhua. "Last time, families suddenly found themselves without cooking fuel for days, and it disrupted our meals, our routines, everything. We do not want to experience that again," he said. "I am willing to pay extra now just to ensure we have enough gas at home. It is not about profit, but about survival -- making sure my family can cook, eat, and carry on with daily life despite the shortages," he added. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Police investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have urged his former bodyguards to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard is relevant to their inquiries. The Metropolitan Police said they were identifying and contacting former and serving close protection officers of the former Duke of York, urging them to share any information that could assist with the investigation. Detectives are also working with authorities in the US to establish whether London airports were used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation, after former prime minister Gordon Brown called for police to urgently re-examine claims that women, or girls, were trafficked to the UK aboard flights to Stansted. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is understood to be considering a law change that would remove the former prince from the line of succession after police have finished their investigation. On Friday, the Met said no new reports of alleged sexual offences had been made since the release of millions of documents related to Epstein by the US Department of Justice. open image in gallery The former prince was caught on camera following his arrest on Thursday for misconduct in public office ( Reuters ) It said: We are assessing this information and are actively seeking further detail from law enforcement partners, including those in the United States. Separately, the Met is identifying and contacting former and serving officers who may have worked closely, in a protection capacity, with Andrew MountbattenWindsor. They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during that period of service may be relevant to our ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist us. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his links with Epstein, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. The royal family is facing its greatest crisis in decades as the police search of Mr Mountbatten-Windsors former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, entered its second day and is expected to continue into Monday. open image in gallery Royal Lodge, which has around 30 rooms, was Mountbatten-Windsors home for more than two decades ( Shutterstock ) The 66-year-old was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and was released under investigation after 11 hours of police questioning. Officers are looking into claims that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor shared sensitive information with the disgraced financier while serving as the UKs trade envoy a role he was forced to leave after it emerged he had continued his friendship with Epstein after the latters conviction for sex offences. Searches of Royal Lodge began soon after his arrest, with officers returning on Friday to continue to comb through the 30-room property, which was home to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor for over two decades. Several unmarked vehicles were seen entering the gates as uniformed officers patrolled the 98-acre grounds. Searches in Berkshire are ongoing and are likely to be ongoing until Monday, Thames Valley Police told The Independent. Mr Mountbatten-Windsors arrest marks the greatest challenge to the monarchy since the abdication in 1936 of King Edward VIII, whose decision to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson triggered a constitutional upheaval. open image in gallery Searches of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors former home entered their second day on Friday and are expected to continue over the weekend into Monday ( Getty ) The days-long search could spark a fresh scandal for the royals after significant time and resources were spent trying to contain the controversy arising from Mr Mountbatten-Windsors association with Epstein. It comes amid growing calls for the former duke to be removed from the line of succession, as he remains eighth in line to the throne despite the scandal. The move would require an act of parliament, and The Independent understands that the government will consider introducing legislation to allow his removal once the police investigation has concluded. Any changes to the line of succession will require consultation and agreement with other Commonwealth realms, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said parliament would have to consider when the time is right to change the law, adding that naturally the monarchy will want to make sure he can never become King. Meanwhile, Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, called for a full statutory inquiry following the former princes arrest, which could include looking into other public figures. open image in gallery Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said Mountbatten-Windsor should be removed from the line of succession ( PA ) We obviously need to wait for the legal process to make its way, but I would say we really need a full statutory inquiry into public figures from institutions, where crimes have been committed if theyve been committed; what we knew, what other people in those institutions knew, and, where necessary, to make sure that the appropriate people are removed, he said. Earlier this week, Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, told the BBC that she believed Mr Moutbatten-Windsor should have his succession right revoked. That sentiment was echoed in a YouGov poll that showed that 82 per cent of Britons believe he should be cut from the line of succession, with only 6 per cent believing that he should not. The survey of 7,242 adults, released on Friday, also found that 12 per cent of respondents did not have a view. open image in gallery Police were present at Royal Lodge, the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in Windsor ( PA ) Meanwhile, Princess Anne continued her royal duties with a visit to Yorkshire Crisps on Friday, ignoring a reporter who asked from across the car park if she had spoken to her younger brother since his arrest. King Charles has expressed his deepest concern over news of his brothers arrest, and added that the law must take its course in a statement on Thursday. Mr Mountbatten-Windsors children, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are yet to comment on his arrest. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Gorton and Denton is a constituency of two halves. On the east, the Gorton side, there are diverse suburbs of the city of Manchester, which are home to large student and Muslim populations. Denton meanwhile, located in the borough of Tameside, is a largely working-class post-industrial town and has a much older population, who are almost 91 per cent white. Once a hive of textile production and coal mining, it has like many towns in the northwest borne the brunt of deindustrialisation. These two very different areas make up the countrys 15th most deprived seat, where the challenges of living in modern Britain are laid bare. The neighbouring areas share a sense of disappointment, verging on anger. Voters in the constituency will go to the polls for a crunch by-election on Thursday one which could bring the curtain down on Sir Keir Starmers premiership and have a lasting impact on the make-up of British politics. This constituency and its previous iterations has long been a brick in Labours Red Wall. Even when Boris Johnson convinced so many lifelong Labour voters to back his Conservative Party, with a promise to get Brexit done, voters here remained loyal to the regions political traditions. But the disillusionment felt among its residents could herald a new political era, redefining the age-old battle between the left and right. Now retired, then-Labour MP Andrew Gwynne was elected with a 13,000-vote majority at the 2024 general election ahead of Reform UK and the Green Party in second and third. Those runners-up now have the seat well and truly in their sights. Labour has everything to lose and faces a fierce fight to hold on. open image in gallery Denton in Tameside, Greater Manchester, has borne the brunt of deindustrialisation ( Getty ) Voters have told The Independent they feel let down by Sir Keirs government. They think they have already been forgotten about by a party that this constituency has always been loyal to, and helped elect 19 months ago. There is no love lost for the prime minister, and the decision to block the popular Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing as the Labour candidate went down badly. Taxi driver Muhammed Basharat, 61, from Levenshulme on the Gorton side, said he will be voting for the Green Party, partly due to disappointment with Labour. They let down many people the tax rises, they cut benefits, there are many things they are doing, he said. The people are not happy. You speak to people in the street, the British people, theyre not happy with them. Mobile hairdresser Caterina Pandolfo, 65, said there was a feeling that Gorton and Denton had been forgotten. I think its quite sad, she said. Its got worse. She hoped a Labour government could go some way to addressing that, but doesnt believe it has. She said: I dont think hes doing very well at all, Keir Starmer, sadly. He could have done so much. open image in gallery Voters Sheila and John Harrison, pictured in Denton ( The Independent ) Over in Denton, lifelong Labour voters John Harrison, 71, and Sheila Harrison, 69, said they would not vote for the party again. Sheila, who described Britain as broken, said Sir Keir doesnt represent towns like hers, though she would have voted for Mr Burnham. For John, its a case of broken promises. Labour isnt really doing what you know they said that it was going to do in the manifesto, he said, adding that he feels let down by the government. Despite that, one change in the Labour Party could win them back. I would have voted for Andy Burnham, John said. He said Mr Burnham has more personality and is able to connect with northern voters. He believes the Greater Manchester mayor is on his side in a way that Sir Keir, who he describes as aloof, is not. Sheila would agree, Hoping to take advantage of this feeling of abandonment in a Labour heartland are Reform UK candidate GB News presenter Matthew Goodwin and the Green nominee Hannah Spencer. The Independent requested an interview with Mr Goodwin and contacted Reform for comment. Earlier this month, The Independent revealed that Mr Goodwin suggested people who dont have children should be taxed extra as punishment in an unearthed blog post and called for women and young girls to be given a biological reality check, as he gave his views on how Britain should tackle its impending fertility crisis. Polling suggests Mr Goodwin is expected to perform well in Denton, while support for plumber and councillor Ms Spencer in Gorton is evident from the posters and signs on display. open image in gallery Hannah Spencer is the Green Party candidate for the by-election ( PA Wire ) Ms Spencer believes that the by-election is the beginning of a battle between a new left and right in British politics now represented by her party and Nigel Farages Reform in place of Labour and the Conservatives. I think people are rejecting that old system of two-party politics and looking for an alternative, she told The Independent. Whats happened in the last couple of years shows that change in the political system can happen quite quickly. Ms Spencer believes this has been exacerbated by Labours bruising time in power. Though the party has seen a recent uptick in national opinion polls, it still trails Reform, and the prime ministers approval ratings remain low. At the last general election, it felt like it was one last chance that Labour were being given, she said, adding: They ran under a banner of change, and has anything actually changed? That feeling is particularly acute in an area like this, Ms Spencer believes. She said: I think it hurts harder when you feel like youve fallen for the person who was going to help you. Labours candidate, councillor Angeliki Stogia, insisted a vote for anyone but her could hand the seat to Mr Goodwin as she defended her partys record in government. open image in gallery Lucy Powell, deputy leader of the Labour Party (left), and Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party (right), with Angeliki Stogia ( PA Wire ) She said: In terms of Reform, were fighting every door. Weve got policies, were listening to residents on the ground and what they want, and what they want is real action. They dont want shouting from the sidelines. The real issues that people are bringing forward are the cost of living, issues that surround the neighbourhoods and communities. I am the best person to deliver on that, she added. As for criticism of the governments record, she said: I understand that, and the prime minister has said that we need to go faster and we need to go deeper in terms of delivering these changes. Weve been in government for 18 months. Things take a lot of time to change. Last May, just 35 miles away in Runcorn and Helsby, Reforms Sarah Pochin was elected by a margin of just six votes. There is a suggestion that Labour and the Green Party could split the vote on the left here and open the door for Reform to win another seat in the region. But asked if the two parties could forge a progressive alliance, Ms Spencer was not interested. I dont view them as a progressive force at all, she said. I think theyre so far removed from what they ever were, that I find it really hard to see how, even with making some changes, they would be someone that we would work with. open image in gallery Nigel Farage campaigning with Reforms candidate, Matt Goodwin ( PA ) Instead, she believes her party leader Zack Polanski should have his eyes on Downing Street. I think it is definitely possible that at the next general election we could be looking at a Green government, she said. I think weve shown in the last six months, the amount of new members that weve got that have joined, the amount of people that are coming out to help in elections like this shows that theres a real appetite for change. What Ms Spencer and Ms Stogia do agree on, however, is Reform. Asked about the possibility of Nigel Farages party winning in this constituency, Ms Stogia said: I think that peoples voices are not going to be listened to. I think that division will take root in our communities, and I think that a Reform MP is not going to lean in and listen and work with communities to resolve issues in the area. For Ms Spencer, a vote for the Greens is one for hope, rather than division with Reform. Its a really diverse constituency with different people from a lot of different backgrounds, but with a shared value of looking after each other, she said. Its a very Greater Manchester thing that people do just muddle along, even if you sometimes believe in slightly different things, like you do look after each other. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Playgrounds would become "crack dens" under Green Partys drug policy, a minister has warned. Sarah Jones, the policing minister, branded the Greens position "reckless" during a public spat with Zack Polanski. The two figures traded blows in the run-up to a by-election scheduled for next week in Greater Manchester. Mr Polanski has championed a "public health approach" to drug-taking, arguing that "the war on drugs is failing". He urged Labour figures not to "make this a cheap, stupid game where people continue to die". The Green Party has previously campaigned to decriminalise drug possession, pointing people who face harms towards housing, employment and health support. In 2024, the party proposed setting up a regulated market for drugs that stops criminal supply and profiteering, and that reduces harm including by preventing children accessing drugs. But these reckless plans would shatter communities across the country and tear apart the very fabric of Britain, according to Ms Jones. open image in gallery Policing Minister Sarah Jones called Greens position on drugs reckless ( PA Media ) She added: Polanski would unleash a drugs epidemic across Britain that would see our parks and playgrounds turned into crack dens. Lets be clear about what that would mean lives shattered, anti-social behaviour through the roof, and public drug use running rife. Its deeply irresponsible to even suggest this idea and its families and young people in our communities whod pay a very heavy price. Drug seizures are at a record high with Labour, as we tackle drug-related organised crime while investing billions in drug prevention and treatment. This is a common-sense approach to keep our communities safe and keep drugs off our streets. Hannah Spencer, the Green Partys Gorton and Denton by-election candidate, has previously said she thought decriminalising is a conversation that we need to have, in an interview with the BBC. She and Reform UKs Matthew Goodwin are vying to topple the 13,413 majority which Labour won in 2024, with Labours Angeliki Stogia defending it in next Thursdays poll. Speaking outside his campaigns headquarters in Gorton, Mr Polanski told PA: For the Labour Government to be playing political games with peoples lives is totally unacceptable and what I think it speaks to, in places like Manchester, are why people are sick of the old establishment politics. Theyre seeing people who arent taking issues seriously, who arent doing the things that need to be done to protect people, to take a public health approach, to make sure that children absolutely cant go anywhere near drugs. Right now, children can often get drugs if they want thats a completely unacceptable situation. open image in gallery Green Party leader Zack Polanski with the partys Gorton and Denton by-election candidate Hannah Spencer ( Danny Lawson/PA ) Thats why Im saying very clearly, I want to legalise, regulate and control drugs and thats a public health approach by public health professionals. Green Party leader Mr Polanski also said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Government seemed to be shouting lies about the Green Party. He said: Take alcohol, for instance we regulate it because we know its dangerous if anyone can get it, any time, and so it should be the same with drugs, taking a public health approach. Its not about saying it should be fully accessible to everyone. Its recognising that the war on drugs is failing. Thats not a contentious thing to say. All around the world when people have tried to have the same policy weve had with drugs, it hasnt worked, and its not worked in this country. What Im talking about, and this has been tried various ways around the world, including places like Portugal, where its reduced drug deaths, reduced HIV transmissions, and reduced whats often labelled as antisocial behaviour, rather than allowing drugs to be in the hands of drug gangs or to be on the black market or in the streets. What youre actually saying is, if someone has a problematic relationship with drugs, then they should go to a public health expert or someone in the National Health Service to get the expert help and advice that they need. Mr Polanski later added: Im saying, lets have a sensible, evidence-based approach, led by health professionals, led by drug experts and lets not make this a cheap, stupid game where people continue to die. In Oregon, US, the state legislature decriminalised the possession of small amounts of hard drugs in 2020, but rowed back almost two years ago. Research by OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) showed the number of people who died from an overdose in the state more than doubled between 2020 and late 2023, many as a result of fentanyl use. According to the Labour Party, the Greens proposal could lead to a doubling of drug deaths and open drug use in public spaces. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Cubans are increasingly turning to solar power, scrambling to install panels on homes, businesses, and even vehicles, as the island grapples with severe, extended blackouts. This energy crisis is largely attributed to Washington's ongoing efforts to prevent oil shipments from reaching the Caribbean nation, exacerbating existing electricity generation shortfalls. For years, US sanctions and a profound economic downturn have severely hampered the Cuban government's ability to procure sufficient fuel. The situation has worsened recently due to a significant reduction in shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, reportedly influenced by US tariff threats. While the Cuban government, supported by Chinese financing and equipment donations, has made strides, installing over 1,000 megawatts of solar generation in the past year and pledging to double this capacity, many private citizens are now taking matters into their own hands. Havana resident Roberto Sarriga explained his decision to Reuters: "Given the frequent outages, which pretty much stop you from doing anything, a friend offered to help me invest in panels and set everything up." For Mr Sarriga, the solar panels provide crucial lifelines, enabling internet access, charging his phone so he can be reached, and powering a television to keep his elderly mother entertained with her favourite soap operas. open image in gallery Solar panel technicians Denis Tamayo, 30, and Alejandro Guerra, 30, carry a solar panel on the rooftop of a building as Cubans grapple with an ongoing energy crisis exacerbated by fuel shortages ( REUTERS ) He added: "The idea was to at least have the basics covered." The panels, imported and sold in dollars, are well out of reach of most Cubans, but have offered a solution for a growing class of private business owners and those who still receive money from relatives abroad. The government, aiming to encourage such investments, late on Thursday announced new measures that would waive personal taxes for up to eight years for business people who undertake renewable energy projects. Solar panel installer Raydel Cano, who works in homes and private businesses throughout the Cuban capital Havana, told Reuters demand had increased as fuel has run short in the past few weeks, leaving those with gas and diesel-driven generators in the lurch. "Private businesses see themselves obligated to install panels," he said, noting that alternatives to fully renewable power had mostly become obsolete as the grid falters. open image in gallery Solar panels are put on the rooftops of buildings as Cubans grapple with an ongoing energy crisis exacerbated by fuel shortages ( REUTERS ) Though installing solar panels demands a higher cost upfront, Havana cafe manager Dariem Soto-Navarro said with diesel increasingly difficult to buy, solar was the better option. "In addition to being clean, green energy, it optimises operating costs," he said. "It is without a doubt one of the best solutions for entrepreneurs and private businesses." Alejandro Arritola, who drives a tricycle-taxi with solar panels installed on the roof, told Reuters he had installed the panels to help him travel further when he runs out of gas. "It extends my range and I don't have to use any gasoline," he said, noting that his family continues to get around with ease despite the shortages. "If there's no public transportation, it doesn't matter." The Trump administration says its measures increase pressure for political change in Cuba. On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was in Cuba's "best interest to make very dramatic changes very soon." The UN has warned that if Cuba's energy needs are not met this could cause a humanitarian crisis. The island, already suffering from severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine, has implemented rationing measures to protect essential services. Russia, one of Cuba's last remaining oil suppliers, is preparing to send crude in the near future, Izvestia newspaper reported last week, without providing a specific date. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice It should have been a normal Saturday evening. On 31 January, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie had dinner and played games with her daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni at the couples house in the Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Arizona. When they called it a night, Cioni dropped his mother-in-law back at her home just a couple of miles away, waiting to make sure that she entered safely. The following morning, though, Nancy didnt show up to her usual church service. This wasnt like her; friends soon got in touch with her family to raise the alarm. She was reported missing to the police that afternoon, and officers soon discovered that her doorbell camera was missing. Droplets of blood, later confirmed to be Nancys, were found on her front porch. Her phone and her vital heart medication had been left behind. The sheriffs office soon concluded that she had been taken against her will, and in the fortnight or so that has followed, Nancy Guthries mysterious disappearance has gripped America, a true crime story unfolding in real time. A case like this one would surely have made the news on its own, tapping in as it does to our worst fears that we, and those that we love, might not be as safe as we think in our homes. However, the fact that Nancys youngest daughter is Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, a fixture on American morning television for more than a decade, has only heightened the attention, both from the press and from the public whove watched the presenter on NBC every weekday for years. Savannah, the 54-year-old who started out as Todays legal correspondent before becoming the shows co-anchor in 2012, is one of Americas most well-respected and well-liked broadcasters, adept at balancing the morning show blend of hard-hitting interviews and softer, often sillier human interest stories. For a British audience, perhaps our closest equivalent would be someone like Good Morning Britains Susanna Reid. She has spoken at length of her bond with her mum, who she has described as her rock and her inspiration; the family only seems to have been brought closer together by the sudden loss of her father (and Nancys husband) Charles, who died when she was just 16. And Nancy will be a family face for Today viewers, too, having previously appeared on the show a handful of times, most recently in a November segment filmed in Tucson. open image in gallery News anchor Savannah Guthrie with her mother Nancy ( NBC/Today ) Savannahs celebrity status has ensured that her and her siblings impassioned pleas for their mothers safe return, posted on social media every few days since Nancys disappearance, have generated headlines across America and beyond. Our mother is a kind, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light, Savannah said in one tearful message shared on Instagram in the week after the abduction, shortly after it was confirmed that she would no longer be travelling to Italy to host NBCs Winter Olympics coverage, in order to be with her family at this harrowing time. The New York Times has branded the case the true crime drama that Americans cannot look away from. It has also, inevitably, become the focus of conspiracy theories from armchair sleuths and self-appointed social media detectives, many of whom have descended upon Nancys Catalina Foothills neighbourhood to livestream their updates. But as the investigation enters its third week, what is striking is just how many questions relating to the case remain unanswered. So what do we actually know about Nancys disappearance? Law enforcement officers have been able to discern that her doorbell camera was disconnected at 1.47am on 1 February. About 20 minutes later, movement was recorded on her home security system. And at 2.28am, her pacemaker app disconnected from her phone, suggesting that this was when she left the property. A day or so after the sheriffs department revealed that Nancy was missing, local news stations and the gossip website TMZ received a purported ransom note, allegedly asking for millions of dollars in bitcoin in return for her release. The FBI said that the note included specific details about the crime scene, which an imposter would not have known about. Its thought that it set two deadlines for payment, 5 February and 9 February, which have since passed. Three further notes have since emerged; the FBI, meanwhile, has told the press that it is not aware of any communication between the Guthrie family and any alleged kidnappers. open image in gallery The broadcaster has described her mother as her rock and her inspiration ( NBC/Today ) Perhaps the biggest update in the case and one which may yet prove crucial to the investigation came on 10 February, when the FBI and the Pima County Sheriffs Department unveiled grainy black-and-white video and images of a masked prowler approaching the porch and tampering with Nancys doorbell camera. In the chilling footage, the slumped, shadowy figures features are obscured by a balaclava; as well as wearing gloves and carrying a backpack, they also seem to be armed with a gun in a holster. I believe that somebody out there knows who this is Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff Initially, it had seemed that security footage from Nancys home had been lost, as the family didnt have a full subscription for the Google Nest camera. But the FBI and Sheriffs Department, after working closely with our private sector partners, eventually managed to recover the footage from residual data located in backend systems, according to FBI director Kash Patel. Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the search for Nancy, believes that this footage could be the key to unlocking a case that has so far proved opaque. I believe that somebody out there knows who this is, he told the Daily Mail. I believe that somebody out there can look at that video and go, I know exactly who that is. And thats what our plea is to our community. open image in gallery Chilling: surveillance footage shows a masked intruder obstructing the doorbell camera ( FBI ) The FBI has since released a description of the suspect, based on the video, as a male who stands between 5ft 9in and 5ft 10in tall, with an average build. The rucksack worn by the intruder is from Walmarts Ozark Trail Hiker brand, and has been described by Nanos as one of the most promising leads; the sheriff has also confirmed that the supermarket chain has provided the authorities with online and in-store records for items purchased from the Ozark brand, as well as surveillance footage from Walmarts in the local area. Another potential clue that seemed particularly promising? The discovery of a glove, which resembled those worn by the suspect in the video, a few miles from the crime scene. DNA from the item was sent off for testing last week, but on Tuesday (17 February), the authorities revealed that there were no matches on Codis, the combined DNA index system that serves as the FBIs DNA database. DNA found at Nancys house is still being analysed. Progress, it seems, has been slow, beset by false leads and setbacks. Investigators have yet to confirm a motive, and although police are thought to have searched a residence near Nancys house on Friday 13 February, no one was arrested. open image in gallery Savannah (centre) and her older siblings have released several appeals on social media ( Instagram/@savannahguthrie ) Combine Savannahs fame with the steady drip-feed of new information, the victims vulnerability and images of that eerie masked figure plus a $100,000 FBI reward and it is hardly surprising that the case has become a public obsession in the States. What is just as grimly predictable is that the Guthrie family have been subject to upsetting speculation and conspiracy theories, with some true crime sleuths casting entirely baseless suspicions upon them. To quash these theories, Sheriff Nanos was forced to release a statement at the start of the week, confirming that Savannah, her siblings and their spouses had all been cleared of any involvement. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious, and are the victims in this case, he said. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. As the investigation drags into its third week, with seemingly few updates, its hard to imagine how the case must be weighing upon Savannah and the rest of her close-knit family. But in another video appeal shared earlier this week, the broadcaster stressed that they still have hope, and [they] still believe that theyll be reunited with their mother. We believe in the essential goodness of every human being, she said. And its never too late. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trumps administration intends to spend nearly $40 billion on a plan to detain tens of thousands of immigrants in retrofitted warehouses across the country, expanding the presidents mass deportation efforts into cities and towns that are increasingly urging officials to keep them out of their backyards. Documents published by officials in New Hampshire offer the clearest and most comprehensive picture yet of Immigration and Customs Enforcements nationwide plans to scale up the presidents campaign to quickly arrest, detain and deport people from the United States, which is already detaining more than 60,000 immigrants at any given time. ICE expects to spend more than $38 billion buying up 16 buildings it can convert into processing centers to temporarily detain up to 1,500 immigrants in each before theyre moved to larger facilities. Another eight larger warehouses would hold up to 10,000 people at a time, serving as primary locations for removal from the country, according to the documents. Those facilities add to an already-expansive immigration detention system of more than 200 jails, mostly operated by private firms, in a country with one of the highest incarceration rates on the planet. open image in gallery ICE spent nearly $130 million on a more than 1 million square foot warehouse roughly 50 miles outside of Atlanta to detain thousands of immigrants, part of a network of newly acquired and converted warehouse spaces across the country ( Getty Images ) The plans are meeting fierce resistance, including in states and counties that supported Trump and from Republican officials. Last week, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker said he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about a proposed facility in Marshall County. I relayed to her the opposition of local elected and zoning officials as well as economic development concerns. I appreciate her for agreeing to look elsewhere, he said. Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, whose state published documents about the warehouse expansion, grilled ICEs acting director Todd Lyons on whether he would similarly cancel a project in her state. No, maam, he said during his testimony to the Senate Homeland Security committee Thursday. The people of Merrimack, their leadership, do not want this ICE facility in their community. I have yet to find a Granite State community that does, she said. I would hope I get the same treatment that Senator Wicker got, which is that the town doesnt want the detention center, so please cancel it. open image in gallery ICEs acting director Todd Lyons is overseeing a plan that would buy up roughly two dozen large warehouses, previously used for industrial purposes, to be turned into massive jails to support the Trump administrations mass deportation efforts ( AP ) New Hampshires Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte said Homeland Security shared the documents with her office for the first time that same day, appearing to contradict Lyonss testimony that he spoke with the governor and provided her with an economic impact summary about the project. ICE plans to spend $158 million retrofitting a warehouse in Merrimack. Similar plans are underway across the country. ICE has already spent nearly $700 million acquiring warehouses in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas, according to public records and local reports. This week, ICE announced the purchase of a former warehouse in Chester, New York, which it plans to convert into a detention center, despite widespread, bipartisan opposition to the project from state and local officials That facility, roughly 60 miles outside of New York City could hold up to 1,500 people. I think every American should be alarmed, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said this week. They are building and have built a black box system that disappears people, both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike. ICEs decision to move forward with the project despite clear local opposition underscore the urgent need for New York to be a bulwark against the Trump administrations mass deportation agenda, according to Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition. That kind of opposition is working in other states, even in deep-red districts. But ICE, flush with cash after a massive injection of taxpayer funds through Trumps One Big Beautiful Act domestic spending bill last year, intends to fully implement a new detention model by the end of Fiscal Year 2026, according to the documents. Last month, Homeland Security told officials in largely Republican-leaning Hanover County, Virginia, that ICE intends to build a facility on a former cattle farm that houses a 500,000-square-foot warehouse constructed by a company owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison. Pattisons company reportedly intended to sell that warehouse to ICE, but after a threat of boycotts, in addition to business and union pressure and outrage from nearby residents, the countys board of supervisors announced plans to oppose the sale and called on federal, state and local leaders to do the same. Shortly after the boards vote, Pattisons company issued a one-line statement: The transaction to sell our industrial building in Ashland, Virginia will not be proceeding. open image in gallery Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has faced urgent calls from federal, state and local officials from both parties across the country to pull ICE warehouses out of their states ( AP ) In Utah, local opposition forced a real estate group that owns a warehouse with plans for ICE conversion to issue a brief statement saying it has no plans to lease the property to any federal agency. In Oklahoma, officials passed a resolution to block any ICE facility there. And in Maryland, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball revoked the building permit for one. Similar resistance is underway across the country, though with mixed results; ICE spent nearly $130 million on a more than 1 million square foot warehouse roughly 50 miles outside of Atlanta, one of two new additions to Georgias already-sprawling immigration detention center network. Officials there already appear to be regretting it. This is not something, hands down, that the city can support, Social Circle City Manager Eric Taylor told Georgia Public Radio. More than 72 percent of residents in Walton County voted for Trump in 2024. The frustration here is that theyre looking at a building that was not built for human habitation, he said. There's nothing more than a shell of a building. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A woman adopted as a toddler from an Iranian orphanage by an American war veteran, and raised as a Christian in the United States, is facing deportation to Iran a country where Christians face severe persecution and which is currently on the brink of potential conflict with the US. She is one of thousands of individuals adopted from abroad who were never granted citizenship due to a complex intersection of adoption and immigration law. The woman, whose name The Associated Press has withheld due to her precarious legal situation, recently received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ordering her to appear for removal proceedings before an immigration judge in California. She has no criminal record. The letter states she is eligible for deportation because she overstayed her visa in March 1974, when she was just four years old. "I never imagined it would get to where it is today," the woman said, expressing her belief that, as a Christian and the daughter of an American Air Force officer, deportation to Iran could be a death sentence. "I always told myself that there is no way that this country could possibly send someone to their death in a country they left as an orphan. How could the United States do that?" The already terrifying prospect of deportation has been amplified by recent geopolitical tensions, she noted, as the Trump administration began amassing a significant force of American warships and aircraft in the Middle East, preparing for potential military action against Iran if nuclear programme talks fail. The Associated Press profiled the woman in 2024 as part of a wider investigation into how many international adoptees were left without citizenship because their American adoptive parents failed to naturalize them. The woman has spent years attempting to rectify her legal status, with the DHS aware of her situation since at least 2008. She estimates her file runs to thousands of pages and remains unsure what prompted the sudden threat of removal. The Trump administration has pursued a mass deportation campaign, asserting it is removing the "worst of the worst" criminals. However, many individuals with no criminal records have been caught in the dragnet. The womans only interaction with law enforcement she can recall was being stopped 20 years ago for using her phone while driving. She works in corporate healthcare, pays taxes, and owns a home in California. open image in gallery Adoptee DeportationShe is one of thousands of individuals adopted from abroad who were never granted citizenship due to a complex intersection of adoption and immigration law ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) "When the media refuses to give names, it makes it impossible to provide details on specific cases or even verify any of this even happened or that the people even exist. If you cant do your job, we cant do ours," the Department of Homeland Security stated. The AP did not provide the woman's name but sent a detailed description of the letter she received, the stated reasons for her deportation eligibility, and her original court date of March 4. A judge has since delayed the hearing to later next month and agreed with her attorney, Emily Howe, that the woman does not have to appear in person a relief given concerns that immigration officers might be waiting to detain her. Adopted in Iran when she was 2 The womans father, a World War II prisoner of war, retired from the Air Force and worked as a government contractor in Iran. He and his wife found her in an orphanage in 1972 and adopted her when she was two years old. They returned to the US in 1973, with a local newspaper running a full-page story about the family and their new daughter. Her adoption was finalized in 1975. However, at that time, parents were required to naturalize adopted children through the federal immigration agency separately. Both of the womans parents have since passed away. She only discovered she had not been naturalized when she applied for a passport at the age of 38. She still does not understand how the oversight occurred. Searching her fathers papers, she found a 1975 letter from a lawyer stating he was working with immigration officials, concluding, "it appears this matter is concluded," and billing her father for his services. She has not kept her situation secret, seeking help for years from the State Department, immigration officials, and senators. She contacted her congresswoman, Rep. Young Kim, a Republican from California, but to no avail. Kims office recently responded to her plea about her pending removal by stating they were "not able to advise or interfere." "It just baffles me that its OK to send me to a foreign country that I could potentially die or I could get imprisoned because of a clerical error," she said. More recent adoptees do not face this legal limbo. Congress passed a bill in 2000 to rectify the issue, conferring automatic citizenship on everyone legally adopted from abroad. However, the law was not made retroactive and applied only to those younger than 18 when it took effect; anyone born before the arbitrary date of February 27, 1983, was excluded. Coalition tries to protect older adoptees A bipartisan coalition, ranging from the Southern Baptist Convention to liberal immigration groups, has since lobbied Congress to pass another bill to assist older adoptees excluded by the law, but Congress has not acted. Some lobbyists now argue that the administrations threat to deport an adoptee is precisely the scenario they worked hard to prevent. "Im horrified. Its rare for me to feel shocked by a story these days. But this is an absolutely unbelievable situation," said Hannah Daniel, who, as director of public policy for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the lobbying arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, spent years urging legislators to address the issue. open image in gallery She is one of thousands of individuals adopted from abroad who were never granted citizenship due to a complex intersection of adoption and immigration law ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Intercountry adoption has been a rare topic championed by lawmakers across the political spectrum. Many Christian churches advocate intercountry adoption as a biblical calling, mirroring Gods welcome of believers into a family of faith. Daniel, who recently joined World Relief, a Christian humanitarian organisation, said threatening to send a Christian adoptee to Iran represents a collision of two issues she and many other Christians deeply care about: international adoption and the persecution of Christians globally. "That is what is most troubling to me about this: We are a nation that prides itself on fighting for religious freedom both here and abroad," Daniel said. "And it feels so antithetical to that to then say were going to send this person who, for me, is a sister in Christ to face a death sentence." She called it "un-American and unconscionable." Converts to Christianity in Iran face intense discrimination Ryan Brown, chief executive officer of Open Doors, a non-profit supporting persecuted Christians worldwide, explained that while some Christians in Iran are Christian by birth and face widespread discrimination, the situation is far worse for those considered converts from Islam. He expects a deported adoptee would be viewed in the latter category as a convert. "It is assumed that you are an enemy of the state. It is assumed that if you are a Christian, that you are aligned to the West and you desire to see that the regime toppled," he said. "There is no benefit of the doubt extended." Converted Christians are routinely arrested, with some sentenced to death. "Their prisons are world renowned for their deplorable conditions," Brown said, citing a lack of sanitation, scarce food, water, and healthcare. Iranian prisons are "notoriously more evil for women," he added, with women routinely reporting sexual assault by captors and some forced into marriages. Brown, an adoptive father himself, struggled to contemplate what a Christian woman, accustomed to the freedoms of the United States, might experience if forced to return to Iran. She does not know the language or customs, having lived a fully American life. "I cannot even fathom that," Brown said. "My prayers are with her." The woman believes Iran would likely view her with even greater suspicion given her fathers military service and work as a US government contractor. She grew up listening to his war stories, reading the journal he kept as a prisoner of war, and was proud of his sacrifice and service to a country she believed had saved her. When she feels sad or scared now, she looks at her favourite photo of him in his military uniform, medals on his left shoulder, a slight, confident smile on his face. "Im proud of my fathers legacy. Im part of his legacy. And whats happening to me is wrong," she said. "And I know that he was here, it would break his heart to know that Im on this path." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trumps administration is concentrating all pregnant children being held in federal immigration enforcement custody into one group shelter in south Texas, a state where abortion is outlawed with no exceptions for survivors of rape or incest. Since last summer, more than a dozen pregnant minors, some as young as 13 years old, have been moved to a facility in San Benito along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a joint investigation by The Texas Newsroom and The California Newsroom, citing sources within the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for children who entered the United States without a parent or legal guardian or who were separated from their families by immigration authorities. Their detention at the Texas facility deviates from longstanding federal policy, which has typically placed unaccompanied minors into ORR shelters or foster homes that can handle high-risk pregnancies. But legal advocates and care providers fear the administration has concentrated those girls into a poorly equipped Texas shelter, even if they were detained in other states, to ensure they are denied access to abortion care. open image in gallery Pregnant immigrant children in federal custody are being sent to a single shelter in Texas, where high school students have rallied against the Trump administrations immigration agenda ( AP ) Its not a coincidence that the Trump administration is sending young pregnant girls to be detained in a state where abortion is banned, according to Liz Wagner, senior federal policy counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights. Its beyond cruel to trap these girls some who are victims of sexual assault in a state where they have no choice over whether to remain pregnant and become mothers, she told The Independent. Everyone deserves the right to make these fundamental decisions for themselves. The facility has been operated by contractor Urban Strategies since December 2021. Between January 2021 and January 2025, at least 136 pregnant unaccompanied children were detained there, The Independent has learned. In July, ORRs acting director Angie Salazar a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement official instructed ORR to place any pregnant children into the San Benito program moving forward, according to an email obtained by media outlets. It is imperative that all children in care are afforded access to high-quality healthcare services, which includes reproductive health services, said Wendy Young, president of Kids In Need of Defense, which provides support for unaccompanied children. Pregnant and parenting youth have unique needs and vulnerabilities and should never be prevented from accessing or requesting healthcare services, she told The Independent. Policy choices designed to thwart such access, including by potentially transferring children to facilities or locations with limited services, pose grave danger. open image in gallery The San Benito shelter for unaccompanied pregnant migrant children is close to the US-Mexico border crossing, far from reproductive healthcare facilities. Abortion is outlawed in the state ( AFP via Getty Images ) ORR works to ensure the safety, well-being, and appropriate care of all unaccompanied alien children in its custody, the agency said in a statement to The Independent. The agency follows child welfare best practices to place each child, including those who are pregnant or parenting, in the least restrictive and most integrated setting that meets the childs best interest and specific needs, according to ORR. President Joe Bidens administration directed ORR to move girls who wanted to end their pregnancies to facilities in states where abortion access was still legal in the aftermath of the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v Wade and opened the floodgates for anti-abortion states to deny access to care. But after Trump returned to the White House, he issued an executive order to to end the forced use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion, and the Department of Justice determined that the government cannot move detainees from one state or another to facilitate abortion access, except in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the pregnant patient. Last month, ORR submitted a proposal to revoke the Biden-era policy altogether. open image in gallery The Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is blocking pregnant migrant children in government custody from moving to facilities where they can seek an abortion ( Getty Images ) The number of pregnant, postpartum and nursing women in ICE custody is unclear, though data from reporting, lawsuits and congressional reports suggests 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. Women have reported being denied prenatal care and a lack of access to essential items including breast pumps and adequate food and water, all while being shackled, handcuffed and separated from their families and children. Lawsuits from pregnant women seeking their release from ICE detention routinely appear on court dockets. Last month, a federal judge in Minnesota rebuked the administrations detention 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. Last week, in Texas, a woman who said she was forcefully removed from her car and arrested at gunpoint last month before she was sent to an El Paso detention center was granted a hearing to challenge her threat of removal from the country. She is five months pregnant. open image in gallery Hundreds of immigrant children have been moved into ORR shelters or have moved through ICE detention centers under the Trump administration ( AFP via Getty Images ) And in Louisiana, a judge denied the release of an asylum-seeking woman who was arrested in Massachusetts in December. She is 14 weeks pregnant. ICE has moved more than 400 children into ORR shelters since Trump returned to the White House, launching what advocates who spoke to The Independent have called an unprecedented return of Trumps notorious family separation policy by targeting families who have lived in the United States for years. Advocates fear those arrests are forcing parents to make impossible decisions that have ripped apart households. Homeland Security officials have repeatedly insisted that the administration is not splitting up families, and that deported parents have the option to either leave with their children or place them with a guardian in the United States. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An American citizen was shot dead by Immigration and Customs Enforcement months before the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota, records have shown. Ruben Ray Martinez was killed during a traffic stop on South Padre Island in Texas last March, several outlets, citing documents obtained by nonprofit watchdog American Oversight, reported. Martinez had just turned 23, and he and his best friend were driving from San Antonio to South Padre Island to celebrate, his mother, Rachel Reyes, told the Associated Press. Shortly after midnight on March 15, 2025, a driver, confirmed by family to be Martinez, and a passenger in a blue Ford were passing through an intersection where Homeland Security Investigations officers had been helping South Padre Island police redirect traffic after an accident, according to an internal ICE incident report included in the new release of documents. Reyes confirmed to the Associated Press that the victim in the report was her son, and Charles Stam, a lawyer for Martinezs family, also confirmed Martinez was the one killed to The New York Times. open image in gallery U.S. citizen Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was shot dead by Immigration and Customs Enforcement months before the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, records have shown ( Rachel Reyes via AP ) Agents surrounded Martinezs car and ordered him and the passenger to get out, according to the report. Martinez accelerated forward and hit an HSI special agent, who wound up on the hood of the vehicle, the report said. An HSI supervisory special agent then fired multiple times through the open drivers side window, according to the report. Martinez was taken to a hospital and later died, the report said. The HSI agent hit by the car was treated for a knee injury, according to the report. open image in gallery Martinez was killed during a traffic stop on South Padre Island in Texas last March, according to the records ( Henrique Campos/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images ) It was his first time getting to go out of town, Reyes said of her son. He was a nice guy, humble guy. And he wasnt a violent person at all. Its unclear why Martinez was stopped in the first place. Without confirming the identity of the victim, the Department of Homeland Security said a federal agent had fatally shot a man that day in March to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public. A driver of a blue Ford intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent resulting in him being on the hood of the vehicle. Upon witnessing this, another agent fired defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public, a DHS spokesperson told The Independent. This incident is under active investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety Ranger Division. open image in gallery The Trump administration sparked nationwide backlash over the deaths of Good, a mom of three, and Pretti, an ICU nurse ( Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images ) According to the Associated Press, Martinezs death is one of at least six fatal shootings by federal immigration agents since the start of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, which has grown increasingly unpopular. The Trump administration sparked nationwide backlash over the deaths of Good, a mom of three, and Pretti, an ICU nurse. Both were gunned down by federal agents in the streets of Minneapolis last month. Both were 37-year-old U.S. citizens. Both shootings have been framed by the Trump administration as self-defense, a claim that has been scrutinized. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 55 percent of Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of immigration, while just 38 percent approve, the lowest level since the president returned to the White House. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump is in control of a large sum of cash as the November midterm elections approach, but some Republicans are concerned hell be reluctant to spend it, according to a new report. Trumps allies have estimated that he controls a political war chest of about $1.4 billion, Puck News reports. This apparent total doesnt include the millions Trump has raised for other projects, including the White House ballroom and his presidential library, according to the outlet. This comes after Trump bragged in August that he had raised in excess of $1.5 billion since the 2024 election. Now, some Republicans are worried Trump wont be willing to spend enough on key midterm races to make a difference, according to Puck News. An unnamed Republican Senator told the outlet: Hell never spend all that money, because history tells us that. open image in gallery Trump speaks at a rally in Clive, Iowa, in January ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The presidents allies estimate he controls a war chest of about $1.4 billion, a new report says ( Getty Images ) Given that Trump isnt running for reelection, some are questioning where the cash might go. I think a lot of people are asking, What is it all for? Saurav Ghosh, the federal campaign finance reform director at the Campaign Legal Center, told the Associated Press. The funds could help Trump influence the midterms, and even the 2028 presidential race, the AP reports. Sources close to the president have insisted hes eager to help Republicans, though he has appeared reluctant to spend on other peoples races in the past, according to the outlet. Trumps team appears to be making a plan for which races he may focus on. Key advisers including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair and former campaign manager Chris LaCivita have helped review midterm races to determine how the president might engage in them, Puck News reports. open image in gallery Trumps war chest could influence the midterms and even the 2028 presidential election ( Getty Images ) The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. The results of this years midterms could significantly impact Trumps legislative agenda. The president has even warned he could be impeached if Republicans lose too many seats. You got to win the midterms, because if we don't win the midterms, it's just going to be, I mean, they'll find a reason to impeach me. I'll get impeached, Trump told Republican lawmakers at an event last month. The presidents party typically loses ground in midterm elections, historical trends have shown. While Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, they hold only a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. Midterms are still months away, but current surveys suggest congressional Democrats have a modest advantage over Republicans, according to The New York Times 2026 polling aggregator. BAGHDAD, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces arrested 11 drug dealers and traffickers in the capital Baghdad, the Iraqi military said on Saturday. A statement by the Iraqi military intelligence directorate said that intelligence personnel set up sudden checkpoints across multiple sectors of the capital to intercept the suspects. The suspects and seized illicit materials were handed over to relevant authorities for legal proceedings, it said. Years of chaos and conflict following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion have hindered Iraq's efforts to combat narcotics. The Iraqi government said drug trafficking remains a significant source of funding for terrorism. The Iraqi Interior Ministry said in November last year that the country had dismantled 1,201 drug trafficking and distribution networks over the past three years, including 171 international rings, and had seized more than 14 tonnes of narcotics. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Gisele Pelicot has said her trial was for all sexual violence survivors as she opened up about the women gathered at court who gave her strength in a moving conversation. The 73-year-old was speaking at the UK launch of her powerful memoir, A Hymn to Life, which details the harrowing ordeal she suffered after discovering her then-husband drugged then raped her while unconscious, along with dozens of men he had recruited online. In the book, written with journalist Judith Perrignon, Ms Pelicot opens up about the moment she decided to waive her anonymity and have a public trial, paving the way for Frances most shocking mass rape case, and changing the world for sexual offence survivors with her calls for shame to change sides. Speaking at the Southbank Centre in London on Friday, Ms Pelicot said the women who gathered in greater and greater numbers outside the courthouse in Avignon throughout the trial help her find the strength to endure its duration, after initially only planning to stay for two weeks of the three months. It gave me an enormous amount of strength, she said. I had to stay there, we were really connected. She revealed that she did not read the news at all during that period, and has not really since, but instead chose to end each harrowing day at court by reading the letters sent to her from women around the globe who shared their stories of survival. This actually gave me strength, she said. It wasnt just my own trial, but a trial for all these women who went through sexual violence. open image in gallery Gisele Pelicots powerful memoir, A Hymn to Life, was released this week ( Pascal Ito/Editions Flammarion ) The event, chaired by Ms Ahmed, included moving readings from the new book, which went on sale on Tuesday, by actors Juliet Stevenson, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Kate Winslet. In her memoir, Ms Pelicot recalls the moment her brain shut down as police told her what her then-husband Dominique Pelicot and the 50 other attackers had done to her. The men were jailed for a total of 428 years in 2024 after 47 of them were found guilty of rape, two were found guilty of attempted rape, and two were found guilty of sexual assault. Ms Ahmed and Ms Pelicot discussed the around 20 further attackers that investigations suggested are yet to be identified, on top of the 51 men who were convicted. Asked if there is hope of finding them, Ms Pelicot said: No, I dont think so. Sometimes I fear these individuals could continue committing crimes. Maybe theyll be caught one day. But unfortunately, I dont know. Maybe life will give a helping hand to arrest these individuals one day. Ms Pelicot referred to the trial of the 51 men who were found as the trial of cowardice because none of them admitted theyd done anything wrong. open image in gallery Speaking at the Southbank Centre in London on Friday evening, journalist Samira Ahmed asked Ms Pelicot about the around 20 more attackers that investigations suggested are yet to be identified, on top of the 51 men who were convicted ( Tara Cobham / The Independent ) She also expressed her sympathy for the families of the perpetrators whose lives are shattered forever. There was not just one victim, there were 51 victims, she said. She opened up about how the horrific ordeal her own family had been put through had really pushed us apart. She said: This trauma didnt bring us together. Its not true that trauma necessarily brings family together. Speaking of how she has tried to make sense of how her supposedly loving husband of 50 years could do what he did to her, Ms Pelicot described him in similar terms to how psychologists did during the trial: As a man split in two. I tried to bring him into the light, but he has this dark side, she said. Its intolerable. Its unacceptable. This shattered our family, our lives were absolutely shattered. There is a brief moment in the book when she writes of the moment she considered ending it all. But she said on Friday: This was only a momentary thought. I thought no. I have to continue. It was important to face up to reality. I had some sort of strength inside. open image in gallery Ms Pelicot, centre, with her lawyers Stephane Babonneau and Antoine Camus, speaks to the media at the criminal court in Avignon, southern France, after her attackers were sentenced in December ( EPA ) It is this remarkable ability of Ms Pelicot to find extraordinary strength and courage during even the worst of times that she wants to leave us with. She told the audience: Above all, this book is a message of hope. Look at what Ive gone through, Im still here. We can go through difficult times. We can get through. I want to, above all, put forward a message of hope. She ended by revealing that her plans for the future are simply to live serenely. But she added: Ill always listen to women who need support. Ill always be here. A Hymn to Life is published by Bodley Head and is available now. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station captured by Russia is a staging post for hunting trips against civilians. Acting as a base for artillery within mortar range and a nearby drone pilot school, it looms so close to the city of Nikopol that one could almost pat the plants unstable nuclear domes. Nikopol, still held by Ukraine, has seen its population halve to 50,000 since the war began. About 6,500 of those still living here are children. Lying right on the front line, the city has been attacked every day for the last four years. Roads in are a gamble and gauntlet, a race along icy roads, in hope of avoiding an attack or a freezing crash. First Person View drones (FPVs) are flown by Russian pilots who can see the streets of Nikopol with the naked eye from the nuclear plant across the river. But they go one step further to see the look on their victims faces when they dive their quadcopter killers onto whomever they choose to die. Despite this, half of this citys inhabitants have decided to stay. Hunted as prey, and shelled at random, countless people have been killed by Russia here since 2022, when Vladimir Putins forces captured the power station just over the river. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are opting to live in this place they call home, flitting about the streets like the prey they are and sending their children to underground schools. open image in gallery Children gather underground in the city of Nikopol ( Sam Kiley/The Independent ) On arrival at School Number 6, the vast main atrium is silent but for a few footsteps. Outside, a not-too-distant crack and thump of a drone that has got through the bad weather and hit the city rattles at the hall windows. A teacher shrugs and leads the way into the cellar to start the day. Its walls are decorated with posters about how to spot unexploded bombs. One shows a red drone with its four engines and gives instructions on how to hide from these new weapons. Good morning! chime a classroom full of seven- and eight-year-old Ukrainian children in grade two, the UKs year 3. Spinning backwards in their chairs to see the visitor in a windowless classroom, they smile and wriggle. Laptops sit on the desks in front of them as their teacher, Iryna Sichkarenko, asks them to recite in English my name is. This is a warm and safe place where they can learn and hang out with friends. Above ground, in the sunlight, that has been impossible for more than half the lives of this class of 20 kids. Putin has increased the pounding of civilian targets over the last year. His troops have singled out the port city of Odesa in the far south, Kramatorsk in the north and the energy systems across the country, for especially violent attention. The Russian president intends to drive Ukraine out of the eastern territories he has already illegally annexed and to cripple the country in the long term. So-called peace talks run by the US, which has adopted a largely pro-Russian position and demanded concessions from Ukraine in return for mineral rights and a ceasefire, have delivered nothing. In places like Nikopol, though, the steady state of attacks has changed only with the advent of the deadly accurate drones. On the battlefield, statistics have been upended drones kill about 80 per cent of the people they hit and wound the rest. Guns and old-fashioned artillery have statistics the other way around. For these children, underground school is a lifeline to normality in a very abnormal world. Here we can discuss our dreams, weekends, plans, interests. Its live communication and we value every minute we can meet, draw something, do some crafts or organise some kind of party, the teacher says. They get two morning sessions like this a week. The rest of these childrens lives is spent at home and studying remotely as if the Covid pandemic never ended. Bohdan is seven. He reads out loud with confidence and dramatic inflection. Its a story about Grandpa Frost because in the lives of these youngsters, there is little space for whimsy. open image in gallery Bohdan, aged seven, is one of the children who comes to the underground school to learn to read and write ( Sam Kiley/The Independent ) A small old man with a grey beard was sitting on a bench and drawing something in the sand with an umbrella. Move over, Pavlyk said to him and sat on the edge, Bohdans fingers trace the words as he talks. Lilia, also seven, also reads from the book: There is such a magic word Pavlyk opened his mouth wide. I will tell you this word, but remember: you must say it in a quiet voice, looking straight. Pavlyk is an angry character. Anger is an instantly recognisable theme for these kids and something that takes hold of some of them and wont let go. Bohdans mother, Inna Liaskovska, says her son loves school but suffers from anxiety. Sometimes he gets nervous. He can react very childishly and he cant hold his emotions, she explains. He needs to release them. He releases them through hysterics, shouting for no reason. You tell him no, dont do it, and for him its like an emotional explosion. He doesnt want to listen to anyone, doesnt want to do anything he just closes off, he has such hysterics. That is not surprising because, she says, she feels like they are being hunted every time they leave their flat. open image in gallery Inna Liaskovska says Bohdan loves school but suffers from anxiety ( Sam Kiley/The Independent ) Last summer as soon as we went out, and its a miracle that we were still near the house, we had to run back to hide in the entrance, because we saw a drone flying past the house So, I believe that yes, this is a targeted safari on people. There was another case: we were coming from school and, again, an FPV drone was flying. We hid behind the trees so that it would fly past, and we could get home safely. When we came home, my boy asks, Mom, is everything okay? I say, Everything is okay. Like, dont you worry. But none of us is safe. Inna says she and Bohdan did leave Nikopol when the Russians first captured the power station opposite in 2022. They moved to safety in Poland for three months, but came back. Home is home. It was difficult there. Not as much physically as it was spiritually difficult. With a child, alone, without my husband. So we returned home to Ukraine. The underground school, built and maintained in large part with funds from Street Child International, offers counselling, social support, supplementary education and meals to children. Anatasia Ukhan, Street Childs local manager, is a teacher and has a 13-year-old too. She says: These children dont know how to communicate with each other; they are closed. open image in gallery The underground school offers counselling, social support, supplementary education and meals ( Sam Kiley/The Independent ) Especially teenagers With them, its the hardest. Small kids, they are still sincere and open, and they hope for the best. But the teenagers, grades 6 to 9, are much more difficult. They are closed. They dont talk to anyone. So, unfortunately, desocialisation is happening. It will be a huge problem in the future, she warns. Another underground classroom holds about eight young teenagers. They sit, as people their age often do, awkward, muted. Fifty-three of the 58 schools in the city have been hit by Russian bombs and a couple more explosions can be heard hitting somewhere downtown as we visit. Sophia Prokopenko, 15, says they are all experts at how to react depending on whether it is a drone or artillery. They endure incidents every day, she says. You go out into the street, and you can see or hear a drone. You go to training a drone. If not a drone, then artillery. To training, to the store, to the pharmacy, just going out to throw out the trash they are everywhere, she adds. She insists that the school is their salvation. open image in gallery Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant just across the river from Nikopol has been under Russian control since the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine ( AFP/Getty ) We just cant gather in another place. If we go to a cafe a drone, FPV, or artillery and thats it; theres no cafe and no people. School is the only place where we can hide from this cruel world. So why does she not also leave with her family? Of course, its very scary, very difficult to constantly be in such a state, she explains. Many have left abroad, to other cities, to relatives, to Western Ukraine but still, the best place remains at home, no matter how hard it is here. Its not clear that Putin quite understands that. Rescue operations continue in Kharkiv as Kyiv says Moscow used new weapon in deadly attack On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice MAGA podcaster Katie Miller is facing widespread mockery on social media after a glaring grammatical error in a post about womens education. Podcaster and wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller made the error Friday in an X post addressing the biological function of women. The University of Florida graduate, who later earned a masters in public administration from George Washington University, mistakenly wrote, As countries get richer, women become more education and have increased career opportunities. Writing more education instead of more educated was quickly noticed online. Miller, 34, continued the post, which included a Financial Times chart showing lower fertility rates in wealthier countries, writing, As birth control becomes more available, fertility drastically decreases. Too many women take birth control and ignore basic biology our core biological function is procreation. Critics quickly seized on the typo, sparking a flood of ridicule and sarcastic replies. One X user asked Miller, Arent you a college graduate? Women become more education. You could use AI to proofread for you. Katie Miller posted Friday on X about education and made an error that was mocked online ( Getty Images ) Another added, Women become more education ???? This obviously doesnt apply to you. A third wrote, What the actual f*** is she talking about? Seems someone needs an education before lecturing others. The Independent has contacted Miller for comment through the contact form on the Katie Miller Pod website. Miller, a mother of three who is also pregnant, frequently posts on X promoting conservative and MAGA-aligned views, including support for controversial policies such as annexing Greenland despite opposition from Denmark and criticism of DEI initiatives. Her post about womens core biological function echoes billionaire Elon Musk, who often warns that declining birth rates among those skipping parenthood are a threat to society. Miller previously worked for Musk during the early days of President Donald Trumps second term as spokeswoman for the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency. On Thursday, Miller appeared on a Fox Business segment with Larry Kudlow, nodding along as Kudlow said Musk seems to have the only AI thats not woke. Its realistic. Musks AI chatbot, Grok AI, however, has faced criticism this year for generating sexually explicit images, including some of children, and for previously producing pro-Adolf Hitler messaging, highlighting the controversy surrounding figures Miller aligns with online. The prime minister recently said, I feel like I pull these levers and nothing happens, and you think: wrench the lever off and whack someone over the head with it, Keir! In this clip from The Independents In The Room podcast, former political advisor Cleo Watson and former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen Macnamara explain from their own experiences that when a PMs power starts to fade, it starts slow, but snowballs all too quickly. Watch the full episode of In The Room on YouTube, or listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Sign up for our free Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Not for the first time, and planned or not, Donald Trump has his enemies guessing. Around six weeks ago, during the widespread protests in Iran, he warned the countrys leadership that the US was locked and loaded ready to act if the violent crackdown on the demonstrations continued. His words may have restrained the regime from carrying out mass executions of political prisoners, but they had no more effect than that, and nothing happened. The promised help for the people of Iran never materialised. So Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains the supreme leader; the Revolutionary Guards are still loyal, as far as can be judged; and the secret police are as insidious and brutal as ever. This week, two British tourists detained by the regime in January have been sentenced to 10 years in jail. More recently, the US president has acted in a more emollient way, sending a team to negotiate in Geneva with those same ayatollahs for, as ever, a deal. This would supposedly entail the Islamic Republic finally abandoning its nuclear ambitions and accepting limits on its ballistic missile systems, presumably to protect Israel. Yet President Trumps bellicose threats backed up by enormous naval and air power continue to escalate in parallel with the diplomacy. Mr Trump has given a deadline of 10 to 15 days to Iran to make a deal over its nuclear programme or, he warned, really bad things will happen. Donald Trumps bellicose threats backed up by enormous naval and air power continue to escalate in parallel with the diplomacy ( Reuters ) Two aircraft carrier groups, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R Ford, the biggest carrier in the world, plus other destroyers and forces based in the region, surround Iran. To adapt Teddy Roosevelts famous dictum, American foreign policy today comprises shouting while holding a very large stick indeed. The fear must be that the mobilisation of forces is now so great, and has created a momentum so strong, that the temptation to use them will prove irresistible. Mr Trump wont want to lose face, and the success in Venezuela and of Operation Midnight Hammer on Irans nuclear facilities last June will only add to the attraction of performing a clean hit on selected targets. It would also go down well with his Maga voter base in advance of the midterm elections later this year. Will he act? Ultimatums are standard Trump practice across the piece, freely dished out to Congress, domestic opponents, trade partners and foreign powers, friendly or otherwise. Oftentimes, they expire quietly. It does not mean that the US will go to war with Iran, and the truth is that it probably doesnt need to. One usually friendly ally, Britain, has reportedly tried to exert some leverage to encourage the White House not to launch strikes against Iran. It is said that the prime minister has so far declined to grant the US permission to use its bases on British soil to carry out such missions. These include the major US airfield at Fairford in Gloucestershire, and, still more controversially, the base on Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory, commonly known as the Chagos Islands. If true, then Sir Keir Starmer is to be commended for standing up to Mr Trump in the interests of peace in the region, as well as upholding the unfashionable principles of international law. The UK is an old and loyal friend of the US, and must continue to be so but as such, it has a duty to warn its ally about the consequences of such drastic action, which would include triggering renewed regional conflict if, say, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and various Iran-sponsored terrorists were drawn into the equation, not to mention the reaction of interested superpowers allied with Iran Russia and China. In resisting US pressure to connive in a war on Iran, Sir Keir echoes an earlier example of British independence under one of his predecessors when Harold Wilson resisted sending even a token force to take part in the war in Vietnam. That policy was soon vindicated, and also stands in stark contrast to the disastrous results of Tony Blairs support for the war in Iraq. Aside from warnings from allies about the obvious danger to what passes for peace in the Middle East, including his own peace plan in Gaza, President Trumps policy is simply illogical and unnecessary. By his own witness, Operation Midnight Hammer obliterated Irans chances of developing a nuclear warhead, and if that ever became a possibility again in the future, another such operation could be launched. A US-Iran deal is therefore unnecessary, just as Mr Trump said when he withdrew the US from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the old international agreement on limiting Irans nuclear capability. Nor would any conceivable aerial assaults on Iran bring to an end the rule of the ayatollahs and return the country to the firm friendship it enjoyed with Washington before the fall of the Shah in 1979. Perversely, any murderous bombings of civilians in Iran might consolidate the regime as it defended the country against the Great Satan. A bombed-out, more reckless Iran, more united against foreign aggression and with nothing to lose, is the last thing that the Middle East or the wider world needs. Bad things would certainly flow from a US attack but bad things for the US and its allies, too. 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? A century of television Irelands society-defining TV moments, from launch of RTE to funding fiasco Ireland has gone through so much since the earliest days in black and white RTE has produced its fair share of memorable shows and moments over the years Darragh McManus Sat 21 Feb 2026 at 06:30 This year marks the centenary of the first public demonstration of television. This photo taken on Feb. 20, 2026 shows Sudanese refugees returning from Uganda at Port Sudan International Airport in Port Sudan, eastern Sudan. Port Sudan International Airport welcomed on Friday the first group of Sudanese refugees voluntarily returning from Uganda, nearly three years after war forced them to flee. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) PORT SUDAN, Sudan, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- In a scene where tears mingled with smiles, Port Sudan International Airport welcomed on Friday the first group of Sudanese refugees voluntarily returning from Uganda, nearly three years after war forced them to flee. The first flight carrying them, chartered by a non-governmental committee in Uganda, touched down with 150 returnees on board, most originally from the capital, Khartoum. Emotions ran high in the arrivals hall, where families reunited and some returnees knelt to kiss the ground. Hamouda Ibrahim, one of the returnees, told Xinhua that they left because of war and stayed in Uganda for three difficult years. "We struggled with limited access to education and a lack of job opportunities," he recalled, carrying a small bag that held the few belongings he had left. "Daily life was filled with challenges, both big and small." Fighting back tears, he added, "Exile is not easy. Every day we felt cut off from our roots, our families, and our memories. My children kept asking when we would return to our home, their school, their friends -- and I never had a clear answer." "But we never gave up hope of coming back. Today, as I set foot on my homeland, I feel as if I've been born again," he said. Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions both within Sudan and beyond. As government forces have regained control over large parts of central Sudan, the number of returnees has risen in recent months. Official figures indicate the largest influx has been into Khartoum State, home to the capital. Still, returning home does not mean returning to stability. "I know rebuilding our lives in Khartoum won't be easy -- from finding a place to live to securing work and restoring some sense of normal family life," Ibrahim said. Nafisa Hassan, another returnee, gently stroked her daughter's head as the child clung to her dress. Coming home was their "only real choice," she said. In exile, the mother always promised her daughter that they would return home -- a place she now barely remembers -- and that she would play again in the neighborhood she was born in, Hassan said, her voice blending longing and hope. "But I worry that life there will be hard at first. Everything has changed, and schools and services need to be rebuilt," she said. "We'll need patience. We're starting from scratch -- finding work and securing a decent life for our children," she added. On Jan. 29, the International Organization for Migration reported that more than three million people had returned to their areas of origin in Sudan, despite the extensive damage to housing, basic services and vital infrastructure. The organization warned that the return could become "another chapter of hardship," and called for sustained funding to meet growing needs in return areas. Ali Abdul-Rahman, another passenger on the flight, told Xinhua that arriving in Port Sudan felt wonderful, but returning to daily life would be another story. "Homes have been destroyed, services have stopped, and the markets are not what they used to be," Abdul-Rahman said. "I'm going back to Khartoum with no money, no job, and no steady income." He said he would struggle to find housing and work, and to rebuild his life -- a task that demands immense patience and support. "Even so, we can't stay away from our country forever," he said. "The hope that we can help rebuild our city keeps us going." This photo taken on Feb. 20, 2026 shows a girl who returned with her family at Port Sudan International Airport in Port Sudan, eastern Sudan. Port Sudan International Airport welcomed on Friday the first group of Sudanese refugees voluntarily returning from Uganda, nearly three years after war forced them to flee.(Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) Explainer: From 100,000 plates and more taxis than New York City to turning down Uber how did the Irish taxi industry get here? The competition authority has said Ireland should make it easier for companies like Uber to operate here Explainer: From 100,000 plates and more taxis than New York City to turning down Uber how did the Irish taxi industry get here? Maeve McTaggart Sat 21 Feb 2026 at 06:30 There was a time when taxi plates could change hands for as much as 100,000. There was another, just a few years later, when they were worth almost nothing. Movement of aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford a useful indicator of potential action Units from Iran and Russia carry out joint naval drills held at the Port of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz in Hormozgan, Iran on Thursday. Photo: Gettty There is a lot of media reporting right now on potential timelines for US strikes on Iran, including suggestions it could happen this weekend. The markets are already getting jittery some commentators think that a weekend start is likely in order to let people calm down before trading resumes on Monday. The position of the USS Gerald R Ford, the most powerful aircraft carrier in the world, is of interest here. Its arrival in the Eastern Mediterranean is seen by many as an essential precursor to action. This is not correct, but it is an indicator. Having the Ford in position to strike Iran, and potentially to defend Israel, would significantly add to the firepower provided by the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf of Oman and the many other US assets in the region. The Fords current location is not confirmed. Its last known position was off Rota in Spain, following resupply after operations related to Venezuela. To me, it is unlikely that the carrier has transited the Strait of Gibraltar undetected. Even darkened, at night and with all emissions switched off and in the eastbound lane of the traffic separation scheme, she is still a 100,000 tonne warship transiting a strait that is 12km wide. Once everything is in place, and assuming negotiations continue to fail, US strike options against Iran include limited, sustained and full-scale approaches Warships belonging to its accompanying strike group are starting to appear on AIS ship tracking just west of the Strait now. My assessment is that the Ford will transit past Gibraltar some time in the next 24 hours. It will probably continue east at around 18 knots: on its own it could go much faster, but its escorts would burn fuel very fast keeping up. Theres also some nasty weather and big waves in the western Mediterranean at the moment. Leaving the escorts behind isnt likely when heading into a potential shooting war as they provide vital protection for the carrier. I think the Ford will be in the eastern Mediterranean ready to do business early next week, not over the weekend. Once everything is in place, and assuming negotiations continue to fail, US strike options against Iran include limited, sustained and full-scale approaches, each with associated risks and variables. A limited option, possible this weekend without the Ford, involves targeted strikes on radar sites, command centres, leadership, or energy facilities to disrupt capabilities and apply pressure in negotiations. This provides the benefit of surprise but could leave US forces and allies vulnerable if Irans response is stronger than anticipated. More likely is that the Pentagon waits for the Ford and then at a time of their choosing, and presumably in partnership with Israel, conducts a sustained campaign lasting seven to 10 days in pursuit of whatever their desired end states are. Again, this is assumed to be regime change, but even that is not agreed across all relevant players in the region. Militarily, the main uncertainty is Irans potential retaliation. If the mullahs make heavy use of their mobile missiles, they could deplete US defences such as the Patriot and Thaad interceptor missile systems. Saturation attacks might manage hits on bases such as the US 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the Combined Air Operations Centre in Al Udeid in Qatar. Units from Iran and Russia carry out joint naval drills held at the Port of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz in Hormozgan, Iran on Thursday. Photo: Gettty In a full-scale scenario, if Iran launches all available missiles and drones and sends out all its fast-attack craft, submarines and ships, it may manage to inflict serious losses on the US, up to and including the sinking of one or more US warships though probably not the carriers. The stakes are high. There is also the possibility that the Ford carries on out of the eastern Mediterranean through Suez and joins the Lincoln off the Iranian coast in the Gulf of Oman. In my view, operations from the eastern Mediterranean are slightly more likely at present. In the Mediterranean, benefits include faster arrival, creating multiple threat directions, providing defensive support for Israel, better access to the northern target set (that is, Tehran) and reduced risk to the carrier itself. Shaping strikes could commence this weekend, but given the risk of retaliation, why not wait until next week when everything is in place? Challenges involve more complex airspace co-ordination and overflight permissions, as well as distance from southern maritime threats. In the Gulf of Oman, strengths include proximity to southern targets such as coastal missiles and naval threats, effective positioning against disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, simpler airspace management, and a demonstration of force with multiple carriers, though in reality they will be separated by some distance. Drawbacks include longer transit time for the Ford, running the Houthi gauntlet in the Red Sea, increased exposure to Iranian threats, and potential interference from Chinese and Russian vessels. Overall, then, the position of the Ford is a useful, if not definitive indicator of when strikes could start. This articles premise is that they will at some point, as thats an awful lot of gear to move into theatre to then walk away. I would expect the Ford to be in position to strike by about Tuesday. Shaping strikes could commence this weekend, but given the risk of retaliation, why not wait until next week when everything is in place? One military expression also comes to mind here: The enemy gets a vote. Another and even better known one No plan survives contact with the enemy can wait until later next week. ( Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd) Donald Trump at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington. Photo: Getty The grim irony of Donald Trumps latest ultimatum to Iran being issued at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace this week was lost on no one, except perhaps the president himself. The new entity set up to replace the failing UN was already being dismissed by many as a vanity project. Its credibility took a further dent with the bellicose address giving Tehran 15 days to do a deal or face unfortunate consequences. Corks largest town is in urgent need of a facelift with its main street not fit for a town of its size. Thats according to local councillors who said as much at a meeting this week in which they called for faster progress on long-awaited urban realm and transport plans. At a meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District, Cllr Jack White called for a detailed update on the progress of the Carrigaline Transportation and Public Realm Enhancement Plan (TPREP) as well as the towns urban realm plan. In my view, TPREP and the urban realm are actually linked and we havent seen it answered as to how that whole thing comes together. We need to see some leadership now from both the units that are dealing with that around how we progress that because it's been on the table in one way or another since 2017, Cllr White said. Cllr Patrick Donovan agreed, saying that for Carrigaline and in particular Main Street, there were a lot of promises there, a lot of plans, but what we're not seeing is a dedicated pipeline to get boots on the ground and shovels in the ground. "Out of all towns across Cork County, it is a town that is in need of a facelift. More needs to be done because I really feel were lagging behind, especially in the main core of the town. Main Street is just not fitting for a town of our size. Cllr Ben Dalton OSullivan said there have been significant transport and public realm improvements in the town over the past decade but more needs to be done. There has been good progress made and we acknowledge that but more needs to happen while Cllr Audrey Buckley said it has to start progressing a bit more now. Weve been talking about it for years. Cork County Council engineer John Slattery responded that significant progress has been made on TPREP, including the Carrigaline Inner Western Relief Road which received 6.4m in funding and was completed in 2022, as well as on a number of active travel schemes such as the Ballinrea Road Improvement Scheme and the Bridgemount and Forrest Hill links. Mr Slattery said that planning consent is in place for other elements of TPREP, including the Main Street Public Realm Enhancement with commencement of construction targeted for 2026. It should also be noted that, in addition to the Main Street Public Realm Enhancement, a significant plaza development is also planned for the town centre, he said. The 2022 census put the population of Carrigaline at over 18,000, making it the largest town in the county. A popular commuter town around 12 km from Cork city, it continues to grow with hundreds more houses in the pipeline. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Members of Millstreet-based Reach Out Cancer Support enjoyed a guided tour of Leinster House during a special visit on Thursday. Millstreet-based Sinn Fein Senator Nicole Ryan organised the tour and spoke to The Corkman about the importance of these visits: I think these visits are just a really nice way for people to get the chance to enjoy being up at the Dail and Leinster House, but equally, it is a nice way of thanking groups for the supports they offer in the local community. Reach Out Cancer Support (ROCS) offers supports for those battling cancer in the Millstreet and wider Duhallow area. I would know a lot of the volunteers from growing up in Millstreet, and it was just a privilege for me to be able to host groups and its a way of recognising the work we do, she said. Members of Millstreet-based Reach Out Cancer Support in Kent Station, Cork Those invited were brought on a special tour around Leinster House and had a spot of lunch in the iconic building. Ms Ryan said that she joined her fellow Millstreet residents on the tour and even learned a thing or two from the educational walk, as it was her first time taking the tour. In a social media post, Ms Ryan thanked the volunteers who made the journey to Dublin. I really hope you all enjoyed your visit and thank you sincerely for the fabulous work you continue to do in supporting our community here in Millstreet and across Duhallow. Your compassion, care and commitment make such a real difference to so many families, it read. A District Court Judge has refused to accept jurisdiction in a case involving an alleged assault in a North Cork town, which has now been returned to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to decide the next step. One of the newly planted trees pulled from the ground by vandals Locals in Macroom are shocked and appalled after vandals ripped newly-planted trees from the ground and threw them onto paths on four separate occasions this week. Taoiseach says he is open to meeting Cork-based Bessborough survivors group over memorial Cork group says they have been awaiting a response since July to meet Micheal Martin over a memorial for over 900 infants buried in unmarked grave The folly at Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, part of land believed to contain hundreds of unmarked infant graves Kevin Galvin Sat 21 Feb 2026 at 12:00 The Taoiseach says he is still open to meet survivors of a notorious Mother and Baby Home in Cork City, and will engage with them in relation to the creation of a local memorial on the site. BEIRUT, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Saturday that "resistance" remains the only option in response to the latest strikes by Israel in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. "What option is left for us to defend ourselves and our country? What choice do we have but resistance? We no longer have any other option," Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, said during a solidarity sit-in held in support of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons. He described the recent Israeli strikes as "a new massacre and a new aggression that exceeds the pace previously witnessed during the war on Lebanon," according to Lebanon's news website Elnashra. He added that a ceasefire agreement has been in place for a year but "is not being implemented," questioning whether the Lebanese state and "the segment aligned with the enemy" had concluded that diplomacy and international relations were ineffective. On Friday, Israel launched intense airstrikes on the Ain al-Hilweh camp in the city of Sidon, as well as other areas in the Bekaa Valley, killing over 10 people and injuring more than 35 others. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned on Saturday the continued attacks and described them as "a deliberate hostile act aimed at undermining the diplomatic efforts ... to consolidate stability and halt Israeli hostilities against Lebanon." A 63-year-old man who was accused of assaulting his sister during a heated exchange about their mother's will has seen the charge against him dismissed, after CCTV footage contradicted key parts of the complainants account. Michael Donnelly, of Woodley Park, Kilmacud, Dublin 14, had pleaded not guilty at Dun Laoghaire District Court to a Section 2 assault on his sister at Woodley Park on June 24, 2024. The court heard that the complainant and another sibling arrived at their late mothers house, where the defendant was living, stating they were executors of her will and seeking access to the property. The court also heard that earlier documents said to reflect the mothers wishes in relation to the property had not been located. Mobile phone and doorbell footage played during the court hearing showed the complainant and another sibling at the doorway filming the defendant during a heated exchange. Judge Anne Watkin noted that the footage showed the complainant talking over the defendant before the phone was struck from her left hand. The woman told the court that the defendant had walloped her wrist and knocked the phone from her hand. She said her right wrist was extremely sore afterwards and that she had difficulty squeezing her fingers and moving her hand. She accepted there was no bruising and described the injury as soft tissue damage. However, the court was told the footage showed the phone was in her left hand at the time it was struck away. Defence counsel, Silvia-Maria Crowley BL, drew the courts attention to that inconsistency, noting that throughout her statement and evidence the complainant had repeatedly referred to her right hand being struck. Counsel also pointed to differences between what the complainant told her doctor and what she told the court about when the pain began and the nature of the injury. Judge Watkin further noted that a medical report prepared at the time referred to the complainants right hand. During cross-examination, the complainant accepted there was no bruising and agreed she had not specified in her original statement that her wrist had been struck. Ms Crowley submitted that for an offence under Section 2, force must be applied to a person, directly or indirectly, and suggested the defendant had acted in a manner to protect himself during the exchange at the doorway. Judge Watkin said she could not accept the complainants evidence as credible, referring to the inconsistency between the medical report and the footage, as well as the changing description of the alleged injury. She accepted the credibility concerns raised by the defence. While Judge Watkin said knocking a phone from someones hand could, in certain circumstances, amount to an assault, she was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that an assault had been proven. The charge was dismissed. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. A man accused of falsely imprisoning and strangling a woman has seen his bail revoked after refusing to wait at Pearse Street Garda Station to sign on, telling a judge that the conditions there are so poor they "infringe his human rights". Elric Kibangou Diansa (36), last with an address in Dublin 4, had previously been granted bail in relation to charges of false imprisonment and intentionally or recklessly strangling or suffocating a woman at an address on June 20, 2025. Gardai at Dun Laoghaire District Court had objected to bail under the OCallaghan principles, citing the seriousness of the charges, the alleged breach of bail conditions, the absence of a new verified address, limited ties to the jurisdiction and concerns about possible interference with the injured party. The court heard that as part of his bail conditions, Mr Kibangou Diansa was required to sign on at Pearse Street Garda Station but has not done so. The court heard that the defendant, who is originally from France and has been in Ireland since November 2024, had not provided a new address and is believed to be couch surfing. Giving evidence through a French interpreter, the accused said he stopped signing on because he was being made to wait between two-and-a-half and three hours each time at Pearse Street Garda Station. He described the station as overcrowded and dirty, telling the court there was vomit on the floor and drunk people spitting in the waiting area. Through the interpreter, he said he would not sit in those conditions for hours and claimed it was a breach of his human rights and civil liberties. He accepted that he chose not to comply with the sign-on condition as a result. Judge Anne Watkin remarked it was the first time she had heard in court that someone was required to wait three hours to sign on. Prosecuting solicitor Rory Staines told the court that Pearse Street is one of the busiest stations in the country. The accused told the court that he had attended all court dates. He said he worked in a global tech company and was in the process of launching his own business but had no friends or family in Dublin. Defence counsel, Silvia-Maria Crowley BL, submitted that her client was entitled to the presumption of innocence. She said he would comply with conditions if granted bail, that an address could be provided within 48 hours and that he could sign on at Irishtown Garda Station. The accused said he would agree to reside in a hostel if required but said he needed his passport returned in order to secure accommodation. Judge Watkin said she was concerned about why the defendant was insisting on the return of his passport, given the uncertainty surrounding his address and his previous non-compliance with bail conditions. The prosecution also raised concerns regarding the injured party, submitting that there were fears of interference if the defendant was released on bail. Judge Watkin said she had no option but to revoke bail. Delivering her ruling, the judge said that while the accused was entitled to the presumption of innocence, the allegations were extremely serious and, if proven, would demonstrate "somebody could have been killed". She said that having already failed to comply with a bail condition, the court could not be satisfied Mr Kibangou Diansa would obey further conditions, including those aimed at preventing interference with a witness. Mr Kibangou Diansa was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison and sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court, where he is due to appear on March 19, next at the Criminal Courts of Justice. Legal aid was granted and a French interpreter was requested for future hearings. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. A man has been fined a total of 800 after he was caught riding a powerful electric scooter without insurance. Haitham Nofal (29), of Tallaght Cross West, Cookstown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to driving without insurance, driving without a licence and refusing to provide his address. The court heard that Gardai on mobile patrol spotted Nofal riding the scooter at Belgard Square South on 29 June, 2025 and stopped him. The court heard that the electric scooter, a KuKirin G2, could travel at more than 20km/h, which meant it had to be treated as a moped and required a driving licence and insurance. Defence barrister, Ethan Foley BL, told Judge Miriam Walsh that his client has no previous convictions and had not realised the scooter was illegal. He said Nofal had seen electric scooters being widely used and did not realise that his own model was more powerful and required insurance. Mr Foley told the court that Nofal works as a barber, is preparing for his driving theory test and was willing to complete a driver awareness course. Judge Walsh imposed a 150 fine, with six months to pay, in relation to the scooter exceeding the legal limits. A further 250 fine, also with six months to pay, was imposed for refusing to give his address to gardai. Nofal was additionally fined 400, with three months to pay, for driving without insurance. The judge also spared Nofal from disqualification. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. Tributes were paid on Friday to the late Kerry priest, Father Padraig Sugrue, following his passing this week. A native of Dromod in South Kerry, Fr Sugrue gave over 67 years of dedication and service to the church, serving in parishes in Sneem, Castlemaine, Kenmare, Tralee, Abbeydorney, Ballinskelligs, Killeentierna, and also in England. Fr Sean Jones, the parish priest in Waterville, spoke to The Kerryman on Friday following the news of Fr Pats, as he was affectionately known, sudden and unexpected passing at the age of 91. "He died with his work boots on because up to last Saturday night, he said Mass in the church in Cahersiveen. He even upgraded his car a year ago, and that told us that he wasnt giving up or going anywhere anytime soon, he said. "He was well respected, well-liked, and a gentleman. He never had a bad word to say about anyone or anything. He never said anything negative, even with everything going on in the world. He just had a calm presence and a reassuring word for everyone. Even though he himself in just in his role as parish priest in the area since July of 2024, Fr Jones said that even in this short space of time, he witnessed Fr Pat doing sterling work, all in his retirement. An example of the fantastic work ethic of Fr Pat was evidenced in the story, told by Fr Jones, of how Fr Pat was an instrumental figure in the renovations of the church in Cahersiveen. "Those renovations of the OConnell church would not have been possible, I dont think, without Fr Pat. Obviously, we had to close the church and put on more masses elsewhere, and he took up the slack where there were extra masses needed, and it wasnt for him doing this, I dont think it [the renovations] would have been possible, said Fr Jones. Going on, Fr Jones said that Fr Pat was a great presence in South Kerry for the 16/17 years that he was retired, adding that he had a great love of people, place, language and culture. "He was very involved with the Eigse na Brideoige. He would have celebrated the mass for Eigse for countless years, and as part of it this year, he actually met President Connolly when she was down here recently in Caherdaniel, Fr Jones added. Posting on their Facebook page, Dromod Parish also paid tribute to Fr Pat, writing wherever he ministered, he left a lasting impression through his humility, holiness, and constant positivity, adding that even in his retirement, Fr. Pat gave generously to us here in South Kerry, supporting local clergy & parishes. "Fr. Pat was a gentle and humble shepherd, a man of deep faith and prayer, who carried out his vocation with gra agus dilseacht. He had a great love for people and place, for the Irish language and culture, and he cherished the traditions of Uibh Rathach, the post continued. "He will be dearly missed by his family, by his former parishioners across the diocese and beyond, by his own people here in Dromod, by his brother priests, and by Bishop Ray. His kindness, wisdom, and quiet encouragement touched countless lives, the post concluded. The Kerry Association of New York has announced that Listowel native, Dr. Elizabeth Stack, PhD, has been named the 2026 Kerry Person of the Year. The Kerry Association of New York has announced that Dr Elizabeth Stack, PhD, has been selected as its 2026 Kerry Person of the Year, honouring her exceptional contribution to Irish and Irish American history, culture and community life. Originally from Listowel, Dr Stack is a respected historian, educator and museum professional whose work has played a key role in preserving and promoting understanding of the Irish immigrant experience in the United States. She is currently Education Director at the Celtic Junction Arts Center in St Paul, Minnesota, and serves on the Historical Advisory Committee for Irish America 250, a nationwide initiative exploring the Irish role in the American revolutionary period. Dr Stack previously held the position of Executive Director of the American Irish Historical Society in New York City. Before that appointment, she spent six years as Executive Director of the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany, New York. She received her PhD from Fordham University, where her research focused on Irish and German immigrant experiences in early 20th-century New York. She also holds a Masters degree in Anglo-Irish Relations from University College Dublin and a Higher Diploma in Education from University College Cork. In addition to her leadership roles, Dr Stack has lectured in Irish and Irish American history at Fordham Universitys Institute of Irish Studies and earlier in her career taught in both Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking following the announcement, Dr Stack said: Im delighted and honoured to be chosen as this years Kerry Person of the Year. It is always meaningful when your own community recognises you, and Im very thankful for the support of the Kerry Association of New York. Immigration has given the most significant and lasting link between Ireland and America. It is essential to explore these storiesfrom diplomacy to cultureto ensure they are never lost. My work in Irish America feels personal to me as an immigrant myself, and I have loved hearing from so many members of our community who remember their familys journeys and the challenges and opportunities of starting again. Over the course of her career, Dr Stack has received numerous accolades for her scholarship and leadership. These include the Irish Echos 2025 Heroes of Irish America Award, recognition from the Ancient Order of Hibernians, citations from the New York State Attorney General and the American Irish Legislators Society, the Kate Mullany Medal from the American Labor Studies Center, and the NEXT Award for Emerging Museum Professionals from the Greater Hudson Heritage Network. Established in 1881, the Kerry Association of New York is a non-profit organisation committed to fostering connections among people of Kerry heritage through cultural initiatives, community engagement and charitable support. To date, the Association has distributed more than $700,000 to charities, community organisations and individuals in need in both County Kerry and the greater New York area. It is currently undertaking a significant capital campaign in support of Kerry Hall, its community centre in Yonkers, New York. Dr Elizabeth Stack will be formally honoured at the Associations Annual Fundraiser Dinner on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, NY, just outside Manhattan. Funds raised on the night will go towards the Associations charitable initiatives and the ongoing Kerry Hall capital campaign, with $100,000 required to carry out urgent repairs and safeguard the buildings future. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the dinner are available at www.nykerry.org. The Taoiseach has said that an independent report into North Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), has revealed a lack of due care that is absolutely unacceptable The Halpin report published this week found that there was An independent review of the North Kerry Children and Mental Health Service (Camhs) showed that more than 200 children were at risk of potential harm in 2022, with many over-prescribed powerful drugs. Some children were prescribed as many as seven different drugs, while non-medical treatments were almost entirely absent, according to the report. Almost all children with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of autism were prescribed psychotropic drugs at the North Kerry service. Above-average prescribing of antipsychotic medication Risperidone and ADHD medication Guanfacine was also found. Both have significant side effects, in particular, weight gain and sedation. Speaking in Cork on Thursday, the Taoiseach said that the findings of the report are deeply distressing for both the young people involved, as well as their families. First of all, let's be careful what I say, because I know there's been a referral to the Medical Council arising out of everything that happened, said the Taoiseach of the report. But clinical governance clearly was an issue here, and poly medication - overuse of medication - without question. There's been a difficulty of recruitment and particularly in rural areas of lead psychiatrists, and that's a problem - as was explained this morning - across Europe. There are a number of consultants now, they're not based or living in Kerry, but they're supporting the service right now, and there's a continual need to get a number of psychiatrists recruited for these services. What happened is absolutely unacceptable. Harm was done, and it's deeply, deeply distressing for the families concerned and the young people concernedwe have to do everything we possibly can on the clinical government side, said the Taoiseach." Now, a lot has changed since this came to light in 22/23. Minister (of State for Mental Health) Mary Butler has been doing everything possible, working with the families, making sure that they were the first to hearin terms of the report, open disclosure. And then also helping the young people who were harmed to make sure that they were receiving proper assessment and proper engagement and ongoing treatment. Association for local councillors warns that abuse should not be part of the job The online abuse directed at politicians can be extremely difficult to cope with, according to Drogheda Mayor, Cllr Michelle Hall, who revealed that social media attacks on her escalated to the point where she was forced to go public before any action was taken. Speaking at this months meeting of Louth County Council, Cllr Hall said she had been subjected to repeated online harassment and that attempts to get social media companies to intervene had failed. I was subjected to a lot of abuse online. It was very difficult to deal with, she said. I tried to work with the social media companies and they just refused. Her comments followed a presentation from the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) on the supports available to councillors nationwide. Cllr Hall said she had not contacted the AILG at the time of the abuse, adding: Maybe it is something I should have thought of. She said the situation only improved after she spoke publicly in the national media about the online abuse she had been facing. Then, a lot of pages were taken down. It stopped instantly, she told the meeting. She referenced comments made recently by Meath councillor Sharon Tolan, who warned that misogyny in politics isnt just disgusting it is dangerous, following online abuse directed at her. I do feel sorry for people who are posting this, Cllr Hall said. Some of them wouldnt say boo to a goose if you met them in public, but they are very brave behind a laptop. She warned that the abuse can be acutely challenging for newly elected councillors, particularly when the harassment comes from people they meet within their own area. The longer you are in politics, the easier it gets, I suppose. But it is very difficult if you are a new councillor, and especially if it is local people who are posting these slurs against you, because you have to walk down the street and you may meet those people in a shop with your family. Mayor of Drogheda and Louth county councillor, Michelle Hall. While acknowledging that being a politician has always been difficult, she said councillors often take the brunt of frustration directed at the wider local authority: We are the public face of the council, and we get abuse for it. A spokeswoman for the AILG, which represents all 950 local councillors across Ireland, said the organisation provides a wide range of support and guidance to elected representatives. She told the council meeting that she was very sorry to hear of the abuse Cllr Hall had experienced. Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in this, she said. It is really disappointing. I dont understand how it could be acceptable to speak to your public representatives like that. I dont think it should be part of the job, as what you do is extremely difficult. She added that all political parties are facing the challenge of trying to attract new candidates ahead of the 2029 local elections, and that the rising levels of abuse are a significant deterrent particularly for women. Its especially worrying that the abuse is aimed predominantly at females, she said. Meanwhile, Cllr Shane McGuinness said as a new councillor he found the AILG a great support and in an era where everything was legal it was important that elected reps can access independent advice and guidance on legal matters and planning issues. Cllr Declan Power said it was very beneficial to be part of a wide network of councillors from around Ireland, and to know that whatever issues are happening here, are happening there too. Cllr Hall added that the training provided by the AILG was really useful as councillors deal with a wide range of issues and are expected to be jack of all trades. She called for the Local Democracy Taskforce, which is expected to publish its first report in the coming weeks, to look at increasing local representation, as there are just six councillors elected in Droghedas urban area, where she said there are around 20,000 people living. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme A jury in Mayo has found a man guilty of causing criminal damage to a car. Brian McDonagh, of Fr Meehan Place, Castlebar, County Mayo, was found guilty of one count of criminal damage but was acquitted of possession of an article. The jury gave their verdict on Friday, one day after the trial commenced at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Christina McDonagh, her husband, Patrick McDonagh, and her father were in her home at 73 Springfield Court, Castlebar, on the evening of July 18, 2020, when they heard a noise outside. They observed McDonagh, who is a second cousin of theirs and lived nearby, and a co-accused, who is a distant relation of theirs, damaging their Toyota Corolla. The pair, who allegedly used implements described in court as hatchets, fled after Ms McDonagh went outside. Garda Russell Gibbons photographed the damaged windows, windscreen, wing mirror and passenger door of the car as part of the resulting investigation. No blood, DNA, or fingerprint evidence was discovered on the car. Although no hatchet was recovered from the scene, Gda Gibbons told the trial that the damage looks like a mark that an axe would make. Both Patrick McDonagh and Christina McDonagh made statements to gardai outlining what they had seen of the incident. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Patrick Reynolds, BL, read the McDonaghs statements to the court after they both refused to give evidence. Ms McDonagh did not explain why she would not give evidence, telling the court that she wished to see the charges withdrawn. I would prefer not to give evidence, she said. Her husband, Patrick McDonagh, also declined to give evidence, saying he wished to withdraw his complaint against Brian McDonagh. The court heard that Patrick McDonagh saw Brian McDonagh at the house but believed it was the other co-accused who damaged the car. Patrick McDonagh agreed with defence counsel, Ms Christine Burke, BL, when she put it to him that it was 100pc the co-accused who carried out the damage. Judge Eoin Garavan said that McDonaghs written statements would be admissible as evidence in the trial. The jury returned their verdict on Friday morning, Judge Garavan remanded Brian McDonagh in custody and adjourned the matter for sentencing until July 21. A community group has submitted a planning application to Mayo County Council outlining major plans to revive the 150yearold former Convent The application includes plans to develop the onsite Gatehouse into accommodation. Photo: Google Images View from McDermott Street of the former Sisters of Mercy Convent in Ballina, County Mayo. Photo: Google Images. A planning application to refurbish the former Sisters of Mercy Convent in Ballina and transform it into a multi-use community facility has been submitted to Mayo County Council. The convent, which was built in 1876 and is a protected structure, closed its doors in 2008. It remained vacant for more than 15 years, during which time the historic building fell into a state of dereliction. In 2024, the Sisters of Mercy gifted their former home to community group Ballina Convent Regeneration CLG, with the aim of restoring the landmark building as a community hub and breathing new life into the site. The Sisters of Mercy, Western Province approached Senator Mark Duffy, then a councillor, with the idea of developing a regeneration project for the convent. Senator Duffy is now part of the regeneration group, alongside Vincent Lang, Father Aidan OBoyle and Mr Pat Flynn, who are collectively undertaking an extensive revival project on the 150-year-old building. With support from a wide range of organisations, including University College Dublin Centre for Irish Towns, University of Notre Dame Church Property Division, the Heritage Council, and the Ballina Community Clean-Up Group, among others, initial improvement works have already been carried out on site. These works allowed the regeneration group to reopen the convent grounds to the public. Since taking ownership, the group has welcomed a number of community organisations to the site, including the Ballina Mens Shed, Ballina Involve CLG and the Ballina First Responders. In October 2025, the grounds also hosted the first-ever Ballina Pumpkin Patch, organised by the Ballina Lights Committee. Now, following the submission of the planning application, the groups long-term vision for the site has become clearer. The proposals set out plans to expand community facilities and restore the historic North Mayo building into a multi-use space for the whole community. A planning application submitted by Ballina Convent Regeneration CLG outlines extensive proposals for the site. Firstly, it is looking for permission to change the use of the ground floor of the former convent and education campus to community facilities, along with the construction of a two-bedroom apartment. The apartment would be used by residents who are involved in the day-to-day operation and management of the community facilities. Proposed community facilities include the continued use of the existing chapel for prayer and worship, as well as the retention of kitchen, dining and meeting rooms. The application includes plans to develop the onsite Gatehouse into accommodation. Photo: Google Images Additional uses outlined in the application include counselling and therapy services, meeting and training rooms, music and arts facilities, sanitary facilities and the development of a community courtyard. Refurbishment works would involve the installation of new mechanical, electrical and drainage services throughout the building, together with the installation of solar panels on the convents flat roof and sections of the pitched roofs. Conservation works are also proposed to safeguard the historic fabric of the protected structure. The application is also seeking permission to construct a new single-storey steel shed, which would be used as a carpentry workshop and for storage purposes. The plan further proposes a change of use of the former St Marys and St Annes school buildings on the site to community facilities. These works would also include external upgrades, such as insulation and the installation of solar panels. If approved, plans would see the existing onsite Gatehouse brought back into use as a residential dwelling. Works on the Gatehouse would include refurbishment of the existing structure, the development of a two-bedroom extension, the installation of solar panels, the provision of a new parking area and the creation of an access road from within the convent grounds. Similar to the proposed two-bedroom apartment, The Gatehouse would also be occupied by residents who support the operation of the community facilities. The application is also looking to install steel palisade fencing in certain areas of the site, with cast-iron, heritage-style fencing proposed in more sensitive locations. Finally, the plans include the creation of a new car park across the main site with capacity for 60 vehicles, the installation of a new fuel tank, all associated site works, and new signage to direct visitors to the site. A decision on the application is due to be made by Sunday, April 12, 2026. This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Cllr Thomas Walsh expressed his frustration at the delay for a new waste water treatment plant in areas such as Mullaghmore The delay in delivering new waste water treatment systems in areas where funding has been committed or where existing systems are at capacity was queried at the February meeting of Sligo County Council. Councillor Thomas Walsh sought an update from Uisce Eireann in relation to infrastructure in the county. Cllr Walsh noted money was committed in September 2021 to the Mullaghmore project but to date planning permission has not been obtained. It is moving very slowly, he told the meeting. Cllr Walsh referred to the situation in Ballintogher, noting it is at or near capacity. Highlighting the impact this has on the development of the village Cllr Walsh said, Delivery is much too slow. The only way it will happen is through legislation to speed up the planning. We have land zoned in Ballintogher but the likelihood of another estate in the village is slim to none until the sewage system is improved. Cllr Walsh called on Government to Look at the wider picture, adding, It is really frustrating. The motion was supported by Cllr Thomas Healy who commented, Irish Water are holding back these communities. Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. KIEV, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian side will do everything necessary so that the next round of negotiations between Ukraine, the United States and Russia can deliver results for Ukraine and peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday. Ukraine will by no means stand in the way of peace, he said in a video address. Zelensky announced that his meetings with European partners are scheduled for next week. "We will coordinate in detail so that Europe is involved in all processes and grows only stronger," Zelensky said. The delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia held the latest round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17-18, with no breakthrough on key issues. The Model is one of the local tourist attractions that has been awarded funding under the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Investment Scheme A number of local companies have been allocated capital investment funding totalling 656,302 under the Shared Island Coast to Coast Investment scheme, details of which were announced by Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke and Northern Ireland Minister for Economy, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald as part of funding totalling 2.7m. The Coast-to-Coast Investment Scheme is part of the Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project being delivered by Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the delivery of the project which aims to support the enhancement of visitor experiences and create synergies across the iconic Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route in the North West and North Coast regions. Four tourism providers locally have been awarded funding The Model, Home of The Niland Collection (177,732); Lough Gill Brewery (112,000); Rose of Innisfree (180,556) and The Yeats Society (186,014). The funding for The Model will go towards presenting Jack Butler Yeats story through an immersive exhibition, film, and Toy Theatre, using creative storytelling to explore his life and art. Lough Gill Brewerys funding allocation will help create a new visitor centre that will celebrate Sligos craft beer, heritage, and natural beauty through immersive and sensory experiences. It will feature a taproom, exhibition spaces, and interactive, multilingual displays. The funding awarded to the Yeats Society will enable The Yeats Building become a multi-sensory experience linking W.B. Yeats to Sligos culture and landscape. A VR tower room will offer animated panoramic views inspired by his work. The allocation to The Rose of Innisfree will ensure the boat will be upgraded with audiovisual systems, electric engines, and improved accessibility. Visitors will enjoy themed stories and seamless travel links. A total of almost 2.7million was allocated under the scheme to support the development and enhancement of existing visitor attractions and experiences across counties Donegal, Sligo and parts of Leitrim on the Wild Atlantic Way, as well as counties Derry and Antrim along the Causeway Coastal Route. Following a competitive application process, a total of 13 projects have been approved by Tourism Agencies for funding across the two jurisdictions. The investments will enable comprehensive upgrades at the existing attractions and experiences including advanced interpretation, enriched storytelling, and substantial improvements to visitor experience infrastructure. These developments will strengthen the appeal of the attractions and the two iconic routes, while encouraging visitors to further explore the regions, extend their stay, and generate greater economic benefits for local communities. The funding was also welcomed by Sligo/Leitrim TD and Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Frank Feighan which he believes will have a positive impact on the tourism offering in the Sligo/Leitrim region. The successful projects under the Coast-to-Coast Investment will enhance the visitor experience at key attractions, helping to tell our shared stories in compelling ways. This investment reflects the Governments commitment to balanced regional development, as set out in A New Era for Irish Tourism: National Tourism Policy Statement. "By backing projects in every part of the island, we are ensuring that tourism growth delivers real benefits for local communities and helps build a more competitive, resilient and regionally balanced visitor economy for the future. Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Marian Harkin also welcomed the allocation. "It will have a real and lasting impact on our local tourism economy. These projects celebrate our unique cultural, literary and natural heritage while improving accessibility and the overall visitor experience. By investing in attractions rooted in place, storytelling and sustainability, this funding will help to attract more visitors, encourage longer stays and support jobs and enterprise across our communities. I commend the organisations involved for the ambition and quality of their proposals. Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Performers at an upcoming show in The Bridge Tavern in Arklow, Richard, Ciara, Cilene, Bernard, Tanya and Zak. A one-off concert in Arklow on February 26 will feature three harmony duets from local performers who have impressed in support slots over the past year and now have a night of their own. Held at The Bridge Tavern, the donation-based gig will see Zak and Tanya, Bernard and Cilene, and Richard and Ciara take to the stage from 8.30pm. A seasoned guitarist who moved to Ireland three years ago, Zak performed in bands across his native Ukraine for around 10 years and now teaches guitar. Compatriot Tanya moved to Ireland two years ago and, after meeting Zak, rediscovered her love for guitar and singing. Bernard and Cilene have been playing and singing together since meeting in Brazil in 2015. Most of their repertoire comes from the 1960s and 1970s and includes The Beatles, Neil Young and Simon & Garfunkel. Local couple Richard and Ciara McGrath will be performing live together for just their second time and are looking forward to it. Richard has played in several local bands, most recently in After Hours, while Ciara instructs the choir at Avoca National School, where she teaches. A man who absconded midway through a sexual assault trial at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court was apprehended on Monday and has now begun the nine-year prison sentence handed down to him. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been charged with two counts of sexual assault. He fled shortly before the jury was due to resume deliberations in June last year, but was found in Arklow this week. The state solicitor for Wicklow informed a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, that the accused was apprehended on foot of a bench warrant and brought into custody to begin his sentence. Judge Patrick Quinn cancelled the bench warrant. During sentencing in November 2025, Detective Garda Sinead Brosnahan told Wicklow Circuit Court that the trial began on June 26, 2025. On June 27, Judge Terence OSullivan informed the jury that a majority verdict would be accepted. When court resumed after lunch, the defendant had fled. The court heard that numerous calls were made to him, but these went unanswered, and his phone later went out of service. Gardai spoke to his ex-partner, who said she last had contact with him that Friday afternoon and described him as acting erratically. She said they had broken up several months before the trial, though he had been living at her property until the case concluded. Det Garda Brosnahan said she travelled to the mans last known address in Tipperary and contacted two previous employers, both of whom had not heard from him. Search warrants were executed at multiple locations, including a property owned by a former employer. The defendant had not claimed social welfare and was unemployed at the time. One bail condition required him to surrender his passport, though it was out of date and he had not applied for a replacement. Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly BL, outlined evidence heard during the trial. In June 2019, the defendant had been living in the same house as the teenage victim for almost a year. The victim returned home at around 9pm after being out with friends. It was alleged that the defendant then entered her room with a towel around him and asked for a massage, saying he had a sore back. The victim described the situation as unusual and extremely strange. He then grabbed her by the throat and began kissing her. Mr Kelly said the defendant forced the victim onto the bed, removed her clothing, and sexually assaulted her for several minutes, while also attempting to proposition her. It was noted at sentencing that the victim said she heard her mother coming upstairs, at which point the defendant left the room. She described feeling paralysed and later contacted her brother via Facebook Messenger. He was removed from the home the following day. Stock image Today's News in 90 Seconds, Saturday, February 21 Det Garda Brosnahan outlined the subsequent investigation. Det Brosnahan stated that he was arrested and released on station bail, maintaining his innocence during interview, saying: I will fight this. A victim impact statement, read to the court by James Kelly BL, described how the victim felt frozen, paralysed and scared. She said she cried herself to sleep, struggled being in her room, and at one point attempted to end her own life. She also described the difficulty of coming to court and sitting in the same room as the accused. She said the aftermath affected her entire family and that she nearly dropped the case because she felt overwhelmed. Counsel for the defence, Ed Sweetman BL, said he had nothing to add. The defence case during trial was that the assault never occurred. The jury returned a majority verdict of 11 to one. During sentencing, Judge OSullivan said the defendants decision to flee was an insult to the court process, the victim, and the jury. He imposed a sentence of 10 years on each count, to run concurrently. The judge said the level of force used, the age gap, and the impact on the victim moved the offence into the higher sentencing range. The final year of the 10-year sentence was suspended, taking into account that the defendant, who was 39 at the time of the offence, had no previous convictions. Judge OSullivan concluded sentencing by expressing support for the victim. The defendant will now begin his sentence at an undisclosed prison in Ireland. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaves Aylsham police station in Norfolk in a vehicle on Thursday, the day he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Photo: Reuters/File Photo Police probing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have urged his former bodyguards to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard is relevant to their investigation. The Metropolitan force said they were identifying and contacting former and serving close protection officers of the former Duke of York, urging them to share any information that could assist with their inquiries. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he will raise from 10pc to 15pc a temporary tariff rate on US imports from all countries, which he imposed after the US Supreme Court ruled against his signature tariff programme based on an economic emergency law. Infuriated by the high court's ruling, Trump on Friday ordered an immediate 10pc tariff on all imports, in addition to any existing tariffs. The law allows him to impose a levy of up to 15pc for 150 days, although it could face legal challenges. We got lost in Moscow and I thought Id never see my husband again: the Irish housewives who took on the USSR Frances National Rally (RN) urged supporters to avoid rallies on Saturday for fear of unrest, as analysts say it seeks to capitalise on the killing of a far-right activist by suspected hard-left militants to push its mainstream credentials. The nationwide rallies are in memory of Quentin Deranque (23), who was beaten to death in a fight in Lyon that was caught on camera and shocked the nation. Police fear the marches could turn violent, with clashes between opposing extremist political groups. Kyiv ready for real compromises, not Moscows repeated ultimatums, says Zelensky Its not fair to only ask us to give ground to Russia, Ukrainian leader says in response to Trump pressure to strike a deal to end the war Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena attend a ceremony at a monument to the people killed during the Ukrainian pro-EU mass protests in 2014, to mark 12 years since the end of the uprising. Photo Reuters Sam Kiley UK Independent Sat 21 Feb 2026 at 06:30 Volodymyr Zelensky insisted Ukraine was ready for real compromises with Russia as the US continues to pile on pressure to make a deal to end the war. Donald Trump has amassed massive firepower in the Middle East as tensions rise US military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by president Donald Trump, two US officials told Reuters. The military options are the latest signs that the US is preparing for a serious conflict with Iran should diplomatic efforts fail. Reuters first reported last week that the US military is preparing for a sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran that could include striking Iranian security facilities as well as nuclear infrastructure. BRATISLAVA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday warned of halting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if the oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia are not restored. "If oil supplies to Slovakia are not restored on Monday, I will ask SEPS to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. In January 2026 alone, these emergency supplies needed to stabilise the Ukrainian energy grid were twice as high as for the whole of 2025," he posted on social media. SEPS is the Slovak state transmission system operator. Fico also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of acting maliciously towards Slovakia because Slovakia does not "support the war." He added that the halt of gas flows to Slovakia had caused an annual damage of 500 million euros (590 million U.S. dollars) since Jan. 1, 2025, and there was further damage and logistical difficulties since the oil flows halted. Oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary were suspended following an attack on the Druzhba pipeline on Jan. 27, Ukrainian officials said. Slovakia has declared an oil emergency. On Feb. 18, after a cabinet session, Fico accused Zelensky of political blackmail and interfering in the election campaign in Hungary, the News Agency of the Slovak Republic reported. MAGA rallies behind Trumps plan to release files on alien and extraterrestrial life But critics called it a ham-handed attempt to distract attention from the Epstein files Donald Trump at the inaugural meeting of the so-called Board of Peace in Washington, DC on Thursday. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Brendan Rascus UK Independent Sat 21 Feb 2026 at 06:30 US president Donald Trumps pledge to release government files on alien and extraterrestrial life quickly drew praise from his MAGA allies, who lauded the move as proof of his commitment to transparency. US jets scramble to intercept Russian spy plane off Alaskan coast Russian aircraft are regularly observed in Alaskas Adiz and this type of activity is not seen as a threat, according to North American Aerospace Defence Command A Russian A-50 spy plane. File photo/Getty Images Natasha Leake Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Sat 21 Feb 2026 at 06:30 US fighter jets intercepted a Russian spy plane off the coast of Alaska on Thursday. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is in an early lead in the chairmanship votes so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electoral officers in the four polling units in the LEA Primary School, Kubwa II, Bwari Area Council. Although the votes for the Council Chairmanship position indicated a close race between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ADC, the outcome indicated a strong showing by the ADC. Results show that the ADC had a total of 67 votes in the four polling units within the school while the APC came second with 40 votes, ZLP came a distant third with 21 votes, and APGA garnered 20 votes. Advertisement The elections were marred by voter apathy and incidents of vote buying. The polling centre has a total number of 4,063 registered voters out of which only 181 turned out to cast their ballot. This is how the parties performed in each of the units: Unit 044: Chairmanship: Accord =1, APC=7 votes, ADC=20, APGA=3, PDP=1, APGA=3 Total registered voters =755, Accredited voters =32, total votes cast =32 Counselorship: Accord =1, ADC=14, APC =4, APGA=3, PDP=4, SDP=1, YPP=2, ZLP=3 Total registered voters =755, Accredited voters/ Total votes cast=32 Unit 045: Chairmanship: APC=11 votes, ZLP=3, ADC=13, APGA=3, PDP=2, Accord =1, Action Alliance=1. Councillorship: APC =10, ADC=10, ZLP=5, PDP=4, APGA=2, YPP=2, Accord =1 Total registered voters =747, Accredited voters/ Total votes cast=34. Unit 047: Chairmanship: ADC =15, ZLP=5, APC=2, PDP=2, APGA=4, SDP=2, Invalid=2 Counsellorship : ADC=12, ZLP=10, PDP=3, APGA=4, YPP=1, APC =0, Invalid=2 Unit 006 with a total registered voters of 1,805 registered voters with only 83 accredited voters showing up and casting their ballots. They voted as follows: Chairmanship: Accord=5, ADC=19, ADP=1, APC=20, APGA=10, PDP=8, SDP=2, ZLP=13. Councillorship: Accord=6, ADC=8, ADP=1, APC=20, APGA=9, SDP=1, YPP=12, ZLP=16, Invalid vote=1. Despite the alleged mobilisation of voters by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, the turnout of voters is arguably the worst in recent memory. One of the voters informed Vanguard that the FCT Minister adequately mobilised traders through their various unions to vote for the ruling APC. The voter who pleaded anonymity for fear of retribution said, Ive come to vote for the APC because our performing minister has mobilised us and has promised to build additional markets for us. For now, we have to make do with what we have. We cannot deny his performance as minister. There were isolated cases of vote-buying especially at polling unit 024 located at Water Board junction along Byazhin, also in Kubwa. Female conversers were sighted inviting voters, especially women, to enclosures and offering N2,000 per vote. At a point, the battery of the BVAS machine ran down and voters surrendered their power banks to power the device. Customers enter the Wawa near Independence Mall in Philadelphia on a recent day during lunch. Read more Wawa customers have been able to order roasted chicken on sandwiches, salads, burritos, and more since summer 2024. Hoagie-loving Philadelphians may scroll past the high-protein option on Wawas trademarked built-to-order screens, while others tap its icon instinctively in their rush to order lunch. Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens said he sees the chicken breast differently. Advertisement From idea to inception, that was a labor of love for quite a long time, Gheysens said in a recent interview. Its 37 grams of protein, something consumers are really looking for today. And, he added, its still highly customizable, which our customers love doing at Wawa. To Gheysens, the menu addition shows how the Delaware County-based company responds to consumer demand. Just as it did decades ago when Philly-area store managers began brewing coffee for customers on the go, and in 1996, when Wawa executives decided to start selling gasoline. Even now, with nearly 1,200 stores in 13 states and Washington, D.C., Wawa is still listening to consumer feedback, Gheysens said. And despite expanding as far away as Florida and Kentucky, the CEO said, the convenience-store giant remains especially in tune with its hometown fans. For a lot of people, its their daily routine, said Gheysens, a South Jersey native. It becomes a part of their neighborhood. Its a relationship thats built on consistency, on trust and on getting customers out the door in five minutes or less, depending on the time of day. Customers say they are drawn to the homegrown chain for its convenience, consistency, quality, and wide-ranging menu of grab-and-go and made-to-order items (even though some miss the old Wawa delis where lunch meat was sliced on the spot). In Runnemede, 78-year-old Barbara MacCahery said she goes to her local Wawa at least a couple of times a week sometimes for breakfast, sometimes for a sandwich, a lot of times for coffee. In MacCaherys mind, she said, the chain has proven itself time and time again for decades: Its very rare that youll have a bad experience. Wawas secret sauce for success Wawa has set a national standard for success in the convenience-store industry, said Z. John Zhang, a marketing professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. It really is some kind of a secret sauce, said Zhang, who studies retail management. For many people, Wawa has become a destination store, one that combines speed, customization, and perceived high quality with near-constant availability many Wawa stores are open 24/7. The company got its start as a dairy, delivering milk to Philly-area households. In 1964, it opened its first store in Folsom. Soon, the family-owned company expanded into New Jersey and Delaware, and established a reputation for quality and speed, with slogans like People on the Go Go to Wawa Food Markets. Wawa is privately held, owned in part by workers who get a percentage of their earnings contributed to an employee stock-ownership plan. Zhang said this program likely leads to more-invested employees who provide better customer service. Because Wawa is not public, it is not required to disclose its finances, and company executives declined to discuss them. But by many appearances, Wawa seems to be doing well: Over the last decade, the company has increased its store count by about 65% and doubled its workforce to about 50,000 associates. Philly-area Wawas are often crowded, too, which is key to making money in the convenience-store industry. READ MORE: A history of Wawas on-again, off-again relationship with Center City Consumers spend about $7 on average when they stop at a convenience store, said Jason Zelinski, vice president of convenience and growth accounts for NielsenIQ. We think its high-impulse, but 80% of all people who walk into a convenience store pretty much know what they want, said Zelinski, who consults with retailers. (He declined to discuss specific companies and said he has never worked for Wawa.) Successful operators have encouraged customers to spend more by adding seating and improving their food service, Zelinski said. And stores with better food see higher profit margins. Once you have somebody thats addicted to your food service program, theyre more likely to come back to your store vs. a competing store, he said. Wawa has certainly gotten people hooked on their coffee, hoagies, and ever-expanding menu, Zhang said. Options added in recent years include pizza, wraps, protein-packed power meals, limited-edition coffee flavors, and smoothies boosted with protein, vitamins, and minerals. Yet Wawa has not expanded in all areas. The company recently closed several stores in Center City, citing safety and security concerns in some cases. In January, it closed its Drexel University location after its test of a digital-order-only format was not successful. In the Philly suburbs, smaller-format Wawas have also shuttered, often in communities that already have multiple larger Wawas. Despite Wawas best efforts, not all stores thrive, Gheysens said. But luckily for us, were still in growth mode, and dont have to worry about closures in a broad way. Gheysens said he sees room for more Wawas in the Philadelphia market even as convenience-store competitors like Maryland-based Royal Farms and Altoona-based Sheetz have opened new stores in the region. READ MORE: Sheetz wants to move into Delaware County, home of Wawa Wawa executives want to make sure that we are the number-one convenience store in the area, thats important to us, Gheysens said. These are our hometown counties. What keeps Philly-area consumers going to Wawa Many Philly-area consumers grew up alongside Wawa. In interviews with nearly a dozen of them, some were quick to reminisce about early memories of their local stores, such as the distinct smell of coffee and deli meat or the excitement of a Wawa run with high school friends. Others bemoan what has changed with the companys expansion, including more congested parking lots. Most have a quick answer when asked what their Wawa order is. Rick Gunter, 45, of Royersford, misses the Wawa of his youth. Back in the day, he said, the Wawa hoagies hit different, with lunch meat fresh off the slicer. Contrary to some customers beliefs, most stores still bake Amoroso rolls a custom recipe made exclusively for Wawa fresh in store multiple times a day, Gheysens said. As for the deli meat, the CEO said that was another decision rooted in customer preference. When customers have participated in blind tests of the pre-sliced meat Wawa uses today against a fresh-sliced alternative, they cant tell the difference, Gheysens said. They would choose our pre-sliced meats, because of what weve done in terms of quality and the supply chain and the ability to deliver them at such a pace. Some customers disagree. It was way better when it was kind of also a deli. Now they try to make everything for everybody, said Bill Morgan, 79, of East Coventry Township. Im within five miles of three Wawas, but I rarely eat their food. Only under extreme duress. Morgan acknowledged he must be in the minority, given how crowded Wawas are at lunchtime. And despite his distaste for much of their food, he said he still gets gas there and loves their coffee. And he cant help but admire their business model. I wish theyd sell stock, Morgan said. Samuel Pennypacker Elementary School in West Oak Lane is one of 20 Philadelphia public schools slated for closure. Read more For nearly a century, the Samuel Pennypacker School has survived a three-story brick anchor of the West Oak Lane neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia. Now it faces the threat of extinction. Advertisement The Philadelphia School District says the schools building score is unsatisfactory and modernizing it would cost more than $30 million. District officials are calling for shuttering Pennypacker following the 2026-27 school year, funneling its students to nearby Franklin S. Edmonds or Anna B. Day schools part of a citywide proposal to close 20 district schools. The recommendation, district officials say, is no reflection of the incredible teachers, community, [and] students at Pennypacker. Rather, it is an attempt by the district to optimize resources and equity for students. Like many district schools, Pennypacker, which serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade, is aging and outdated, having opened in 1930. At just over 300 students, it is among the citys smaller schools and operating at about 64% of building capacity. Yet, it is those same qualities its size and longevity that represent some of its greatest strengths, say those in the school community who are not happy about the proposed closure. Its a school, they say, that is more than the sum of its aging parts. On the schools walls are pocks of chipped paint, yes, but also the colorful detritus of a small but vibrant student population: a poster composed of tiny handprints in honor of Black History Month; a Blizzard of Positivity handwritten messages reading Smile and Hugs and Help your friends when they fall. Its where Wonika Archers children enrolled soon after the family emigrated from Guyana the first school they had ever known. A lot of firsts, Archer said. Their first friends, their first teachers outside of their parents. Its where, since 1992, Andreas Roberts youth drill team has been allowed to practice. The team, which includes some Pennypacker students, recently participated in its first competition and won first place. Pennypacker has been very, very useful to us, he said. We have nowhere else to practice for the kids. READ MORE: Philly parents are worried and shocked over the proposed school closings across the city. Its where Christine Thorne put her kids through school, her son and her daughter, and where her grandchildren now go. Around the school, they call her Grandmama. I feel as if my household is being destroyed, she said recently. For students, news of the imminent closure has been no less jarring. When Janelle Pearsons fourth-grade students learned recently that their school was poised to be shuttered under the districts plan, they took it as a grim reflection on themselves. It makes them feel like, What did we do wrong that they want to close our school? said Pearson, who has taught at Pennypacker for about a decade. Thats the part that tugs at your heart. Unwilling to go down without a fight, the fourth graders resolved to do what they could. Soon, a poster took shape, in marker and crayon, a series of pleas addressed to Philadelphia Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. Pennypacker is our home. Dont uproot our education. Our neighborhood depends on this school! The poster was presented to district officials earlier this month at a community meeting held in the schools wood-seated auditorium. At that meeting, representatives from the district did their best to explain the reasoning for the proposed closures. They presented a tidy PowerPoint and talked of student retention and program alignment, of building capacity and neighborhood vulnerability scores. It stood in stark contrast to the parents and teachers and staffers who, one by one, held a microphone and spoke of love and family and community, of teachers and staffers who routinely went above and beyond to make their children feel safe. To make them feel special. Its not just about a building, said Richard Levy, a onetime Pennypacker teacher who now works at St. Josephs University. The challenges here arent reasons to close the school theyre reasons to strengthen it. Whether their appeals might affect the districts decision remains to be seen. Other schools in the district slated for closure have mounted efforts of their own, and, despite a recent grilling by City Council members, it seems all but certain that several schools will ultimately shutter. A school board vote on the districts proposal is expected later this winter. Until then, those at Pennypacker are holding tight to the possibility of an eleventh-hour reprieve for the longtime neighborhood institution. Im hoping theres a chance, Archer said. Im so hopeful. An imported spinach pie made by Rodoula in Athens, this one stuffed with extra feta, is warmed to a crisp and served at Madis Coffee Roasters locations across Philadelphia. Read more Country-style spinach pie at Madis Coffee Roasters Ive been devoted to spanakopita since growing up in Metro Detroit, where Greektown was among my favorite downtown haunts. Philadelphia has great spinach pies, too, from Zorbas Tavern in Fairmount to Stina near West Passyunk. But lately, Ive become obsessed with the big round pans of spanikopita served at Madis Coffee Roasters, the fast growing local trio of modern cafes owned by the Navorsidis family. Their coffee is also excellent, by the way, including a well-balanced Four Seasons blend thats become a regular in my house rotation of morning brews, as well as quality pour-overs of single-origin beans. But the spanakopita the cafes import from Greece is one of the main reasons I frequently stop at Madis spacious Curtis Center location beside Independence Hall for breakfast before heading into The Inquirer newsroom nearby. Unlike the vast majority of spinach pies made in the U.S., which feature ultra-flaky and delicate phyllo, these big round pies made by Rodoula in Athens are encased in crispy waves of thicker phyllo sheets that are typical of the more rustic country style, especially when shaped into rounds. I give credit to Madis for warming it correctly, since Ive had other versions of the same pie elsewhere (at a local gyro chain) where the same pastry was hastily underbaked and chewy. At its toasty, tawny prime, a crusty wedge of this pie shatters beneath fork and knife around a luxuriously soft filling of spinach, leeks, and extra cheese a particularly creamy blend of tangy sheep and goats milk feta. Straight from Athens to the cradle of Liberty, its the spanakopita breakfast of champs. Madis Coffee Roasters, 601 Walnut St., 3527 Lancaster Ave., 1441 Chestnut St.; madiscoffee.com Advertisement Craig LaBan Scallops and burrata at Emilia When Greg Vernick and Meredith Medoway were previewing the menu at Emilia, their new Italian restaurant in Kensington, they seemed proud of a dish pairing scallops and burrata in a caper vinaigrette. That surprises people at first because of the similar textures, Vernick said. Oh, its a surprise, all right. What it lacks in crunch it more than makes up for in lusciousness. The kitchen thinly slices day-boat sea scallops from Viking Village in Barnegat Light, N.J., and fans them over a puddle of burrata cheese and a vinaigrette made of capers and Calabrian chili oil. Sea salt goes on top. And heres a tip to get the most of it: Your Emilia meal will start with house-made focaccia, Italian breadsticks, and a slice of Mighty Breads sesame ciabatta. Put aside some ciabatta. After you finish the scallop, youll use it for mop-up duty. Emilia, 2406 Frankford Ave., 267-541-2360, emiliaphilly.com Michael Klein Clam Posillipo pizza at Wilder To me, Valentines Day has always been about celebrating the things I already love about my life my partner, my cat, and all the restaurants I depend on for date-night specialness so I rarely want to go some place Ive never tried before for the holiday. That changed this year when my partner and I went to Wilder for the first time and tried a pizza so good it has converted us to wannabe regulars. Wilders clam Posillipo pizza is a take on the classic Italian American dish (and Frank Sinatra favorite) wherein littleneck clams are steamed in a light, garlicky tomato sauce. For the pizza version, Wilder sprinkles briny Taggiasca olives, breadcrumbs, and parsley atop a vibrant tomato sauce. The clams contribution wasnt fishy they created an experience more like eating a pie by the beach in the summer: fresh and a little salty, with a delectably doughy crust. Wilder, 2009 Sansom St., 215-309-2149, wilderphilly.com Beatrice Forman Mango calamansi danish from the Sir/Mom Tour pop-up at Small Oven Pastry Shop Its still gray and cold out, but a limited-time pastry offering helped me briefly forget. As part of their Sir/Mom Tour, chef Mike Strauss of Sidecar Bar & Grille (and formerly Mikes BBQ) and his wife, Eylonah Mae Strauss, staged a Point Breeze kitchen takeover last week, sharing their love of Filipino cuisine with a slate of specials served at chef Chad Durkins Porcos Porchetteria/Small Oven Pastry Shop and Breezys Deli. I went specifically for the mango and calamansi danish a burst of citrus and sunshine that sold out both days. The silky yellow custard encrusted in golden flaky pastry with small bites of fruit laced throughout made for a gorgeous pick-me-up. I hope we see another collab soon, but given the Strausses live in the Philippines where they run Sugaree Gelato Bakery Cafe in Bacolod I expect a long wait. Small Oven Pastry Shop, 2204 Washington Ave., 215-545-2939, smallovenpastryshop.com. Emily Bloch CAIRO/RIYADH, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Saturday condemned remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee that Israel has the right to claim control over the entire Middle East. Huckabee's remarks, being illogical and irrational, are "inconsistent with the fundamental principles and established norms of diplomacy," Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said in a statement. Those remarks "serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions" when countries are exploring ways to implement the Gaza ceasefire and "seize the opportunity to launch a serious political process towards peace," he said. Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Saturday expressed its "astonishment" over the remarks, describing them as a "blatant violation" of international law and the United Nations Charter. In a statement, the ministry reaffirmed Egypt's long-standing position that Israel holds "no sovereignty" over occupied Palestinian territory or any other Arab lands, voicing its "categorical rejection" of any attempts to annex the West Bank or separate it from the Gaza Strip. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud also condemned Huckabee's comments on Saturday, saying such statements set a dangerous precedent and reflect a disregard for the relations between the countries of the region and the United States. "This extremist rhetoric portends grave consequences and threatens international peace and security by antagonizing the countries and peoples of the region and undermining the foundations of the international order," the minister said on X. In a contentious interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson posted on Friday, Huckabee said Israel has a "biblical right" to claim control over the entire Middle East, or at least most of the region. "It would be fine if they took it all," Huckabee said. This weeks question is... Has Wawas food changed too much? Stephanie Farr, Features Columnist Advertisement In my 19 years here Ive found that Wawa has remained a consistent standard in my life, both in terms of quality and in terms of how often I eat it. I dont think anyone would argue that its the best food in a very foodie town, but its never let me down. Tommy Rowan, Programming Editor Wawa lost something when they took out the meat slicers and stopped having bread delivered. In the early 2000s, at least to me, the sandwiches tasted fresher. It still had the spirit of a deli. Now its just like Subway. Which, hey, fine in a pinch. But Im not going out of my way to stop anymore. Jenn Ladd, Deputy Food Editor I am a Montco native, so Wawa was a big part of my teenage years. Like most kids in this area, I thought of it as sort of a third space in high school have many fond memories of sitting in or around my car or a friends car in Wawa parking lots in Flourtown, Wynnewood, Ocean City and then when I went to college in Baltimore, that tether remained. Id drive 25 minutes each way from the northern edge of Baltimore City to a Wawa in like Parkville, Md., or something. Id get gas, coffee, and a breaded chicken sandwich or the protein snack pack (grapes, cheese, crackers). Often, Id round up the other Philly-area kids and wed all go together at like 11 p.m. on a weeknight. It was a ritual. All of that is to say, I once held deep-seated affection for Wawa. But it has lost that spot in the past three or four years. I used to commence each long-distance road trip with a Wawa breakfast hoagie the scrambled eggs used to be so rich that you really didnt need cheese because they were that good and plentiful; the sausage was really flavorful; the portion so abundant that you could drive for hours without feeling the need for a snack. The last time I got a breakfast sandwich from Wawa, I gotta tell you, it was sad. I was sad. Stephanie Farr A road trip still doesnt start for me until I get a Wawa Sizzli croissant, egg, turkey sausage, and cheese and Ive never been disappointed. That being said, I recently got a breakfast sandwich at the flagship Wawa at Sixth and Market and that one came with scrambled eggs and it was a mess! I much prefer the egg mold. What has gone downhill for you guys? Jenn Ladd Ive noticed that the portions have gotten kinda puny for the custom-ordered stuff, which was my jam for years. And now I think youre better off with the grab-and-go things the Sizzlis. I think Wawa putting so much focus on the Super Wawa format and then constantly innovating with the food menu has really been its downfall. Like, just keep it simple. Tommy Rowan I still think about the old Buffalo Blue Breaded Chicken Sandwich. It was a robust and crispy chicken patty. And it was slathered in that bright orange buffalo-blue cheese sauce that brought the heat and the tang. It was unmistakable and worth the price of admission. And it came on a fresh kaiser roll, to boot. They have introduced new lines of chicken sandwiches in recent years, but theyre not the same. Jenn Ladd I used to love those chicken sandwiches. They had my heart over a hoagie almost every time. Stephanie Farr Ive actually never tried one of their chicken sandwiches, but I am mad they took the spicy cherry pepper relish off the menu. That is a GOAT hoagie topping. Personally, I like Wawas soups, particularly the chicken noodle and tomato bisque. Im sure they come out of a bag, but they taste pretty good, and its not something you find at similar places, like Sheetz. Jenn Ladd [shudder at the thought of bagged soup] Stephanie Farr As I assumed you would, foodie. lol. It doesnt bother me, but my standards are pretty low. Evan Weiss, Deputy Features Editor If you all could tell Wawa to change two things back, what would they be? Stephanie Farr Just give me back my spicy cherry pepper relish for the love of all that is holy please! Also, they better never get rid of the garlic aioli. Get that on a hoagie and bring it into a public place and everyone will ask you what smells so good. (Its happened to me in the newsroom!) Tommy Rowan Bring back the slicers and the fresh bread. It would make a huge difference. Jenn Ladd Id have them remember their roots as opposed to coming up with novelties and/or trying to compete with other convenience store chains on selection. (See Wawa pizza, a repeated failure.) They used to have great sandwiches and snacks. Ill forever cherish the memory of a boss in Baltimore putting a Wawa pretzel on my desk because she had been in the Philly area earlier in the day. It was like a little love note from home. Theyve gotten too corporate, so I basically just treat it like a gas station now. Stephanie Farr I was talking to someone about Wawa last week, after covering the first Sheetz opening in Montco, and they said while Sheetz may have more food offerings, Wawa will still remain supreme in the Philly region because: Were loyal and it has nothing to do with quality. Honestly, I think thats one of the reasons I love Philly so much. Tommy and Jenn, are you bucking that trend, have you forsaken your Wawa loyalty? Jenn Ladd I dont believe in blind allegiance. But also, I dont think we should just keep giving money to an entity that doesnt seem to be minding the quality of what its putting out to customers. Just because we are fond of it. Stephanie Farr So I take it youre not a Phillies or Flyers fan, either? Jenn Ladd Ahahaha, well Im not giving them any money, thats true. Tommy Rowan Hahaha. I will always have a special place in my heart for Wawa. And I hope it comes back around. Im going to be thinking of that chicken sandwich for the rest of the week now. Jenn Ladd I wont even get into how Wawa has betrayed Philadelphia proper, but thats another reason Im loathe to be blindly loyal to them. Id love for Wawa to make a quality comeback, too, truth be told, but I dont know that Id realize that without this conversation. Have a question of your own? Or an opinion? Email us at eweiss@inquirer.com. The Delaware Division of Public Health recommends a dose of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine within 72 hours of exposure (by February 21). Read more People visiting the emergency room at Nemours Childrens Hospital in Wilmington on Wednesday might have been exposed to measles, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health. Officials are working on contact tracing to notify those who could be affected, and to verify their vaccination status, provide educational resources, and recommend quarantine if needed. Advertisement A highly contagious illness, measles can infect 90% of exposed unvaccinated people. Delaware residents can check their vaccine status at the DelVAX Public Portal or through their healthcare provider. The Delaware Division of Public Health recommends a dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine within 72 hours of exposure. Pharmacies and primary care providers can help access the vaccine. As an airborne virus, measles can be spread through coughs, sneezes, and saliva particles. Those particles can linger in the air and nearby surfaces for more than two hours, exposing anyone who might have been in the room. Officials urge people to keep a 21-day watch on their symptoms which could include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a red rash until March 11. Measles can be particularly dangerous for immunocompromised people, such as organ-transplant and chemotherapy patients, people living with HIV/AIDS, and children under 5. No matter their vaccination status, pregnant people who might have been exposed are encouraged to go to the emergency room as soon as possible for a checkup and possible treatment. Delaware is not the only state dealing with a measles comeback. Last week, a possible measles exposure was detected at Philadelphia International Airport. And on Feb. 5, five cases were confirmed in Lancaster County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. All patients were young adults and school-age children, marking the first outbreak of the year. Meanwhile, South Carolina is currently dealing with a large outbreak that doctors call the worst in 30 years, Reuters reported. The illness can lead to pneumonia, brain infection, and death. Of every 1,000 children infected with measles, between one and three will die, according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. People who have been vaccinated, those who have already had measles, or were born before 1957 are considered immune. Montgomery County health officials on Saturday warned residents of a possible measles exposure at two locations in the county, after confirming another case of the highly contagious disease. A person infected with measles visited a car dealership and a convenience store in Royersford and Limerick earlier this week, officials said. Advertisement The case is connected to another in the county that was confirmed earlier this month, said Richard Lorraine, the medical director of the Montgomery County Health Department. The original measles case was linked to a larger outbreak centered on a college in Florida, Lorraine said. A person infected with measles connected to that outbreak then traveled to Montgomery County and visited an urgent care center in Collegeville on Jan. 29, he said. Later, two people in their household, who live in Montgomery County, contracted measles; they were already quarantining by the time they developed symptoms, Lorraine said. The latest case, announced on Saturday, was in an adult who had visited the Collegeville urgent care clinic at the same time as the original patient, Lorraine said. That person developed symptoms about 20 days after exposure to the virus, Lorraine said. The virus can incubate for up to 21 days before symptoms appear. All of the Pennsylvania residents who have contracted measles so far this year, including the Montgomery County cases, were not vaccinated against the disease. What to do if you were exposed to measles People who were at the following Montgomery County locations during the following time periods may have been exposed to the virus, which can linger in the air for up to two hours, officials said. Nissan 422 of Limerick at 55 Autopark Blvd. in Royersford: Monday, Feb. 16, from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 8:45 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. Wawa at 579 N. Lewis Rd. in Limerick: Monday, Feb. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, from 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. People are generally considered protected from measles if they were born in 1957 or earlier or have had two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, or the recommended number of doses based on their age, health officials said. People are also considered protected if they have undergone lab testing that confirms they have already had the disease or have immunity to it. People who are not fully vaccinated or do not have immunity to measles and were exposed to the virus should call their doctor or the county public health office. The office can be reached at 610-278-5117 or after hours at 610-635-4300. Lorraine said that county health officials are working to track anyone who worked at or visited the Wawa and the car dealership earlier this week. Once health officials identify people who passed through those locations, he said, they check to ensure they are vaccinated for measles. People with two doses of the MMR vaccine are of little concern, since the vaccine is about 98% effective at preventing disease, Lorraine said. The county can also test residents without documentation of vaccination for measles immunity. People without immunity can get an MMR vaccine within about 72 hours of exposure to the virus that can prevent them from contracting measles, Lorraine said. For those folks who dont have an immune status, and dont get the MMR, they do need to quarantine for up to 21 days afterward, because thats how long the incubation period is, he said. People without immunity who were potentially exposed to the virus should observe themselves for symptoms during that period. Symptoms include fever, an unexplained rash, a cough, congestion or a runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Health officials said people who develop measles symptoms should stay home and call a doctor immediately. They should also call ahead to any healthcare providers they plan to visit to protect staff and other patients from the disease. Measles in the Philadelphia area As of Saturday, Pennsylvania health officials said they have confirmed 11 cases of measles in state residents, a Pennsylvania Department of Health spokesperson wrote in an e-mail. Seven Lancaster County residents had been infected, as well as three in Montgomery County and one in Chester County. Two more cases were identified in out-of-state residents who visited the area: one in Montgomery County and one in Chester County. Chester County health officials did not immediately return a request for comment Saturday. On Friday, Delaware health officials said they had identified a case in a patient who visited a Wilmington emergency room. Lorraine said it is imperative for area residents to get vaccinated against measles, which can cause severe complications including pneumonia and brain infections. About 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who contract measles will die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infants and children under 5 years old, adults over 20, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, including patients with leukemia or HIV, are at particular risk for complications from the disease, according to the CDC. Like every other illness, measles can be mild, it can be severe. But thats the reason why we want to immunize: We want to mitigate the possibility of severe illness. We really dont want to even take a small chance on that, Lorraine said. FILE - A woman uses a walker as she exits an assisted living building at the Toby and Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences, July 4, 2025, in Boca Raton, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) Read more Sometimes its a fall that brings a broken hip and a loss of mobility. Or memory problems that bubble into danger. Or the death of the partner who was relied upon for care. The need to move to a nursing home, assisted living facility, or another type of care setting often comes suddenly, setting off an abrupt, daunting search. Its likely something no one ever wanted, but knowing what to look for and what to ask can make a big difference. Advertisement Heres what to do when looking for a long-term care facility: Start with government ratings Regulation of assisted living facilities varies greatly from state to state, meaning theres no centralized standards or source for information. If youre looking for a nursing home, though, they are monitored by the federal government. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services maintains records on nursing homes, including data on who owns the facility, how robust its staffing is, and what types of violations it might have been fined for. It assigns homes a star rating, from one to five. Sam Brooks, director of public policy for the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, says while the star rating can be notoriously unreliable, due to its reliance on self-reported data, it can still provide some clues about a home. One or two stars, expect it to be bad, Brooks says. Ratings can be a resource to rule out the worst options, but not necessarily to find the best. Still, Brooks suggests taking a closer look at four- and five-star facilities and to consider a homes ownership, too. Nonprofit homes are often better staffed. You could scour inspection reports and online reviews for clues, too, but eventually youll need to make a list of potential candidates and start making visits. The data, Brooks says, only goes so far. Look past the lobby When visiting a home on your list, be careful not to be too swayed by decorative touches that might be designed to lure you in, like a lobbys furniture, dangling chandeliers, or vases of flowers. When I tour a building, I listen first. Is it loud? Are call bells ringing nonstop? says Mark Sanchez, CEO of United Hebrew, a nursing home in New Rochelle, N.Y. After that, Sanchez says, switch your senses. Do you detect an odor? Do you see residents clustered around the nurses station, perhaps clamoring for help? Are staffers speaking respectfully to residents? Are they making eye contact? Are they rushed? Culture shows up in small moments, Sanchez says, and it matters. Seeking input from families of current residents can be insightful. Another resource may be your local long-term care ombudsman. Ombudsmen, funded by the federal Older Americans Act and present in every state, investigate long-term care residents complaints. With all the available information on each home, it can be easy to feel like youre drowning in data. So pay attention to how a place feels, too, and pair that with concrete facts. When Jennifer Fink was making the stressful, grief-inducing, hard, and scary decision on what memory care community was right for her mother, she didnt consult state databases or Google ratings. She went with her gut reaction and luckily, it was right. Trust your gut. Keep top of mind that the salesperson wants your loved ones money, says Fink, of Auburn, Calif. If its giving you the ick, then move on. Staffing matters most More than any other single thing, experts on long-term care stress that a facilitys staffing is most important. That means both the quality of the care you witness workers giving residents during your visit and the average staffing levels shown in the reported data. A home providing an average of three hours of nursing care to each resident each day may not look all that different on paper from one providing three-and-a-half hours. But those minutes matter dearly, meaning the difference between a person getting a shower, having help at mealtime, or being discovered if theyve fallen. During a visit, pay attention to how quickly call bells are answered and whether it seems like residents are engaged in activities. Ask staff how long theyve worked there. A home that holds on to its workers for years may offer your loved one more continuity. Evan Farr, an elder law attorney in Lorton, Va., who wrote The Nursing Home Survival Guide, says visiting a facility at night or on the weekend can be particularly revealing. These are the times when staffing is reduced and the true operation of the facility becomes apparent, Farr says. It is entirely possible to have a five-star rated facility that is woefully understaffed from 5 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Monday morning. Keep a long-range view When faced with an urgent decision, it can be difficult to focus on anything beyond the factors in front of you. But its important to choose a home with a long-range view. At the start, many long-term care residents are able to pay for the cost of their bill. But what happens if their money runs out? If its a nursing home that accepts Medicaid, how many beds are allocated to such residents? Would your loved one get that slot? If its an assisted living facility, do they even accept people on Medicaid? Assisted living facilities often have complicated billing structures that require a bevy of questions to understand. Ask how costs may change as a persons needs increase. Some places tack on separate charges for tasks like helping a person to the bathroom. Four-thousand dollars a month can become $8,000 overnight, says Geoff Hoatson, founder of the elder law practice Family First Firm in Winter Park, Florida. Another fact of long-term care that few understand is how often facilities seek to remove residents seen as undesirable, often due to a change in their financial circumstances or in their health. Dementia patients in particular with challenging care needs and symptoms that can sometimes bring aggression are targeted with orders to leave. Ask specifically what conditions would require transfer, Hoatson says. John T. Brice, lead pastor at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church, speaks to attendees of the Citywide Black History Celebration at the church on South Broad Street in Philadelphia on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Tindley is where the original version of We Shall Overcome, an anthem of the civil rights movement, was written. Read more Amid the fight to maintain exhibits about enslaved people at the Presidents House Site, congregants gathered Saturday at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church a site with significant history of its own to celebrate Black History Month. Advertisement We are celebrating Black history because its not just cultural, it is protective, said John T. Brice, lead pastor at the church in South Philadelphia. When there is pressure to erase or water down our story, remembering becomes our resistance and resilience. Tindley Temple United Methodist Church was founded by the Rev. Charles Albert Tindley, writer of an early version of the civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome. For Brice, the nations story can be told in full only if it includes the contributions, struggles, and leadership of Black Americans not only in February, but every month of the year. Our contributions are too often minimized or left out of textbooks, public policy, and even Fifth and Market, the site of the Presidents House slavery exhibits that were removed earlier this month, Brice said. Many of the displays have been restored while litigation continues. READ MORE: The slavery exhibits at the Presidents House are starting to be restored by the National Park Service Timothy Welbeck, director of the Center for Anti-Racism at Temple University, said remembering painful history is a way of honoring the contributions of ancestors. In the birthplace of America, it is important to acknowledge that the first family owned people, Welbeck said. Its important to honor this legacy because we had to fight for our humanity to be recognized. To tell Americas story completely, you have to acknowledge that history. Philadelphia-born Shakara Wilson-Fernandez, 22, sees the acknowledgment of Tindleys contributions as a way of empowering younger generations. It warms my heart, Wilson-Fernandez said Saturday during the service at the church. There are many things going on right now, and although not all of us might be Black, we all need empowerment. PJ Thomas agreed. To her, celebrating Black history in 2026 feels like celebrating and honoring the diversity of the country she loves. Despite whats going on, we are still the United States of America, Thomas said. We are still a country that celebrates our peoples history, the people that came through immigration and the people forced to come in distress, because we are all American and we all build this country together. Ilia Haiduk is photographed outside a community-living home where veterans of the war in Ukraine support each other through their medical journeys, in Philadelphia, Feb. 13, 2026. Read more To explain his journey from Ukraine to Huntingdon Valley in Montgomery County, Ukraine army veteran Illia Haiduk first must explain one of the worst days of his life. On Nov. 3, 2023, Haiduk and about 70 other Ukrainian soldiers were at an outdoor awards ceremony in Zaporizhzhia, near the wars front line. After an enemy drone spotted the gathering, the Russians launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile. Advertisement You hear nothing, Haiduk said. It just hits immediately. Haiduk awoke on the ground. To his left, people were moving. To his right was a mess, fire, and smoke. He tried to get up. That was when he realized shrapnel had mangled his lower right leg. Haiduk belted a tourniquet around his thigh and tried to crawl to another soldier from his unit, the 128th Mountain Division. I wanted to get to him. And there was this hole in his chest. Nothing could save him. He was the same age as me, the 35-year-old said. The attack killed at least 19 soldiers and wounded dozens more, according to news reports. Haiduks injury sent him on a long path of healing that ultimately brought him to the Philadelphia area. But more than two years later, the attack is just one incident in a war that has claimed an estimated 2 million lives. Four years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the wars effects can be found throughout the region, among refugees and veterans seeking support services and the advocates helping them. Many are concerned about the future. In 2022, support and donations poured, but every year they become smaller and smaller, said Roman Vengrenyuk of Philadelphia, who helps run the Revived Soldiers Ukraine program that brought Haiduk to the U.S. A lot of nonprofits closed. Vengrenyuk said he has no expectation that the war will end this year. The Trump administration has failed to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to win, he said. Meanwhile, the bloodshed has left 60,000 Ukrainians in need of amputations, overwhelming hospitals in Ukraine and Europe. Though it has gotten harder to get attention for their cause, an alliance of healthcare providers, nonprofits, and advocates across Philadelphia has continued to help wounded veterans and refugees. And for that, Vengrenyuk said, he is grateful. The Philadelphia community of doctors really stepped in, Vengrenyuk said. Life after war After recovering from his injury, Haiduk went home and attempted to return to civilian life, but he felt depressed. That changed, however, in 2025, when he traveled to Canada to compete in the Invictus Winter Games, a multisport event for disabled veterans. He won a bronze medal in the skeleton race, and he found purpose and fellowship with others who had similar experiences. We can talk really freely, because we know that this man will understand me, Haiduk said of his fellow veterans. Later that year, Revived Soldiers Ukraine sent Haiduk to Orlando , where he received a prosthetic lower leg. Haiduk got more involved with the Florida-based nonprofit. He has since helped numerous disabled veterans who were routed to the Philadelphia region for medical care. One is 30-year-old Vladyslav Romanenko, a former engineering student from Kharkiv who joined the army in 2022 and lost his lower arms in a drone strike last May. Romanenko is one of six Ukrainian war veterans living together at two homes in Huntingdon Valley. Revived Soldiers Ukraine flew Romanenko and his partner to Philadelphia. At Wills Eye Hospital, a Ukrainian-speaking doctor, Michael Klufas, helped to restore vision in his right eye. Then, Prosthetic Innovations in Eddystone, Delaware County, outfitted him with bionic arms. Im very grateful to the Ukrainian and American doctors, Romanenko said in Ukrainian, as Haiduk translated. Haiduk said Romanenkos story is typical of the soldiers he works with: men from a wide range of professions and ages, who signed up to save their people. I would never have joined the army, but because the war started, it was my responsibility to join, for my country, Romanenko said. Haiduk said people in the U.S., and most of the world, support the Ukrainian cause of democracy and humanity. However, more pressure needs to be put on Russia, he said. There is support, but it isnt enough support to end this war, Haiduk said. Paying to stay in the U.S. As an American-born Ukrainian whose parents were displaced after World War II, 71-year-old Mary Kalyna said, she considers it her mission to help those in the Ukrainian diaspora. The fluent Ukrainian speaker from Mount Airy said the situation has gotten worse for Ukrainian refugees since last year. Even though Ukraine is not in the news as much, I believe people still support Ukraine, Kalyna said. The problem is our government has changed. Now we have a government that is less supportive of Ukraine. She criticized President Donald Trump for welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin and holding peace talks where Ukraine was expected to cede land to Russia. To her, Trump administration policy is working against local efforts from churches and communities that have embraced Ukrainians. There are many, many screws being tightened, Kalyna said. She provided an example: Due to one provision in Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, thousands of Ukrainians who previously had been invited to the U.S. through the federal United for Ukraine program have to pay $1,000 per family member to maintain their humanitarian parole status. On a Sunday afternoon at an apartment in Norwood, Delaware County, Kalyna met with one family who received such a notice at the end of December. Yurii Konoshchuk, 43, explained that he and his wife and four children came to the U.S. in May 2023. His 9-year-old daughter, Milana, has leukemia and is receiving treatment at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. We dont have any safe place in Ukraine, Konoshchuk said. It is so important for us to be here. We thank God that were in Philadelphia. Though Konoshchuk works full-time at the Barry Callebaut chocolate factory in Eddystone, and has a supportive community at the nearby Living Hope Ukrainian Baptist Church, money has been tight. Then, he got a bill from the federal government to pay $6,000 or risk his family being deported. As Kalyna prayed with the family and shared in the Sunday dinner they had prepared, she was brought to tears when asked about the money. Kalyna said that after people in the Northwest Regional Refugee and Immigrant Network sent out emails, they raised $6,000 within a few hours. People really want to give, she said. They understand. At the dinner table, the Konoshchuk family recounted their journey. Katie Konoshchuk, 14, remembered going weeks without school, and having to evacuate to the school basement during air raids. Each child had to carry a flashlight. Her 13-year-old sister, Ohli, said they used to hope that if the bombs came, they would come on a day they had to take a test. People adjust to the situation that theyre in, their mother, Anna Konoshchuk, said. Yurii Konoshchuk said he saw missiles flying so low overhead that he could read the words written on them. Its good then, because you think it will not fall on you, but you dont know about next time, and you dont know who it did fall on. One of the missiles struck an electric power station less than a mile away, he said, and over the winter of 2022-23, it was a regular occurrence to rush from their home to the air-raid shelter in a city without light. We never in the city saw such bright stars, he said. It was beautiful on the heaven, but not on the earth. Yurii Konoshchuk struggled to predict what will happen next. We are thankful, first to God, and to American nation, to give us the possibility of treatment here, he said. When they came to the U.S., Anna Konoshchuk said, she told her children life would be better, more peaceful. But were treating it as an experience, she said. We dont know how long America will allow us to stay. Were being flexible. The Lincoln Nautilus features a 48-inch touchscreen spanning the dashboard impressive, Kathleen O'Brien writes, but she just wants to drive, not pilot the Starship Enterprise. Read more My new car thinks Im an idiot. Through a constant series of beeps, flashes, and messages, it badgers me in a manner thats a cross between an unrepentant mansplainer and passive-aggressive nanny. Advertisement It comes with all sorts of ways to protect me from being, well, an idiot. It has a lane sway warning in case Im dozing off. It blocks searching for a new Sirius radio station while driving presumably to prevent distracted driving. (All while displaying postage stamp-sized album cover images of the music being played.) Lane departure! it warns if I swerve six inches over the center line of a country road to avoid hitting a bicyclist. When the salesman started to explain how to work the headlights, he stopped midsentence to pronounce: Just dont touch it. The car already knows what to do. In short, my new car yearns to be a driverless car, kind of like those Waymo taxis, which will soon be rolled out in Philly. It deigns to have me as its owner; tolerates nay, suffers my ownership of it. Im surprised the dealer didnt require my SAT scores in order to buy it. Take the day I tossed my yoga mat in the back seat after class, drove home, then spotted this yellow dashboard warning upon alighting: Reminder, look in rear seat. This was puzzling, until I realized it was a safety feature designed to prevent drivers from absentmindedly leaving their baby (or pet) behind during a heat wave. Well-intentioned, to be sure yet an ineffectual mixture of condescending and vague. It merely hints at the problem, as if it is too polite to accuse someone of literal child endangerment. Better it should just come out and say, Hey, dont forget the baby, ya moron! Or better yet: I got you here safely. Do you need me to parent for you, too? Whenever the warning flashes, I find myself muttering, Calm down its a yoga mat. My friends Mercedes claims it can detect if shes fatigued, barking a suggestion to take a break, and even flashing an image of a coffee cup. (Is Mercedes in cahoots with Big Coffee?) When the outdoor temperature hits 37 degrees, the dashboard flashes a little orange icon that looks like the Imperial fighter plane from Star Wars. Its to warn me about possible ice and functions even in bone-dry weather. This safety system which I alternately sense as being either male or female doesnt seem to grasp that I just want to run errands, not pilot the Starship Enterprise. Fed up with its bewildering collection of multicolored dashboard symbols, I finally decided to read the instruction manual. Correction: Manuals. This car comes with three, and like the Harry Potter novels, each one is longer than the last. Here I learned the trademarked Eyesight driver assistance technology will detect pedestrians unless theyre carrying an umbrella. Its disclaimer says it can also get confused by: ditches, fog, dirt, dust, strong sunlight, motorcycles, bicycles, animals, rain, and windshield washer fluid. The car has automatic braking, should you fail to notice that the car ahead of you has stopped. That feature, along with the rear-seat warning, has triggered the ire of Senate Republicans, who announced hearings on whether such safety features are worth the added cost. It also has keyless entry, using just a fob, whose presence the car can sense even when its in my purse or pocket. Last November, I was a volunteer poll worker on Election Day, which required that I depart in darkness to arrive at my polling place by 5 a.m. When I gathered my belongings to go inside, I couldnt find my keys. I figured they had to be in the car, because otherwise the car wouldnt run, right? I spent the morning searching my purse and backpack. No keys. I spent my lunch break rummaging around in the car to see if theyd fallen between or under the seats. Nope. I tried to start the car, on the premise that if the keys were somewhere in the car, it would start. It didnt. My car badgers me in a manner thats a cross between an unrepentant mansplainer and passive-aggressive nanny. I panicked. Since I was the poll worker assigned to bring the all-important USB stick containing our districts voting tallies to the town clerk, it was vital that I depart as soon as possible once the polls closed. I shuddered at the prospect of going viral, with CNN announcing, New Jerseys machine vote tally is now final with the exception of a single missing district. Luckily, my husband brought over my spare keys. When the polls closed, I dropped off the voting equipment, then went to a music rehearsal. At its conclusion, as I leaned down to load my music bag into the back seat, I spotted something on the vehicles roof: my keys, nestled snugly against the luggage rack. Yes, I had driven over five miles, up proverbial hill and dale, with the key fob atop my car. And this know-it-all car, which can sense Ive veered a centimeter across a lane line and barely tolerates my presence, never realized it. Hey, Mr./Ms. Smarty-Pants: Whos the idiot now? Kathleen OBrien is a retired newspaper columnist who lives with her know-it-all car in northwest New Jersey. Donald Trump's strategy, if we must call it that, is social intuition an ability to intuit when cruelty will be rewarded rather than punished, writes Jack Hill. Read more There is a particular kind of ugliness that does not merely offend but instructs. It tells us something about who we have been, who we are becoming, and what social permissions are quietly being expanded. Donald Trumps circulation of an image portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as apes belongs squarely in that category. It is not a one-off lapse. It is a signal flare. This was not just racist imagery; it was historically literate racism. The ape trope is among the oldest tools in the dehumanization kit, refined over centuries and deployed whenever Black Americans have come too close to full belonging. One does not stumble into it by accident. Advertisement To understand why this matters and why it is likely to get worse we have to situate Trump not just as a provocateur, but as a product of moral inheritance, cultural permission, and a long American tradition of racial degradation repackaged as joking or provocation. READ MORE: Trumps sharing of a racist video of the Obamas on Truth Social is beyond the pale, even for him | Jenice Armstrong Trump has always been less an ideologue than an accelerant. He doesnt invent resentments; he senses which ones are newly safe to express. His strategy, if we must call it that, is social intuition an ability to intuit when cruelty will be rewarded rather than punished. That intuition was honed in a family and business culture that Mary Trump, his niece, describes in her 2020 memoir, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, as emotionally brutal, hierarchical, and relentlessly contemptuous of perceived weakness. Empathy was treated as a liability; dominance as virtue. That worldview maps neatly onto racial hierarchy. When Trump rose to political prominence by falsely claiming Barack Obama was not really American, he was not engaging in policy disagreement. He was policing the boundaries of belonging. The ape image is simply that instinct stripped of euphemism. It is also not untethered from history. Trumps defenders bristle at any mention of white supremacist lineage, but history is stubborn. His father, Fred Trump, was arrested at a 1927 Ku Klux Klan rally in Queens an event Trump has long dismissed without serious reckoning. Whether Fred Trump was a member or merely present is ultimately less important than what this moment symbolizes: Trumpism did not emerge in a vacuum. It grew in soil long fertilized by segregationist politics, racial grievance, and coded contempt that later became uncoded. Cultural historians like Henry Louis Gates Jr. have shown how the ape trope was central to 19th and early 20th-century pseudoscience, minstrel culture, and colonial propaganda. To depict Black people as simian was to deny them reason, morality, and ultimately rights. It was a way of making cruelty feel natural. Scholars from Frantz Fanon to Saidiya Hartman have traced how this imagery did not vanish with Jim Crow; it merely went underground, resurfacing whenever racial hierarchy felt threatened. READ MORE: Trumps racist Truth Social post about the Obamas is meant to demean us all | Solomon Jones The Obama presidency was precisely such a moment. For some Americans, it symbolized not progress but displacement. Trump rose by giving voice to that panic, laundering it through grievance and mockery. The ape image is not regression; it is escalation. Why will it get worse? Because norms erode asymmetrically. Once a president can circulate imagery that would once have ended a public career and suffer no meaningful consequence the floor drops out. What was once unsayable becomes debatable. What was once debatable becomes funny. And what was once funny becomes policy. What made this episode briefly arresting before it slid into the familiar churn of outrage was that condemnation came, at least initially, from both sides of the political aisle. Democrats responded with predictable fury, naming the image for what it was: racist, dehumanizing, indecent. But some Republicans, too, recoiled. A handful of conservative commentators, former officials, and religious leaders expressed a kind of moral embarrassment, as if they had suddenly overheard a family secret spoken aloud at the dinner table. That bipartisan outrage matters, but not in the way we might hope. It did not signal a renewed moral consensus so much as a fleeting recognition of how far the ground has shifted. Many of the Republican critics framed their objections narrowly not that the image was wrong in itself, but that it was unhelpful, distracting, or beneath the dignity of the office. This is the language of procedural discomfort, not moral revulsion. It suggests that the line being defended is not the humanity of the Obamas but the decorum of politics. On the Democratic side, the outrage was morally clearer but strategically fatigued. There was anger, yes but also weariness. A sense that we have seen this movie before, named its villain, issued our statements, and then moved on. Moral clarity without moral consequence eventually becomes ritual. It reassures the speaker more than it restrains the offender. In a healthier moral ecosystem, bipartisan outrage would be a stopping force. This asymmetry reveals something crucial. Outrage alone does not halt degradation; it can even normalize it by making it routine. When every transgression is met with the same crescendo of denunciation and the same absence of consequence, the culture learns a quiet lesson: that cruelty is survivable, that it carries no lasting cost. Trump understands this intuitively. He relies on the fact that outrage is loud but short-lived, while the permissions he expands are durable. What we witnessed, then, was not a national reckoning, but a brief moral spasm a reminder that many Americans still know, at least intellectually, that some lines should not be crossed. The tragedy is that knowing is no longer the same as enforcing. In a healthier moral ecosystem, bipartisan outrage would be a stopping force. In ours, it is often just a speed bump. Trumps political project has never been about persuasion in the classical sense. It is about habituation. Repetition dulls outrage. Shock exhausts resistance. Eventually, people stop asking whether something is wrong and start asking whether it works. This is how democracies corrode not in grand coups, but in the slow reeducation of moral reflexes. The danger is not only Trumps blatant racism and cruelty, but the lesson it teaches: that dignity is conditional, and that some people may always be safely reduced. If history teaches us anything, it is that dehumanization does not stop where it starts. Once a society relearns how to sneer, it rarely remembers where to stop. And that is why this moment deserves more than disgust. It deserves memory. Jack Hill is a diversity consultant, child advocate, journalist, and writer. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington in January 2025. Read more Almost 250 years ago, George Washington created Americas first mass immunization mandate, relying on science to protect public health. Oh, how times have changed. Advertisement Back then, smallpox had just helped end the Continental Armys invasion of Canada. Despite making it all the way to Quebec, thousands of soldiers contracted the disease. Washington feared the same would happen to his own troops, fresh from their surprise victories at Trenton and Princeton. As Washington wrote at the time, Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure, for should the disorder infect the Army, in the natural way, and rage with its usual Virulence, we should have more to dread from it, than from the sword of the enemy. The inoculation methods of Washingtons time were crude. No genuine vaccine existed. Instead, scabs or pus were taken from someone infected with smallpox and then placed into scratches or small wounds. Another option was to inhale it. Either way, those who experienced variolation inevitably developed fevers, rashes, and other symptoms of smallpox. At least 1% of those who received it died. Still, without his tough choice, the Continental Army might have failed entirely, and America with it. These days, safe vaccines are available for diseases that ravaged our ancestors. Forms of influenza, hepatitis, chickenpox, polio, rubella, mumps, measles, and many other diseases can now be prevented. The smallpox virus that Washington dreaded has been eradicated. The quality and availability of vaccines are a modern miracle, one that all humanity should be proud of. READ MORE: Charged with carrying on Dr. Kings legacy, Jesse Jackson proved to be a titan of civil rights on his own accord | Editorial Yet, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination rates for measles in the U.S. are declining, and the number of cases is climbing. More and more parents are opting against vaccination for their children, which gives these diseases room to spread. Last year, two children in Texas died of the completely preventable disease. An outbreak in South Carolina has so far sickened almost 1,000 people, most of them children. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware have all slipped below the 95% vaccination rate the CDC says is necessary to keep measles outbreaks at bay. Despite being nearly eliminated in 2000, rates have reached their highest levels in decades. According to CDC data, more than 90% of infections occur in people who are either unvaccinated or have unknown inoculation status. Given this group makes up less than 10% of the overall population, thats a staggering concentration of sickness. It also isnt a surprise the vaccines work. Parents offer a range of justifications for refusing vaccinations. Some cite religious faiths that discourage inoculation. Others feel that the schedule of shots is too concentrated. A number of them mention debunked fears of shots causing autism. In some cases, existing health issues may lead to medical professionals advising against vaccination. (These children rely on what scientists call herd immunity for protection, and are endangered by rising rates of voluntary refusal.) READ MORE: The Presidents House court ruling is a crucial win for the power of truth | Editorial It doesnt help matters that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a leading skeptic of both vaccines and modern medicine. Kennedy has strong opinions about public health based on no formal medical training. Under RFK Jr., the CDC has reduced the number of recommended vaccinations for children, and groups aligned with the secretary are working to overturn state vaccine mandates. This is the kind of privileged ignorance that can only thrive in a post-vaccine world, where mass immunization has dramatically changed life for the better. In 1900, 30% of all U.S. deaths occurred in children under the age of 5. In 1915, the infant mortality rate was 100 out of every 1,000 live births. As late as 1952, a polio outbreak killed more than 3,000 people. Unfortunately, rising vaccine refusal rates may bring some of this suffering back. While city health officials urge calm in the wake of a possible exposure at Philadelphia International Airport earlier this month, these events will only increase as vaccination rates continue to fall. So will unnecessary deaths among children. Instead of turning back the clock, our leaders and parents must learn from Washingtons example. Necessity requires that we vaccinate our children. Passengers board a train at the Nairobi Terminus of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 17, 2026. Stretching 472 km from the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi in Kenya, the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017. It is the first new railway built in Kenya since independence and a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) This photo taken on Feb. 17, 2026 shows the Nairobi Terminus of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Nairobi, Kenya. Stretching 472 km from the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi in Kenya, the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017. It is the first new railway built in Kenya since independence and a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Passengers are pictured aboard a train from Nairobi to Mombasa of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Kenya, Feb. 17, 2026. Stretching 472 km from the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi in Kenya, the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017. It is the first new railway built in Kenya since independence and a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) People arrive the Mombasa Terminus of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Mombasa, Kenya, Feb. 17, 2026. Stretching 472 km from the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi in Kenya, the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017. It is the first new railway built in Kenya since independence and a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) This photo taken on Feb. 19, 2026 shows the Mombasa Terminus of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Mombasa, Kenya. Stretching 472 km from the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi in Kenya, the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017. It is the first new railway built in Kenya since independence and a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Elephants are pictured through the window aboard a train along the Mombasa-Nairobi railway at Tsavo East National Park in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, Feb. 19, 2026. Stretching 472 km from the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi in Kenya, the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017. It is the first new railway built in Kenya since independence and a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Passengers walk past a statue of Zheng He, a renowned navigator of China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) who visited Africa for trade and friendly people-to-people exchanges, at the Mombasa Terminus of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Mombasa, Kenya, Feb. 19, 2026. Stretching 472 km from the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi in Kenya, the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017. It is the first new railway built in Kenya since independence and a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) This photo taken on Feb. 17, 2026 shows a train at the Nairobi Terminus of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Nairobi, Kenya. Stretching 472 km from the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi in Kenya, the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017. It is the first new railway built in Kenya since independence and a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he will brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill next week about the temporary closure of airspace around El Paso, Texas, earlier this month. Duffy told reporters Friday that he stood behind the Federal Aviation Administrations decision, despite the controversy that followed the action. Was it a mistake to close the airspace? a reporter asked during a press conference on an unrelated topic in Washington, to which Duffy replied: No. Related: Drones, Drugs, Laser Beams Stir Confusion Over Texas Skies The FAA imposed flight restrictions, which drew backlash from local officials and were initially intended to last 10 days, on Feb. 10 but lifted them the following day. Administration officials, including Duffy, said the closure happened because drones from Mexican drug cartels breached US airspace. Others familiar with the events said the FAA was concerned about the Department of Homeland Securitys use of a military counter-drone laser system and the possible safety implications for nearby civilian aircraft. They said the systems operation wasnt coordinated with the FAA. On Friday, Duffy denied there was a lack of communication between the agencies involved. When asked about the veracity of his initial statement about a Mexican drug cartel drone breach, he said: I use information that I get. Duffy declined to provide further information about the event, saying he first wanted to discuss the matter with members of Congress who have asked for a classified briefing. I think we owe a conversation with the Hill before I have a conversation with you, he told reporters. Top photo: Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. Bloomberg. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Scoliosis and spina bifida advocacy groups have threatened to take a case in the High Court against health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill over delays to a statutory inquiry into spinal care at Childrens Health Ireland. The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group and Scoliosis Advocacy Network sent a letter to the minister saying they are considering High Court action. In 2025, the Government confirmed it would launch a statutory inquiry into scoliosis and spina bifida care at Childrens Health Ireland, following meetings between Tanaiste Simon Harris, Ms Carroll MacNeill and the parents of Harvey Morrison Sherratt. However, the inquiry has not yet got underway. This week, 62 children were recalled for spinal care at Childrens Health Ireland as part of a review into the work of an orthopaedic consultant at CHI and at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh. Selvadurai Nayagam established the review following the death of 10-year-old Dollceanna Carter in September 2022 after a series of surgeries. Ms Carroll MacNeill has been urged to progress the public inquiry. In a message to families on Friday, Amanda Coughlan Santry, Una Keightley and Clare Cahill confirmed they were considering legal action. As we have always said, the inquiry must work for all families, be independent and set up properly from the get go, anything else is wholly unacceptable for us, they wrote. The trio said taking legal action is massively daunting for us and comes with substantial risk to us on a financial level. We remain steadfast in our approach to do right by all children affected and although this is a huge step we are committed to see it through to the end, they said. Ms Coughlan Santry told the Irish Examiner the two advocacy groups were not happy with how Ms Carroll MacNeill appointed a facilitator to scope out the inquirys terms of reference. She said families would have preferred a mediator and insisted they should lead the drafting of the terms of reference rather than the department of health. The family of Jo Jo Dullard has appealed to anyone with information about her case to come forward as a search for her and Deirdre Jacob continues. In the statement posted to social media on Saturday night, Jo Jo's sister Kathleen Bergin said: "With the ongoing search for JoJo and Deirdre this last week, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks for all your wonderful support. Thank you for your kind words, prayers and keeping a candle lighting for JoJo and Deirdre." She continued: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the teams carrying out this search and it is reassuring to hear the Garda Commissioner say in a recent Media Report, that there is no rush on this search and they have got everything they need to do the work there." She urged anyone with information "no matter how small" to come forward. Gardai have been searching a location between Dunlavin and Baltinglass in Wicklow since last Monday and are using an excavator in the operation aimed at locating the missing women. Both are the subject of murder investigations. Deirdre Jacob disappeared from near the front gates of her parents home in Roseberry, Newbridge, Co Kildare on the afternoon of July 28 1998. She was 18 at the time. 20/002/2026 Gardai have brought in a second digger and a dumper to help with the search of an area of land on a quarry in Castleruddery Upper in Co.Wicklow for missing Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob today..Photo by Padraig O'Reilly 21-year-old Jo Jo was last heard from when she made a phone call to her friend, Mary Cullinan, from a phone box in Moone, Co Kildare, at 11.37pm on November 9, 1995. She was on her way home from Dublin, where she had enjoyed socialising in Bruxelles Bar, Harry Street, Dublin 2. She had left home in Callan at 8.30am that morning and had hoped to get a bus back home to Kilkenny that night, but missed it. She managed to get another lift to Moone, Co Kildare, at around 11.15pm, from where she made the last phone call to Mary Cullinan. She cut the phone call short and told Mary that a car had stopped and she was going to take the lift. No further sighting was made of Jo Jo after that. Earlier this week, the Irish Examiner attended the opening of a new sensory space at Scoil Eoin, a primary school for boys in the Cork suburb of Ballincollig. The invitation was received and accepted far in advance of the storm that erupted as schools across the country learnt of cuts to their special needs assistant (SNA) posts from next September. Scoil Eoin is full of life and colour, with photos and students' artwork adorning its corridors. As the event got under way, sounds of laughter and singing could be heard from nearby classrooms. To those gathered, school principal William Casey described the students as the rhythm of the school, its energy, its heart, its soul. When children feel safe, understood, and supported, they are free to grow, learn, and flourish. The school is a perfect example of building a foundation on inclusion, not just accommodating a wide range of additional needs but making sure all its students are given every opportunity. Like many schools across the country, it is doing so of its own initiative. The sensory space was funded through fundraising by its parents association, who recognised the need for a safe, calm environment for the students who require it. Parents Sarah Kenny and Julie Crowley at Scoil Eoin. Picture: Jim Coughlan Many autistic students attend Scoil Eoin, some of whom need more support than the resources available to a mainstream school. But despite its best efforts, it cannot open three autism classes sanctioned now almost five years ago as it remains waiting for sign-off on the necessary works. Scoil Eoin is also a perfect example of the barriers and systematic challenges faced by many schools when it comes to achieving inclusion with the current resources available to support special education. From September, the number of SNAs working across the school system is expected to rise to the highest on record. Why then did so many schools receive news from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) of severe reductions in their numbers for 2026/27? The majority of students who have special educational needs attend mainstream schools, with the Department of Education estimating this figure to stand at 240,000 students, or approximately 25% of the student body. The department says this is possible through the provision of resources such as special education teachers and SNAs. More than 1,700 new SNA posts are expected to be added next year, a point both ministers and the department has been quick to stress. But most of these posts will be required for the 4,000 additional special education places needed to meet demand. The department plans to expand special school places, and open 400 special classes, where staffing is set at two SNAs per class. In mainstream schools, SNAs are not allocated to individual children, according to the department, but are a resource for the whole school" deployed according to the overall care needs of its students. The news of cuts comes at a time when many parents report being advised by their local special education needs organisers (SENOs), or by the NCSE, to give mainstream a go due to a lack of specialised school places. Jesslyn Henry has worked as an SNA for 15 years in Ballymun, Dublin. Currently on career break, she is a Dublin City councillor for the Social Democrats. Because there are not enough special classes or special school places, SENOs are telling parents ah sure, go into mainstream, youll have SNA support, and see how it goes and if a place comes up in an autism class, youll get the place because youre in the school already, she explained. However, if a school opens an autism class, and takes in the max number of six students, that class is full until they leave. Often, this is when they have completed their education in the school. There might be a case where a child does so well, they are moved to mainstream and a place will open up, but that doesnt happen often. The day-to-day role of an SNA depends on the school, and on its needs, she added. For us, we had wheelchair users, so there were primary care needs. We also had diabetic students, and students with epilepsy so we could have students having seizures. Scoil Eoin principal William Casey; Keelan Crowley Kelleher, junior infants, and minister Michael Moynihan at the opening of new sensory rooms funded by parents at Scoil Eoin. Picture: Jim Coughlan We also had students who are neurodivergent, which involved things like sensory regulation breaks, and helping to keep them on task. SNAs might also work on helping to simplify the curriculum to help students access it, and act as a communication bridge between students and teachers. Helping with communication is also huge and as well as helping students to deal with anxiety and fears. Officially, primary care needs are recognised as the role of the SNA, but it is a far wider remit than recognised. Toileting, feeding, and medical needs are recognised," Ms Herny said. They are the primary care needs. Anything to do with regulation, anything to do with communication, even behaviours that challenge, they arent listed under SNA contracts at the moment. "But they are very much seen as part of the role. Every SNA in the country would participate in those tasks. Ultimately, any proposed cuts are a safety issue, she added. Regulation is a huge thing for these children, the safety of these children is paramount. Schools are going to be struggling, it's a major crisis waiting to happen. One teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke to the Irish Examiner about her experience balancing the regulation needs of her primary school classroom without extra resources. Im the example of what happens without SNA support, she said. In her slightly larger-than-average class, more than half of her students have additional needs, mainly autism or ADHD. However, none meet the threshold for SNA support as there are children with higher levels of need in her school. To get through the school day, she must use an "insane amount of differentiation, constantly, every day. Differentiation means a combination of different teaching approaches, levels, and assessments to deliver the curriculum across a range of different abilities. A lot of lessons also have to stop due to emotional regulation issues. Almost every lesson is disrupted, she said. "It's really difficult, it's so frustrating to not be able to support everyone on my own. But having an SNA in her classroom would help some way towards minimising this. Even a pair of extra eyes to be walking around the room, to help keep students on task. Our school management has done its best, but they are restricted in what they can do. They also have the whole school to run. The reviews of SNA allocations also sparked a political storm. Earlier this week, Taoiseach Michael Martin told the Dail the mistake made here is that there hasn't been a comprehensive review for quite a number of years". However, the Department of Education later told the Irish Examiner that the NCSE have always undertaken SNA reviews each year. According to the department, the NCSE undertook 1,400 reviews during the last school year compared to approximately 1,000 taken so far this year. It refused to say how many posts were lost during the 1,400 reviews in 2024/25. The Department of Education has also refused to clarify how many schools are expected to gain posts for this coming September. According to the Irish National Teachers Organisation, delays implementing a redeployment process for SNAs meant that surplus staff were retained in some schools, while others did not receive their full entitlement. The failure to resolve these structural issues before issuing revised allocations has compounded confusion and undermined confidence in the system. A spokesperson for the department previously told the Irish Examiner that SNA allocations can change for different reasons, including changes in student numbers, changes in individual care needs, or students moving from primary to postprimary school. Samantha O'Flanagan is an SNA at Stapolin Educate Together National School in Dublin. Like Scoil Eoin, the school is also trying its best to open special classes for September but it is unable to do so despite significant local demand. It has no capacity within its existing building, and it cannot get sign off on building works to increase its capacity. "The department has said that SNA allocations can change due to student numbers or care needs changing," Ms O'Flanagan said. "While this might be the case in a small number of situations, the reality is that SNA allocations are still being based on a circular that focuses on us being hired entirely based on primary care needs. Once hired the circular states, we can also assist with secondary care needs." She added: "The difficulty is that SNAs are allocated based on a narrow definition of care, but once in place we are supporting a much broader range of needs. "When reviews happen, posts are being cut because there may be fewer primary care needs on paper, yet the children in those classrooms still rely heavily on SNA support to access education. For the most part, children's needs haven't changed, it's just the scope of secondary care needs that we support is far higher than what we are actually hired on paper for. "We support children to regulate, to communicate, to stay in school safely, and to meaningfully access their education every day." The departments response doesnt acknowledge this gap between policy and reality, she added. "That omission is deeply concerning for schools and families who are already feeling the effects of these cuts. The role of the SNA needs to be properly recognised and widened to reflect what is actually happening in our schools. The NCSE Relate document stresses the importance of relationships, the Department is constantly talking about the drive towards inclusive education cutting SNAs in a complete contradiction to all this." I was gobsmacked to discover this: In 1950s Ireland, there was a run on Sally Bowles berets after a precursor of the Broadway hit Cabaret drew thousands of theatre-goers to a small but progressive theatre in Dublin. Genevieve Lyons played Sally, the bad girl with a heart of gold, later made famous by Liza Minnelli, in John Van Drutens play, I Am a Camera. It was so successful that upwards of 15,000 people travelled from Dublin city centre to Dun Laoghaire in the suburbs to see it. The film version, starring Julie Harris, was being screened at the same time, and many people went to both during a three-month run from August to October 1956. The shows even sparked a trend for Sally Bowles berets, which were on sale in Arnotts and Kelletts clothes shop. There were newspaper ads, one with a photo of a bereted Genevieve Lyons, telling the fashionable young women of Ireland that they too could be like Sally Bowles. Genevieve Lyons as Sally Bowles in 'I am a Camera', a precursor of the Broadway hit 'Cabaret' which drew thousands of theatre-goers to a small but progressive theatre in Dublin in 1956. Her performance sparked a trend for Sally Bowles-style berets. Picture courtesy of the Genevieve Lyons Archive, University College Galway Library HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading It seems incredible now that a play about an extravagant cabaret singer in the louche world of pre-war Berlin, not to mention a craze to dress like her, pushed through the conservatism of a country that was banning books and plays. Indeed, Genevieve Lyons was the female lead in the stage version of The Ginger Man by JP Donleavy when it was closed down by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid in 1959 after just three nights in the Olympia Theatre. Lyons and her fellow actors picketed the theatre, angry but also bemused that the equally immoral Sally Bowles had been given free rein a few years earlier. And just how immoral was spelled out in one review: Morally, she is a juvenile delinquent who never should have been allowed out of her native England by her well-to-do parents. But here she is, all rules broken in decadent Berlin; she has gone to the bad and is unable or unwilling to find the way back to decent living. The reviewer loved it, though, and at year-end the play was described as the highlight of 1956. Genevieve Lyons at the Pike Theatre in 1954. Picture courtesy of the Genevieve Lyons Archive, University College Galway Library Why didnt the archbishop shut this production down? When Genevieve and her fellow performers wrote to ask him, he simply said it was because Sally Bowles was not Irish. An account of that exchange is published in a cleverly headlined piece, What the archbishop said to the actress, which ran in the Sunday Press in 1986. By then, the winds of change had swept away enough taboos to allow not just a cheeky pun but an interview with a woman who spoke openly about her own marriage breakdown, her financial struggles as a single parent in London, and how writing books helped her to get out of it. She was back in Ireland, aged 58, to promote her latest historical novel, Slievelea, which proved a success despite being turned down by 13 publishers. On an aside, the name was due to Princess Margaret, sister to Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II. Genevieve had unexpectedly found herself at dinner with the royal. When the princess asked her what she planned to call her book, a multi-generational saga about an Irish family that starts with the Great Famine, she said: The Survivors. Eah, said Maam, Is it about a lot of people on a rawft? When she said it wasnt, the princess insisted that she couldnt call it that, hence the title Slievelea. That nugget comes from a delightful piece by Maire Crowe in the Irish Press. Read More Clodagh Finn: The Irishwoman who married the national hero of the Philippines It is both inspiring and moving to read the press coverage that accompanied her 1986 book launch. Here was a middle-aged Irish woman on her fourth career, talking about moving to London, getting work in TV shows like The Avengers and The Saint, separating from her husband Godfrey Quigley, and then falling on very hard times as a single parent to her daughter Michele. It happened twice in my life, she told Siobhan Crozier in the Sunday Independent. God just puts his arm out and wipes the table completely clear and everything gets smashed in the process, but if you can survive it, you suddenly find that the alternatives are terrific. That survival instinct comes through very strongly in an interview with Mary Kenny. After Genevieve lost her teaching job in London during Christmas week, she was distraught. And totally broke. Kenny writes: She knelt down and prayed for the means to buy Michele a Christmas present. As she was praying she noticed a greasy stain on the carpet. It occurred to her that she should move the carpet around, so that the stain would not show. When moving the rug she found four 10-pound notes underneath it. That sort of thing is always happening to me. I am at my wits end and suddenly providence steps in, Genevieve said. Her writing career (20-plus books) did not make her rich, but it kept her and her daughter afloat and allowed them to travel all over the world, albeit on a shoestring. Heres one wonderful description of her adventures: Im a lunatic traveller. Ive travelled 900 miles across the Sahara desert by camel and jeep, and Ive done a walking tour of the Carpathian mountains where the monks are the randiest men in the world. Theatre pioneer By any standards, Genevieve Lyons life and work were extraordinary yet, as so often happens, it faded from memory. Time moves on, of course. That is a given, but why was her work, particularly as one of the few female co-founders of a theatre company, not included in the histories of the stage that have been written since? That was a question Barry Houlihan, University of Galway archivist, asked himself when he came across her quite by accident while researching The Ginger Man. It was a revelation, he says, because her work debunked the traditional image of 1950s Ireland. Rigid social standards might have been firmly in place, but there was also a generation of theatre-makers, men and women, who fuelled a vibrant cultural resurgence. He says: Lyons was part of a generation of pioneer women that transformed and challenged so much of Irish culture and society. He was considering how to research and record that work when Michele McCrillis, Genevieves only child, got in touch to ask if the university would be interested in her archive. Providence stepped in, as Genevieve herself might have said. The archive is a treasure trove of reviews, press clippings, programmes, prompt books and photographs, including one of Genevieve Lyons as Sally Bowles, complete with beret and elegant cigarette holder held high. She was the shining star of Dublin in the 1950s, but she was also an innovator. She co-founded the Globe Theatre Company, an ambitious project that brought international work to an audience outside of Dublin. Forgotten archives Her diaries also offer a new perspective on the social record of Ireland. As a woman in her 20s, Genevieve was working in the bank by day while pursuing a frowned-upon artistic career outside of that. There were times when she would go to the theatre, the pictures and the dance hall all in one evening. Her life, work and legacy are preserved now but their fortuitous collection raises a bigger question, says Barry Houlihan: Why are the archives of really significant Irish cultural figures who are women not as common within our libraries and archives as those of male figures? And why are such archives not being brought forward by many descendants and families to be preserved in the first place? Over recent years I often saw such archives of Irish women, all but forgotten, in family attics and sheds. Some of those stories have been retrieved and their archives preserved too often by accident, as Houlihan outlines in an eye-opening talk organised by The Royal Irish Academy. A more recent updated version will be released online by the Archives and Records Association soon. Keep an eye out for it. In the meantime, look through those dusty boxes under the stairs to see what undiscovered threads of our national story are hiding within. YANGON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is providing Community-Based Agricultural Production Training (CAPT) to support farmers across Myanmar, the organization said on Saturday. The CAPT program, which began in 2018, is being implemented in Kachin, Shan, and Kayin states, as well as the Mandalay region, according to the ICRC. Covering key topics such as crop production, soil fertility management, post-harvest management, climate-smart agriculture, and plant protection, the training combines both practical and technical sessions to increase crop production by applying improved farming practices and to strengthen the impact of the ICRC's agricultural input assistance. It also promotes long-term benefits through replication sessions, where trained farmers share their knowledge with others in their communities, the organization added. The training is delivered in collaboration with the relevant departments of agriculture in each state and region. Each training lasts five days, while the overall program runs six months to one year, including monitoring and follow-up. Over seven years, 22 training sessions have been conducted, benefiting 582 participants from various townships. Participants mainly include smallholder farmers, women, youth, and displaced community members, according to the ICRC. "Pesticides and herbicides are expensive, so farming is no longer profitable for many farmers. One of the main problems is the lack of sufficient agricultural knowledge," Nan Shwe Myaing, a program participant from Kayin state, said. "Through the training, we learned how to use pesticides properly and understood that unnecessary use can kill beneficial insects. We also learned how to make natural pesticides, organic fertilizers, and practice crop rotation," she added. Irelands defence debate is always conducted as if Ireland has just been discovered. As if the country has drifted, unnoticed, into a dangerous world, and it must now be briefed, urgently, by those who have been watching the horizon. The language is increasingly familiar. Neutrality is outdated. Ireland is exposed. The Defence Forces are hollowed out. The State is falling behind. In a world of cyberattacks, undersea cables, and hybrid threats, we are told that Ireland must spend or become spent. There is truth in parts of this Ireland does have vulnerabilities but there is also a sleight of hand in the way the argument is made, a tendency to treat every security concern as evidence for the same conclusion: More spending, deeper integration, and a quiet retreat from neutrality. It is happening at precisely the moment when Europe is embarking on the largest defence build-up in generations a build-up that is not only changing military doctrine, but building a new economy: One of contracts, procurement pipelines, and corporate profit. A sober response EU member states spent roughly 381bn on defence in 2025, up from 343bn in 2024. It is a scale of expenditure that would have been unthinkable not long ago. It is presented as inevitable, a sober response to a deteriorating security environment. Khem Rogaly, the co-director of the military research organisation Transition Security Project and a senior research fellow at think-tank Common Wealth, describes whats emerging as something deeper than an emergency response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Europe is building the foundations of a more permanent defence-industrial political economy, he says. It is a line worth sitting with. A political economy is not a temporary budget line. It is a system: Contracts, factories, lobbyists, think tanks, board appointments, media narratives and, eventually, political dependence. Once built, it does not quietly dismantle itself. The official story is simple: Europe must re-arm because Russia is a threat But Rogaly argues the surge predates the war in Ukraine, and it is being sold in misleading terms. Contrary to most political presentation, military spending in Europe has been surging for well over a decade, he says. In central and western Europe, military budgets grew by nearly 60% between 2015 and 2024. Europes rearmament is also sold as strategic autonomy the idea that the continent must become less dependent on Washington. Buying American Yet, Rogaly notes the contradiction at the heart of the spending surge: Europe has increasingly bought American. Despite trillions of euros spent by European Nato countries over this period, they have increasingly imported weapons from the US, he says. The arms trade is dominated by a handful of firms whose business models rely almost entirely on government money. In Europe, the biggest players include BAE Systems in Britain, Rheinmetall in Germany, Thales in France, Leonardo in Italy, Saab in Sweden, and missile consortium MBDA. In the United States, the giants are even larger: Lockheed Martin, RTX (Raytheon), Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, and Boeing. They are not peripheral to Europes rearmament. They are central to it. Rogaly points to Germany and Britain as examples of how spending flows. In Germany and the UK two of the continents largest military powers spending has so far been directed to the long-term programmes of large national companies like BAE Systems and Rheinmetall, he says. "These companies rely entirely on public money although they are privately owned, with institutional investors benefitting from surging government spending and direct subsidies for research and development." When the political climate turns anxious, the defence sector becomes a safe harbour for investors. War becomes a growth story. Political manipulation Andrew Feinstein has spent decades investigating the global arms trade. His book The Shadow World argues that defence spending is rarely a neutral response to threat, and more often the result of political manipulation and corruption. The starting point needs to be: Lets not forget why the EU was created. It was primarily created to ensure peace in Europe, he says. The idea that massive re-militarisation is going to somehow further peace is a little like having sex to maintain virginity And the deeper problem, Feinstein argues, is not merely strategic but cultural. The EU is militarising not just in a material sense, but in the philosophical and moral sense as well, he says. We have to have an enemy. Throughout post-Second World War history, the sort of fears and threats and enemies that have been invoked [are used] to keep this money flowing. For Ireland, neutrality has long been a refusal to inherit great-power enemies. But the language of threat is now arriving as if it were an import, packaged with policy papers, procurement plans, and alliance expectations. Feinstein argues that the arms trade is structurally corrupt not because it attracts uniquely immoral people, but because it operates behind secrecy, urgency, and nationalism. The trading of weapons happens in a very clandestine way, he says. Everything happens behind the veil of national security-imposed secrecy. Procurement is hidden behind confidentiality. Critics are accused of naivety or disloyalty. This matters in Ireland not because Dublin is uniquely corrupt, but because Ireland is uniquely small: A state where policy networks are tight, lobbying is often informal, and where a rapidly expanding defence sector could grow faster than the institutions meant to regulate it. 'Defence tech' If the old arms trade was dominated by primes the companies that build jets, ships, and missiles the new arms economy has another wing: Defence tech. Rogaly points to firms such as Palantir and Anduril, companies that sell software, surveillance, autonomous systems, and the promise of AI-enabled warfighting. These companies have grown with the support of US-based venture capital and private equity investors that also stand to profit from the military industrial turn, he says. This is where Europes rearmament begins to resemble a new techno-military economy: Drones, sensors, predictive targeting, data fusion, automated logistics, battlefield AI. It moves the war economy deeper into everyday life into cloud computing, telecoms, data infrastructure. The arms boom is often sold as economic stimulus in jobs, innovation, industrial strategy. Rogaly warns this is misleading. Compared to other forms of public investment, military spending has a very weak relationship with growth and jobs, he says. The implication is stark: If governments chase Nato targets and permanent rearmament, the money comes from somewhere. It comes from public services, climate investment, housing, transport, health. European countries are at risk of cutting their investments in public services, green industries, and social security to fund military expansion, Rogaly says. There is also the climate dimension, often missing entirely from defence debates. Modern militaries are inherently sources of carbon emissions, Rogaly says. Military technologies like fighter jets and warships do not have viable net-zero alternatives If Europe is serious about decarbonisation, it cannot treat the military as a sacred exemption. Ireland is not the centre of Europes rearmament, but it is a test case for what rearmament does to political identity. Small-state counterweight Neutrality, in the Irish sense, has never meant moral indifference. Ireland has often tried imperfectly to act as a small-state counterweight to the great powers, whether through peacekeeping, multilateralism, or scepticism toward American militarism. Feinstein argues that scepticism is not naive, it is historically justified. We have to have an enemy, he says. And the reality is that the military analysis, the security analysis of all of these things, never stands up to the fear-mongering. Irelands proximity to the US culturally, economically, politically makes this even more sensitive. If Europes rearmament deepens transatlantic dependence, then Irelands drift away from neutrality is not merely a domestic budget question. It is an alignment decision. Rogaly puts it in practical terms: Ireland is well-positioned to observe the destabilising effects of militarisation across Europe. Resisting demands to rapidly militarise its economy would allow Ireland to pursue genuine neutrality in its foreign policy The spending surge is not a neutral response to a measured threat assessment, he argues. It is a political project: A mixture of fear, alliance politics, industrial strategy, and profit. The language of security has never been louder, yet the greatest threats facing ordinary people are not primarily military. Our real threats are things like global and national inequality, climate change, pandemics, Feinstein says. These are amongst the greatest threats to humanity at the moment. A small country cannot outspend the great powers, but it can decide what kind of politics it wants to import. Europe is building a new war economy. The companies are already positioned. The investors are already benefitting. The only open question is whether Ireland will obediently sign up and later discover it has purchased not protection, but permanent entanglement. American businesses face a new wave of uncertainty after the US supreme court struck down tariffs imposed by president Donald Trump under an emergency powers law. Mr Trump has vowed to work around the ruling to keep his tariffs in place. The Trump administration says its tariffs help boost American manufacturers and reduce the trade gap, but many US businesses have had to raise prices and adjust in other ways to offset higher costs spurred by the tariffs. It remains to be seen how much relief businesses and consumers will actually get from Fridays ruling. Within hours of the courts decision, Mr Trump pledged to use a different law to impose a 10% tariff on all imports that would last 150 days, and to explore other ways to impose additional tariffs on countries he says engage in unfair trade practices. Michael Pearce, an economist at Oxford Economics, said: Any boost to the economy from lowering tariffs in the near-term is likely to be partly offset by a prolonged period of uncertainty. With the administration likely to rebuild tariffs through other, more durable, means, the overall tariffs rate may yet end up settling close to current levels. Efforts to claw back the estimated 133 billion dollar (98.7 billion) to 175 billion dollars (129.9 billion) of previously collected tariffs now deemed illegal are bound to be complicated, and will likely favour larger companies with more resources. Consumers hoping for a refund are unlikely to be compensated. With Mr Trumps unyielding position on tariffs, many business are braced for years of court battles. Basic Fun, a Florida-based maker of toys such as Lincoln Logs and Tonka trucks, last week joined a slew of other businesses in a lawsuit seeking to claw back tariffs paid to the government. While company chief executive Jay Foreman is concerned about any new tariffs Mr Trump may impose, he does not think they will affect toys. However, he said, I do worry about some type of perpetual fight over this, at least for the next three years. Mr Trump has vowed to work around the ruling (AP) The new 10% tariff Trump announced Friday immediately raised questions for Daniel Posner, the owner of Grapes The Wine Co, in White Plains, New York. Since wine shipments take about two weeks to cross the Atlantic, he wonders if a shipment arriving Monday will be affected. Were reactive to whats become a very unstable situation, Mr Posner said. Ron Kurnik owns Superior Coffee Roasting Co in Sault Ste, Marie, Michigan, across the border from Canada. In addition to US tariffs, Mr Kurnik faced retaliatory tariffs from Canada for much of last year when he exported his coffee. Its like a nightmare we just want to wake up from, said Mr Kurnik, whose company has raised prices by 6% twice since the tariffs went into effect. While he is pleased with the US supreme court ruling, he does not think he will ever see a refund. A wide array of industries, including retail, tech and the agricultural sector, used the ruling as an opportunity to remind Mr Trump of how his trade policies have affected their businesses. The Business Roundtable, a group that lobbies on behalf of more than 200 US companies, released a statement encouraging the administration to limit the focus of tariffs going forward to specific unfair trade practices and national security concerns. In the retail industry, stores of all stripes have embraced different ways to offset the effects of tariffs from absorbing some of the costs themselves, to cutting expenses and diversifying their supply network. Many producers fear the long-term effects (AP) They have had to pass on some price increases at a time when shoppers have been particularly sensitive to inflationary pressures. Dave French, executive vice president of government relations for The National Retail Federation, Americas largest retail industry trade group, said he hoped lower courts would ensure a seamless process to refund tariffs. That issue was not addressed in Fridays ruling. For the technology sector, Mr Trumps tariffs caused major headaches. Many of its products are either built overseas or depend on imports of key components. The Computer & Communications Industry Association, which represents a spectrum of technology companies employing more than 1.6 million people in the United States, expressed hope that the decision will ease the trade tensions. With this decision behind us, we look forward to bringing more stability to trade policy, said Jonathan McHale, the associations vice president for digital trade. Farmers, who have been stung by higher prices for equipment and fertiliser since the tariffs went into effect, and reduced demand for their exports, also spoke out. Some have asked me to comment on the SCOTUS ruling striking down tariffs based on emergencies declared by the Executive. Why should I comment when Gorsuch has already nailed it right here? pic.twitter.com/jUe5MM0S3c Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 20, 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall said: We strongly encourage the president to avoid using any other available authorities to impose tariffs on agricultural inputs that would further increase costs. The US supreme court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not give the president authority to tax imports, a power that belongs to congress. But the decision only affects tariffs imposed under that law, so some industries will see no relief at all. The decision leaves in effect tariffs on steel, upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, according to the Home Furnishings Association, which represents 15,000 furniture stores in North America. At Revolution Brewing in Chicago, the aluminium they use for cans costs as much as the ingredients that go inside them because of tariffs Mr Trump has placed on metals that are not affected by Fridays ruling. While the cans are made in Chicago, the aluminium comes from Canada, said Josh Deth, managing partner at the brewery. Tariffs have been just one challenge for his business, which is also affected by volatile barley prices and a slowdown in demand for craft beer. Everything kind of adds up, he said. The beverage industry needs relief here. Were getting crushed by the prices of aluminium. Israeli air strikes on eastern Lebanon have killed eight members of the militant Hezbollah group, including local commanders, officials said. The Lebanese health ministry put the death toll at 10, but did not distinguish between militants and civilians. The Hezbollah officials said eight militants were killed in strikes near the village of Rayak in north-east Lebanon late on Friday. An Associated Press team that visited the scene of the strike on Saturday morning saw that the top floor of a three-storey building had been destroyed. The Israeli military said several members of Hezbollahs missile unit, in three different command centres in the Baalbek area in Lebanon, were eliminated. The Israeli army added that the Hezbollah members killed were identified as operating to accelerate readiness and force build-up processes, while planning fire attacks toward Israel. Eight people were said to have died in the strike (AP) One of the Hezbollah officials said that three of the dead were local commanders, and identified them as Ali al-Moussawi, Mohammed al-Moussawi and Hussein Yaghi. Yaghi was the son of prominent Hezbollah official and one of its founders, Mohammed Yaghi, who died in 2023. Mohammed Yaghi was also a close aide to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024. Lebanons health ministry said Israeli strikes on eastern Lebanon killed 10 people and wounded 24, including three children. Ali Abdullah, executive director of Rayak Hospital, said the strike occurred after sunset, adding that they have received 10 bodies and 21 injured people. At least 21 others were hurt (AP) He added that the dead included two non-Lebanese a Syrian man and an Ethiopian woman. The injured included five Syrians and three Ethiopians. After the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza in 2023, Hezbollah began firing rockets from Lebanon into Israel in support of Hamas and the Palestinians. Israel responded with airstrikes and shelling. The low-level conflict escalated into full-scale war in September 2024, later reined in but not fully stopped by a US-brokered ceasefire two months later. Since then, Israel has accused Hezbollah of trying to rebuild and has carried out near-daily strikes in Lebanon that it says target Hezbollah militants and facilities. Hezbollah has claimed one strike against Israel since the ceasefire. The death toll from Fridays strikes was unusually high and comes at a moment of intensified tensions in the region as the United States has threatened to strike Iran a backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas if negotiations over Tehrans nuclear programme fail to produce a deal. French president Emmanuel Macron has called for calm ahead of marches organised by far-right groups, after a nationalist activist died from a beating in Lyon. The incident that led to the death of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque highlighted a climate of deep political tensions ahead of next years presidential vote in France. Speaking at the Paris agriculture fair, Mr Macron said he will launch a review of violent activist groups, and urged everyone to remain calm before Saturdays tributes to Mr Deranque, who died of brain injuries in hospital last week. The demonstrations will take place under heavy police scrutiny. Mr Macron said: This is a moment of remembrance and respect for this young compatriot who was killed, for his family and loved ones. That must come first. And then it is a moment of firmness and responsibility. Seven people have been handed preliminary charges. People have paid tribute to far-right student Quentin Deranque, 23, who died in Lyon during clashes between far-left and far-right militants (AP) The Lyon public prosecutors office requested that each of them be charged with intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy. Six of the accused were charged on all three counts. The seventh was charged with complicity in intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy. Mr Deranque was attacked during a fight 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. Mr Macron said he will hold a meeting with ministers next week to carry out a comprehensive review of all violent activist groups that have links to political parties. He hinted that some groups could be dismantled. In the Republic, no violence is legitimate, he said. There is no place for militias, wherever they come from. We must be absolutely uncompromising. The main tribute to Mr Deranque was scheduled later on Saturday in Lyon, where clashes between far-right activists and far-left groups have become frequent. Their fighting often takes the form of organised street battles in the city, sometimes involving groups of several dozen people. The flashpoint took place in Lyon (AP) Lyons far-left-leaning militant groups are more recent and were created in reaction to the many far-right groups that have been present for several decades. The city is seen by intelligence services as the cradle of far-right activism in France. Mr Deranques parents have also called for calm and will not take part in the tribute, which has not been banned by French authorities. The 23-year-olds death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly blaming the far-left France Unbowed party and its leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon. Among the suspects is the parliamentary aide of a France Unbowed legislator who set up the anti-fascist group The Young Guard. France Unboweds opponents accuse it of fomenting violence and tensions with its combative far-left politics. Melenchon has condemned the violence and insisted that his party bore no blame for the tragedy. Mr Melenchon stood for the presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022, but failed to advance to the decisive run-off round. He is preparing for another expected run next year, when Mr Macrons second and last term ends. France is holding municipal elections next month and right-wing political forces have been using the incident to demonise France Unbowed. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella has called for a common front against Mr Melenchons party. 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 Mr Melenchons party for the upcoming elections, as they did in the past. A student from Gaza has described how leaving her family to come to Ireland was the hardest decision of my entire life. Ghada Ashour, a speaker at Saturdays National March for Palestine in Dublin, told the Press Association she left Khan Younis last September to study for a masters degree in Ireland. She said her family has been devastated by the war, adding: Not only were our houses levelled down to the ground but also we lost many family members, most importantly, my brother, who was killed almost two years ago. Her decision to leave was a difficult one but she said she faced two options: one to risk my life, risk my future in Gaza or the other to leave my family, to leave them in tents, leaving everything behind. The brilliant speakers and performers for our National March for Palestine tomorrow. Bring yourself, your friends and family, your solidarity and noise. Join us at the Garden of Remembrance, 1pm. All out! #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/k9Rte6oKqM IPSC (@ipsc48) February 20, 2026 She said: So honestly, I had to make the hardest decision of my entire life, which was leaving my family behind. And while I was leaving them, I was saying goodbye and I didnt know when Ill be able to see them again. She was one of thousands who marched through Dublin city centre on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which organised the march, said this is the 19th National March for Palestine which has taken place since October 2023. Also waiting to address the crowd was Rula Nasr-Mazzawi, an activist, who travelled from Nazareth to speak at the demonstration. Rula Nasr-Mazzawi at the National March for Palestine in Dublin (Bairbre Holmes/PA) She said: Its very important to me to tell you that people back home in Palestine, they follow what you guys do here in Ireland, and we always feel stronger. People feel stronger when they see your demonstrations, its just a feeling that we are not alone, that people in Gaza are not alone, and this is very important. People follow each and every demonstration, and they feel stronger, and they feel proud, and they feel that there is somebody who sees them. The IPSC said more than 170 Irish civil society groups support its campaign and there were representatives from a variety of organisations from across the island in attendance. Members of Newry IPSC travelled to Dublin for the march (Bairbre Holmes/PA) Raymond Carroll travelled to Dublin with the Newry branch of the IPSC to take part because he said he cant just sit back and watch what is happening, adding: Governments are sitting back and watching and doing nothing about this. He said: Being from the north of Ireland, we have gone through a similar situation, not nearly as bad as the Palestinian people, so obviously were going to have empathy with them. Nasas new Moon rocket has suffered another setback, putting next months planned launch with astronauts in jeopardy, the space agency announced. Officials revealed the latest problem just one day after targeting March 6 for humanitys first flight to the Moon in more than half a century. About 3,000 people have joined a march organised by far-right groups after a nationalist activist died from a beating in the French city of Lyon. French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm ahead of the tribute to Quentin Deranque, 23, who died of brain injuries in hospital last week. The demonstrations took place under heavy police scrutiny, with no major incidents reported. The incident that led to the death of Mr Deranque highlighted a climate of deep political tensions ahead of next years presidential vote in France. People take part in a march in Lyon, France (Laurent Cipriani/AP) This is a moment of remembrance and respect for this young compatriot who was killed, for his family and loved ones. That must come first. And then it is a moment of firmness and responsibility, Mr Macron said. Seven people have been handed preliminary charges. The Lyon public prosecutors office requested that each of them be charged with intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy. Six of the accused were charged on all three counts. The seventh was charged with complicity in intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy. Mr Deranque was attacked during a fight 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. People have paid tribute to far-right student Quentin Deranque, 23, who died in Lyon during clashes between far-left and far-right militants (AP) Mr Macron said he will hold a meeting with ministers next week to carry out a comprehensive review of all violent activist groups that have links to political parties. He hinted that some groups could be dismantled. In the Republic, no violence is legitimate, he said. There is no place for militias, wherever they come from. We must be absolutely uncompromising. The main tribute to Mr Deranque took place in Lyon, where clashes between far-right activists and far-left groups have become frequent. Their fighting often takes the form of organised street battles in the city, sometimes involving groups of several dozen people. Lyons far-left-leaning militant groups are more recent and were created in reaction to the many far-right groups that have been present for several decades. The city is seen by intelligence services as the cradle of far-right activism in France. French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm (PA) Mr Deranques parents have also called for calm and will not take part in the tribute, which has not been banned by French authorities. The 23-year-olds death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly blaming the far-left France Unbowed party and its leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon. Among the suspects is the parliamentary aide of a France Unbowed legislator who set up the anti-fascist group The Young Guard. There was a minutes silence before the start of the march. Many men dressed in black, some with their faces partially covered, joined the march. France Unboweds opponents accuse it of fomenting violence and tensions with its combative far-left politics. Melenchon has condemned the violence and insisted that his party bore no blame for the tragedy. Mr Melenchon stood for the presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022, but failed to advance to the decisive run-off round. He is preparing for another expected run next year, when Mr Macrons second and last term ends. France is holding municipal elections next month and right-wing political forces have been using the incident to demonise France Unbowed. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella has called for a common front against Mr Melenchons party. 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 Mr Melenchons party for the upcoming elections, as they did in the past. TOKYO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The navigator of a cargo ship that collided with a sport fishing boat in central Japan and left two people dead was arrested on Saturday for professional negligence, local media reported. Hanon Sugimoto, 21, has admitted that she was at the helm of the cargo vessel at the time of the collision in waters off Toba, Mie Prefecture, on Friday afternoon, Kyodo News reported, citing the local coast guard office. She was alone on the bridge when the 499-tonne, 71-meter vessel with a crew of six, which was heading to the western Japan city of Kurashiki without any cargo, struck the right side of the 16-tonne, 15-meter fishing boat that was anchored with 13 people aboard, the report said. An 84-year-old man and a 67-year-old man on the fishing boat, which split into two in the accident, drowned, while its captain and the 10 other passengers sustained injuries. The delegation led by TURKPA Secretary General Ramil Hasan continued its participation in the second day of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) 25th Winter Session in Vienna, AzerNEWS reports. According to information, on the sidelines of the plenary session, TURKPA Secretary General Ramil Hasan held meetings with OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella and OSCE PA President Pere Joan Pons Sampietro. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between TURKPA and the OSCE PA, developing joint projects, and expanding participation in upcoming international conferences, a partnership that has continued since 2010. The meetings also addressed TURKPAs efforts to obtain observer status within the OSCE PA, which unites 57 member countries. TURKPA officials noted that all required documents have been prepared and will soon be submitted to the OSCE PAs International Secretariat. The TURKPA delegation, including Deputy Secretary General Muhammet Alper Hayali, Commission Secretary Aynura Abutalibova, and Head of Protocol Service Yadigar Mammadov, also attended an official reception hosted in honor of session participants by Walter Rosenkranz, President of Austrias National Council. ISTANBUL, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish gendarmerie detained 346 people on Saturday in a large-scale anti-drug operation across five provinces, authorities said. The Gendarmerie General Command said that 14 commando units, backed by specially trained narcotics detection dogs, launched raids simultaneously at 93 locations in the southern province of Adana, central Nevsehir, and the northwestern provinces of Balikesir, Canakkale and Bursa. During the operation, military forces seized over 80,000 drug pills, 11 kg of various narcotics, numerous unlicensed pistols and shotguns, as well as drug paraphernalia and precision scales, the command said in a statement. "Suspects were monitored through technical and physical surveillance, and their criminal activities were documented individually," it said. The operation is part of Turkiye's ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and dismantle organized crime networks nationwide. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Although President Trump calls solar and wind power a scam, falsely alleges that they drive up electricity costs (the opposite is true), and has placed obstacles before new wind and solar farms, his position is a loser both in the reality of energy markets and even in his own base. The SCOTUS decision striking down arbitrary Trump tariffs will make solar panel imports cheaper. Chaewon Chung at the Sacramento Bee quotes Executive Director of UC Berkeleys Energy Institute at Haas, Andrew Campbell, as saying that reciprocal tariffs had been a significant contributor to higher costs for large-scale clean energy projects in California. Now those new solar projects will be somewhat less expensive and provide a modest, cumulative benefit on customers bills over the next decade. She quotes him as saying, If the tariffs remain gone, then that would cause a little bit of a reduction in the cost of new solar projects, and I would expect that that cost savings would generally come to consumers in California. It wont just affect California, of course. Amazingly enough, even GOP voters will be pleased by this development. An opinion poll of Republican voters conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates pollsters for First Solar was released earlier this month demonstrating strong support for solar energy. Asked if they support solar power if the panels are made in the United States, and astonishing 70% said yes, with only 19% opposed. And get this: even if the panels are imported, a majority, 51%, favor utility-scale solar. Republican voters are renowned for their commitment to buy American, so the 19 point fall in the popularity of solar if its panels are imported is not surprising. The surprise is that a majority of respondents still wanted solar power installations even if the panels had to be bought from abroad. Ironically, the Biden administration had legislated support for the building of a US solar panel industry, but the Republicans in Congress at Trumps instruction have knee-capped the industry in the US, ensuring that the future of solar panels is Chinese, not American. This dimension of the 2025 budget bill was a political mistake as well as a geostrategic one. The poll found that 51% [of Republicans] are more likely to vote for a candidate who supported an American company building a solar panel manufacturing plant in the US. But it is Democratic representatives, not Republican ones, on the whole, who take this stance. Although Republican voters still favor an all of the above approach to energy, they seem to genuinely believe in the phrase and so do not want to see solar unfairly disadvantaged. Trumps budget, however, places unfair disabilities on solar and wind, as does his regulatory approach. But in the broader GOP public, 79% agree that the government should allow all forms of electricity generation, including utility-scale solar, to compete on their own merits and without political interference, versus 11% who disagreed. In some ways these attitudes are moot. The Energy Information Agency sees electricity demand in the US growing in coming years, both because of economic growth and because of new data centers constructed for the large language models (artificial intelligence). The EIA expects this new demand to be met mainly by increased solar power production, writing, We expect a 17% increase in solar generation in 2026 and an additional 23% increase in 2027, and wind generation increases by 6% and 7%, respectively, over those years. Because the current budget bill sunsets tax rebates for new solar and wind after 2027, analysts expect a big push for such new projects this year and next, after which those industries may cool. It should be remembered, though, that the costs of new solar installations continue to plummet, so that the industry will be competitive even without tax breaks. The budget bill retained support for battery technology, which indirectly helps solar, since it needs battery storage to smooth out its supply of power to the grid. And, finally, there will be a new president and a new Congress in 2029 who may restore tax breaks for green energy, since solar is wildly popular in America across the political spectrum. In fact, who knows, the budget bill of 2027 could be more friendly to green energy, and Trump may have to sign it to get other things he wants from Congress, which may be in Democratic hands by then. KIEV, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed decrees to sanction Russia's "shadow fleet," entities and individuals serving Russia's military industry, the Ukrainian president's official website reported Saturday. The decrees were signed to enact decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said the report. One of the decisions aims to counter Russia's "shadow fleet," involving 225 ship captains related to exporting Russian petroleum products. Those sanctioned include citizens of Russia, India and the Philippines. Most of the vessels involved have already been placed under sanctions by the European Union, the United States, Britain, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Another package of sanctions was imposed on 46 Russian citizens, two Iranian citizens, and 44 Russian companies servicing Russia's military-industrial complex. "These include entities that supply, develop, manufacture and repair equipment, electronic warfare systems and spare parts for Russia's military-industrial complex. Their products are used in the production of ballistic and cruise missiles, attack and reconnaissance drones, small arms and ammunition," the report said. The two Iranian citizens were involved in supplying aviation spare parts in circumvention of sanctions, benefiting an Iranian aircraft manufacturing company. The company partners with Russia in the development and production of Shahed drones, and has already been placed under sanctions by Ukraine, the United States, Switzerland and New Zealand. BUCHAREST, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A minibus carrying 16 people overturned on a snow-covered road in southern Romania on Saturday, injuring one passenger, local authorities said. The 55-year-old driver from Ilfov county was driving the vehicle along the DN5 national road toward Giurgiu when the minibus veered off the roadway and overturned outside the locality of Daia, police said. A 55-year-old woman from Ilfov was injured and transported to the hospital. Emergency crews from Giurgiu and Bucharest-Ilfov rushed to the scene for rescue. Authorities said that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. Snowfall in parts of southern Romania on Saturday created hazardous driving conditions, prompting the police to urge motorists to exercise caution. Friday, February 20, 2026 - Twenty-seven Kenyans are among 651 suspects arrested in a sweeping international cybercrime crackdown that also led to the recovery of more than Ksh 554 million. Interpol announced on Wednesday, February 18th, that the coordinated operation brought together law enforcement agencies from 16 African countries to dismantle transnational online fraud networks exploiting victims through fake investments, mobile loan apps and digital financial scams. Dubbed Operation Red Card 2.0, the twomonth effort ran from December 8th, 2025, to January 30th, 2026, targeting both perpetrators and the technological infrastructure behind the schemes. Investigators focused on organized criminal networks using digital platforms to defraud victims across borders. In Kenya, detectives arrested 27 suspects linked to fraudulent investment schemes that relied on messaging apps, social media and fabricated testimonials. Victims were lured with promises of high returns from supposed investments in global corporations, depositing as little as $50. Manipulated dashboards and fake account statements showed impressive profits, but withdrawal requests were blocked, trapping victims funds. The crackdown extended across Africa. In Nigeria, police dismantled a highyield investment fraud ring and arrested six members of a cybercrime syndicate accused of infiltrating a major telecommunications providers systems. Authorities also shut down more than 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts. In Cote dIvoire, 58 suspects were arrested in a mobile loan fraud operation, with 240 phones, 25 laptops and over 300 SIM cards seized. Interpol reported that the scams caused losses exceeding USD 45 million, affecting 1,247 victims worldwide. The operation also seized 2,341 devices and dismantled 1,442 malicious IPs, domains, and servers. Interpol emphasized that intelligence sharing and digital forensic training were critical in tracing digital footprints and dismantling crossborder networks. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - A 41-year-old Kenyan national, Tobias Otieno, has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $400,000 (approximately KSh52 million) in taxpayer funds from the Town of Wallkill in Orange County, New York. Otieno, a former employee in the New York State Comptrollers Office, admitted to second-degree grand larceny in a New York court. According to prosecutors, he misappropriated $405,843 while working as a state auditor assigned to review the towns finances between 2022 and 2024. The Orange County District Attorneys Office stated that Otieno exploited his access to the towns bank accounts and financial records to transfer public funds into personal business accounts under his control. Authorities said the scheme was uncovered following financial reviews that detected irregularities in the towns accounts. Details on how the discrepancies were identified have not been fully disclosed. Otieno is expected to be sentenced in June. Under New York state law, he faces a potential prison term ranging from four to 12 years. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - Concerns are growing over rising insecurity in Kisumus Polyview Estate after a resident took to social media to highlight a troubling incident involving a neighbours vehicle. In a post that has since gained attention online, the frustrated resident lamented what she described as alarming insecurity in the area. According to her, her neighbour woke up early to prepare to take children to school, only to discover that the cars tyres and rims had been stolen overnight. You wake up to drop your kids to school then boom, no tyres and even the rims are gone, she wrote, expressing disbelief over the incident. The resident also called on landlords to invest in proper and secure parking spaces, arguing that tenants deserve a safe environment. See photo. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - A cheeky Kenyan content creator has taken to the streets with a bold social experiment, reversing roles to test whether local men will fall for her charm in the same way the infamous Russian tourist once captivated unsuspecting women. The Russian tourist had made headlines after approaching random women in public spaces - streets, malls, and even churches - before exchanging contacts and later inviting them to his apartment. Several women fell for his advances, only to later discover that he had secretly recorded their private encounters and shared them online. In her video, the Kenyan lady mimicked his approach, striking up casual conversation with a random man in public. However, the outcome was far from what the Russian tourist experienced. One man she targeted didnt even pause to engage, brushing off her advances and walking away. When she asked for his number, he firmly declined, saying he was focused on his business. The clip has since sparked conversation online, with many viewers amused by the sharp contrast in reactions. While the Russian tourists antics drew women into his trap, the Kenyan ladys attempt highlighted how men on the street were less willing to entertain such advances. Watch the video>>> below A Kenyan Lady uses a Russian Guy techniques to test a random Man on the street to see whether he will fall for it. pic.twitter.com/08LD5RwOUv Jim Njue (@jimNjue_) February 20, 2026 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - Controversial Kenyan preacher, Anthony Kahura Mwangi, popularly known as Pastor T Mwangi, has set social media abuzz after sharing a shocking testimony during a recent sermon. The Life Church Limuru lead pastor revealed that in his teenage years, he engaged in unprotected intimacy with women later confirmed to be living with HIV but somehow tested negative for the virus, a result he attributed to divine preservation. Speaking in an interview with Alex Mwakideu, Pastor T admitted to youthful recklessness, saying he was often high and drunk during those encounters. He recalled learning that two of his partners eventually died from HIV-related complications. How the Lord preserved me, I dont know, he said, describing the experience as a turning point that led him to reevaluate his life and dedicate himself to the ministry. His confession has sparked mixed reactions. While some Christians embraced his story as evidence of grace, critics raised concerns about its framing. Public health advocates warned that attributing survival solely to divine protection could perpetuate misconceptions about HIV transmission and encourage unsafe practices. In response to the backlash, Pastor T clarified that the events occurred many years ago during his teenage years. He stressed that his intent was not to glamorize risky behavior but to highlight how grace transformed his life. It was about change, not recklessness, he explained. Watch the video>>> below I slept with two women who had HIV, but I didnt contract it, Pastor T Mwangi testifies , explaining how he avoided HIV/AIDS after having sexual relations with women who were living with the virus. pic.twitter.com/kwHFjdQai0 The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) February 19, 2026 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - Ida Odinga, widow of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, made a powerful statement during her vetting before the National Assembly, likening her journey to that of the biblical Queen Esther. President William Ruto nominated her on January 23rd, 2026, as Kenyas Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Her name was forwarded to Parliament for approval, with the vetting conducted by the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee chaired by MP, Nelson Koech. Reflecting on her decadeslong career, Ida said she often found herself in peculiar spaces that needed a bold voice. She explained that, like Queen Esther who spoke out to save her nation, she too had consistently raised her voice during critical national and continental moments. My life and work have been deeply affected by issues that afflict vulnerable populations across the continent, she told lawmakers. She highlighted her role as a founding member of the League of Kenya Women Voters, where she championed womens rights and expanded participation in governance. Her advocacy contributed to the creation of 47 Woman Representative positions in the 2010 Constitution. Ida also revealed that her net worth stands at approximately Ksh500 million, clarifying the distinction between her personal wealth and that of the larger Odinga family. My net worth, Mr Chairman, this is a very interesting question because there are things that belong to me, Ida, and then there are things that belong to the Odinga family, in which I also have an interest, but my net worth is about Ksh500 million, she stated. Ida emphasized that representing Kenya at UNEP would be the highest honor, pledging readiness to serve if approved. Lawmakers will now deliberate on her nomination before making a final decision. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - Photos of former Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha, condoling ICT Principal Secretary Engineer John Tanui following the death of his mother have sparked conversation online. The images, which have been widely shared on social media, show Nakhumicha offering comfort to Tanui during the solemn moment. However, it is the body language captured in the photos that has drawn varied interpretations from online users. While some Kenyans viewed the interaction as a normal show of empathy and support during a time of grief, others took to social media to speculate and read deeper meaning into the gestures seen in the pictures. See photos and be the judge. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - A man has been arrested after posing as a senior traffic police officer and attempting to extort KSh 50,000 from a motorist in Nairobi. The incident occurred along Muthaiga Road when John Ngumi, a resident of the upscale Muthaiga Estate, was driving his Toyota saloon car home. He was reportedly flagged down by a man dressed in what appeared to be a police uniform. According to reports, the suspect was clad in a khaki police uniform, a white cap, a reflective jacket, and shoulder badges bearing two military-style stars to suggest senior rank. He also carried a notebook, further reinforcing the impression that he was a legitimate officer on duty. The fake officer accused Ngumi of operating an unroadworthy vehicle due to a dented boot, claiming the offence would attract a court fine of KSh 350,000. He then instructed the motorist to drive towards Park Road in the Pangani area. Upon stopping at the location, the suspect reportedly demanded Ksh 50,000 to settle the matter and avoid court proceedings. However, Ngumi became suspicious of the officers conduct and raised an alarm. Genuine traffic police officers who were on duty along Park Road responded swiftly and intervened. Both the suspect and the complainant were escorted to Pangani Police Station, where the matter is now under investigation. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - Kenyan media personality, Janet Mbugua, has broken her silence on the viral scandal involving a Russian tourist who secretly filmed and leaked intimate encounters with African women. In a candid statement shared on her social platforms on Friday, February 20th, 2026, Mbugua condemned the act as a blatant violation of consent and challenged societys tendency to blame victims instead of perpetrators. She reminded her audience that outrage often comes too late, after harm has already spread. A perpetrator recorded and shared images of Kenyan women without their consent, and we watched it unfold in real time. We opened, shared and talked about them. Then we blamed the women And only after all that, we got angry. But by then, the harm had already travelled, she wrote. Mbugua emphasized that outrage alone is not enough, calling out a system that interrogates victims before holding perpetrators accountable. She drew parallels with cases of gender-based violence, including those involving minors, where justice was delayed or distorted by wealth and influence. Different stories. Same system. A system that questions victims before it questions perpetrators. That protects power before it protects people. Harm is immediate. Justice feels negotiated. We MUST start demanding more, loudly and consistently, from systems that keep failing people. She warned that silence and inaction make society complicit. Because if we dont interrupt it, then honestly we are part of what keeps it going. Until then, were enabling a sick system, and too many lives are being torn apart. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - A joint team of security agencies drawn from the coastal region has conducted an intelligence-led operation in Ukunda Township, leading to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of a significant quantity of suspected narcotics and stolen property. Salim Mafuko Hamisi, 32, and Ali Musa Mwachumwadi, 38, were found in possession of a substance weighing approximately 250 grams, suspected to be cocaine, with an estimated street value of Kshs 1 million. The officers also recovered a half-full sack containing rolls of suspected cannabis weighing approximately 35 kilograms, valued at about Kshs 1,050,000. In addition, several mobile phones believed to be stolen property were seized during the operation. Preliminary investigations have linked the suspects to a criminal gang operating along the coastal region. They are currently in lawful custody pending arraignment, while all recovered exhibits have been secured for forensic analysis. Security agencies have intensified efforts to dismantle the broader criminal network connected to the suspects, with additional targets already being pursued. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reaffirms its commitment to disrupting drug trafficking and criminal networks, protecting communities across the nation, and ensuring that perpetrators of crime are brought to justice. Via DCI Friday, February 20, 2026 - A viral clip from a live concert has set social media ablaze after capturing the electrifying energy of a curvy lady dancing with a man in the crowd. In the video, the stunning woman is seen animatedly singing along to a club banger while putting on a show with a man behind her. The mans reaction has become the highlight of the clip, with online users joking that he got his moneys worth while others praised the lady for understanding the assignment. The playful banter has fueled endless memes and comments, turning the moment into a trending topic. Some netizens, especially men, admitted they wished they were in the mans position, while others applauded the ladys energy. Watch the video>>> below The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - Mathira Member of Parliament, Eric Wamumbi, has alleged that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifunas fierce opposition to President William Rutos administration stems from frustration over a missed Cabinet appointment. Sifuna, who has vowed never to support Rutos reelection despite ODMs cooperation with the Government, currently leads a faction within the party that is openly hostile to the regime. According to Wamumbi, the Senator had sought to join Rutos Government as Interior Cabinet Secretary during the 2024 Cabinet reorganisation at the height of the Gen Z protests. He wanted the Interior Cabinet Secretary position during the creation of the broadbased Government that saw some senior members of ODM join the administration. But Raila Odinga asked him to wait a little bit. So all this anger and bitterness is because he missed that opportunity, Wamumbi said. Sifuna has maintained that ODM stands a strong chance of forming the next Government, arguing that backing Ruto would be a misstep. His position has divided ODM, with leaders split over whether to align with Ruto ahead of 2027. One camp, led by ODM leader, Oburu Oginga, includes national chairperson Gladys Wanga, governors Abdulswamad Nassir and Simba Arati, and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, has resolved to back Rutos 2027 re-election bid. On the other side, Sifuna is joined by Siaya Governor James Orengo, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, and Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino, who have rejected the idea of supporting Ruto. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - David Mokaya, the university student who was charged in court for publishing a photo depicting President William Ruto in a casket, has now announced plans to sue Safaricom. His lawyer, Danstan Omari, accused the telecommunications giant of breaching the Data Protection Act by allegedly sharing Mokayas location with police without a court order. Omari argued that the move violated his clients constitutional rights to privacy and dignity. This is a violation of the fundamental human right of Mokaya. We shall be moving to the High Court because our clients constitutional right was violated. We have demanded Ksh200 million, Omari said, adding that Safaricom should also cover legal fees. A demand letter has been issued to Safaricom, giving the company until Monday to pay the compensation. Omari insisted that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are not permitted to request mobile service providers for location data without judicial approval. He further questioned the legality of police confiscating suspects phones and gadgets without court authorization. The question of police officers arresting people and the first thing they take is a handset - no law allows police to take possession of phones until a court order is issued, Omari stated. He hinted at pursuing other cases where suspects were tracked through mobile service providers. Trial Magistrate Carolyne Mugo at the Milimani Court dismissed Mokayas case, ruling that police had framed him and lacked evidence directly linking him to the offence. Mokaya was released under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, February 20, 2026 - A Kikuyu single mother has moved social media users after emotionally opening up about her strained relationship with her childs father and his alleged absence from their daughters life. Taking to TikTok, the woman shared a heartfelt message revealing that the childs father has reportedly been absent since their daughter was born. In her post, she expressed pain over what she described as repeated efforts to involve him in the childs life, all of which she claims were unsuccessful. According to her, she eventually made the difficult decision to cut off communication completely for the sake of her peace and her daughters well-being. She described her former partner as a narcissist and said distancing herself from him brought her emotional relief. Check out her post. The Kenyan DAILY POST NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. business groups, advocacy organizations and lawmakers on Friday welcomed a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated President Donald Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs, calling the decision a reaffirmation of congressional authority and a relief for businesses. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court determined that the executive branch exceeded its authority by invoking emergency powers to levy import taxes on most trading partners, declaring many of the previous year's tariffs illegal. Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the decision was "welcome news for businesses and consumers," noting that companies had faced significant cost increases and supply-chain disruptions as a result of the tariffs. He urged the administration to move swiftly to refund unlawfully collected duties and to reset overall tariff policy to promote economic growth and lower costs for families. We Pay the Tariffs, a coalition advocating for small businesses, also called for "full, fast and automatic" refunds, saying many of its members had paid billions of dollars in duties that "never should have been imposed." U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, also welcomed the ruling. "The empty merits of sweeping trade wars with America's friends were evident long before today's decision," McConnell said in a statement. "The American people already know that when Washington throws up artificial barriers, building and buying here at home become more expensive." Edward Fishman, a former State Department and Treasury official now with the Council on Foreign Relations, said the decision could limit the use of tariffs as a rapid-response geoeconomic tool, though they could still be employed in trade negotiations through other legal channels. Some business groups cautioned that uncertainty remains, expressing concern that tariffs could be reimposed through alternative statutory mechanisms. McLaren arrived in Bahrain for pre-season testing determined to defend its status as Formula 1s benchmark team but Andrea Stella has poured a splash of cold water on that narrative. After back-to-back Constructors titles and Lando Norris drivers crown, the Woking squad entered 2026 with confidence. Yet amid the glare of the Sakhir floodlights and the swirl of long-run data, Stella has hinted that Ferrari and Mercedes may have quietly edged ahead. In the desert heat, its easy to be fooled by a "glory run" on low fuel, but Stella is looking at the cold, hard reality of long-run pace. Very difficult to say, he said told reporters when queried on McLarens position in the pecking order. There is a race simulation that I was, I think, yesterday, Oscar, and Verstappen. It happened at a similar time of the day, and it was a similar pace. Often, the race simulation is actually where you can more accurately see what the genuine performance of cars is. However, the sting in the tail followed quickly. Stella warned that track conditions in Bahrain were a moving target, making any late-session heroics potentially misleading. The reason why I think we have to be careful is that depending on the time of the day, then the race simulation may be quite a lot faster, he explained. Like now, Lando, he was performing pretty strongly in a race simulation, but at the same time, probably the end of day three was the fastest time the track has been across the six days. So, difficult. Then came the admission that will have Mercedes and Ferrari fans grinning: I think McLaren and Red Bull are probably very similar. Ferrari and Mercedes are a step ahead. No Magic Bullet for Melbourne For those hoping for a secret "B-spec" car to appear in the garage at Albert Park, Stella was quick to douse those flames. The car that struggled to match the Silver Arrows and the Scuderia in testing is essentially the car that will face the lights in Australia. McLaren is therefore sticking to the development plan it revealed ahead of the start of testing. While the factory is working overtime, the gains will be incremental rather than transformative. In terms of car specification, what we have seen here at the test is fundamentally the car that we will see in Australia, Stella confessed. There will be a few parts that are being manufactured in the meantime, and they will be ready just for Australia. Instead of a radical aerodynamic overhaul, Stella hinted that the focus remains on the invisible battle against the scales. Certainly working on reducing the weight of the car is always a development item because even if you are at the weight limit, you want to be actually under the weight limit because then you can play with ballast, he noted. So I think this is something on which the teams will keep themselves busy for a long time until they are well under the weight limit. McLaren enters 2026 with the #1 on the car, but if Stellas "startling admission" holds true, theyll be the ones doing the hunting when the light go off down in Melbourne. Read also: Total mileage and fastest laps from F1 pre-season testing Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook GARDAI are conducting an investigation into an arson attack that occurred in a housing estate in Rathvilly in the early hours of Thursday morning. A Dacia Duster with a registration from 2025 was found ablaze in Fr Cullen Terrace, Rathvilly at approximately 4.30am on Thursday 19 February. Members of the gardai and the fire service attended the scene at the residential address. The blaze was brought under control before further damage was done. An Garda Siochana are investigating the circumstances of the incident. Local CCTV footage has been trawled while were also carrying out door-to-door inquiries. Were appealing to anyone with information to contact the Carlow Garda Station on 059 9136620 or the Garda Confidential Helpline on 1800 666100, Superintendent Anthony Farrell told The Nationalist. THE ALZHEIMER Society of Ireland (ASI) Friends of ASI initiative is hosting a dementia inclusive community event for dementia awareness. The event is in collaboration with Senator Fiona OLoughlin, Co-Chair of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia, and will take place at the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, County Kildare, on Thursday, 26 February at 7pm. The event aims to increase understanding of dementia and encourage local people, businesses, and community services across Kildare to help build a more dementia inclusive community. This marks the first Friends of ASI dementia inclusive community event in County Kildare, building on the strong network of active Friends of ASI communities already established nationwide. The ASI provides ongoing support for people with dementia and their families in Kildare. In 2023, the organisation opened the Kildare Day Care Centre in Kildangan. The ASI offers a wide range of services across the county, including Day Care, Home Care, Social Clubs, and access to a Dementia Adviser. Maureen Garry, who lives with Alzheimers and is a member of the Irish Dementia Working Group, a national advocacy group made up of people living with dementia, said: As someone living with Alzheimers here in Kildare, I know how much it means to feel understood and supported in your own community thats why events like this matter so much. Dementia can bring many challenges, but it doesnt take away our need for connection or our ability to contribute. When local people, businesses, and services take small steps to be more aware and welcoming, it makes a huge difference to our confidence and our quality of life. Senator Fiona OLoughlin, Co-Chair of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia, said: As Co-Chair of the All-Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia, I am proud to support this Friends of ASI event. This marks an important step in making Newbridge a dementia-friendly town. This initiative shows how national leadership and local action can come together to support people living with dementia and their families. Creating a dementia-inclusive society is not just a health issue, it is a social and political responsibility. By working together across communities, services, and government, we can ensure that people living with dementia and their families are met with understanding, compassion, and meaningful support. This initiative is working alongside the HSEs Dementia: Understand Together campaign. Dementia: Understand Together, a national partnership between The ASI, HSE, Age Friendly Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Dementia Services Information and Development Centre and Healthy Ireland, encourages community members and people living with dementia to make their communities more dementia-inclusive. For more information about this event and the Friends of ASI dementia inclusive community initiative, please contact friendsofasi@alzheimer.ie or visit alzheimer.ie A former pastor who embezzled more than 125,000 from his own church in Co Kildare has had his six-and-a-half-year prison sentence reduced by one year on appeal. The Court of Appeal heard on Friday that Ebenezer Oduntan (60), a former pastor of the City of David Church in Co Kildare, has made no restitution either to the congregation he defrauded or Revenue. Oduntan was convicted of 87 theft and fraud-related offences following a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court in March, 2024. The church, which has charitable status, is a branch of a Nigerian-based Pentecostal church. Oduntan was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, by Judge Martina Baxter. Quashing the original sentence and substituting it with the reduced term of six years with six months suspended at the Court of Appeal on Friday, Justice Alexander Owens said the court was of the view that the headline sentence identified by the trial judge was somewhat too high, though he described this conclusion as a rather marginal one. He said the offending was particularly serious, involving a prolonged fraud against a charity by the person entrusted with its leadership. There was a gross breach of trust, Justice Owens said. He said that the offences involved substantial sums and improper claims for tax rebates, and noted the victims were not banks or insurance companies but the defendants own parishioners. The reality is that this man defrauded his own congregation, he said. The offences spanned ten years between 2010 and 2020, during which Oduntan was pastor of the churchs Newbridge branch and had responsibility for its day-to-day operations and financial affairs. He had sole access to and control of the churchs finances between 2012 and 2020. Oduntan, of Curragh Grange, Newbridge, Co Kildare, faced 73 counts of theft, five charges of deception and nine offences under company law following an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority. While he initially denied 54 of the charges, he pleaded guilty midway through the trial to 19 counts of theft, five counts of deception and nine charges of providing false information to the Companies Registration Office. The sentencing court heard that Oduntan withdrew church funds for personal use, including cheques of up to 20,000 made payable to himself. He admitted to a member of the congregation that he had been dipping his hand into the church purse. Oduntan also inflated donation levels so that a larger rebate would be received by the Church from Revenue under the Charitable Donation Scheme. None of the stolen funds has been recovered, and Oduntan has not been a member of the church since 2020. In delivering judgment on Friday, Mr Justice Owens said there was very little mitigation available in this case. The judge said the difficulty in relation to evidence of previous good character was that Oduntan had abused this status to embezzle money. The judge was also critical of the timing of Oduntans guilty pleas, noting that he had made only partial admissions before proceeding to trial. The defendant, having made some half-admissions, then put the State to the pin of its collar, Justice Owens said, adding that an early plea would have saved considerable time and expense. He further noted that Oduntan had made no effort to reimburse the church or the Revenue for the losses sustained. Justice Owens set a new headline sentence of seven years, which he then reduced to six years with the final six months suspended to encourage continued rehabilitation. At the appeal hearing earlier on Friday, Damien Colgan SC, for Oduntan, argued that the original headline sentence of eight years was excessive given his clients personal circumstances and lack of previous convictions. He submitted that the trial judge erred in placing the case at the upper range of offending, noting that the total amount involved, approximately 125,000, was lower than in other cases where shorter sentences had been imposed. He also argued that the suspension of only six months was insufficient. Jordan Fletcher BL, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the offending involved a substantial breach of trust and fiduciary duty carried out through sophisticated means of deception. He said Oduntan exploited his status and position as pastor to commit the offences, acted as the sole controller of the churchs finances, and made no restitution to the congregation, the charity, or Revenue. Michael Bolton Gardai identified a man who was critically injured in an assault in the Temple Bar area of Dublin earlier this week. Two men were arrested in connection with the incident on Friday evening. The two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, continue to be detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda Stations in Dublin. The injured man, whose age is unknown, remains in a critical condition at Dublins Beaumont Hospital, An Garda Siochana said in a statement. Gardai released an image of a tattoo they say is on his right forearm. It is comprised of a blue and white tattoo and the words Ceol is Beatha, ceol meaning music and beatha meaning life. Gardai continue to appeal for any witnesses to this incident to contact them. Anyone who was in the area of Cope Street between midnight and 1:00 am, and who may have any information about the incident, is asked to contact investigating gardai. Gardai can be contacted at Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Gardai say investigations are ongoing. High Court Reporter A provisional liquidator has been appointed by the High Court to two linked companies that own small hotels in Co Cork. Mr Justice Brian Cregan appointed John Healy, of Kroll Advisory, as provisional liquidator to Blue Cross Holdings Ltd, which operated the Blue Haven Hotel and Hamlets of Kinsale Bar in Kinsale, and to Larmona Ltd, which operated the Schull Harbour Hotel in Schull. Blue Cross is no longer trading. The court heard the companies had significant debts, including some 1.5 million owed to Revenue. Blue Cross, which is owned by Ciaran Fitzgerald and his brother Cormac, acquired the Blue Haven in 2004 but ran into financial difficulties in 2008, according to the petition presented on behalf of the company Subsequently, in 2013, the brothers' relationship broke down irretrievably following a restructuring. In 2023, Cormac issued personal injury proceedings against Ciaran, the company, and Daniel O'Keeffe who bought both hotels in 2013 but sold them back in 2025 to Ciaran. Cormac claimed in his proceedings that he suffered neurological injury as a result of things including oppression and isolation. The claims were denied Both companies ran into trading difficulties and are both now unable to pay their debts. Ciaran Fitzgerald is the sole owner of the Larmona. Liquor licences for the Blue Haven/Hamlets remain in the name of the company, with Ciaran as nominee, but it has not been possible to have an interim transfer of them due to the Revenue debts. On Friday, Mr Justice Cregan said he was satisfied to grant the application on behalf of both companies, made by Arthur Cunningham BL, to appoint the provisional liquidator. He said the case could come back to court next month. A scoring burst in the opening minutes of each half from Lucy Boyd put Loreto Kilkenny in the ascendancy in Gortnahoe yesterday afternoon and on their way to retain the Allianz Corn Sceilge All-Ireland senior camogie title at the expense of Ursuline Thurles whom they also defeated in the 2024 final. It was Loretos fourth successive crown and 11th since their first 16 years ago. They were good value for their victory with their defence shutting out the threat posed by Tipperary senior player Caoimhe Stakelum and Alice Butler. The Doheny twins commanded the midfield battle particularly in the first half, while Boyd, Holly Ryan and Shauna Mahoney created problems throughout for the under pressure Thurles defence. There were six different Loreto players on the score-board by the end of the first half, while Stakelum scored all six points in reply for Ursuline to keep them in the running at the break with a gap of 2-7 to 0-6. ROUND-UP: St Kieran's and CBC Kilkenny play out exciting All-Ireland quarter-finals Stakelum, the team captain and younger sister of McCarthy Cup winners Conor and Daragh, fired over the first score of the game. She then responded to a point from Shauna Mahoney with a free that had been brought forward in the 5th minute. However Lucy Boyd put Loreto in control over the next five minutes. She hit a goal and two points from just three possessions. Although Stakelum kept floating over points from distance, the gap opened further when Leah ODonovans shot was saved by Roisin Fercombe in the 24th minute only for Emma Hogan to force it over the line. Loreto stepped up the pressure in the early stages of the second half and Boyd stretched their lead to 3-7 to 0-6 with a goal in the 34th minute similar to the one she scored in the 7th minute of the first half. Stakelum immediately responded with a point, but Leah ODonovan put the game out of Ursulines reach with Loretos fourth goal in the 42nd minute. While Ona Kennedy turned the screw from frees in the final quarter, Boyd managed to double her first half tally of 1-2 to pick up the Player of the Match award and more importantly to continue Loretos dominance of Post Primary schools camogie. The schools will meet again this Friday for Corn Gobnait, the under 16 All-Ireland final. Loreto - L Boyd 2-4, L ODonovan and E Hogan 1-0 each, O Kennedy 0-3 fs, S Mahoney 0-2, E Dohney, H Ryan, A Kirby and K Dowling 0-1 each. Ursuline - C Staklelum 0-8, 6fs, A Butler 0-1 Full match report and reaction to follow from Aoife Lanigan in this week's Kilkenny People Listen to the latest Kilkenny People Sport Podcast below: Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. In September of last year, a UNICEF report warned that obesity had exceeded malnutrition in school-aged children for the first time. Irish children are no exception to this growing problem with one in five primary school students living with overweight and obesity; something which Kilkenny-based nutrition expert, Michelle Farrell, is attempting to tackle with a new education initiative. FoodSteps is a hands-on programme which places Michelle directly in primary schools to teach children about nutrition, energy and healthy habits through games, movement and discussion rather than lectures or videos used by some other programmes. Holding a Bachelors Degree in Food Science and Health and a MSc in Food Science Research from the University of Limerick with multiple articles published in peer reviewed journals, Michelle, who hails from Castlecomer, noticed a gap in primary education for teaching around food and nutrition. I feel that in primary schools right now there isnt a structured nutrition education, she says. I know there were programmes out there previously but theyve become so outdated; I felt that with so many new things like ultra-processed foods, labelling and hot school meals, I think there needed to be something new brought out, she adds. FoodSteps is filling the need for nutrition education through a wide range of programme lengths and tackling childhood obesity by teaching pupils topics that are sometimes missed in the classroom. I have different programmes like one-day workshops and then we can do four, six or eight week programmes, Michelle outlines. I show them whole foods versus processed foods, how to identify them and things like shopping skills and labelling to teach them whats normal. I also look at building positive relationships with food, so telling children that you shouldnt be saying good and bad food, that all foods fit and I have different classes on gut health as well because thats something that wouldnt really be addressed to kids, she continues. READ NEXT: Multiple Kilkenny flood relief schemes in development but remain years from completion - Kilkenny Live A key aspect of FoodSteps which sets it apart from competitors is the fact that Michelle prepares the material and takes the sessions herself, taking the burden away from already busy teachers. In other programmes the materials and resources are given to teachers and then its up to them to do it themselves and if theyre not experts in that area, they mightnt know themselves what theyre teaching the kids, Michelle describes. It helps that I can deliver the sessions myself; Im vetted and everythings structured and linked. I think its something thats a lot easier for them to make sure that its done and not forgotten about because if its put down to teachers, I know theres such a busy schedule, she adds. As well as providing some relief to teaching staff, the reaction from children whove taken part has been overwhelmingly positive according to Michelle as the innovative approach to teaching is proving effective in keeping them engaged. Theyve all been so excited to talk about it and what theyve been eating, but its also been interesting to see that some children dont have any background knowledge, she says. All my sessions involve games, especially for the younger ones, because sometimes you would see that if you were talking about food, they mightn't be that interested, but as soon as you play a game and get them involved, they take it on board, she mentions. Although FoodSteps is still in its infancy, Michelle has already taken the programme to schools in Dublin, Kildare and Laois and is hoping to expand her reach and resources over the coming months and years. Id love it if it was something that was properly rolled out and taken on in all schools, she says. I want to start doing more resources, not just for kids but for the parents and teachers themselves, to help them in doing their kids lunches or teach them how to understand food because some have said that they feel like they cant handle it all themselves, she concludes. Schools interested in FoodSteps can contact Michelle at 087 146 8164 or FoodSteps.ie@gmail.com TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS The year is flying by. The first day of spring is right around the corner on Mar. 20, 2026. By now, you may have abandoned some of your New Years money resolutions. But if youre still going strong, you have a jumpstart on meeting your 2026 goals. It might not feel possible, but you can save $1,000 in the eight weeks or so we have left until spring. Heres how. Know Your Why Are you saving for a Spring Break vacation? Starting an emergency fund? Planning to buy a new car soon? Need money to cover a tax bill in April? Knowing why youre saving money and focusing on how important that goal is will help keep you focused when youd rather spend than save. Try This: 6 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Trending Now: 25 Creative Ways To Save Money Create a Budget The first step to any savings plan is creating a budget. Once you know how much you spend monthly, including fixed and discretionary expenses, you can devise a savings plan. Deposit $125 Per Week Once you have your budget, see if you can trim it down to free up $125 per week. You might forego dining out or delivery for the next two months, eliminate subscription services or cancel that gym membership you bought on Jan. 2 and havent used. These small steps can all help. If you can somehow free up $125 per week, tuck that money away in a high-yield savings account and in eight weeks, youll have $1000 (and change from interest). Sell Items on Facebook Marketplace If you cant free up $125 per week, or $500 for the month, consider purging items you no longer need. It will make your home less cluttered, spring cleaning easier, and your wallet, fatter. List and sell your finds on Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp and put that cash directly into your savings account. Some ideas of things to sell may include: Holiday gifts you havent opened or used yet Home decor Books Collectibles Sporting equipment Clothing, bags and shoes in good condition (especially if they are designer brands) Childrens toys Find a Side Gig As winter recess and spring break rolls around, its a great time to start a pet-sitting business. You can also babysit for working parents who dont have other arrangements during school breaks. Of course, driving for Uber and DoorDash make viable side gigs for people looking to earn some extra cash quickly. Donate Plasma It may sound extreme but many people earn extra cash donating plasma. Companies like BioLife Plasma Services offer up to $800 for first-time donors, which would put you 80% of the way to your goal of saving $1,000. Create a Digital Product or Sell an Online Course Do you have a special skill or talent that other people would like to learn? Do you have professional knowledge, such as teaching or tutoring in a specific subject, that can be monetized beyond your day job? In todays CEO Daily: Fortunes Phil Wahba reports on the historic reshuffle atop the Fortune 500. The big leadership story: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says AI super intelligence could someday do his job. The markets: Mostly up, even as investors monitor mounting U.S.-Iran tensions. Plus: All the news and watercooler chat from Fortune. More from Yahoo Scout What changes did Walmart make to compete with Amazon? How did Amazon overtake Walmart as Fortune 500's top company? What leadership strategies drive Amazon and Walmart's competition? How are both companies expanding beyond traditional retail? Good morning. There is a new top dog in Corporate America. Walmart, long the largest U.S. company by revenue and No. 1 on the Fortune 500, was eclipsed for the first time by Amazon.com. Based on Q4 earnings, Amazon recorded $716.9 billion in revenue for 2025 and Walmart took in a notch less than that with $713.2 billion, putting Amazon on top. (You can read my full analysis of the reshuffle, part of our new digital issue, here.) Walmart has stood atop the Fortune 500 list for 13 years and for 21 of the last 24 years. But barring any surprises, Amazon will lead the next list in June to become only the fourth No. 1 ever, along with Exxon, General Motors and Walmart. While it is tempting to see in this change a classic narrative of an older, less nimble contender being outmaneuvered by an upstart, no one should see Walmart as a company in secular decline. This is a far cry from when Walmart left competitors Sears, Kmart and J.C. Penney in the rear-view mirror a generation ago. Amazons ascent posed an existential threat to Walmart, but it ultimately put Walmart back on the path of growth and relevance. Walmart initially was slow to realize how much e-commerce was going to change shopping and consumers discernment of price and convenience, the very things that had allowed it to supplant Sears et al before. But under former CEO Doug McMillon, and new CEO John Furner, Walmart began a reinvention in 2014 not only of its way of doing business but of its culture too. That has ultimately made Walmart a place where failure (within reason) is tolerated as long it leads to the innovation needed to compete with Amazons relentlessness. Walmarts online business grew 27% last quarter, and it handily beats Amazon in the crucial area of grocery delivery. Now both companies will be competing in areas beyond retail and e-commerce with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and Walmart CEO Furner going head-to-head in various realms like AI, streaming, and media services. Jassy, who made his name building Amazons hugely profitably AWS cloud business, has made it clear in his almost five years as CEO that he is continuing founder Jeff Bezos practice of constantly innovating, dropping businesses that dont work without sentimentality and maintaining the so-called day one culture of working like youre in a tech startup (albeit one with a market cap of $2 trillion). Ashley Church writes: The Holocaust did not begin with the gas chambers of Auschwitz or Treblinka. It began much earlier, with ideas, laws, exclusions, and the slow normalisation of cruelty. The part that history often forgets. When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, there was no plan to exterminate the Jews. What did exist was a heavily racist worldview: that Jews were alien, that they were a corrosive presence within society and that the economic hardship, moral decay, and national humiliation that the Germans were facing was their fault. This was common in most of Europe. In many countries Jews needed a permit to marry, to try and prevent them breeding too much. Jews have been persecuted not for just 12 years of Nazi rule but for over 2,000 years. The pattern is unmistakable: Jews tolerated when useful, vilified when convenient, attacked when politically expedient. As such, Germany did not invent antisemitism it simply systematised it. So, when Zionism arose in the 19th century, it wasnt through an imaginary desire for conquest or supremacy. It was through exhaustion. Zionism recognised the unavoidable lesson. That no matter how integrated the Jews became, no matter how loyal or assimilated, they were never truly safe. Rights could be withdrawn overnight. Citizenship could be revoked. Neighbours could become executioners. So Zionism proposed a simple proposition: a people without safety needed a homeland. And not just any homeland. Their own homeland on land which they had possessed for thousands of years and from which they had been expelled in relatively recent history. Zionism is simply supporting the right of Jews to have their own country where they are safe. Any if any group has ever demonstrated the need for the safety of their own country, it is Jews. So the State of Israel was declared in 1948. Not by military might but by the agreement of the world community following a UN-backed partition plan. But the surrounding Arab states rejected coexistence and launched a war aimed at annihilation. Many Arab residents fled, expecting a swift victory and a return. That victory never came. Israel survived. Barely. If you support the role of the UN and international law, then you should be a Zionist. That doesnt mean you support everything or even most things Israel does. It just means you support there being an Israel. Holocaust Remembrance Day is not just about mourning the dead. It is about recognising the pattern that led to those deaths while there is still time to interrupt it. Because the Holocaust did not begin with gas chambers. It began with the same things that were seeing, right now. And history has a habit of repeating itself first slowly, then all at once. Sadly. Chief Financial Officer David Bui said the company will discuss EPS on an adjusted basis going forward to remove the impact of items such as merger-related transaction costs, which he said will better reflect ongoing performance across periods. He noted that a reconciliation of historical GAAP EPS to adjusted EPS was included in the slide appendix. Griffith noted the company invested over $3 billion during 2025 and said American Water again met its goal of keeping residential water bills well under 1% of median household income on average across its service territories. He also pointed to continued customer growth, citing over 104,000 customer connections under agreement entering 2026. Griffith added that the company posted an outstanding year on several safety and water quality metrics, referencing disclosures in its 10-K and proxy statement. President and CEO John Griffith said the company delivered adjusted earnings per share of $5.64 for 2025, up from $5.18 in 2024, representing 8.9% growth. Griffith attributed the performance to execution of the companys plan, including regulatory progress and infrastructure investment to support safe, reliable, and affordable service to approximately 14 million people across its footprint. American Water Works (NYSE:AWK) reported 2025 results near the upper end of its expectations and reaffirmed its 2026 earnings outlook, while also providing updates on rate cases, capital investment, acquisitions, and its pending merger with Essential Utilities during its fourth quarter 2025 earnings conference call. On transactions and financing, American Water expects to close the merger with Essential Utilities by the end of Q1 2027 and targets an August 2026 close for the Nexus Water Group deal, while its 20262030 financing plan includes about $2.5 billion of external equity (including a ~ $1 billion equityforward settlement mid2026); pro forma debt-to-capital was ~ 59% with S&P and Moodys ratings at A and Baa1, respectively. The company invested about $3.2 billion in 2025 and is pursuing multiple rate cases to recover that spending, including recent filings seeking roughly $169M (Pennsylvania), $146M (New Jersey) and $134M (Illinois) of additional annual revenue, while expecting regulated rate base to grow 8%9% long term. American Water delivered adjusted EPS of $5.64 in 2025 (up 8.9% year-over-year) and reaffirmed 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $6.02$6.12 , targeting longterm EPS and dividend growth of 7%9% . Story Continues PayPal Is Back Near IPO-Era PricesValue Setup or Value Trap? American Water Works Doesnt Come Cheap, but it May be Worth It Reviewing key 2025 earnings drivers, Bui said revenues increased by $1.70 per share, driven by authorized rate increases to recover investment, plus contributions from water and wastewater acquisitions and organic customer growth. Operating and financing items also rose: O&M expense increased $0.42 per share , primarily from employee-related costs and increased production costs, including higher purchased power pricing. Depreciation increased $0.41 per share , consistent with investment growth. Financing costs increased $0.35 per share, also tied to the investment program. Rate cases and regulatory activity Bui highlighted six rate cases completed in 2025, calling out a December final order in Kentucky that authorized an annualized revenue increase of $18 million, based on a 9.7% return on equity and an equity layer just north of 52%. He said the companys rate cases are built on recovering significant capital expenditures needed across its systems, including acquired systems. 3 Under-the-Radar AI Infrastructure Stocks Powering the Next Buildout He also noted California granted a further one-year extension of its cost of capital filing to May 1, 2027, setting authorized cost of capital beginning Jan. 1, 2028. Under that structure, he said the companys ROE will remain 10.2% through Dec. 31, 2027, unless a cost of capital mechanism is triggered later in 2026. Across active cases, Bui said American Water has general rate cases in progress in seven jurisdictions. He said cases in West Virginia and Maryland were furthest along, with final orders expected in the coming weeks, while Virginia and California were progressing as expected. The company also outlined recently filed cases: Pennsylvania: Filed Nov. 14 reflecting $1.2 billion in system investments through mid-2027; seeking $169 million of annual revenue; new rates, if approved, expected to take effect in August 2026 . New Jersey: Filed Jan. 16 reflecting $1.4 billion in system investments through Dec. 2026; seeking $146 million of additional annual revenue; new rates, if approved, expected in fall 2026 . Illinois: Filed Jan. 27 reflecting $577 million in system investments through Dec. 2027; seeking a two-step increase totaling $134 million of additional annual revenue; step one, if approved, expected to take effect in January 2027. During Q&A, management said cases were progressing as expected and that the company is open to settlements if terms are constructive and provide a fair return. On questions about affordability scrutiny in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, management said rate cases are driven by investment needs and that the company generally operates on a two-year cycle in Pennsylvania and does not see that changing. Management also reiterated its view that its bills remain affordable, citing its under-1% of median household income metric and a forecast to remain below 1% through 2035 across its system. Capital spending, acquisitions, and PFAS settlement proceeds Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Norton said American Water invested approximately $3.2 billion of capital into its systems in 2025, in line with expectations. She described the capital program as comprising hundreds of projects, focused primarily on pipe replacement, along with above-ground treatment upgrades, PFAS remediation, lead service line removals, and technologies such as smart meters. Norton said the company continues to expect its capital investments and acquisitions will grow regulated rate base at a long-term rate of 8% to 9%. She also reiterated the companys residential bill affordability target and outlook, stating bills are projected to remain under 1% of customers median household income over the long term. On acquisitions, Norton said the company had 104,000 customer connections under agreement from deals totaling $582 million, and said American Waters acquisition program is improving as it invests in dedicated resources to pursue a 2% goal for customer additions. Regarding the Nexus Water Group systems, Norton said regulatory approval is progressing and that early termination of the waiting period was granted under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. She said approvals have been received in several states, with about five states remaining, and that the company continues to view an August 2026 closing as favorable. She added that beyond Nexus, the company has 19 acquisitions in six states under agreement for $267 million, representing about 58,000 additional customer connections, excluding the proposed Essential Utilities merger. Also during Q&A, Norton addressed PFAS settlement-related proceeds, saying the company has received some payments and has been providing them back to customers where commissions have allowed. She said the company is still working through regulatory processes for some customer paybacks and expects additional payments in future periods, including next year and the year after that, based on how payments were structured. 2026 guidance, financing plan, and merger timeline Griffith said the company is affirming 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $6.02 to $6.12, representing expected 8% growth versus 2025. He said the company remains aligned with its longer-term expectation of consistent EPS and dividend growth within the 7% to 9% range through 2030 and beyond. Bui said the company is also affirming its financing plan for 2026 through 2030, including an estimated $2.5 billion of external equity issuances. That plan includes approximately $1 billion to be settled in mid-2026 from an equity forward initiated the prior August, with no other equity issuances planned until 2029, according to Bui. He also noted that a $795 million secured seller note due from the sale of HOS was repaid in full on Feb. 13. Bui said this aligned with the companys 2026 guidance assumption of repayment around year-end 2025. He added that the companys Military Services Group, which serves 18 military installations, is expected to contribute incrementally to earnings growth in 2026. On the balance sheet, Bui said total debt to capital as of Dec. 31, net of $98 million of cash, was 59%. He said the company expects the HOS note repayment and the mid-2026 equity forward settlement, along with planned long-term debt financing in 2026, to keep it within its target of less than 60% debt to total capital. He also said S&P rates the company A with a stable outlook and that Moodys affirmed a Baa1 rating with a stable outlook. On the pending merger with Essential Utilities, Griffith said the companies have achieved several milestones since the October announcement, including filing for necessary approvals. He said shareholders of both companies overwhelmingly voted in favor of merger-related proposals at special meetings held on Feb. 10. Griffith said the companies expect to close the transaction by the end of the first quarter of 2027. In response to a question about Peoples Gas and potential strategic actions after the merger, management said it would review strategic alternatives after closing and that if a sale were pursued, proceeds would be reinvested into the business, including a portion for debt repayment and a portion for continued rate base investment. About American Water Works (NYSE:AWK) American Water Works Company, Inc (NYSE: AWK) is a publicly traded utility company that provides water and wastewater services in the United States. Its core business is the operation, management and maintenance of regulated water and wastewater systems that deliver potable water, collect and treat wastewater, and provide related customer services to residential, commercial and industrial customers as well as municipalities. The company's operations include water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, meter reading and billing, emergency repairs, and long-term infrastructure planning and capital project execution. In addition to its regulated utility operations, American Water offers complementary nonregulated services and solutions that support system reliability and customer needs. The article "American Water Works Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. US President Donald Trump will hold veto power over the organization, and can remain as its head even after leaving the White House Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA), and SoftBank (SFTBY) are close to throwing a lot of money into a furnace, that is, OpenAI. The first phase of the companys latest funding round is almost complete, and if the companies invest near the highest ranges of what has been hashed out, the total investment will be close to $100 billion, according to Bloomberg. Amazon is expected to invest up to $50 billion, SoftBank as much as $30 billion, and Nvidia $20 billion, according to Bloomberg, but Reuters reports that Nvidia will invest $30 billion. Why am I comparing OpenAI with a money-burning furnace? Well, quite simply, it is not profitable, and it has no clear path to profitability, only ridiculous spending plans. To understand why this funding is like lighting money on fire, we need to take a look at OpenAI and then examine specific problems with each of the investing companies. Close to $100 billion will be spent on keeping the AI bubble going.Shutterstock Shutterstock OpenAIs spending plans make no sense Lets begin by defining ridiculous spending plans. We expect to end this year above $20 billion in annualized revenue run rate and grow to hundreds of billion by 2030," OpenAI CEO Sam Altmanposted on X (formerly Twitter) in November 2025. "We are looking at commitments of about $1.4 trillion over the next 8 years. Tomasz Tunguz, general partner at Theory Ventures, did the math regarding this plan. He started with a premise that OpenAI has committed to spending $1.15 trillion on hardware & cloud infrastructure between 2025 & 2035, because the information Altman posted wasnt available yet. So we know that Altman has committed to spending more money in less time. Keep that in mind. Tunguz's calculation suggested that OpenAI would need to grow from approximately $10 billion in 2024 revenue to $577 billion by 2029. This is roughly the size of Googles revenue in the same year, he points out, and this is all with a more optimistic timeframe and less total spending. Internal OpenAI forecasts predict the for-profit part of the company will hit $100 billion in annual revenues in 2029, according to The Information, as reported by Yahoo Finance. An immense difference exists between what OpenAI will be making and how much it will need. You'd have to believe in unicorns to think OpenAI will achieve its $1.4 trillion spending. It's obvious the company will face renegotiation of existing infrastructure contracts. OpenAI doesnt have a path to profitability How long would it be reasonable to wait for the company to become profitable? OpenAI was founded in 2015, and HSBC Global Investment Research projects that OpenAI still wont be profitable by 2030, according to Fortune. Is 15 years of unprofitability sound business? Along with plans to spend $1.4 trillion? I dont think so. The company has recently made a U-turn on its plans to keep ChatGPT ad-free. This shows that the subscription-based model isnt growing fast enough. There is a huge problem with the new change. Users of services that also serve ads often tolerate them because they expect a certain level of quality and reliability that gets them hooked on the service. OpenAI had an ace up its sleeve with ChatGPT 4o, as it made the model very sycophantic. When the model launched, Altman's very short post on X simply said, her. He seemed to imply that 4o was built to foster relationships like the AI in the movie "Her." More Tech Stocks: Unfortunately for OpenAI, its sycophantic AI model prompted a series of lawsuits. The most recent one, filed in January, was from a college student alleging that ChatGPT convinced him that he was an oracle and pushed him into psychosis, as reported by Ars Technica. The company shut down the model on February 13. This means the company no longer has a model on which people would tolerate seeing ads. Meanwhile, its competitor, Perplexity, is scrapping plans to put ads in its AI search product, to avoid provoking people's mistrust, reported Wired. Another OpenAI competitor, Anthropic, recently spent millions to mock OpenAIs plan to introduce ads, as reported by Reuters. Even if the introduction of ads to ChatGPT doesnt result in users migrating to other LLMs, that doesnt mean ads will suddenly turn OpenAI into a profitable company. A path to generating several billion dollars in ad revenue in 2026, going to $25B+ by 2030, seems reasonable, said Evercore ISIs analyst Mark Mahaney, as Business Insider reported. That $25 billion number would indeed be impressive if OpenAI didnt need to spend so much on infrastructure and on training its AI models, and if it didnt have competitors at all. To understand how futile all this is, we need to think about profit margins. As AI critic Ed Zitron rightly points out in his blog, AI companies do not factor AI training into their margins, which, as he writes, is inherently deceptive. There isnt enough data available for OpenAI, but Zitron did the math using data from Anthropic. Anthropics 2025 gross margins were 40%, according to Zitron, but once he added the cost of training, the margins sharply dropped to a negative 53%. That's the true price tag for LLMs. OpenAIs margins are probably in the same negative ballpark. This is because LLMs need to be constantly patched for every possible prompt that could turn out to be malicious or could lead to dangerous hallucinations. Models basically have to be trained until the end of time, since an infinite number of prompts could break them. It also means a constantly growing power bill. The worst part may be that large language models have peaked, and in my opinion, they dont even work that well. The vast majority of 6000 executives see no impact from AI The National Bureau of Economic Research recently did a survey on almost 6000 CFOs, CEOs, and executives from companies across the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Australia. Here is what researchers found. On average, more than 90% of business managers across the four countries estimate no impact of AI on their employment over the past three years. 89% report no impact of AI on their labor productivity (measured as volume of sales per employee) over the last three years. Need more proof? Center for AI Safety and Scale AI released a paper Remote Labor Index: Measuring AI Automation of Remote Work, in October 2025, showing some interesting stats. They used what they call a Remote Labor Index (RLI), a multi-sector benchmark comprising real-world, economically valuable remote-work projects. They updated the results since the paper's release, and according to the latest numbers, the best-performing model is Anthropics Opusa 4.5, which achieved an automation rate of only 3.75%. This demonstrates that contemporary AI systems fail to complete the vast majority of projects at a quality level that would be accepted as commissioned work, the researchers write. Here's how AI systems' automation rates stack up Model Automation rate % Opus 4.5 3.75 GPT-5.2 2.50 Manus 1.5 2.50 Grok 4 2.08 Sonnet 4.5 2.08 GPT-5 1.67 Gemini 3 Pro 1.25 Gemini 2.5 Pro 0.83 If you need convincing that the models have peaked, read Futurism's article, Scientists Are Getting Seriously Worried That Weve Already Hit Peak AI. There is one thing LLMs excel at, and Ill admit that. They increase cybersecurity risks. Morgan Stanley agrees, and I wrote about that in my article Morgan Stanley flags $45B hidden cybersecurity opportunity. And now, we need to take a look at the investors themselves. The AI bubble must keep growing Amazon is investing in OpenAI, yet it is also investing in its competitor, Anthropic. In addition, Amazon is working on its AI models. How does investing in two unprofitable companies, while making a competing product, make sense? The best part is that Amazon will have to raise debt this year if it really wants to accomplish its spending plans. Ive explained this in my article Bank of America resets Amazon stock price target after earnings. Related: Analysts revamp Palantir stock rating After my article posted, a Citi analyst also did the math and came to the same conclusion. Read the article 5-star analyst flags sharp contrast between Amazon, Google stock by TheStreet's Moz Farooque to explore the issue in more depth. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman said the company is pursuing true self-sufficiency in AI by building its own powerful models and reducing its reliance on OpenAI, the Financial Times reported. Again, how does investing in an unprofitable competitor company make sense? I covered Nvidias and Microsoft's plans to invest in Anthropic in my article Nvidia, Microsoft deal takes circular financing to entirely new level. So Nvidias situation is pretty much the same: investing in two unprofitable companies, and also making the same product competitors are making. For the uninitiated, Nvidia offers a line of Nemotron open models aimed at organizations that want sovereign AI. SoftBank is the only entity here without a conflict of interest, but it's more like a gambler who placed a really bad bet and is now putting even more money in, hoping things will turn around. The crazy part is that the company sold its Nvidia shares to complete the 2025 investments in OpenAI. SoftBanks cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2025, were 11.5 billion ($74.1 million), according to its Q3 earnings report. After selling Nvidia, I wouldnt be surprised if the company now sold its Intel stake to fund this great opportunity. You might be asking: Why are these companies investing if it isnt smart? It's actually quite simple. If they decline to invest, other investors will get spooked, and OpenAI runs out of money. If OpenAI goes bust, the magical $1.4 trillion gets erased from AMZN, MSFT, NVDA, ORCL, AMD, AVGO, and CRWV backlogs. That is almost a total wipeout, and Anthropics next founding round also wont happen after the OpenAI failure, as the panic will be unstoppable. This would erase whatever money they have in their backlogs from Anthropic, and suddenly revenue projections dont look that flattering, and the chain reaction continues. Plugging the hole in the AI bubble is a terrible move, as the longer the bubble persists, the bigger the consequences for the economy once it bursts. Related: Bank of America resets Nvidia stock forecast This story was originally published by TheStreet on Feb 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Investing section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed that Kyiv will not withdraw from the government-controlled areas of the Donetsk region, describing the territory as a critical defensive line for the country. In an interview with Japans Kyodo News, he stated that despite ongoing negotiations with Moscow, Russia continues to demand the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all of Donbas. Zelensky also warned that Russias full-scale invasion has deepened military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. According to him, approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia, where they are gaining experience in modern hybrid warfare, including counter-drone operations. He noted that North Korean personnel were present during fighting in Russias Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces temporarily gained control of parts of the territory. The Ukrainian leader highlighted the growing security risks posed by this cooperation, suggesting that North Koreas access to advanced military knowledge could eventually threaten Japans security environment. Zelensky underscored Ukraines urgent need for additional air-defense systems, pointing to Japans production of Patriot systems under U.S. license. He noted that Japanese-made systems had previously been sent to the United States after Washington transferred equipment to Ukraine. Japan recently relaxed its long-standing restrictions on arms exports, allowing the shipment of non-lethal military supplies. Ukraine has already received items such as body armor and trucks, while Tokyo is considering easing further constraints, potentially including certain defense equipment. Zelensky stressed that air-defense systems are intended solely to intercept Russian missile and drone attacks, not for offensive use. In return, Ukraine could provide Japan with maritime drone technology, which has proven effective in limiting Russian naval activity in the Black Sea. In earlier remarks to Piers Morgan, Zelensky reiterated that Donbas cannot be surrendered, framing the issue as central to Ukraines sovereignty, values, and security doctrine. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Moscow holds the upper hand and is prepared to continue fighting for Donbas for up to two more years if necessary. Zelensky also dismissed reports in Russian media suggesting Moscow is seeking international recognition of occupied Ukrainian territories, calling such scenarios unrealistic. After facing headwinds in early 2025, from U.S. tariff uncertainty and intensifying competition from Chinese smartphone makers to slower AI traction relative to its Big Tech peers, Apples stock staged a powerful rebound. Last October, it crossed the $4 trillion market capitalization mark for the very first time, fueled by reports that the iPhone 17 lineup, launched in September, was selling better than its predecessors. The company operates across several areas of the tech landscape, including smartphones, personal computing, digital entertainment, and cloud services. More recently, Apple has been allocating resources toward emerging segments such as AI, wearables, and mixed reality, signaling its intent to remain relevant as industry trends evolve. Tech giant Apple is, without a doubt, one of the most established companies in the technology sector, with a product lineup that includes the iPhone, Mac computers, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Over time, the Cupertino-based company has developed an ecosystem designed to connect its devices, software, and services, creating a unified user experience across its platforms. Rather than chasing infrastructure-heavy AI investments, Apple seems focused on embedding intelligence directly into consumer hardware, where it already dominates. So, with momentum building around this renewed AI push, is this the turning point that makes AAPL shares a compelling buy right now? The iPhone maker, which has faced a lot of criticism over the past year for not fully capitalizing on the AI wave, is reportedly working on AI-powered smart glasses, a wearable pendant, and camera-equipped AirPods, according to Bloomberg . Of course, Wall Street didnt waste time responding. Investors appeared to welcome the idea that Apple is choosing to strengthen its AI story through high-margin devices, a strategy that contrasts sharply with the massive cloud data center spending spree underway at the hyperscalers. Shares of tech titan Apple (AAPL) climbed more than 3% on Feb. 17 after reports surfaced that the company is stepping up its push into artificial intelligence (AI) with a new slate of AI-centric products. While AI has been front and center across the tech landscape in recent years, with nearly every major player aggressively weaving it into their ecosystem, Apples advances in this space have often been viewed as underwhelming. That narrative, however, could be shifting. Story Continues Although the shares have lost momentum again this year, pressured by a wider tech pullback, regulatory scrutiny, and setbacks tied to an AI-enhanced Siri update, Apples sheer size continues to set it apart. Even amid these challenges, the company commands a market value of roughly $3.9 trillion, making it the second-most valuable company globally, behind only Nvidia (NVDA). The stock has risen 6.48% over the past 52 weeks but has slipped 4.09% year-to-date (YTD) in 2026, trailing the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) across both time frames. www.barchart.com Apple Delivers Record Quarter on Surging iPhone Demand Apple kicked off fiscal 2026 on a strong note, delivering first-quarter results on Jan. 29 that comfortably topped Wall Streets expectations on both revenue and earnings. The performance was once again anchored by the iPhone, still the companys most critical revenue driver. For the quarter, revenue jumped 15.6% year-over-year (YOY) to $143.76 billion, comfortably ahead of the Streets $137.81 billion forecast. iPhone sales alone soared 23.3% annually to $85.3 billion, fueled by strong demand for the iPhone 17 models launched in September. CEO Tim Cook called it a record-setting period, stating, iPhone had its best-ever quarter driven by unprecedented demand, with all-time records across every geographic segment. In fact, Apple saw especially strong momentum in China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, where sales surged 38% to $25.5 billion during the quarter. However, performance outside the iPhone was more uneven. iPad revenue rose 6.3% YOY, but Mac sales declined 7%. Meanwhile, the Wearables, Home, and Accessories segment, which includes AirPods, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, and related products, also slipped about 2% during the quarter. The CEO also revealed that Apples active installed base has now climbed to 2.5 billion devices, up from 2.35 billion announced last January, a sign of the companys massive global footprint. The services business, which includes subscriptions like Apple TV+ and iCloud, advertising revenue from licensing agreements with Google, AppleCare warranties, and other offerings, grew 14% YOY to $30 billion in revenue. On the bottom line, Apple posted earnings per share of $2.84, up 18.3% YOY and well ahead of estimates of $2.65. CFO Kevan Parekh noted that the company generated nearly $54 billion in operating cash flow during the quarter, allowing it to return almost $32 billion to shareholders. How Are Analysts Viewing Apple Stock? Recently, Wedbush made a bold call, arguing that 2026 could mark the year Apple truly steps into its role as a heavyweight in the AI era. Analyst Dan Ives pointed to Apples enormous installed base of 2.5 billion iOS devices, including 1.5 billion iPhones, as a built-in advantage few companies can match. In his view, Apple has yet to fully unlock the AI opportunity within that ecosystem, but the foundation is already in place. If the company accelerates its AI rollout and successfully monetizes new features and services, Ives believes the payoff could be substantial. The analyst estimates that AI-driven initiatives could add between $75 and $100 per share over the next few years, potentially becoming a powerful catalyst for the stock beginning in 2026. Wall Street, for the most part, is still leaning bullish on Apple. The stock carries a consensus Moderate Buy rating, reflecting steady, if not overwhelming, confidence. Of the 42 analysts covering the shares, 22 assign a Strong Buy, three recommend Moderate Buy, 16 remain at Hold, and just one stands firmly bearish with a Strong Sell. Targets suggest theres still room to run. The average price objective of $293.48 implies roughly 12.7% upside from current levels, while the highest target on the Street of $350 points to potential gains of as much as 34.5%. www.barchart.com www.barchart.com On the date of publication, Anushka Mukherji 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 A Laois man was jailed for three months despite his partner informing an in-camera hearing at Portlaoise District Court last week that she wanted to withdraw the statement she made accusing him of assaulting her. During stages of the case, the woman accused gardai of tricking her into coming to court, telling the judge she could not remember most of what happened, and at one stage in the proceedings, the court presenter asked the judge to rule the woman as being a hostile witness. The parties in the case cannot be named due to restrictions on the press on reporting on such cases. The 34-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault. Giving evidence in the case, Garda Blake ODonoghue said that on 6 November at about 11.30pm, he responded to a report about an alleged assault on a woman in Portlaoise. On arrival at the house, the woman informed him that she had been assaulted by her partner. She was taken to the nearby garda station within 20 minutes of the alleged assault, where she made a statement about what happened. Garda ODonoghue said that the woman stated that her partner had pushed her in the hallway of her house, went to grab her by her jacket collar and burst her lip. He said he took photographs of the alleged injury to her lip, within 20 minutes of meeting her and handed them into Judge Andrew Cody. He said the injured party did not seek medical attention. Later that night, the defendant was arrested by another garda in the town. Garda ODonoghue said that later on the same night he called back to the house and the woman told him that her partner was present. The mans solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said: My instruction is that the injured party had a cold sore on her lip and the photographs are consistent to that of a cold sore. He was trying to get back to Dublin, but she insisted he stay there in the house with her. He felt trapped. Taking the stand, the woman was asked by garda Sgt JJ Kirby to recollect what happened and the statement she made on 6 November last, to which she replied: I cant remember. Im not on my medication. Im all over the place. I can barely remember. I remember the guard coming to the house. I dont remember my statement. I remember the push and the grab at my collar. It was at this stage that Sgt Kirby asked permission from Judge Cody to allow him to treat the woman as a hostile witness, to which the woman said: Im here to drop my statement. Me and him are still an item. I can only remember bits of it. Reading from part of the womans statement that she made on the night, Sgt Kirby said she wrote: I remember lying in bed texting his (partners) sister and he accused me of cheating and said he was leaving me. I remember him pushing by me. I remember him pulling at my collar. I remember him hitting me on my mouth. The woman replied: I dont remember my lip being burst. I blacked out. I want the charges pulled against him. Im still with him. I just want to go (out of court). Sgt Kirby asked the woman to look at the photographs of the injury that garda ODonoghue took on the night, to which the woman said: Im not looking at any more photographs. Hes had a hard life. Hes hasnt had it easy. I cant remember what happened Theres blood on my jacket, but not a whole lot. The woman went to walk from the witness stand and out of the court when Judge Cody asked a garda to place her under arrest, telling her: You cant walk out of this court without being cross-examined by Ms Fitzpatrick (the accuseds solicitor). Once back in the witness box, the woman, when asked by Ms Fitzpatrick her version of events on the night, replied: Im on anti-psychotic medication, but Im off them. I cant remember jack-shit. I was told by the guard to come here and to drop the charges. You all tricked me. I want to get out of here. I want to drop the charges. They tricked me into coming to court. Me and him are in a relationship. We might be apart (partner in custody), but were still together. He needs help. Hes suffering in the Midlands Prison without his medication. Ms Fitzpatrick said that the injured party said she could not remember much about what happened, that she didnt want to give evidence, wanted to withdraw her statement and doesnt want to pursue the matter and asked the charge to be struck out against her client. Judge Cody said he accepted the evidence presented to the court that the injured party acknowledged she made a statement and that she acknowledged that it was her blood on her jacket. He said that the accused had a case to answer. Taking the stand, the man said that he had been in a relationship and living with the woman for two years. He said in that time he made several attempts to leave her after arguments, but nothing physical. He said he had been in prison since 1 January on detox, ant-psychotic medication and medication for depression. Asked by Sgt Kirby to recount the events of 6 November, the man replied: I dont remember anything. I didnt hit her. I didnt do anything. She had a cold sore on her lip for a couple of days. When the photographs of the injuries were shown to him and was asked what caused them, he replied: I dont know, to which Sgt Kirby said: Looks like a mark from an assault to me, which drew a reaction from the man, saying: Are you a doctor now. Jayus, whats going on here? Sgt Kirby said: Im only asking questions. Im not trying to catch you out, but I put it to you that on the date you pushed by her, hit her on the lip and walked out of the house. Ms Fitzpatrick said that the alleged injured party cannot recall the incident and that before finding guilt, the court had to be satisfied beyond responsible doubt that a crime had been committed. Judge Cody said that the evidence provided satisfied him that a crime had been committed and moved to impose a conviction. Sgt Kirby said the accused had a number of previous convictions that included assault causing harm, threatening to kill or to cause serious injury, aggravated burglary and obstructing gardai in the execution of their duties. Ms Fitzpatrick said the defendant was due to be released from prison next January and described the relationship between her client and that of the woman as a toxic relationship. Judge Cody convicted the man of assault, imposed a three-month sentence, applied free legal aid and fixed recognisance in the event he wished to appeal against the sentence. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Womens Aid (24-hour freephone helpline on 1800 341 900, email helpline@womensaid.ie) or Mens Aid Ireland (confidential helpline on 01 554 3811, email hello@mensaid.ie) for support and information. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme. POULASTORE, a new Laois short film written by Cabrini Cahill and co-directed by Ann Marie Kelly and Cahill, premiered to attentive crowds at the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise on 7 February. The production, which features cinematography by Sean Weiss, is a quiet meditation on connection at the end of life. Produced by Mark de Carreau of Five Line Films, the story follows an older man who is approaching the end of his life and the bond he develops with a palliative care nurse in a narrative that is tender and deeply moving. Told through minimal dialogue, the film honours the profound emotional labour of care, as well as the dignity that can be found in our final moments. The film stars TV actor Charlie Hughes and features the debut of Sharon OBrien. The soundscape enriches the experience, with an original score by composer Denis Carey and a song by celebrated songwriter Lisa ONeill. The film had previously enjoyed life as part of the Oscar-qualifying Foyle Film Festival in Derry in November 2025, where it was selected by a panel, led by producer Arthur Lappin, known for The Boxer, Bloody Sunday and In the Name of the Father. The project was the recipient of the Laois Short Film Bursary 2024. Filming took place across several notable locations in Co Laois, including Kilone Hill, Abbeyleix, the historic Ballykilcavan House and Dunmore caves. Poulastore is funded by Laois Arts Office and county council, in partnership with Creative Ireland, reflecting a strong commitment to nurturing original storytelling in the region. See more photos from the opening night in this week's Laois Nationalist. By Selena Li and Ben Blanchard HONG KONG/TAIPEI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - U.S. trading partners in Asia started weighing fresh uncertainties on Saturday after President Donald Trump vowed to impose a new tariff on imports, hours after the Supreme Court struck down many of the sweeping levies he used to launch a global trade war. More from Yahoo Scout How will Supreme Court's tariff ruling affect Asian economies? Why is Hong Kong positioned differently from mainland China? What are Trump's new 10% universal tariff plans? How are Taiwan and other allies responding strategically? The court's ruling invalidated a number of tariffs that the Trump administration had imposed on Asian export powerhouses from China and South Korea to Japan and Taiwan, the world's largest chip maker and a key player in tech supply chains. Within hours, Trump said he would impose a new 10% duty on U.S. imports from all countries starting on Tuesday for an initial 150 days under a different law, prompting analysts to warn that more measures could follow, threatening more confusion for businesses and investors. In Japan, a government spokesman said Tokyo "will carefully examine the content of this ruling and the Trump administration's response to it, and respond appropriately." China, which is preparing to host Trump in late March, has yet to formally comment or launch any counter moves with the country on an extended holiday. But a senior financial official in China-ruled Hong Kong described the U.S. situation as a "fiasco". Christopher Hui, Hong Kong's secretary for financial services and the treasury, Trump's new levy served to underscore Hong Kong's "unique trade advantages", Hui said. "This shows the stability of Hong Kong's policies and our certainty ... it shows global investors the importance of predictability," Hui said at a media briefing on Saturday when asked how the new U.S. tariff's would affect the city's economy. Hong Kong operates as a separate customs territory from mainland China, a status that has shielded it from direct exposure to U.S. tariffs targeting Chinese goods. While Washington has imposed duties on mainland exports, Hong Kong-made products have generally faced lower tariff rates, allowing the city to maintain trade flows even as Sino-U.S. tensions escalated. Before the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump's tariff push had strained Washington's diplomatic relations across Asia, particularly for export-reliant economies integrated into U.S.-bound supply chains. Friday's ruling concerns only the tariffs launched by Trump on the basis of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, intended for national emergencies. Trade policy monitor Global Trade Alert estimated that by itself, the ruling cuts the trade-weighted average U.S. tariff almost in half from 15.4% to 8.3%. TOP dog at the Gallery of Divine Inspiration art gallery at Bloom Mountrath, Kevin McCann, howled through his old-style Nokia phone to gather a pack of ten local artists to join him in a group exhibition featuring paintings of mans best friend. The art exhibition titled Dogs Dogs Dogs is currently on display throughout the bright and spacious corridors of Mountraths huge community hub, where the works will remain for the month of February. This exhibition is sure to be delightful viewing for dog lovers as it features a variety of dogs painted in the artists different and unique styles. Some of the subjects are the artists own dogs or are family pets and several of the featured dogs are still with us, while others have, sadly, passed on. Over 60 people attended the exhibition launch on Friday 6 February. As is customary since the first exhibition launch curated by Kevin back in October 2023, there were refreshments and home baked treats available for everyone who attended. However, the treats for this exhibition were literally treats as local exhibiting artist Mauri Byrne went barking mad in her nearby kitchen in her home and made tasty chocolate treats for the event which were creatively made into the shapes of doggy paw prints and the popular doggy treats Bonios almost leaving everyone table surfing for more. The 11 artists who have works in the exhibition are Mauri Byrne, Kate Knowles, Margaret Deegan, Marie Conroy, Mary Slevin, Kathleen Gilligan, Antoinette Breen, Mike Rafter, Liam Phelan, Mark Fisher and the gallery curator Kevin McCann. Explaining the theme of the exhibition to the Laois Nationalist on opening night, Kevin said that he was delighted with the artists and the turnout for the launch. He said: Running exhibitions is like Dublin buses, when an artist pulls out, another one comes along. We had an artist booked for this month since November, but she wasnt ready when I was confirming her three weeks ago, so I decided that we would do a group exhibition on dogs. I got on the phone to a good few artists to see if they had paintings of dogs and the result is that we have turned out a wonderful exhibition. Fair play to all of the artists. Some of them have done some works especially for the exhibition, including myself, and some artists that I had never met before donated pieces, so its absolutely great. Basically, we have a pack of artists who got on board with just three weeks notice and we pulled it together. The quality of work is very good overall. Its interesting because I dont know if Ive heard of an exhibition on only dog paintings in Laois before. Maybe there was a solo artist who just paints dogs, I dont know, but for a mix of artists to come together at short notice is really great. Monthly slots are available for artists to display their works. For more information, phone Kevin on 086 3552909 or Bloom HQ 057 9300036. See more colouful photos in next week's issue of the Laois Nationalist, on sale in local stores from Tuesday, next 22 FEBRUARY 2022 saw the outbreak of what would become the most devastating ground war in Europe since the end of World War 2. Thousands of Russian troops flooded into Ukraine, supported by waves of devastating missile and drone strikes, which triggered an exodus of civilians, mostly women and children. As martial law restrictions barred most men from leaving, many of the women and children ended up seeking exile in Ireland. The exodus of people settled across the length and breadth of the country, including Laois, where the Ukrainian group Laois ULSA was formed (Ukraine Laois Support Association). "We were established in response to this displacement of Ukrainians, so we registered this group in county Laois, said the chairperson of the group Svitlana Lebedieva, a former tech-industry worker from the central-east city of Dnipro. "The name of this association is ULSA, which is the Ukrainian Laois Support Association, since we were established and registered in December 2023 and the purpose of that was supporting, advising and the assistance of Ukrainians, as well as to help them to integrate into the Laois community. The Laois ULSA group is involved in a plethora of community initiatives a Laois community choir, which is aimed at building bridges between cultures through artistic expression, singing in St Peter and Pauls church in Portlaoise at Sunday Masses "which has also been a privilege for us to join," the young people are involved in a variety of Youth Work Ireland projects, they collaborate closely with the parish centre in Portlaoise where they arrange music lessons, sing for a local nursing home and, arguably the best way any group can involve themselves in their community, their active involvement in elections in Ireland. And, of course, we were proud to take part in the local elections in 2024 and we informed Ukrainians about the registration process, helped them with the registration process, to fill out the forms and we did that not because of obligation but because we wanted to be part of the community as well and we cared what would be going on after the elections and it would be a huge privilege for us." Along with Svitlana, I am interviewing a former United Nations peacekeeper who served in Lebanon and Syria and legal advocate by profession, Peter McNamara. If that name sounds distinctly Irish to you, it's because he is, but for the retired soldier, his affinity with Ukraine and its people runs deep. Peter has been married to a Ukrainian woman for seven years and lived with her in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut now occupied by Russian forces following fierce Ukrainian resistance. I assist ULSA with advice regarding legal matters, documentation interaction with other governmental bodies and just assisting Lana in her administration of the integration of ULSA into local communities. Now I'm on pension, I'm retired and that's how I fell in love and I want to live the rest of my life in beautiful Ukraine." While the organisation is multi-faceted, the core around which the groups community spirit revolves is music and, indeed, that is exactly what Svitlana says: The song is the soul of Ukrainians. Peter also identifies with this cultural lynchpin and recalls how Ukrainian children are embroiled in a musical identity from a very young age and it is this affinity between Ukrainians and music and especially children and music that spurred the group and formed the bedrock of their key mission a to preserve Ukrainian culture and language for those children who are growing up now. At the onset of invasion, there were about 100 Ukrainians mostly women and children who arrived in Laois and were eventually reaccommodated in the Town Hotel, Portlaoise. "There were around 40 plus children at the time and, as you know with children, they did not understand why they were here and why they had to move from their own country and then there was the Christmas time" and so, to boost their spirits, Svitlanas mother Oksana, who was a musical director in Ukraine, decided to become involved in music lessons so that they could perform a show in the hotel before Christmas. "The first performance had 15 children participating a 5-14 years old a dancing and learning some songs and they performed in the hotel, which was very good for them. After that success, the adult choir was established and, you know in Ukraine we say, the song is the soul of Ukrainians and through our music we can share that spirit and bring people together. Peter McNamara adds that "Lana and myself and the other committee members, we started this organisation to keep the strength in numbers and to ensure that while we have the music and activities of Malva and the bells and the arts and culture element and, of course, while we visit lots of places in Ireland to show the history of Ireland, part of integration, and that's why we endeavour to develop the child now that is here because one day the majority want to return back home to Ukraine, so it's an important part of our teaching. Maintaining Ukrainian culture of language, of music so that the child is never in fear of losing their identity." For example, children who were four years old when they left Ukraine and arrived in Ireland have been living in a predominantly English-speaking country for almost four years now, nearly half their young lives; key years for a childs linguistic development. Svitlana mentions that with some children, because they are so embroiled in English at school, if you speak to them in Ukraine, they will, naturally, reply to you in English, but that, thankfully, ULSA and its work acts as a strong bulwark against any language erosion. However, along with picking up English while they are here, many of the children being enrolled in Irish language primary and secondary schools are picking up Irish, too. And so they are singing quite different types of songs. And we just honour our guys who are fighting in Ukraine because children do need to know that. And we sing Mo Ghile Mear, which is Irish a an Irish ballad which follows a man going off to war and his girlfriend or partner not being able to see him again, which is quite emotional for them. Both Svitlana and Peter are full of praise for the supports they have received and highlighted the following people: Nuala Kelly, director of the school of music; cllr Padraig Fleming, cathaoirleach Barry Walsh, Liam Ramsbottom, Laois Partnership Company, the parish centre, St Peter and Pauls church and the United Nations Company Post #27 in which Peter is involved. Particular praise was afforded to TD Sean Fleming, who invited the community children included on a tour of the Dail "and there we felt that we were supported by the government not only in words, but in facts and in action, said Peter. "Inclusion is so loved by the Ukrainians," says Peter. When someone like that brings them up and invites them to the Dail, that sense of inclusion gives them great strength and support." The community has undeniably faced challenges to life in Ireland, which Lana categorises into physical and psychological difficulties a the physical issues Lana identifies as broadly similar to issues many Irish people also face and they are accommodation, transport, language and jobs. If there is accommodation for someone out of town, for example, but there is no transport, the mother doesn't have a driving licence, children need to go to school. If they are living in Rathdowney and going to the school somewhere else, how can they get there? And to get a job, you must first learn the language. Not every employer understandably wants someone who is constantly using a translator," said Lana. The psychological issues revolve around the uncertainty associated with the Temporary Protection Initiatives, the EU programme which granted Ukrainians asylum in the wake of the war. Once a year, the government announces whether or not the scheme will be renewed for the following year, which leaves many from the community confused about how to plan their lives in the medium and long term. "Sometimes, we do also meet aggressive people asking why we are here, saying that there are safe territories in Ukraine and we explain that we were quite happy at home, living our normal lives. We came here because we wanted to save our children and that is the most important thing." Thankfully, those people are far and away the minor of exceptions, with Lana saying: " I have never met so grateful, so kind, so generous a people as the Irish really and we do appreciate everything you guys do for us. All your help. Physical. Psychological." Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has revealed she has stage 1 cervical cancer and says she is likely to undergo a hysterectomy after an upcoming PET scan. The 38-year-old Jersey Shore star shared the news in a TikTok video posted on Feb. 20, explaining that results from a recent cone biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma, a type of cervical cancer that starts in the glandular cells of the cervix. Polizzi said doctors caught the cancer early, calling the diagnosis "obviously not the news I was hoping for, but also not the worst news" because it was detected at stage 1. She stressed that early detection has given her strong treatment options and a good outlook, according to People. Polizzi told fans that her next major step is a PET scan, which will show whether the cancer has spread beyond her cervix, including to her lymph nodes. The scan result will guide her treatment plan, but she said she is already leaning toward surgery. "After that, I'm probably going to get the hysterectomy," she explained, noting that her oncologist outlined three main choices: chemotherapy, radiation, or a hysterectomy. She added that she believes surgery is the "smart choice" and expects to keep her ovaries, though her cervix and uterus would be removed, and some lymph nodes may be taken, depending on what the scan shows, ABCNews4 reported. The reality star first discussed a cancer scare in January, when she revealed that doctors had found cancerous cells at the top of her cervix after years of abnormal Pap smear results. That discovery led to further testing, including the cone biopsy that confirmed her stage 1 diagnosis. Polizzi admitted she had delayed some gynecological exams in the past and said that decision now weighs heavily on her. In her latest update, Polizzi described 2026 as "not panning out how [she] wanted it to," but said she feels "it could be very much worse" because doctors intervened early. She urged followers, especially women, to stay on top of routine screenings, warning that once cervical cancer advances to stage 2, treatment often requires chemotherapy. "Get your appointments done," she told viewers, using her own experience to push for regular Pap smears and prompt follow-up when test results are abnormal, as per EOnline. Originally published on Enstarz Achieved record enterprise momentum in 2025, closing more million-dollar-plus deals than in 2023 and 2024 combined, driven by the shift toward cloud-based AI customer experience stacks. Attributed strong enterprise voice growth of 21% to rapid value realization, with the 2025 customer cohort already contributing 15% of total enterprise revenue. Positioned the Bandwidth Communications Cloud and Maestro software as essential orchestration layers that allow enterprises to manage shifting AI models across complex legacy environments. Reported that software services are now attached to all million-dollar-plus deals, creating high-margin recurring revenue streams that scale with core usage. Maintained industry-leading customer durability with 100% name retention in the enterprise voice segment and a median tenure of twelve years among top 20 accounts. The future of Laois wetlands is set to be the focus of an upcoming meeting on a restoratation scheme that is funded under the multi-million euro Just Transition scheme. Local people are invited to a meeting in Portlaosie organised by the Tochar Midlands Wetland Restoration project which has a budget of 12 million over three years and is said to be the largest environmental initiative of its type in the country. They say the Portlaoise information session entitled 'Fens - The Hidden Treasure of the Midlands' will highlight the ecological and societal benefits of fen restoration, including improved water quality and carbon storage. The organisers say they will also explain some financial incentives available for restoration with opportunities for questions and discussion. The event, which is one of a series of meetings through to March 4, is open to landowners, farmers, community groups, local organisations and anyone with an interest in wetlands and the future of the Midlands. Restoration plans are being developed for 36 fen sites across the Just Transition region, led by a multi-disciplinary team from Arup consultants. The sites being discussed at the information evening on Monday, February 23 at the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise are: Annaghmore Lough Fen (Offaly) PNHA Clonaslee Eskers & Derry Bog Mannin Ballytynan Kilnaseer Hobartstown West Ballynafagh Lake Tochar told the Leinster Exprss that the proposed restoration measures will only take place in full consultation and in agreement with the landowners concerned. They add that any restoration measures are 100% funded by Tochar and landowners will benefit from incentive payments for facilitating the restoration work. Research, carried out by Red C on behalf of Tochar, was published to raise awareness of the meetings and restoration. Tochar said it explores public behaviours, attitudes and awareness about wetlands. Tochar said it shows that almost half of Irish adults visit wetlands at least once a year, with recreation such as walking, birdwatching and spending time in nature being the main reason for visiting. Tochar said a clear majority of respondents agree that wetlands are important for protecting biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, storing carbon and preserving Irelands cultural heritage. It said agreement with these statements remains consistently high compared with 2024. MORE BELOW PHOTO. A photo taken in Abbeyleix bog that was saved from peat harvesting and restored by community volunteers. Tochar say fens are a rare and distinctive type of peatland that are fed by groundwater rather than rainfall. Their waterlogged conditions allow peat to form slowly, supporting specialised plant and animal species while also helping to filter water and contribute to more resilient local environments. Tochar say many fen sites across the Midlands have been damaged over time, and restoration work is now taking place to help these important wetlands recover. Tochar Project Manager Shirley Clerkin said the evenings are about building understanding and connection. The public information evenings allow us to bring insights into a local setting, to explain what fen restoration involves and to have open, practical conversations with the communities closest to these sites. Restoring wetlands is not just about ecology. Its about working with people, listening to local perspectives and ensuring these landscapes continue to support nature, climate resilience and community wellbeing into the future, she said. The Tochar initiative is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme. The project is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. READ ALSO: Seismic chain of Laois events that saved Abbeyleix bog recalled Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan TD said he was not suprised by the survey results. "Wetlands are magical places, with huge benefits for people and for nature. The public understand this especially the people of the Midlands for whom wetlands are deeply interconnected with culture, tradition and local identity. The Tochar Project is doing fantastic work through engagement and collaboration with communities, and these public information evenings are an ideal way for people to find out about whats happening, why, and how to get involved. "Shared stewardship is at the heart of successful nature restoration in Ireland and Id encourage anybody with an interest to get down to one of the events, he said. You can also register for any of the information sessions by phoning 01 5393160 or online HERE Registration commences each evening at 7:15pm with the session beginning at 7:30pm and ending at 8.30pm. A review into the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) should be completed within a month, the Tanaiste has said, after a minister said there was no point in setting a target date. Simon Harris said initial communication about it, in which almost 200 schools were told they could lose SNAs, was botched. He said: It is a really bad situation that caused a lot of upset, a lot of anger, a lot of hurt from parents of children with special educational needs, from children themselves, from SNAS and from teachers. The Department of Education paused a review of SNA allocations after a public backlash and outcry from opposition TDs, teachers, parents and trade unions. It came after the National Council for Special Education told several schools they could lose part of their SNA allocation. On Friday, Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan said there was no point in announcing a target completion for the review after the pause. Mr Moynihan also repeatedly refused to say if he expected any schools to lose SNAs. The comments were described as disgraceful by Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty. Mr Doherty accused Mr Moynihan of plunging families into panic and said: Children with additional needs and their families are entitled to certainty, stability and respect. Parents and SNAs deserve a straight answer: Will any school lose SNA posts in September yes or no? Asked about Mr Moynihans comments on a timeline, Mr Harris said it was not up to him but it was his view the review should be done within a month. He said: It can only take a matter of weeks, and thats just being honest, because we have to be able to provide clarity for the schools, and, most importantly, clarity for the children and their parents, and they need to have that clarity well in advance of September. Mr Moynihan also acknowledged communication around the issue was wrong and there was a need for a far better system. He said the Department said it would engage intensively with schools individually. Mr Moynihan said: We cannot proceed with this because the (school) system does not have confidence in it. Asked if any school would lose an SNA in September, Mr Moynihan said: The process is now paused. He said the Department would ensure there is no cliff edge. He told RTEs Morning Ireland: There will be no decisions made, the entire process is paused which means whatever communication there was heretofore, there will be new communication. Pressed on whether that means the notified schools would not lose SNAs, Mr Moynihan reiterated that the process had been paused. After initially saying the process would be done in a number of weeks and as soon as possible, Mr Moynihan declined to give a specific date. Theres no point coming out and saying to you it will be done in a number of days, a number of weeks it will be done properly. The minister repeatedly refused to say if any schools would lose SNAs or how many positions would be redeployed. He said: Let me be very clear, right? We have paused the entire process so therefore until that process is completely reviewed we will not be scaremongering, we will engage meticulously with all school communities and families that have contacted us. However, he said schools who had been told they would get an additional allocation would still receive that support. Were increasing the number of SNAs. Mr Doherty said the Government should confirm unequivocally that no school will lose SNA support as a result of this flawed process. He said: Our children deserve better than a Government that is making policy on the hoof. They deserve certainty that they will have the supports they need to thrive. Rising star recipient Louisa Harland has paid tribute to Irish actors and crews as she picked up the award at the Irish Film and TV awards. Speaking to reporters she said Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal went out of their way to be so kind and made me feel so included when she joined the cast of Hamnet. Harland played the mother of Jessie Buckleys character in flashback scenes in the Oscar-nominated film. She said despite spending only a week filming: They made such a fuss of me when I arrived on set and they are just a testament to how incredible Irish actors are. In her acceptance speech, the Derry Girls star dedicated the award to Brian Murphy, a unit driver on The Walsh Sisters series who she said died this year. She said: Such an incredibly kind man, and such a great example of the quality of crew we have in Ireland, and those crew members have made me a better actor, so thank you. Later, she said winning the award means everything to her and described the category as just full of talent, adding she feels so lucky to be part of this industry, especially in Ireland. I really meant it when I said the crew here in Ireland, the shorthand they have with each other is unlike anywhere else I have worked, and it makes me so proud. Gardai have released an image of a tattoo they hope will help identify a victim of an alleged assault in the Temple Bar area of Dublin, who is still in a critical condition in hospital. Two men were arrested in connection with the incident on Friday evening. Gardai said the pair, aged in their 20s and 30s, are currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda stations in Dublin. The alleged attack happened shortly after midnight on Wednesday on Cope Street in the Temple Bar area. The injured man, whose age is unknown, is still being treated at Dublins Beaumont Hospital where Gardai say he remains in a critical condition. Gardai have yet to identify him and have asked for help from the public. They have released an image of a tattoo they say is on his right forearm. It is comprised of a blue and white tattoo and the words Ceol is Beatha, ceol meaning music and beatha meaning life. Anyone who was in the Cope Street area between midnight and 1am, and who may have any information about the incident, is asked to contact gardai. A spokesperson said investigations are ongoing. Conditional planning permission has been granted for a quarry in North Leitrim to expand its operations over the next 25 years, including the construction of new facilities and the restoration of the site. David K Trotter and Sons Ltd, based in Nure townland, Lurganboy, applied to Leitrim County Council in December for permission to continue quarrying operations and to construct two new buildings. The application proposed the continued use of the existing 3.4-hectare operational quarry and the recommencement of extraction across 3.9 hectares of land previously approved but only partially worked, to a specified final depth. The development also includes the recommencement of use of 2.9 hectares of historic quarry floor for stockpiling purposes, as well as the continuation of existing buildings and yard areas used for pre-cast concrete manufacturing, concrete batching, and machinery storage. Two new buildings were proposed as part of the development: a 1,592 m shed to enclose pre-stressed beds and provide storage facilities, and a smaller 82 m building to accommodate equipment storage, a compressor house, and an electrical substation located adjacent to the ready-mix concrete plant. READ NEXT: Leitrim farmers urged to stay vigilant as gangs target rural communities The planning application also sought permission to import approximately 70,000 m (125,000 tonnes) of clean, uncontaminated soil to construct a screening berm to the south of the extraction area and to assist with the restoration of parts of the quarry following the completion of extraction. The overall application area extends to approximately 20 hectares with operations planned for 25 years and an additional two years for final site restoration. Planning permission was granted by the Council on February 11, subject to 17 conditions. These include restrictions on operating hours, with quarry activities permitted only between 7:30am and 7pm from Monday to Friday and between 7.30am and 2pm on Saturdays. No operations are permitted outside these hours, or on Sundays or public holidays. Additional conditions require that prior to the firing of any blast, the developer must notify the occupiers of all dwellings within 500 metres of the site. An audible alarm must also be sounded for a minimum of one minute before blasting takes place. READ NEXT: Leitrim couple prepare for extraordinary 600km tandem cycle to support Irish Guide Dogs The operator is further required to clean any spillages on public roads and, during dry weather, to spray roads that become dusty as a result of quarry activities and associated haulage. A couple who had to leave their rented accommodation struggled for nine months before finding another home to rent in Manorhamilton, Leitrim, and are currently hoping to purchase their own home through a county council scheme. Talking to the Leitrim Observer, the Manorhamilton native said that finding a house to rent was incredibly different and purchasing a home is also proving very challenging. Daniel (whose name has been changed) said that he and his partner left the West and moved to Dublin as "that was the only place we could get work. We lived there for a few years and then the rent prices were flying up." The couple welcomed a baby and decided that they wanted to move closer to their family. "My partner is from the West and I'm from here so we decided to try and find something. We had friends that were moving out of a house as they had just bought something and they told us the property was coming up for rent. That was in 2022 and you couldn't find anything for love nor money at that time. The man we were renting from was an absolute gent and really did look after us as tenants, I have to say." READ MORE: RIP: Leitrim village woman remembered fondly following passing He continued: "We had always known that houses prices were going up around us and had been hoping we might find a place to buy but when we came back, I think we should have acted a bit quicker maybe. We had some money in an account and thought we could afford something but we waited a bit and then the house prices started going crazy and couldn't afford to buy anything. Just as we realised that, around 2024, we started into the process of applying for a county council grant, which we are still in the process of because it's quite difficult." Daniel said they were unable to get a mortgage as they both have fluctuating incomes. "A lot of our friends relate to this and we have this conversation regularly over coffee and in the pub." The pair were given nine months notice before they had to vacant the house but still struggled to find a house. "It took us the full nine months to find a place to live. I know others who have been looking for somewhere for 12 months and still haven't found anything and are past the notice period." READ MORE: 'They will help first-time buyers and fresh start applicants' - 'key changes' to Leitrim Local Authority mortgages He said they had "every ear on the ground working for us in Manorhamilton" and still struggled to find a home. "We really wanted to stay here because our daughter is turning school-age and is enrolled in the school. It's a lovely community and we're really happy to be part of it. We are quite involved in the community here so we're quite active in the area. Leaving here and trying to rebuild that again? We've done enough moving at this point, I feel." He said that only through a connection with an auctioneer, the family finally secured a new place to live. "A person who had bought a rental house came in and said that they wanted to lease a house but didn't want to put it on any of the websites and asked if there was anyone on a list and he recommended us. We got it through that and I don't think we would have been able to find a house otherwise." The couple are now paying double the rent they were paying in their former residence. "That's the going rate here; that's the difference in just three years. It was unheard of to charge over 1000 a month in rent three years ago and now it's the standard. I would actually say our rent is kind of low as rents go in this area. We have to find a way to make up that extra rent and that's been difficult. We're still trying to keep money for the mortgage and to be honest, that's non-existent anymore - it's going down not up which is not through any fault of our own as we are still earning." He said that the cost of living also comes into play when trying to save money for a house. "Then you have bills, fuel, etc.; it all adds up." READ MORE: Huge boost for local tourism experience in Leitrim will 'help to attract more visitors, encourage longer stays' Daniel said that the couple looked into applying for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant which provides up to 70,000 but said that "the money doesn't go too far not only because building materials have gone up but because the price of labour has also gone up so much. We wanted to do a lot of the work ourselves but you can't do that with the grant." They are now in the process of apply for the Local Authority Home Loan which he said has been "quite an ordeal; whenever we go back with documents, we end up leaving with more documents." He stressed: "It shouldn't be this hard surely to have a home. We look at a lot of the sales that are happening around here and prices have gone up so much. Sometimes, we look at these houses that just sold a year and a half ago and they are still sitting empty and you think 'Who is buying these houses?' There are plenty of people here who'd love to be buying houses and sometimes I wonder if they are just second homes from people, which is very upsetting for people who'd love to buy here." Diversified miner BHP Group Ltd. (NYSE:BHP) has signed a $4.3-billion silver streaming agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM) covering its share of output from the Antamina mine in Peru. Based on the upfront consideration, this is the most valuable precious-metals streaming transaction to date. We are pleased to partner with Wheaton a global leader in precious metals streaming. BHPs investment in Antamina has delivered value to investors through strong copper production performance, and this agreement further unlocks additional value from the asset in an innovative and disciplined way, BHP CEO Mike Henry said in the statement. Don't Miss: Monetizing Byproduct A streaming agreement is a long-term contract in which a mining company receives an upfront payment in exchange for the streamers right to buy a portion of future production at a fixed or discounted price. In this case, Wheaton will pay BHP the upfront $4.3-billion consideration and ongoing payments equal to 20% of the spot silver price for each ounce delivered. The stream initially covers the equivalent of 33.75% of Antaminas silver output attributable to BHP, declining to 22.5% after 100 million ounces have been delivered. The transaction allows BHP to monetize silver byproduct at Antamina, while retaining full exposure to its core copper, zinc, and lead production. The structure does not affect BHPs existing customer contracts or its rights in the joint venture. Antamina, located about 270 km north of Lima in Perus Ancash region, is one of the worlds largest copper-zinc operations. Besides BHP and Glencore Plc (OTC:GLNCY) (each holding 33.75%), notable shareholders include Teck Resources Ltd. (NYSE:TECK) and Mitsubishi Corporation (OTC:MTSUY). On a BHP-share basis, the mine produced 124,200 tons of copper, 129,400 tons of zinc, and 5.4 million ounces of silver in 2025. See Also: Blue-chip art has historically outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, and fractional investing is now opening this institutional asset class to everyday investors. Doubling Exposure To Strategic Metal For Wheaton, the transaction represents a significant upgrade to its existing streaming arrangement tied to Glencores interest in the mine. The new deal will double Wheatons exposure to Antaminas silver production, lifting its attributable share from 33.75% to 67.5%. CEO Randy Smallwood said the move reflects tightening supply conditions. He noted that quality silver production is becoming harder to source while demand continues to grow for both industrial applications and safe-haven investment, reinforcing the strategic value of the agreement. The 13Fs for Q4 2025 have poured in, and Bill Ackman, Seth Klarman, and Stanley Druckenmiller are among the leading fund managers who added Amazon (AMZN) shares in the final quarter of the year. All three are legendary investors in their own right. Ackman rose to fame with his $27 million bet on credit default swaps in March 2020. It went down in history as one of the most iconic trades of all time, as that tiny bet soared to a whopping $2.6 billion within a month. Klarman is known for his value investing credentials and is often hailed as the Oracle of Boston and the next Warren Buffett. Druckenmiller, on the other hand, generated average annual returns of over 30% for three decades without even a single down year. With three of the best fund managers of the era betting on the Seattle-based tech giant, should you also follow suit? Lets explore, beginning with the stocks recent price action. More News from Barchart www.barchart.com Why Is Amazon Stock Underperforming? The e-commerce and cloud giant was the worst-performing Magnificent 7 stock last year, and while it started 2026 on a strong note, it crashed following its Q4 confessional and is now down over 11% for the year, which makes it the second-worst Mag 7 after Microsoft (MSFT), whose post-earnings slump was the worst in the group. There are a couple of things that are making markets apprehensive about Amazon. The first is that it is gradually losing market share in the cloud sector to Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) and Microsoft. While Amazon underscores that it is still growing more in absolute dollar terms, the observation has failed to cut ice with investors. The second is a long-term question regarding the companys digital advertising business, which is its second cash cow after the cloud business. Some see the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) agents as a death blow to that business, and no wonder Amazon sent a cease and desist letter to Perplexity over its Comet shopping agent. Finally, Amazons AI spending spree is making investors jittery, and the company forecasts a 2026 capex at $200 billionwell ahead of last years $131 billion and over $50 billion higher than what the Street was expecting. For context, it would be the highest ever annual capex by any company in history. Markets have been particularly unforgiving of Amazons burgeoning AI capex as it hasnt seen much incremental growth for now. In contrast, Meta Platforms (META) revenues are growing at the fastest pace in years, and it forecasts a 30% year-over-year (YoY) topline growth for Q1 2026, as it reaps the rewards of its AI investments. A CONVICTED killer has been handed a 15-year disqualification following his 13th conviction for driving without insurance. Anthony Curtin, aged 26, of Railway House, Spitland, Limerick, pleaded guilty to not having insurance or a licence when stopped by gardai on March 7, 2025. On this day, Inspector Padraig Sutton said Mr Curtin was driving a Peugeot 308 along Childers Road when gardai detected that the vehicle was not insured. He was also disqualified from driving at the time of this offence. When pulled over, Mr Curtin was co-operative and made full admissions to gardai in regards to the insurance and driving licence offences. The car was subsequently seized. READ ALSO | 'Shocking': Man brazenly buys gun in middle of Limerick town on Valentines Day The court also heard that the 26-year-old has 85 previous convictions, including seven for dangerous driving and one for dangerous driving causing death. That offence occurred in Ballyneety on March 20, 2018 when the vehicle he was driving vaulted into a field and killed Gearoid Sheehy, aged 17. Judge Peter White was told the 2025 offence was Mr Curtin's 13th conviction for driving without insurance, with the Limerick mans solicitor, Joseph McMahon BL, noting the irony of receiving such a conviction on Friday-the-13th (of February). Mr Curtin is currently on remand in Limerick Prison for unrelated matters and is serving two other lengthy disqualifications. In mitigation, Joseph McMahon BL asked Judge White to take into account that his client wont be at large for a significant period of time. Upon hearing facts of the case, the judge commented that culpability is high and that his decision to drive without a licence or insurance was "willful behaviour" He imposed the maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment, a 15-year disqualification. A fine of 200 was imposed for the driving licence offence in lieu of a five-day prison term. How does this infrastructure layer connect with Indias larger sovereign AI debate? When people talk about indigenous models or DeepSeek, they often miss the compute backbone needed to actually run those models. There was a narrative that efficiency improvements might mean less computing. Thats partly true. But at the same time, frontier models are also getting larger. So demand is moving in both directions. DeepSeek and other initiatives spurred urgency, and the government accelerated the India AI Mission, funding domestic model efforts. But trained models still need GPUs and lots of themideally within the country for data sovereignty, compliance, and performance. India has 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects. You cant serve that without local data and local compute. All of that requires infrastructure. IndiGo has appointed Captain Rohit Rikhye as its new Head of Operations Control Centre (OCC), replacing Jason Herter. This is the airline's first major senior-level change since the widespread operational disruptions the airline faced in December last year, PTI reported. In January, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took several actions against the airline over the disruptions, including imposing fines totaling 22 crore and directing the removal of a senior vice-president. The airline recorded an operational meltdown with more than 4,500 flights cancelled, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded across major airports in the country in December 2025. The core reason behind the issue was an acute crew shortage triggered by the rollout of the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. Rohit Rikhye's role and responsibilities In an internal communication sent on Friday, the country's largest airline by market capitalization announced that Rohit Rikhye has been named as the Head of OCC with immediate effect. He has been directed to report to the airline's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Isidre Porqueras, the news agency said. Rikhye has been serving as an employee of the airline for over 11 years. He has previously held the position of the Chief Pilot Standards, QA and Operations Safety. Meanwhile, the current OCC chief Herter is moving out of the airline. According to the communication seen by PTI, Rikhye has been given the responsibility to lead the OCC, which manages real-time coordination and oversight of flight operations, including flight planning, tracking, and dispatch, in compliance with regulatory requirements such as air traffic control rules and safety guidelines. He would also supervise crew scheduling and rostering. I am sure his current and past experience will help him in managing his new role, the communication document added. Indigo loses market share due to the crisis On January 22, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma appeared on behalf of the civil aviation ministry and DGCA, and submitted that several steps were taken by the authorities in the aftermath of the crisis. Also Read | How a passengers complaint triggered a national antitrust probe into IndiGo A senior vice-president of the airline was told to be dismissed from service and a penalty of 22 crore was also imposed, he had said, the news agency reported. Mint reported earlier that IndiGo lost 4% of its domestic market share in December after the massive flight disruption in that month over the government's updated flight duty norms. According to Assis, IBM is consciously staying away from foundational AI models, at least for now. Were not looking to get into building the models themselves, but rather, what we see as a big opportunity is the middleware layer, which is what we are developing right now. We have a lot of existing client relations, and were looking to leverage that to build our pitch and play in AI right now, she added. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust -- the investment vehicle that funds the foundation's charitable work around the globe -- holds a portfolio valued at roughly $36.6 billion today. Nearly 30% of the entire trust -- just shy of $11 billion -- is invested in a single stock, one that also happens to be a favorite of one of history's most celebrated investors, Warren Buffett. That's not a coincidence. Gates and Buffett have been close friends for more than three decades, and Buffett has served as both a sounding board and something of an investing mentor to the tech billionaire. Buffett even pledged the bulk of his fortune to the Gates Foundation starting in 2006, one of the largest philanthropic commitments in history. 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 So which stock commands that kind of outsized conviction from both of these billionaire investors? The stock: Berkshire Hathaway It's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B) (NYSE: BRK.A), the sprawling conglomerate Buffett built during six decades of investing. Berkshire stock is by far the foundation's largest holding, more than twice the size of its Microsoft stake. Over the years, Buffett poured tens of billions of dollars into buying back Berkshire's own shares. Between 2020 and 2024 alone, the company repurchased more than $70 billion worth of its own stock, with Buffett frequently calling buybacks a smart use of capital when the shares traded below intrinsic value. It's worth noting that Berkshire hasn't repurchased shares since. Buffett doesn't see the stock trading at enough of a discount to justify it. But I think it has as much to do with the stock market at large trading at elevated valuation levels as it does with Berkshire shares specifically. A sprawling business Berkshire isn't really a stock in the traditional sense. It's more like a diversified investment fund wrapped inside a corporation. Under Buffett's leadership, the company assembled a huge collection of wholly owned businesses, including insurance (GEICO), railroads (BNSF), energy (Berkshire Hathaway Energy), and dozens of manufacturing and retail operations. Alongside that, Berkshire holds a public equity portfolio worth hundreds of billions, anchored by major stakes in companies like Apple, American Express, and Coca-Cola. The $382 billion war chest Then there's the cash. As of its last disclosure, Berkshire was sitting on a record $382 billion in cash and short-term Treasury bills. That kind of liquidity might seem excessive, and many argue that it is. But it means Berkshire has the firepower to move aggressively when markets sell off, and serious bargains emerge. Under the three-step process, UPL Ltd will first merge its India crop protection subsidiary, UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions, with its parent. This will be followed by the domestic crop protection business being demerged and transferred into a new entity, UPL Global Sustainable Agri Solutions Ltd. Finally, UPL Ltd will merge its foreign crop protection business, housed under UPL Corp., into this new entity, UPL Global Sustainable Agri Solutions. (Bloomberg) -- Paramount Skydance Corp. said it has no statutory impediment in the US to closing its proposed $77.9 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. after clearing a US antitrust hurdle. Paramount said Friday it has complied with the US Justice Departments second-request review process under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and that a 10-day waiting period expired on Thursday. The expiration of a waiting period doesnt tacitly imply that regulators are on board with a deal. The department in the past has sued to block mergers after the waiting period passed. Warner Bros. already has a signed an agreement to sell its studio and streaming business to Netflix Inc. for $72 billion. Earlier this week, Warner Bros. committed to re-engage with Paramount after it submitted a revised hostile bid and indicated it would be willing to raise its offer by $1 a share to $31. Warner Bros. has given Paramount a deadline of Feb. 23 to submit its best and final offer. Paramount Skydance continues to mislead stockholders and distract from the facts, Netflix Chief Legal Officer David Hyman said in a statement on Friday. The facts are that routine HSR milestones do not signal DOJ approval nor that any decision has been made. They have not secured approvals needed to close and they are a long way from doing so. In a securities filing on Friday, Paramount acknowledged that completing any transaction is subject to certain other conditions, including signing a definitive merger agreement with Warner Bros., shareholder approval and regulatory clearance in other jurisdictions. Paramount said it has also secured clearance from the foreign investment authorities in Germany, a step Netflix said it has also cleared. The Justice Department could still sue to block a transaction by Paramount later and it has done so in other deals. Netflix and Paramount will both face significant scrutiny not only in the US but also the European Union. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Friday that his office was taking a close look at the proposed purchase of Warner Bros. by either company. Further consolidation in markets that are central to American economic life does not serve our economy, consumers, or competition well, Bonta said. David Ellison, chief executive officer of Paramount, and Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, have each argued that their deal will pass regulatory clearance. The two executives have been jockeying to win the favor of US President Donald Trump. Ellisons father, tech billionaire Larry Ellison, is personally backing Paramounts bid and is friendly with the president. Sarandos has also discussed Netflixs bid personally with Trump, saying he is mostly concerned about the impact of any deal on jobs in the US. A marriage of Warner Bros. and Netflix poses its own set of regulatory issues, most significantly the impact of combining Netflix with HBO Max, both among the top streaming platforms in the world. Netflix also argues that a Paramount-Warner Bros. tie-up would consolidate two of the five largest Hollywood studios and their distribution businesses, as well as the competing news divisions of CNN and CBS. Demonstrating it has an advantage with regulators is a key part of Paramounts strategy to thwart Netflixs rival bid. Paramount is touting he waiting period expiration to try to suggest the deal has received a green light and convince Warner Bros. shareholders to vote against the Netflix transaction. Warner Bros. has scheduled a shareholder vote on the Netflix deal for March 20. The Justice Department is conducting in-depth reviews of both the Netflix and Paramount offers, Bloomberg News previously reported. Key constituencies in Hollywood, including talent agencies, have recently received information requests from federal officials, and the Justice Department has summoned some of the countrys largest theater chains to private conversations about the potential impact of a sale of Warner Bros. Both deals have faced wide-ranging criticism from Hollywood and Washington. Sarandos appeared in front of a Senate panel earlier this month to address lawmakers concerns about the impact on consumer choice in streaming and jobs in California. Mike Lee, the Utah Republican who chaired the meeting, said the Netflix deal raises numerous antitrust concerns, noting Netflix and Warner Bros. compete to offer streaming content and for labor. On Friday, Lee followed up by submitting a list of questions to both companies. Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, also have questions for Ellison and questioned Paramounts confidence that it will secure necessary clearance quickly and that its bid doesnt raise competition concerns. We can assure you that it raises significant competition concerns that the Senate has not had an opportunity to examine, a group of including Cory Booker, Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, wrote in a letter to Ellison on Thursday. The lawmakers instructed Paramount to preserve all documents and records pertaining to its proposal, including communications with Trump and his entourage and any Justice Department officials. --With assistance from Josh Sisco. (Updates with California attorney general comments in the eighth paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) The Indian government is studying the developments on the US tariffs and their implications, the Commerce Ministry said on Saturday. "We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday (Friday). US President Donald Trump has also addressed a press conference in this regard. "Some steps have been announced by the US administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications," the ministry said. In a major setback to Trump's pivotal economic agenda for his second term, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 verdict written by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled that the tariffs imposed by the president on nations around the world were illegal and that he had exceeded his authority when he imposed the sweeping levies. Later, Trump's proclamation, dated February 20, said: "I impose, for a period of 150 days, a temporary import surcharge of 10 per cent ad valorem on articles imported into the United States, effective February 24, 2026". The US had imposed a reciprocal tariff of 25 per cent on India in August. Later, an additional 25 per cent was imposed for buying Russian crude oil, taking the total tariffs on India to 50 per cent. Earlier this month, both countries agreed to finalise an interim trade deal, under which Washington will cut down the tariffs to 18 per cent. So far, the punitive 25 per cent has been removed. The remaining 25 per cent exists. After the proclamation, the tariffs on Indian goods will now be 10 per cent. The 10 per cent levy is over and above the existing MFN or import duties in the US. In the wake of the US Supreme Court's decision on tariffs, Trump said there is no change in the trade deal with India and emphasised that the India deal is on. To finalise the legal text for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement, the Indian team is scheduled to meet its counterparts in Washington from February 23, 2026. During 2021-25, the US was India's largest trading partner in goods. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total exports, 6.22 per cent in imports and 10.73 per cent in bilateral trade. The US President Donald Trump announced to raise the global tariffs from 10% to 15% on Saturday, 21 February 2026 and criticised the US Supreme Court decision. He said that his administration will determine the legally permissible tariffs in the coming months as part of his agenda to strengthen the US economy. Calling the Supreme Court ruling extraordinarily anti-American, Trump announced the tariff hike on countries which he claims have been ripping off the US for decades. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ripping the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level." Also Read | Tariff ruling brings little comfort overseas The President further said that the Trump administration will soon announce legally permissible tariffs as part of the ongoing efforts to boost the US economy. During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again - GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE! SCOTUS blow to tariffs The US Supreme Court on Friday struck down Trump's sweeping tariffs in a 6-3 decision. The bench upheld a lower court's ruling that the Republican president's use of this 1977 law exceeded his authority. Most people agreed that the Constitution explicitly grants Congress the authority to levy taxes, including tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts noted that "The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch," as reported by Reuters. The US Supreme Court held that the US President lacked authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping import duties on goods from nearly all US trading partners. Also Read | How the US Supreme Court order blunts Trumps tariff threat Following the Supreme Court's order, Trump said on Friday that he had signed off on 10% tariffs on trading partners. Eric Dane did not believe in an afterlife. I think when the lights go out, it's over," he said in an interview for Famous Last Words," a Netflix series that's available now. I do believe that once we go to sleep or however it is we we go, once we're gone, we're gone. He also hoped in the interview that his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, would remember how he was present in their lives. He went to beach volleyball games and dance recitals, adding that he'd seen The Nutcracker many times and his review was, "That thing drones on, man. The Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria actor died Thursday less than one year after he announced he was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrigs disease, which is a fatal nerve system disease. Famous Last Words is based on a show that originated in Denmark. The premise is that a person is interviewed executive producer Brad Falchuk does the questioning in the Netflix show and it will not be released until their death. Dane's interview is the second episode. The first was with primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall, who died last October. Falchuk tells The Associated Press he's recorded five conversations already with plans for more. No one else was present on set for the taping last November and even the camera operators were in a different room. The guest needs to be totally safe to speak honestly and say whatever they want and know that theyre leaving something for people to experience with them not here," Falchuk said on Friday. Only a small number of people work on the production of the show afterward. Very, very few people have seen it and very, very people even know whose done it, explained Falchuk. Famous people dont often get an opportunity to speak honestly about themselves and about what they think in the world, said Falchuk who is married to Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow. They have to be very protective, especially nowadays. They say things and it goes everywhere and it gets misinterpreted and they also want to keep working or keep you know doing what they do, so this is an opportunity for them not to have to be guarded. After his ALS diagnosis, Dane became an advocate to raise awareness and money to fight the disease. After his death, the organization I AM ALS released clips of him recorded for an upcoming documentary. Its a tough thing to respond to, its a tough thing to live with, yeah. But its really hard for the people around me too. And its almost like in a weird way, its to some benefit, because I spend a lot of my time consoling others, he said in a clip released Friday. Filmmaker Chris Burke also captured Dane on a trip to Washington D.C. where he lobbied politicians for a bill that would help accelerate research, expand access to treatment and secure one billion dollars in federal funding for ALS patients. He understood that ALS is not just a diagnosis; it is a call to action for families, for answers, and for change, the organization said in a statement after Dane's death. In the Netflix show, Dane also reflected on the lifelong impact of losing his father at age 7 and subsequent struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol. He said he immediately knew he would marry Rebecca Gayheart when he met her and shared a memory of a family vacation to France where he spent a car ride speaking with a spot on French accent that made everyone laugh. The most poignant part of the taping was at the end when Falchuk left the room for Dane to look into the camera and deliver a final message which he dedicated to his daughters. Dane shared that his diagnosis with ALS taught him to be present. He also hoped the girls would fall in love, whether it be with a person or something that would make them want to wake up each morning. I hope you won't just listen to me. I hope you'll hear me, he said. Falchuk said this final message is something each guest has the opportunity to do. "People do all different kinds of stuff. Some people write it. Jane improvised hers. Eric wrote his," said Falchuk, who was visibly emotional at the idea of Dane's daughters watching his message. Its hard to think about that," he said. Theyre grieving and he loved them so much. They loved him so much and theyre just a beautiful family. I dont know. Maybe theyll watch it. Maybe theyll never watch it, whatever it may be. Falchuk and Dane had dinner prior to filming and they didn't know each other well, but a new friendship had developed from the experience. Im grieving Eric a lot right now. Its very hard. I was not expecting this to happen this soon. And I miss him," said Falchuk. "Its hard when they die. It is hard. Ranveer Singh threat case: Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against alleged Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Harichandra alias Harry Boxer for threatening Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh. Recently, Singh received a threat for the second time this week. Previously, an extortion threat via a WhatsApp voice note was sent to Singh's manager, demanding a ransom of 20 crore. Police issue Look Out Circular in Ranveer Singh threat case On Saturday, officials probing the matter told news agency ANI that the threatening voice note received by Ranveer Singh was sent to Punjab and Haryana for verification. The sender of the voice note identified himself as Harry Boxer and demanded a ransom of 20 crore, added Mumbai Police. The Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Harichandra alias Harry Boxer for threatening Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh. Police had sent the threatening voice note received by Ranveer Singh's manager to Punjab and Haryana for verification. The sender of the voice note identified himself as Harry Boxer and demanded a ransom of 20 crore: Mumbai Police, posted ANI on X, formerly Twitter. Ranveer Singh receives threat Earlier this week, Singh's manager received a threat in which allegedly "Harry Boxer" threatened that the Bishnoi gang would deal with Singh in such a way that his "next seven generations will remember it." "You are very fond of giving advice to people and telling them to file police complaints. You too have filed a police complaint. No problem," the voice said, as per ANI. "We have complete details of every manager and every person who works with you. Where they live, When they leave office. When they return. Where their families stay. We will not tell you anything. We will start targeting the people working under you. Then you will come to your senses," it further added. The sender reportedly also asked Bollywood to fall in line. Also Read | Ranveer Singh receives threatening WhatsApp voice notes Police previously shared that the sender used a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to hide their network identity and location. Reportedly, the Dhurandhar star did not file any complaint initially, but police enhanced his security cover, as per officials. Aayush Sharma Apart from Ranveer Singh, ANI reported that actor Aayush Sharma, who is Salman Khan's brother-in-law, also received a threatening email. Authorities shared that the threats may be part of a coordinated intimidation campaign targeting prominent figures in the film industry. Rohit Shetty house firing case The threats arrived after the firing incident outside Bollywood filmmaker Rohit Shetty's residence in Mumbai. The Bishnoi gang had claimed responsibility for the firing incident through a social media post, police said. Multiple arrests were made during the ongoing probe into the matter. Speculation surrounding wedding of Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna has intensified, with fresh buzz suggesting the two may tie the knot soon in Udaipur. Although neither actor has confirmed the reports, their separate appearances at the Hyderabad airport have reignited fan curiosity. On Saturday, Vijay Deverakonda was seen entering the airport while maintaining a low profile. The actor opted for a relaxed outfita beige T-shirt layered with an unbuttoned grey shirt and matching trousers. Wearing a mask and keeping his head slightly down, he moved swiftly through the terminal without pausing for photos. Also Read | Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda to get married on February 26? Not long after his appearance, Rashmika Mandanna was also spotted arriving at the same airport. Accompanied by her security team, she avoided interacting with photographers and kept her look simple. The actor wore a long grey top paired with black jeans, along with a visible tikka on her forehead and a mask. Her arrival shortly after Vijays sighting quickly caught attention online, with fans speculating that the duo may have left for their reported wedding destination. "Vijay & rashmika heading for their wedding?, one user wrote, while another commented, 5 days to go.. my dream. Also Read | Rashmika Mandanna, Vijay Deverakonda wedding preparation begins in Udaipur Engagement buzz and wedding speculation Reports claim that Rashmika and Vijay exchanged rings in Hyderabad on October 3, 2025. The two actors have long been linked romantically since working together in Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade. According to a source quoted by Hindustan Times in December, the couple is expected to marry on February 26 at a heritage palace in Udaipur. A reception for friends from the film industry is also reportedly planned in Hyderabad after the ceremony. However, the actors have not issued any official confirmation. Rashmikas reaction adds to fan curiosity A paparazzo video from Rashmikas airport appearance has further fueled speculation. In the clip, the actor waves at fans calling her name before briefly removing her mask to pose for photographs. When the paparazzo says, Congratulations, maam, Rashmika smiles and responds, Deniki ra? (For what?) After he adds, Wedding, waiting for 26th, maam, she does not deny the claim and simply nods while blushing. Actor addresses ongoing rumours In a recent interaction with Prema, Rashmika was asked about the circulating wedding reports, including the alleged date and venue. Responding to the repeated speculation, she said, It has been four years since these rumours began, right? And, people have been asking the same question. People have been waiting for the same thing. Online platforms have long debated how to balance questions of privacy for their users with public safety in their decisions to alert certain users to law enforcement. That debate is now coming for the AI companies that power the chatbots to which people are confiding the most intimate details of their private thoughts and lives. A U.S.-EU agreement last year set a 15% tariff on most U.S. imports from the EU. The Supreme Court ruling sows confusion over whether many of those levies can be collected, though some goods such as autos are subject to other tariffs. But with alternative legal means for levying tariffs at Trumps disposal, We therefore fear that a 15% tariff rate for EU imports will be reintroduced in the near future, said Oliver Richtberg, head of foreign trade at VDMA, a lobby group for German industry There has been a striking jump in the number of women who are self-made, meaning they got at least some of their wealth from a significant enterprise they launched on their own. Far more womenabout 60%were at least partially self-made in 2024, compared with five years earlier, when only about 40% fell into that category. The rest owe their wealth to inheritance. Nearly all male billionaires are at least partially self-made. Private capital firm Blue Owl Capital, with over $307 billion in assets under management, has permanently halted investor redemptions at a retail-focused private debt fund. The suspension has triggered concerns among economists. Furthermore, it has raised a key question about whether the private credit market could impact the broader crypto market. Everything to Know About Blue Owls Redemption Changes According to Bloomberg, the private credit firm has seen a rise in withdrawal requests in recent months. This was partly driven by investor concerns over its exposure to software companies amid the artificial intelligence surge. FT noted that Blue Owl Capital Corp II (OBDC II) has been closed to redemptions since November. The firm had previously indicated it might reopen withdrawals later this quarter, but it has now abandoned that plan. Earlier this week, the company revealed that quarterly redemptions would no longer be available to OBDC II investors. Instead, the firm plans to distribute cash through periodic payments tied to asset sales. "We're not halting redemptions, we are simply changing the method by which we're providing redemptions," Blue Owl co-President Craig Packer told analysts on a conference call Thursday, as per Reuters. According to Packer, payouts to fund holders are expected to be roughly 30% of the funds value, up from the prior 5% cap. "We are returning six times as much capital and returning it to all shareholders over the next 45 days. In the coming quarters we will continue to pursue this plan to return capital to OBDC II investors," Blue Owl commented on its latest plan. Blue Owl also moved to sell approximately $1.4 billion in assets from three of its credit funds. Bloomberg revealed that Chicago-based insurer Kuvare, the California Public Employees Retirement System, Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, and British Columbia Investment Management Corp. purchased the debt, according to people familiar with the matter. Blue Owl added that the loans were sold at 99.7% of par value. Private Credit Market Faces Growing Strain Market analyst Crypto Rover suggested that Blue Owls redemption freeze reflects mounting pressures across the $3 trillion private credit sector. He outlined several warning signs. First, about 40% of direct lending firms now report negative free operating cash flow. Default rates among middle-market borrowers have climbed to 4.55% and continue to rise. Notably, 30% of firms with debt due before 2027 show negative EBITDA, making refinancing challenging. Meanwhile, credit downgrades have outpaced upgrades for seven straight quarters. Tehran has repeatedly said it would never give up its uranium-enrichment program, a crucial element of its nuclear activities and a prerequisite for building a nuclear weapon. It has so far refused discussions with the U.S. on curbing its ballistic-missile program, which it has long relied on to compensate for the weakness of its air force. Tehran has also insisted that any concessions must be matched by significant sanctions relief from the U.S. to help its battered economy. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is in talks with the central and state governments to accelerate growth in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs), said Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey at the Crisil Investment Conclave 2026. To expand the use of REITs and InvITs, we are actively engaging with the ministry of finance and state governments for public asset monetization, he said on 20 February. This can unlock value from completed assets and recycle capital into new infrastructure. Also Read | NSE brokers' forum seeks deferment of new prop trading norms REITs are investment vehicles that pool money from investors to invest in income-generating real estate assets such as office buildings, malls, and commercial properties. They distribute a major portion of the rental income as dividends to investors. On the other hand, InvITs invest in infrastructure assets like highways, power transmission networks, and pipelines, generating income from toll collections or long-term usage contracts. India has five REITs and 24 InvITs, according to the regulator. Mint reported on 13 February that mutual funds were keeping Reits at an arms length despite Sebi's efforts to push institutional flows into the segment. Similarly, infrastructure trusts, most of which are private, have seen limited traction from issuers or investors. Both segments are plagued by low investor awareness, relatively lower returns, and low liquidity, prompting Sebi to introduce a slew of measures over the last few years. The data over the last few years shows that Reits and InvITs have scaled significantly. In the next phase, the focus should be on enhancing liquidity, increasing participation, and higher volume of issuances, said the Sebi chief. We are focused on broadening the domestic investor base, with continued engagement with insurance and pension funds, and targeted dialogues with institutional investors, he added. AIF push Speaking at the conclave, Pandey said insurers, pension funds, mutual funds and family offices are increasingly becoming important for the alternative investment funds (AIF) landscape, as they manage long-term liabilities and need duration-matched, stable, and diversified assets, roles that alternatives can fulfil when structured strategically. AIFs are privately pooled investment vehicles that collect funds from sophisticated investors to invest in assets such as private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and other alternative assets. Sebi has been trying to push accreditation in the AIF space in the country. The number of accredited investors, who are sophisticated individuals or institutions that meet specified net worth criteria set by the regulator, has grown threefold to over 1,900 in January 2026 from 649 in May 2025, said the regulator. Also Read | Sebi to cut FPI registration time to 5 days in big push for Indian stock markets Saksoft is making significant progress on AI. In the logistics segment, the company secured a multi-year digital transformation engagement with a leading US-based carrier focused on enterprise modernization, AI adoption and cost optimization. In the commerce vertical, it has partnered with a leading technology distributor to establish a joint AI innovation lab, enabling AI-driven initiatives across sales, IT and finance functions with a clear path from pilot programs to scaled implementation. Saksoft is targeting revenue of $500 million by 2030. Market veteran Deepak Shenoy on Saturday commented on the Trump tariffs and opined that the US duties are now illegal because India has not yet signed a trade deal. In a post on X, Shenoy said that India will now face a reduced tariff of 10% after US President Donald trump signed an executive order earlier Friday (US time) to counter the Supreme Court's decision. Trumps tariffs now illegal, India hasn't yet signed a deal, and we go back to 10%, the Capitalmind founder said. His comments come after Trump imposed the 10% global tariff, following the Supreme Court's verdict that the US tariff imposed by the President was illegal and went beyond his powers. Deepak Shenoy further called the US untrustworthy, advocating for a move to manufacture in India for India. This is still a waste, like with shrimp just move those few exports to other countries and move to make for India in India. America isn't worthy of trust at this point, he said. How much tariff will India have to pay? The Supreme Court on Friday ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority to impose tariffs beginning in February 2025 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. However, the White House later released a fact sheet saying tariffs will continue and are a critical tool for Trump to protect American businesses and workers, reshore domestic production, lower costs, and raise wages. With the US Supreme Court striking down President Donald Trump's global tariffs and Washington issuing a new order imposing a temporary 10% import surcharge, Indian goods will now face only a 10% reciprocal levy from February 24, 2026. For instance, if a product faces a 5% duty in America, an additional 10% will be imposed now, taking the effective duty to 15%. Earlier, this was 5% plus 18%. Trump's proclamation, dated February 20, said: "I impose, for a period of 150 days, a temporary import surcharge of 10% ad valorem on articles imported into the United States, effective February 24, 2026" at 12:01 am Eastern Standard Time. What Donald Trump said on tariffs Donald Trump has argued that the deets of the Interim Trade Agreement that India signed with the US 18 days ago will remain in place, meaning that the 18% tariff will remain. Answering questions at the White House following the SC's order, the US president said there is no change in the trade deal. Also Read | Canadian dollar posts weekly decline as investors weigh US tariff ruling Nothing changes. They'll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs. So, the deal with India is that they pay tariffs. This is a reversal for what it used to be, as you know, India, and I think Prime Minister Modi is a great gentleman, a great man, actually, but he was much smarter than the people that he was against in terms of the US, he was ripping us off. So we made a deal with India," he told reporters. US Supreme Court decision on Trump's tariffs: The US Supreme Court struck down the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration on its trading partners. Hours after this US Supreme Court decision on tariffs, US President Donald Trump signed off on a 10% global tariff on all countries. So, after the series of these developments, global markets, including Dalal Street, are expected to react on Monday. Gold and silver prices are also expected to react to such developments in the US, as there is significant uncertainty regarding Trump's tariffs and the repayment of nearly $175 billion in tariffs collected by the US administration after they were imposed on trade partners. According to market experts, the US Supreme Court's decision on tariffs is expected to bring relief to Indian exporters with significant exposure to the US market. The US Supreme Court decision has triggered positive sentiment, and the Indian stock market is expected to open with an upside gap on Monday, they said. They said Gift Nifty closed around 200 points higher than the Nifty 50 close, signalling positive sentiment on Dalal Street after this US Supreme Court decision. They predicted a positive opening for gold and silver prices as uncertainty will be very high when the market opens on Monday. What US Supreme Court decision on tariffs mean for Dalal Street? Expecting a gap-up opening on Monday when trade activity resumes on Dalal Street, Seema Srivastava, Senior Research Analyst at SMC Global Securities, said the US Supreme Court's decision to strike down Trump's global tariffs is a huge win for Indian exporters, who were struggling with tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). These tariffs had impacted Indian exports worth over $50 billion, with labour-intensive sectors like textiles and gems facing significant challenges. "The decision effectively eliminates the 18% reciprocal tariff agreed upon under the India-US trade framework, meaning 55% of India's exports to the US will now be subject to only 10%," Seema Srivastava of SMC Global Securities said. However, Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet, said the US Supreme Court decision on Trump's tariffs does not affect sector-specific tariffs imposed under separate statutory authorities. Duties on steel, aluminium, automobiles, semiconductors, and other strategic products remain firmly in place. This ensures that targeted protection for key industries continues despite the broader setback to the reciprocal tariff framework. What Gift Nifty signals? Expecting a gap-up opening for the Indian stock market, Avinash Gorakshkar, a SEBI-registered fundamental equity analyst, said, When these developments took place, the Indian stock market was closed, but the Gift Nifty was open. Generally, the Gift Nifty index and the Nifty 50 index closed with marginal differences. But on Friday, the Nifty 50 index closed at 25,571, while the Gift Nifty 50 futures for February 26, 2026, expiry closed at 25,764, around 200 points higher than the Nifty 50 index. So, I won't be surprised if the BSE Sensex opens more than 500 points higher on Monday. Impact on gold, silver rates On how the US Supreme Court's decision on Trump's tariffs may impact gold and silver prices, Sugandha Sachdeva of SS WealthStreet said the ruling injects renewed uncertainty into global trade policy. She said that President Trump has publicly criticised the US Supreme Court decision and announced to introduce an additional 10% global tariff, underscoring his continued commitment to protectionist trade policy. "These evolving trade dynamics, combined with heightened geopolitical tensions, continue to underpin safe-haven demand. The ongoing US military buildup in the Middle East has intensified market anxiety. With diplomatic deadlines in place and retaliation risks looming, geopolitical uncertainty remains elevated. Overall, trade uncertainty, geopolitical risk premium, and macroeconomic crosscurrents continue to provide a structurally supportive backdrop for gold and silver," said Sugandha Sachdeva of SS WealthStreet. Outlook for the gold rate today Speaking on the outlook of gold rate today, Sugandha Sachdeva said, "Technically, gold price remains well supported near $4,880 per ounce and 1,49,800 per 10 gm in the domestic market. Immediate resistance is seen around $5,100 to $5120 per ounce and 1,61,000 per 10 gm. A sustained break above these levels could open the path toward $5,350 internationally and 1,75,000 per 10 gm domestically." Outlook for the silver rate today On the outlook for silver rate today, Sugandha Sachdeva said, "Silver price is finding support near $70 per ounce and 2,25,000 per kg (closing basis), while resistance is placed around $86 per ounce and 2,75,000 to 2,78,000 per kg in the May contract." The SS WealthStreet expert said that a decisive breakout above resistance, particularly if trade tensions or geopolitical risks escalate, could trigger a fresh upward leg in silver towards 3,50,000 per kg. With Chinese participants expected to return on 24th February from the Lunar New Year holiday break, liquidity and directional conviction could improve, potentially setting the stage for a sustained move once key technical thresholds are cleared. Anubhav Sinha directs a script by Gaurav Solanki and himself, to craft a courtroom drama that approaches sexual violence through the lens of law, procedure and the domestic impact of violence. The film begins in the hard-hitting way it means to proceed, sparing no punches. Parima, the survivor, played by Kani Kusruti, is introduced as a working woman who lives independently and moves through the city on her own terms. She shares an easy relationship with her husband Vinay (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub). Parima travels alone at night in Delhi, something the film initially treats as completely normal, until she notices a car following her. The rape sequence that follows is intentionally hard to watch, with the glee of the men juxtaposed with the heartless, brutal violence against the woman. Only later, in the courtroom, does her decision to be out alone at night get quietly reframed as poor judgement, revealing how quickly a womans independence can be turned against her. The film notes that a rape is reported every 20 minutes, and Parimas story suddenly feels much larger than one case. It becomes part of a grim national reality where 80 rapes cases (hence the title of the film) are reported daily. What follows the gang rape is also disturbing as the perpetrators methodically clean up evidence, displaying an unsettling familiarity with investigative loopholes. What makes it more chilling is how easily the crime folds into process. Once the violence is inflicted, it is tidied up and protected by the system. At the centre of Parimas court case is Raavi, a public prosecutor played by Taapsee Pannu. She is competent, prepared and deeply invested in the outcome of the trial. Much of the drama comes from watching her sift through testimony, push back within the constraints of the law, and try to build a case when systemic corruption and the victims own trauma pose monumental challenges. Pannu keeps the performance largely restrained and professional. In the climactic monologue, however, the emotional pitch rises and the tears feel slightly overplayed compared to the controlled tone the prosecutor maintains otherwise. Raavi is carrying her own hurt, which resurfaces through her complicated relationship with her brother-in-law Kartik (Kumud Mishra), a brooding character whose past and present collide in bewildering ways. Zeeshan Ayyub delivers one of the more layered performances in the film. Vinay is neither reduced to rage nor framed as a symbolic ally. He moves through shock, anger, helplessness, and protectiveness robotically, clearly unable to digest the grief. He makes bold decisions regarding his sons exposure to the courtroom. In a brief but telling exchange, he corrects an elder who refers to Parima as Madrasi, clarifying that she is Malayali. It is a small moment that reminds us that bias does not disappear simply because one stands on the right side of a case. The impact on the young child (Advik Jaiswal) is also given space in the narrative. The childs confusion and shocking coming of age underline how trauma reshapes the emotional core of a home. Kani Kusruti is riveting in a role that is physically and emotionally demanding. She plays a character who refuses to be defined by what happened to her, even as she struggles to come to terms with how the assault has altered her sense of self. The courtroom sequences form the backbone of Assi. The judge, portrayed by Revathy, anchors the proceedings, embodying institutional steadiness. She does not raise her voice or lean into theatrics. Revathys restraint becomes its own kind of authority. The framing of the courtroom scenes is precise. Tight close-ups and camera angles during cross-examinations emphasise scrutiny and pressure. The defence strategy hinges on insinuation, questioning the survivors movements and decisions without overtly blaming her. The court presentations use facts to position arguments, though a few exchanges feel written for impact rather than authenticity. The supporting cast, especially the actors portraying the police and investigating officers, are consistently strong. Jatin Goswami particularly stands out as police officer Sanjay who represents moral decline among law enforcers. The film subtly portrays that there are accomplices to the crime, and there are also those who are complicit through manipulation or silence. Sinha also weaves in cultural commentary through sound. Snatches of popular item songs, the kind that play at weddings or serve as phone ringtones, appear in the background, implying the normalisation of misogyny. The objectifying lyrics of these songs sit uneasily alongside the courtrooms solemn debates. At 133 minutes, the pacing is deliberate. Some stretches feel heavy, but the film remains focused on its central argument, with a stark reminder every 20 minutes that a rape has just been committed. Assi builds its case by asking difficult questions about responsibility and about the society and machinery that make such acts possible. Also Read | How Indian hip-hop found its flow The cuisines of Indias Northeast are woefully under-represented in contemporary dining quite surprising given the sophisticated and au courant techniques like fermentation and smoking used in everyday cooking in the region. For Nila, the new modern Indian restaurant in Bengaluru, founder and chef Rahul Sharma decided to focus on ingredients from Nagaland. Interestingly, the menu will change every three months. The 12-course tasting menu (INR 4,550 + per person) does not attempt to recreate classics. Instead, it interprets the cultural fabric that shapes them, from the rhythms of jhum (shifting cultivation) fields to the elemental interplay of land, fire, smoke, and fermentation that define Naga cuisine. Ingredients such as smoked meats, tapioca, yam, foraged greens, bamboo and traditional rice are presented in subtle ways. View full Image The main dining room at Nila The focus on crockery and cutlery inspired by the stoneware and black pottery of Nagaland is distinct. The first course the Black Rice Momo arrives on a heavy dark stone slab, while a few courses down the line, a dish is served on a platter made of woven bamboo edged with cowrie shells. There is something almost Japanese in the way dishes are often finished at the table, with a ceremonial pouring of broth from handmade jugs or charring a dish with a blowtorch. Sharma interned at Noma in Copenhagen, and led the kitchen at Araku in Bengaluru known for its experimental take on cafe food. Given his training and experience, reinvention is central to his practice. Therefore, starting a chef-led restaurant as the next step in his career doesn't come as a surprise. View full Image The Black Soy Bean Tarts Each of the dishes makes for a memorable experience. The Black Rice Momo comes wrapped in tapioca and served with a tart chutney. The Tree Tomato Custard is essentially a cheese custard with roasted tree tomato, perilla seed salsa and a confit of wild garlic. There is a dish of Pickled Persimmon Kebabs skewers made of 30-day pickled persimmons layered with smoked coconut malai, chilli and onion pickle. A soup course follows with Yam Milk and Bamboo Broth. The Smoked Michinga Leaves is served with house bread and some interesting condiments, especially a chutney with bhut jolokia chillies. View full Image The Pickled Persimmon Kebab For mains, Roasted Chicken is a dish of squash that is cooked with anishi, charred mustard leaves and slow-cooked chicken terrine. The Smoked Naga Pork while we love the unctuous Naga pork curry with bamboo shoots served at Naga restaurants in Bengaluru the version seems refined and hits the same notes. Sharma also serves Black Wheat Noodles & Bamboo house-made black wheat noodles in a bamboo broth with fermented bamboo XO sauce. Dessert is a Sichuan Pepper Ice Cream with a complex texture from the puffed millet. View full Image Black Rice 'Momo' The space is minimalistic and features arches, curves and adobe walls, with a soothing and neutral colour palette. The design, executed by Prachi Joshi of Designworx, is inspired by the phases of the moon (Nila means moon in Tamil). The open kitchen is positioned centrally, and guests can walk over and see the chefs at work. At a time when tasting menus attempt to capture the diverse flavours of India, the focus on one state, that too from the Northeast, signals a new chapter in gourmet dining. Also Read | Learning to pause with pa and other kitchen lessons by Thomas Zacharias The words high energy come up often when Milan-based Annalisa Rosso, one of the key voices shaping contemporary design discourse, talks about the Indian design scene. Indias design landscape is vibrant, young and emerging, says Rosso, the editorial director and cultural events adviser of Salone del Mobile, the annual international furniture fair held in Milan. She met Lounge on 8 February, the concluding day of the India Art Fair. This years edition marked the first collaboration between the fair and Salone del Mobile, signalling Indias growing presence on the global design map. India now ranks 10th among the 160 countries sending visitors to the Salone. When Rosso, who also works as a curator and consultant to brands across the world, says high energy, she is referring to the trajectory of Indian designers such as Vikram Goyal, Gunjan Gupta and Rooshad Shroff, who have been displaying their furniture and collectible design at international platforms such as Design Miami/Paris, Milan Design Week, PAD London and Salone del Mobile. Even in her consulting work, Rosso has noticed a growing curiosity about what India has to offer. Riyadh is the other emerging market. But India and Italy share a special bond, she says. Italy is among the European Unions top exporters of furniture to India. Historically, Italian marble, glass and tiles have decorated Indias palaces and colonial-era mansionslong seen as markers of wealth. What is changing now is the context. As Indian design grows more confident in its own craft traditions, homeowners are increasingly mixing vocabulariespairing local textiles or artisanal furniture with international marble or lighting. In Europe, the US, Japan and the UK, youre seeing people look at what other countries, especially India, have to offer, says Rosso. She went on to explain the reason behind the increased interest and discuss the future of design. Edited excerpts from the interview: View full Image Annalisa Ross, the editorial director and cultural events advisor, Salone del Mobile Milano What makes India so exciting? How do I say this without it sounding cliched? Theres an inexplicable energy, a culture of design that you cant pack into a suitcaseits something you simply have. The understanding of craftsmanship, the attention to detail, the seamless blending of past and present these arent things you can teach. They are embedded in the culture. I spoke with many architects and designers at the fair. What struck me was their openness, not just in sharing experiences but in listening. That reciprocity is the foundation of good design and it comes from seeing design as a tool for community and belonging. You work with designers across the world. Whats the potential of Indian designers in the coming years? Tremendous. There are going to be 2,000 exhibitors, including Indians, at Salone (21-26 April) this year. Within that space, I am curating a new section called Raritas, that will feature 25 top names from across the world who will showcase collectible design and antiques. I cant tell you the names right now but you will certainly see Indian works there. How are consumers tastes evolving? I have a strong view on this, partly because of my background in anthropology. We are living in a post-globalisation moment. Weve moved beyond the phase where everyone wanted the same sofa in Delhi, Mexico City, Rome and New York. That model no longer works. Neutral is no longer enough, and you could see that at the fair. Even airports are trying to create a sense of place. People want spaces that speak globally but retain local elements, craftsmanship, materials, textiles, cultural references. When I look at designers here, I see work that is both Indian and global. They offer international design solutions while preserving identity. This is happening in Europe too. Think of designers like Gunjan Gupta, who uses traditional casting techniques to create contemporary objects. Or Italys Andrea Anastasio, whose lamps are almost sculptural. These ideas arent new but they feel unique because of the identity and personality they carry. What has driven this shift? Its a reaction to the previous trend. We lived through a period of neutralitysoft colours, soft shapes, everything looking similar. What were seeing now is the counter-movement. Anthropologically speaking, were in a time of uncertainty, socially and politically. In such moments, people look for things that make them feel rooted. After covid, we also rediscovered how important our homes are. We realised those uncomfortable, ugly chairs that were everywhere dont work anymore. We want our spaces to reflect personality and roots. Design is often seen as elitist Theres some truth to that. But perhaps this is no longer the era of museums and foundations alone. Maybe now its time to look around and realise that the most powerful creative voices are in the streets, in schools, in unexpected places. If you only look for new design where you expect to find it, youll discover what everyone else is already seeing. Digital art is also a growing field. Whats your take on the use of AI? Im not concerned. Its a tool, and within limits it can help brands tell stories better. At the end of the day, theres always a human mind behind AI. Truly transformative ideas still come from humans. Think of designers like (Alessandro) Mendini or (Achille) Castiglionitheir work was unexpected, disruptive. I saw many such pieces at the fair. Such imagination comes from human intuition. The Patiala House Court on Saturday dismissed the bail petitions for four detained Indian Youth Congress members, placing the individuals in police remand for a five-day period. The suspects in custody have been identified by authorities as Krishna Hari (national secretary of Youth Congress from Bihar), Kundan Yadav (IYC state secretary - Bihar), Ajay Kumar (IYC state president - Uttar Pradesh), and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana. The Delhi Police had previously requested five days of custodial access to the four men. These individuals were allegedly involved in a shirtless demonstration during the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam, where they reportedly shouted anti-national rhetoric in the presence of global leaders and various dignitaries. Investigators stated that the suspects' mobile phones must be recovered and analyzed. Given that the accused hail from different states, the police maintained that custodial questioning was vital. Legal representatives for the police alleged that an attempt to obstruct law enforcement resulted in injuries to three officers. Furthermore, the prosecution argued that they must uncover the conspiracy behind the event, determine the financial sources, and identify where the protest apparel was manufactured. Custody is also essential to track down additional suspects who escaped the scene, according to the Delhi Police. Defending the accused, legal counsel argued that the individuals are affiliated with a legitimate political organization and were merely exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate at Bharat Mandapam. The defense maintained the protest remained non-violent, noting the absence of any video evidence suggesting physical aggression. They highlighted that the accused are educated degree-holders and active office bearers. The defense attorney asserted that the arrests severely undermined democratic values, suggesting that if protesting justifies detention, then Members of Parliament should face similar consequences for their actions. This legal battle follows a demonstration where Indian Youth Congress members stripped to their waists at the AI Impact India Summit, displaying "Compromised PM" slogans on their bodies. Also Read | Congress takes aim at PM Modi over US-India deal after Trump tariffs struck down The participants removed their clothing as a specific gesture of political dissent. In a prior statement, the Indian Youth Congress claimed the protest was directed at a "compromised Prime Minister" who they alleged had devalued national identity during the AI Summit. Security forces detained the participants shortly thereafter. An intelligence alert was issued in Delhi following inputs warning of a possible terror threat near the Red Fort. Sources tstating that terrorists may target a temple in the Chandni Chowk area. According to intelligence sources, key religious places, including areas around the Red Fort and parts of Chandni Chowk, remain on the radar of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Major terror attack Inputs suggest that the group may be plotting an improvised explosive device (IED) attack and that a temple in the Chandni Chowk area could be a potential target, ANI reported. Sources further indicated that the outfit is allegedly seeking to avenge a February 6 blast at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, and may be planning a major strike in India. Also Read | Republic Day terror attack foiled: Khalistani outfit Babbar Khalsa module busted "Blast alert in front of the Red Fort in Delhi. Terrorists may target a temple in Chandni Chowk. Lashkar-e-Taiba is plotting an IED attack," Intelligence sources were quoted by ANI as saying. They are planning a major terrorist attack in India to avenge the February 6th mosque blast in Islamabad, Pakistan. Major temples in the country can be targeted by Lashkar-e-Taiba, they said. Sources further stated that prominent temples in the country can be targeted by Lashkar-e-Taiba, indicating that prominent religious places remain on the group's radar. This comes in the backdrop of the recent deadly car explosion near the historic Red Fort in Delhi on November 10, 2025, which killed 12 people, ANI reported. Red Fort Blast The blast took place near the historic Red Fort, specifically, at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort (Lal Qila) Metro Station. A Hyundai i20 was primarily affected by the explosion, but the consequent shockwaves and fire left at least five to six vehicles damaged and/or gutted, including cars and e-rickshaws. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha had provided a detailed initial account of the incident. "Today at around 6:52 pm, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light. An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged," he had said following the blast. Also Read | Indias terror threat shifts closer home Recently, a Special NIA court at Patiala House Court on February 13 extended the period of investigation for a further 45 days to conclude the investigation in the Delhi blast case of November 2025. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought a 90-day extension to complete the investigation. Meanwhile, the NIA court has extended the judicial custody of 7 accused till March 13. Asset manager BNP Paribas Asset Management has become the latest TradFi giant to use Ethereum as part of a tokenisation push. The investment arm of Paris-based bank BNP Paribas said Friday that it had used the top crypto network to issue a tokenised share class of a Frenchdomiciled money market fund. The tokenised fund shares were issued on the public Ethereum network with permissioned tokens ensuring that only eligible participants can hold and transfer the tokens, while benefiting from the strength and broad adoption of public blockchain infrastructure, the firm said in a statement. It added that it was the second such money market tokenisation trial it did the first being in 2025 using a private blockchain. This second issuance of tokenised money market funds, this time using public blockchain infrastructure, supports our ongoing efforts to explore how tokenisation can contribute to greater operational efficiency and security within a regulated framework, added Edouard Legrand, BNP Paribas Asset Managements chief digital and data officer. BNP Paribas did not immediately respond to questions from DL News. Tokenisation trend BNP Paribas isnt the only one tapping permissionless, public blockchains as part of tokenisation experiments. BlackRock and Franklin Templeton for years have used networks like Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Avalanche to tokenise money funds. BlackRocks BUIDL is right now the largest tokenized Treasury product, available on a number of blockchains but mostly running on Ethereum. And New York asset manager WisdomTree also offers a fund on Ethereum. In January, it made its tokenised products available on Solana. Whats next BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has since 2022 spoken about the tokenisation of all assets. Now, Wall Streets push into the sphere is creating more mainstream crypto use cases, with proponents saying that tokenisation will reduce costs and provide more accountability in the TradFi space. Crypto asset manager Grayscale said in 2025 that the tokenisation market will hit a market value of $35 trillion by 2030 as putting everything on the blockchain from commodities to private equity and credit will become the norm. Mathew Di Salvo is a news correspondent with DL News. Got a tip? Email at mdisalvo@dlnews.com. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the groundbreaking ceremony for the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor unit in Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing on Saturday, 21 February. The ceremony marks a historic milestone in Indias path to becoming a global semiconductor hub, shortly after the Global AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a release on Saturday. Speaking to the gathering, PM Modi emphasised that India is working to achieve Viksit Bharat rapidly. "I have said from the ramparts of the Red Fort, India has no time to stop or pause. Since the beginning of 2026, India has accelerated its pace," he said, while citing the recent milestones such as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, National Startup Day, and India Energy Summit. PM Modi hails India's role among peers PM Modi mentioned that the Viksit Bharat budget has generated fresh momentum in the progress of the nation, making this a truly historic week for India. Highlighting the AI Impact Summit, he said that world leaders, heads of state, and tech giants gathered to witness the country's AI capabilities, ultimately recognising and praising Indias strategic vision. India is now striving to stand alongside the worlds top nations in providing the processing power required to run the modern world and is working simultaneously on software and hardware aspects, PM Modi said. Current decade is India's Techade, says PM Modi The Prime Minister reaffirmed his vision of the current decade as Indias 'Techade', emphasizing that investments in Green Energy, Space Technology, Digital Innovation, and AI will lay the groundwork for 21st-century capabilities. He highlighted that India is making unprecedented investments across all technologies shaping humanity's future, with the development of a strong semiconductor ecosystem in India serving as a prime example. Comparion of chips with oil To highlight the strategic importance of chips, PM Modi drew a comparison between their value in the 21st century and oil in the 20th century. "During the Corona pandemic, the world saw the fragility of the chip supply chain. When supply hit a brake, global economies faltered, Shri Modi noted. He highlighted that India learned from that crisis to turn it into an opportunity and decided that India must become self-reliant in chip manufacturing. Todays programme is a reflection of this vision, he said. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that "Made-in-India" chips are essential for a Viksit Bharat, fueling key sectors such as AI, 6G, defence, and EVs. To realise this vision, he pointed to the Chips to Startup initiative, which aims to train 85,000 specialists, along with budget-driven progress like the Semiconductor Missions second phase and the creation of Rare Earth Corridors, facilitating comprehensive R&D and manufacturing support. Also Read | Congress takes aim at PM Modi over US-India deal after Trump tariffs struck down PM Modi praises UP's development PM Modi, who is a Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, shared immense pride in the transformation of the state. UP is becoming a major centre for the semiconductor ecosystem, which will bring design houses, R&D centres, and startup ecosystems to the region, creating vast employment opportunities for the youth, he said. A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh delivered a capital sentence on Friday to two accused, Rambhawan and his spouse Durgawati, for multiple violations of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the POCSO statute. As reported by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the trial court further directed the state to provide compensation of 10 lakh to every victim involved. Additionally, the judge ordered that the currency confiscated from the residence of the convicted pair be divided equally among the victims, according to a formal CBI statement. The CBI initiated this case on October 31, 2020, targeting Rambhawan and several unidentified accomplices following accusations of child sexual exploitation, the utilization of minors in pornography, and the production and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) across digital platforms. Rarest of Rare Offenses' "During the investigation of the case, it surfaced that the accused persons had committed various forms of perversity, which included aggravated penetrative sexual assaults against 33 young boys, some of them as young as three years of age," the statement read. "Investigation also revealed that some of the victims had suffered injuries to their private parts during penetrative sexual assault. Some of them have remained admitted to the hospital. A few of the victims developed Squint Eye. Victims are still suffering from psychological trauma caused by the predators," it further read. These predators operated throughout the Banda and Chitrakoot regions of Uttar Pradesh for a decade, spanning 2010 to 2020. At the time, Rambhawan held the position of Junior Engineer within the Irrigation Department. The accused employed various strategies to manipulate children, such as providing access to digital games or offering cash and presents to entice them. According to the CBI, the inquiry was conducted with high sensitivity toward the minor victims during their depositions, prioritizing their mental health through professional counseling services. Following the investigation's end, the CBI submitted its chargesheet on October 10, 2021, against the pair. Formal charges were later established on May 26, 2023. In granting the maximum legal penalty, the court categorized the actions of the accused as "rarest of rare" due to the unmatched depravity and organized structure of their offenses, which involved the calculated sexual victimization of 33 young children. An Indian woman's social media post is gaining massive traction for underlining the stark difference between work cultures in India and Canada. The woman, who goes by the name Anshika on Instagram and works for a Canadian company, shared how every corporate job isnt toxic. I never liked the idea of working in the corporate sector when I was in India, for obvious reasons - or I should say, until I started working in corporate in Canada, she said, before listing the perks that make her work-life balance smoother than in most Indian offices. Also Read | IT Minister Vaishnaw Says Upskilling & Reskilling Is Essential Amid AI Boom No strict punch-in system Anshika shared that her office doesnt have a strict punch-in system and that arriving 1015 minutes late is also excused. Now, the way things work here is that everyone comes to the office at around 9 am, and the first thing we do is grab a cup of coffee. By the way, there is no punching-in time. Even if you are late by 10 or 15 minutes, nobody questions you or asks for silly excuses, she said. After that, everyone grabs a cup of coffee, which is actually encouraged, and you are not judged for it. Then, at around 10 am, we have a meeting with our manager where we decide what we are going to work on for the day - the tasks and priorities, Anshika added. Also Read | After quitting toxic job over harassment, man struggles to find work Fun activities to lighten the work environment She further explained that her office isnt just about working round the clock, but also includes chit-chat and quiz sessions that help lighten employees moods. No micromanagement culture Anshika also shared that the concept of micromanagement doesnt exist at her workplace and that she approaches her manager only when she has doubts or needs help. Throughout the day, no manager hovers around your desk. Nobody questions whether you are at your seat or not because they trust you as an individual. They know you are an adult and will complete your tasks. Whatever task is assigned to you, you just need to finish it within the given timeframe. You only go to the manager if you have a doubt or need help, and thats it. Along with that, during the day, I can even take a nap if I want to, she said. So thats how things work hereits very light-hearted. I guess corporate isnt toxic everywhere. Thats all I wanted to share. Right now, by the way, I am sitting in the fun zonethe play area where we can come and relax anytime during the day, she concluded. Anshikas post quickly went viral, sparking a conversation about the differences between Indian and global work cultures. The internets latest emotional obsession Punch, the baby monkey who captured hearts worldwide has also turned an unlikely object into a global bestseller: an orange orangutan plush toy from Swedish furniture giant IKEA. What is Punchs orange plush? The soft toy, now instantly recognisable across social media, is part of the companys popular DJUNGELSKOG series, and fans are now rushing to find out exactly where it comes from and how much it costs. Punch, a young Japanese macaque living at the Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, became a viral sensation after videos showed him clinging tightly to a stuffed orangutan for comfort. The monkey had been abandoned by his mother shortly after birth in July 2025, leaving zoo caretakers searching for ways to help him cope with anxiety and loneliness. Punchkun as he is affectionately known online soon formed a deep attachment to the plush toy, which keepers introduced as a substitute source of emotional security. According to zoo officials, Punch struggled to socialise with other monkeys initially and showed signs of isolation. The orangutan plush helped recreate the physical comfort young macaques normally receive from their mothers, allowing him to cling, play and sleep while slowly adjusting to life in the troop. Images of the tiny monkey hugging the toy quickly spread online, drawing massive public sympathy and even increasing visitor numbers at the zoo. More about the plushie As the story went viral globally, viewers began asking a simple question: where did the toy come from? The answer surprised many. The plush is the DJUNGELSKOG orangutan a soft toy sold by IKEA as part of its wildlife-themed childrens range. Designed to be huggable and flexible, the toy features long arms that allow it to hang or cling, mirroring how real apes move through trees. The DJUNGELSKOG line itself has become one of IKEAs most recognisable plush collections worldwide, alongside other internet-famous toys such as its shark plush. The orangutan version measures roughly 66 cm in length and is made primarily from polyester fibres, with embroidered facial features designed for safety and durability. Following Punchs sudden fame, IKEA even acknowledged the viral moment. Company representatives visited the zoo and donated multiple plush toys so the young macaque would always have a companion available. The gesture further fuelled online affection for both Punch and the toy, with fans nicknaming it Oran-Mama. So how much does the now-famous plushie cost? In the United States, the DJUNGELSKOG orangutan typically retails for about $19.99 (roughly 1,650), making it a relatively affordable purchase despite its viral status. The pricing has been widely cited in international coverage following Punchs story. In India, availability varies by store and stock, but listings on IKEA India show the soft toy priced at around 842 for certain variants, though prices can differ depending on size and regional availability. Online resellers sometimes list higher prices due to demand created by the viral trend. View full Image Here's how much it costs in IKEA India. The surge in interest highlights a familiar internet phenomenon: a heartfelt animal story transforming an everyday object into a cultural symbol. For many viewers, Punchs bond with the plush represents resilience and emotional healing rather than just a cute viral moment. Videos of the monkey carrying the toy everywhere eating, resting and exploring with it have resonated deeply with audiences who see echoes of childhood comfort objects and attachment. Animal behaviour experts note that surrogate objects are sometimes used in rehabilitation settings when young animals lose maternal care. In Punchs case, caretakers say the toy has helped him gradually integrate into the monkey troop, suggesting he may eventually rely on it less as his confidence grows. "I do take my work seriously, and the way to do that is not to take yourself too seriously" - Alan Rickman The quote embodies Alan Rickmans assertion that professionalism does not require one to become too serious about their ego. Professionalism, according to the actor, does not involve becoming too serious about ones ego. Rickman argued that one attains success through quality professionalism rather than chasing personal stardom. What does not taking yourself too seriously mean? Rickman, whose birthday falls today, laid stress on self-awareness. Not taking yourself too seriously also means being aware of your mistakes, always being open to learning, and having a sense of humor. It encourages people to avoid arrogance and unnecessary pressure that can stifle creativity and teamwork. How does this apply to everyday work? In a professional environment, the quote emphasises balance. In a professional environment, the quote is about balance, and taking work seriously means discipline, preparation, and responsibility. However, being relaxed about oneself helps to improve collaboration and reduce stress. It also helps to take on the challenges in a better way. What is the deeper message? This is a deeper message about humility and perspective. One can work for professional betterment and at the same time maintain stability in ones life using this two pronged approach, based on Rickmans words. Early life and career of Alan Rickman Alan Rickman was born on February 21, 1946, in London, and began his acting journey in theatre. He gained major recognition in 1985 for playing an anti-hero in the stage production Les Liaisons Dangereuses, a performance that established him as a powerful presence in dramatic roles. Rickman later rose to international fame with his role as Hans Gruber in the action film Die Hard. He became widely loved by global audiences for portraying Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise, a role that remains one of the most iconic of his career. Awards and achievements Throughout his career, Rickman received several prestigious honours, including a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA Award), a Hollywood Foreign Press Association Golden Globe Award, a Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He was also nominated for two Tony Awards and a Laurence Olivier Awards, reflecting his excellence in both film and theatre. After previously grabbing attention online for his playful interaction with CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, YouTuber Anant Ladha has once again grabbed eyeballs following another notable meeting. This time, the creator crossed paths with billionaire Mukesh Ambani during the AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi. Ladha revealed that what surprised him the most was that the chairman of Reliance Industries remembered their earlier interaction from a year ago and even posed for a selfie with him. Met Mukesh Ambani sir for the 2nd time. Fun fact he remembered our first encounter, Anant Ladha wrote. He further added, This time I asked sir any advice for us and answer was simple Future is yours. Along with the message, Ladha posted a selfie with Ambani and shared additional photos from the AI-focused event. Social media reacts to viral post The post quickly drew reactions across social media platforms. While many users congratulated the YouTuber for the moment, others expressed admiration for his content. Several users also responded with fire and heart emojis. According to an earlier Instagram update dated May 1, 2025, Ladha had first met Ambani during the WAVES India Summit, where he also interacted with Anant Ambani. Met Mukesh Ambani ji and Anant Ambani. Got VIP creator invite to Waves Summit and got seated 2 seats next to Mota bhai - Dream come true. Thanks to @wavesummitindia and team - Amazing event. Learnt alot in this event. The post included two imagesone featuring Mukesh Ambani and another with Anant Ambani. Also Read | AI Summit: American entrepreneur misses dinner with PM Modi due to Delhi traffic Mukesh Ambani outlines massive AI investment plan During his address at the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, Mukesh Ambani announced a major investment push into artificial intelligence infrastructure. The billionaire said that his telecom arm, Reliance Jio, plans to invest up to 10 trillion rupees ($110 billion) over the next seven years to strengthen Indias AI ecosystem. India cannot afford to rent intelligence. Therefore, we will reduce the cost of intelligence as dramatically as we did the cost of data, Ambani said at the event. We will prove that AI doesnt take away jobs. Rather it will create new high-skill opportunities, Ambani added. NASA is preparing for the possibility of rolling back the Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida after engineers detected an interrupted flow of helium to the Space Launch Systems upper stage. The space agency said the issue was identified overnight on February 21 involving the SLS (Space Launch System) rockets interim cryogenic propulsion stage. Teams are currently reviewing data and taking steps to position the vehicle for a potential rollback while determining the best path forward. Preparations underway at the launch pad To preserve troubleshooting options at both Launch Pad B and the VAB, teams are removing pad access platforms installed earlier. NASA said the platforms cannot be removed during high winds, which are forecast for tomorrow. A rollback would prevent the mission from launching during the March window. However, officials said the preparations could help preserve the April launch opportunity, depending on technical findings and repair timelines. Role of helium in the upper stage rocket NASA explained that the upper stage uses helium to maintain proper environmental conditions for the engine and to pressurize liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant tanks. The systems functioned during the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal, completed on February 19. However, teams were unable to properly flow helium during normal operations and reconfigurations following the test. Operators are currently using a backup method to maintain safe environmental conditions, and NASA confirmed the rocket remains in a stable configuration. Investigating possible causes Engineers are examining several potential sources of the problem, including: -The interface between ground and rocket lines used to route helium -A valve in the upper stage -A filter between the ground systems and the rocket Teams are also reviewing data from Artemis I, during which engineers previously addressed helium-related pressurization issues before launch. If a rollback is required, NASA confirmed the March launch window would no longer be possible. However, agency officials said rapid preparations are aimed at keeping options open for April. NASA said it will continue to provide updates as data analysis and scheduling decisions progress in the coming days and weeks. Also Read | NASA hit by fuel leak during practice countdown of moon rocket The Department of Homeland Security is exploring the purchase of a luxury jet for deportation missions and Cabinet travel, according to a report. The aircraft a Boeing 737 Max 8 will be used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation flights and by senior officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, for official travel, NBC News said. $70 million request to White House Budget Office ICE has asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a $70 million purchase of the aircraft, the news outlet reported, citing two DHS officials involved in the request. According to the outlet, ICE told OMB the jet would serve dual purposes: transporting deportees and facilitating travel for Cabinet-level officials. Luxury features onboard The jet reportedly includes high-end amenities such as showers, a kitchen, a bar and a bedroom with a queen-sized bed, along with four large flat-screen televisions. The plane can accommodate up to 18 passengers and has sleeping space for as many as 14 people, NBC News reported. DHS defends cost savings In a statement to NBC News, a DHS spokesperson said the aircraft will serve dual missions both as ICE deportation flights and for cabinet-level travel. This plane flies at 40% cheaper than what the military aircraft flies for ICE deportation flights saving the American taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars, the spokesperson said. The purchase, the spokesperson added, is part of Secretary Noems broader efforts to clamp down on inefficiencies and save taxpayer dollars. The official also noted that at least one of the bedrooms is currently being converted for seating to prepare the aircraft to meet the demands of its deportation mission set. Donald Trump's Department of Justice is considering stripping Philippe Bien-Aime, former North Miami Mayor, of US citizen. According to the federal prosecutors, Philippe, a Haitian native, lied during the naturalisation process to obtain US citizenship. A denaturalisation case has now been filed against the former Miami mayor. Also Read | ICE gets largest share of 50,000 federal worker hires under Trump Why are the Feds mulling to strip Philippe Bien-Aime of citizenship? The US government has claimed that Philippe Bien-Aime willfully misrepresented his identity and immigration history throughout the naturalisation process, according to an NBC6 report, citing a 13-page civil complaint filed by the US DOJ. The documents claim that Philippe's records at the Department of Homeland Security, including fingerprint comparisons, showed that they belong to the same individual who was previously ordered removed from the United States under the name Philippe Janvier. On 31 July 2000, the complaint said, an immigration judge had determined that Janvier gained entry into the United States by fraud, through the use of a photo-switched passport. He was then ordered to be removed from the US. However, the fresh filing said that there is no indication whether Philippe Janvier ever left the United States as ordered. Philippe Bien-Aime was not eligible to obtain a visa as the spouse of a US citizen because his marriage was invalid, the complaint further alleged. Federal prosecutors have accused him of bigamy, claiming his Haitian divorce certificate was counterfeit and fraudulent. US citizenship is a privilegenot a rightand those who lie or hide the truth to obtain it will be held accountable, said US Attorney Reding Quinones in a post on X. What did Philippe Bien-Aime say? Philippe Bien-Aime declined to comment and referred the matter to his immigration lawyer, Peterson St. Philippe. In an emailed statement, Peterson said he thinks it is appropriate to address the allegations through the judicial process rather than through public commentary. "We trust that any reporting will reflect that the matter remains unresolved and that no findings have been made," he said. What will happen if the US govt wins the case? Philippe Bien-Aimes US citizenship will be revoked if the US government succeeds in proving their allegations. It will also raise legal and political questions about Philippe's time in the North Miami office, whose city code specifies that the candidates seeking office must be qualified electors meaning they must be citizens eligible to vote and registered at the time. To register to vote, a person must be a US citizen. Alix Desulme, the current North Miami Mayor, said he and his administration were unaware of the claims against Philippe Bien-Aime, let alone that he had ever had another identity, according to the Miami Herald. "I am shocked," Alix said. The US Supreme Court on Friday (February 20) struck down President Donald Trumps sweeping global tariffs, ruling that his use of emergency powers to impose broad import taxes was illegal. The decision, handed down in a 6-3 vote, leaves the White House facing the prospect of refunding tens of billions of dollars to importers. Over $175 billion at risk Economists at the Penn-Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) estimate that more than $175 billion in tariff collections could be subject to refunds if the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)-based tariffs are invalidated. The model, led by senior economist Lysle Boller, cross-references import data across 11,000 product categories and 233 countries to produce its forecasts. Total receipts under IEEPA since February 2025 are around $179 billion, Boller said. Refunds of this magnitude would exceed the combined fiscal 2025 budgets of the Department of Transportation ($127.6 billion) and the Department of Justice ($44.9 billion). How the tariffs were calculated The PWBM model estimates daily revenue from IEEPA tariffs at $500 million and accounts for abrupt changes, such as reductions from trade deals and punitive duties, including a 40% levy imposed on Brazil last year. Customs data as of mid-December 2025 show $174.49 billion collected under IEEPA tariffs, roughly 70% of total tariff revenue for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Treasury ready to cover refunds US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the Treasury can handle potential refunds, citing large cash balances planned for March ($850 billion) and June ($900 billion). He had then expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would uphold the tariffs. Recent customs receipts have surged since the imposition of Trumps tariffs, rising roughly $20 billion per month from pre-tariff levels, with January total collections reaching $27.7 billion. As of December 2025, Treasury data shows more than $133 billion in IEEPA tariffs had been collected, with estimates of potential refunds reaching $170 billion, more than half of the revenue generated by the levies. Tariffs declared unlawful The ruling focused on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the 1977 law Trump invoked to levy reciprocal tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner, as well as targeted duties on China, Mexico, and Canada over drug trafficking concerns. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, emphasized: When Congress grants the power to impose tariffs, it does so clearly and with careful constraints. It did neither here. Roberts and the majority pointed out that IEEPA makes no explicit reference to tariffs and that the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the authority to levy taxes. The dissent Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in dissent, warned that undoing the tariffs could create complications. As was acknowledged at oral argument, the refund process is likely to be a mess, Kavanaugh wrote. Global and domestic reactions The ruling drew attention from US business groups and foreign governments. The National Retail Federation welcomed the decision, calling it much-needed certainty for American firms and urging the lower courts to ensure a seamless process for refunding importers. Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) is one of the best growth stocks to buy for the next 20 years. On February 17, Bank of America analyst Curtis Nagle reinstated coverage of FICO with a Buy rating and a $1,900 price target, highlighting the companys strong pricing power and the growth potential of its Mortgage Direct Licensing program. This move was part of a broader reinstatement of 19 stocks within the Information and Business Services sector, for which the firm holds a generally constructive outlook. For the group as a whole, BofA projects healthy performance in 2026, with anticipated average growth rates of 7% for revenue, 12% for EPS, and 11% for free cash flow. Earlier on February 2, Goldman Sachs analyst George Tong lowered the firms price target on Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) to $1,777 from $2,070 with a Buy rating. Despite the lower target, the firm highlighted strong FQ1 2026 results that beat expectations and reaffirmed full-year guidance, supported by 60% year-over-year growth in mortgage origination revenue. Goldman remains bullish on the companys outlook, citing upcoming 2026 price increases, wider adoption of FICO 10T, and market leadership as drivers for anticipated EPS growth of over 20%. BofA Reinstates Fair Isaac (FICO) Coverage With Buy Rating, $1,900 PT Citing Strong Pricing Power Photo by EmbedSocial on Unsplash Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) provides analytics software in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through two segments: Scores and Software. While we acknowledge the potential of FICO 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: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Thailand's popular tourist attraction Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai is temporarily closed for visitors after the spread of deadly and highly contagious virus, The Guardian reported. Nearly, 72 captive tigers were reported dead in northern Thailand since 8 February. According to director of Chiang Mai's wildlife conservation office, Kritsayarm Kongsatri, the number of tiger deaths recorded in short period was very unusual." Early symptoms of illness among dozens of tigers were reported on 8 February. As per Bangkok Post report, surviving tigers were moved to Tiger Kingdoms care centre in Mae Taeng district for close observation and to contain the spread of the disease. Amid the two-week closure, authorities are disinfecting enclosures and preparing to vaccinate surviving animals to control the outbreak. The privately run park has restricted all nonauthorised entry and begun facilitywide disinfection campaign. Laboratory tests of the tiger carcasses are being conducted to examine the cause. The exact cause of the outbreak has not been confirmed yet but suspicion is on raw chicken meat, which is used as feed, Bangkok Post reported. An official statement from livestock office of Chiang Mai suggests that the animals had been infected with canine distemper virus. Veterinarians identified mycoplasma bacteria as a secondary infection. By the time we notice, the illness may. says official Earlier, Thai agricultural ministry's official Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, said that the tigers had been infected with feline panleukopenia, Thai outlet Matichon reported. Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, he added, Treating sick tigers is very different from treating dogs and cats. Dogs and cats live closely with us, so when they show symptoms, we can respond and provide treatment right away." Over large number of Tiger deaths, he noted, Tigers, however, arent living closely with humans. By the time we notice that something is wrong, the illness may already be advanced, he said. As per the report, the effects of deadly virus were felt in two districts of Chiang Mai the mountainous regions of Mae Rim and Mae Taeng. Adolf Hitler's birthplace has been transformed into a police station. A part of US$24 million project, the revamp of this historical structure faced criticism from anti-Nazi groups. Located at the centre of Braunau am Inn town on a narrow shop-lined street, it shares border with Germany. Landmarks associated with Hitler revive graphic memories of countrys Holocaust in which nearly 65,000 Austrian Jews were killed while 130,000 others were forced into exile during Nazi rule. In 1938, Hitlers Germany annexed Austria and kept it under the Nazi regime till 1945. Born on 20 April 1889, Hitler lived for a short period of his early life in the Austrian house. Since world War 2, there has been a debate over the purpose this house should serve. This building was reportedly used as a school, library and makeshift museum. In 2016, the government took control of the dilapidated building to ensure that it does not become a symbol of neo-Nazis. It was a privately structure, which came under state's control through a law as an effort to neutralise the site. Also Read | Adolf Hitler Uunona: Namibia politician named after dictator eyes election win The decision to turn this building, which was a popular tourist destination, into a police station was made on 19 November 2019. The official statement from the Interior Minister at that time stated, The future use of the house by the police should send an unmistakable signal that the role of this building as a memorial to the Nazis has been permanently revoked, Now This Impact reported. A memorial stone placed in front of the revamped house states, For Peace, Freedom and Democracy. Never Again Fascism. Millions of Dead Warn. Also Read | BJP Karnataka gets HC relief over X post comparing Indira Gandhi to Hitler With finishing touches in place, the interior ministry said that police officers are set to move in during the second quarter of 2026. Before police station makeover, the building was rented by the interior ministry and functioned as a centre for people with disabilities. Adolf Hitler's birthplace is a double-edged sword Its a double-edged sword, South China Morning Post quoted office assistant Sibylle Treiblmaier as saying. Suggesting that the site could have been used better or differently, the 53-year-old office assistant said, it might discourage far-right extremists from gathering at the site. Author and a member of the Mauthausen Committee Austria, Ludwig Laher, who represents Holocaust victims said, A police station is problematic, as the police are obliged, in every political system, to protect what the state wants." Also Read | Melania documentary poster vandalised with Hitler moustache amid ICE action From fortifying nuclear facilities to rebuilding structures to conducting naval drills in the Persian Gulf, Iran seems to be taking steps to signal its readiness for war as the US continues its military buildup in the Middle East. Washington seeks to negotiate a deal with Tehran on its nuclear programme while threatening military action if talks fail. Fortifying nuclear facilities Satellite images showed that Iran has recently built a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covered it in soil, experts say, advancing work at a location reportedly bombed by Israel in 2024 amid tensions with the US. According to Reuters, images also showed that Iran has buried tunnel entrances at a nuclear site bombed by the US during Israel's 12-day war with Iran last year, fortified tunnel entrances near another, and has repaired missile bases struck in the conflict. Satellite images taken in late January showed new efforts to bury two tunnel entrances at the Isfahan complex, ISIS reported on January 29. In a February 9 update, ISIS said a third entrance had also been backfilled with soil, meaning all entrances to the tunnel complex were now "completely buried," Reuters reported. The Isfahan complex is one of three Iranian uranium-enrichment plants bombed by the United States in June. View full Image A combination of satellite images showing tunnel entrances at the Isfahan nuclear complex, in Isfahan, Iran, before they were buried with soil, November 11, 2024 (top), and after, February 10, 2026 (bottom). ( via REUTERS ) ISIS also reported that satellite images point to ongoing efforts since February 10 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. Imagery further showed "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. Repairing structures Besides, a comparison of images taken on July 3, 2025 and January 30 showed reconstruction and clearance efforts at the main logistics and likely command compound at the Shiraz South Missile Base, William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground, was quoted by Reuters as saying. View full Image A combination picture of satellite images shows Shiraz South Missile Base in Shiraz South, Iran, before reconstruction, July 3, 2025 (LEFT), and after reconstruction and clearance efforts, January 30, 2026 (left). ( via REUTERS ) Meanwhile, a comparison of images taken between July 16, 2025, and February 1 shows a new roof over a damaged building near the Qom Missile Base. View full Image A combination picture of satellite images shows a Qom missile base building with the roof damaged by an airstrike, in Qom, Iran, July 16, 2025 (top), and the same site with a new roof, February 1, 2026 (bottom). ( via REUTERS ) According to CNN, satellite imagery of the Imam Ali Missile Base in Khorramabad, captured on January 5, showed that of the dozen structures destroyed by Israel, three have been rebuilt, one has been repaired, while three others are currently under construction. Two other military bases have also undergone extensive repairs, CNN reported. At the northwestern Tabriz air base linked to Irans medium-range ballistic missiles, taxiways and runways have been restored. In another, a missile base in the north of the city, extensive work has been conducted after the war. All the entrances were reopened after being bombed shut, the support area by the entrance was mostly rebuilt and some tunnels are now open, according to a CNN analysis and Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Non-proliferation Studies (CNS). At Hamadan Airbase in western Iran, craters created by bombs on the runway have been filled and aircraft shelters repaired, according to a CNN analysis and Lair. 'Most important site is Shahrud' Iran reportedly also rebuilt its largest and newest solid-propellant missile production facility in Shahrud, a technology that allows for the rapid deployment of longer-range missiles. I think the most important site is Shahrud. The damage there was repaired very quickly, Lair told CNN. Naval drills Around February 17, Irans Revolutionary Guards carried out naval drills in and around the Strait of Hormuz and said parts of the strategic waterway were closed for several hours. This came as Iran and the US held indirect nuclear talks in Geneva. According to Iranian media, the temporary restriction was linked to the Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz exercise and was aimed at ensuring safety and navigation principles during the drill. View full Image This handout photo released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)'s official website Sepanews on February 16, 2026, shows a boat firing a missile during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Gulf. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on February 16 began a series of military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported, on the eve of talks with the United States. ( AFP ) Tehran has repeatedly warned in the past that it could close the strait if attacked, a step that would disrupt one of the worlds most vital oil export routes, Iran International reported. This could cause major upheaval in the global energy market. Guards navy commander Alireza Tangsiri was quoted as saying that Irans forces were ready to shut the strait if ordered by the countrys leadership. The decision to close the Strait of Hormuz rests with the senior leaders, and as a soldier I say we are ready to carry it out whenever our leaders say, Tangsiri was quoted as saying while overseeing the main phase of the exercise. The exercise reportedly began from Irans Persian Gulf islands including Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Sirri which Iranian media described as key positions for overseeing shipping there and the western approaches to the Strait of Hormuz. The reports said the drill included elements of electronic warfare and simultaneous launches from land and sea. Ali Shamkhani's appointment Tehran has reportedly strengthened the Supreme National Security Council headed by Khamenei confidant Ali Larijani and formed a new authority the Defense Council to govern in times of war. War veteran and a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Ali Shamkhani, who survived an Israeli attempt on his life during last years war, was appointed this month as the Secretary of Iran's Supreme Defense Council. Shamkhani is an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was a navy admiral, was already serving as the Supreme Leader's representative at the Defense Council. Amid heightened tensions over potential strikes by the United States on Iran, a media report has said that President Donald Trump has been presented with military options that involve directly targeting the supreme leader and his son. The bar for Iran's forthcoming nuclear proposal is very high because the plan would have to persuade the many skeptics in the Trump administration, said a report by Axios citing US officials. On Friday, President Trump said that he is considering a limited strike against Iran, having already ordered a significant naval reinforcement in the Middle East to compel Tehran to accept a deal limiting its nuclear activities. When questioned by reporters at White House if a restricted military action was under consideration to force nuclear concessions, Trump replied: I guess I can say I am considering" it. On Thursday, Trump cautioned that bad things would occur if Tehran failed to finalise an agreement within 10 days, a timeframe he later increased to 15 days. The Trump administration is prepared to consider a proposal that allows Iran "token" nuclear enrichment if it leaves no possible path to a bomb, a senior US official told Axios. "President Trump will be ready to accept a deal that would be substantive and that he can sell politically at home. If the Iranians want to prevent an attack they should give us an offer we can't refuse. The Iranians keep missing the window. If they play games there won't be a lot of patience," the senior US official said. A Reuters report, quoting two US officials, said on Friday US military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by President Trump. One of the US officials reportedly noted Israel's success targeting Iranian leaders during its 12-day war with Iran last year. At the time, regional sources told Reuters at least 20 senior commanders were killed, including the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri. "The president hasn't decided to strike yet. I know that because we haven't struck. He might never do it. He might wake up tomorrow and say, 'That's it,'" one senior Trump adviser told Axios. The adviser said the Pentagon had presented Trump with numerous options. "They have something for every scenario. One scenario takes out the ayatollah and his son and the mullahs," the adviser said, referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba, who is seen as a potential successor. A plan to kill Khamenei and his son was floated to Trump several weeks ago, said the Axios report. Iran Foreign Minister says two sides agree to submit drafts Meanwhile, Tehran indicated that both parties had consented to produce draft versions of a potential accord, an action Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described to American media as the next step. "I believe that in the next two, three days, that would be ready, and after final confirmation by my superiors, that would be handed over to Steve Witkoff," he said. Araghchi also claimed that US diplomats had not insisted on the cessation of Tehrans uranium enrichment activities, an assertion that conflicted with public statements from US officials. The two adversaries conducted an opening round of talks on 6 February in Oman, marking their first direct engagement since negotiations collapsed during the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel last Junea war in which the US participated by bombing Iranian nuclear sites. "We have not offered any suspension, and the US side has not asked for zero enrichment," he said in an interview released Friday by US TV network MS NOW. US President Donald Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2, a White House official confirmed on Friday, February 20 (local time), according to Reuters. The trip was announced as the US Supreme Court overturned Trump's sweeping tariffs on imported goods, which he used in a global trade war, including some against rival China. Earlier, at the Board of Peace Event on February 19, US President Donald Trump had said, "...I have a very good relationship with President Xi. I'm going to be going to China in April. That's going to be a wild one." "Last time I went to China, President Xi treated me so well. He gave me a display. I never saw so many soldiers all the same height, exactly the same height. I said, if they put their helmets down, you could have played pool on the top of their heads. And it was pretty amazing...," Trump had said. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Washington declined to comment on the dates of the trip, which were first reported by Reuters. Beijing has not confirmed the trip. What's expected from Trump's China visit 2026? Trump's talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on an extended visit to Beijing had been expected to revolve around extending a trade truce that kept both countries from further hiking tariffs. Taiwan is also expected to figure into US-China talks. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position Taipei rejects. Impact of Supreme Court tariff ruling The latest Supreme Court ruling invalidating Trump's tariffs created new questions for tense US-China relations. The relations between the two countries had recently stabilised after Trump trimmed tariffs on Chinese goods, in exchange for measures from Beijing, including cracking down on the illicit fentanyl trade and pausing export restrictions on critical minerals. Twenty-percent tariffs on China's US-bound exports were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, which the court ruled Trump had overstepped. Those tariffs were tied to national emergencies related to fentanyl distribution and trade imbalances. Also Read | Dani Rodrik: A world riven by geopolitics needs Europe to get its act together Other duties on Chinese goods, including those implemented under legislated trade authorities known as Section 301 and Section 232, remain in place. It was not immediately clear how many of the tariffs Trump would restore, but he told a press conference that he would impose a new 10% global tariff for 150 days. Taiwan factor Trump's visit will be his first in-person talks since an October meeting in South Korea, where they agreed on the trade truce While the October meeting largely sidestepped the sensitive issue of Taiwan, Xi raised US arms sales to the island when the two leaders spoke this month. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position Taipei rejects. The US, bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, has formal diplomatic ties with China, but it maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island's most important arms supplier. Washington announced its largest-ever arms sale approval with Taiwan in December, including $11.1 billion in weapons that could ostensibly be used to defend against a Chinese attack. Taiwan expects more such sales. Soybean purchases: Why it matters for farmers Xi Jinping said during the February call that he would consider further increasing soybean purchases, according to Trump. Struggling US farmers are a major political constituency for Trump, and China is the top soybean consumer. Analysts told Reuters on Friday that China may be less likely to follow through on another big purchase of US soybeans after the Supreme Court ruling. View full Image Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau Trade Data Advanced computer chips and drones Although Trump has justified hawkish policy steps from Canada to Greenland and Venezuela as necessary to thwart China, he has eased policy toward Beijing in the past several months in areas from tariffs to advanced computer chips and drones. The global trade war Trump initiated after he began his second term as president in January 2025 has alienated other trading partners, including allies. Critics had argued that imposing steep tariffs on countries across the board actually insulated Beijing from the tariff barrage and reduced incentives to move supply chains out of China. Friday's ruling could indirectly increase pressure on Beijing if the effective tariff rates on other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, fall more than those on China, said Martin Chorzempa, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics. "Unlike with many other countries, there is a well-established, much more legally durable mechanism for most of the tariffs on China that make them less affected than those on other countries," Chorzempa said. (With inputs from Reuters) Vietnam on Saturday (local time) said that the US President Donald Trump recently told To Lam, the Communist Party chief, that Washington will take the country off its list of restrictions on advanced technologies, Bloomberg reported. Trump further welcomed the efforts being made by Hanoi to reduce the trade imbalance between the two nations. The development came after Lam, who was in Washington to attend the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, met with Trump on Friday (local time), making it the first formal in-person meeting between the two leaders. However, the Vietnamese government did not share any further details in connection with the restrictions that have been removed. The report added that the US President backed deeper economic, science, and technology cooperation between Washington and Hanoi, while the Communist Party's chief called for talks to end the outstanding trade issues between the two countries. Trump also accepted an invitation from Lam to visit Vietnam. Trump meets To Lam According to a Vietnamese website, Lam, during his visit to Washington, congratulated Trump on the successful launch of the Gaza Board of Peace, and added that Vietnam was among the first few countries that agreed to participate and expressed its support to work with the US and other members on the Board of Peace to implement the Gaza peace plan adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). During his meeting with Trump, the Vietnamese leader proposed boosting delegation exchanges and high-level contacts, a Vietnam-based portal reported. Further, he highlighted economic and trade cooperation as a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two sides. The statement also emphasized the need for substantive dialogue on previously unresolved issues, based on balanced and harmonized interests, in line with each sides legitimate conditions and interests, and for the benefit of businesses and people of both countries. Vietnam announces deal with Boeing to woo Trump Lam met with Trump following the announcement of deals worth more than $39 billion, under which Vietnamese airlines would purchase 90 aircraft from Boeing, the US planemaker. Among the carriers that invested in Boeing was Sun PhuQuoc Airways, which launched its operations in November 2025 and has now ordered 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in a deal valued at $22.5 billion. Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines, which is the country's national flag carrier, announced that it has completed an $8.1 billion agreement, which was first announced in 2023, to acquire 50 Boeing 737-8 Max jets. It further said that they are in discussions to purchase an additional 30 widebody aircraft worth $12 billion. In a bid to bring down the country's trade imbalance with the US, Hanoi has repeatedly vowed to buy more big-ticket American items, including high-tech machinery and equipment. Budget airline VietJet Air said it has signed a $5.4 billion agreement with Pratt & Whitney covering engines and maintenance services. The carrier also announced a financing arrangement worth about $965 million with Griffin Global Asset Management to support the acquisition of six Boeing 737-8 aircraft. US-Vietnam trade Vietnam posted a record trade surplus with the US in 2025, marking a 28% increase compared to the previous year, Bloomberg reported, citing a statistics agency. Behind China and Mexico, Vietnam has the third-largest trade gap with the US. Yet wealth, for Birla, was never an end in itself. He belonged to a generation of businessmen who saw swadeshi not as a slogan but as an economic strategy. He contributed financially to the freedom movement, supported Gandhis social initiatives, and at times acted as an intermediary between nationalist leaders and the colonial state. Gandhi often stayed at Birla residences, including the Delhi house that would become the site of his final fasts for communal harmony. Governments around the world reacted with caution after the US Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trumps broad emergency tariffs, with some reaffirming existing agreements and others taking a wait-and-see approach to evaluate his next steps. South Korea said the ruling voids the 15% reciprocal tariff currently applied to its goods, while adding that it would continue talks on the implementation of last years trade agreement. Indonesia, which finalized its deal on Thursday locking in a 19% duty on its American exports, said its monitoring the court decision and Trumps subsequent move to impose a 10% global tariff under a different statute. While primarily disrupting Trumps domestic economic agenda, the court dealt a blow to his regular use of threats of import taxes to bring allies and adversaries to heel on geopolitical issues ranging from unrest in the Mideast and sovereignty in Greenland to purchases of Russian oil. Whether he can maintain that immediate leverage with slower and narrower tariff authorities is the key question for his foreign policy. Lawmakers in the European Union, which faced a 15% so-called reciprocal levy, will hold an emergency meeting Monday to reassess the blocs pending trade deal with the US. The EU Parliaments trade committee had been expected to vote Tuesday to move forward with ratification of that agreement. Well look closely at the consequences and adapt accordingly, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters at an agricultural fair in Paris on Saturday. So if that helps to pacify things, then thats good. And I think we need to focus on calming things at the international level. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, quoted by newswire Ansa, said its always good news when tariffs are removed, but I dont think there will be any major changes. A government spokesman for the UK, which was given the lowest reciprocal rate at 10%, said it will work with the US administration to understand the rulings impact on the bilateral relationship. As part of its deal with Trump, Britain had preferential tariffs on steel, pharmaceuticals and autos that remain intact. From the UK perspective the best option, and the one the government is likely to take, is to say very little at all, said Sam Lowe, a trade specialist at strategic advisory firm Flint Global in London. Our main interests with the US cars and steel are not affected by the ruling. USMCA Relief The USs two biggest trading partners, Mexico and Canada, were spared the new 10% rate, with the White House clarifying its leaving in place an exemption for many goods shipped under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Still, that deal is under review this year and Washington has signaled there will be changes. We will carefully review the resolution and gladly give our opinion, Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum said. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexicos Economy Minister and top USMCA negotiator, called for prudence and recalled that more than 85% of Mexicos exports to the US are not subject to tariffs, while steel, aluminum and cars are levied through other instruments untouched by the courts ruling. Brazils Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said negotiations with the US will continue, including on non-tariff issues such as data centers and strategic minerals. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has always defended dialog and negotiation. That continues, Alckmin said. Lula and Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington in March. In the midst of a long holiday for New Year celebrations, China had no immediate reaction. On the same day of the courts ruling, Trump announced plans to travel to Beijing from March 31 to April 2 for a meeting with his counterpart Xi Jinping. The worlds two largest economies will look to maintain a trade truce struck last year that widened beyond tariffs to export controls on goods like rare earths, jet engines and chip design software. Only this time, Trump wont have as much immediate leverage in the talks as he did last year. Proceed Cautiously Still, White House officials said they expected countries with deals already finalized to honor their pledges while the administrations new tariff strategy is rolled out in coming weeks. The 10% rate is set to take effect Tuesday. Malaysia, which has yet to ratify its trade pact with the US, also said its waiting for more clarity on the developments, while Cambodia said it will move forward with the ratification of its own agreement with Washington. I would expect most Asian partners to proceed cautiously, with existing agreements largely holding as both sides work through the implications in the coming weeks, said Daniel Kritenbrink, partner at the Asia Group, who served most recently as US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs. The administration still has multiple ways to generate leverage in ongoing trade talks. In its 6-3 decision handed down Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that Trumps use of a decades-old federal emergency-powers law to impose his so-called reciprocal tariffs was unlawful. Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, last April to impose duties on dozens of US trading partners, ranging from 10% to 50%. Trumps Defiance After the ruling, Trump on Friday moved quickly to preserve his trade agenda by announcing plans to impose the 10% global tariff on foreign goods. The new baseline tax under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 grants the president unilateral ability to impose tariffs, but the untested legal provision puts a 150-day limit on how long the duties can remain in place. The prospect for more punitive actions is underpinning the caution among Asian nations, many of which rely on US consumers to buy their goods. The new issues are raising new complexity for business and raising fresh questions about deals already struck, according to Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation. The uncertainty for trade partners is actually higher than it was before, Elms said. That uncertainty is going to be keeping up a lot of foreign governments over this weekend. According to a Bloomberg Economics estimate, the US government has so far has collected an estimated $170 billion in tariffs imposed by Trump using the IEEPA. Thousands of importers are set to launch what could be a prolonged battle to try to recoup those payments. In a press conference Friday, Trump responded defiantly to the justices decision, indicated that any refund process would get bogged down in courts for years and said hed use his other, more legally grounded tariff authorities to similar or even greater effect. Were going forward, we will be able to take in more money and therell no longer be doubt, he said at the White House. The numbers could be far greater than the hundreds of billions weve already taken in. With assistance from Daniela Wei, Netty Ismail, Heesu Lee, Nectar Gan, Ben Otto, Suttinee Yuvejwattana, Fran Wang, Ramsey Al-Rikabi, Phil Serafino, Gonzalo Soto, Daniel Carvalho, Jorge Valero, Ellen Milligan, Philip Aldrick, Donato Paolo Mancini and Philip J. Heijmans. President Donald Trump imposed a 10% global tariff on foreign goods, moving quickly to preserve his trade agenda after the US Supreme Court struck down many of the levies he imposed last year. The tariff, which Trump ordered in a Friday directive, is set to take effect Feb. 24 at 12:01 a.m. Washington time, according to a fact sheet released by the White House. In a social media post, the White House shared a picture reading: Keep calm and Tariff On! Here's how netizens reacted: Social media users had a mixed reaction to the latest tariff hike by Trump. Netizens raised questions about jobs, Iran and Trump's connection with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some users claimed that it has to be one policy that most Americans heavily disagree on. This has been your only policy that most Americans heavily disagree on, a user said. Ask any small business owner across America that is now paying 30% to 100% more for COGS if they will vote for you again? We are passing the cost onto consumers and sales have plummeted because we cant afford to buy in 2026 what last year cost 50% less than it is today! the user added. Tariffs have ruined more small businesses than the most inept & incompetent president in history Joe Biden. View full Image Social media reaction on lastest tariff Keep calm? Tariffs are just taxes on consumers disguised as strategy. The calm part wont last when prices rise, a user said. View full Image Social media reaction on lastest tariff You cant be this disconnected to what is happening in the ground. Something is not adding up because you always do right by your base, another user said. A netizen claimed, Trump says the high prices will continue on! We stand by the American Constitution. Trump does not, said another netizen. View full Image Social media reaction on lastest tariff Several users were unfazed by the tariff and said it was time to talk about the Epstein Files. A user, reacting to the X post, said, God, I miss when adults were in charge of the White House socials. However, on the flip side, several Americans hailed the move as one that will create more jobs Keep calm? Nah, KEEP WINNING Tariffs = American jobs + stronger dollar. The worlds been freeloading too long. LETS GOOOOO, a user said. Another added: Keep it up! People dont understand its dynamic. It doesnt matter who foots the tariff bill initially, businesses will shift production to the US to avoid it, and it will pay off in multiples of the cost. Bring industry back! Finally someone in DC who actually fights for American workers instead of kissing up to China Tariffs = JOBS. Keep calm? NahKEEP WINNING! Who's with Trump? said another user View full Image Social media reaction on lastest tariff 100% trust and confidence in President Donald J Trump! The BEST President in the history of America! By a country mile! Along with the BEST God-fearing Cabinet & Staff. By another country mile! No fears whatsoever! Winning! said a user. How much tariff does India pay now? Even as the latest Supreme Court ruling invalidated Trump's "reciprocal" and emergency tariffs, Trump said on Friday that nothing changes with India. Nuclear power is enjoying a renaissance both in the U.S. and around the world right now. Between the power demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and a desire for green energy without the limitations of solar and wind, countries around the world are investing heavily in their nuclear capacity. 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 Demand for uranium, the spicy yellow rock those nuclear reactors rely upon, has surged in the past year and uranium's spot price has surged 32% over the past 12 months as the prices of almost every other energy resource has fallen. And Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) remains my favorite way to play the nuclear bull market. The stock is up 128% over the past year but recently stumbled back down below $120 which has created a buying opportunity for the company. Here's why. Image source: Getty Images. Yellow gold Cameco's core business is pretty simple. It mines and refines uranium for use in nuclear reactors around the world. But there's a bit more to it than that. First, Cameco is actually the second largest uranium producer in the world behind Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom. In 2025, Cameco produced 15% of all global uranium for the year. Second, Cameco holds both one of the world's highest grade uranium mines in Cigar Lake and the world's largest high-grade uranium mine in MacArthur River/Key Lake. Third, in addition to uranium mining and refining, Cameco is also present in the nuclear reactor business through its 49% share in Westinghouse, an engineering company that produces both the world's most advanced commercially available nuclear reactor in the AP 1000 and is developing a small modular reactor (SMR) dubbed the AP 300. The company is uniquely well-positioned to provide uranium and reactors to fuel the U.S. Department of Energy's plan to triple America's nuclear energy generation by 2050. Canadian uranium, a major carveout in the Trump administration's tariffs, is taxed at 10% as opposed to 25%. Further, the administration struck an $80 billion deal with Cameco and Westinghouse's other owner Brookfield Asset Management, which will see the U.S. purchase new AP 1000 reactors for its own fleet. It's not just the U.S., either. China has 14 AP 1000 reactors under construction, Poland has contracts for three, Bulgaria for two, Ukraine for nine, and India for six. It's also worth noting that Westinghouse is beginning to pay off as an investment for Cameco. For 2025, it went from a net loss of $218 million to a net profit of $58 million. A county Longford man, who was caught with more than 14,000 of drugs, has avoided jail and received a two and a half year suspended prison sentence. Mark Keane (42) of Corboy, Edgeworthstown pleaded guilty to being in possession of drugs for sale or supply at Corboy, Edgeworthstown on September 25, 2024. Garda David Conroy of the local Garda divisional drugs unit, said they searched a premises under warrant at Ballynagoshen, Edgeworthstown. Garda Conroy said when they arrived the property was empty but they managed to gain entry and they were present for 45-minutes before the defendant returned. Garda Conroy said there were several bags of drugs located in in the living room and sitting room area and a small amount in his vehicle. "In one of the rooms there was three large bags of cannabis, in one of the other rooms there was four smaller zip-locked bags of cannabis and two electronic weighing scales were recovered with one of those in his vehicle when he returned." The value of the cannabis seized was 14,369. Garda Conroy said they also found a roll of clingfilm, a box of zip-locked bags, a glass jar and a box that contained cannabis. "One of the bedrooms was insulated and foil lined set up for the cultivation of cannabis and there was a sophisticated lighting system with fans and ventilation installed in the room," he added. Garda Conroy said the defendant was arrested and he made full admissions. "He said he had grown it all himself for the past four to -four-and-a-half-months." The court heard a small amount of cocaine valued at 11 was also found on the defendant who Garda Conroy said had no trappings of wealth. "There was also no evidence on his mobile phone that he was drug dealing." The defendant had two previous convictions. Barrister Niall Flynn said Mr Keane had been renting the property for 900 per month from another person 'well known to gardai' and the equipment was valued at over 4,000, however, the defendant was on weekly social welfare of 217. "I would respectfully say there were other players involved in an operation of this scale," he added. READ NEXT: Quarry quarrel: Opposition to plans to infill a Longford 'biodiversity hotspot' Mr Flynn said Mr Keane, a father of two, was not 'habitually coming to the attention of Gardai' and he he is currently staying in a dry hostel in Belfast. The barrister stated Mr Keane comes from a decent family and he was being supported by his sister in court and his family and trying to turn his life around. Mr Flynn said Mr Keane was now free of drugs and he asked Judge Dunphy not to impose an immediate custodial sentence. The defendant's sister and mother suspected he has undiagnosed ADHD and he started taking cannabis at a young age and he has had a 'chaotic' life, but he is not a bad person. Judge Dunphy decided to impose a two and a half year prison sentence, which was suspended for three years. The defendant was also placed under the supervision of the Probation Service for three years and directed to attend all appointments and follow all of their guidelines. READ NEXT: Longford-Leitrim band to appear in episode one of 'Other Voices' on RTE The Pentagon reportedly presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a range of military options against Iran, including targeted strikes on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, AzerNEWS reports, according to Axios, citing an anonymous presidential advisor. What the president chooses, no one knows. I dont think he knows, the advisor said, while another senior aide suggested that Trump could potentially authorize an attack at any moment. At the same time, sources indicated that a new nuclear deal with Tehran could still be negotiated, but only if Iran presents Washington with an offer that is too good to refuse. This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter. Scott Bomar | Yeti Drinkware and cooler maker Yeti named Scott Bomar as chief financial officer, senior vice president and treasurer, effective Feb. 23. Bomar joins the company from home improvement retailer Home Depot, where he has been SVP of finance since rejoining the company in October 2022. He spent over 16 years at Home Depot in leadership roles including running its retail operations in China before leaving in 2021 to become CFO and SVP of payments and business technology company Deluxe. Bomar succeeds Mike McMullen, who will work in an advisory capacity until May 31. McMullen joined Yeti in 2016 as head of FP&A. He took over as interim CFO in October 2022 before taking the role permanently in February 2023. James Chuong | Atlassian Atlassian, a project management software provider, hired James Chuong as finance chief, effective March 30. Chuong joins the company from LinkedIn, where he has been CFO since 2021. He held several finance leadership roles over his 13 years at LinkedIn, including as vice president of finance and head of FP&A. Before that, he spent several years as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan, Citigroup and Bank of America Securities. Chuong succeeds Joe Binz, who is retiring. Binz joined Atlassian in 2022 as CFO after working at Microsoft for over 20 years. Dan Chen | Gemini Space Station Gemini Space Station, the crypto exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss that went public in September 2025, is undergoing a leadership shakeup. The companys CFO, Dan Chen; chief operating officer, Marshall Beard; and chief legal officer, Tyler Meade, all have left the company effective Feb. 17, according to an SEC filing. Chen, who joined Gemini in March 2025, will be replaced by Danijela Stojanovic as interim CFO. Stojanovic has been the firms chief accounting officer since May 2025. Before joining Gemini, Stojanovic held leadership roles at Blue Apron Holdings, most recently as senior vice president of finance and accounting. Kate Freedman, the companys associate general counsel and corporate secretary, will take over as interim general counsel. Gemini does not intend to appoint a new COO; instead, Cameron Winklevoss will assume Beards duties. Brian Tratt | GoPro Brian Tratt was promoted to chief financial officer of GoPro. Tratt joined the company in 2012 as an assistant controller and has been vice president of finance since 2024. Before joining GoPro, he spent six years at KPMG, most recently as an audit manager. Tratt succeeds Brian McGee, who has been CFO, chief operating officer and executive vice president since 2020. McGee was promoted to president of the company and will keep his COO role. Conviction is easy to talk about. It's harder to wire. Then-Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger didn't just praise talent he backed it with tens of millions of dollars from his own family fortune. The recipient? Li Lu, the investor Munger later referred to in a 2023 Financial Times profile as the "Chinese Warren Buffett." Munger, who passed away in 2023 at age 99, met Li at a Thanksgiving dinner in 2003. What struck him wasn't Li's dramatic backstory fleeing China after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, earning degrees at Columbia, launching his own firm. It was something simpler. Don't Miss: This AI Helps Fortune 1000 Brands Avoid Costly Ad Mistakes See Why Investors Are Paying Attention Motley Fool's analysts have built a new lineup of passive ETFs explore which "Foolish" strategy fits your investment goals. "I'm not interested in revolution. I'm a capitalist," Munger told FT. "It was his capitalist aptitude that attracted me." That aptitude would soon be tested. Long-Term Thinking, Very Real Results When Li launched a new fund under Himalaya Capital in 2004, Munger entrusted him with $88 million to manage, urging him to stick to long-term value investing rather than short-term trading. The outcome? By 2023, that investment had grown roughly four- to fivefold. "We made unholy good returns for a long, long time," Munger said in the same FT profile. "That $88 million has become four or five times that." At the 2018 Daily Journal annual meeting, where he served as chairman, Munger was blunt about how rare this kind of trust was for him. "In my life, I've given money to one outside manager, and that's Li Lu," he said. "No others in my whole life. And I have no feelings that it would be easy to find a second." Trending: This ETF issuer isn't chasing the index it's building tools for income, leverage, and conviction That's not hype. That's Munger drawing a very hard line. At that same meeting, he explained why Li stood out. "The first rule in fishing has always been fish where the fish are and Li Lu just went where the fishing was good." In other words, while most investors were crowding into heavily analyzed U.S. markets, Li focused on China, where opportunities were bigger and competition was thinner. That philosophy showed up clearly in two defining investments. One was an early bet on Kweichow Moutai, purchased when the stock traded at just four to five times earnings. Munger joked that Li "backed up the truck" and bought aggressively a move that turned into one of the most celebrated consumer investments in Asia. Lepizootie de la maladie aphteuse dans ce pays a provoque la decision du gouvernement le 20 fevrier 2026 dinterdire lemission de permis dimportation de betail et dautres sources dapprovisionnement seront mis a contribution. Cabinet has taken note of the current situation in South Africa with regard to the Foot and Mouth Disease affecting cattle and which has been declared a national disaster by the South African Government. In this context, Cabinet has decided that no new import permits for cattle from South Africa will be granted for the moment. Arrangements are being made for importation of cattle from other countries. Resume en Francais Le Cabinet a pris note de la situation actuelle en Afrique du Sud concernant la fievre aphteuse qui affecte le betail et qui a ete declaree catastrophe nationale par le gouvernement sud-africain. Dans ce contexte, le Cabinet a decide quaucun nouveau permis dimportation de betail en provenance dAfrique du Sud ne sera accorde pour le moment. Des dispositions sont actuellement prises pour limportation de betail depuis dautres pays. Parkinsons Ireland has announced the appointment of a new Parkinsons nurse specialist in Mayo. Laura Niepage, who previously worked with the NHS, has taken up the role of Parkinsons nurse specialist, which is the first community-based Parkinsons nurse specialist in the county. The service will operate from Ballina Primary Care Centre and will be available to people living with Parkinsons disease across Mayo. It is estimated that approximately 18,000 people are living with Parkinsons disease in Ireland, a figure expected to double by 2040. READ NEXT: Mayo man set to feature on Nationwide with traditional craft The CEO of Parkinsons Ireland, Shane OBrien, expressed their delight at the free access to a dedicated Parkinsons Nurse Specialist. Laura is a fantastic asset to our organisation and brings extensive experience and compassion to her role. This service will be a vital point of support between consultant appointments, helping people to manage a complex neurological condition more effectively. We would also like to pay tribute to our Mayo branch, whose volunteers continue to deliver vital community services such as physiotherapy and social gatherings. Finally, we would like to thank the HSE for making a consultation room available to us in the Ballina Primary Care Centre, she said. Chairperson of Parkinsons Ireland Mayo Branch, Caroline McLoughlin, said the appointment marks a major milestone for the area: This is a significant achievement for Mayo. As a branch of Parkinsons Ireland, we have helped secure a nurse specialist who will provide vital local support to patients and families, reducing travel and improving access to specialist care. Securing this role has been hugely important for people in Mayo. Our branch has worked hard to ensure that specialist care is available closer to home when it is needed most. This appointment will make a real and lasting difference in our community. The service in Ballina is provided free of charge and is available by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling 1800 359 359 or by emailing nurse@parkinsons.ie. Mayo-born artist David Smith is currently exhibiting a new series of paintings titled Dont Forget To Remember at Ballina Arts Centre, exploring themes of perception and memory. Originally from Castlebar, Smith has lived and worked across Ireland and Asia, spending more than a decade in Hong Kong before returning west to settle in Sligo. His work draws deeply from his Mayo upbringing while also absorbing influences from Asian ink painting, photography, abstraction, and Zen philosophy. I suppose when you grow up in Mayo, you have a certain feel for landscape, Smith says. That always stuck with me. Like many artists, Smith says his work is deeply connected to his past and present life. I guess any artists work is usually a combination of all their previous experiences in life, from their childhood up to where they are currently. That is exactly the case with me as well. READ MORE: Sweet returns: Mayo entrepreneur brings luxury chocolate craft home After leaving Castlebar, Smith studied fine art in Galway, Sligo, and Belfast before embarking on what he initially thought would be a short stint abroad. He taught painting and drawing at university level while also exhibiting. Big impact Living in a super dense city, tiny apartments, with constant noise, you really become aware of the absence of nature, he explains. That tension made a big impact on the paintings I make. Smith often describes his paintings as attempts to capture not a place itself, but the feeling of remembering one. A lot of my work comes from memory, he says. You experience things, and then you let them go. As a painter, youre trying to recapture something, but you realise you actually cant. Smith works exclusively with oil on wood panels, never canvas. This allows him to build layers, pour glazes, and let surfaces crack naturally, mimicking the way memories fade and fragment. Im into the fact that you cant hold an experience clearly, he says. You kind of have to let it go. The title Dont Forget to Remember carries its own personal story. It was inspired by a phrase Smiths granddad used to say when he was leaving his house in Bofin as a child: If you dont write, send a letter. It felt like an Irish saying, Smith explains. I wanted something with a bit of flavour, something connected to memory. The exhibition features work made largely within the past six months, alongside a small number of earlier pieces. Speaking about a painting in his current exhibition at Ballina Arts Centre, David says Lakeshore Sunrise Haze is a fairly typical naming for his work. I tend not to mention direct locations, he says. To me, its not really about that at all. Its more a vague impression of a place. Sunsets appear repeatedly throughout the exhibition, an image Smith traces back to memories of seeing them in different parts of the world. I guess Im a little bit obsessed by them in some ways, mostly through memories of seeing them in Hong Kong, haze and pollution and how they look quite different to where you might see them somewhere else. So that has kind of stuck with me. Among the works are two paintings of horses standing in a misty field. This was never something Smith intended to paint. They just sort of appeared, he says. They reminded me of hiking when I was younger, seeing horses in different places. Things just happen. Another standout piece is Match Burn Sequence, which is seven wood panels and the tracking of a brief flare and the extinction of a flame. The piece reflects Smiths interest in breath, focus, and impermanence, ideas he traces back to an early engagement with martial arts and Zen practices. Theres a moment of focus, and then it bleeds away again, he says. Thats always in the paintings. READ MORE: First ever Grace OMalley Festival welcomes Mayos Pirate Queen home Influences DESPITE the international influences on his work, Smiths connection to Mayo remains central. He continues to return regularly, where he photographs the landscape. When Id come home, it would take three or four nights before my ears stopped ringing, he recalls. You realise how much silence matters. Ultimately, Smith insists his work is meant to remain open-ended. I want the paintings to be subjective, he says. They might remind you of somewhere, but you cant quite put your finger on it. MORE Dont Forget To Remember runs at Ballina Arts Centre until March 14. The gallery is open from 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday to Saturday. READ NEXT: From Mayo to HBO A talented young Mayo pianist from Louisburgh has claimed a top award at a prestigious music festival in Dublin. Jack McDowell, a student at Louisburgh Music School, won the Coakley-Fuller Cup for Baroque Music at the Newpark Festival, held at the Newpark Academy of Music. READ MORE: Mayo projects win government Circular Communications grants He was presented with his trophy by adjudicator Alex Bernstein following his winning performance of Bourree I & II from JS Bachs English Suite No. 2 in the Baroque category. Louisburgh Music School congratulated Jack on what it described as a significant achievement, praising his hard work and dedication to his piano studies. The fifth year Sancta Maria College student has been learning piano at the Louisburgh Music School for a number of years and also plays the organ. A number of other Louisburgh Music School pupils are due to compete in the vocal competitions at the Newpark Festival tomorrow (Saturday). The school also extended thanks to Mairead, Alyssa, Hilda and the team at Newpark Academy of Music for organising and running the festival. The win marks a proud moment for the Louisburgh music community and highlights the strength of young musical talent emerging from Co Mayo. Irish parents are being urged to check their childrens bookshelves after a recall was issued for popular picture books sold across Ireland due to a choking risk. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said specific printings of Ladybird Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee books have been recalled following the discovery of a manufacturing fault affecting the covers. According to the CCPC, the glitter varnish finish on the book covers may lift and peel off in flakes, which can fragment further. A CCPC spokesperson warned: "A child may put such fragments in their mouth and choke." The watchdog confirmed that approximately 856 affected products were sold in the Republic of Ireland, with copies stocked by major retailers nationwide. READ MORE | Man arrested off Thailand flight into Ireland after kilos of cannabis found stashed in bag The affected titles include Peppa Pig: Peppa Meets Father Christmas, Peppa Pig: Peppas Night Before Christmas, Peppa Pig: Peppa Loves Easter, Peppa Pig: Peppa Goes to Hollywood, and Hey Duggee: Duggee and the Christmas Badge. Only certain print runs are affected, and the recall is limited to Ladybird books with a glitter finish that were printed in Great Britain or the United Kingdom. Parents are being urged to check the copyright page inside each book, where the Unique Print Number and print location are listed. The CCPC said the recalled books were sold through major Irish retailers including Eason, Dubray, Waterstones, OMahonys, The Book Centre and several bookshops across the country. The list of Irish retailers includes: Argosy Books Ltd Callistoy Ltd Dubray Books Ltd Eason Ltd IES Ltd Maynooth University Bookshop Newspread Ltd Nimble Fingers OMahonys Booksellers Ltd (various locations) Barker & Jones The Book Centre (various locations) Waterstones Cork Waterstones Drogheda Waterstones Dublin A CCPC spokesperson said: "If you purchased one of the affected products, please stop use immediately and keep it out of the reach of children." Affected copies can be returned to the retailer where they were purchased for a full refund, with no proof of purchase required. Parents who have questions can contact Ladybird customer services by email at customersupport@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Feb 19 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr will enter the Italian market starting from Thursday, the company said in a press release, the latest in a string of announced European launches. Zeekr, fully-owned by heavyweight Geely Holding Group, will start deliveries of its four EV line-up and open retail locations in the spring, it said in the note together with its distributing partner Jameel Motors. Calling Italy a "key market" in the brand's European expansion, acting CEO of Zeekr Europe Lothar Schupet said the timing coincides with rapidly growing demand for premium EVs and continued investment in charging infrastructure. CHINA MAKES STRIDES The brand, whose cars sell from around 38,000 euros to 73,000 euros ($44,680 - $85,833) depending on the model and the premiums, began selling cars in Germany in December and is present in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands, among other countries. It plans to expand into more European markets in 2026, including France, Britain and Spain, Schupet told Reuters in January. Geely, the closest Chinese rival to BYD, said in January that it targets global sales of over 6.5 million vehicles by 2030, aiming to rank among the world's top five automakers in an intensifying competition with established global rivals. Chinese car makers have gained much ground in Europe, capitalising on lower price points compared to European rivals and helped by state subsidies in the continent as part of a push towards decarbonisation. ($1 = 0.8505 euros) (Reporting by Javi West Larranaga; Editing by Matt Scuffham) Phoebe Gates wants to build her AI shopping company while keeping one thing out of her pitch deck: her last name. The 23-year-old youngest daughter of billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates and philanthropist Melinda French Gates recently raised $35 million for Phia, which is now valued at around $185 million. But shes determined for the venture to stand on its own, with no ties to my privilege or my last name, Phoebe Gates told Yahoo Finances Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast in an episode published Thursday. I have a chip on my shoulder, she said, describing her drive to prove she can win over private equity in Silicon Valley based on merit, not inheritance or legacy. Phoebe Gates comments come during the resurfacing of her fathers connections to Jeffrey Epstein, although representatives for Bill Gates have repeatedly denied his involvement and any related accusations. Phoebe Gates didnt comment about the allegations, but French Gates recently said her ex-husband has to answer for Epstein files mentions just weeks after it was revealed she had received $8 billion toward her philanthropic organization, Pivotal, as part of her divorce settlement. Phoebe Gates did acknowledge her fathers business success, saying: From my dad Ive really learned that your team is the core of what youre building. You cant do anything without an incredible team. How Phoebe Gates is paving her own path Phoebe Gates cofounded Phia, an AI shopping assistant, with her Stanford University roommate Sophia Kianni. The shopping assistant plugs into browsers like Chrome and Safari to compare prices and surface deals across tens of thousands of retail and resale sites in real time. It essentially serves as your own personal deal finder: Say youre looking at a $200 dress from Anthropologie, Phia can find and compare prices at secondhand sellers to help customers find a better price. Our target consumer is a young woman whos hustling. She shops like a genius, but she doesnt want to waste her time doing it, Gates told Fortunes Most Powerful Women editor Emma Hinchliffe in April 2025. The New Yorkbased startup launched its app in 2025 and has grown quickly, garnering hundreds of thousands of downloads in its first months as investors pile into AI agents that automate digital tasks. A recent $35 million funding round led by Notable Capital, with participation from firms including Kleiner Perkins and Khosla Ventures, pushed Phias valuation to about $185 million less than a year after an initial $8 million seed round. The U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of President Donald Trumps tariff policy on Friday sent shockwaves throughout the United States, with the president quickly firing back while supply chains face uncertainty across multiple industries including national defense. The Court, in a 6-3 decision stretching beyond ideological lines, ruled against the president and arguably his most major second-term policy stemming from what was described as reciprocal Liberation Day tariffs imposed on every other country beginning in April 2025. Federal data as of mid-December 2025 shows that tariffs raised approximately $133 billion in revenue, with 10-year estimates previously projecting $3 trillion. The Supreme Courts ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing, and Im ashamed of certain members of the courtabsolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do whats right for our country, Trump said from the White House in the rulings aftermath. A worker lifts an aluminum beam on the factory floor at The Luxury Pergola, a company that manufactures aluminum pergolas, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Noblesville, Ind. (AP Photo/Obed Lamy) The president said he plans to impose a global 10% tariff as an alternative in the meantime, which would be enforced under a law that restricts them to 150 days, according to the Associated Press. Their decision is incorrect, Trump added. But it doesnt matter because we have very powerful alternatives. Military.com reached out to the White House and Pentagon for comment. The Pentagon deferred comment to the White House. Trump Judges Cross the Proverbial Aisle Chief Justice John Roberts authored the ruling, supported by the three liberal justices and joined by Trump-appointed Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch. The President asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. In light of the breadth, history and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it. - Chief Justice John Roberts in the ruling The Trump administration enacted the tariff policy under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, a 1977 statute that the Trump administration argued grants authority to presidents to regulate imports. The difference between this administration and others that referenced the law in past decisions is that no other president invoked this particular statute to import taxes. A South Korean protester, wearing a mask of U.S. President Donald Trump, gestures during a rally against Trump's tariffs policy on South Korea, near the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. The banners, in red, read, "We condemn Trump's trade pressure." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas dissented. Kavanaugh, who was appointed to the Court during Trumps first presidential term, in his dissent wrote that the tariffs are clearly lawful whether or not they are a good or bad economic policyadding that the fallout could result in a mess nationally as some companies, like Costco, are already vying for refunds in lower courts. While the opinion did not directly address such refunds, the Department of Justice previously conceded that all IEEPA tariffs would be refunded if the policy was overturned. Battle is 'Uphill' Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said in remarks provided to Military.com that the majority opinion relies on the Major Question doctrine and the Non-Delegation doctrine to assert that ambiguous language in IEEPA cannot be stretched to give the president a peacetime power to impose taxation through tariffs. In separate concurring opinions, Gorsuch viewed the doctrine as central to the IEEPA cases while Barrett deems it superfluous, he said. The Major Question doctrine states that a statute cannot be used by the executive for far-reaching economic consequences unless the statute gives specific authority for such consequences, Hufbauer said. The Non-Delegation doctrine states that Congress cannot give its core constitutional powers to the executive. While Trump has already employed other means around it, Hufbauer sees the president ultimately facing an uphill battle if he invokes other statutes as instruments to raise substantial revenue through tariffs, rather than as instruments to address specific foreign practices. Jury's Out on US Allies Impacts across the country could be felt in different ways depending on how the legal side of the policies shake out in upcoming days and weeks. One of those is national defense and security, which according to previous reports took a hit as the so-called Liberation Day tariffs were being widely implemented. PIIE senior fellow Cullen Hendrix wrote for PIIE in July 2025 that the U.S. has long had clout due to its global spending within alliances like NATO, with economic benefits that include making military weapons more affordable with a unified market. Containers are stacked at the Port of Long Beach Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) But the Trump administrations tariff policy, Hendrix argued, carries risks with those same allies that in certain ways directly benefit the U.S. All of those allies, including the European Union's NATO members to Canada, Japan and South Korea, have been negatively impacted by tariffs levied by the U.S. Before Trump issued the 10% across-the-board tariff following the Supreme Court's decision, British Columbia Premier David Eby jabbed at Trump. Good morning everybody and happy liberation day, Eby said, according to CBC. After a reported chuckle he added, "We'll see." Alliances are based on assurance, Hendrix wrote. Threatening and imposing tariffs on trading partners, including free trade agreement partners, already erodes trust in US commitments. Treating alliance partners like trade adversaries will further increase intra-alliance frictions, weaken collective deterrence, and invite potential adversariesnone better positioned than Chinato exploit these divisions. The Council on Foreign Relations Jonathan Hillman, a senior fellow in geoeconomics, wrote in July 2025 that the tariffs were already having nefarious effects on national security, as defense companies at that time reported higher costs to not just purchase goods but maintain capacity and employees who can work on and/or deliver materials. Tariffs make it more difficult to meet U.S. defense requirements in many of the same ways that they impact American households, Jonathan Hillman wrote for CFR. Higher costs are passed to the customer, which in this case is the U.S. government. As a result, the Department of Defense simply cannot buy as much with its budget. That, in turn, caused longtime allies like French President Emmanuel Macron to push for European strategic autonomy that could translate to more Europe-produced replacements to U.S. cloud services, satellites and fighter jets, for example. On the evening of March 16, 1945, Sten Gould stood on the gangplank of the Queen Mary, docked in New York Harbor, close enough to see the city lights but forbidden from stepping off. "Felt sort of sad as I looked at the City in the evening," the 19-year-old soldier wrote in his journal. "Here I was so close to home but unable to get off. Walked on the gangplank and was almost off the boat a couple of times. Of course, I wouldn't leave." He was heading to war. His family was only a few miles away in the Bronx. On Feb. 21, Gould turns 100 years old. For the past eight decades, those wartime journals, written throughout his Army service, have preserved the voice of a soldier who copied Nazi morse code transmissions, walked through Hitler's bombed-out home and came back to build a life after the war. "All the things I learned were instrumental in getting me a safe career in the military," Gould told Military.com. "It took a long time to train a high-speed radio operator. It was safe." Goulds journal where he documented his daily experiences in the Army during WWII. He used the journal entries to self-publish a memoir, Echoes From the Past. (Ellie Warthen) Childhood in New York City Gould was born in New York City in 1926, the youngest of four children. His parents were both Jewish and had immigrated from Eastern Europe. They met in America. Their relatives who stayed behind would not survive the impending war. "Their families were wiped out in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus," Gould said. "Families that did not come over were wiped out." The family lived in a community called "the Coops" in Bronx Park, short for cooperative, a housing project with unusual origins. "It was started by the Communist Party at the time, they built a lovely community," he said. "A lot of people, what we could call communists today, lived there." Years later, Gould returned to visit. Above the doorway, a hammer and sickle was still engraved in the stone. His fascination with science started early. He stuck bobby pins into electrical outlets just to see what would happen. When one glowed red, then white, then melted in a tiny flash, he didn't run away. He wanted to understand. "What was in the outlet on the floor that could do that?" Gould recalled. The moment that shaped his life came when he was three years old. His older brothers got into one of their frequent fights and knocked a radio off a shelf. The radio cracked open on the floor. Inside was a twist of tubes and wires as somehow the music kept playing. "I had assumed that little people playing tiny instruments lived inside the radio," Gould later said. "What else could produce music and talking? I was so puzzled by my discovery, I immediately forgot my unhappiness over my brother's fighting and demanded to know where the music and talking were coming from." They glued the cabinet back together before their father got home. He never found out. But Gould continued to pursue his interest in science and technology. He later taught himself morse code, earned his amateur radio license and became a ham radio operator as a teenager. When war came, those skills would play a vital role. Gould was raised in New York City before enlisting in the Army and joining the war in Europe in 1945. (Ellie Warthen) Enlisting into the Army When Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, Gould was 15 years old. He wasn't surprised. "Somehow I expected it," he said. "War was already going on. I was certain it was going to overtake us and I would be in." On Jan. 24, 1944, the day he graduated from high school, Gould went downtown with his brother Sid and enlisted in the United States Army. He was 17. "Perhaps one of the most important days of my life," he wrote that night. Because he wasn't yet 18, the Army enrolled him in the Army Specialized Training Program at Alfred University in upstate New York, a program that sent promising recruits to college campuses for technical education. On Feb. 21, 1944, Gould turned 18 at the small school, far from home for the first time in his life. "Just had breakfast and the boys sang 'happy birthday' to me," he wrote. "It's different having my birthday away from my family. No one actually knows me. Although I've been in the army about a month, I think I'm losing my ability to know my own feelings. I think I'm beginning to feel only what the army wants me to feel!" The ASTP wouldn't last. By early 1944, the Army was hemorrhaging men in Italy and preparing for the invasion of France. It needed bodies. That spring, the program was gutted. A sergeant delivered the news that after basic training, they would be "whisked overseas so fast we wouldn't be able to read the name of the boat." Sten Gould and his brother Bob, shortly after Sten graduated from Army Basic Training in the summer of 1944. (Echoes From the Past) Basic Training Gould reported to Camp Crowder, Missouri, for basic training in June 1944, the same month Allied forces stormed the beaches at Normandy. The training was brutal. His first day of KP duty, he scrubbed floors on his hands and knees, scoured massive pots encrusted with food, and peeled over 100 potatoes. "I never worked so hard in my life," he wrote. When he finally got off at 8 p.m., there was no rest, the entire barracks was preparing for an inspection the next morning. "I continued working like a coolie with all the other guys." Rifle practice terrified him. "Watching the first group of men fire scared the hell out of me," he wrote. "The kick is tremendous and the noise hurts your ears. My first shot almost dislocated my shoulder." To his surprise, he nearly qualified as Expert. The grenade range was worse. One morning in July, Gould stood in a sandbagged pit, live grenade in hand, waiting for the command to throw. Before it came, the grenade in the pit next to him detonated. "It was someone else's hand grenade," Gould recalled. "That was a terrible incident. Some guy let go of the handle before he should have." The culmination of basic training was an infiltration course designed to simulate combat. After a 14-mile hike, Gould and his fellow soldiers arrived exhausted at 5:30 in the morning. They had been awake since 2 a.m., marching through darkness on a forest trail lit only by the moon. At dawn, they began crawling. Ninety yards on their stomachs, through simulated minefields, under barbed wire, while live machine gun fire cracked inches above their heads. "If you get up you get riddled," he wrote. Generals watched from command cars. "I was happy I made it." When asked what job he wanted in the Army, Gould mentioned his background in radio. The recruiter's eyes lit up. "They needed people who were knowledgeable of morse code," Gould said. "I learned it by myself, got a license. In a sense it saved my life." In August 1944, he was accepted to High Speed Radio Operators School. The schedule was punishing, up at 4:45 a.m., six hours of copying code before lunch, more code and radio theory all afternoon. "It's a long, long day," he wrote. His efficiency rating was "excellent." Gould during his advanced radio training in December of 1944. (Echoes From the Past) Going Overseas On Dec. 20, 1944, Gould got his shipping orders. He was elated to leave the misery of on-the-job training, freezing nights in a rat-infested farmhouse, eating cold C-rations while copying practice messages until dawn. He made it home for Christmas, seeing his family for what might be the last time. On New Year's Eve 1944, he went to Carnegie Hall with his parents to hear the New York Philharmonic. In a few months, he would be in Germany. "And so ends the year 1944," he wrote that night. "It wasn't a very bad year...but it was far from good. Nevertheless, I hope the next year will bring this darned war to a close, and with it, the return of millions of GIs to their homes. For keeps." In March 1945, Gould boarded the Queen Mary in New York Harbor. The luxury ocean liner had been converted into a troopship, its elegant swimming pools filled with bunks stacked four high, its grand dining rooms packed with soldiers eating in shifts. The ship sat in the harbor for days before departing, and Gould could see the city from the deck. On March 16, he walked out on the gangplank and viewed the city one last time. At 2200 hours, the Queen Mary finally pulled out. The crossing was rough. The massive ship pitched so severely in heavy weather that soldiers were pinned against the walls. "When it hitched from side to side, slowly to the other, it stayed there, all the soldiers were pinned to that side," Gould said. "We all laughed at the grotesque in a funny way as the boat slowly returned to the center. Then the other side." At one point, the crew dropped depth charges on a possible submarine contact. Gould wasn't worried. "There was possibly a submarine, but who knows," he said. "None of us put it in our mind. It was so huge, how could you sink a ship like that." Four days and 13 hours later, they landed in Scotland. The British liner RMS Queen Mary arrives in New York harbour, 20 June 1945, with thousands of U.S. troops from Europe. The Queen Mary still wears her light grey war paint. Seen from near Hamilton Avenue, Weehawken. (Wikimedia Commons) The 124th and the War in Europe From Scotland, Gould traveled by train through England, by boat to France, and by rail into Germany, arriving in April 1945 as the Third Reich collapsed around him. Along the tracks, he saw shell holes, dead livestock and the bodies of German soldiers. "I wasn't affected by the dead," he wrote. He was assigned to the 124th Signal Radio Intelligence Company, one of only two such units in the entire U.S. Army, the other serving in the Pacific. Their mission was to intercept, locate and copy German military radio transmissions, feeding raw intelligence to the codebreakers who would decrypt it. They set up their operations in a building that once served as the headquarters for the German Gestapo. Gould's job was straightforward but demanding. He had to sit at a radio set and copy German morse code as fast as it came in, at a minimum of 25 words per minute. "All I did was copying," Gould said. "There was another unit that did the breaking down of the codes. I just copied them. It was hard enough." The work required total concentration. During one session, a group of high-ranking officers stood nearby talking loudly. Gould didn't hesitate. "I yelled 'shut the fuck up,'" he recalled. "They all ran out. It was a good excuse. No one bothered me anymore." Though the war was almost over in early 1945, Gould and his comrades saw the wrecks of German vehicles and the damage that war had caused for the German people. (Echoes From the Past) The 124th used direction finders to triangulate enemy transmitter locations, and Gould learned to identify individual German radio operators by their distinctive sending styles, what operators called their "fist." "Every operator had a different way of sending," he explained. "The Germans had one kind of fist, Americans had another. Very sensitive. I could pick out who I was listening to." Ironically, German technical excellence made them easier to find. Their transmitters produced a perfectly steady tone; American, French, Russian, and Italian equipment had a slight warble. "It was their technical excellence that gave their identification away," Gould wrote. On April 13, 1945, word reached the unit that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had died. "The news hit the boys very hard," Gould wrote. "We all had tears in our eyes. We've lost one of the greatest men of this era." The war in Europe was nearly over. On May 8, 1945, V-E Day, Gould was working a direction finder in a field when he heard Winston Churchill's voice on the radio announcing Germany's surrender. "I turned the volume up; I was so excited I wanted the whole world to hear it," he wrote. "I had the world at my fingertips; and together with the good news I was really one very happy and homesick boy." Gould served in the Army during WWII, receiving and copying German morse-code transmissions. The messages were then translated and passed to intelligence units. (Echoes From the Past) An Enemy People What surprised Gould most about Germany was not the devastation, the bombed cities, the ruined infrastructure, the defeated army. It was the people. "When I did get to Germany, that almost knocked me off my feet," Gould said. "They looked like me. That surprised me. I had expected in a silly way that they would look different. They looked like me. That was the beginning of my education. I started thinking on a higher level." He was an American soldier from a Jewish background whose extended family had been murdered by the Nazi regime. He might have harbored hatred for every German he met. He didn't. "I didn't feel any different than anyone else," he said. "I didn't feel Jewish. I was an American soldier. No one said 'I'm Catholic' or 'Protestant.' We were just soldiers." After the war, Gould became a supply sergeant, managing German workers and processing former soldiers for labor details. He conducted interviews, investigated backgrounds and managed men who only weeks before served in an enemy army. "Whenever I spoke to Germans I would get the current baloney that they were all duped and hypnotized by Hitler," he wrote. "Of course, they weren't going to tell me that they voted the bastard into office and 'sieg-heiled' themselves hoarse whenever he drove by." One man admitted to joining the Nazi Party just a month before the war ended. "Why did he join?" Gould recalled asking. "He said, 'We were starving and if we didn't join they wouldn't give us food.' They suffered for listening to Adolf. They paid for it. The loser pays double." Gould spoke Yiddish, which shares some of its vocabulary with German. He picked up the language quickly and communicated easily with civilians, who often asked which German city he came from. "I would say the Bronx," he said. That summer, Gould visited Berchtesgarten, Hitler's mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps. He walked through the bombed ruins and sat in chairs where Nazi leadership had once sat. "It fascinated me, how in all that beautiful scenery such inhuman conniving was taking place," he wrote. In August 1945, he heard news of the atomic bomb. Gould walked around town hoping to find some celebration. It was raining. There was no one around. "I always thought the end of the war would bring some kind of big change...like a new star in the heavens...maybe a bigger sun...or something," he wrote. "But no, it's just a very ordinary day, and a rainy one at that. What a very strange dream this world is experiencing." He got along with the locals as he served briefly on occupation duty. Though his time in the Army was coming to an end. Gould went on to teach high school science and physics for over 20 years. (Ellie Warthen) Coming Home Gould left Germany in June 1946 and returned to New York. He used the GI Bill to earn a physics degree from City College of New York, then a master's from NYU. He taught high school physics for more than 20 years before retiring in the 1970s. Throughout the decades, he kept possession of his wartime journals which documented his daily experiences at the end of WWII. In 2000, with the support of his wife Ellie, Gould turned his journal entries into a book. The result was "Echoes From the Past," a self-published memoir now available on Amazon. "I felt I had a lot of things to say," Gould said. "It reminds me of the stuff that I couldn't remember any longer. It was a backup of the stuff I experienced." Sten Gould and his wife, Ellie. (Ellie Warthen) Looking back nearly 80 years later, Gould has no regrets. "I'm glad I was in it and made it," he said. "It was an interesting learning experience, and those who didn't make it can't write it down. I was able to. If you've gone through tough times and made it, you did it." As for his secret to reaching 100? "Having a lot of fun in life," Gould said. "You need to be interested, motivated, and get enjoyment out of it. Give other people some degree of enjoyment." That curious kid from the Bronx who stuck bobby pins into outlets and thought little people lived inside radios, went on to use those interests to copy wartime German codes. He survived the war, returned home and had a family. Even as he turns 100 on Saturday Feb. 21, his memory is still as sharp as ever. A federal judge in Louisiana has ruled that a 2024 state law regulating people and organizations that assist veterans with disability benefit claims is unconstitutional, concluding key parts of the law conflict with federal law and with constitutional protections. The ruling in Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc. v. Landry was issued by Judge Brian A. Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. The state law, known as the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act or the PLUS Act, had imposed limits on fees and required specific disclosures by consultants who help veterans seek disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The court held that the law is preempted by federal law governing veterans' benefits representation and that some of its provisions violate the First Amendment. Plaintiffs in the case were Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc., a nonprofit that provides training, advocacy, and information on veterans' law, and the Law Office of John B. Wells, a law firm representing veterans. They filed suit in 2024 against Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill, challenging the statute soon after it was enacted. Provisions Of The PLUS Act At Issue The PLUS Act applied to individuals and entities that received compensation to assist veterans with filing or appealing benefit claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The law set a maximum amount that could be charged as a contingent fee on disability benefit awards, required consultants to provide specific written and oral disclosures about alternative sources of assistance, and mandated retention of certain records. The state also required consultants to inform clients about the availability of assistance from accredited veterans service organizations and from free state and federal programs. The statute imposed penalties for failure to comply with these requirements, including possible disciplinary actions and fines. Louisiana lawmakers and supporters of the law said it was intended to protect veterans, particularly those with limited resources, from high fees and misleading practices by some private consultants. Opponents argued that the law would burden accredited representatives and interfere with established federal processes for veterans' benefits representation. Federal Courts Supremacy Clause Analysis In its 2026 decision, the federal court ruled that the PLUS Act is preempted by federal law to the extent it creates a separate scheme for regulating representation of veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under federal law, the VA establishes standards for accrediting attorneys, claims agents, and representatives of veterans service organizations to assist claimants with benefit applications and appeals, and only accredited individuals may be compensated for such assistance. Rules governing accreditation and representation are set forth in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The court explained that the federal system envisions a uniform national regime for accreditation and standards of conduct for representatives. Allowing states to impose different requirements on who may assist veterans and under what terms would disrupt that uniform system. The court found that Louisianas attempt to regulate fee structures and disclosures for compensated representatives directly interferes with the federal statutory and regulatory scheme. Judge Jackson wrote that the Supremacy Clause requires state law to yield when it conflicts with federal law or stands as an obstacle to the accomplishment of federal objectives. Because the PLUS Acts provisions would apply to individuals and entities involved in representation before the VA in ways that diverge from federal standards, they are preempted and cannot be enforced. A monument memorializing Louisiana National Guardsmen seen standing beneath the state capitol at Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 21, 2019. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie. Source: DVIDS. First Amendment Findings The court also addressed the statutes mandatory disclosure requirements, which compelled compensated consultants to provide written and oral advisories about alternative sources of assistance, including free nonprofit and government programs. Citing First Amendment jurisprudence governing compelled speech, the court found that these requirements could not be justified as a regulation of commercial conduct because they obligate speakers to communicate specific messages. The judge ruled that forcing consultants to make these disclosures without a sufficient evidentiary basis and without tailoring the requirements to address a compelling government interest raises constitutional concerns. The decision noted that while states may impose certain commercial regulations, compelled speech that dictates the content of communications poses a distinct constitutional question requiring rigorous justification. Because both the preemption and First Amendment analyses led to invalidation of the laws core provisions, the court held the statute could not be saved by severing only specific sections. The PLUS Act was therefore struck down in its entirety. Reactions From Veterans Community And State Officials Veterans advocacy groups responded to the ruling with differing views. The Veterans of Foreign Wars issued a statement saying that the decision preserves the existing accreditation system and avoids confusion that could arise if states adopt divergent regulatory requirements. The organization emphasized that accredited service officers provide free assistance to veterans through established national and local networks. The National Association of Veteran Rights, a group representing private consultants and advocates for expanded choice in benefits assistance, criticized the decision. The association argued that the PLUS Act had been designed to protect veterans from predatory fee arrangements and to ensure transparency, and that the ruling creates uncertainty about how states may protect their residents while respecting federal law. Louisianas Attorney General indicated the state plans to appeal the ruling, stating the legislatures intent was to protect disabled veterans and the court misapplied principles of federalism and state authority. If an appeal is filed, the case would go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Federal Accreditation System And State Regulation Federal law grants the Department of Veterans Affairs authority to accredit representatives who assist veterans with claims. Accredited representatives include attorneys, claims agents, and officers of recognized veterans service organizations. To become accredited, individuals generally must meet training, ethical, and character requirements established by the VA. These standards aim to ensure competent assistance for veterans navigating benefit claims and appeals. Louisianas law would have allowed certain compensated consultants to operate under state rules that differ from the federal accreditation framework. The court concluded that allowing a separate state regime would create inconsistency with the federal scheme and potentially confuse veterans about who is authorized to represent them in benefit matters. Cadets with the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program help place over 11,000 American flags to honor our Louisiana fallen service member during times of war, on the lawn of the La State Capitol, Baton Rouge, La. Photo by MSgt Toby Valadie. Source: DVIDS. Implications And Next Steps The ruling clarifies that states face significant limitations when attempting to regulate individuals or organizations that assist veterans with federally governed benefits claims and appeals. Laws that diverge from federal accreditation standards or impose conflicting requirements risk invalidation under the Supremacy Clause. How the Fifth Circuit will rule if the case is appealed remains to be seen. The appeal could further define the boundary between state consumer protection efforts and the federal regulatory framework governing veterans' benefits representation. A Growing Split Among States On Paid Claims Help Some states are moving in the opposite direction from Louisiana by tightening restrictions on paid, unaccredited help with VA disability claims rather than trying to regulate it with state fee caps and disclosures. Californias new law (SB 694) requires federal accreditation for companies that assist veterans with federal benefits claims and bars unaccredited firms from charging for that help. Other states have taken a more consumer-protection approach that regulates paid assistance through disclosures, fee restrictions, and billing prohibitions rather than an accreditation-only model, including Floridas statute governing veterans benefits matters, which requires specified disclosures and bars certain fee practices such as initial or nonrefundable fees. Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Financing Round in European Fintech Start-up (Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Startup) Googles venture arm has simply gone down a major monetary bombshell in the fintech globe. It led a $200 million funding round for an increasing European fintech startup. This move signals strong confidence in the businesss vision and innovation. The investment is not practically money. It demonstrates how huge technology players are banking on innovation outside Silicon Valley. Europes fintech scene is warming up, and this offer could be a turning point. What Is Googles Venture Arm Purchasing? . Googles venture arm, referred to as GV, focuses on high-growth startups with disruptive potential. In this instance, it backed a European fintech start-up that focuses on digital banking facilities. The start-up develops tools that assist financial institutions and financial institutions modernize their systems. These tools consist of APIs for repayments, identity confirmation, and real-time purchase monitoring. The firm does not offer customers directly. Rather, it powers the back end of financial solutions made use of by millions. This silent yet vital duty makes it a key player in the electronic financing community. You can find out more regarding just how tech financial investments are forming global markets through reports like those on digital framework fads. Why Did Googles Venture Arm Pick This Start-up? . GV sees something special below. The start-up operates in an area where heritage banking systems are falling apart under digital demand. Old software application can not manage todays speed, security, or individual expectations. This fintech provides a tidy, cloud-native option. It ranges quickly and incorporates fast. That matters to financial institutions competing to remain appropriate. Also, Europes regulative atmosphere supports open banking, which creates fertile ground for such systems. GV most likely spotted both market preparedness and technical quality. The group behind the startup includes experts from top monetary and tech firms. Their experience lowers implementation threat. And also, with fintech fostering rising across Europe, timing is ideal. For deeper understandings right into how policy affects technology development, take a look at evaluations like the one at regulatory effect on technology. How Does the Start-ups Technology Work? . The core product is a modular system improved microservices design. Each feature like sending money, checking equilibriums, or confirming identities runs as an independent solution. This implies financial institutions can pick just what they need. They do not need to revamp entire systems. The system makes use of contemporary APIs, so combination with existing apps is smooth. Protection is baked in from the beginning, with end-to-end encryption and compliance with GDPR and PSD2 criteria. Real-time information processing allows instant scams detection and faster settlements. Developers love it because documents is clear and sandbox settings prepare to make use of. Updates turn out without downtime. This adaptability is why clients stay. It additionally discusses why GV saw lasting worth past simply a fast departure. Applications of the Fintech Platform in Real Banking . Financial institutions are using this platform in lots of methods. Some release it to release neobank-style mobile apps without developing from the ground up. Others utilize it to upgrade old settlement rails so they sustain instantaneous transfers. One major European financial institution reduced its onboarding time from weeks to minutes by plugging in the identity confirmation module. An additional used the deal engine to provide real-time investing notifies, increasing customer involvement. Also non-bank players like fintech lending institutions and insurer use the system for secure, certified procedures. The system additionally helps smaller establishments compete with giants by providing enterprise-grade technology at reduced price. As digital financing grows, so will certainly these use cases. Market viewers tracking such changes can locate helpful context in resources like emerging fintech communities. Frequently asked questions About the Funding and the Start-up . Is this Googles very first fintech financial investment in Europe? No, yet it is one of the biggest. GV has backed various other European start-ups before, though rarely at this range. Will the start-up increase past Europe? Yes, plans are currently in motion for The United States and Canada and components of Asia. The $200 million will sustain that global push. Does Google get a board seat? Commonly, lead financiers like GV do take a seat, yet terms are not always public. What makes this startup different from others like Red stripe or Plaid? Those concentrate on details layers settlements or data access. This firm supplies a full-stack infrastructure layer customized for controlled banks. Is the innovation open resource? No, it is exclusive, however it follows open criteria so it plays well with other systems. The number of clients does the start-up have now? Precise numbers are confidential, however it deals with over 30 banks across 12 countries. Could this cause a Google-branded financial product? Unlikely. GV invests individually from Googles core items. The goal is financial return, not assimilation into Gmail or Android. Will user data be shared with Google? No. The startup keeps stringent information splitting up. GVs role is monetary and strategic, not functional. (Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Startup) This financing round is greater than a heading. It shows how infrastructure-level development is coming to be the new frontier in fintech. While fancy customer apps get hold of interest, the genuine transformation happens under the hood. And with GVs support, this European startup is currently positioned to reshape just how financial institutions operate worldwide. 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. () 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. All articles and pictures are from the Internet. If there are any copyright issues, please contact us in time to delete. Inquiry us Your name Your e-mail Subject Your message (optional) (45-9)/9=? The church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International, was headquartered in Taylor, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. According to court filings, Taylor referred to himself as an "Apostle" and claimed to be Jesus Christ's "best friend" and "second in command" (2). The Justice Department says the church operated at least nine call centers across Michigan, Missouri, Florida and Texas (3). The superseding indictment also added new allegations that Taylor frequently requested and received sexually explicit photographs and videos from female church workers some of whom prosecutors say were afraid to refuse. "This case reflects the gravity of forced labor schemes that strip victims of their basic human rights and subject them to physical and brutal psychological abuse," Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said in a statement. "Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice. We will relentlessly pursue those who facilitate and profit from forced labor and fight to obtain justice for survivors." Klein is charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Taylor, the church's founder, and Brannon, its executive director, each face up to 20 years per count on charges of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor and money laundering conspiracy. All three defendants have denied the allegations. Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year and he begs investors not to miss its explosion Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake heres what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Kathleen Klein, 53, known within the church as "Prophetess," was named in a superseding indictment returned Feb. 11 in the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. Department of Justice announced (1). She joins co-defendants David Taylor and Michelle Brannon, who were first indicted in July 2025 and arrested the following month in a coordinated nationwide takedown by the FBI. A federal grand jury in Michigan has indicted a third defendant in an alleged forced labor conspiracy tied to the Kingdom of God Global Church a sprawling ministry that prosecutors say used coercion, abuse and threats of divine punishment to run a multi-state call center operation that brought in roughly $50 million in donations over more than a decade. Story Continues Prosecutors say victims were forced to work grueling hours sometimes exceeding 20 hours per day, according to the federal indictment soliciting donations by phone without pay. Workers were assigned aggressive daily, weekly and monthly fundraising targets that the DOJ described as unattainable. According to the indictment, workers were instructed to tell donors that their money would be used to build wells in impoverished parts of the world and to fight human trafficking while the organization was allegedly trafficking the very workers making those calls (4). Those who fell short or pushed back faced a range of punishments: public humiliation, sleep deprivation, physical violence, withholding of food and shelter, forced repentance rituals and threats of "divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents, death, and eternal damnation." Klein allegedly sent text messages to "Houston Managers" in 2024 assigning victims to "heavy labor" and threatening to put people "out to the streets," according to a 29-page federal indictment reviewed by FOX 13 Tampa Bay (5). Workers reportedly slept in call center facilities or ministry-owned houses and were not allowed to leave without permission. Taylor's personal servants, referred to internally as "armor bearers," were also allegedly subjected to exploitative conditions. Where did all that money go? Since 2014, the organization collected approximately $50 million in donations, according to prosecutors. Church leaders allegedly funneled those funds into a portfolio of luxury real estate, high-end vehicles and personal goods. The properties purchased include an $8.3 million mansion in Tampa's exclusive Avila neighborhood previously owned by Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, according to a deed filed in Hillsborough County (6) and a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Wildwood, Missouri, formerly owned by rapper Nelly. The church also owned multiple additional properties in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield, along with holdings in Ocala, Florida, Houston and Michigan. Prosecutors say the proceeds also paid for Mercedes-Benzes, Bentleys, a Rolls Royce, multiple bulletproof vehicles, a $105,000 boat, jet skis, ATVs, airline tickets and designer clothing. Taylor's lavish spending drew scrutiny years before the federal charges. In a deposition that went viral around 2015, he struggled to explain a $2.8 million residence, three luxury vehicles and an annual clothing budget of approximately $30,000, which he attributed to "sweating through all his clothes" during frequent travel (7). MinistryWatch, a nonprofit that tracks transparency in religious organizations, gives the ministry an "F" transparency grade and a Donor Confidence Score of zero its lowest possible rating (8). Read More: The average net worth of Americans is a surprising $620,654. But it almost means nothing. Heres the number that counts (and how to make it skyrocket) A gaping hole in nonprofit oversight While the Kingdom of God Global Church case is striking on its own, it illustrates a broader vulnerability in how the U.S. oversees religious organizations and the billions of dollars that flow through them each year. Unlike every other type of 501(c)(3) nonprofit, churches are exempt from filing IRS Form 990 the annual financial disclosure that requires secular charities to publicly report their revenue, expenses and executive compensation (9). That means donors, regulators and the public have virtually no window into how a church spends its money unless the organization voluntarily discloses that information. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) estimates that the average organization loses about 5% of its annual revenue to fraud (10). Religious communities may be especially susceptible to what researchers call "affinity fraud," in which bad actors exploit the trust that naturally exists within a faith community. One analysis applying ACFE methodology to global Christian giving estimated that roughly $62 billion per year is lost to ecclesiastical fraud and embezzlement more than the total income of global foreign missions (11). That means the KOGGC case is hardly isolated. In Minnesota, the Feeding Our Future scandal became one of the largest nonprofit fraud cases in U.S. history, with defendants accused of fabricating meal programs to steal roughly $250 million in federal aid (12). In Kansas, six former cult members were sentenced in 2025 for a forced labor conspiracy that targeted minors (13). And in Missouri, the director of the nonprofit New Heights Community Resource Center was charged with siphoning approximately $10 million from federal child nutrition programs to fund a luxury lifestyle. Congress has the authority to require churches to file financial disclosures, just as their secular counterparts must. But it has historically declined to do so, citing concerns about religious liberty. Critics say it creates a blind spot that bad actors can exploit. How to protect yourself For donors who want to ensure their contributions are going where they're told, experts recommend watching for red flags: a lack of published financial information, pressure to give, leaders with visibly lavish lifestyles and resistance to answering basic questions about how donations are spent. Before giving, check independent watchdog sites such as MinistryWatch, GuideStar (now Candid), CharityWatch and the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. Churches that voluntarily publish annual financial reports or Form 990 equivalents are generally sending positive signals. The IRS Exempt Organizations database can also verify an organization's tax-exempt status. Anyone who suspects human trafficking or forced labor can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, which operates around the clock. What happens next Klein faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Taylor, who was denied bond in October 2025, remains in federal custody. Brannon was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond after suffering a cardiac event while jailed; her release conditions include surrendering her passport and having no contact with Taylor or former church members. The church has denied all allegations. Taylor's attorney, Larry Margolis, told the Detroit Free Press that the charges lack merit, arguing that Taylor and the church members "were at all times exercising their First Amendment rights to freely practice their religion" (14). Brannon's attorney has argued separately that she was manipulated and controlled by Taylor at a supervisory level and does not pose a danger to the community. Despite the federal charges, the Kingdom of God Global Church appears to still be operating posting Sunday service videos to its YouTube channel as recently as February. And in December, the church filed a petition demanding the government return more than $4.2 million in seized bank funds, along with precious metals, jewelry, designer clothing and other assets confiscated during the August raids. In the filing, the church argued that the government's seizure far exceeds the $700,000 alleged in the money laundering charges and that holding the assets infringes on its First Amendment right to carry out religious functions, including worship, community outreach and charity. The church also claims it maintains records demonstrating lawful ownership of the seized property, including logs tracking individual donations. The government has argued the seizures followed proper procedures. The court has not yet issued a final ruling. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation continue to investigate the case. You May Also Like 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. U.S. Department of Justice (1, 13); ClickOnDetroit (2); Houston Public Media (3); St. Louis Magazine (4); FOX 13 Tampa Bay (5); MinistryWatch (6, 8, 14); Christian Post (7); National Council of Nonprofits (9); Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (10); Overseas Ministries Study Center (11); CharityWatch (12) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA) is included among the 14 Best Real Estate Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Citi Trims Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA) Target Amid Multifamily Sector Uncertainty Top 100 Places Where the Rich People Own Real Estate On February 13, Citi trimmed its price recommendation on Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA) to $148 from $155. The firm maintained a Neutral rating on the stock. A few days earlier, on February 9, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Richard Anderson raised his price objective slightly to $141 from $137 and also kept a Neutral rating. He noted that while the multifamily REITs under his coverage reported fourth-quarter results that came in below expectations, the more important factor to know would be new lease rate growth, especially as the market approaches the busy spring and summer leasing season. During the companys Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Brad Hill said core FFO came in as expected, even though the market continued to deal with elevated supply levels. He pointed to early signs of improvement, noting that occupancy rose by 10 basis points and same-store blended lease performance improved by 40 basis points compared with the prior year. Hill said the company entered 2026 in a stronger position, with revenue trends starting to move in the right direction. He expects blended lease rates to improve by 110 to 160 basis points, while effective rent growth is projected to increase by about 85 basis points compared with 2025 levels. He also highlighted continued investment in technology and property enhancements. This includes expanding digital initiatives and rolling out community-wide WiFi across its properties. In addition, capital spending on redevelopment and repositioning projects is expected to increase by more than 10% in 2026. Hill also discussed development activity, noting that the company acquired a shovel-ready project in Scottsdale, Arizona, bringing its total active development pipeline to $932 million. The company also purchased land in Arlington, Virginia, where it plans to build a 287-unit apartment community. He added that these development projects are expected to deliver stabilized NOI yields in the range of 6% to 6.5%. Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA) is a multifamily REIT that owns, operates, acquires, and selectively develops apartment communities. Its portfolio is primarily concentrated in the Southeast, Southwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. While we acknowledge the potential of MAA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're 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. 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. Did our AI summary help? 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. Did our AI summary help? To commemorate the special occasion, Jackky took to Instagram and shared a touching video montage featuring beautiful glimpses from their wedding celebrations. Did our AI summary help? Javed Akhtar slams Taliban over reports of legalising wife beating in new Afghan Penal Code Did our AI summary help? Officials stated that the Bishnoi gang had earlier claimed responsibility for the firing through a social media post. Did our AI summary help? 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. In a deeply personal revelation, comedian and talk show host Conan O'Brien shared that the couple had attended a holiday gathering at his home just hours before the tragedy occurred. In honour of the actors birthday, the Kim Soo-hyun Fan Union announced on the 16th that they had donated 100 million Korean won to the Korea Heart Foundation. Prabhas said that one morning he thought of having a cheat day" during Adipurush shooting and asked everyone on the set not to eat their usual food. BRAND CONNECT *Disclaimer - Brand Connect is a solution that allows brands to break the queue to gain better engagement among our audiences Did our AI summary help? 6-3 ruling curbs executive tariff authority; Jeffrey Sachs says India should pause and reassess recent US trade agreement. 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. Trump said he would sign an executive order imposing a 10% tariff on imports from all nations, replacing part of the duties invalidated by the court India-Brazil ties get a new engine: FTAs, AI and a $15 billion trade base to build on Losing a local coffee shop changes the makeup of a community. Coffee shops aren't just a place to eat and drink; they're a place to gather with friends, a "third place" after home and work. Longtime Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz always advocated for this. Fans of Compass Coffee, however, have seen their so-called third place disappear, as the chain has steadily closed locations after its January Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. That filing put the entire company at risk, with Compass filing for permission to immediately terminate 10 leases, although it did share hopes that suitors would be interested in those locations, according to documents on PacerMonitor. Now, Compass Coffee, which has closed 10 locations with 17 still operating as part of its bankruptcy process, may have a lifeline that could save the cafes, if not the brand. British coffee brand wins Compass Coffee auction When Compass Coffee filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, London-based coffee chain Caffe Nero submitted a "stalking horse" bid of $2.9 million for the brand and its assets. "The stalking horse bidder is the bidder who sets the floor for other bidders to bid against. By establishing a baseline bid, the stalking horse bidder protects the debtor from a situation where it might only receive unreasonably low bids for its assets," the Troutman Pepper Locke law firm shared on its website. Caffe Nero ultimately was the winning bidder, but had to raise its price to $4.75 million, Compass CEO Michael Haft told The Washington Post. More Bankruptcy: The higher sale price means there were other bidders. The bankruptcy court still needs to approve the sale. "Over the course of three days, Haft said, the auction went through 24 rounds of bidding among the five groups looking to purchase Compasss inventory, equipment, intellectual property, and other assets. One of the bidders a private-equity firm submitted a bid but was disqualified because it didnt have the necessary capital to complete a deal," the Post reported. Compass has found a buyer that wants to operate coffee shops. Shutterstock Shutterstock What's next for Compass Coffee? For the time being, assuming its bid gets approved, Caffe Nero plans to continue operating the remaining 17 locations under the Compass name. Haft told The Post it was unclear whether it would ultimately rebrand the cafes. "A hearing to approve the sale is scheduled for Feb. 26 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia. If the sale is approved and closes, Caffe Nero would become the new owner of substantially all Compass Coffee assets," according to Daily Coffee News. Until the court decision, products that didnt qualify for the USMCA exemption were taxed at 35% if from Canada and 25% if from Mexico. Leaders agree on $20 billion trade target, sign critical minerals pact and push for ambitious digital and technology partnership. OpenAI identified an account associated with Van Rootselaar about eight months ago, with tools to detect misuse of its AI models to further violent activities, and banned it, the company said. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK He argued that the tariffs had compelled China, Mexico and Canada to act against fentanyl flows and improve border controls. Protests were held in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Surat and other cities targeting the Congress party Union minister Pralhad Joshi says government will assess the US Supreme Court order, while President Trump asserts India-US trade terms remain unaffected. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then fast-food chains really like to flatter each other. When one restaurant chain creates something popular, it almost always ends up being knocked off by its rivals. For example, before Starbucks launched the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) in 2003, that product did not exist. Once it became a hit for the coffee chain, it's now a staple not just at coffeehouses, but at fast-food chains, convenience stores, grocery store shelves, and pretty much anyplace you could even consider buying coffee. That makes it somewhat odd that McDonald's Shamrock Shake, a seasonal favorite once promoted by Grimace's green uncle, the aptly-named Uncle O'Grimacey, has largely remained exclusive to the Golden Arches. Wendy's and Burger King have traditionally not offered minty seasonal shakes for St. Patrick's Day (Wendy's does have a Girl Scout cookie Thin Mint Frosty this year, although it's not being sold as a holiday promotion). Costco, however, has decided to get in on the St. Patrick's Day action with a limited-time edition to its food courts. Related: Walmart and Sams Club turn to robots to cut costs, lower prices Costco adds a minty new food court item A day before McDonald's brought back the Shamrock Shake, Costco added its new Double Chocolate Mint Sundae. By launching on Feb. 16, instead of Feb. 17, Costco's new minty creation got a bit of a jump on its more established rival. While it's not a shake, the Double Chocolate Mint Sundae offers mint ice cream, chocolate sauce, and a chocolate cookie crumble on top. It's not available at every Costco (at least for now), but social media reports show that it has appeared all over the country. Costco charges $2.99 for the Double Chocolate Mint Sundae, $0.50 more than the price of classic chocolate or strawberry versions. The soft-serve treat weighs in at 790 calories. Costco rarely makes food court changes. Ant DM/Shutterstock Ant DM/Shutterstock How does the new Costco sundae taste? The Daily Meal's ice cream aficionado Garrett Palm generally liked the Double Chocolate Mint Sundae. "My initial thought was that the commenters saying they could barely taste the mint must prefer an overwhelming hit of the flavor. It's certainly the taste of mint flavoring as opposed to fresh mint leaves, but that's what I want when chocolate is involved," he wrote. He also enjoyed the chocolate aspect. "The double chocolate additions work. The sauce brings most of the rich flavor it's a good, standard chocolate sauce that works well with the mint. The cookie adds texture; I was expecting an Oreo-type cookie, but this is denser, like the cookie found inside of a Girl Scouts Thin Mint," he added. The controversy erupted during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where Professor Singh introduced "Orion," a quadruped robot, presenting it as an in-house innovation developed under a university "Centre of Excellence." Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani and Isha Ambani with Hillary Clinton (second from left). The government has opened a 30-day window for public suggestions and said a committee will review feedback before finalising the amendments. About 10 activists from the Congresss youth wing entered the AI Summit venue in New Delhi on Friday and staged shirtless demonstration, shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US trade agreement (Image: X) For years Alejandro and Brady Munoz followed a straightforward financial playbook: keep expenses low and save aggressively in order to buy themselves freedom later in life. They werent chasing luxury, but flexibility in the form of early retirement. The Minnesota couple were committed to the FIRE movement, shorthand for financial independence, retire early, and for a while the strategy worked exactly as planned. Then life intervened, the couple told The Wall Street Journal, in ways many young families will recognize (1). Must Read Two children arrived, paired with a job relocation, and the household shifted from two incomes to one. The dream didnt disappear, but the timeline suddenly looked far less certain. A solid foundation and a temporary slowdown Before having kids, both Munozes worked as engineers and lived on one salary while the other was put toward investments and retirement savings, according to The Journal. Today, Alejandro, 31, earns about $113,000 a year as an engineer and brings in roughly $9,000 more from part-time work at a local fire department. Brady, 27, cares for the couples 2-year-old and newborn after stepping away from her career. Despite the income shift, theyve built meaningful savings. Alejandros 401(k) holds about $220,000, bolstered by a strong employer match, and a second 401(k) contains another $140,000. They also have roughly $80,000 invested in brokerage accounts, $54,000 spread across two health savings accounts and about $52,000 in various IRAs. About $1,500 sits in a savings account, along with around $20,000 allocated to certificates of deposit. They also have 529 college savings plans for their children, funded mostly through gifts from friends and family. As for expenses, they live in a home valued just over $400,000. Their mortgage runs about $2,800 a month, including property taxes and homeowners insurance. Outside of their mortgage, the only debt they carry is a $6,000 no-interest medical loan that comes with a $450 monthly payment. Their monthly expenses, which cover groceries, utilities, internet and phone service, transportation, car insurance, health insurance, child-related costs and eating out, come to around $2,650. The couple also gives around $730 each month to charities. Performers at a Diwali celebration in Times Square in New York. (PTI image) Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers staging a protest during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi. (Courtesy: PTI photo) In Medchal-Malkajgiri district, Congress candidate M Jyothi, who lost to a BRS rival in the 12th ward of Mudichintala municipality, was recorded going door-to-door with supporters, asking voters to return sarees and money. The speeding car rammed into the delivery executive's scooty The vessel, MT Asphalt Star, was intercepted along with MT Al Jafzia and MT Stellar Ruby in the Arabian Sea between February 4 and 5. (File photo) Eight members of the Hezbollah were killed in Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon yesterday, according to a statement from the group, as reported by AzerNEWS, citing Israeli media. The Ministry of Health of Lebanon confirmed that a total of 10 people were killed in the strikes, which targeted the Beqaa Valley region. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the air raids specifically struck three Hezbollah command centers in the Baalbek District, targeting militants operating in the area. Shrinking populations may pose a larger economic threat than artificial intelligence-driven job losses, according to venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Marc Andreessen. The economy would already be in panic without AI, he said recently on "Lenny's Podcast," hosted by Lenny Rachitsky. "If we didn't have AI, we'd be in a panic right now about what's going to happen to the economy," Andreessen said. Public discussion around AI has often focused on job losses. For Andreessen, the larger issue is slow productivity growth combined with declining reproduction rates across major economies. Don't Miss: Slowing Productivity And Population Decline Andreessen pointed to weaker productivity growth in the U.S. and other advanced economies compared with earlier historical periods. He told Rachitsky current productivity growth is about half the rate seen between 1940 and 1970 and roughly a third of the rate recorded between 1870 and 1940. He cited falling reproduction rates, saying many countries, including the U.S., are "under two" children per woman and that nations such as China could depopulate over the next century. "The only reason we're not worried about that is because we now know that we have the technology that can substitute for the lack of population growth," Andreessen said. He told Rachitsky economies facing depopulation would contract without a major technological advance and that AI changes that outlook. Trending: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company How AI Could Change Work AI will change how work is performed but is unlikely to lead to widespread permanent unemployment, Andreessen said. He said the effects are more likely to occur at the task level, with specific duties automated, rather than entire professions disappearing. He told Rachitsky that the current period resembles earlier industrial expansions, when faster productivity growth was accompanied by higher job turnover and broader economic growth. In countries where populations decline and immigration slows, Andreessen said labor could become more limited. "The remaining human workers are going to be at a premium, not at a discount," he said. See Also: Invest Like Hollywood's Elite: Own a Stake in Valley Wellness' Luxury Behavioral Health Retreat Productivity Gains And Prices Andreessen said on the podcast that if AI significantly increases output, productivity would rise as more is produced with fewer inputs. That dynamic would likely lead to lower prices for goods and services. When prices fall and incomes remain steady, purchasing power increases. AI fan tracks sleep and switches on or off automatically. (Image credit: Screengrab/@the2ndfloorguy) During her time in Delhi, Sara Hooker also posted about other everyday experiences that stood out to her. Screenshots of Asha Sharma's LinkedIn profile also went viral as her critics highlighted that she had 'no gaming background' and had 'never held a position for more than four years'. (Image credit: LinkedIn, AFP) Walls in a Bengaluru mall features portraits of tech leaders like Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk. Asteroid 2025 YU15 will pass Earth on 20 February at a distance of 3,660,000 miles, travelling over 21,000 miles per hour. Although considered safe under NASAs hazard criteria, scientists continue close monitoring because small orbital changes can matter. The asteroid belongs to the Aten group, known for crossing Earths orbit. Meanwhile, India plans deeper collaboration with global agencies to study future asteroids, including Apophis in 2029. Did our AI summary help? Punch, a Japanese macaque born on July 26, 2025 at Ichikawa City Zoo, was abandoned by his first-time mother and hand-raised by keepers. Comforted by a plush orangutan toy, he became an online sensation. Reported by Mainichi Shimbun, his story touched thousands. In January 2026, he began rejoining the macaque troop. Early interactions were tense, but grooming sessions now signal growing acceptance and hopeful social recovery. Did our AI summary help? Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) on Wednesday shared topline results from the landmark TOGETHER-PsO open-label Phase 3b trial evaluating the concomitant use of Taltz (ixekizumab) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) compared to Taltz alone for plaque psoriasis and obesity. The study demonstrated the efficacy of its drugs Taltz and Zepbound in treating psoriasis and obesity. 27.1% of participants receiving Taltz and Zepbound reached complete skin clearance (Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 100) and at least 10% weight loss, compared to 5.8% of patients treated with Taltz alone, meeting the primary endpoint. Taltz and Zepbound delivered a 40% relative increase over Taltz monotherapy in the proportion of patients who achieved PASI 100 (40.6% vs.29%). Don't Miss: Side Effects The most common adverse events were nausea, diarrhea, constipation, injection site reaction, dosing error, vomiting, and dizziness in the Taltz and Zepbound concomitant treatment arm, and injection site reaction, dosing error, and nasopharyngitis in the Taltz monotherapy arm. Agreement With Australian Company CSL Limited (OTC:CSLLY) on Wednesday entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Eli Lilly, granting certain rights to develop and commercialize clazakizumab. CSL will receive an upfront payment of $100 million and be eligible to receive potential clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on global net sales. CSL will retain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize clazakizumab for the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). CSL is advancing the ongoing POSIBIL 6ESKD Phase 3 trial of clazakizumab. Lilly will explore the development, global regulatory approval, and commercialisation of clazakizumab in additional indications. Trending: Blue-chip art has historically outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, and fractional investing is now opening this institutional asset class to everyday investors. Technical Analysis The stock is currently trading 2.7% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 3.2% below its 50-day SMA, indicating short-term weakness. However, it remains 4.3% above its 100-day SMA and 17.6% above its 200-day SMA, suggesting longer-term strength. The RSI is at 48.22, which is considered neutral territory, indicating that the stock is neither overbought nor oversold. Meanwhile, the MACD shows a value of -5.0984, below its signal line of -3.9365, indicating bearish pressure on the stock. Chinas Beijing Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology has tested the S2000 airborne wind energy system, a helium-filled airship carrying 12 turbines. Flying at 6,560 feet above Sichuan Province, it generated 385 kilowatt-hours of electricity. Designed for off-grid use and to complement traditional wind farms, the 3-megawatt system taps stronger high-altitude winds. However, safety concerns, aviation regulations and maintenance challenges mean further testing is needed before commercial deployment. Did our AI summary help? Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Trump has repeatedly maintained - more than 80 times in recent months - that he personally mediated between India and Pakistan during their May 2025 standoff Documents also reveal how Epstein viewed science as a tool for image repair. By Amy-Jo Crowley and Milana Vinn Feb 19 (Reuters) - Netflix has ample cash and could bump up its offer for HBO Max owner Warner Bros Discovery if competing bidder Paramount Skydance increases its own offer, two people with knowledge of the matter said. The two media giants have been locked in a heated rivalry over Warner Bros and its storied catalogue, which includes iconic franchises like "Harry Potter", "Game of Thrones", DC Comics and Superman. More from Yahoo Scout What are Netflix's key bid details for Warner Bros Discovery? How does Paramount's offer compare to Netflix's proposal? What is the timeline for Warner Bros Discovery's decision process? What valuable assets would Netflix gain from acquisition? Though Warner Bros is moving forward with a March 20 shareholder vote on Netflix's offer, it has given Paramount a week to come up with a more compelling bid. Netflix has bid $27.75 a share, or $82.7 billion, for Warner Bros' studio and streaming businesses while Paramount has offered $30 a share, or $108.4 billion, for the whole company, which includes Discovery Global that houses CNN, HGTV and other TV assets. Netflix and Warner Bros declined to comment. The creator of "Stranger Things" is sitting on a lot of dry powder that gives it some flexibility to up the ante, the people said, holding about $9.03 billion in cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet as of December 31. MONDAY DEADLINE Warner Bros rejected Paramounts latest hostile takeover bid on Tuesday but gave the rival studio until the end of Monday to submit a best and final offer. Paramount enticed the board to the table after informally broaching a $31 per share offer, Warner Bros said. Netflix still looks to be in the driving seat, but that can quickly shift, said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. Price will likely be the deciding factor Warners concerns around funding and regulatory risk are real, but at a high enough number, they become secondary." Britzman expects Netflix will counter any improved offer from Paramount. "But the real twist is that these deals were never applestoapples, and it may ultimately come down to how much value the board and shareholders assign to the network business that Netflix would leave behind," he said. Paramount said it would continue to push the tender offer it has launched for the studio, oppose the "inferior" Netflix merger and still plans to nominate directors for the upcoming Warner Bros annual meeting. All eyes are now on whether the CBS-parent improves its offer, which Netflix is allowed to match under the terms of the merger agreement, according to Warner Bros. Warner Bros Chairman Samuel DiPiazza Jr. and CEO David Zaslav said in a letter sent to the Paramount board on Tuesday that "we continue to recommend and remain fully committed to our transaction with Netflix". Trump accused the conservative-dominated court of being "swayed by foreign interests" and said he was "absolutely ashamed" of certain justices. Trump criticized the Supreme Court for striking down his tariffs under the IEEPA, vowing to use alternative measures and imposing a new 10% global tariff. He claimed the ruling made presidential trade powers clearer and accused the court of foreign influence. Did our AI summary help? A global supplier of automotive parts closed a plant in Illinois and laid off hundreds of workers here, just days after former executives were arrested on multiple charges. Patrick James, founder of First Brands and former CEO, was arrested Jan. 29. His brother Edward James, a former senior executive with the company, was also arrested. The brothers face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of wire fraud and bank fraud. The charges are in connection with various schemes to defraud lenders regarding the liabilities and financial condition of First Brands, according to the U.S Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The arrests occurred after former First Brands senior executive Peter Andrew Brumbergs pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres Jan. 26. "The James brothers obtained billions for First Brandsand millions for themselvesby presenting their lenders with the impression of a successful, growing international business," Clayton said. "The indictment and the guilty plea unsealed today describe a very different reality: a business run through fraud, fake documents, and false financials. On Feb. 3, First Brands reported the McHenry plant closure to the state that it was closing its plant in McHenry, Illinois. The layoffs of 389 workers started the same day. The class action law firm Strauss Borrelli PLLC announced Feb. 6 that it had launched an investigation of First Brands for a possible violation of the WARN Act. The statute requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide a 60-day notice of significant layoffs or plant closings. Telephone and email inquiries to First Brands and the Brake Parts Inc. plant in McHenry did not generate a response. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois plant closes as First Brands faces federal investigation What the ruling did not do was eliminate the broader tariff regime Trump has built using other legal powers. Death of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque in Lyon fuels domestic political tensions and sharp exchanges between Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni. General Catalyst, a Silicon Valley-based venture firm with more than $43 billion in assets under management, has announced it plans to invest $5 billion in India over the next five years, sharply expanding its push into the countrys startup ecosystem less than two years after merging with local venture firm Venture Highway. More from Yahoo Scout Why is General Catalyst investing $5 billion in India? What sectors will General Catalyst focus on in India? How does India's AI infrastructure compare to other markets? What companies are already in General Catalyst's India portfolio? The commitment, unveiled at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Friday, will target startups across artificial intelligence, healthcare, defense technology, fintech, and consumer technology. The announcement marks a significant increase from the $500 million to $1 billion the firm had previously earmarked for India. India, the worlds most populous country with more than a billion internet users, is positioning itself as a major AI investment destination. New Delhi aims to attract over $200 billion in AI infrastructure investments over the next two years as it hosts the India AI Impact Summit with participation from companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. India will build the next generation of global platform companies, General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja (pictured above) said, adding that the firm sees Indian founders as uniquely positioned to develop technology for markets serving enormous populations. General Catalyst said it sees Indias biggest AI opportunity in large-scale real-world deployment rather than in building so-called frontier models. The firm cited the countrys government-built digital infrastructure, vast domestic market, and deep services talent pool as reasons for that view. The push comes as Indias AI ambitions accelerate. At the summit, conglomerates Adani Group and Reliance Industries, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, announced plans to invest more than $200 billion combined to build AI data center infrastructure in the country. OpenAI has separately partnered with Tata Groups TCS one of Indias largest tech companies to develop a 100-megawatt AI data center as part of the expansion of its Stargate infrastructure project. In recent months, global tech companies, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have also outlined tens of billions of dollars in cloud and AI investments in the country. General Catalyst has been building its India portfolio across fast delivery e-commerce, health tech, and deep tech, with investments including Zepto, PB Health, Raphe, Jeh Aerospace, Pronto, and Ayr Energy. This investment allows us to operate at a different scale in India, Neeraj Arora, General Catalysts CEO for India, the Middle East, and North Africa, said, adding that the firm aims to support companies from early stage through to the public markets. General Catalyst said it is developing a framework to accelerate large-scale AI adoption across priority sectors in India, aiming to help convert pilot projects into full deployments. The firms General Catalyst Institute has also been working to build government-industry partnerships in the country. February 21, 2026 Energy Glasshouse Ukraine Attempts To Blackmail Hungary, Slovakia Destined To Fail Hungary and Slovakia oppose the war in western proxy war Ukraine. Both countries have continued to receive Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine. Both countries oppose EU membership for Ukraine. The acting Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski is trying to use a Russian attack in January on energy infrastructure in Ukraine, which he alleged damaged the Druzhba pipeline, to block further transfer of Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia. It is an obvious attempt to blackmail those countries. In August 2025 Ukraine had tried a similar scheme after itself had damaged a Durzhba oil pumping station in Russia. But, energy wise, Ukraine is sitting in a glasshouse. It is receiving much needed diesel fuel from Hungary and Slovakia. A large part of its electricity imports, more needed now than ever, comes from those countries. In mid February U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Hungary and Slovakia. He greenlighted their reprisal for Ukrainian blackmail attempts and prevented the EU from intervening in the case. The situation has escalated from there. Lets follow the dateline of the story Ukraines Naftogaz says Russia struck its facility in western Ukraine Reuters, Jan 27 2026 Russia attack knocked out pipeline carrying its own oil to Europe, Ukraine says Reuters, Feb 12 2026 Last months Russian attack on the Ukrainian branch of the Soviet-built Druzhba oil pipeline halted the transit of Russian oil to Eastern Europe, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday. Rubio visits Slovakia and Hungary to bolster ties with pro-Trump leaders France24, Feb 15 2026 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to deepen cooperation with central Europe on Sunday as he kicked off a trip to Slovakia and Hungary, whose conservative leaders have warm ties with President Donald Trump. In Slovakia, which, like Hungary, relies on Russian oil and gas and has uneasy relations with the rest of the EU, Rubio discussed energy and defence with Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini. Oil Supplies to Hungary and Slovakia Halted After Damage to Druzhba Pipeline Moscow Times, Feb 16 2026 Oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia via Russias Druzhba pipeline have been halted after a Russian airstrike damaged the conduit on Ukrainian territory, leaving the two landlocked EU states scrambling for alternative routes for Russian crude despite Brussels ban on seaborne imports. There have been no Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia in February, Bloomberg reported. On Monday [Feb 16], Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Ukraine of failing to resume transit for political reasons, Slovakia Threatens Ukraine With Reprisals Over Blocked Pipeline Kyiv Post, Feb 18 2026 Slovakias prime minister on Wednesday threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if its neighbour does not reopen a pipeline that brings Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary. [Prime Minister Robert] Fico, quoting Slovak intelligence, said the repair work had been finished. He accused Ukraine of blocking supplies as a blackmail weapon against Hungary, which opposes Ukraine joining the European Union. EU Considers Emergency Steps to Restore Russian Oil Through Druzhba Pipeline RFL/RE via OilPrice, Feb 18 2026 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. Hungary and Slovakia halt diesel exports to Ukraine amid oil transit dispute Euronews, Feb 19 2026 Hungary and Slovakia announced on Wednesday that they would suspend diesel exports to Ukraine amid growing tensions over oil deliveries, saying they need to secure their energy supplies to replace imports of Russian oil through the damaged Druzhba pipeline with Hungary also accusing Ukraine of political blackmail and interference. Diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine have been halted. And diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine will not resume until the Ukrainians resume crude oil deliveries via the Druzshba pipeline to Hungary, said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. Hungary blocks EUs 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine, demanding Russian oil ahead of war anniversary Kyiv Independent, Feb 20 2026 Hungary announced on Feb. 20 that it will block the European Unions 90-billion-euro ($107 million) loan to Ukraine until Russian oil flows via the damaged Druzhba pipeline resume. We are blocking the 90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until oil transit to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline resumes, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on X. Slovakia threatens to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine from 23 February Ukrainska Pravda, Feb 21 2026 Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he will move to stop his countrys electricity exports to Ukraine unless Kyiv restores Russian oil transit to Slovakia by Monday 23 February. Fico said that unless Ukraine resumes transit of Russian oil to Slovakia by Monday 23 February, which previously flowed via the damaged Druzhba pipeline, he will instruct the relevant Slovak companies to suspend emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine on the same day. Electricity imports from Slovakia to Ukraine in February 2026 made up about 18% of Ukraines overall import structure. Ukraine had hoped that that the EU would back its blackmail attempt against Hungary and Slovakia. But Rubios backing allowed those countries to hit back. (The White House is fed up with the capricious behavior of Zelenski and his obvious blocking of U.S. supported peace talks with Russia.) Zelenski is now in a bind. He can keep the Druzhba pipeline closed and damage Hungary and Slovakia. But doing so will make the already terrible energy supply situation in his country even worse. My hunch is that by Monday oil will again flow from Russia through Ukraine to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia. In the mind of the public the blackmail attempt will be added to his accumulating fails. German Chancellor and Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz speaks at the CDU federal party conference before the election of the federal chairman. Kay Nietfeld/dpa The German automotive industry expects Chancellor Friedrich Merz to demand market liberalization during his trip to China. "The German side must present a detailed account of where China is distorting competition," Hildegard Muller, president of the Germany's automotive industry association VDA, told the Sunday edition of Die Welt newspaper. "The aim of the talks must generally be to further open up markets on both sides not mutual isolation. China also has a responsibility here." German car manufacturers have recently seen a significant drop in sales in China. In addition to the highly subsidised new local electric car brands, this is also due to a new luxury tax on expensive cars, which mainly affects German brands. "We also expect China to make constructive proposals for reducing distortions of competition," said Muller. The VDA boss warned against provoking counter-reactions with new EU regulations, such as giving preference to European cars in public procurement, purchase premiums or customs duties. "Even if China is now being called upon to make offers, Europe must generally weigh up its actions and corresponding reactions. Depending on the decision, the local industry could face countermeasures from China," said Muller. Merz is to travel to China next week for talks on political and economic ties, as well as security issues. It will be his first visit to the country since taking office. Trade tensions between Berlin and Beijing are simmering, particularly over rare earths - critical raw materials used in products such as mobile phones and electric motors. German and European manufacturers have reported shortages of these materials linked to restrictive Chinese trade policies. Germany's export industry has voiced criticism about what it describes as unfair competition on world markets by subsidized Chinese firms, calling for a level playing field for foreign companies, including in public procurement. Merz is to be accompanied by a business delegation and is due to also attend a meeting of the German-Chinese Economic Advisory Committee. According to reports, he also plans to visit the Forbidden City and the Mercedes-Benz Group in Beijing. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Vanderbilt University Medical Center will cease gender-affirming surgeries for adults after years of offering the health care option. After days of rumors that VUMC would end gender-affirming surgeries, patients received messages via VUMCs health care portal on Friday confirming changes within the system. Previously scheduled surgeries will take place, but VUMC is not scheduling new surgeries or consultations. Information shared with the Scene also announces the departure of at least one key plastic surgeon who offered these surgeries. VUMC Ceases Operations at Pediatric Transgender Clinic Patient families confirm appointment, prescription cancellations due to Tennessee law The VUMC health care system, which has been legally separate from Vanderbilt University since 2016, suspended gender-affirming surgeries for people under 18 in 2022 following a state ban on the treatment. That ban was upheld after reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. VUMC also turned over a list of transgender patients health records to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti in 2023. Last year, VUMC gutted its specialized LGBTQ health clinic, a severe blow to transgender health. Conservative media and politicians, including Tennessee's U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, previously attacked VUMC for offering transgender health care. Vanderbilt confirmed the end of gender-affirming surgeries to the Scene with a written statement. These surgeries include orchiectomies, a testicular removal surgery, and subcutaneous mastectomies, the removal of breast tissue also known as top surgery. Due to operational limitations and lack of surgical coverage, Vanderbilt Health will cease providing gender-affirming plastic surgeries for adults, said a VUMC spokesperson in an email Friday afternoon. Vanderbilt Health continues to provide nonsurgical gender-affirming care for adults 19 years and older. Vanderbilt Health does not provide any gender-affirming care for patients younger than 19. We are in the process of contacting our patients regarding these changes. LGBTQ Programs at VUMC Gutted by Latest Layoffs Metro Council's LGBTQ Caucus condemns years-long pattern of rollbacks from hospital As it stands, gender-affirming surgery is legal for adults in Tennessee. However, a bill that would prohibit TennCare from covering gender-affirming care moved forward in the House this week. In 2023, a similar bill that would have prohibited TennCare from contracting with providers that cover gender-affirming treatment failed. One patient contacted today about the change, whose previously scheduled surgery will still take place, expressed worry about follow-up care or complications that might result from an upcoming gender-affirming surgery. This sent me personally into a massive tailspin, they tell the Scene, speaking on the condition of anonymity. What if there are complications? What if I need follow-up surgery? This is unbelievably horrific and affects essentially everyone in our immediate and broader community. This is not only a trans issue, this is an issue for everyone who calls Tennessee home. Are my options now to travel elsewhere for my needed health care? Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the dominant health care provider in Middle Tennessee, and its flagship hospital in Midtown is the states only ACS-verified Level 1 Trauma Center. Hannah Herner contributed reporting. A perfect storm hits Californias vineyards California's wine industry is grappling with a severe crisis driven by a massive oversupply of grapes and declining consumer demand. Changing drinking habits, particularly among younger generations, and competition from imported wines are key factors squeezing domestic producers. Growers across major wine regions are being forced to remove tens of thousands of acres of vineyards, with many grapes left unharvested. The crisis has been exacerbated by international trade disputes, including tariffs that have closed key export markets like Canada. Industry adaptation includes shifting to hospitality-focused strategies, exploring bulk wine production, and legislative efforts to support growers. California's iconic wine country, long a symbol of agricultural prosperity and luxury, is confronting its most severe economic challenge in decades. A confluence of shifting consumer preferences, international trade friction and an unprecedented oversupply of grapes has forced growers to abandon thousands of acres of vineyards and left winemakers with millions of cases of unsold inventory. This crisis, unfolding from Sonoma to Lodi, threatens the economic foundation of regions built on the wine grape and signals a profound transformation for American viticulture. The roots of the glut The industry's current distress stems from a dramatic shift in market fundamentals. For over two decades, U.S. wine sales enjoyed steady growth, fueled by cultural moments and a booming tourism economy. However, demand began to plateau before the pandemic and has since entered a clear decline. Health-conscious trends are a primary driver, with younger consumers drinking less alcohol overall and spreading their preferences to alternatives like hard seltzers and cannabis-infused beverages. The rise of weight-loss drugs, which can suppress appetite and the desire to drink, has further dented demand. Simultaneously, a sustained period of favorable weather in California has led to bountiful harvests, creating a surplus at a time when sales are contracting. Trade winds and market barriers Compounding the demand problem is increased competition and trade disruption. A significant volume of imported wine, often available at lower cost, continues to enter the U.S. market, pressuring domestic producers. More damaging has been the retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canadahistorically the largest export market for U.S. winein response to broader trade disputes. This has virtually halted a critical revenue stream overnight, flipping a longstanding trade surplus into a deficit. Domestically, consolidation among distributors and retailers creates high barriers for small, family-owned wineries trying to secure shelf space, leaving them with few avenues to sell their product. The painful correction The market's adjustment has been swift and severe. Data indicates California's vineyard acreage shrank by over 110,000 acres from 2024 to 2025, with an additional 40,000 acres potentially on the chopping block. Industry reports suggest up to 30% of the grape crop in some regions went unsold this year, representing millions in lost revenue for growers. Faced with canceled contracts, many are taking drastic steps: uprooting vines to reduce supply, letting fruit rot on the vine, or diverting grapes to the low-margin bulk wine market for private-label brands. Some are exploring a return to other crops, like apples or nuts, reversing a decades-long trend of converting farmland to vineyards. An industry in transition In response, the industry is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy for survival. Leading wineries are pivoting from purely transactional sales to hospitality-driven models that emphasize customer experience and retention. Others are introducing lower-priced offerings to appeal to budget-conscious consumers. Legislative efforts are underway in California, including a bill to mandate that wines labeled "American" contain only U.S.-grown grapes, aiming to protect domestic growers. The crisis is also accelerating a long-term vineyard renewal process, with some growers using the downturn to replant with grape varieties more aligned with future market tastes. A bitter harvest with an uncertain future The current upheaval in California wine country is more than a temporary market slump; it is a structural recalibration. The industry that expanded for generations on the promise of endless growth now faces a reality of stabilized or shrinking demand. While the removal of vineyard acreage may eventually restore balance between supply and demand, the ultimate recovery hinges on whether winemakers can successfully innovate and reconnect with a new generation of consumers. The outcome will determine not only the fate of countless family farms and businesses but also the future landscape of one of America's most celebrated agricultural regions. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com Vinetur.com WSJ.com FDA agrees to review Modernas mRNA flu vaccine following initial refusal The FDA initially refused to review Moderna's experimental mRNA flu vaccine due to concerns over trial design but reversed its decision days later after a high-priority meeting. Moderna proposed splitting its application by age groups full approval for adults 50-64 and accelerated approval for seniors 65+, contingent on post-marketing studies. Critics argue the FDA's sudden reversal bypasses rigorous safety protocols, especially for vulnerable seniors, while Moderna defends its trial design, claiming the FDA previously approved it. The agency had objected to Moderna using a standard-dose flu vaccine comparator instead of the high-dose version recommended for older adults. Sources suggest President Trump pressured FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary to expedite the review, though the White House denied involvement. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal mRNA skeptic, has overseen stricter mRNA vaccine regulations, including warning labels and rescinded blanket COVID-19 recommendations. Moderna's stock surged 6% after the FDAs reversal, signaling investor optimism, despite unresolved scrutiny. Critics, including HHS, accuse Moderna of exposing elderly participants to "substandard" care, while Moderna insists regulators had approved the study design over a year prior. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between rapid medical innovation and long-term safety, mirroring debates from the COVID-19 vaccine emergency approvals. Observers question whether corporate lobbying and political influence are undermining regulatory rigor. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review Moderna's experimental mRNA flu vaccine, just days after initially refusing to consider the application. The Massachusetts-based vaccine maker announced the development on Wednesday, Feb. 18. It followed a high-priority meeting between Moderna executives and FDA officials, where the company proposed splitting its application into separate pathways for different age groups. Nevertheless, the move has raised concerns about regulatory transparency, political influence and the integrity of vaccine approval processes. Critics argue the move bypasses rigorous safety protocols, particularly for vulnerable seniors, while Moderna insists its vaccine offers a superior alternative to conventional flu shots. The controversy began last week when the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research declined to review Moderna's application, citing concerns that the clinical trial design did not meet regulatory standards. The agency objected to Modernas use of a standard-dose flu vaccine as a comparator rather than a high-dose version recommended for older adults a demographic at higher risk for severe flu complications. Moderna defended its approach, claiming the FDA had previously approved the trial design and that supplementary data supported the vaccine's efficacy. After a hastily arranged Type A meeting typically reserved for urgent regulatory disputes Moderna proposed a compromise: seeking full approval for adults aged 50 to 64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older, contingent on post-marketing studies. The FDA accepted the revised plan, targeting a final decision by Aug. 5. If approved, the vaccine could debut during the 2026-2027 flu season. FDA flip-flop: Political pressure or corporate capture? The abrupt reversal has fueled speculation about political interference. Sources told POLITICO that President Donald Trump personally pressured FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary to expedite the review, though the White House denied involvement. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a vocal skeptic of mRNA technology has overseen a regulatory environment increasingly hostile to the dangerous experimental vaccines. Under his tenure, federal advisory committees have rescinded blanket Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine recommendations and added warning labels to mRNA shots. Critics have claimed that Kennedy's actions as head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reflect ideological bias rather than science. But according to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, he is correct in adding warning labels to mRNA vaccines because the mounting evidence shows they pose serious risks including heart inflammation in young males that were suppressed by captured regulators and pharmaceutical companies. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon accused Moderna of exposing elderly trial participants to "substandard" care by ignoring FDA guidance, while Moderna countered that regulators had signed off on the study design over a year ago. The company's stock surged 6% following the announcement, signaling investor confidence despite the unresolved scrutiny. The dispute underscores broader concerns about the FDA's approval processes, particularly for novel medical technologies. Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine like its COVID-19 counterpart relies on synthetic genetic material to instruct cells to produce viral proteins, a method critics argue lacks long-term safety data. The FDA's initial refusal to file the application suggested rare caution, but its sudden about-face has left observers questioning whether regulatory rigor is being sacrificed for expediency. Historical parallels abound: The agency's accelerated approval of COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 despite incomplete trial data sparked debates about emergency use versus thorough vetting. The saga highlights a tension at the heart of modern medicine: the push for innovation versus the imperative of safety. For now, the FDA's reversal stands as a testament to the power of corporate lobbying and the lingering doubts about who exactly is calling the shots. Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams revealing that children injected with the flu vaccine are dying from influenza in this video. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com TheHill.com APNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com STUTTGART, Germany, Feb 21 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday he expected the burden on German companies to ease after the U.S. Supreme Court knocked down a large part of President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, but warned of the "poison" of more uncertainty. More from Yahoo Scout How might German companies recoup tariff-related losses? What is Germany's strategy for upcoming U.S. talks? How does EU coordination impact individual member states? What U.S. Supreme Court ruling affected Trump's tariffs? Speaking to several German broadcasters, Merz said he would closely coordinate with other European Union countries on a joint position ahead of his upcoming trip to the United States but would stress that the tariffs were harming the U.S. In a decision that will ripple through the global economy, the top U.S. court on Friday struck down Trump's sweeping tariffs imposed under a law meant for use in national emergencies. But while many businesses cheered, worries persist that the ruling may make trade relations even more messy after trade deals reached in difficult negotiations last year. When asked whether the tariff burden on Germany's economy would now ease, Merz told state broadcaster ARD: "I expect it, but above all, I hope it will be successful, and I want to try to make it clear to the American government that tariffs harm everyone." He added: "We will have a very clear European position on this, because tariff policy is a matter for the European Union, not individual member states, and I will go to Washington with a coordinated European position." Merz said the ruling appeared to leave sectoral tariffs such as those on cars, steel and aluminium in place, and noted that Trump had already imposed a new 10% levy on imports from all countries. Later on Saturday, Trump said he would raise it to 15%. "The biggest poison for the economies of Europe and the U.S. is this constant uncertainty about tariffs. And this uncertainty must end," Merz told the RTL broadcaster in a separate interview. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Matthias Williams; Editing by Alex Richardson) Study finds Gaza war deaths 35% higher than official counts, validating health ministry figures A new study estimates 75,000 violent Palestinian deaths in Gaza's first 15 months of war. The independent survey finds women, children, and elderly made up 56% of those killed. Research confirms Gaza's official casualty figures are reliable and likely conservative. More than 16,000 additional non-violent deaths occurred from war-induced conditions like disease. The death toll represents a catastrophic loss of 3-4% of Gaza's pre-war population. A new scientific study has delivered a sobering verdict on the human cost of the war in Gaza, revealing a death toll dramatically higher than previously reported and directly challenging narratives that have sought to downscale the catastrophe. Published this week in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet Global Health, the research estimates that approximately 75,000 Palestinians were killed violently in the first 15 months of the conflict following October 7, 2023. This figure is about 35% higher than the casualty numbers released by the Gaza Health Ministry for the same period and represents a staggering 3% to 4% of the territorys entire pre-war population. The findings are based on a rigorous, independent population survey, the first of its kind conducted during the conflict. Between late December 2024 and early January 2025, experienced Palestinian pollsters from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research conducted face-to-face interviews with 2,000 households across Gaza, representing nearly 10,000 people. The methodology was designed to reach displaced families in areas that had become inaccessible due to fighting, providing a more complete picture than administrative records alone could capture. Demographics confirm civilian toll Critically, the surveys demographic breakdown aligns with and validates the reporting from Gazas health authorities, which has been frequently disputed. The study found that women, children, and people over 64 years old accounted for about 56% of those killed violently. This proportion closely matches the Health Ministrys own reporting and directly contradicts claims that the casualty figures were skewed or that a majority of the dead were combatants. "The combined evidence suggests that, as of Jan 5, 2025, 3-4% of the population of the Gaza Strip had been killed violently and there have been a substantial number of non-violent deaths caused indirectly by the conflict," the authors wrote in the study. Lead author Michael Spagat, a professor of economics at Royal Holloway, University of London, emphasized the care taken in the sensitive survey, noting it was important to have Palestinians both asking and answering the questions. A reliable floor, not an inflated ceiling One of the most significant conclusions of the research is its firm rejection of allegations that Gazas health authorities inflated casualty numbers. Instead, the authors state that the official figures appear to be "conservative and reliable," serving as a reliable floor for the death toll under extreme conditions where infrastructure for documenting deaths has collapsed. This assessment lends new weight to data that has been routinely cited by the United Nations but questioned by Israel and other actors. The study also quantified deaths not directly caused by violence but by the wars horrific conditions. Researchers estimated there were more than 16,000 non-violent deaths during the 15-month period, including roughly 8,500 excess deaths above pre-war mortality levels. These deaths are attributed to causes like disease, malnutrition, and lack of medical care resulting from the destroyed health system and blockade. While substantial, this number of indirect deaths was lower than some earlier projections. The publication of this data in a leading medical journal represents a pivotal moment of scientific validation for the scale of loss in Gaza. For years, casualty figures from conflict zones have been subject to political spin and disinformation campaigns. This study, employing transparent demographic methods, cuts through that noise. It provides a concrete, peer-reviewed benchmark that future discussions on accountability and historical record must now confront. The timing of the research is also crucial. The survey data was collected from late December 2024 to early January 2025, and the authors warn that conditions deteriorated further afterward. This implies the final toll, once the conflict fully ends and bodies are recovered from rubble, will likely climb even higher. As Professor Spagat cautioned, reaching a definitive figure will take a long time and significant resources, if it ever happens at all. Ultimately, this study does more than update a statistic; it forces a moral and historical accounting. When 3% to 4% of a population is wiped out in just over a year, the event is etched not only in family histories but in the demographic fabric of the community itself. The numbers, now fortified by scientific rigor, tell a story of profound suffering that can no longer be dismissed as propaganda but must be acknowledged as a documented reality of this war. Sources for this article include: RT.com TheGuardian.com Reuters.com AlJazeera.com EIA: U.S. natural gas production to hit record highs in 2026 and 2027 The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts U.S. natural gas production will reach record highs of 120.8 Bcf/d in 2026 and 122.3 Bcf/d in 2027, with 69% of growth coming from the Appalachia, Haynesville and Permian regions. Haynesville is expected to post the largest gains, supported by rising gas prices projected to increase from $3.52/MMBtu in 2025 to $4.38/MMBtu in 2027, along with strong demand from LNG export terminals and Gulf Coast industries. Permian output growth will be driven largely by associated gas from oil drilling, with rising gas-to-oil ratios offsetting declining crude oil prices. Appalachian production is set for modest increases after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Mountain Valley Pipeline, easing prior capacity constraints. Despite a temporary 3% weather-related production dip, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says output has reached record levels, calling the current period an "unprecedented era of energy dominance." The latest Short-Term Energy Outlook from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has revealed that U.S. natural gas production is expected to climb to record levels over the next two years, driven largely by growth in three major shale regions. According to the agency, marketed natural gas production will increase 2% to average 120.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2026, before rising again to a record 122.3 Bcf/d in 2027. About 69% of the projected growth through 2027 is expected to come from the Appalachia, Haynesville and Permian regions, which remain the backbone of U.S. natural gas output. The Haynesville region in eastern Texas and Louisiana is forecast to post some of the strongest gains, with production rising by 1.2 Bcf/d in 2026 and another 1.6 Bcf/d in 2027. The EIA attributes that growth to relatively elevated natural gas prices, which are expected to climb from $3.52 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2025 to $4.31/MMBtu in 2026 and $4.38/MMBtu in 2027. Higher prices are expected to keep drilling economical despite deeper and more expensive well development. The region's proximity to liquefied natural gas export terminals and industrial consumers along the Gulf Coast is also drawing investment. In the Permian Basin of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, production is projected to increase by 1.4 Bcf/d in 2026 and 0.6 Bcf/d in 2027. Much of the region's gas output is "associated gas" produced during oil drilling. Although West Texas Intermediate crude prices are forecast to decline from $65 per barrel in 2025 to $53 in 2026 and $49 in 2027, rising gas-to-oil ratios are expected to offset lower oil-directed drilling activity and support continued natural gas growth. The Appalachian Basin in the Northeast, which has accounted for roughly 32% of lower 48 production annually since 2016, is also expected to contribute modest gains. Growth in the region has slowed in recent years due to pipeline constraints. However, after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorized the Mountain Valley Pipeline to begin operations in June 2024, additional takeaway capacity is expected to support production increases of 0.3 Bcf/d in 2026 and 0.5 Bcf/d in 2027. DOE touts U.S. "energy dominance" Natural gas, as per BrightU.AI's Enoch, is a fossil fuel primarily composed of methane, a highly flammable gas extracted from the Earth through drilling. It is a versatile energy source, used for electricity generation, heating and industrial processes. But despite its widespread use, natural gas is a finite resource. In another February 2026 report, the EIA disclosed that U.S. natural gas production slipped 3% from December to January due to frigid winter weather. However, federal energy officials said the decline was temporary and expect output to rebound in the coming months. The EIA said that extreme cold conditions disrupted production at the start of the year. But looking ahead, the EIA projects production will accelerate in the second half of 2026 as new pipeline capacity comes online in the Permian Basin and producers ramp up drilling in response to higher natural gas prices during the first half of the year. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said in a Jan. 19 fact sheet that U.S. natural gas production has reached record levels. The department expects output to average 109 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) this year, marking a new all-time high. In a separate Jan. 20 statement, the DOE described the current period as an "unprecedented era of energy dominance," crediting administration policies for boosting domestic oil and gas production. The department said the U.S. now produces as much natural gas as Russia, Iran and China combined, at roughly 108 Bcf/d. Watch Gary Franchi of Next News Network discuss whether the Democrats' ban on gas stoves is aimed at protecting the air or stripping liberties. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com EIA.gov BrightU.ai Brighteon.com A constitutional check: Supreme Court reins in presidential tariff authority The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Donald Trump's use of a national emergency law to impose sweeping tariffs was unconstitutional. The Court held the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President the power to levy taxes, a power reserved for Congress. The decision invalidates tariffs imposed on most foreign trade partners and those linked to fentanyl, but leaves other tariffs, like those on steel, intact. The ruling opens the door to potential refunds of billions of dollars in tariffs already paid by importers, a process the Court did not define. The Trump administration indicated it will pursue alternative legal authorities to implement new tariffs, signaling ongoing trade policy uncertainty. In a landmark decision that recalibrates the balance of power between the White House and Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a central pillar of President Donald Trumps trade agenda. On Friday, February 20, the Court ruled 6-3 that Trumps use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose broad-based tariffs was an unlawful overreach of executive authority. The ruling delivers a significant constitutional rebuke, affirming that the power to tax imports rests solely with the legislative branch, and casts immediate uncertainty over the future of U.S. trade policy and the fate of approximately $175 billion in already-collected duties. The core constitutional conflict The case, which consolidated challenges from coalitions of small businesses and multiple states, hinged on a fundamental question: Does a presidents authority to respond to national emergencies include the power to unilaterally impose taxes on imported goods? The Trump administration argued that the IEEPAs grant of power to regulateimportation during a declared emergency was broad enough to encompass tariffs. The Courts majority, in an opinion authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, firmly rejected this interpretation. The justices emphasized that tariffs are fundamentally a form of taxation. Citing Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, the majority stressed that the Framers deliberately vested the power to lay duties and taxes exclusively in Congress. The power to impose tariffs is very clearlya branch of the taxing power, the opinion stated, noting the Framers gave Congress aloneaccess to the pockets of the people. The Court found that while taxes can have regulatory effects, the executives power to regulate does not inherently include the power to tax as a means of regulation. An unusual coalition and the major questions doctrine The ruling was notable for the ideological alignment of the majority. Chief Justice Roberts was joined by the Courts three liberal justicesSonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jacksonas well as conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, both Trump appointees. This coalition applied the major questions doctrine, a judicial principle requiring clear congressional authorization for executive actions of vast economic significance. The majority reasoned that Congress would not delegate such sweeping control over trade policy and the national economy through the vague phrase regulateimportation. The Court noted the absence of the words tariff or duty in the IEEPA text and the complete lack of historical precedent, observing that no president in the nearly 50 years since the laws enactment had ever used it to impose tariffs. To interpret the statute as the administration urged, Roberts wrote, would represent a transformative expansion of executive power, allowing a president to impose tariffs of unlimited amount and duration, on any product from any country. The aftermath: Refunds and regulatory chaos The immediate practical consequence of the decision is profound uncertainty. The Courts opinion invalidates two major categories of Trump-era tariffs: the so-called reciprocal tariffs applied to nearly all trading partners and the fentanyl tariffs imposed on goods from China, Canada and Mexico. However, it leaves in place tariffs imposed under other statutes, such as those on steel and aluminum. Crucially, the ruling did not address whether the federal government must refund the estimated $175 billion in duties already collected under the now-invalidated IEEPA framework. This omission sets the stage for a complex wave of litigation in the U.S. Court of International Trade, where hundreds of refund lawsuits are already pending. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in dissent, warned this process would be a mess and could have serious practical consequences. Business groups have already called for a full, fast and automatic refund process, arguing small companies cannot afford lengthy legal battles to recover funds they contend were unlawfully taken. The path forward The decision echoes long-standing tensions between expansive executive action in foreign affairs and constitutional checks. The IEEPA itself was passed in 1977 to rein in and formalize emergency powers previously granted under the World War I-era Trading with the Enemy Act. Fridays ruling reinforces that Congress, not the President, holds the purse strings and the primary authority to set the nations trade policy. Despite the setback, the administration signaled that the tariff battle is far from over. In remarks following the decision, Trump called the ruling a disgrace and told state governors he has a backup plan. Legal analysts note the administration retains other authorities, such as Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows for temporary tariffs, and can still leverage sector-specific laws. The net effect, according to economic observers, is likely to be continued trade policy volatility as the executive branch pivots to alternative legal justifications for its economic strategy. A defining boundary for presidential power The Supreme Courts decision represents more than a policy setback; it is a definitive statement on the architecture of American government. By drawing a bright line between the regulatory and taxing powers, the Court has reaffirmed a core constitutional principle designed to prevent the concentration of economic authority in a single branch. While the political and legal maneuvering on trade will undoubtedly continue, the ruling establishes a critical precedent that will constrain how future presidentsregardless of partycan wield emergency declarations to effect sweeping economic change. The reverberations from this case will be felt not only in boardrooms and customs houses, but in the ongoing debate over the limits of presidential power itself. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com SCOTUSblog.com NBCNews.com Digital sovereignty clash: U.S. prepares portal to host content banned in Europe The U.S. State Department is developing a portal, freedom.gov, to host online content removed under European speech laws like the EU's Digital Services Act. The initiative is framed as a counter-censorship measure, potentially including a VPN to mask users' locations and avoid tracking. The move signals a major policy clash between U.S. free speech principles and European regulatory models focused on curbing hate speech and disinformation. European leaders are simultaneously advancing stricter digital governance, including potential identity verification and VPN restrictions. The portal reflects escalating international disputes over digital sovereignty, platform accountability, and the cross-border enforcement of speech standards. In a bold move that sets the stage for a direct confrontation over global internet governance, the United States is preparing to launch an online portal designed to provide access to material that European authorities have ordered removed from the internet. The initiative, spearheaded by the State Department, aims to create a U.S.-hosted sanctuary for content restricted under laws like the European Unions Digital Services Act and the United Kingdoms Online Safety Act, challenging foreign speech regulations from American soil. The Freedom.gov blueprint According to sources familiar with the plan, the portal will be hosted at freedom.gov on American infrastructure, placing it outside the jurisdiction of European regulators. Officials have reportedly discussed incorporating a technical feature, such as a virtual private network function, to make user traffic appear to originate within the United States, with assurances that activity on the site would not be tracked. The project is being led by Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, who has actively engaged with European groups alleging suppression under new digital rules. While currently represented by preliminary branding and a login interface, freedom.gov embodies a growing philosophical and policy rift. The U.S., with its First Amendment traditions protecting virtually all expression, is positioning itself against a European model that permits restrictions on content classified as illegal hate speech, terrorist propaganda, or harmful disinformationlimits rooted in historical efforts to combat the extremist propaganda that fueled Nazism. A transatlantic ideological divide This American initiative arrives amid concerted efforts by European governments to expand their regulatory authority over the digital sphere. At the recent Munich Security Conference, French President Emmanuel Macron outlined a vision requiring social media users to verify their identities with governments and face potential platform restrictions for non-compliance, later dismissing the concept of unrestricted online free speech. In the U.K., Prime Minister Keir Starmers government is examining whether to extend the Online Safety Act to limit VPN access, a common tool for privacy and bypassing geographic blocks. The U.S. portal is a tangible response to what American officials describe as the stifling of conservative and right-wing voices in Europe. The State Departments latest National Security Strategy warned of civilizational erasure in Europe due to its policies and pledged to cultivate resistance. This stance has already caused friction, with U.S.-based platforms like X facing substantial fines from EU regulators for non-compliance with content moderation mandates. Context and global implications The clash echoes longstanding tensions but marks a new escalation in state-led digital policy. Historically, U.S. internet freedom programs focused on aiding users in authoritarian states like China and Iran. By targeting allied democracies in Europe, the freedom.gov project enters uncharted territory, potentially encouraging citizens to circumvent local laws. Critics warn it could be perceived as a deliberate effort to frustrate national legal provisions and further strain diplomatic relations. This conflict is part of a broader, global struggle to define the rules of the digital public square. From New Yorks contested Online Hate Speech Law to the EUs Digital Services Act, governments worldwide are grappling with balancing safety, security, and free expression. The U.S. move asserts a vision of a minimally regulated internet where access to information is paramount, directly opposing the European framework of a more actively governed online ecosystem. The road ahead for digital borders The development of freedom.gov signals that disputes over speech standards and platform accountability are now central to international diplomacy. The portals operational launch would create a practical test case: can a nation use its digital infrastructure to create exemptions to another sovereign states laws? The answer will have profound implications for the future of cross-border data flows, the enforcement of national regulations, and the very concept of a global internet. As European regulators refine models that demand greater transparency and control from tech platforms, and as the U.S. invests in tools to circumvent those controls, the stage is set for a protracted struggle. This conflict moves beyond corporate terms-of-service debates into the realm of statecraft, where internet governance becomes a key instrument of foreign policy and ideological export. A new front in the free speech wars The planned freedom.gov portal is more than a website; it is a geopolitical statement. It crystallizes a fundamental disagreement between two democratic traditions on how to manage the immense power of digital communication. While European authorities pursue a path of heightened oversight to combat perceived harms, the United States is leveraging its technological and jurisdictional advantages to create a haven for contested speech. This initiative does not merely challenge specific content removalsit contests the underlying authority of foreign governments to set those rules for a globally connected internet. The coming launch will not resolve this deep-seated conflict but will undoubtedly open a new and contentious front in the ongoing battle over who gets to define the boundaries of acceptable online discourse. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com Reuters.com Gizmodo.com Patel: FBI has UNCOVERED sources of Antifa funding Under Director Kash Patel, the FBI is actively tracing money flows to Antifa-linked groups, confirming arrests and signaling imminent prosecutions against financial backers of left-wing violence. Since Antifa was designated as a domestic terrorist organization in 2025, federal law enforcement has pursued financial disruption strategies, exposing foreign and domestic funding channels sustaining the movement. Patel emphasized that financial investigations reveal hidden networks, with scrutiny on nonprofits, tax-exempt organizations and foreign funding hinting at major disclosures in the coming months. Patel refuted claims that Antifa is decentralized, citing federal prosecutions like the Prairieland case and over two dozen arrests tied to violence, framing it as a funded, operational danger. The crackdown revives questions about elite enablers, with globalist financiers (e.g., Soros) funding Antifa to destabilize societies. Skeptics warn the campaign risks conflating dissent with terrorism ahead of the 2026 midterms. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under the leadership of its Director Kash Patel, is reportedly closing in on the financial backers of Antifa-linked violence revealing a coordinated effort to dismantle what the Trump administration has labeled a domestic terrorist movement. Patel made the revelation during an interview with former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino on the latter's podcast "The Dan Bongino Show" on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The FBI head confirmed that federal agents are tracing money flows to left-wing activist groups, with arrests already underway. While specific donors remain unnamed, Patel warned that more revelationsand prosecutionsare coming, marking a significant escalation in the governments crackdown on political violence. Since President Donald Trump's September 2025 executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, federal law enforcement has pursued a strategy of financial disruption. The order described Antifa as a "militarist, anarchist enterprise" seeking the overthrow of U.S. institutions, with foreign-linked factions classified as terrorist entities. Now, Patel says the FBI is targeting not just street-level operatives but the "heavy funding streams" that sustain them. "Money doesn't lie," Patel told his erstwhile deputy, emphasizing that financial forensics expose hidden networks. Investigators are scrutinizing U.S.-based nonprofits, tax-exempt organizations and potential foreign funding channels. Patel hinted at imminent disclosures, stating, "Wait till you see whats coming in the next month or two on the funding streams related to this." The crackdown follows a series of federal terrorism prosecutions, including the high-profile Prairieland case in Texas, where five individuals pleaded guilty to supporting an Antifa-linked shooting that injured a police officer outside an immigration detention center. Patel framed these arrests as proof that Antifa is more than an abstract ideology it's an organized, funded threat. "We found them," he declared, suggesting deeper enforcement actions loom. FBI targets Antifa's Deep State enablers Critics have long dismissed Antifa as a decentralized movement without formal structure, but Patel's remarks challenge that narrative. He cited over two dozen federal arrests tied to Antifa-related violence, though exact figures remain unclear. The FBIs focus aligns with National Security Presidential Memorandum-7, a Trump-era directive ordering probes into ideologies promoting "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity." The financial angle marks a tactical shift. By following the money, the FBI aims to cripple Antifas operational capacity rather than just react to street clashes. Patels comments also revive questions about the role of establishment figures in enabling unrest. "These organizations dont operate alone," Patel reiterated, suggesting that prosecuting financiers could deter future violence. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine meanwhile explains that globalists including billionaire financiers like George Soros and major banks fund Antifa cells worldwide to destabilize societies, push communist agendas and suppress dissent while coordinating with corrupt law enforcement to enable their violence. These groups act as shock troops for the globalist elite, using chaos and authoritarian tactics to erode individual freedoms when their ideological arguments fail in open debate. During the 2020 riots, Trump warned of invoking the Insurrection Act, hinting at elite complicity in destabilization efforts. Now with funding networks under scrutiny, the investigation could expose deeper coordination between activists and their enablers. Yet skeptics argue the campaign risks conflating legitimate dissent with terrorism, chilling free speech. As the 2026 midterm election approaches, the Antifa crackdown signals a broader law enforcement priority: preempting political violence by dismantling its infrastructure. With Patel promising more revelations, the coming months may test whether financial pressure can neutralize what the government views as an existential threat or whether the movement will adapt under siege. For now, the FBI's message is clear: Antifa's backers are no longer in the shadows. And if Patel's warnings hold, neither are their days of operating with impunity. Watch Stefan Molyneux discussing the Democratic National Committee's public endorsement of Antifa below. This video is from the Stefan Molyneux channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com WOAI.IHeart.com Yahoo.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com The Romanian blueprint: Leaked docs show EUs plan to censor conservatives before elections Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the first-round presidential election results after anti-establishment candidate Calin Georgescu's surprise victory. A U.S. congressional investigation found the EU and Romanian authorities pressured social media platforms, via the Digital Services Act, to censor pro-Georgescu content. Officials cited "Russian disinformation" on platforms like TikTok as justification, despite internal platform assessments finding no evidence of a coordinated Russian operation. Following the annulment, Georgescu was arrested and barred from a new election, which was won by the establishment-favored candidate. The report frames the Romanian case as part of a broader EU pattern of using regulatory power to suppress conservative and populist political speech ahead of elections. In a move that sent shockwaves through European politics, Romanias 2024 presidential election was thrown into chaos after the nations Constitutional Court annulled first-round results and canceled the subsequent runoff. The court cited "significant irregularities," including allegations of voter fraud and a foreign influence campaign on social media. The decision directly overturned the surprise victory of political outsider Calin Georgescu, a populist who advocated for a "Romania First" agenda, skepticism of continued support for Ukraine, and admiration for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. While authorities framed the intervention as a necessary defense of electoral integrity against "Russian disinformation," a new investigation from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee paints a starkly different picture: one of systematic, politically motivated censorship by European Union and national authorities to suppress a challenger to the political establishment. The "Russian meddling" narrative meets scrutiny The official rationale for overturning the election centered on claims by Romanian security services that Georgescus late surge was attributable to a Russian-orchestrated campaign on TikTok designed to manipulate voters. President Klaus Iohannis asserted that the lack of public evidence only proved how well Moscow hides its tracks. However, the U.S. House Judiciary Committees 160-page report, based on internal documents and emails, comprehensively challenges this narrative. It reveals that TikTok consistently assessed that Moscow did not conduct a coordinated influence operation to boost Georgescus campaign and shared these findings with both Romanian authorities and the European Commission. This critical counter-assessment was never disclosed to the public by officials, who continued to publicly promote the disinformation claim as the primary justification for nullifying the vote. The Digital Services Act as a tool for political censorship Beyond disputing the Russian interference claims, the committees report details how EU mechanisms were weaponized against political speech. It found that Romanian officials aggressively used the EUs Digital Services Act (DSA) a regulation touted as a tool to create safer online spaces to pressure platforms into silencing content supporting "populist and nationalist candidates" like Georgescu. Authorities issued expansive content takedown demands, at times arguing that court-ordered blocks in Romania should apply globallya move investigators saw as a direct attempt to censor the influential Romanian diaspora, which heavily supported Georgescu. Demands included orders to remove content deemed disrespectful to the ruling left-wing PSD party and, after Georgescus first-round win, a sweeping mandate to remove "all materials containing Calin Georgescu images," which TikTok refused. The NGO network and the aftermath The pressure campaign extended beyond government channels. The report identifies EU-funded non-governmental organizations, empowered as "Trusted Flaggers" under the DSA, as key actors in targeting pro-Georgescu speech. Notably, the EU-financed Bulgarian-Romanian Observatory of Digital Media submitted hundreds of censorship requests targeting what the committee characterized as standard conservative viewpoints on issues like environmental policy and EU border controls. Following the election annulment, the European Commission opened a formal DSA investigation into TikTok for allegedly failing to mitigate "systemic risks" to election integrity, further pressuring the platforms moderation policies. Meanwhile, Georgescu himself was arrested, charged with incitement against constitutional order, and barred from running in the new election, which was won by the globalist-backed candidate Nicusor Dan. A broader pattern emerges The Romanian case is presented not as an isolated incident but as the most severe example of a wider EU strategy. The committees investigation concluded that since the DSA took effect, the European Commission has pressured platforms to censor content ahead of elections in Slovakia, the Netherlands, France, Moldova and Ireland, as well as during the 2024 EU parliamentary elections. In all of these casesdocuments demonstrate a clear bias toward censoring conservative and populist parties, the report states. This historical context reframes the events in Romania from a national political crisis into a potential test case for the extent of EU institutional intervention in member states' democratic processes. A precedent for Democratic integrity The overturning of Romanias presidential election results represents a profound moment for democratic norms within the European Union. While justified by authorities as a defense against foreign subversion, evidence suggests the response may have involved the domestic subversion of political speech and electoral outcomes. The clash between sovereign popular will and supranational bureaucratic power, mediated through digital platforms and novel regulatory frameworks, sets a contentious precedent. As the report indicates, the mechanisms deployed in Romania remain active, raising critical questions about the future of free political expression and the integrity of electoral contests across the European bloc. The episode underscores a growing tension where the tools designed to protect democracies can potentially be wielded to undermine their foundational principles. Sources for this article include: RT.com BBC.com Politico.eu Trump issues 10-day ULTIMATUM for Iran: Agree to a deal or face military strikes President Donald Trump issued Iran a decisive deadline to reach a nuclear deal, warning that failure could trigger U.S. military action. The ultimatum was delivered during the inaugural meeting of his newly formed "Board of Peace," which is now entangled in escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. The U.S. has surged aircraft carriers (USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln) into the Persian Gulf, while Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei insists its military capabilities are vital deterrence. Indirect talks in Geneva have stalled, with Tehran refusing to acknowledge U.S. red lines. Lawmakers invoked the War Powers Act to challenge Trump's authority to unilaterally wage war, citing catastrophic risks. Meanwhile, Iran threatened retaliation against U.S. bases if attacked, and regional allies pledged $7B for Gaza overshadowed by looming conflict. The collapse of U.S.-Iran negotiations risks regional war, with Russia and China backing Iran and Israel's survival in question. Trump's Board of Peace aims to replace "ineffective" UN frameworks, but the next 10 days could determine whether diplomacy or war prevails. Since Trump scrapped the 2018 Iran nuclear deal, Tehran has advanced its nuclear program, while U.S. sanctions and covert ops fueled hostility. Biden's temporary thaw was reversed under Trump, setting the stage for the current crisis. U.S. President Donald Trump has given Iran a decisive 10-day deadline to reach a "meaningful deal" on nuclear and security concerns, warning that failure to comply could trigger U.S. military action. The ultimatum came during the inaugural meeting of Trump's Board of Peace a newly formed international body aimed at stabilizing Gaza, but now entangled in escalating U.S.-Iran tensions on Thursday, Feb. 19. With American aircraft carriers surging into the region and Tehran vowing retaliation, the world braces for a potential conflict that could reshape the Middle East. Speaking to global leaders gathered in Washington on Thursday, Trump emphasized the urgency of diplomacy while leaving military options firmly on the table. "We may have to take it a step further, or we may not. Maybe we're gonna make a deal," he said. "You're going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days." The president's remarks signal a narrowing window for negotiations, which have so far failed to resolve disputes over Iran's nuclear ambitions, missile programs and support for regional militant groups. The stakes are perilously high. In June 2025, U.S. and Israeli forces conducted precision strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to unleash missile barrages that strained Israel's air defenses. Since then, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has framed the nation's military capabilities as essential deterrence, declaring, "Without deterrent weaponry, a country will be crushed by the enemy." Meanwhile, the U.S. has deployed a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to reinforce the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf a clear show of force ahead of Trump's deadline. Behind closed doors, American and Iranian negotiators have engaged in indirect talks in Geneva, with Tehran expected to submit a written proposal addressing U.S. demands. Yet skepticism remains. Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News: "It was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge." Iranian officials, meanwhile, have warned that U.S. bases in the region would become "legitimate targets" if Washington launches aggression. Trump's Iran gamble Congressional resistance is mounting as well, with lawmakers like Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) invoking the 1973 War Powers Act to challenge Trump's authority to unilaterally initiate hostilities. "A war with Iran would be catastrophic," Khanna warned, citing Iran's advanced air defenses and the vulnerability of U.S. troops stationed nearby. However, with Senate Republicans previously blocking similar measures, legislative pushback may prove insufficient to halt military escalation. The Board of Peace, initially conceived to oversee Gaza's reconstruction, now finds itself at the center of a geopolitical storm. While Trump secured pledges totaling $7 billion from Middle Eastern nations for Gaza's rebuilding, the specter of war overshadows these efforts. The president framed the board as a necessary alternative to the United Nations, which he has long criticized as ineffective. "The Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the UN," Trump asserted, signaling his intent to reshape global diplomacy outside traditional frameworks. Historical context underscores the gravity of the moment. Since the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal collapsed under Trumps withdrawal in 2018, Tehran has steadily advanced its nuclear program, while U.S. sanctions and covert operations have fueled mutual hostility. The Biden administration's brief thaw releasing frozen Iranian funds was swiftly reversed under Trump's return, reigniting tensions. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, the collapse of U.S.-Iran talks risks escalating regional conflict as Israel's unchecked aggression backed by U.S. double standards could provoke Iranian retaliation and push the Middle East toward war. Now, with Russia and China backing Iran and Israel's survival potentially at stake, the next 10 days could determine whether diplomacy prevails or the region plunges into war. Watch this clip of President Donald Trump reiterating that Iran has 10 to 15 days to agree to a deal with the United States. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com BBC.com ABCNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Undercover Sting Exposes How NYC Elections Are Vulnerable to Non-Citizen Voting Introduction In the heart of Americas most populous city, a covert camera has captured a moment that should send a chill through every citizen who values the sanctity of the ballot box. Recent undercover footage appears to show a New York City Board of Elections employee casually agreeing to process a voter registration application from someone posing as a non-citizen. This is not a theoretical vulnerability or a minor bureaucratic slip; it is a stark, filmed admission that the very gates guarding our democracy are being left unlatched. In an era where trust in institutions is at a nadir, this incident exposes a profound and systemic failure to protect the foundational act of self-governance: the vote. As the nation watches, the question becomes whether this is an isolated error or a deliberate feature of a system being engineered for political control. The integrity of elections is the bedrock of personal liberty. When that integrity is compromised, every citizens voice is devalued, and the decentralized power of the people is centralized into the hands of those who would manipulate the system. This undercover sting in NYC arrives at a critical juncture, following years of documented concerns about voter fraud and non-citizen voting. It forces us to confront an uncomfortable reality: the mechanisms designed to ensure only citizens decide the fate of the nation are often absent, by design or neglect, creating an open invitation for exploitation. A Sting Operation Reveals a Troubling Reality The video, released in February 2026, reportedly shows a New York City Board of Elections worker telling an undercover individual posing as a non-citizen that he would process their voter registration application. According to reports, the worker stated it was "not my job to report anyone" when asked about the legality of registering a non-citizen [1]. This casual dismissal of a clear legal boundary is alarming. It transforms a potential crimeillegal voter registrationinto a mere administrative formality, processed without question or challenge. This incident is not an isolated flaw but a symptom of a wider, systemic disregard for election integrity that has been documented for years. Experts and investigators have long warned that poor election administration and lax enforcement enable non-citizens to vote in federal elections [2]. The undercover video provides a visceral, real-world confirmation of these warnings. It highlights the very real vulnerability of our democratic process to being undermined, not by a foreign army, but by the quiet, bureaucratic surrender of the rules meant to protect it. When the front-line guardians of the vote see their role as mere paper-pushers rather than defenders of a sacred civic duty, the system itself becomes the greatest threat. The Video: What Allegedly Happened The covert footage, captured by independent journalists, reportedly shows an individual entering a NYC Board of Elections office and posing as a non-citizen seeking to register to vote. In the exchange, the election worker is alleged to have admitted that non-citizens do register to vote and said he would submit the illegal application without reporting it [3]. The workers alleged statement, "that's not my job," in response to being asked if he would report the attempt, encapsulates a catastrophic failure of duty [4]. This act, if true, represents a direct breach of both law and the sacred civic duty of election officials. Federal law is clear: only U.S. citizens may vote in federal elections. Processing such an application is not a neutral act; it is an active step in potentially corrupting the voter roll. The video suggests a workspace culture where ineligibility is an inconvenient detail to be ignored, not a legal firewall to be enforced. This normalization of lawlessness at the point of registration is how systemic fraud takes root, one unchecked application at a time. Systemic Failure, Not a Simple Mistake To dismiss this as one 'bad apple' is to profoundly misunderstand the problem. This is about institutional systems that are designed or allowed to fail at verifying eligibility. Lax identification laws, automatic registration drives tied to agencies like the DMV, and a pervasive culture of non-enforcement create the perfect environment for such breaches. As noted in one analysis, there are no effective measures in place to stop non-citizens from casting ballots because the system lacks robust verification [5]. When the system is built on trust without verification, it becomes an open invitation for exploitation, whether intentional or accidental. The evidence of systemic failure is vast. States have been found sending voter registration forms to noncitizens who renew drivers licenses, even after they check a box indicating they are not citizens [6]. Furthermore, legal challenges to basic integrity measures are constant. For instance, a federal judge blocked a key Trump executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, calling such election integrity measures an overreach [7]. This judicial activism actively dismantles the safeguards needed to prevent the very scenario the undercover video exposes. When the system is hostile to verification, it is friendly to fraud. Why Election Integrity is a Foundational Liberty The right to a free and fair election is a cornerstone of personal liberty and self-governance. It is the mechanism through which the decentralized will of the people checks centralized power. Corrupting this process is a direct attack on every citizens voice. Just as honest money, like physical gold and silver, has no counter-party risk and cannot be debased by government fiat, honest elections must have no fraud risk to maintain public trust. The value of your vote, like the value of sound money, is destroyed when it can be diluted or counterfeited with impunity. This principle is why efforts to secure elections are perpetually met with fierce, organized opposition from those who benefit from a lax system. As author Mark Levin has documented, opposition to voter ID laws is often dominated by shameful claims of bigotry and racism, designed to stigmatize the simple, commonsense requirement of proving ones identity and eligibility before participating in sovereignty [8]. This framing is a political tactic to avoid honest debate. The foundational issue is that the citizens vote is a unique property rightthe right to govern oneself. Allowing that right to be appropriated by non-citizens is a form of political theft that undermines the republic itself. The Broader Pattern: Weaponized Migration and Political Manipulation This incident in New York City cannot be divorced from the larger, deliberate strategy of weaponized migration to alter political demographics. It is a component of a political tactic where flooding voter rolls through non-verification seeks to permanently shift electoral power, just as flooding a currency with printed notes devalues its worth. This represents a centralized power grab, undermining the decentralized will of the legitimate citizenry. As one investigative interview framed it, there is a 'planned invasion of the United Statesa strategic move aimed at securing Democratic majorities' through demographic change [9]. The connections are explicit. Non-profit organizations have been exposed instructing non-citizens on how to illegally vote for specific candidates, such as socialist NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani [10]. This is not random chaos; it is organized. The aim is to import a new electorate. This strategy mirrors what observers have warned about for years: a coordinated effort where 'mass illegal immigration is "weaponized migration" that seeks to overrun western cultures' and their political systems. When you combine open borders with closed verification systems, you are not witnessing an accident; you are witnessing a political project. Restoring Trust: The Path to Secure Elections Solutions must focus on robust verification, transparency, and accountability. This means implementing universal, robust ID requirements for voter registration and voting, conducting transparent and regular audits of voter rolls, and ensuring meaningful consequences for violations by both individuals and election officials. The House of Representatives took a step in this direction by passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill requiring documented proof of citizenship for federal voter registration [11]. Such measures align the U.S. with the stricter practices of other nations and are essential to restoring credibility. Election workers must be rigorously trained and held accountable, treating their role with the gravity it deservesas defenders of the republic, not passive clerks. Citizens must demand this integrity with the same vigilance they would apply to protecting their financial sovereignty or personal privacy. For those seeking uncensored analysis on these threats, resources like BrightNews.ai provide AI-analyzed news trends from across the independent media, offering a more honest perspective than the corporate mainstream media, which routinely lies and deceives the public on issues of election integrity. The path forward requires decentralized vigilance and a renewed commitment to the principle that citizenship, and the vote it confers, must be verifiable and sacred. Conclusion The undercover video from New York City is a fire alarm in the night. It is a small, captured glimpse of a vast vulnerabilitya system where the rules are optional and the guardians are asleep. This is not merely about one worker in one office; it is about the integrity of the American experiment itself. In a nation where the government has repeatedly proven itself corrupt and untrustworthyfrom the FDA suppressing natural medicine to the CDC orchestrating medical tyrannythe last bastion of citizen control must be the ballot box. If that too is compromised, the descent into centralized control is nearly complete. Restoring election integrity is the most urgent civic task of our time. It requires rejecting the false narratives that equate security with suppression and recognizing that verification is the hallmark of any honest system. As citizens, we must apply the principles of self-reliance and decentralization to our democracy. We must demand systems as honest and unforgeable as gold, and officials as accountable as if our liberty depended on itbecause it does. The sting operation exposed a wound; it is now up to the people to demand the surgery to heal it. References Adani Ports, through its subsidiary, has signed a strategic MoU with NMDC Limited and Vale Brazil to develop an integrated iron ore blending and value-addition ecosystem within a dedicated Special Economic Zone at Gangavaram Port. The agreement was formalized during the India-Brazil Business Forum Summit, coinciding with the official visit of Brazil's President. The collaboration aims to establish Gangavaram as a hub capable of handling Valemax vessels, the world's largest ore carriers, increasing the port's capacity to 75 million metric tonnes. This initiative is designed to strengthen the iron ore export value chain on India's east coast and enhance global competitiveness. Adani Ports partners with NMDC & Vale Brazil to build an integrated iron ore blending SEZ at Gangavaram Port, boosting India's export capacity. Ahmedabad, Feb 21 Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Limited, has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with government-run NMDC Limited and Vale Brazil, it was announced here on Saturday. The MoU, signed at the India-Brazil Business Forum Summit, establishes a strategic framework for the development of an iron ore blending facility and a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Gangavaram Port. The agreement was signed during the official visit of Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and in the presence of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, underscoring the deepening India-Brazil strategic partnership. "This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building resilient, future-ready infrastructure that strengthens India's position in global supply chains," said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO, APSEZ. By integrating high-quality mineral logistics with advanced port capabilities, "we are supporting industry requirements while contributing to the country's broader economic growth," he added. Under this collaboration, the parties will jointly develop, operationalise, and manage an integrated SEZ-based ecosystem for the blending, value addition, and commercialisation of iron ore. This initiative is designed to strengthen the iron ore export value chain on India's east coast while enhancing efficiency, scale, and global competitiveness in mineral processing and trade. With this development, the capacity of Gangavaram Port will increase up to 75 MMT, and it will become a hub for iron ore exports for India and the region. "Our partnership with NMDC and Vale will help establish a modern, efficient, and sustainable ecosystem for the iron ore sector on the East Coast. Gangavaram Port is poised to become the first port in India capable of handling Valemax vessels - the world's largest Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs)," said Gupta. The collaboration will involve development of an integrated iron ore blending and value-addition ecosystem within a dedicated SEZ at Gangavaram Port; establishment of fully mechanised berthing and cargohandling facilities capable of accommodating Valemax vessels with a carrying capacity of up to 400,000 MMT; and end-to-end yard management, blending operations, and vessel discharge and loading to enhance supply chain efficiency. - IANS A major summit event in New Delhi focused on reimagining education for the AI age, emphasizing that technology must enhance, not replace, human teachers. Experts called for prioritizing AI literacy for India's over one crore school teachers to guide responsible student use. The discussion stressed making AI tools accessible to all communities to ensure equitable educational opportunities. The event also saw the launch of a new report on AI in school education, examining its implications for curriculum and teaching. India's AI Impact Summit 2026 explores using AI to create personalized, inclusive education while emphasizing teacher support and universal access. New Delhi, February 21 The Centre of Policy Research and Governance hosted a main summit event titled "Reimagining Education in the Age of AI" at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan as part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. As per CPRG, "The event brought together policymakers, leading academicians, and industry experts. The panel explored the role of AI in reshaping learning, pedagogy, and institutional design to enable more personalised and inclusive education. The panel highlighted pathways to universal AI literacy for learners and educators." "The discussion reflected the broader priorities of the India AI Impact Summit 2026," CPRG said in a statement. Acknowledging the new possibilities that AI has brought to education, the Director, CPRG, Dr Ramanand said, "AI should be used to enhance learning and assist teachers, while keeping human judgment and thinking at the centre. It is the process of learning that should be in focus rather than the content." He emphasised that technology should be made accessible to all communities and regions so that everyone has an equal opportunity. Dr Ramanand further highlighted that we need to think about the futuristic Institution of Education, which can address the challenges and issues of technology. CPRG Director added, "This AI Summit is the right time to reimagine the future of education, and without incorporating technology in education for everyone, we will not be able to ensure equitable education for all." S Anand Rao Patil, Additional Secretary of Higher Education, Government of India, said, "India has over one crore school teachers. We must prioritise equipping them with AI literacy so they can guide students in using these technologies responsibly." Prof KK Aggarwal, President, South Asian University, has recalled how he visualised a university for future generations during the establishment of GGSIP University when the IT sector was on peak. Emphasising the technological needs of the nation, he indicated that the present AI moment is much stronger than the IT one. Prof Pankaj Arora, Chairperson, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), added, "AI is not going to replace teachers. In fact, AI and teachers complement each other; there is no competition. AI should be used as an assistant that enhances adaptability, creativity, and personalised learning." Suresh Yadav, Senior Director of the Trade, Ocean and Natural Resources Directorate, Commonwealth Secretariat, noted, "AI represents a paradigm shift. It is not merely a 180-degree turn. It is a 360-degree transformation. Now, our challenge is to guide it in the right direction." During the session, CPRG launched its latest report, AI in School Education, and presented key findings on student engagement with AI and its implications for teaching and curriculum design. The event forms part of CPRG's Future of Society initiative, which examines the implications of emerging technologies for governance and public institutions. In the lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, CPRG held a series of pre-summit engagements across India and internationally, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to deliberate on AI governance and institutional preparedness. During the Summit, CPRG convened multiple Main Summit events, contributing to the broader global 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 This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: The Giant Company announced Thursday that it has agreed to acquire two family-owned supermarkets in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed. The Ahold Delhaize-owned grocer plans to temporarily close and update the stores, which are located in Everett and Saxton, Pennsylvania. The Giant Companys decision to buy the stores continues a trend that has seen multiple independent grocers strike deals to sell their assets to larger retailers. Dive Insight: The Giant Companys deal to acquire Everett Foodliner and Saxton Market from the Appleby family reflects shifts that are taking place across the grocery industry as escalating costs and competition make it increasingly difficult for smaller retailers to maintain their operations. While it was a difficult decision to make, we are pleased by the care GIANT has shown for our business, employees, and customers, Bob and Joe Appleby said in a statement. We know our family business is in good hands with GIANT and we cant wait to celebrate with them when the stores reopen later this year. The deal includes the real estate that the supermarkets occupy as well as related grocery and fuel business assets. The Giant Company, which operates under the Giant and Martins brands, said employees at the two stores will have the opportunity to interview for positions with the company, without providing details. The Giant Company said it plans to reopen the stores later in 2026. Expanding in existing markets is a key element of GIANTS strategic growth plan, said John Ruane, president of The Giant Company, in a statement. We look forward to working closely with Bob and Joe on the transition, welcoming our new team members, and delivering value, freshness, and kindness to our new customers. The Appleby familys deal with The Giant Company follows agreements by other independent grocers to sell their stores to larger chains. For example, Minnesota-based Coborns agreed last April to buy two Kesslers Food and Grocery stores from the family that owned them. Kesslers said it opted to sell the stores because it concluded that it would be increasingly difficult for the company to remain competitive independently. Recommended Reading The Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata cross-border bus service is set to resume regular operations following successful trial runs, ending a suspension that lasted over a year. The service was initially halted during the pandemic and again after a bus accident and subsequent mob attack in Bangladesh, followed by political unrest. With a new government in Bangladesh and improved law and order, authorities have decided to restart this vital connectivity route. The service significantly cuts travel time for India's northeastern region compared to the traditional Siliguri corridor. Cross-border bus service linking Agartala, Dhaka, and Kolkata to restart after trial runs, improving connectivity between India and Bangladesh. Agartala, Feb 21 The cross-border bus service linking Agartala, Dhaka and Kolkata is likely to resume soon on a regular basis, bringing to an end a suspension that lasted for over a year, officials said on Saturday. Government-owned Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) Vice-Chairman Samar Roy said that trial runs of the Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata bus service commenced on Saturday. He added that the schedule for regular operations would be announced on February 28 after assessing the outcome of a few trial runs. The Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata and Agartala-Dhaka bus services were initially suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and later resumed in June 2022. However, the services were again halted after a bus operated by a local travel agency met with an accident in Bangladesh and was subsequently attacked by a mob. Bus operators also expressed reluctance to resume services following the outbreak of violence in Bangladesh in June-July last year, particularly after the fall of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, 2024. With a newly elected government now assuming office in Bangladesh and reports indicating an improvement in the overall law-and-order situation, authorities concerned have decided to restart the cross-border bus services. The Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata and Agartala-Dhaka bus links are considered vital connectivity routes, enabling smoother and faster travel between Tripura and eastern India through Bangladesh territory. The services are expected to significantly benefit passengers once regular operations resume. Sources said that the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission (AHC) in Agartala has also begun providing visas in special cases. Earlier, the Bangladesh AHC in Agartala had notified that all visa and consular services at the diplomatic mission remained suspended from December 23, 2025, due to "unavoidable circumstances" and until further notice. Meanwhile, a senior Tripura police official said that security in and around the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala has been further strengthened since August last year. "A huge contingent of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Tripura State Rifles has been deployed to ensure the safety of officials and the diplomatic mission," the official said. Tripura, which shares an 856-km-long border with Bangladesh and is surrounded by the neighbouring country on three sides, witnesses regular cross-border movement, with a large number of people travelling regularly between the two countries. The Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) Integrated Check Post (ICP) is also the second-largest trading point between India and Bangladesh after the Petrapole-Benapole ICP in West Bengal. Travel from India's mountainous Northeastern region to the rest of the country via Bangladesh is significantly faster and more efficient compared to the traditional narrow Siliguri corridor, commonly referred to as the "Chicken's Neck" corridor. - IANS The AI Impact Summit 2026 concluded in New Delhi with a strong emphasis on global collaboration to steer artificial intelligence for the benefit of all humanity. The summit's declaration outlined seven key pillars, or "Chakras," for action, including human capital development, trustworthy AI, and democratizing access to AI resources. Key outcomes included support for voluntary initiatives like the Charter for Democratic Diffusion of AI and the Global AI Impact Commons to promote shared innovation. The gathering was framed by the guiding principles of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" and a commitment to ensuring AI's benefits are widely and equitably shared. The AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi calls for international cooperation across seven pillars to ensure AI benefits all of humanity. New Delhi, February 21 The AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi emphasised the need for international cooperation to ensure AI benefits humanity. The summit focused on seven pillars: human capital development, access for social empowerment, trustworthy AI, energy efficiency, AI in science, democratizing AI resources, and AI for economic growth. It beautifully blended traditional Indian philosophy--like Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family)--with cutting-edge technical governance. "Inspired by the principle of "srvjn hitaay, srvjn sukhaay" (Welfare for all, Happiness of all), we believe that AI's promise is best realized only when its benefits are shared by humanity. We, the participants from countries and international organizations, gathered in New Delhi on 19 February 2026 to hold the AI Impact Summit. The advent of AI marks an inflection point in the trajectory of technological evolution. The choices that we make today will shape the AI-enabled world that future generations will inherit," read AI Impact Summit Declaration. "This calls for further international cooperation and multistakeholder engagement across our countries along the seven Chakras (pillars) of the AI Impact Summit centred around the principles of 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. In complementarity with existing international and other initiatives, we will work to foster shared understanding, while respecting national sovereignty, on how AI could be made to serve humanity, noting the initiatives across the seven Chakras (pillars) of the Summit," added the declaration. Key outcomes included promoting access to AI resources for all countries by democratising AI resources. "Robust digital infrastructure and meaningful and affordable connectivity are prerequisites for deploying AI and unlocking its full potential. Inspired by the principle of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family), we recognise the importance of enhancing the affordability of and access to AI resources that would be critical to enabling all countries to develop, adopt and deploy AI for the benefit of their citizens. The summit recognised voluntary initiatives like the Charter for Democratic Diffusion of AI and the Global AI Impact Commons. Participants committed to advancing shared priorities and guidelines for AI development. "To this effect, we take note of the Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI as a voluntary and non-binding framework to promote access to foundational AI resources, support locally relevant innovation, and strengthen resilient AI ecosystems while respecting national laws," read the declaration. It also called for economic growth by encouraging AI adoption for social and economic development. "Wide-scale adoption of AI and AI-based applications hold unprecedented potential to drive economic and social development. Open-source AI applications and other accessible AI approaches, where appropriate, and wide-scale diffusion of AI use cases can contribute to scalability, replicability, and adaptability of AI systems across sectors. We take note of the Global AI Impact Commons as a voluntary initiative that provides a practical platform to encourage and enable the adoption, replication, and scale-up of successful AI use cases across regions." The AI Impact Summit streesed on to secure AI by fostering trustworthy and robust AI systems. "Advancing secure, trustworthy and robust AI is foundational to building trust and maximizing societal and economic benefits. Noting that deepening our understanding of the potential security aspects remains important, we recognize the importance of security in AI systems, industry-led voluntary measures, and the adoption of technical solutions, and appropriate policy frameworks that enable innovation while promoting the public interest throughout the AI's lifecycle. We recognize the development of the voluntary and non-binding Trusted AI Commons, a collaborative platform consolidating technical resources, tools, benchmarks and best practices that all can access and adapt to their contexts; as well as its voluntary guidance note." The Summit highlighted enhancing AI research infrastructure and collaboration. "We recognize that removing structural barriers to and increasing availability of AI research infrastructure can promote the use of AI in scientific research and development across countries. International scientific collaborations can unlock the potential of AI in research and development by bringing unique expertise, perspectives, and resources. We take note of the voluntary and collaborative International Network of AI for Science Institutions as a platform to connect scientific communities and pool AI research capabilities across regions among participating institutions, in order to accelerate the impactful adoption of AI." It called for developing AI skills and literacy. "AI holds the potential to uplift all sections of society by enabling individuals to access knowledge, cross-border AI solutions, information, services, opportunities and enhancing participation in social and economic activities. We recognize the importance of collaborations that would facilitate AI adoption for social empowerment. We take note of the development of a voluntary and collaborative platform to facilitate exchange of learning, knowledge, and scalable practices to advance AI adoption for social empowerment." The declaration realising the full promise of AI, which requires equipping individuals with relevant skills by expanding AI human resource development, specific initiatives on education, AI workforce development, training of public officials, enhancing public awareness of AI capabilities, increasing AI literacy, and upgrading vocational and training ecosystems. "While encouraging international collaboration on meaningful skilling and reskilling AI initiatives, we take note of the voluntary guiding principles for reskilling in the age of AI and the playbook on AI workforce development, which would support participants in preparation for a future AI driven economy." The Summit also focused on energy-efficient and sustainable AI systems. "Recognizing the growing demands of AI on energy, infrastructure, and natural resources, we underscore the importance of developing energy efficient AI systems. Affordable AI systems may expand access to AI and accelerate local innovation that would advance shared developmental aspirations. We recognize that the Voluntary Guiding Principles on Resilient, Innovative, and Efficient Artificial Intelligence would guide us towards development of resilient and efficient AI systems. We also take note of the Playbook on Advancing Resilient AI Infrastructure as a knowledge output, which is a reference resource to support resilient AI development." The AI Summit acknowledged that the AI Impact Summit will contribute to strengthening international cooperation and a multistakeholder approach to advance shared priorities as well as voluntary and non-binding guidelines and principles, which can promote AI for ensuring a prosperous future for humanity. "We remain committed to advancing our shared aspirations for realizing the benefits of AI and look forward to continued cooperation for translating these aspirations into concrete actions for the three Sutras of the India AI Impact Summit 2026." The declaration was endorsed by 86 countries and two organisations, EU (European Union) and IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development). The countries included Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, UAE, Ukraine, UK, USA, Uzbekistan. - ANI Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant welcomed the historic New Delhi Declaration adopted at the AI Impact Summit 2026, calling it a global commitment to harness AI for human progress and welfare. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for India's role in shaping the initiative, which was endorsed by over 80 countries. Sawant emphasized that the summit's outcomes on responsible governance and inclusive development would benefit sectors like healthcare and agriculture, particularly in the Global South. Simultaneously, he strongly condemned a shirtless protest by Indian Youth Congress workers at the summit, labeling it a betrayal of India's image. Goa CM Pramod Sawant welcomes the global AI Declaration, credits PM Modi's leadership, and condemns the Youth Congress shirtless protest as a betrayal. Panaji, February 21 Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant welcomed the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration at the AI Impact Summit 2026, calling it a historic step towards ensuring that Artificial Intelligence becomes a force for human progress and global welfare. Invoking the message "Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay", Sawant said the coming together of nations from across the world reflects a shared commitment to make AI a tool for inclusion and development. The New Delhi Declaration, adopted at the AI Impact Summit 2026, reflects a global commitment to harnessing Artificial Intelligence for human progress and welfare. India's leadership, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has played a key role in shaping this initiative, with over 80 countries endorsing the declaration. "I wholeheartedly welcome the historic New Delhi Declaration adopted at the AI Impact Summit 2026. The coming together of nations from across the world reflects a shared commitment to ensure that Artificial Intelligence becomes a force for human progress, inclusion and global welfare," he said. The Goa Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the endorsement of the Declaration by more than 80 countries is a testimony to India's growing role as a trusted global partner in shaping emerging technologies. Highlighting the key outcomes of the Summit, Sawant said responsible AI governance, inclusive development, innovation, capacity building and global collaboration will help harness technology for sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, governance and economic growth, particularly benefiting the Global South. He emphasised the need to translate the shared vision into concrete action by promoting ethical innovation, encouraging research, building skilled talent and ensuring that AI delivers benefits to every citizen. Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called the Indian Youth Congress protest "a betrayal of India's image. "On behalf of the Goa government, I condemn the way Congress, due to its low-level politics, sent its young workers to this AI Summit, and the way they have taken off their clothes and protested... This is a betrayal of India's image...," the CM said. In the protest held at the Al Impact India Summit in the national capital, the Youth Congress members removed their shirts with slogans that read, "Compromised PM". The party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The Patiala House Court on Saturday rejected the bail applications of all four arrested Indian Youth Congress workers in connection with the protest and sent them into a five-day police custody. - ANI Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports, stated that artificial intelligence will act as an efficiency enhancer rather than replace humans, though it may cause temporary job displacement. He emphasized the responsibility of large organizations to retrain and upskill their workforce during technological transitions. Adani also shared personal anecdotes, including his disciplined schooling and his passion for Formula 1 racing, expressing hope for its return to India. Reflecting on his career, he described his foundational, hands-on first year working at Mundra Port as a critical learning experience. Adani Ports MD Karan Adani says AI boosts productivity, discusses job reskilling, his early life lessons, and passion for Formula 1 racing. New Delhi, Feb 21 Artificial intelligence will not replace human beings entirely but will act as an efficiency enhancer, enabling fewer people to deliver higher output, Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, said on Saturday. Speaking at the Platinum Jubilee (70th) Foundation Day and 20th National Management Day event organised by the All India Management Association in the national capital, Karan Adani said AI should be seen as a powerful tool that improves productivity and helps organisations scale faster. However, he acknowledged that large-scale adoption of technology may lead to temporary job displacement before reskilling systems fully evolve. "Big organisations have a responsibility to retrain and upskill employees as part of structured change management," he mentioned. Reflecting on his early life, Karan Adani said he spent three important years at a missionary school where he learned discipline, independence and the value of interacting with children from diverse backgrounds. He also spoke about his passion for Formula 1, which he was introduced to by friends in Singapore. He said he admired how every millisecond counts in the sport, especially during the era when Michael Schumacher was dominating. He added with a smile that his father considers it an expensive passion. Speaking about the possibility of Formula 1 returning to India, Karan Adani said hosting global sporting events gives international exposure. "However, currently such exposure benefits only a limited number of people, which is why many Indians travel to places like Doha, Saudi Arabia and Singapore to attend races," he noted. "India has strong potential to host F1 again and, if it happens, it should showcase Indian heritage to the world," Karan Adani explained. Talking about his professional journey, Karan Adani recalled that after finishing college, he told his father he was interested in the ports business. The same night, he was sent to Mundra Port. He said his first year was spent working on the ground without an office or desk. He visited different operational areas, understood problems firsthand and described it as a deeply learning and down-to-earth experience. - IANS Adani Ports, through its subsidiary, has signed a strategic MoU with NMDC and Brazil's Vale to develop an iron ore blending and value-addition ecosystem at Gangavaram Port. The agreement was signed during Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's official visit to India, highlighting the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations. The project includes creating a dedicated Special Economic Zone and facilities to handle the world's largest Very Large Ore Carriers (Valemax vessels). This initiative aims to make Gangavaram Port a major export hub, enhancing India's position in the global iron ore supply chain. Adani Ports, NMDC, and Brazil's Vale sign MoU for an iron ore blending hub at Gangavaram Port during President Lula's India visit. Ahmedabad, February 21 Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, the world's fastest-growing integrated transport utility, through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Limited, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with NMDC Limited and Vale S.A. at the India-Brazil Business Forum Summit held in New Delhi. According to a release by Adani Ports and Logistics, the MoU was signed during the official visit of H.E. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Federative Republic of Brazil to India, and in presence of Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, underscoring the deepening India-Brazil strategic partnership. The agreement establishes a strategic framework for the development of an iron ore blending facility and a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Gangavaram Port. Under this collaboration, the parties will jointly develop, operationalize, and manage an integrated SEZ-based ecosystem for the blending, value addition, and commercialisation of iron ore. This initiative is designed to strengthen the iron ore export value chain on India's East Coast while enhancing efficiency, scale, and global competitiveness in mineral processing and trade. With this development, the capacity of Gangavaram Port will increase up to 75 MMT, and it will become a hub for iron ore exports for India and the region. "This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building resilient, future-ready infrastructure that strengthens India's position in global supply chains," said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director & CEO, APSEZ. "By integrating high-quality mineral logistics with advanced port capabilities, we are supporting industry requirements while contributing to the country's broader economic growth. Our partnership with NMDC and Vale will help establish a modern, efficient, and sustainable ecosystem for the iron ore sector on the East Coast. Gangavaram Port is poised to become the first port in India capable of handling Valemax vessels -- the world's largest Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs)." The collaboration will involve development of an integrated iron ore blending and value-addition ecosystem within a dedicated SEZ at Gangavaram Port. It will also include establishment of fully mechanised berthing and cargo-handling facilities capable of accommodating Valemax vessels with a carrying capacity of up to 400,000 MMT. End-to-end yard management, blending operations, and vessel discharge and loading to enhance supply chain efficiency will also be included. This also aims to strengthen Gangavaram's position as a consolidated export hub for iron ore and port-led industrial growth. Together, this partnership positions Gangavaram Port as a strategic gateway for global iron ore trade and reinforces India's emergence as a competitive, future-ready maritime hub. - ANI Panel of candidates to be sent to central leadership Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the BJP will contest two of the three vacant Rajya Sabha seats from the state, with elections scheduled for March 16. The party's state unit will prepare a panel of three candidate names for central leadership approval. A final decision on contesting the third seat will be made after assessing the opposition's strategy. With a comfortable majority in the state assembly, the BJP-led alliance is widely expected to secure at least two seats. Assam CM Himanta Sarma says BJP will contest two RS seats, plans strategy for third. Elections scheduled for March 16. Read more. Guwahati, Feb 21 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the BJP is set to contest the two vacant Rajya Sabha seats from the state that are scheduled to go to the polls on March 16, while preparations are also underway to frame a strategy for the third vacant seat. Sarma said the BJP has already decided to give party tickets for the two Rajya Sabha seats that are falling vacant and will soon complete the internal process for finalising candidates. He added that the party will closely monitor the strategy adopted by opposition parties before taking a final call on contesting the third vacant seat. "The BJP will prepare its tactics to fight the third vacant seat as well. However, the final decision on that will be taken after watching the strategy of the opposition parties," the Chief Minister said. Sarma further informed that a panel of three candidate names will be prepared by the BJP's state unit and sent to the party's central leadership in New Delhi for approval. He said the process of shortlisting names is currently underway within the organisation. According to the Chief Minister, BJP state president Dilip Saikia will formally forward the list of shortlisted candidates to the central leadership for its consideration and final clearance. "As per party norms, the state unit will recommend a panel of names, and the central leadership will take the final decision," Sarma said. The Chief Minister also hinted that the BJP is confident of its numerical strength in the Assam Legislative Assembly, which plays a crucial role in the Rajya Sabha elections. He said the party will approach the elections in a planned and disciplined manner, keeping in mind both organisational interests and the broader political situation in the state. The elections to the Rajya Sabha seats from Assam are scheduled to be held on March 16. Political activity in the state has intensified in recent days, with both the ruling BJP and opposition parties holding internal discussions and consultations ahead of the polls. With the BJP-led alliance enjoying a comfortable majority in the Assembly, the ruling party is widely expected to secure the two seats, while the contest for the remaining seat is likely to depend on opposition unity and strategy. - IANS The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala observed Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day with solemn ceremonies. The day began with the flag at half-mast, the national anthem, and floral tributes at a temporary Shaheed Minar. A discussion session featured speeches highlighting the sacrifices of the language martyrs and the movement's historical significance. The Assistant High Commissioner emphasized how the movement established Bengali nationalism and the importance of mother tongue education. The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala solemnly observed Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day with tributes and discussions. Agartala, February 22 The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Agartala, observed the Great Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day-2026 with due respect and solemnity in Agartala on Saturday, organising a series of programmes to commemorate the historic Language Movement and honour the sacrifices of language martyrs. The observance was held in two phases. The first phase began at 9:00 am with the hoisting of the national flag of Bangladesh at half-mast and the rendition of the national anthem at the mission premises. This was followed by the laying of wreaths at a temporary Shaheed Minar set up at the High Commission compound, led by Assistant High Commissioner Hasan Al Bashar Abul Ulayee along with officials and staff of the mission, according to a release. Students and teachers of Ishwar Pathshala School in Tripura also paid floral tributes at the memorial. The Shaheed Minar was later opened to the public for offering respects. Messages issued on the occasion by the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh were read out, followed by special prayers seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of the language martyrs and continued progress and prosperity of Bangladesh. A documentary on the Language Movement was also screened. In the second phase of the programme, guests paid floral tributes at the temporary Shaheed Minar in the afternoon. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement, followed by a discussion session highlighting the significance of the day, the release stated. The discussion session began with a welcome address by First Secretary Sharif Ahmed. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Vice Chancellor of Techno India University Ratan Kumar Saha, Principal of Agartala Government Medical College Anup Saha, noted businessman Priyanath Saha, senior journalist Amit Bhowmik, and President of Voluntary Health Association of Tripura Srilikha Roy. The speakers recalled with gratitude the contributions and sacrifices of the language martyrs. In his concluding remarks, Assistant High Commissioner Hasan Al Bashar Abul Ulayee highlighted how the historic Language Movement laid the foundation for a non-communal, democratic and language-based state system. He paid tribute to language martyrs, including Salam, Barkat, Rafique, Jabbar and Shafiul, and emphasised that the movement established Bengali nationalism, the release stated. He also expressed hope that children across the world would be able to speak and receive education in their mother tongue to ensure their intellectual development. - ANI UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan received a warm welcome in Patna during a significant visit to Bihar, his birthplace, after more than two decades. The visit, hosted by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, is seen as a bridge between Narayan's roots and his role in shaping the UK's AI strategy, with discussions aimed at potential cooperation in AI development and innovation. Narayan highlighted the shared values and parallel paths the UK and India are taking in regulating and responsibly deploying artificial intelligence. The minister expressed a strong personal and professional interest in advancing collaborative ties between the two nations in the digital domain. UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan visits Patna and Muzaffarpur after 23 years, meeting Bihar officials to discuss potential AI cooperation between the UK and India. New Delhi, Feb 21 Kanishka Narayan, the UK's AI Minister received a warm welcome in Patna on Saturday during his visit to Bihar after more than two decades. Sanjay Kumar Jha, JD MP, welcomed the visiting minister at his residence in Patna and highlighted the significance of his visit for the state's technological aspirations. Speaking to IANS, Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Since he is from Bihar and serves as a minister in the AI department in UK, he is familiar with all these matters. Today, everything has become global, and Bihar is keeping pace, especially in the field of technology." Jha further noted, "Kanishka Narayan is the AI Minister in the United Kingdom and a UK citizen, originally from Muzaffarpur. He is visiting Muzaffarpur after 23 years. In the afternoon, he is scheduled to meet officials of the Bihar government, and there might be collaboration in AI with London; some talks might happen on that as well." Narayan, reflecting on his return to his birthplace, said, "I was born here, and so I'm back after more than 20 years. You can see a huge amount of progress here. We are chasing the future of technology, that's what we're trying to do in the UK with AI as well, so it's a real personal pleasure to be here in Bihar." His visit is seen as symbolically significant, bridging his roots in Bihar with his current role in shaping the UK's AI strategy. Discussions during the visit are expected to explore potential cooperation in AI development, research, and innovation. Earlier on Friday, speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Narayan described the ongoing discussions as highly significant. "The summit has been deeply impactful," the Minister stated, recognising the value of this global gathering in shaping the future of AI. Narayan emphasised that the UK-India relationship in the digital domain rests on mutual understanding and aligned strategic priorities. He highlighted the parallel paths both nations are taking in the regulation and responsible deployment of AI. "The UK and India have shared values and AI trajectory as well," he remarked, pointing to the clear synergy in their approaches to the technology's evolution. Expressing strong personal interest in advancing ties, Narayan concluded, "I am very keen on collaborations with India as we have a lot to do together." - IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused the Congress party of allowing illegal infiltration that critically altered Assam's demographic balance. He specifically questioned Congress's responsibility for several districts becoming Muslim-majority and infiltrator-dominated. Shah asserted that the BJP possesses the resolve, under Prime Minister Modi, to free Assam from this issue, drawing a parallel with the fight against Naxalism. He also expressed pride that the CRPF Raising Day parade was held in Assam for the first time. Amit Shah accuses Congress of altering Assam's demography through illegal infiltration and vows BJP will rectify it. Read his full speech. Kamrup, February 21 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused the Congress party of allowing 'illegal infiltration' which allegedly altered Assam's demographics, asserting that the BJP will "free Assam from the sin" committed by the previous regime. He questioned the party's responsibility for districts such as Dhubri, Barpeta, Morigaon, Nagaon, and Goalpara, which are dominated by infiltrators. Addressing a gathering in Kamrup, Shah said, "During the Congress era, infiltrators entered here, which took Assam's demography to a crisis level. Even back then, we opposed infiltration. We came from all over the country in support of the Assam Movement... but the Congressmen wouldn't wake up from their slumber." "I ask the Congress party, whose responsibility is it that districts like Dhubri, Barpeta, Morigaon, Nagaon, and Goalpara have all become Muslim-majority, infiltrator-dominated? The BJP is the one that will free Assam from the sin you have committed," he said. He said Assam can be freed from intruders just as many parts of the country were cleared of Naxals, adding that it requires heart, courage, and resolve, qualities Prime Minister Modi possesses. "If a large part of the country can be freed from Naxalism, then the country's land can also be freed from intruders. For this, heart, courage, and firm resolve are needed, and Prime Minister Modi has all three," he said. Earlier in the day, Shah said it was a moment of pride that the 87th CRPF Day Parade was being held in Assam for the first time in the force's history. Addressing the parade in Guwahati, Shah highlighted the significance of hosting the event in the Northeast. "For the first time in the CRPF's eighty-six-year history, the CRPF's Raising Day parade is being celebrated in Assam, in the Northeast. This is a matter of pride for all of us, for the entire Northeast," he said. He added, "In 2019, we decided that the annual parade would be celebrated in different parts of the country, and today I am very happy and proud that this magnificent CRPF parade has arrived in our Northeast." Earlier on February 18, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar reviewed poll preparedness ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections, while announcing a series of voter-centric measures designed to streamline the voting process.CEC Kumar outlined the structure of Assam's 126 Assembly constituencies, noting that 98 are classified as General seats, 19 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 9 are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). - ANI India and Brazil have elevated their strategic partnership during President Lula's state visit, with leaders agreeing to double bilateral trade to $30 billion by 2030. The discussions covered cooperation in energy, defense, agriculture, and multilateral forums like BRICS and the G20. Several Memoranda of Understanding were signed between business and industry associations from both nations. The visit is seen as a significant milestone aimed at adding renewed momentum to the partnership first elevated in 2006. PM Modi and President Lula elevate strategic partnership, review trade, energy, and defense cooperation, setting a new $30 billion bilateral trade target. New Delhi, February 21 Ministry of External Affairs Secretary, P Kumaran, said on Saturday that Brazil underlined the significant partnership between Brazil and India, with the former being a key member of BRICS too. Kumaran, while speaking at the Special Briefing by MEA on State visit of President of Brazil to India, said that during the meeting at Hyderabad House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva exchanged views on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in multilateral fora. MEA's statement comes as India began the term of its BRICS presidency earlier in the year. "India holds the presidency of BRICS this year and Brazil is an important strategic partner and a key member of BRICS. During the meeting today at Hyderabad House, PM and President Lula held bilateral conversations and exchanged views on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in multilateral fora, the need to reform global governance and matters of importance to the global south. Prime Minister Modi hosted a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. The state visit gave the leaders an opportunity to review the entire gamut of our partnership, including trade and investments, oil and gas, renewable energy, mining and critical minerals, defense and security, agriculture and livestock, healthcare and traditional medicine, tourism, space, science and technology, including digital public infrastructure, as well as people-to-people relations," he said. "The visit is a significant milestone in India-Brazil strategic relations and would add renewed momentum to our strategic partnership elevated in 2006," Kumaran added. Kumaran highlighted that India's trade with Brazil is the largest compared with any other country in South America. "On the trade front, India's bilateral trade with Brazil is the largest compared to any other country in South America. It currently stands at USD 15.21 billion. In July 2025, the two leaders had set a bilateral trade target of $20 billion by 2030," he said. "However, today the two leaders agreed that the trade should at least double to 30 billion by 2030. India enjoys a trade surplus of about $1.5 billion with Brazil with our exports totaling about $6.7 billion against imports of about $5.4 billion," he added. The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen and diversify trade. "During the meeting, the leaders also discussed ways to strengthen and diversify bilateral trade, including through expansion of the India Mercosur preferential trade agreement, which currently covers 450 tariff lines. India and Brazil along with other Mercosur countries have agreed to significantly and substantially expand the PTA," he said. Kumaran further said that PM Modi and Silva discussed ways to address the relevant tariff and non-tariff barriers. "Both leaders also discussed ways to facilitate market access and address the relevant tariff and non-tariff barriers. India and Brazil are strong and vocal proponents of south-south cooperation. Both countries collaborate closely across global platforms including in BRICS G20, IBSA and the United Nations. We also collaborate at members of G4 seeking comprehensive reform of the UN security council," he said. "Several bilateral MoUs were signed. we have a full statement a joint statement which lists out the various agreements that were signed. Principally they relate to the MOUs between FICCI India and ApexBrasil between Whale Group and Tata Focus and Biocon Pharma and Unica Brazilian sugarcane industries association and Indian sugar and bio energy manufacturing association. President Lula also appreciated the revival of the business leaders forum and he also met with Indian business leaders," he added. Kumaran added details of President Silva's previous visits to India. "Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18, 2026. During the period February 19-20 participated in the India AI Impact Summit. Today, he was given a traditional welcome in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He, alongwith 11 ministers met the Prime Minister and his delegation at Hyderabad House. This is President Lula's fifth visit to India as President of Brazil. The visit comes seven months after the state visit of PM to Brasilia on July 8, 2025," he said. "President Lula had earlier visited India in 2004 as guest of honour for the republic day, in 2007 and again in 2008 to attend the IBSAA Summit and in September 2023 for the G20 Summit. He also visited India in 2012 to receive the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. But he did not hold office at that time," he added. Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said that the visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was 'filled with outcomes across all dimensions of partnership'. The MEA said that the outcomes focus on rare earth minerals, cooperation in MSMEs and more. - ANI SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Governments and companies around the world scrambled Saturday to determine the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down some of the Trump administration sweeping global tariffs. The latest twist in the U.S. tariff roller coaster ride, launched when President Donald Trump returned to office 13 months ago and upended dozens of trading relationships with the worlds biggest economy, roiled trade officials from South Korea to South America and well beyond. South Koreas Trade Ministry called for an emergency meeting Saturday to understand the new landscape. Some specific exports to the U.S., like automobiles and steel, arent affected by the U.S. high court decision. Those that are affected will likely now be covered by a new 10% tariff imposed by an executive order Trump signed Friday. Trump announced Saturday morning that he would raise the tariff to 15%. In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the checks and balances in the United States, praising the rule of law" during a visit to a Paris agricultural fair: Its a good thing to have powers and counter-powers in democracies. We should welcome that. But he cautioned against any triumphalism. Officials were going over the language of bilateral or multilateral deals struck with the U.S. in recent months, even as they braced for new swings. Trump said Friday he plans new 10% global tariffs, under different rules. I note that President Trump, a few hours ago, said he had reworked some measures to introduce new tariffs, more limited ones, but applying to everyone, Macron said. So well look closely at the exact consequences, what can be done, and we will adapt. Businesses brace south of the border and beyond Alluding to the new 10% tariff threat, Sergio Bermudez, head of an industrial parks company in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, along the Texas border, said Trump says a lot of things, and many of them arent true. All of the businesses I know are analyzing, trying to figure out how its going to affect them." The impact could be felt especially in Juarez: Much of its economy depends on factories producing goods to export to consumers in the U.S., the result of decades of free trade between the U.S. and Mexico. The policy swoons in the United States over the last year have made many global business leaders cautious, as they struggle to forecast and see investment take a hit. Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard on Friday said Mexico was watching the tariffs with a cool head, noting that 85% of Mexicos exports face no tariff, largely because of the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement. He plans a trip to the U.S. to meet with economic officials next week. During his state visit to India, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva presented a detailed case for Indian partnership in exploring and processing Brazil's substantial critical minerals and rare earth reserves, noting that only 30% have been explored. Officials from both sides discussed advancing practical cooperation in this strategic area. The visit also saw progress on defense ties with a tripartite MoU for Scorpion submarine maintenance cooperation involving Mazagon Dock. Additionally, negotiations for enhancing the India-Mercosur preferential trade agreement continue, with all member nations showing strong determination to diversify trade and strengthen supply chains. Brazil's President Lula highlights vast unexplored mineral reserves and invites Indian collaboration during state visit, alongside trade and defense talks. New Delhi, February 21 Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, P Kumaran said on Saturday that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said only 30% of their reserves have been explored and that there is substantial scope for exploration. Kumaran, while speaking at the Special Briefing by MEA on State visit of President of Brazil to India, said that while talking on the critical minerals, Silva said he would value India's partnership in the area of critical minerals. "On critical minerals MoU, President Lula gave a very detailed presentation on Brazil's substantial critical minerals and rare earth reserves. He said only 30% of their reserves have been explored and that there is substantial scope for exploration processing minerals and also using them. He said Brazil would value India's partnership in the area of critical minerals. So we will be taking this forward by discussing with the concerned ministries about how to engage in practical cooperation in this regard," he said. He said further that in the India-Mercosur preferential trade agreement, discussions are still on. "For the India-Mercosur preferential trade agreement, we still haven't reached there have been a few rounds of discussions held and we are still discussing which areas can be opened up. There are sensitivities on both sides when it comes to agriculture some industries that need protection on both sides according to national priorities on either side. So we don't have any details on which are the lines that are being opened up or how many lines are being opened up but there's still early days and currently the pro-Temporary presidency of Mercosur is with Paraguay and Paraguay will lead negotiations for the next 6 months," he said. "So we are waiting for further details on how this proceeds but there is a strong determination of all the Mercosur members Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay to take this forward and find ways to enhance trade because all are very keen on diversification of trade partnerships and also to enhance resilience in our supply chains," he added. Kumaran said that navies have signed the tripartite and work will start on the basis of the MoU on Scorpion submarine maintenance cooperation. "On the Scorpion submarine maintenance cooperation, we had signed an MOU Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and the two navies have signed the tripartite and work will start on the basis of that MoU. There was a reference to that when the two leaders spoke today. We will be awaiting further details on how exactly this is going to proceed but clearly this is an area of interest and a big opportunity for us to cooperate," he said. Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18, 2026. During the period February 19-20 participated in the India AI Impact Summit. Today, he was given a traditional welcome in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He, alongwith 11 ministers met the Prime Minister and his delegation at Hyderabad House. This is President Lula's fifth visit to India as President of Brazil. The visit comes seven months after the state visit of PM to Brasilia on July 8 last year. - ANI Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ, was honored as Business Leader of the Year at the All India Management Association's Foundation Day. He humbly dedicated the award to the tireless employees across the Adani Group, calling them the real backbone of the organization. Adani emotionally thanked his family, citing lessons in perseverance from his father and compassion from his mother, while also acknowledging the support of his brothers, wife, and daughters. He reiterated the group's strategic focus remains on energy utilities, logistics, and infrastructure sectors. Karan Adani dedicates AIMA award to Adani Group employees and family, highlighting values of hard work, compassion, and collective effort. New Delhi, Feb 21 The recognition truly belongs to the people who work tirelessly across the Adani Group, Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, said on Saturday, after he was honoured as Business Leader of the Year at the Foundation Day of All India Management Association. After receiving the award, Karan Adani expressed humility and gratitude, calling the honour a collective achievement rather than a personal one. He dedicated the award to employees of the Adani Group, saying they work day and night at plants and remote sites across the country and are the real backbone of the organisation. He also spoke emotionally about the role his family has played in shaping his values. Thanking his father, Karan Adani said he continues to learn from him every day, especially the importance of perseverance, hard work and long-term thinking. He credited his mother for teaching him compassion, humility and the need to be a better human being. Karan Adani also acknowledged the support of his three brothers, calling them his strength. "They work closely together and deeply respect the legacy created by their father," he said, adding that they are confident of taking it forward collectively. Expressing gratitude to his wife, Paridhi, he said her constant support and encouragement have helped him grow and push himself to do better every day. He concluded by thanking his three daughters, saying they inspire him daily to be a better father and a better person. The award was presented at the Foundation Day of the All India Management Association (AIMA), recognising leadership that combines business growth with strong human values. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Karan Adani said the group's core focus remains on three key sectors: energy utilities, logistics including ports and airports, and infrastructure. - IANS A report from Khalsa Vox strongly criticizes Canadian media outlets for persistently referring to designated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a "Sikh leader." It argues this framing dangerously erases his role in orchestrating violent plots and militant activities, drawing a stark parallel to how media once softened the image of Osama bin Laden. The report warns that such whitewashing legitimizes extremism, risks radicalizing youth, and undermines the global fight against terrorism. It calls for journalistic accountability and for governments to base actions on evidence, not political narratives. A report condemns Canadian media for labeling designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar a "Sikh leader," warning it whitewashes extremism and endangers security. Ottawa, Feb 21 Canadian media outlets continue to label Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a "Sikh leader", despite his pivotal role in a transnational web of extremism that blended separatism with terrorism, a report said on Saturday. It added that in a world fractured by identity politics and selective narratives, the way the media portrays individuals can influence public opinion and policy with lasting impact. According to a report in Khalsa Vox, Nijjar, gunned down in Canada's Surrey in June 2023, was recognised internationally as a designated terrorist, orchestrator of violent plots, and a leading figure in militant Khalistani groups. "Yet, in a recent Global News Canada report, he is casually referred to as a 'B.C. Sikh leader'. This isn't mere semantics; it's a dangerous erasure of facts, akin to dubbing Osama bin Laden a 'Muslim leader' while glossing over his role in al-Qaeda atrocities. Such whitewashing not only dishonours victims of terrorism but sets a precedent that emboldens extremists under the guise of community advocacy," it detailed. The report emphasised that this framing ignores the "blood on his hands" and reduces complex geopolitics to a narrow lens of victimhood. "It's reminiscent of how some media once softened portrayals of bin Laden as a 'devout Muslim' or 'anti-imperialist fighter,' downplaying his orchestration of mass murder. The parallel is stark: Both men used religious identity to cloak violent agendas, yet selective reporting elevates them to community icons," it mentioned. The report emphasised that the dangers of this whitewashing are manifold, particularly legitimising extremism within diaspora communities. By presenting Nijjar merely as an advocate for Sikh rights and overlooking his grooming by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and training camps risks radicalising impressionable youth to equate separatism with heroism. "This sets a global precedent. If the media can rebrand terrorists as 'leaders' based on cultural affiliations, it undermines the fight against all forms of extremism, be it Islamist, far-right, or separatist," the report stressed. The report noted that victims of violence unleashed by Nijjar-led terror group Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) in Punjab are sidelined in this narrative and Canada's own history with Sikh militancy, including the Air India tragedy, should serve as a cautionary tale against such leniency. "It's time for accountability. Journalists must prioritise facts over feel-good framing, acknowledging Nijjar's terrorist designations and activities without equivocation. Governments, too, should enforce consistent standards: Extradite based on evidence, not politics. Whitewashing terrorists doesn't promote peace; it perpetuates cycles of violence. For the sake of global security, let's call Nijjar what he was, not a leader, but a threat," the report stated. - IANS Security forces in Chhattisgarh have demolished four Maoist memorials in the Bijapur district as part of a systematic campaign to erase symbols of insurgent influence. The action follows a similar demolition of a memorial for a senior Maoist leader in Sukma earlier this month. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated the government's commitment to completely eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, calling it a major internal security achievement. Official data for 2025 shows significant operational successes with hundreds of Naxals neutralized, arrested, or having surrendered. Security forces raze four Maoist memorials in Bijapur as Home Minister Amit Shah reiterates commitment to end Naxalism by March 31, 2026. Bijapur, February 21 The security forces demolished a total of four Maoist memorials constructed in the jurisdictions of Farsegarh and Tarrem police stations on Friday. To completely eradicate Maoism and establish lasting peace, security, and development in the region, security forces have been systematically eliminating all symbolic structures, signs of violence, and remnants of fear created by the Maoists. Earlier this month, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) demolished a memorial of Ravula Srinivas alias Ramanna, who was a central committee member of the Maoists, in Gogunda village of Chhattisgarh's Sukma district. Speaking with ANI, Assistant Commandant of 74th Battalion Videkho Kiye said, "This area in Gogunda had been under naxal control for a long time and was a cutoff area for the security forces... But the 74th Battalion established a forward operating base on November 20th, 2025. Today, the monument of a Maoist CC member, Ramanna, was demolished by the Battalion in a joint operation... This will pave the way for a brighter future for the upcoming generation." Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday again reiterated the Central government's commitment to end Naxalism by March 31 this year, a decade-old menace that left many civilians and security forces dead. Shah's assurance came while speaking at the 79th Foundation Day of Delhi Police, as the Centre's deadline to eradicate Naxalism would expire in the next 44 days. "Maoist insurgency, which had spread across 11 states, had long been considered a major challenge to the country's internal security. However, I am glad to convey to the nation, through the people of Delhi, that we are very close to permanently freeing the affected regions from Naxalism. I would like to once again assure the people that by March 31, 2026, we will succeed in freeing the entire country from Maoist violence. This will be a major achievement for our security forces," Shah said. Previously, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai updated that security forces neutralised 364 Naxals, arrested 1022, and facilitated 2337 surrenders in 2025. - ANI Team to assess runway and infrastructure for larger aircraft Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha chaired a high-level meeting directing the Airports Authority of India to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for reviving the long-closed Kailashahar Airport. The study will compare Kailashahar with other defunct airports in the state, assessing land availability and technical constraints for handling larger aircraft. AAI officials agreed to send a technical team for an on-ground assessment of operational and engineering aspects. The final report will guide the state government's further steps in consultation with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation. CM Manik Saha chairs review, asks AAI for feasibility report to revive long-closed Kailashahar Airport in Tripura, examining runway and infrastructure. Agartala, Feb 21 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, on Saturday, chaired a high-level review meeting on reviving the long-closed Kailashahar Airport in Tripura's Unakoti district headquarters, officials said. An official of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that Chief Minister Saha during the meeting directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials to revive the long closed airport and resume flight operations. The Chief Minister asked the AAI officials to depute a technical and operational team for an on-ground assessment of the Kailashahar Airport, located nearly 140 km north of Agartala. He directed for the early submission of a comprehensive feasibility study comparing Kailashahar, Kamalpur and Khowai Airports, including land availability and other constraints. "The report has been sought to clearly outline commercial, technical and financial pros and cons of each option," the CMO official said. The review meeting examined the revival roadmap for Kailashahar Airport, which has remained closed for several years. The Kamalpur and Khowai Airports also remained closed for few decades. Senior AAI officials, including Gyan Batra, AAI (North Eastern Region) Executive Director; and Krishnamohan Nehra, Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport Director; attended the meeting and discussed steps needed for an early resumption of services. According to the official, key issues deliberated included runway expansion, modern infrastructure development and capacity creation to handle larger aircraft such as Airbus types. Chief Minister Saha said that, based on the feasibility report, the state government would take further steps in consultation with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned Ministries. AAI officials informed the meeting that a technical team would soon visit Kailashahar to examine detailed operational and engineering aspects. Both the state government and AAI agreed to work in close coordination to reopen the airport. Transport Department Secretary Uttam Kumar Chakma and Transport Commissioner Subrata Chowdhury were also present at the meeting. Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport is the second busiest airport in the Northeast, after the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. According to historian and writer Pannalal Roy, the land for Agartala, Kailashahar, and several other (now defunct) airports in Tripura was donated by the state's erstwhile Royal family. "During the Second World War, the then Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur supported the Allied powers, especially Great Britain, and deployed a contingent of the Tripura Army to assist them. During that time, airports at Agartala, Kailashahar, and other places were built to facilitate the Allied forces," Roy, who has authored several books on Tripura's royal history, told IANS. He added that in 1943, Japanese fighter planes twice bombarded the Agartala airport, just along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura. - IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the sidelines of the Global AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The leaders discussed strengthening historic ties and expanding cooperation in economic, trade, cultural, energy, and infrastructure sectors. President Dissanayake expressed gratitude for India's support during the recent Cyclone Ditwah. The meeting occurred within the larger context of the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, which saw participation from over 110 countries. PM Modi and President Dissanayake strengthen India-Sri Lanka ties, discussing trade, energy, and gratitude for cyclone support in New Delhi meeting. New Delhi, February 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the sidelines of the Global AI Impact Summit being held in New Delhi. Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked PM Modi for the invitation to the AI Impact Summit and discussed the strengthening of historic ties and expanding economic, trade, and cultural cooperation. In a post on X, he said, "Joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi this afternoon (20) for a meeting. I thanked him for the invitation to the AI Impact Summit 2026. We held extensive discussions on strengthening our historic ties and expanding economic, trade, and cultural cooperation." "I also expressed my gratitude for India's exceptional support during the recent Cyclone Ditwah," he added. PM Modi described the meeting as "wonderful" and said that they discussed avenues of cooperation in various areas. "Strengthening friendship with a valued neighbour! It was wonderful meeting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Delhi. We took stock of the progress in India-Sri Lanka relations in recent times. We also discussed avenues of cooperation in areas such as energy, connectivity, infrastructure, healthcare, skilling, culture, blue economy and more," he said. The India AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academics and civil society representatives to deliberate on responsible AI governance and inclusive technological advancement. The India AI Impact 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 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. The Summit saw participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, and about 45 Ministers. - ANI Tamil Nadu Minister S Raghupathi has expressed strong confidence that the DMK-led alliance will secure about 200 seats in the upcoming state assembly elections. He criticized the BJP for commenting on the DMDK joining the DMK alliance, stating only Vijayakanth's family has that right. The minister also gave a conditional welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits, dependent on bringing beneficial schemes for the state. He further praised Chief Minister MK Stalin's leadership and detailed the party's extensive grassroots voter outreach. Tamil Nadu Minister S Raghupathi predicts a 200-seat victory for the DMK-led alliance in the upcoming assembly elections, taking swipes at BJP. Pudukkottai, February 21 Tamil Nadu Minister for Natural Resources S Raghupathi on Saturday exuded confidence that the DMK-led alliance would win the upcoming assembly elections with an even bigger majority, saying that they will secure 200 seats. The state minister made the remarks while addressing reporters after inaugurating a drinking water improvement project worth Rs 10.32 crore under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme (2022-23) at Annavasal Town Panchayat in Viralimali Assembly constituency of Pudukkottai district. During the event, banners featuring AIADMK MLA and former Minister C Vijayabaskar were placed at the entrance of the venue, but were later removed. Taking a swipe at the BJP over its remarks on the DMDK joining the DMK alliance, Raghupathi said comments that the late Vijayakanth would not forgive the move should be made only by his family members. "The BJP is not Vijayakanth's heir. If anyone has the right to speak about him, it is his successors. In 2016, when Vijayakanth was alive, there was a situation for the DMDK to align with the DMK, but it was diverted. Today, his wife, Premalatha Vijayakanth, has fulfilled that. His soul will bless and welcome this alliance. This is an alliance needed for Tamil Nadu," he said. On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the State, the Minister said, "If he comes with good schemes for Tamil Nadu, we will welcome him. Otherwise, it is for the people of Tamil Nadu to decide." He asserted that the DMK-led alliance would not sideline any of its partners. "Our alliance will only increase, not decrease. We will not cut off anyone. We treat all alliance partners with friendship and respect. Ours will be a government for everyone," he said. Praising Chief Minister MK Stalin, Raghupathi said that the CM has earned recognition across India for his political acumen and strategic leadership. The Minister claimed that several surveys were favourable to the DMK but added that the party relied more on its organisational work. "For this election, we have met each voter two or three times. Such an approach has not been seen in any election since 1952," he said. Responding to allegations raised by BJP state president Nainar Nagendran, he said the DMK would respond only to evidence-based charges. On the registration of a case against Minister KN Nehru, Raghupathi said appropriate action had been taken following court directions and expressed confidence that no wrongdoing had been committed. He further said that financial assistance under the women's entitlement scheme had been provided to 1.31 crore eligible women, excluding financially well-off families. - ANI Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed strong confidence in the DMK's victory in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, addressing a party training conference in Madurai. He highlighted the party's efforts during the Special Intensive Revision exercise to prevent voter removals, unlike in other parts of India. Stalin credited the party's success and the Centre's alleged fear of the DMK to its people-centric origins and popular welfare schemes under the Dravidian model. He urged party workers to campaign humbly until the last moment, emphasizing that the people are the true masters. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin says DMK ensured voters weren't removed from electoral lists, expresses confidence in a big victory for the 2026 Assembly polls. Madurai, February 21 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday said that the DMK has worked hard to ensure that voters are not removed from the electoral list during the Special Intensive Revision exercise in the state. Addressing the southern zone BLA-2, BLC and BDA training conference at Kalaignar Thidal in Madurai, Stalin expressed confidence in DMK's victory in the upcoming Assembly elections. The Chief Minister said, "Through SIR, many voters were removed in various parts of India. The DMK worked hard to ensure that voters were not removed in Tamil Nadu." Hailing victories in Tamil Nadu seats in the 2019 and 2024 General Elections, he claimed that the Centre "feared" the DMK. "The DMK is a party that was formed by the people and for the people. We are all the blood of Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar. That is why there is a fear that if they touch us, Tamil Nadu will strike back in response. Since 2019, victory has been with our alliance. In the 2024 Parliamentary elections, we won across Tamil Nadu. Compared to then, we are now implementing many more schemes for the people. Therefore, this time, I am expecting a very big victory. I say this with confidence in the happiness of the people and the hard work of the party cadres. When you are there, I have no fear. It is us," he added. Further, he asked the Booth Level Agents (BLA-2) and Booth Level Committee (BLC) members to continue to approach voters during the election campaign. Stalin lauded the "Dravidian model" and schemes for women and farmers in Tamil Nadu. "Until the very last moment of the campaign, we must continue to meet every family, whether they have voted for us or not. We must approach voters with humility and affection because the people are the true masters. Using the election as a reason, there was a conspiracy to suspend the women's rights assistance scheme, but we resisted it and have provided Rs 5,000. Under this Dravidian model government, we are implementing many schemes for women, children, farmers, and all sections of society. That is why Tamil Nadu is achieving unprecedented growth. This is why our opponents are disturbed and envious of this progress," MK Stalin said. The final voter list following the SIR exercise in Tamil Nadu will be published on February 23. Meanwhile, the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance. Actor-turned-politician Vijay's entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest. In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. Congress won 18, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight seats. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, which consisted of Congress, won 159 seats collectively. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats. - ANI Timothee Chalamet recently reunited with director Christopher Nolan at a screening event, where he reflected on feeling like he was 17 again. He recounted a playful moment where Nolan put him in a headlock and gave him a noogie backstage. Chalamet played Matthew McConaughey's son in Nolan's 2014 film *Interstellar*, which was one of his first major roles. The actor has since earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. Actor Timothee Chalamet shares a heartwarming story of his reunion with director Christopher Nolan, who gave him a playful noogie. Washington DC, February 21 Actor Timothee Chalamet's recent reunion with Christopher Nolan was like a time-stood-still moment for him as he felt 17 years old again, reported People. During a screening of Call Me by Your Name at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, the Academy Award-nominated actor reflected on his recent chat with the Interstellar director. The two stars sat down earlier this month ahead of an IMAX 70mm screening of the 2014 sci-fi adventure film to discuss their experience on set. "The whole experience with Nolan, I felt totally like 17 again. I went home, it was shocking ...That was a crazy car ride home for me. I was like, 'Holy sh-t, I feel like, you know, the 13 years that elapsed haven't elapsed," Chalamet said at the most recent event, hosted by Cinespia in honour of its 25th anniversary, as quoted by People The Marty Supreme star noted that Nolan, 55, "was cracking jokes backstage." "We were taking pictures together ... and he throws me in a headlock and starts giving me a noogie," he recalled. "I'm like, 'Holy sh-t, Chris Nolan's hitting me with a noogie right now.' I said to him, 'Chris, I'm a 30-year-old man.' He said, 'Not to me, you're not,'" Chalamet said with a laugh, as quoted by Deadline. The Wonka star played Matthew McConaughey's son in the film, which was one of Chalamet's first major movie roles. In addition to Chalamet and McConaughey, the movie featured Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, Mackenzie Foy and Michael Caine. Interstellar was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Visual Effects. After his role in Interstellar, Chalamet went on to land his breakout part in 'Call Me by Your Name', earning him his first Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards. Chalamet was nominated again for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in the 2024 biopic 'A Complete Unknown', as well as for his work in 2025's 'Marty Supreme', becoming the youngest actor since Marlon Brando to receive three Best Actor nominations at the Oscars. - ANI The song "Golden" from the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has achieved 5x platinum status, cementing its global success. Songwriters detailed a meticulous creative process, starting with a specific drum loop and traditional KPop structure. A standout element was the intentional inclusion of an A5 high note, performed by EJAE, which left the production team in awe. The music team also crafted distinct sonic identities for the film's heroic and villainous groups, blending KPop with cinematic storytelling for an international audience. The songwriters behind 'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' discuss the creative process, the iconic high note, and the film's global musical impact. Seoul, February 21 The song Golden from the hit animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters' continues to make waves globally, achieving 5x platinum status just seven months after the movie's release. It took a mighty group of songwriters to deliver "Golden." That group included EJAE, who also provides the singing voice of Rumi, Mark Sonnenblick and South Korean hit factory The Black Label - IDO, according to Variety. Speaking about the creative process, Zhun, via translator, explained to Variety, "The production team wanted us to work on the drum loop. They wanted it to be a very specific BPM between 100 and 120, so we developed the drum loop first and went from there." Nam added that the song followed a traditional KPop structure, "We had two voices, two verses and a bridge." Filmmakers Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans requested a high note as a key element for the track, which EJAE performed. "This was a very important component to the song itself," Zhun said. "That note was A5 and written in intentionally by EJAE. When IDO first heard it, our reaction was one of awe. There's a limit to how high a note can be, so we weren't expecting to include a note so high. It's really incredible to see her hit that note," according to Variety. In addition to Golden, IDO also composed music for the film's all-female group Huntr/x and the Saja Boys. Zhun credited film music producer Ian Eisendrath for helping create two distinct musical identities: "Saja Boys are a group that's actually evil, pretending to be kind, whereas Huntr/x is a group expressing frustration, and they are the heroines of the story itself. His guidance helped us mesh the music into the visual image, because it feels completely different than standalone music." When asked about lyrics that resonated most, Lee highlighted the line, "I'm done hiding, now I'm shining," as a reflection of Rumi's inner growth. Nam and Zhun expressed pride that Korean lyrics reached a global audience, saying, "To see people singing along to these Korean lyrics is a very moving moment for me," according to Variety. Golden continues to cement the impact of KPop in international music and demonstrates the skill of The Black Label team in blending traditional KPop elements with cinematic storytelling. - ANI Australian Vintage has recorded widening half-year losses citing one-off impacts and exchange rates and said the company is "on track" to meet its forecast for sales growth across the year as a whole. The wine group booked a net loss of A$21.9m ($15.4m) for the six months to 31 December, compared with a loss of A$473,000 a year earlier. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and SGARA (EBITDAS) was a loss of A$268,000 versus a positive A$11.1m in the first six months of the previous financial year. "Reported EBITDAS for the half was break even, a decrease of A$11m over the prior year," the McGuigan brand owner said. "Contained within this movement are a number of one-off impacts with the major variance from the accounting impacts of exiting another vineyard lease, in line with strategic inventory rebalancing, and a foreign exchange impact on the balance sheet from a strengthening Australian dollar, representing circa A$9m of this variance." Australian Vintage's first-half EBITS swung to a loss of A$7.5m from earnings of A$4.2m in the earlier period. Revenue came in at A$123.9m, down 1.7% on the first half of the company's 2024/25 financial year. Australian Vintage said it was look to "move aggressively" on its range and on its geographic expansion to "better position the business and portfolio for success". The company wants to make the business less "reliant" on "red-heavy" products sold for less than A$10. It pointed to its move in May to buy the international ownership rights to the MadFish brand, which expanded its UK range into lighter and more expensive wine. In December, Australian Vintage signed a deal to distribute for New Zealand peer Invivo in the UK and Ireland. Revenue in the combined Australia and New Zealand markets rose 2.3. The company counts the countries as one of its two "core markets". In the other, the UK, revenue fell 6.5%. However, revenue in North America grew 18%. In its results filing yesterday (19 February), Australian Vintage said the bulk wine market [is] no longer a viable option for selling excess inventory due to ongoing market overhang and low pricing. As a consequence, the company said it is focused on executing the inventory reduction plan, while exploring acceleration opportunities. It added: "Further to this, capacity optimisation opportunities at the Buronga Hill Winery are currently under review." Overall, Australian Vintage said it is "on track to deliver in line" with its forecast for sales growth for the full year and "achieve cash-flow neutral, excluding investments". Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for positioning India as a global hub for emerging technologies during the groundbreaking of India Chip Ltd in Greater Noida. He highlighted the transformation of the Jewar region and credited the Prime Minister's leadership for establishing the state's first semiconductor unit. PM Modi, via video conference, stated that this 'tech-ade' decade will form the foundation of India's 21st-century strength, with multiple semiconductor projects approved. The ceremony was also attended by Union Ministers, marking a historic step in India's semiconductor mission. CM Yogi Adityanath credits PM Modi's vision for India's semiconductor push and tech leadership at the India Chip Ltd ceremony in Greater Noida. New Delhi, February 21 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for establishing India as a new hub for emerging technologies. During the India Chip Ltd ceremony in Greater Noida, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister declared that under the Prime Minister's guidance, Jewar is emerging as a jewel for both the state and the nation. He emphasised that the establishment of the state's first semiconductor unit marks a significant step in carrying this new vision forward. "We are grateful to the Prime Minister, who has established the country as a new hub for emerging technologies. For the past four days, the entire country and the world have been gathered at the Bharat Mandapam AI Impact Summit... Through this AI Impact Summit, we, on behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh, express our heartfelt gratitude for the vision it has provided for a brighter future for India and for making life easier and more accessible for humanity," said CM Yogi. "During the tenure of previous governments, this region was the scene of gunfire, kidnappings, and chaos, so severe that people were unable to leave their homes after sunset. Today, under the guidance of the Prime Minister, Jewar is emerging as the jewel not only of Uttar Pradesh but also of India and today, the state's first semiconductor unit has been established here to take this new vision forward," added CM Yogi. Earlier, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union MoS Jitin Prasada, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath, along with other dignitaries, attended the groundbreaking ceremony of India Chip Limited, which was held in Greater Noida today. PM Modi performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture project, India Chip Pvt Ltd, in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in Uttar Pradesh. via video conferencing. Speaking on the occasion, he said wherever a semiconductor unit is established, design centres emerge, startup ecosystems develop, and innovation accelerates. He also talked about the India AI Impact Summit, which concluded today. "Today, India is rapidly progressing towards its goal of development. I have also said from the Red Fort that India has no time to pause or slow down. Since the beginning of 2026, India has accelerated its progress... and now this week is also proving to be historic for India," he said. The Prime Minister said this decade is a 'tech-ade' for India. "Whatever India is doing in the field of technology in this decade will become the basis of our strength in the 21st century... India may have started its journey in the semiconductor sector late, but today, we are progressing at a rapid pace. India has so far approved 10 semiconductor fabrication and packaging projects under its Semiconductor Mission. Four of these units are set to commence production very soon." The Prime Minister said that in every technology that will shape the future of humanity, India is making unprecedented investments today. - ANI Gujarat is rapidly emerging as a leading pharmaceutical hub in India, with industry leaders forecasting significant export growth over the next three to five years. Key discussions at the Pharmexcil Chintan Shivir focused on streamlining regulatory procedures and capitalizing on nearly $400 billion worth of global molecules going off-patent. Initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and API facility development in regions like Bharuch aim to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence. The sector's roadmap emphasizes innovation, market access through FTAs, and enhancing Brand India's value in the global pharmaceutical supply chain. Gujarat's pharmaceutical exports are poised for major growth with policy support, PLI schemes, and infrastructure development, aiming to capitalize on global opportunities. Ahemdabad, February 21 The Ahmedabad edition of the Pharmexcil Chintan Shivir together brought senior representatives from regulatory bodies, trade authorities and the pharmaceutical industry to deliberate on strategic priorities for scaling India's pharmaceutical exports. The interaction served as a structured platform for aligning regulatory frameworks, export policies, and industry capabilities with the evolving requirements of global pharmaceutical markets. The inaugural session featured a recorded video message from the Commerce Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, which highlighted the strategic importance of regulatory agility, quality compliance, and market diversification in accelerating India's pharmaceutical export growth trajectory. Discussions involving representatives from DGFT, CDSCO and the State Food & Drugs Control Administration highlighted the importance of streamlining licensing procedures, improving clarity around compliance expectations, and addressing procedural bottlenecks in export approvals. Explaining the concept of Pharmexcil's Chintan Shivir, Vice Chairman of Pharmexcil, Bhavin Mehta, said, "Chintan Shivirs have traditionally been convened by our Honourable Prime Minister to deliberate on India's pathway to progress and long-term national priorities. Inspired by this vision, we have adopted the same concept within the pharmaceutical industry, recognising the pivotal role the sector plays in advancing India's growth story. These Shivirs are focused, forward-looking dialogues where we deliberate on our roadmap for the next decade, particularly on how India can strategically capitalise on the nearly $400 billion worth of molecules going off-patent globally, and what structural, Regulatory, innovation-driven, and manufacturing efforts will be required to seize this opportunity effectively", he said. Gujarat is rapidly emerging as one of India's fastest-growing pharmaceutical hubs, with initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme is significantly boosting pharmaceutical manufacturing. The establishment of facilities for APIs and critical raw materials in regions like Bharuch is in line with the broader goal of strengthening domestic manufacturing, reducing import dependence, and creating a more self-reliant and globally competitive pharmaceutical ecosystem.Given that Gujarat already ranks among the leading states in pharmaceutical exports, the industry believes that with sustained policy support and infrastructure development, the state could witness significant export growth over the next three to five years. "As the industry expands, the domestic ecosystem will also become strong. This will generate employment, drive innovation, and reinforce India's ability to supply affordable, high-quality medicines to the world", said Dr. Viranchi Shah, Chairman of the Regulatory Affairs committee of Pharmexcil. "The global landscape is rapidly evolving. The multilateral trade framework is increasingly giving way to bilateral agreements, while demographic shifts and changing disease patterns are transforming therapeutic needs worldwide. The question before us now is -- what more can we achieve in the next 10 to 25 years? The opportunity is immense", he said. Real-world experiences were shared by Pharmexcil's COA members on managing regulatory costs, financing expansion and progressively integrating into global pharmaceutical supply chains. "The Pharmexcil Chintan Shivir outlined a forward-looking roadmap for the pharmaceutical sector, focusing on value creation through innovation, enhanced market access via Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and fostering focused entrepreneurship to strengthen Brand India and elevate the value of the pharmaceutical exports," said Vishal H Rajgarhia, Director of Finecure Pharmaceuticals and COA Member of Pharmexcil. Introducing IPHEX 2026 as the most awaited international pharmaceutical exhibition and conference that showcases India's strengths in the pharmaceutical industry, Pharmexcil's COA member, and Chairman of iPHEX 2026, Nipun Jain, said, "IPHEX serves as a platform for global pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, exporters, and stakeholders to connect, collaborate, and explore business opportunities. This year's event will highlight the sector's evolving transition toward higher-value offerings, enhanced compliance standards and diversified market engagement - further strengthening India's position as a reliable global partner in pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply." - ANI Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini appealed to the Saini community and intellectuals to unite and work towards forming a BJP government in Punjab in the 2027 elections. He launched the Saini Samaj Trust's website during a community gathering in Amritsar. Saini credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his position and highlighted various welfare schemes in Haryana, including support for farmers, women, and healthcare. He detailed initiatives like solar-powered tubewells and the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, emphasizing direct benefit transfers and subsidies. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini urges the Saini community to work towards forming a BJP government in Punjab by 2027, while highlighting state welfare schemes. Amritsar, Feb 21 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Saturday, appealed to the Saini community and intellectuals to work together to make Punjab a strong and leading state and to resolve to form a Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state in 2027. Attending a community gathering organised by the Saini Samaj Trust here, Chief Minister Saini launched the Trust's website that will share information about the community's activities and other updates. The Chief Minister said he got the opportunity to meet members of the Saini community. He added that the responsibility he "holds today has been entrusted to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi". Expressing gratitude for this honour, CM Saini said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, "India is moving forward at a rapid pace, a matter of pride for all". In his address, the Chief Minister said the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur was commemorated in Haryana with deep reverence. He also added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Haryana is progressing continuously. "Free dialysis facilities are being provided to kidney patients in government and medical colleges across the state. Families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh are being provided LPG cylinders at Rs 500. The government is fulfilling its promises in a phased manner. Ownership rights have been granted to individuals occupying Panchayati land for 20 years. Various schemes have been implemented to provide relief to traders, including an interest waiver scheme on taxes." The Chief Minister said that several schemes for women are being implemented in Haryana, including the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, with funds being directly transferred to beneficiaries' bank accounts. "Under the fourth installment of the Lado Lalshmi Yojana, nearly Rs 634 crore has been transferred to the scheme beneficiaries." Chief Minister Saini added that the Haryana government has launched several schemes for farmers' welfare in the state. A scheme has been implemented to operate five and 10 horsepower tubewell motors on solar energy to reduce electricity bills, he said. "Under this scheme, 45 per cent subsidy is provided by the Haryana government and 45 per cent by the Central government, while farmers bear 10 per cent of the cost." A solar scheme of up to 15 horsepower is also being implemented, CM Saini said. - IANS Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini launched the official website for the Saini Samaj Trust during a community event in Amritsar. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his position and urged collective effort to bring the BJP to power in Punjab in the next assembly elections. The CM detailed various state government initiatives, including subsidies for solar-powered tubewells, direct benefit transfers for women, and free dialysis services. He also emphasized Haryana's progress in industry and sports under the current leadership. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini launched the Saini Samaj Trust website, outlined state welfare schemes, and called for a BJP government in Punjab by 2027. New Delhi, February 21 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attended a community gathering organised by the Saini Samaj Trust in Amritsar as the Chief Guest. On this occasion, he launched the website prepared by the Trust. He said that through this website, information about the community's activities and other important updates will be shared. Appreciating the event, the Chief Minister said that he got the opportunity to meet members of the community. He stated that the responsibility he holds today has been entrusted to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Expressing gratitude for this honour, he called upon everyone to work unitedly in the upcoming Assembly elections and to form a BJP government in Punjab in 2027. He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is moving forward at a rapid pace, which is a matter of pride for all. In his address, the Chief Minister said that the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was commemorated in Haryana with deep reverence. According to a release, he further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Haryana is progressing continuously. Free dialysis facilities are being provided to kidney patients in government and medical colleges across the state. Families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh are being provided LPG cylinders at Rs 500. The government is fulfilling its promises in a phased manner. Ownership rights have been granted to individuals occupying Panchayati land for 20 years. Various schemes have been implemented to provide relief to traders, including an interest waiver scheme on taxes. The Chief Minister said that several schemes for women are being implemented in Haryana, including the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, with funds being directly transferred to beneficiaries' bank accounts. Under the fourth installment, approximately Rs 634 crore has been transferred to beneficiaries. Saini said the state government has launched several schemes for farmers' welfare. A scheme has been implemented to operate 5 HP and 10 HP tubewell motors on solar energy to reduce electricity bills. Under this scheme, 45 per cent subsidy is provided by the Haryana Government and 45 per cent by the Central Government, while farmers bear 10 per cent of the cost. A solar scheme of up to 15 HP is also being implemented. He said that the industrial sector in Haryana is being strengthened. There is a plan to establish 10 IMTs (Industrial Model Townships), out of which work is in progress on six. Better infrastructure is being provided to promote sports. Haryana's athletes have brought glory to the state by winning the highest number of medals in the country. Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini appealed to the Saini community and intellectuals to work together to make Punjab a strong and leading state and to resolve to form a BJP government in 2027. On this occasion, former Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik, President of Saini Samaj Seva Trust Tarsem Lal Saini, General Secretary Jitender Singh Saini, Senior Vice President Santokh Singh Saini, Finance Secretary Vinod Kumar Saini, Vice President Nand Kishore Saini, former MLA Bishan Saini, Bar Association President Pradeep Saini, Hemani Arora, and other distinguished members of various communities were present. - ANI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation stone for the 10th Assam Police Battalion in Kosutoli, emphasizing enhanced security. He also inaugurated Star Cement's new plant in Cachar, a major private investment for the Barak Valley with its own railway siding. The CM highlighted that the Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative has drawn massive investment proposals, with many projects already begun. He linked the cement industry's growth to ongoing large-scale infrastructure projects, including highways and bridges, across the state. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma lays foundation for 10th Assam Police Battalion, inaugurates major Star Cement plant, highlighting industrial growth and infrastructure projects. Kosutoli, February 22 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday addressed a gathering at the foundation laying ceremony of the 10th Assam Police Battalion at Kachutali in Kosutoli. Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister highlighted the state government's commitment to strengthening law enforcement infrastructure and enhancing the operational capacity of the Assam Police. He said that the establishment of the new battalion would further bolster security arrangements and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region. Earlier on Friday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Cachar Plant of Star Cement at Bihara, marking a major boost for Barak Valley's industrial growth. It may be noted that the state-of-the art green field unit, with an annual capacity of two million tonnes and powered by advanced German technology, the cement plant is the first private cement plant in the region with its own railway siding, ensuring faster connectivity and supply. One of the largest investments in the valley, the project is set to accelerate economic progress while generating substantial employment opportunities. Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Sarma said that Advantage Assam 2.0 attracted investment proposals worth Rs. 5 lakh crore, of which projects worth about Rs. 3 lakh crore have already begun. He said that Star Cement started the plant soon after signing the memorandum of understanding at the investment summit. Moreover, he stated that Star Cement plans to raise its annual production in Assam to 8 to 10 million tons. The company already runs a plant in Kamrup Metropolitan district with an annual capacity of 4 million tons and is setting up another plant in Jorhat district with a capacity of 2 million tons per year. He said that after Star Cement's success, several other companies have come forward to set up their plants in Assam. He expressed confidence that within the next five years, Assam will rank among the leading cement-producing states in the country. Calling cement a key raw material for infrastructure, he said the arrival of cement companies signals ongoing infrastructure growth, construction of permanent dwelling houses by the citizens, and the entry of major industries into the state. He observed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently laid the foundation stone in Namrup for a Rs 10,000 crore ammonia urea project with an annual capacity of 1.2 million metric tons, and for a 36-kilometre elevated corridor in Kaziranga worth Rs 7,000 crore. He also informed that the inauguration of the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati over the Brahmaputra by the Prime Minister is the latest addition of yet another feather to the burgeoning and impressive infrastructure of the state. Last week, the Union Cabinet approved the construction of a twin tunnel under the Brahmaputra connecting Numaligarh and Gohpur. He also said that on 14 March, the Prime Minister will visit the Barak Valley and launch construction of Assam's first express highway between Guwahati and Panchgram in Barak Valley, a Rs 22,000 crore project that will reduce travel time to four and a half hours. The Chief Minister said that the ongoing development in Assam will increase demand for cement and other raw materials. - ANI Actor Hrithik Roshan has expressed profound grief over the passing of veteran filmmaker MM Baig, whom he credits as a pivotal teacher at the start of his career. In an emotional social media post, Hrithik stated that Baig helped him gain confidence, overcome shyness, and shape the actor within him when he was just 18 years old. The director, who was in his seventies, was reportedly found dead at his Mumbai home earlier this week. Baig directed films such as 'Maasoom Gawah' and 'Chhoti Bahu' during his career. Hrithik Roshan mourns his teacher, director MM Baig, crediting him for shaping his acting career and helping him overcome shyness at age 18. Mumbai, February 22 Actor Hrithik Roshan expressed grief over the demise of veteran filmmaker MM Baig. In a post on X, Hrithik reflected on the profound and lasting influence his "teacher," Baig, has had on both his career and his life. "My dear Baigji, I will forever be grateful to you for being the teacher I so needed at the start of my journey as an actor. You helped me gain confidence in my speech and delivery ... you were instrumental in shaping the actor in me. For helping me overcome my shyness, at the same time, empowering my vulnerability. I was lost. And you helped me find my way. Back when I was only 18years old. I still practice the lessons to this day. I will miss you. Rest in peace, my teacher - M.M Baig. My thoughts and prayers for the Baig family," Hrithik wrote. MM Baig was reportedly found dead at his Mumbai home earlier this week. He was in his seventies. As an independent director, he helmed two films, such as Maasoom Gawah (1990), featuring Naseeruddin Shah, which remains unreleased, and Chhoti Bahu (1994), starring Shilpa Shirodkar. - ANI India and Brazil have exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation in regulating pharmaceutical and medical products. The agreement was signed between India's CDSCO and Brazil's ANVISA in the presence of both countries' leaders. It establishes a framework for information sharing and regulatory convergence to ensure the availability of safe, quality-assured medicines. The MoU is expected to bolster supply chains and foster collaboration in health technologies between the two major Global South partners. India and Brazil exchange MoU to strengthen cooperation in regulating pharmaceuticals and medical devices, enhancing safety and supply chains. New Delhi, Febraury 22 India and Brazil exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of regulation of pharmaceutical and medical products. The MoU was exchanged between India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), marking an important step towards deeper regulatory collaboration between the two countries, according to a release. Director-President of ANVISA, Leandro Safatle and Indian Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia, exchanged the MoU today in Hyderabad House in the presence of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil. The MoU establishes a structured framework for cooperation and exchange of information in the field of medical products, including pharmaceutical ingredients, drugs, biological products and medical devices. It aims to promote convergence in regulatory practices, enhance mutual understanding of regulatory systems and facilitate effective and coordinated oversight of medical products, the release stated. The exchange of the MoU reflects the shared commitment of India and Brazil to ensuring the availability of safe, effective and quality-assured medicines and medical products for their populations. The agreement is also expected to contribute to strengthening supply chains, encouraging regulatory best practices and supporting access to affordable healthcare solutions. The MoU between CDSCO and ANVISA builds upon the broader India-Brazil cooperation in the health sector and complements existing institutional mechanisms for bilateral engagement. It underscores the growing collaboration between the two countries in health, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies, particularly in the context of their shared priorities as leading Global South partners. Through this MoU, both sides reaffirmed their intent to work closely in areas such as information sharing, regulatory capacity building, and cooperation in matters related to pharmaceutical and medical product regulation, in accordance with their respective national laws and regulations. The exchange of the MoU is expected to further strengthen India-Brazil relations and open new avenues for collaboration in the health and pharmaceutical sectors, contributing to improved public health outcomes in both countries. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18. During the period February 19-20 participated in the India AI Impact Summit. This is President Lula's fifth visit to India as President of Brazil. The visit comes seven months after the state visit of PM Modi to Brasilia on July 8, 2025. - ANI Union Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the strong, multifaceted strategic partnership between India and Brazil, noting a 25% growth in bilateral trade to $15 billion. He highlighted expanding cooperation in sectors like renewable energy, critical minerals, defense, and digital infrastructure, including AI. Goyal expressed confidence that both nations, with their shared democratic values and development aspirations, can grow faster and bigger together. The partnership is further strengthened through collaboration in global forums like BRICS, G20, and the WTO. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlights 25% trade growth to $15B, calls for stronger India-Brazil ties in energy, tech, and global forums. New Delhi, February 21 Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal highlighted the expanding cooperation between India and Brazil across sectors. Referring to the growth in bilateral trade by 25 per cent in the past year to reach USD 15 billion, he described the current level as suboptimal and called for greater ambition in further strengthening economic engagement between the two countries. Referring to higher benchmarks set by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he expressed confidence that both nations can grow faster, grow bigger and grow together for shared prosperity. Highlighting the India-Brazil partnership, the Minister said, "India and Brazil are natural partners. Our relationship is built on the foundation of democracy, diversity and shared aspirations for development. We have a strong, multi-faceted strategic partnership driven by people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across sectors. Brazil is India's largest trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean region. We are also expanding cooperation in health and pharma, energy, including renewable energy, critical minerals, defence, the aviation sector, and there is significant growth in our collaboration in science and technology, digital public infrastructure, and artificial intelligence Goyal also emphasised the broader dimensions of the partnership, including South-South cooperation and collaboration under BRICS, IBSA, the G20 and the World Trade Organization (WTO). He expressed confidence in the bright future of bilateral ties. Referring to India's trade strategy, the Minister highlighted India's emergence as a trusted and reliable destination for global business and investment, attracting nearly USD 80 billion in foreign direct investment in financial year 2025, the highest ever in a single year. He stated that India has recently concluded a series of high-quality Free Trade Agreements and is actively negotiating several more. With these agreements, India now enjoys preferential access to nearly two-thirds of global trade. He informed that terms of reference have been finalised with Israel and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), discussions have been launched with Canada, and negotiations are expected to commence in the near future. Goyal noted that the engagement comes at a time when both economies are experiencing renewed momentum. He stated that India is currently the world's fastest-growing major economy, with real GDP growth in the second quarter exceeding 8 per cent. He added that India is on track to surpass Germany within the next two years to become the world's third-largest economy. This growth, he said, reflects structural transformation since 2014, driven by reforms in taxation, logistics, manufacturing, digital infrastructure, compliance reduction and ease of doing business. He further noted that India actively promotes outward investment and that Free Trade Agreements will play a critical role in enabling Indian industry to expand both domestically and internationally. Describing Brazil's strengths, Goyal referred to its rich natural resources, including niobium, lithium and iron ore, which are vital for the global energy transition and emerging technologies. He also highlighted Brazil's strengths in agriculture, aerospace, automotive and digital technologies, identifying these as areas of significant collaboration. He stated that India and Brazil together have the potential to reshape global value chains through resources, innovation and a forward-looking vision, and invited Brazilian companies to partner with India in co-creating jobs, adding value and leveraging technology. The Minister reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to safeguarding national interests and promoting equitable access within global intellectual property frameworks, particularly in protecting indigenous technologies. Goyal also expressed confidence that the present engagement would provide an opportunity to chart a forward-looking agenda and further strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation. He called for nurturing a stronger India-Brazil partnership through collaboration and innovation, with a shared vision of mutual prosperity in the years ahead. While speaking at the India-Brazil Economic Forum, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva highlighted the optimism around India-Brazil relations. "It's a very promising day for India and Brazil... I'm very optimistic about India-Brazil relations as we have a lot of similarities. We wish to no longer be developing countries and become developed nations... Our role is to open the door so that the business community can do what they know best. Negotiate, build partnerships, make investments in Brazil, in India, so that both economies may grow together... We make sure that India's and Brazil's wishes of becoming great economies are being fulfilled." President Lula also pointed to Brazil's commitment to the Indian partnership. "I sent my Vice President, who had the first business mission to India last year. And in this state visit, I have with me possibly the biggest delegation of ministers, business people of all the different trips that I have taken up until now, and this shows the commitment that I have with India." - ANI India and Brazil have set an ambitious target to increase bilateral trade beyond $20 billion within the next five years. Union Minister Piyush Goyal declared the partnership is entering a "golden era," driven by shared democratic values and development goals. The cooperation spans critical sectors including renewable energy, defence, pharmaceuticals, and digital infrastructure. The visit underscores strategic alignment, highlighted by the sequential handover of the G20 and BRICS presidencies between the two nations. India and Brazil aim to boost bilateral trade beyond $20 billion, marking a "golden era" of cooperation in trade, energy, and tech during President Lula's visit. New Delhi, February 21 The India-Brazil Business Forum 2026 is currently in the spotlight, coinciding with the state visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to New Delhi. During the Visit of the Brazilian president, PM Modi and President Lula have set a goal to increase bilateral trade beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Addressing the India-Brazil Business Forum on Saturday, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal called for a transformative leap in bilateral economic relations, asserting that the partnership between the two nations is entering a "golden era" of cooperation. Piyush Goyal said that "the India-Brazil relationship is built on the foundations of democracy, diversity, and shared aspirations for development. Both countries share a strong, multifaceted strategic partnership driven by people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across sectors. This growth between the two countries is driven by reforms in taxation, logistics, manufacturing, digital infrastructure, reducing compliance burden, making it easier to do business, and supporting the efforts of our business community across all regions and all sectors." Minister Goyal asserted that "the relationship between the two of the world's largest democracies has demonstrated a very remarkable diplomatic relationship. In September 2023, we passed on the G20 presidency to Brazil under his excellency, President Lula. And in 2026, Brazil is passing on the BRICS presidency to India. India and Brazil are natural partners." "Our relationship is built on the foundation of democracy, diversity and shared aspirations for development. We have a strong, multi-faceted strategic partnership driven by people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across sectors. We are also expanding cooperation in health, pharma and energy, including renewable energy, critical minerals, defence, the aviation sector, and there is significant growth in our collaboration in science and technology, digital public infrastructure, and artificial intelligence," added Goyal. Earlier today, a ceremonial welcome was held at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. - ANI The Indian and US armies are set to conduct the 16th edition of the joint Special Forces exercise, Vajra Prahar, at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, from February 23 to March 15. The exercise aims to deepen defence cooperation, enhance interoperability, and enable the exchange of advanced special operations tactics between the two forces. It involves 45 personnel from each side, with the Indian contingent from Special Forces units and the US represented by the Green Berets. This edition follows the previous exercise held in Idaho, USA, in 2024, continuing a series designed to boost joint operational readiness in various terrains. Indian & US armies begin Vajra Prahar 2025 in Bakloh, HP, to enhance special ops interoperability & tactical exchange from Feb 23 to Mar 15. New Delhi, February 22 The Indian and US armies will hold the 16th edition of joint Special Forces exercise, Vajra Prahar, at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, from 23 February to 15 March. According to the Indian Army, the exercise is designed to deepen defence cooperation, enhance interoperability and joint operational readiness and enable the exchange of advanced special operations tactics, techniques and procedures. "Through rigorous training in realistic scenarios, both contingents will strengthen mutual trust and operational synergy," the Indian Army said in a post on X. The 15th edition of the exercise was held in Idaho, US in 2024. 45 personnel, each from both sides, took part in the exercise. The Indian Army contingent was represented by Special Forces units, and the US Army contingent by the Green Berets of the US. The aim of this exercise is to promote military cooperation between India and the US through the enhancement of interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics and to enhance combined capabilities in executing joint Special Forces operations in a desert/semi-desert environment. In 2023, the exercise was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya. The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Individual Augmentees (IA) conducted various joint drills. During this exercise, troops from both countries conducted operations in a Mi-17 helicopter at Shillong's Umiam Lake. Additionally, helocasting operations were performed to showcase high standards of precision, synergy, and professionalism. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will also demonstrate its operational prowess through Exercise Vayushakti-26 at the Pokhran Air to Ground Range, Jaisalmer, on February 27, 2026. As the first, fastest, and fiercest responder, the IAF will highlight its capability to rapidly punish the enemy, dominate the operational environment from the outset, and decisively influence the course of operations by transforming tactical actions into strategic outcomes. The exercise will also provide glimpses of how the IAF plays a crucial role in humanitarian assistance and disaster management, offering rapid airlift and rescue and evacuation from conflict zones within the country as well as abroad. Full-spectrum operations involving fighter, transport, and helicopter platforms will be executed, including Tejas, Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-29, Hawk, C-130J, C-295, C-17, Chetak, ALH MK-IV, Mi-17 IV, LCH, Apache, Chinook, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The exercise will also feature advanced weapon systems such as Short Range Loitering Munitions (SRLM), Akash, SpyDer, and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS), performing day, dusk, and night missions to demonstrate the IAF's versatility and readiness. - ANI Azerbaijans Minister of Defence, Zakir Hasanov, together with Deputy Defence Minister and Commander of the Azerbaijan Air Force Namiq Islamzade, has inspected the operational readiness of an air defence military unit. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan, the minister reviewed the implementation of service tasks and received updates on the current situation at the units command post. The ministrys leadership observed training sessions focused on professional preparedness, assessing the personnels skills, application of theoretical knowledge, and proper use of weapons and military equipment. Their performance was rated highly. General-Colonel Zakir Hasanov instructed the Air Defence Command to ensure that units thoroughly study the tactical and technical capabilities of the newly introduced modern weaponry and equipment. He emphasized the importance of mastering their effective use in combat conditions and enhancing personnel competence in the safe and correct operation of these systems. Innovation and disruption can certainly push industries toward rapid change. However, these factors can also help to create vast markets. Investors need to pay attention. One chief executive officer, who has successfully led this industry-leading enterprise since August 2017, just called out an enormous opportunity. Investors should realize that it's not a "Magnificent Seven" stock. Here's what you need to know. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks Image source: Getty Images. Navigating an uncertain journey The biggest long-term risk factor facing Uber (NYSE: UBER) is clear. Investors are worried about the effect autonomous vehicles (AVs) will have. Leaders in the market, like Tesla and Alphabet's Waymo, could scale up their ride-hailing platforms to overtake Uber in the mobility market. Of course, costs must come down, regulatory hurdles must be handled, and safety should be a top priority. Nonetheless, this is a threat to Uber's business model. But its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, gave investors a reason to remain extremely optimistic. "We're more convinced than ever that AVs will unlock a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity for Uber," he said on the fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call. He also added that Uber's advantages are "global scale, deep demand density, sophisticated marketplace technology, and decades of experience matching millions of trips in real time." This is where its "Magnificent Seven" peers simply can't compete. Still a long way to go Uber has already positioned itself as a dominant player in the AV market. Through its various partnerships, the business is currently facilitating AV rides in seven cities today. It has plans to enter eight additional cities, bringing the total to 15 markets by year-end. More supply should expand the total market. This is precisely what has occurred in Atlanta and Austin, Texas. Over time, costs should come down, and people might choose not to buy their own vehicles. However, Khosrowshahi admits that there is a long way to go when it comes to capturing the multi-trillion-dollar opportunity ahead. Right now, only 0.1% of ride-hailing trips worldwide are represented by AVs. He does expect this share to grow meaningfully in the years to come. A number of issues need to be solved, though, as they relate to weather and low-density population areas. Uber's ability to aggregate demand, with its 202 million active users, is a critical advantage supported by a powerful network effect. The company's platform, which has turned into a hybrid model of human drivers and AVs, can handle the extreme fluctuations in demand that typically occur during a day and throughout a week. For AV enterprises, being able to maximize revenue will be key. The US Supreme Court has struck down a major part of former President Donald Trump's tariff authority, leading to the announcement of a new 10% global tariff. Chandrima Chatterjee of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry states that India is assessing the impact on its bilateral trade agreement but remains in a strong position. She emphasizes the importance of continuing bilateral negotiations to secure advantages beyond just tariffs, including technology exchange and investment. Chatterjee expresses optimism for India's textile exports to the US, a market that constitutes 30% of the sector's exports. CITI Secretary General Chandrima Chatterjee says India remains well-positioned despite new US global tariffs, emphasizing bilateral trade talks. Gurugram, February 21 India remains in a strong position despite recent changes to the US tariff regime, according to Chandrima Chatterjee, Secretary General of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry. The US Supreme Court on Friday struck down a huge chunk of President Donald Trump's far-reaching tariff agenda, delivering a major rebuke of the president's key economic policy. The majority ruled 6-3 that the law undergirding those import duties "does not authorize the President to impose tariffs." In response, Trump announced a sweeping new 10% global tariff across all trading partners, marking what he signaled as the next phase of his trade strategy after the Supreme Court blocked his previous tariff authority. The president also defended the India trade arrangement, calling it fair and reiterating that the United States will not face duties under the pact. Speaking to ANI, Chatterjee said the industry is assessing how these developments impact the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), under which India had enjoyed some preference over competitors. "We were at 18% vis-a-vis some of our competitors being at 19 or 20%. But even if that marginal competitive edge goes with this global 10%, I think India is in a good position," she said. Chatterjee emphasized the importance of continuing bilateral negotiations. "The only hope that we still carry with us is that the bilateral agreement, the negotiations and talks that are going on should continue, and that should give Indian exporters some advantage, not just in tariffs, but in terms of other value that an BTA brings--be it more exchange of technologies, better investment coming in, and more collaborations to drive value-driven growth in textile and apparel exports to the US." Chatterjee expressed optimism about the way forward. "I think the way forward has taken a very optimistic turn. The day it became 18%, and since then, things have been good. The US was a very strong market, and even yesterday's development doesn't put any shadow on that." She noted that the US has been 30% of India's textile export market. "With uncertainty ebbing now, especially with the Supreme Court order bringing more predictability and certainty in the policy regime that the US will follow henceforth, I think our exporters should strengthen their base in the US and think of further growth there," Chatterjee concluded. - ANI India Women defeated Australia Women by 17 runs in the decisive third T20I in Adelaide to win the series 2-1. Opener Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with a brilliant 82 off 55 balls, setting a target of 177. The Australian chase was derailed early by Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani, who took three wickets each, despite a fighting 57 from Ashleigh Gardner. The victory marks a significant series win for the Women in Blue on Australian soil. Smriti Mandhana's 82 and key bowling performances lead India Women to a series-clinching 17-run victory over Australia in the third T20I in Adelaide. Adelaide, February 21 India Women defeated Australia Women by 17 runs in the third match of the T20I series, at Adelaide on Saturday, to clinch the series 2-1. While Smriti Mandhana shone with the bat, Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil stood out with the ball for the Women in Blue. Smriti Mandhana was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-defining innings of 82 runs off 55 balls. On the other hand, Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil's 3-fers helped restrict Australia to a score of 159. Australian openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney gave a quick start to their side, smashing Renuka Singh for 18 runs in the first over. Despite a great start in the first over, Australia crumbled in the following overs. In the second over, Patil dismissed Voll for 10 off five balls. Wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney was caught out by Charani in the next over off Renuka at deep square leg. The Aussies lost their third wicket in the form of Ellyse Perry, who was playing her 350th international match for Australia, in the fourth over of Patil, reducing the hosts to 32/3 in 3.3 overs. Australia ended the powerplay at 44/3. Ashleigh Gardner was the only batter who stood out from the Australian side with 57 runs off 45 balls. However, she was dismissed on the last ball of the 16th over, bowled by Arundhati Reddy, as Australia slumped to 128/6 in 15.5 overs. Grace Harris, Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland could not contribute much either as Australia ended their innings at 159/9, falling short by 17 runs. Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat first. Mandhana and Shafali opened the innings for the Women in Blue as the Aussie pacer Darcie Brown faced difficulty in finding her rhythm in the opening over, bowling four wides and was smashed for a boundary by Smriti Mandhana with a cover drive. India were off to a decent start as they found themselves at 14/0 in two overs. However, they lost their first wicket in the form of Shafali with India 19/1 in 2.4 overs. Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues made good use of the powerplay and took the team total to 54/1 after the first six overs. In the last over of the power play, Sophie Molineux went for 14 runs. The duo kept the run rate up after the power play ended with India in a commanding position after 10 overs at a score of 86/1. Mandhana brought up her fifty in 38 balls with a six to Brown in the 12th over. In the 15th over, Jemimah was dropped by Phoebe Litchfield at extra cover, though she made a diving effort. At the end of the 15th over, India were at 127-1. Mandhana's innings came to an end after she had hit a six on the first ball of the 16th over by Annabel Sutherland. Mandhana scored 82 runs in 55 balls. The opener looked exceptional throughout the innings, finding boundaries in almost every over. Despite a slow start, she ended her innings with a strike rate of 149.09, which included eight fours and three sixes. Richa Ghosh continued the momentum after Mandhana's dismissal. Jemimah reached her half-century in 41 balls. Ghosh played a quick cameo of 18 runs in seven balls before getting sent back to the pavillion in the 19th over, bowled by Molineux. In the last over, bowled by Sutherland, India lost three wickets in the form of Jemimah (59), Amanjot Kaur (1) and Deepti Sharma (1) as the team ended the innings with a score of 176/6. - ANI The Indian Embassy in Baku launched the first edition of "Baku Evenings," an interactive session dedicated to India's ancient and living languages. The event featured lecturer Dhruv Trivedi and his students from the Azerbaijan University of Languages, who recited Sanskrit shlokas and engaged in Hindi conversations. Ambassador Abhay Kumar participated directly, highlighting the growing interest in Indian languages and culture among Azerbaijani youth. The evening concluded with a reading from Tagore's Gitanjali and Indian cuisine, strengthening people-to-people ties. India's Embassy in Baku hosts inaugural Baku Evenings, featuring Sanskrit shlokas, Hindi conversations & cultural exchange with Azerbaijani youth. Baku, February 21 The Embassy of India in Baku hosted the inaugural edition of Baku Evenings on February 20, 2026 -- a vibrant interactive gathering focused on learning and celebrating India's ancient and living languages, Sanskrit and Hindi. The event featured Dhruv Trivedi, Lecturer of Sanskrit and Hindi at the Azerbaijan University of Languages, along with his enthusiastic students. Ambassador Abhay Kumar, an acclaimed writer, artist and language enthusiast himself, engaged directly with the young students, who shared their passion through recitations of timeless Sanskrit shlokas, lively Hindi conversations, and insightful discussions on Indian culture and literature. Participants highlighted the profound wisdom embedded in Sanskrit texts and the expressive vibrancy of modern Hindi, underscoring the growing interest in Indian languages among Azerbaijani youth. The session fostered meaningful cultural exchange and strengthened people-to-people ties between India and Azerbaijan. The session witnessed participation from members of Indian diaspora, including Indian students and a group of social media influencers from Azerbaijan. The evening concluded on a warm note with a reading from Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali and an authentic spread of Indian delicacies, allowing attendees to experience a taste of India's rich culinary heritage alongside its linguistic traditions. Ambassador Abhay Kumar expressed delight at the event's success, stating: "Initiatives like Baku Evenings bring alive the shared values and cultural affinities between our two nations. We are inspired by the dedication of the young Azerbaijani students, and look forward to many more such enriching interactions." This inaugural edition marks the beginning of Baku Evenings -- a new Embassy series aimed at promoting Indian culture, education, arts, and heritage through engaging community events in Azerbaijan. Earlier on February 18, the Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan announced start of the event. In a post on X, the Embassy said, "Want to learn Sanskrit and Hindi in Azerbaijan? Embassy of India in Baku invites you for an interactive session with Dhruv Trivedi, who teaches Sanskrit and Hindi at the University of Languages of Azerbaijan, in its 1st edition of Baku Evenings." - ANI Indian equity benchmarks managed mild weekly gains despite significant losses in the IT and media sectors. Global risk sentiment improved after a US Supreme Court ruling struck down most of former President Trump's tariffs implemented under emergency powers. Domestically, strong Manufacturing and Services PMI data reflected resilient demand conditions. However, rising US-Iran tensions and elevated crude oil prices are key monitorable events that could dictate market direction in the near term. Nifty and Sensex post mild weekly gains despite IT sector losses. Global cues, US tariff ruling, and geopolitical tensions shape market outlook. Mumbai, Feb 21 The Indian equity benchmarks posted mild gains on a weekly basis, despite several sessions of sharp declines in the IT index. Nifty added 0.39 per cent during the week and added 0.46 per cent on the last trading day to settle at 25,571. At Friday's close, Sensex was up 316 points or 0.38 per cent at 82,814. It advanced 0.38 per cent during the week. Sectoral performance remained mixed during the week, with all major indices ending in the red. Nifty media was the worst performer, down 2.46 per cent on a weekly basis, followed by capital markets, down 2.44 per cent and IT, down 2.07 per cent. Global risk sentiment has improved meaningfully after the US Supreme Court struck down a majority of President Donald Trump's tariffs that were implemented under emergency powers. The development buoyed global markets, with GIFT Nifty rising over 1 per cent, indicating the possibility of a gap-up opening for the Nifty at the start of the next week, analysts said. Continued institutional support and improving momentum indicators will be critical in determining whether the current rebound evolves into a sustained uptrend. On the domestic front, India's Manufacturing and Services PMI climbed to 59.3 in February, marking the strongest reading in three months, driven by robust output growth and new orders, reflecting resilient demand conditions. Further, India signed the US Pax Silica agreement, marking a notable development on the trade and strategic front. Analysts said that immediate support for Nifty is seen at 25,350, followed by 25,200, and resistance is placed at 25,650 and 25,720. Broader indices showed divergence from the benchmark indices during the week, as the Nifty Midcap100 gained 0.13 per cent, while Nifty Smallcap100 lost 0.18 per cent. Globally, rising US-Iran tensions elevated geopolitical risks, pushing Brent crude higher to $71.8 per barrel, extending its three-day gain to 6.6 per cent and triggering risk-off sentiment across markets. This will be the key monitorable event in the near term and will provide direction to the market, market participants said. The stock market is likely to consolidate next week, tracking the geopolitical development along with the key US tariff ruling, India-US trade deal and Q3 GDP data. - IANS Iran's Foreign Ministry has declared the naval and air forces of EU member states a "terrorist organisation" in a reciprocal move after the EU designated Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as one. The IRGC, formed after the 1979 revolution, holds major influence over Iran's economy, military, and nuclear program. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum, giving Iran 10-15 days to agree to a nuclear deal or face consequences. The US has also deployed significant air and naval forces to West Asia, with reports suggesting military action against Iran is being prepared. Iran reciprocally labels EU member states' naval and air forces as a terrorist organization after the EU designated the IRGC as one, escalating tensions. Tehran, February 22 Iran's Foreign Ministry declared European Union member states' naval forces and air forces as "terrorist organisation" as a reciprocal action against the EU's recognition of Islamic Revolution Guard Corps as a terrorist entity. The Ministry announced its decision in a statement, while calling the EU's action against the IRGC "contrary to fundamental principles and rules" of the United Nations Charter and International Law. Invoking the Article 7 of the Law on "Reciprocal Action in Response to the Designation of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps as a Terrorist Organization by the US" passed in 2019, which stipulates that "all countries that in any way follow or support the decision of the United States to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization are subject to reciprocal action," Iran made this decision, as per the Foreign Ministry statement. This comes after the EU designated Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organisation, placing the powerful military force in the same category as the Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Formed after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution to safeguard the Shi'ite clerical system, the IRGC wields significant influence across Iran's economy and armed forces and oversees the country's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. Meanwhile, the US, Israel and their allied partners continue to push Iran to drop its uranium enrichment operations, expressing concern over Tehran's alleged attempt to make nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump has warned Iran to come to terms with the US on the nuclear deal within 10 to 15 days or "it's going to be unfortunate." Interacting with the reporters on Thursday, the US President said, "We're either going to get a deal, or it's going to be unfortunate for them... 10-15 days would be enough time." At the Board of Peace inaugural meeting, Trump also repeated the threats, "Now is the time for Iran to join us on a path that will complete what we're doing. And if they join us, that'll be great. If they don't join us, that'll be great, too. But it'll be a very different path." He stressed that Tehran could not continue destabilising the region."They cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region. And they must make a deal. Or if that doesn't happen, bad things will happen if it doesn't," the US President said. US has also deployed air and naval forces to West Asia, marking the most substantive deployment to the region since the US invaded Iraq in the year 2003, CNN reported. The US military is prepared to strike Iran as early as this weekend, though President Donald Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether he'll authorise such actions, CNN said, citing sources familiar with the matter. - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held talks in New Delhi, resulting in the exchange of three Memoranda of Understanding covering digital partnership, critical minerals, and mining cooperation. President Lula expressed his joy at visiting India for the sixth time, describing the bilateral meeting as a "meeting of superlatives" between a digital superpower and a renewable energy superpower. The leaders emphasized the crucial role of India and Brazil in multilateral forums like the UN, WTO, and G20 for promoting a more just global governance. The visit, which included a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, follows Prime Minister Modi's landmark trip to Brasilia in July 2025. Brazilian President Lula visits India, signs key MoUs on digital tech, critical minerals. Leaders hail partnership of two Global South democracies. New Delhi, February 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed a joint press conference in the national capital Three MoUs were exchanged between the two government namely -the MoU Joint Declaration On Digital Partnership for Future, the MoU on Cooperation in areas of Rare Earth and Critical Minerals and the MoU for Cooperation in the field of Mining in the Steel Supply Chain. "My dear friend Modi, it is a reason of happiness for me to return to this country for the sixth time. The meeting between India and Brazil is a meeting of superlatives. We are not just the two biggest democracies of the Global South. This is a meeting of a digital superpower with a renewable energy superpower. We are both mega diverse countries and hubs of the cultural industry and we both defend multilateralism and peace," President Lula da Silva said sharing how happy he was to be in the country. "This shows the synchrony and mutual trust that binds us together. A few months ago, in July last year, I had the honour of hosting my friend Modi in Brasilia. His visit was a milestone. On that occasion, we restructured the bilateral cooperation agenda in five areas...We signed several agreements that provide concrete quality to our cooperation in these areas," he added. President Lula highlighted that India and Brazil's voice were crucial especially in the context of changing geopolitics. "A turbulent global scenario requires our countries to strengthen and deepen our strategic dialogue...India and Brazil are crucial voices at the UN, the WTO and G20 are partners in building a multilateral governance which is more just, peaceful, and governed by international law Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Hyderabad House here in the national capital. A ceremonial welcome was held at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. President Lula also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On Friday, President Lula inaugurated the first office of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) in New Delhi. Sharing the details in a post on X he said that this would promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. Lula's visit to India follows a July 2025 visit to Brasilia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years. - ANI The visit of JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva to India carried significant symbolic and practical weight, facilitated through the ICCR's Distinguished Visitors Programme. During his trip, he held discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and toured Indian states known for economic progress. Silva's observations contrasted India's tech implementation, navigating cultural traditions, with China's different approach, sparking debate on Sri Lanka's developmental model. The report also highlighted his ambiguous stance on long-delayed Provincial Council elections and analyzed whether India's interest stems from being a responsible neighbor with a large Tamil-speaking population. Tilvin Silva's India tour highlights development focus, China comparison, and questions on Provincial Council elections. Analysis of Sri Lanka's political direction. Colombo, Feb 21 The recent visit of Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party, to India highlighted a subtle blend of opportunity and challenge. Silva noted that India emphasised development and innovation rather than exerting political pressure on Sri Lanka to hold the long-delayed Provincial Council elections, a report said on Saturday. According to a report in Sri Lanka-based think tank 'Trinco Centre for Strategic Studies' (TCSS), at the heart of Sri Lanka's evolving political landscape lies a crucial question: whether Silva gained insights from his first official visit to India. "Undertaken through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations' (ICCR) Distinguished Visitors Programme from 5-12 February 2026, the visit carried both symbolic and practical significance. During his time in India, Silva held discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and toured Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh - states often highlighted as showcases of India's economic and technological progress," the report detailed. His comparisons between India and China, it said, prompted broader questions about which model Sri Lanka should adopt to chart its own future. "In India, we see that though there are efforts to introduce new technology, there have been some obstacles in implementing these initiatives because there are religious and cultural practices and traditions that have to be navigated. In China, it is not like that," the report quoted Silva as saying. It noted that Silva's position on Provincial Council elections in Sri Lanka remained ambiguous. When the Tamil issue came up during his stay in India, he stressed that he was there in his capacity as the JVP's General Secretary, speaking on behalf of the party, not the government. "At the same time, he has consistently characterised the provincial council system as a failed model. This raises an important consideration: should his remarks be understood as reflecting the party's position, or as signalling the policy direction of the government?" the report questioned. The TCSS report highlighted that it is not a matter of whether India is exerting pressure, but whether Sri Lanka would proceed with Provincial Council elections without any external influence. "Silva believes that if the JVP is to act as a 'responsible government,' it must conduct elections and ensure balanced economic development across all provinces," it stated. The report further said, "India's stance is not a 'proxy' for Tamil demands, but rather the responsibility of a neighbour with more than 85 million Tamil-speaking people in South India. Ensuring Tamil rights in Sri Lanka, India argues, benefits Sri Lanka itself, not India". It noted that India is founded on inclusive development rather than ethnic or religious identity. For a multilingual democracy like Sri Lanka, power sharing offers the best path forward, while a totalitarian model like China underscores a very different reality. - IANS OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for democratizing Artificial Intelligence during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Altman highlighted India's remarkable energy and excitement around AI, noting the country is OpenAI's fastest-growing market for its Codex AI coding tool. The global summit, hosted in the Global South, brought together over 110 countries to deliberate on responsible and inclusive AI governance. The event's discussions were guided by foundational pillars focusing on people, planet, and progress. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman meets PM Modi, praises India's AI excitement and fast-growing market for Codex at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. New Delhi, February 21 OpenAI CEO Sam Altman lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision on Artificial Intelligence, while noting the excitement regarding the technology in India. Sam Altman appreciated PM Modi's enthusiasm to "democratise" the technology, which he said also aligns with his belief. "The energy here, the excitement of builders with AI in India for the entire stack is amazing to see. One of the highlights was that I got to speak at IIT Delhi today... Leaders throughout India and around the world really see what's happening here. This is already our second-largest market, and it's growing incredibly fast. There's something very special, and it was great to see PM Modi's leadership around bringing us to the next level," he said. "I love the Prime Minister's vision. I think his enthusiasm for what this can be, the need to democratise this technology, which is something very near to our hearts, and his balancing that with making sure that everyone in society benefits and we get to mitigate the risks was outstanding," Sam Altman added. Earlier in the day, Altman met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted the remarkable momentum of artificial intelligence adoption in India as the country hosts the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital. In a post on X, Altman said that the country is the fastest-growing market for Codex, with four times the weekly users in the past two weeks. "Great meeting with PM Narendra Modi today to talk about the incredible energy around AI in India. India is our fastest-growing market for Codex globally, up 4x in weekly users in the past 2 weeks alone," his post read. The Codex is an AI coding partner from OpenAI, which acts as a command centre for agentic coding. The India AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academics and civil society representatives to deliberate on responsible AI governance and inclusive technological advancement. The India AI Impact 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 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. The Summit saw participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, and about 45 Ministers. - ANI Bret Easton Ellis has revealed that multiple high-profile actors have turned down the role of Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino's upcoming "American Psycho" adaptation. The author suggests actors are hesitant to follow Christian Bale's iconic 2000 performance. Ellis confirms the new film will be a completely different take from the original movie, bearing no resemblance to Mary Harron's version. The project is moving forward with a revised script and is being produced by Lionsgate and the son of the original film's producer. Author Bret Easton Ellis reveals high-profile actors have refused the role, fearing comparison to Christian Bale's iconic performance. Washington DC, February 21 Christian Bale's performance in American Psycho is one of the hard acts to follow for the stars, as many have refused the same role in Luca Guadagnino's upcoming directorial American Psycho, reported Deadline. After Deadline exclusively announced director Luca Guadagnino and writer Scott Z. Burns' adaptation of the 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis back in 2024, the author recently shared an update on the casting process for the upcoming feature. "A couple of high-profile actors, whom I can't name, have turned it down. I think maybe because they don't want to be in the shoes of Christian Bale," Ellis said on a podcast as quoted by Deadline. Ellis noted that Scott Z. Burns has since completed a new draft of the script after several actors passed on the previous version. "From what I'm told, this movie is completely different from Mary Harron's 2000 movie. It's a completely different take, and going to bear no resemblance to that movie," he added as quoted by Deadline. The Lionsgate film will be produced by Frenesy Films, and executive produced by Sam Pressman, the son of Edward R. Pressman, producer of the 2002 original movie, through his company Pressman Film. In 2000's American Psycho, Bale starred as homicidal investment banker Patrick Bateman, the literary character that Ellis created as a satirical take on masculinity. The Harron-helmed adaptation also starred Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Chloe Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe and more. With American Psycho in the works, Ellis' 2023 novel 'The Shards' is getting the Ryan Murphy treatment with an FX series starring Kaia Gerber also in development. - ANI BJP MLA from Manipur, Vungzagin Valte, has passed away at 62 after succumbing to critical injuries sustained in a mob attack during ethnic violence in May 2023. He had been undergoing prolonged medical treatment and was recently airlifted to a Gurugram hospital where he died. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh led the tributes, praising his dedicated service and insightful legislative work. His death is seen as a major loss for his constituency and the state of Manipur. BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte, critically injured in a 2023 mob attack, passes away. PM Modi and Manipur CM condole the loss of the tribal leader. Imphal, Feb 21 BJP MLA from Manipur's Thanlon constituency, Vungzagin Valte, who had sustained critical injuries in a mob attack during the ethnic violence on May 4, 2023, died at a private hospital in Gurugram on Saturday, officials said. The 62-year-old tribal leader, belonging to the Zomi tribal community, was elected to the Manipur Assembly from the Thanlon constituency in Churachandpur district. The veteran legislator had been residing in the Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur district after undergoing prolonged medical treatment in Delhi following the violent attack on May 4, 2023. As his health deteriorated, Valte was airlifted from Imphal to New Delhi on February 8 for advanced medical treatment and was admitted to a private hospital in Gurugram, where he breathed his last on Saturday afternoon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, and several other leaders and organisations condoled his demise. Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi wrote: "Pu Vungzagin Valte will be remembered for his outstanding service to the people of Manipur. He worked diligently towards bringing a positive difference in society. His interventions in the Assembly were always insightful. Pained by his passing. Condolences to his family, friends and supporters." In a post on X, Manipur Lok Bhavan said: "The Governor of Manipur is deeply saddened by the demise of Vungzagin Valte, Hon'ble MLA. His untimely passing is an irreparable loss to the people of Manipur and to public service.He will be remembered for his dedication and committed service to society." "The Governor extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and loved ones. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace, and may God grant strength and courage to the family to bear this profound loss," the Lok Bhavan post said. In a condolence message, Chief Minister Singh said that Valte was not only a dedicated public representative but also a compassionate leader who devoted his entire life to the service of the people. Taking to his official X account, the Chief Minister said: "I am profoundly saddened and deeply grieved by the untimely demise of Pu Vungzagin Valte, Hon'ble MLA of Thanlon Assembly Constituency, who passed away today in New Delhi while under intensive medical care." Singh said that Valte's unwavering commitment to the welfare, progress and holistic development of Manipur reflected his true spirit of selfless service. The Chief Minister noted that Valte worked tirelessly to strengthen infrastructure, uplift communities, and bring meaningful change to the lives of countless people, earning the respect, trust and affection of all. "His passing is an immense loss not only to his family and loved ones but also to the people of Thanlon and the entire state of Manipur. We have lost a sincere leader, a humble human being, and a pillar of strength who always stood for the welfare of his people. In this moment of profound sorrow, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family, relatives, supporters and well-wishers," Singh said. "My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. May the Almighty grant them strength, comfort and courage to bear this irreparable loss. May his noble soul rest in eternal peace," the Chief Minister added. Valte was brutally attacked and left critically injured by assailants on May 4, 2023, in Imphal shortly after attending a meeting with former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The assault left Valte with multiple injuries and partial paralysis, necessitating his urgent transfer to Delhi, where he underwent months of intensive medical treatment. Valte's driver was killed in the May 4, 2023 attack. The departed tribal leader had earlier appealed for unity among members of the Zo community amid the ongoing ethnic crisis in Manipur. - IANS This story was originally published on Hotel Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Hotel Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Host Hotels & Resorts has sold the 444-key Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida as well as the 125-key Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole in Wyoming for a combined $1.1 billion, according to a fourth-quarter earnings report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The real estate investment trust did not share further details of the transaction, including the buyer, beyond a Wednesday release. Host first acquired the hotels in 2021 and 2022 for a total of $925 million, according to the report. The transaction follows Hosts January sale of The St. Regis Houston for $51 million, the report detailed. With optimism about the state of luxury hotels, Host is well-positioned to capture additional upside from lodging demand growth and take advantage of potential opportunities in the future, CEO James Risoleo said in the report. Dive Insight: In addition to the Four Season properties, Host is under contract to sell the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel in New Jersey for $15 million. That deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026, according to the report. Bethesda, Maryland-based Host has been busy with divestment of late, selling the 232-key St. Regis Houston in January to Saddlebrook Equity and Management. The hotel is expected to have capital expenditure needs of approximately $49 million over the next five years, Host detailed in the report. The St. Regis is slated to be renamed The Houston Grand Hotel River Oaks and undergo an expansive, top-to-bottom renovation of all guest rooms, public spaces, and culinary venues, according to a release previously obtained by Hotel Dive. Also in 2025, Host sold The Westin Cincinnati and Washington Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, D.C., in separate transactions for a total of $237 million, per the report. Since 2018, Host has sold approximately $6.4 billion worth of hotel assets, Risoleo said on a Thursday earnings call. Going into 2026, the REIT has significant liquidity and a diversified portfolio of iconic properties, Risoleo said. The portfolio spans nearly 80 hotels and resorts, including The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay in Hawaii, which was converted under the Marriott brand after Host acquired it in 2024 for $725 million. Host also owns 1 Hotel Central Park, which it purchased for $265 million from Starwood Capital Group in 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor OSAT facility in Uttar Pradesh via video conference. The plant, with an investment of over Rs 3,700 crore, will manufacture display driver chips for electronics and automobiles. Once operational, it is expected to process 20,000 wafers per month, reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic supply chains. The project is seen as a pivotal move in India's semiconductor mission and is anticipated to create numerous jobs and boost ancillary industries. PM Modi inaugurates a major HCL-Foxconn chip facility in UP, aiming to reduce import dependence and strengthen India's global semiconductor presence. New Delhi, Feb 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the establishment of the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor facility in Uttar Pradesh marks a major step towards technological self-reliance and will significantly enhance India's presence in the global chip ecosystem. The Prime Minister inaugurated the HCL-Foxconn joint venture project, India Chip Private Limited, through video conferencing from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) site in Uttar Pradesh. The new facility is an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) plant being set up with an investment of over Rs 3,700 crore. Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said Uttar Pradesh is rapidly emerging as an important hub in India's growing semiconductor ecosystem. "The country is moving steadily towards independence in chip production, which is crucial for sectors such as electronics, automobiles, and digital technologies," PM Modi explained. The OSAT facility will manufacture display driver chips used in mobile phones, laptops, automobiles and other consumer electronics. Once operational, the plant is expected to process around 20,000 wafers every month. This will help reduce India's dependence on chip imports and strengthen domestic supply chains. Calling this decade India's "tech-ade," the Prime Minister said that investments in semiconductors are laying the foundation for the country's leadership in 21st-century technologies. "Although India entered the semiconductor race later than some other nations, rapid progress has been made," PM Modi noted. Under the India Semiconductor Mission, 10 such units have been approved so far, and four of them are close to starting production. PM Modi also referred to the recently concluded India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, where global leaders praised India's technology vision. The Prime Minister said 2026 has begun at a fast pace and described the current week as historic for the country's technology journey. He highlighted that the new plant will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for engineers, technicians and skilled workers. "It is also expected to promote ancillary industries, startups and chip design hubs in the region. The facility's proximity to Jewar Airport will improve logistics and support faster global connectivity," PM Modi noted. - IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the new integrated terminal at Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport will begin commercial operations. The facility, constructed with significant local participation, is designed to handle increased air traffic with modern amenities and upgraded systems. It aims to strengthen Guwahati's role as the key aviation gateway to the northeastern region, improving both domestic and international connectivity. Officials expect the terminal to boost passenger traffic, support economic growth, and generate employment opportunities within the state. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announces the new integrated terminal at Guwahati's LGBI Airport begins commercial operations, enhancing regional connectivity. Guwahati, Feb 21 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced that the new integrated terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati will commence commercial operations from Sunday, marking a major addition to the state's aviation infrastructure. In a post on X, Sarma said the terminal had been constructed with local participation and symbolised Assam's growing role as a key gateway to the northeastern region and beyond. "The new Integrated Terminal at Guwahati Airport begins commercial operations from tomorrow. Proudly built by the hands of Assam and powered by the sons and daughters of our state, this gateway is ready to welcome the world," the Chief Minister said. Earlier, Sarma had shared visuals of the new terminal, highlighting its modern facilities and passenger amenities. Officials said the integrated terminal is expected to significantly enhance passenger handling capacity and improve overall operational efficiency, in view of increasing air traffic in the region. The terminal has been designed to accommodate both domestic and international passengers, with upgraded security systems, improved passenger movement flow, and modern infrastructure. Authorities said the facility is aimed at strengthening Guwahati's position as a key aviation hub for the northeastern region and enhancing direct connectivity. The terminal also incorporates design elements reflecting Assam's cultural heritage while adhering to global airport infrastructure and sustainability standards. It is equipped with advanced baggage handling systems, energy-efficient features, and improved accessibility provisions for passengers. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport serves as the primary aviation gateway to the northeastern region, connecting Guwahati with major cities across India and select international destinations. With the commissioning of the new integrated terminal, airport authorities expect an increase in passenger traffic, flight operations, and cargo movement. Officials said the new facility is also expected to generate employment opportunities, with personnel from Assam engaged in operations, security, and ground services. The state government described the development as a step towards strengthening connectivity and supporting economic growth, tourism, and trade in the region. - IANS BJP National President Nitin Nabin praised the Gujarat unit's discipline and "Nation first" ideology as a model for the entire country during an organizational meeting. He emphasized the critical role of grassroots workers as the party's life and soul, urging them to avoid complacency and set new goals. Nabin highlighted that election results from Gujarat send a national message and called on workers to actively counter misinformation online by sharing accurate details of government schemes. State leaders echoed these sentiments, tracing the party's growth to continuous worker sacrifice and dedication. BJP chief Nitin Nabin praises Gujarat unit's discipline and 'Nation First' principle as a national model during a key organizational meeting. Gandhinagar, Feb 21 Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin on Saturday described the Gujarat unit as an organisation defined by discipline, focus and the guiding principle of "Nation first, party next, individual last", during an organisational meeting at the party's state headquarters in Gandhinagar. Nabin was welcomed by party workers at the BJP state office. Floral tributes were offered to the statues of Syama Prasad Mukherjee and Deendayal Upadhyaya at the premises. The meeting was attended by Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, National General Secretary (Organisation) B. L. Santhosh, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and other state office-bearers, senior leaders and district and city representatives. Addressing the gathering, Nabin said, "Gujarat has always provided direction to the nation from both creative and organisational perspectives." He added that the party had grown into a "vast banyan tree" because of the "struggle, dedication and sacrifices of senior workers". He described the Gujarat BJP's organisational functioning as a model for the rest of the country. "The working style, discipline and time management of the Gujarat BJP are exemplary. 'Minimum input and maximum output' has long been the identity of this organisation," he said. Emphasising the role of grassroots workers, he stated, "The karyakarta is the life and soul of the BJP." Referring to the political significance of the state, he said, "Every election result in Gujarat sends a message to the country. Therefore, the state must stand with greater strength and resolve." He noted that party workers in Kerala and West Bengal were working in difficult circumstances to expand the party while focusing on public welfare, nationalism and nation-building, adding that they were inspired by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nabin urged workers not to become complacent. "A karyakarta should never be satisfied. One must always work towards new goals. The BJP is not merely a party but a family. The party's image in society is reflected in our speech, conduct and behaviour." He also appealed to workers to counter misinformation on social media by sharing accurate information about government welfare schemes. In his remarks, Vishwakarma traced Nabin's political journey from his early days as a BJP worker to holding organisational responsibilities in Bihar and serving as an MLA and minister. He said, "From just two seats in the Lok Sabha to its present position, the BJP's journey is the result of continuous struggle and sacrifice by its workers." Calling it "a case study for management students", he added, "A worker from an ordinary background can rise to the highest position in the BJP," citing PM Modi's rise as an example. Chief Minister Patel said, "The karyakarta is the lifeblood of the BJP. It is because of the tireless efforts of lakhs of workers that the party has become strong." He added, "In the BJP, the party is greater than the post and ideology is greater than the individual," and called upon workers to continue engaging with the public in a coordinated manner. - IANS Newly appointed BJP National President Nitin Nabin commenced his first Gujarat visit by paying respects to spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj at Akshardham, Gandhinagar. His itinerary includes engaging with young entrepreneurs at a summit in GIFT City and addressing key party workers' conferences. The visit underscores a blend of spiritual outreach and organizational mobilization. Nabin will also attend a public listening session for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' before concluding his tour. New BJP President Nitin Nabin begins Gujarat visit with spiritual homage, sets schedule for youth summits, worker meetings, and 'Mann Ki Baat' session. Gandhinagar, Feb 21 On his maiden visit to Gujarat after assuming office as National President of the BJP, Nitin Nabin on Saturday paid a courtesy visit to His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj at the revered Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar. On Friday, Nabin was accompanied by senior party leaders, including Jagdish Vishwakarma, President of BJP Gujarat; B.L. Santhosh, National General Secretary (Organisation); and Ratnakarji, BJP Gujarat Organisation Secretary. The meeting was marked by warmth and reverence as the delegation sought the blessings of Mahant Swami Maharaj. During the interaction, His Holiness offered heartfelt prayers for their dedicated service and for the continued peace, unity, harmony, and prosperity of the nation. He also emphasised the timeless values of integrity, compassion, and selfless leadership as guiding principles for nation-building. The visit reflected a shared commitment to social harmony, cultural values, and the holistic development of society. The serene atmosphere of the Akshardham complex provided a spiritual backdrop to the interaction, underscoring the importance of moral and ethical foundations in public life. Later on February 21, Nabin visited the Sabarmati Riverfront, where he participated in outreach activities and interacted with local residents. He also offered prayers at the historic Bhadrakali Mata Temple in Ahmedabad. He is scheduled to address state office-bearers, organisational leaders, and party workers at the BJP state headquarters in Gandhinagar, followed by a meeting with the party's social media team. In the afternoon, he will speak at the Young Voice Summit at GIFT City, described as India's first International Financial Tech City, and interact with young entrepreneurs and start-up founders. In the evening, he will address a booth workers' conference at GMDC Hall in Ahmedabad. On February 22, Nabin will attend a public listening session of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', in Khadia, Ahmedabad, at 10:45 a.m. He is scheduled to depart for Delhi later that afternoon. Nitin Nabin recently assumed charge as the youngest National President of the BJP, succeeding outgoing president JP Nadda. - IANS Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission has been revolutionary, with over 10 crore women now associated with the self-help group movement. He launched new initiatives including the Individual Enterprise Loan System and the JanSamarth Portal to facilitate easier credit access for SHG members. During events in Hyderabad, he also emphasized the goal of achieving self-reliance in foodgrains for a developed India. The Minister inaugurated new buildings for ICAR-NAARM and launched a digital module to enhance women's proficiency in banking and digital transactions. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlights the transformative role of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, empowering over 10 crore rural women. Hyderabad, February 21 Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday stated that the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission has played a revolutionary role in transforming the lives of rural women, noting that over 10 crore women are currently associated with the self-help group movement. Addressing a press conference, the Union Minister declared that women from rural backgrounds are becoming self-reliant under the mission of Viksit Bharat. " As the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, I am pleased to inform you that women from rural backgrounds are becoming self-reliant under the mission of Viksit Bharat. The National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) has played a revolutionary role in this transformation. At present, over 10 crore women are associated with our self-help group," said Chouhan. Earlier, the Union Minister addressed the 25th Central Level Coordination Committee Programme of the Ministry of Rural Development held in Hyderabad. In a post on X, the Agriculture Minister shared that during the programme, he launched the Individual Enterprise Loan System and the JanSamarth Portal to facilitate easier credit access for Self-Help Group (SHG) members. Alongside these initiatives, a UPI Credit Line was also launched specifically for SHG members. The Union Minister also introduced a digital module, which aims to empower women to become more proficient in banking and digital transactions. "Today in Hyderabad, I had a heartfelt interaction with the sisters of Self-Help Groups and bankers during the Central Level Coordination Committee (CLCC) meeting of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission. On this occasion, I launched the Individual Enterprise Loan System and the JanSamarth Portal to make credit easily available to Self-Help Group sisters. Along with this, the UPI Credit Line was also launched for SHG members. To enable our Self-Help Group sisters to become more capable in banking and digital transactions, we also launched a digital module today. Our resolve is to empower and make the sisters self-reliant, so that the country's development gains new momentum," said Chouhan. Additionally, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the newly constructed buildings of the ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (ICAR-NAARM) at Rajendranagar in Hyderabad. During the event, the Union Minister declared that one of the major goals of a developed India is to ensure self-reliance in foodgrains. He emphasised the government's aims to ensure that India's granaries are filled with an abundance of grain, fruits, vegetables, and milk. Chauhan said, "One of the major goals of a developed India is-self-reliance in foodgrains.Our commitment is that we will fill the granaries of grain, fruits, vegetables, and milk. We should never have to extend our hands towards anyone in the world; instead, if the need arises, we will feed the entire world." - ANI Pakistan's business community is challenging the government's assertion that its energy tariff incentive package has provided meaningful relief to industry. Official figures show nearly half of industrial consumers received benefits totaling over Rs 12 billion in two months. However, industry leaders argue the relief mainly aided smaller or inactive units, while larger, grid-stable industries saw little advantage. They contend that rising fuel costs and quarterly adjustments have effectively canceled out much of the announced reduction, creating planning uncertainty. Pakistan's business community disputes gov't claims on energy tariff relief, arguing fuel cost adjustments have neutralized benefits for major industries. Islamabad, February 21 Pakistan's business community has cast serious doubt on the government's claims that its energy tariff incentive package has delivered meaningful relief to industry, despite official figures suggesting widespread benefit. The Power Division reported that 127,686 industrial consumers availed themselves of the scheme in December 2025 and January 2026, receiving a combined relief of Rs 12.125 billion. This represents 46 per cent of the country's 278,961 industrial electricity consumers, as reported by Dawn. The package includes a three-year incremental plan featuring a Rs4.04 per unit reduction for industry and a shift in tariff rebasing from a fiscal year to a calendar year cycle starting January 1, 2026. The government maintains that both small and large industries received a benefit of Rs 10.3 per unit on surplus electricity consumption, Dawn reported. However, industrial representatives dispute these claims. They argue that the relief primarily benefited inactive or limited-scale units, while larger B3 and B4 category industries, which contribute no losses to the grid but pay higher tariffs, saw little real advantage. Business leaders also contend that rising fuel costs and quarterly adjustments have effectively wiped out much of the announced reduction. 1,176 million units of electricity were sold under the surplus package in the two-month period, accounting for nearly 24 per cent of total industrial consumption. December saw 557 million units sold under the scheme, providing Rs5.743 billion in relief, while January recorded 619 million units and Rs6.382 billion in benefits. Yet the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has warned that the fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for January alone increased charges by Rs1.78 per unit, with another Rs0.40 per unit expected under quarterly revisions, as highlighted by Dawn. FPCCI President Atif Ikram Shaikh stated that more than half of the promised relief had been neutralised within the same billing cycle. Industry leaders further criticised repeated tariff rebasing in July 2025 and January 2026, arguing that such volatility undermines planning certainty and export competitiveness, despite official assurances from Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari of continued oversight and reform, as reported by Dawn. - ANI Pakistan's Air Force conducted airstrikes targeting a religious seminary and multiple locations in Afghanistan's Paktika and Nangarhar provinces. The strikes, confirmed by Pakistani media, allegedly targeted seven camps and hideouts of militant groups like Fitna al Khwarij and Daesh Khorasan Province. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry stated the action was a precise response to recent suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu, which it claims were directed from Afghanistan. A spokesperson asserted Pakistan's right to protect its citizens and demanded Afghan authorities prevent their soil from being used for terrorism. Pakistan conducts airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika & Nangarhar, targeting alleged terror camps after suicide attacks in Islamabad & Bajaur. Kabul, February 22 Pakistani Air Force targeted a religious seminary in an attack on Bermal district in Afghanistan's Paktika province, Tolo News reporteted citing sources. The Pakistani jets also conducted multiple airstrikes at the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, Tolo News reported. Pakistan has conducted multiple strikes in Bermal and Argun in Paktika, as well as in Khogyani, Bahsod, and Ghani Khel districts in Nangarhar, since Saturday, Tolo News reported. Pakistani media sources also confirmed Islamabad's airstrikes; they reported that the strikes were focused on the alleged terrorist camps along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Geo News, citing Pakistan's Ministry of Information, reported that the strikes targeted seven camps and hideouts of Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), its affiliates and Daesh Khorasan Province (DKP), claiming the action was conducted "with precision and accuracy" in response to recent suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu during Ramzan. The ministry alleged that the suicide bombings were carried out at the direction of Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers, adding that responsibility was claimed by elements linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh, Geo News reported. Despite Islamabad's claims that it repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups, Pakistan itself has long faced international scrutiny for providing safe havens and logistical support to various terror outfits operating across the region. In its statement, Pakistan said it expects the interim Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and prevent the use of its soil against Pakistan. It also called on the international community to press Afghan authorities to honour commitments under the Doha Agreement Pakistan's Foreign Office on Thursday said Pakistan reserves the right to target Afghanistan to protect the lives of its citizens amid a spike in cross-border tensions following a deadly attack in Bajaur, as per Dawn. "Pakistan very legitimately demands that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism inside Pakistan. So, as long as this demand is not met, whilst exercising patience, all options would obviously remain on the table," Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at the weekly media briefing, as quoted by Dawn. - ANI A new report states Pakistan's investment-to-GDP ratio of 13.8% is the lowest among major Asian economies, lagging far behind regional peers like India and Vietnam. The ratio has declined from a peak of 15.6% in FY22, constrained by structural barriers and bureaucratic red tape. Executives report that establishing an industrial project requires about 25 regulatory permissions, creating uncertainty and prolonging timelines. Economists warn that sub-15% investment levels cap Pakistan's growth potential and sustain large trade deficits. Pakistan's investment-to-GDP ratio is 13.8%, the lowest among major Asian economies, far behind India and Bangladesh, a new report reveals. New Delhi, Feb 21 Pakistan's 13.8 per cent investmenttoGDP ratio ranks far below Bangladesh's 22.4 per cent in 2025 despite latter having a turbulent economy, underscoring Pakistan's position as the lowestinvesting major economy in Asia, a new report has said. Regional peers such as India and Vietnam continue to sustain investment levels above 30 per cent contrasted with Pakistan, which in it FY22 peak only achieved 15.6 per cent, the report from The Express Tribune said. Despite macroeconomic stability under the current hybrid and multiparty setup, investor sentiment and outcomes remain weak as structural barriers remain unaddressed, the report said. Executives told the publication that establishing an industrial project still requires about 25 regulatory permissions, prolonging timelines and raising uncertainty, the report said. "Senior corporate executives privately acknowledge frustration with the performance of the investment facilitation council, which was designed as a single-window platform to cut red tape. While its leadership is widely viewed as disciplined and execution-oriented, business representatives argue that the same rigidity has constrained innovation in investment strategy", the report said. It highlighted Pakistan's investment ratio declined from 15.6 per cent in FY22 to 13.1 per cent in FY24 before recovering to 13.8 per cent in FY2025, while India sustained 32-35 per cent and Vietnam 30-33 per cent. The report cited economists saying sub15 per cent levels cap Pakistan's growth potential far below peers. Exports fell from $2.85 billion in October to $2.32 billion in December before rebounding to $3.06 billion in January 2026, while imports remained structurally high around $5-6 billion, sustaining large trade deficits. "Pakistan's investment ratio is structurally disconnected from the region," said Maryam Ayub, Research Economist at the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME). "Even economies facing shocks maintain much higher investment than Pakistan, which indicates deep domestic constraints rather than temporary weakness," Ayub was quoted as saying. - IANS The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Chairperson, Sivasubramanian Ramann, has described ICICI Pension Fund's new Swasthya Equity Plus scheme as an "experiment" under the National Pension Scheme's regulatory sandbox, comparing its boldness to the Ayushman Bharat health initiative. The scheme allows subscribers to withdraw up to 25% of their contributions for healthcare expenses, including OPD and pharmacy purchases, through the Apollo network. Unlike standard NPS rules, it permits unlimited withdrawals up to this limit and invests 70-100% of the corpus in equity for long-term growth. The Proof of Concept is being tested physically in Bengaluru and Hyderabad and is available digitally across India. PFRDA Chairperson compares ICICI's new NPS health equity plan to Ayushman Bharat, calling it a regulatory sandbox experiment for healthcare funding. Mumbai, February 21 Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Chairperson Sivasubramanian Ramann has referred ICICI Pension Fund's Swasthya Equity Plus as an experiment under the National Pension Scheme's regulatory sandbox. He compared the NPS SEP with Aayushman Bharat and said that they will have to see how people express a need for the scheme. "We are at the moment running an experiment. It is therefore directed towards a particular type of consumer. An experiment is done where you feel that there is a viable segment and therefore let us test for that segment. So we are certainly looking at the numbers that are currently given," Sivasubramanian Ramann answered ANI's question during the press conference following the launch of ICICI Pension Fund's Swasthya Equity Plus scheme in Mumbai. Comparing the NPS SEP scheme with Aayushman Bharat, Ramann added, "Ayushman Bharat is the biggest (experiment), and I think the boldest experiment and scheme. It's no longer an experiment. It's a full-fledged scheme that is running across the country. So going into the future, how people express a need, we'll have to see that." Apart from this, the PFRDA Chairman also underlined the purpose of the SEP scheme under NPS. He said that the core thinking or philosophy behind this was to have a pension-smart account, which can set a benchmark for the pension fund. However, he stressed that these accounts would give hope to the holder as they would cover medical costs in parts. He also said, "Insurance is insurance, and that is a primary mitigator of your (people's) health costs, and there is no better instrument than a medical insurance. This (NPS SEP scheme) is just a small supplement for that." "With initiatives such as NPS Vatsalya and now this health-focused pension framework under the regulatory sandbox, we are exploring innovative ways to strengthen citizens' financial preparedness," he added. Speaking exclusively to ANI, Sumit Mohindra, Chief Executive Officer, ICICI Pension Fund Management Limited, said that the NPS SEP scheme is offered as a Proof of Concept (PoC) under the PFRDA Regulatory Sandbox Framework. "The minimum requirement of 50,000 is a cumulative contribution, not a one-time deposit. This amount was chosen for the POC because 25% of it (12,500) is considered a reasonable amount for emergency medical needs. This amount is subject to change based on learnings from the proof of concept stage," Mohindra said to ANI, while addressing the concern of 'missing middle'. "There is no limit on the number of withdrawals up to the 25% limit, unlike normal NPS, which restricts withdrawals to four times in the entire tenure," he elaborated on the withdrawal norms. In addition, Mohindra also mentioned that their NPS EPS's primary objective remains retirement planning. "Since it's a long-term plan (e.g., 15 years), allowing up to 100% equity allocation is considered appropriate," he said. The NPS SEP is a new concept being tested under a regulatory sandbox to allow for innovation in pension products, where 70%-100% of the corpus will be invested in equity, up to 30% into debt and up to 10% in money market instruments. Under the scheme, up to 25% of own contributions can be withdrawn for healthcare expenses -- including OPD, diagnostics, hospitalisation, and pharmacy purchases -- anytime during the tenure of the scheme through the Apollo 24*7 platform and at selected Apollo Hospitals and Apollo Pharmacy. On an experimental basis, the pilot PoC testing has been launched physically at Bengaluru and Hyderabad, while it is available 24*7 digially from anywhere in India. Also, withdrawals are authenticated via OTP, and amounts are disbursed directly to the Apollo network via KFintech. The withdrawals for NPS Swasthya allow unlimited withdrawals up to 25% of the corpus, whereas normal NPS limits withdrawals to four times over the entire tenure. People willing to open their ICICI PF NPS Swasthya Equity Plus account can click the NPS Swasthya banner available on the ICICI Pension Fund's website (https://www.iciciprupension.com) or from the Apollo 24/7 mobile app. They should keep in mind that opening and maintaining a Common Scheme NPS account is mandatory alongside the NPS Swasthya account, as per PFRDA regulations. - ANI India's pharmaceutical exports registered a 9.4% growth in 2024-25, reaching $30.47 billion. The industry and government are now collaborating to achieve double-digit export growth in the 2026-27 period. With the US and Europe as major markets, the sector is projected to grow to $130 billion by 2030. A new Biopharma SHAKTI initiative with a Rs 10,000 crore outlay aims to boost biologics and capture 5% of the global biopharma market. India's pharmaceutical exports grew 9.4% to $30.47B in 2024-25. The industry aims for double-digit expansion by 2026-27, targeting $130B by 2030. New Delhi, Feb 21 India's pharmaceutical exports grew by 9.4 per cent in 2024-25 to reach $30.47 billion, and the industry is now preparing to achieve double-digit growth in 2026-27 with strong government support, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Saturday. The interaction, organised on the theme "Scaling up Pharma Exports," reflected the government's focus on expanding India's global footprint in medicines through closer coordination with industry and regulators. The initiative is being carried forward under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India's pharmaceutical sector, currently valued at around $60 billion, is projected to grow to $130 billion by 2030, the ministry said. The country ranks third globally in terms of volume of medicines produced and exports its pharmaceutical products to more than 200 countries. Over 60 per cent of these exports go to highly regulated markets. The United States accounts for 34 per cent of India's pharmaceutical exports, while Europe contributes 19 per cent. In a video message, the Commerce Secretary emphasised the need for regular engagement with exporters and manufacturers, along with timely responses to challenges in regulated markets. He reiterated the Prime Minister's vision of strengthening India's position as a trusted global trade partner and ensuring that affordable, high-quality medicines from India continue to reach people across the world. The inaugural session saw participation from the Department of Commerce, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and the Food and Drugs Control Administration, along with industry representatives. Discussions focused on simplifying regulatory processes, improving export facilitation and aligning policies with the next phase of sectoral growth, it added. Special attention was given to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which often face compliance, documentation and inspection challenges. Participants also discussed the direction set in the Union Budget 2026-27, which places biopharma and biologics at the centre of India's healthcare and manufacturing priorities. The proposed Biopharma SHAKTI initiative, with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore over five years, aims to strengthen India's ecosystem for biologics and biosimilars, reduce import dependence and help the country capture 5 per cent of the global biopharmaceutical market. - IANS More Americans will now have the opportunity to fill their homes with Storklinta, Kallax and Strandfloka. Swedish brand IKEA plans to open 10 stores in the U.S. in 2026, the company announced this week. The new locations will add to its global roster of 504 stores, including 77 in North America. The new stores will be in Chicago; Culver City, California; Dallas (two locations); Fort Collins, Colorado; Houston; Huntsville, Alabama; Phoenix; Tulsa and Washington, D.C. A Memphis IKEA store will close in May. IKEA originally planned to open six locations this year but added four more due to its success in 2025, IKEA U.S. Interim CEO Rob Olson said in a statement. 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, Olson said. IKEA is planning a significant expansion of its US stores in 2026 (Supplied) IKEA is the only primarily brick-and-mortar home-furnishings company in the top 50 retailers in the U.S., according to the most recent data from the National Retail Federation. There are currently 54 IKEA stores in the United States with more than a third of outlets in California (nine), Texas (seven) and Florida (five). If the openings go as planned, then California and Texas will have 10 stores each. The Swedish retailer is well-known for its huge warehouse-style locations that sell everything from beds and couches to artwork, potted plants and Swedish delicacies like meatballs and cinnamon rolls. IKEA opened its first store in Sweden in the 1950s, expanded to Denmark and Norway in the 1960s, then opened its first U.S. location in Pennsylvania in 1985. While IKEA is perhaps best known for its retail locations, which typically include a restaurant and cafe, it also has boutique-style Plan and Order stores where customers can work with a store representative or use self-service stations to plan their kitchen, bedroom or living room, and order the items they need. IKEA will add three new stores in Texas and a pair of stores in California (Getty Images) The retailers creative approach to its business model has earned accolades from the American Innovation Index, a measure of how well a company performs in customer-focused areas of creativity, innovation and providing value; and in the positive change they create for society and the environment. IKEA ranked first in the index in 2025, followed by Apple, John Deere, Amazon and Microsoft. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in New Delhi, with their talks covering the full spectrum of bilateral ties. The leaders committed to deepening the trade partnership, aiming to take bilateral trade beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Cooperation was also discussed in areas like technology, AI, semiconductors, energy, agriculture, and defence. Both leaders emphasized that their partnership strengthens the voice of the Global South on the international stage. PM Modi & Brazilian President Lula hold talks on trade, AI, defence & Global South cooperation, aiming to boost bilateral trade beyond $20 billion. New Delhi, February 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his delegation, and their talks covered the full range of India-Brazil friendship across diverse sectors. PM Modi said that Silva's presence at the AI Summit has also infused new energy into our strategic partnership. In a post on X, he said, "India is honoured to welcome President Lula and his delegation, which includes distinguished ministers and business leaders. India-Brazil relations have long benefited from President Lula's vision and inspiring leadership. His presence at the AI Summit has also infused new energy into our strategic partnership. Our talks covered the full range of India-Brazil friendship across diverse sectors." "Our talks focused on ways to deepen the India-Brazil trade partnership. We are committed to taking bilateral trade much beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Our nations will also work closely in areas such as technology, innovation, Digital Public Infrastructure, AI, semiconductors and more. This will benefit the people of our nation. Other strong pillars of the India-Brazil friendship are sectors like energy, agriculture, critical minerals, education, defence and multilateral issues. Our discussions today also included how to enhance the people-to-people linkages between our nations," he added. Silva, talking about his meeting with the leaders, said, "It is an honor to be received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi." Modi on Saturday highlighted how the coming together of India and Brazil strengthens the voice of global south in the international arena. He gave a call for reform of international institutions to address contemporary challenges and affirmed the resolve of India and Brazil to work together in that direction. He made the remarks during a joint presser with Brazilian President Lula here in the national capital. He added, "India and Brazil's partnership on the global stage has been strong and influential. As democratic nations, we will continue to advance the priorities and aspirations of the Global South. When India and Brazil work together, the voice of the Global South becomes stronger and more confident." - ANI President Droupadi Murmu hosted Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Rashtrapati Bhavan, highlighting the steady progress in the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership across multiple sectors. Both leaders agreed on the immense potential to expand bilateral trade, including through the Preferential Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR. Cooperation in agriculture, energyincluding biofuels and solarand critical minerals was emphasized as a key area for growth. As leading Global South voices, they committed to working together on reforming multilateral institutions like the UN Security Council. Presidents Droupadi Murmu and Lula meet in Delhi, agreeing to deepen trade, energy & Global South cooperation. Read key outcomes. New Delhi, February 22 President Droupadi Murmu received Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. She also hosted a banquet in his honour. The President thanked him for his participation and valuable contribution to the AI Impact Summit. She also congratulated him on the successful hosting of the BRICS and COP-30 Summits in Brazil last year, according to the release. The President was happy to note that the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership continues to make steady progress across several sectors, including trade and investment, defence, oil and gas, bio-fuels, agriculture and livestock, healthcare and traditional medicine, space, science and technology, digital cooperation, and cyber security. Underlining that Brazil is India's largest trade partner in Latin America, the President said that there is immense potential to expand and diversify the bilateral trade. She stated that India is keen to expand the Preferential Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR and is equally committed to deepening bilateral trade engagement with Brazil, the release stated. The President was happy to note that India-Brazil cooperation in agriculture has grown stronger in recent years. She said that our trade in primary and secondary products, as well as agro-chemicals, is substantial. She emphasised the need to promote research and technology transfer in areas such as crop production, irrigation techniques, post-harvest management, and biotechnology. The President said that India and Brazil share a strong partnership in the energy sector, encompassing both conventional and renewable energy, including trade and investment. She appreciated Brazil's continued support for the Global Biofuel Alliance. She stated that as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the India-Brazil partnership has also been fruitful. The President highlighted that this is also an opportune time to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in critical minerals and rare earth materials. She was happy to note that an important agreement had been signed in this sector today. The President said that as leading voices of the Global South, India and Brazil must continue working towards reform of multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to make them more representative of contemporary realities, the release stated. The two leaders agreed that there is tremendous potential to further deepen India-Brazil bilateral cooperation. President Droupadi Murmu expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Lula, India and Brazil will grow even closer. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18. During the period February 19-20 participated in the India AI Impact Summit. This is President Lula's fifth visit to India as President of Brazil. The visit comes seven months after the state visit of PM Modi to Brasilia on July 8, 2025. - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a state visit marked by a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The visit features Brazil's largest-ever delegation, including over 11 cabinet ministers and 300 business leaders. Both leaders are focused on elevating bilateral relations to a historic new level, with cooperation in AI and technology as key pillars. The summit underscores a strong partnership within the Global South, building on PM Modi's visit to Brasilia in 2025. PM Narendra Modi hosts Brazilian President Lula da Silva in New Delhi. The state visit, featuring a 300+ member delegation, aims to elevate bilateral relations and AI cooperation. New Delhi, February 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Hyderabad House here in the national capital on Saturday. Earlier today a ceremonial welcome was held on Saturday at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. President Lula also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On Friday, President Lula inaugurated the first office of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) in New Delhi. Sharing the details in a post on X he said that this would promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. Brazil's envoy to India, Kenneth da Nobrega, on Friday appreciated the efforts the Indian Government had put in organising the AI Impact Summit 2026. Futher he said that Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a State visit to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a very good chemistry and that they are not only colleagues but also friends. Speaking exclusively to ANI on the growing rapport between President Lula and PM Modi, he said, "This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level. There is a very good chemistry. I think they are not only colleagues, but they have become more and more friends. That's a fact." "This is a historical summit in the Global South, and the Prime Minister Modi is really trying to include the Global South in this essential new wave of technology, which is AI, which will transform our lives, Brazil's ambassador to India said. The Brazilian envoy to India said, "President Lula has come to India with the largest ever delegation, with more than 11 cabinet ministers, more than 300 businessmen, among them 50 CEOs. This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level." Lula's visit to India follows a July 2025 visit to Brasilia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years. The Brazilian President has arrived in India with large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum. - ANI Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore praised the Indian Air Force's Suryakiran and Sarang aerobatic display at Jaipur's Jal Mahal, calling it a moment of state pride. He emphasized that the participation of local pilots from Jaipur made the event special and would inspire the youth. Rathore noted the event honored Rajasthan's legacy as a "land of sacrifices and heroes" while showcasing peak operational readiness. The aerobatic teams performed in collaboration with the Rajasthan government on scheduled dates. Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore praises IAF aerobatic teams, calls the Jal Mahal event a proud moment and inspiration for the state's youth. Jaipur, February 21 Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore hailed the Indian Air Force's Suryakiran and Sarang Aerobatic show at Jal Mahal as a moment of pride and inspiration for the youth of the state. "These are our youth, our young people. As you've seen, three warriors, residents of Jaipur, were flying these aeroplanes. They've studied here in school. The feats they've performed, the skill they've displayed in air combat, the way the Sarang helicopter is a symbol of self-reliant India, and the combat style they showcased before all of us, it will inspire many youth," Singh said. He added that the participation of local pilots made the event even more special. "When they can fly aeroplanes like this, we can too. Along with this, our engineers have kept these machines in absolutely magnificent condition. Remember that in peacetime, when there's no war, the Air Force uses its machines to the fullest extent so that they're always ready for war," he said. The Minister described the event as an opportunity for pride in Rajasthan, calling it the "land of sacrifices and heroes." "When the Army and Air Force come here and perform, they give salute and honour to those heroes and make us proud. Everything is possible. All it takes is willpower and hard work," he said. The Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and Sarang Helicopter Display Team are scheduled to perform on February 20 and 22 in collaboration with the Rajasthan government. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma termed the conduct of the Congress at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 as highly unfortunate and shameful, alleging that it was an attempt to tarnish the country's image on an international stage. In a statement issued on Friday, Sharma said that at a time when the world is appreciating India's technological progress, innovation capabilities and bright future, the Congress's attempt to defame the nation from a prestigious global platform is condemnable. He said that foreign delegates, investors and leading technology experts from across the world were participating in the summit and positively discussing India's growing global credibility, digital revolution and emerging leadership role in the field of artificial intelligence. - ANI Tamil Nadu Congress President Selvaperunthagai K has stated the party's readiness to discuss a seat-sharing formula with the DMK for the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections. The DMK has constituted a committee, chaired by TR Baalu, to conduct negotiations with its alliance partners. The upcoming polls are shaping up to be a significant contest, with the incumbent DMK-led alliance facing the BJP-AIADMK combine and the potential entry of actor Vijay's party. In the 2021 elections, the DMK-Congress alliance secured a collective 159 seats in the 234-member assembly. Tamil Nadu Congress chief says party is ready to discuss seat-sharing with DMK for the 2026 Assembly elections as alliance preparations begin. Madurai, February 21 Tamil Nadu Congress President Selvaperunthagai K on Saturday said that the party is ready to discuss a seat-sharing formula with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for the upcoming 2026 Legislative Assembly elections. Selvaperunthagai told ANI, "We are ready to talk to DMK for seat sharing and negotiation. The INDIA bloc is already a powerful alliance and is going to be more powerful. On February 22, they are calling smaller parties. Then they will call the major parties." Congress is currently part of the DMK-led alliance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Earlier today, the DMK constituted a committee to hold discussions with alliance parties regarding seat-sharing arrangements. In a statement, DMK General Secretary Durai Murugan announced that the party headquarters has set up a panel to conduct negotiations with its allies as part of early preparations for the upcoming polls. The committee will be chaired by party Treasurer TR Baalu. Other members of the panel include Principal Secretary KN Nehru, Deputy General Secretaries Tiruchi Siva and A Raja, Organising Secretary RS Bharathi, and High-Level Executive Committee members EV Velu and MRK Panneerselvam. Further discussions with allies are likely to take place in the coming months as political activities gradually intensify in the state, the statement further read. The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance. Actor-turned-politician Vijay's entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest. In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. Congress won 18, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight seats. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, which consisted of Congress, won 159 seats collectively. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats. - ANI Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan visited veteran screenwriter Salim Khan at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, showing support for Salman Khan's family. Salim Khan, 90, was admitted on February 17 after suffering a very minimal brain haemorrhage that did not require surgical intervention. His condition is reported as stable, and he remains under close observation in the ICU. The event has drawn visits from several film industry luminaries, including Aamir Khan and longtime writing partner Javed Akhtar. Shah Rukh Khan visits veteran writer Salim Khan at Lilavati Hospital. Aamir Khan and Javed Akhtar also show support. Get the latest health update. Mumbai, February 22 Actor Shah Rukh Khan on Saturday visited Salim Khan at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, showing support to Salman Khan's family during a concerning time. Salim Khan, 90, was admitted on February 17 and is recovering slowly. Shah Rukh Khan was seen departing from Lilavati Hospital after visiting veteran Salim Khan, who has been admitted there since February 17. Salim Khan is a famous screenwriter, actor, and film producer. He wrote the screenplays, stories and scripts for numerous Bollywood films. He is best known as one half of the prolific screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, along with Javed Akhtar. Together with Javed Akhtar, he revolutionised Indian cinema in the 1970s, creating the "Angry Young Man" archetype and penning blockbusters like Sholay, Deewaar, and Zanjeer. Earlier, on February 19, Aamir Khan also visited the hospital along with his girlfriend, Gauri Spratt, to check on the senior writer's health. Salim Khan, 90, was admitted on Tuesday after he suffered a minor brain haemorrhage. Doctors confirmed on Wednesday that his condition is stable and that he is being kept under close watch in the intensive care unit (ICU). Dr Jalil Parkar clarified that no surgery was performed. "There was no surgery performed. It was a procedure which we usually do. Yes, he had a brain haemorrhage, which was very minimal, which did not require any surgical intervention. There was no need for any surgery," he said, adding that the haemorrhage was "very minimal."According to an official statement issued by the hospital yesterday, Salim Khan was admitted at 8.30 am under the care of Dr Jalil D Parkar, Pulmonologist, Department of Chest Medicine. He was brought to the emergency department by the family doctor, following which he was shifted to the ICU for monitoring. Several well-known names from the film industry have been visiting Salim Khan since his admission. Veteran writer Javed Akhtar was seen at the hospital on Wednesday to meet his longtime friend. Politician Rahool N Kanal and actor Lulia Vantur also paid visits. - ANI New US tariff to apply until another authority is invoked The Indian government is examining the implications of a U.S. Supreme Court judgment that struck down most of former President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff measures. Following the ruling, Trump announced a new executive order for a 10% global tariff on all countries, which a White House official confirmed is expected to apply to India. This development comes shortly after India and the U.S. announced a framework for an interim trade agreement on February 7. The interim deal outlined terms for reciprocal tariff reductions on various industrial, agricultural, and other goods between the two nations. India's Commerce Ministry is analyzing the implications of a US Supreme Court ruling against Trump's tariffs and his new 10% global tariff order. New Delhi, February 21 The government said on Saturday that it is studying the implications of the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs and the steps announced by the President Trump Administration. "We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US Administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications," the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a brief statement. In a major blow to US President Donald Trump's signature trade policy, the US Supreme Court on Friday ruled against most of his sweeping tariff measures. Trump later signed an order making 10 per cent global tariff on all countries, effective "almost immediately". A White House official told ANI that India is expected to pay this tariff, and this new tariff will remain in place until another authority is invoked, emphasising the expectation that trade partners abide by US trade deals. "Yes, 10% until another authority is invoked," a White House Official stated when asked whether India will have to pay 10 per cent tariffs and whether they will replace previous tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the official said. The official also advised all the trade partners to abide by the trade deals. The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs. Terming SC's ruling as a "terrible decision", Trump announced he would sign an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits. India and the United States had on February 7 announced that they have reached a framework for an Interim Agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade (Interim Agreement). The framework reaffirmed the countries' commitment to the broader US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations, which will include additional market access commitments and support more resilient supply chains. The Interim Agreement between the United States and India will represent a historic milestone in our countries' partnership, demonstrating a common commitment to reciprocal and balanced trade based on mutual interests and concrete outcomes, a joint statement said. Key terms of Interim Agreement included India eliminating or reducing tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural 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. It said the United States will apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18 percent under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 as amended, on originating goods of India, including textile and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal products, and certain machinery. It said that subject to the successful conclusion of the Interim Agreement, US will remove the reciprocal tariff on a wide range of goods, including generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts. US had earlier imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including 25 per cent penalty for importing oil from Russia. - ANI US is top partner with 32% of exports Surat has recorded exports worth $10.55 billion, cementing its status as a major global trade hub. The city's gems and jewellery sector, which processes about 90% of the world's diamonds, constitutes around 70% of its total exports. Its trade network is expanding, with the United States, Hong Kong, and the UAE as its largest partners. To further accelerate growth, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference will be held in Surat in April to connect local industries with global markets. Surat's exports hit $10.55B, driven by diamonds & textiles. The US is its top partner. A major trade conference is set for April. Gandhinagar, Feb 21 Surat has emerged as a major global trade hub, recording exports of $10.55 billion in the financial year 2024-25. The city, known for its diamond industry, silk sarees, and textiles, has been a key contributor to Gujarat's export economy, which accounted for over 27 per cent of India's total exports, valued at Rs 9.83 lakh crore during the same period. The Surat region processes around 90 per cent of the world's diamonds, with the gems and jewellery sector representing roughly 70 per cent of the city's total exports. Beyond diamonds, Surat has experienced growth in sectors including human-made fibres, organic chemicals, mechanical machinery, technical textiles, and other fabric products. This diverse industrial base has positioned the city as an important node in the global supply chain. The United States is Surat's largest trading partner, receiving approximately 32 per cent of exports, followed by Hong Kong at 18 per cent and the United Arab Emirates at 14 per cent. Trade relations are also expanding with Belgium, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand, reflecting the city's growing presence in international markets. To further accelerate economic growth, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) - South Gujarat will be held in Surat in April this year. The conference will cover the districts of Bharuch, Dang, Navsari, Surat, Tapi, and Valsad, highlighting emerging sectors such as chemicals and petrochemicals, textiles and garments, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and food processing. The event will connect local MSME units with international markets, supporting initiatives like 'Vocal for Local' and 'Local for Global.' In the context of recent trade agreements between India and the European Union and India and the US, South Gujarat is being promoted as a key destination for global investment. With its production capacity, strategic location, and infrastructure, the region is set to play a significant role in India's export-led development. - IANS India secured a 17-run victory over Australia in the third T20I to win the series 2-1. The win was built on Smriti Mandhana's superb 82 and a 121-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues. Australia's chase, led by Ashleigh Gardner's 57, faltered against Shreyanka Patil's crucial three-wicket haul. The victory gives India a 4-2 lead in the overall multi-format series. Smriti Mandhana's 82 and Shreyanka Patil's 3-22 lead India to a 17-run victory over Australia, sealing the T20I series 2-1 in Adelaide. Adelaide, Feb 21 In a dramatic clash at the Adelaide Oval, India secured a hard-fought 17-run victory over Australia in a high-pressure encounter. Chasing a challenging target of 159, Australia's lower-order fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, with India's bowlers holding their nerve till the final overs to clinch the win. India's innings was built on solid contributions by Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, but it was Shreyanka Patil with the ball who made sure the team cruised past the hosts. India started relatively steadily, with Shafali Verma (7 off 6) and Mandhana (82 off 55) getting the innings off to a quick start. However, the former fell quickly, with Australian bowlers showing resistance. Mandhana and Rodrigues (59 off 46) steadied the ship with a 121-run stand and put India on top. While the vice-captain fell just 18 runs short of a well-deserved century, Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh made sure that the batting unit didn't crumble. The wicketkeeper-batter's cameo of a seven-ball 18, before a mini collapse in the final over, made sure that the Women in Blue posted a defendable target for the home side. Australia's chase got off to a shaky start as Beth Mooney (6) fell early, with Renuka Thakur dismissing her in the second over. Another crucial breakthrough came in the third over when Shreyanka Patil removed Georgia Voll, courtesy of a stunning catch by Renuka Singh. Phoebe Litchfield (26) and Ashleigh Gardner (57) then combined in a partnership to put up a strong fight. Gardner's knock was the highlight of Australia's chase, as she hit five boundaries and a six, keeping the required run rate in check. However, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani taking crucial wickets, including the crucial one of skipper Sophie Molineux (6), who was dismissed lbw. Australia's middle-order crumbled under the pressure. Despite a brief flurry from Annabel Sutherland, the chase faltered as they lost wickets in quick succession. Grace Harris looked confident but was dismissed hit-wicket. Shreyanka Patil once again struck a decisive blow, dismissing Sutherland for a valuable knock of 14, leaving Australia at 143/9. Deepti Sharma then returned in the final over to bowl a composed spell, giving away only five runs as the visitors restricted the hosts to 150/9, to clinch a 17-run win. With that, India took a 4-2 lead in the multi-format series, with three ODIs and a one-off Test awaiting the two sides. Brief Scores: 176/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 82, Jemimah Rodrigues 59; Annabel Sutherland 2-34, Kim Garth 1-25) beat Australia 159/9 in overs (Ashleigh Gardner 57, Phoebe Litchfield 26; Shreyanka Patil 3-22, Shree Charani 3-32) by 17 runs. - IANS The Naam Tamilar Katchi has released its complete list of 234 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, ensuring equal gender representation with 117 men and 117 women. Party Chief Coordinator Seeman will contest from the Karaikudi constituency, currently held by Congress. The party, which failed to win a seat in the 2021 elections despite contesting all constituencies, is positioning itself as an agent of change. The 2026 polls are shaping up to be a multi-cornered contest involving the DMK-led alliance, the BJP-AIADMK alliance, and new entrants like Vijay's TVK. Naam Tamilar Katchi announces 234 candidates, including Seeman from Karaikudi, with equal gender representation for the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections. Tiruchirappalli, February 21 The Naam Tamilar Katchi on Saturday released its full list of 234 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections at the 'Maatrathai Virumbum Makkal Maanadu' held at Alampatti Pudur in Tiruchirappalli. Party's Chief Coordinator Seeman announced that he will be contesting from the Karaikudi Assembly constituency. Currently, Congress leader S Mangudi is serving as the Karaikudi MLA. NTK gave a ticket to N Durai Manickam on the Karaikudi seat in the 2021 polls. According to the party, the list of candidates comprises 117 men and 117 women candidates, ensuring equal representation in the electoral fray. In the 2021 Assembly elections, NTK could not open its seat tally, even after contesting on all 234 seats. The party will look to change its fortune in the 2026 polls. Earlier, NTK IT Cell called for a change in the Tamil Nadu government, and wrote in an X post, "Change is not a word but an action. This is a conference of people who want change. This is a festival of our race. Let's all come together. Evil governance ends. Pure governance flourishes. Corrupt money-making ends. Honourable democracy flourishes. A revolution of the common people for fundamental, institutional, political change." The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance. Actor-turned-politician Vijay's entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest. In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. Congress won 18, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight seats. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, which consisted of Congress, won 159 seats collectively. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats. - ANI Management attributed the exceptional 2025 performance to the 'stunning' early launch of Brinsupri and accelerated global growth of ARIKAYCE, particularly in Japan and Europe. The Brinsupri launch is exceeding internal benchmarks, with $144.6 million in net revenue during its first full quarter, positioning it as potentially the best specialty respiratory launch in history. The strategic focus is on 'owning' the bronchiectasis and NTM categories, leveraging a similar call point among pulmonologists for both lead therapies. Performance in Japan was a major driver, with 40% year-over-year growth for ARIKAYCE, now contributing over a quarter of the product's global revenue. Management emphasized that the current $5 billion peak sales estimate for Brinsupri only accounts for the 250,000 patients with frequent exacerbations, leaving significant runway in the broader diagnosed population. The US Supreme Court has struck down a significant portion of former President Donald Trump's tariff agenda, ruling the underlying law did not authorize such import duties. Following the ruling, Trump announced a new 10% global tariff, while defending the US-India trade arrangement as fair. Dr A Sakthivel, Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council, states the tariff reduction is advantageous for India, leveraging its raw materials and quality for export growth. He expresses optimism for Indian apparel exports, calling it a positive, win-win situation for both countries. AEPC Chairman Dr A Sakthivel says US Supreme Court's tariff ruling creates a positive, win-win scenario for India's apparel export sector. By Shailesh Yadav, Tiruppur, February 21 The recent developments in US tariff policy present a positive scenario for India, particularly for the apparel sector, according to Dr A Sakthivel, Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council. The Supreme Court on Friday struck down a huge chunk of President Donald Trump's far-reaching tariff agenda, delivering a major rebuke of the president's key economic policy. The majority ruled 6-3 that the law undergirding those import duties "does not authorise the President to impose tariffs." Following the ruling, Trump announced a sweeping new 10 per cent global tariff across all trading partners, marking what he signalled as the next phase of his trade strategy. The president defended the India trade arrangement, calling it fair and reiterating that the United States will not face duties under the pact. "It's good for India that tariffs get reduced. And it, of course, is for all over the world. But we have an advantage because we have the raw materials itself, we can give big delivery and good quality. It is advantageous for India. Even with the Supreme Court order, we are benefited," Dr Sakthivel told ANI. Commenting on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations with the US, he said, "The deal is done already and it's only to be implemented. After the Supreme Court order, we will have advantages, because definitely we have to negotiate and get done either 10% or less than 10% opportunity for us. So we should negotiate with US. Mr Trump has said that India is a friendly country and we will respect that." On whether the US would now refund money collected against the tariffs imposed earlier, Dr Sakthivel expressed scepticism. "I don't think it will be done immediately. It is a concern of US importers and our buyers. So once if they get the money, maybe then we can request buyers also to refund the money." Looking ahead, the AEPC Chairman was upbeat about prospects for Indian apparel exports. "US buyers are looking for India. Now, buyers will have more Indian goods. So this is a positive situation for us now. It's a win-win situation for us and also the USA. And as I said, it is a more positive situation for India than other countries." - ANI New Zealand batter Mark Chapman highlighted the unique challenge posed by Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq ahead of their Super Eight clash in Colombo. Chapman confirmed captain Mitch Santner is fit to return after illness, but was uncertain on seamer Lockie Ferguson's availability following his trip home. The Kiwi middle-order batter discussed adapting his game to tackle spin on Sri Lankan pitches, emphasizing running hard and finding gaps. Both teams qualified for the Super Eights with three wins from four group-stage matches. Mark Chapman discusses Usman Tariq's unique bowling, Pakistan's spin threat, and Mitch Santner's availability ahead of NZ's Super Eight opener. Colombo, February 21 New Zealand are set to take on Pakistan in their Super Eight opener at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday, and destructive Kiwi batter Mark Chapman acknowledged the threat of the spin-heavy Pakistan side, especially Usman Tariq. The 27-year-old Tariq has taken eight wickets in the tournament with an economy of 5.83 and an average of 8.38. He also took a four-fer against Namibia in the group-stage fixture. Speaking during a press conference in Colombo on the eve of the match, Chapman said, "I mean obviously Usman Tariq has a pretty unique action with the way that he stops at the crease, so I mean that's something to factor in. Pakistan have a number of really good spinners on their side, so each of them poses their own threat," according to ICC. Chapman agreed that New Zealand have played a lot with Pakistan in recent years and the Kiwis are well prepared for the match. "Pakistan's one of the teams that we've played probably the most frequently over the last few years. So we're well aware of what they're going to bring. So for us, it's just about making sure we're really clear in the way that we want to play as a team," said the Kiwi batter. Chapman also confirmed the availability of skipper Mitch Santner for the Pakistan fixture, who missed the last match against Canada due to illness, but couldn't confirm anything on seamer Lockie Ferguson, who went back to New Zealand for the birth of his first child. The 31-year-old batter said, "Santner looks pretty sprightly, so I think he's pretty excited to get back on the park. Barring any last-minute sickness, I think he'll be there. Obviously, Lockie (Ferguson) has left us. I think he's currently on the way back. So we'll just see how he pulls up from the flight. I can't confirm or say whether he'll be in the 11 or not. I'm not too sure, to be honest." New Zealand will play all of their Super Eight matches at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and Chapman found it 'something not to complain about'. "When you play in these tournaments, one of the challenges is hopping from venue to venue and adapting. And playing all three games here, we'll learn each game as we go. For us, it's quite nice to be able to turn up to the same place and the same venue, similar pitches and adjust. Tomorrow's our first game here, so we're going to have to adapt anyway. But we'll look at that later on and understand the conditions a little bit better. So, yeah, certainly something that we're not complaining about," said Chapman. Speaking on his role in the team and how he is looking to tackle the spin in Sri Lanka, Chapman said, "I think here, especially, given the slower nature of the pitch along with the slightly bigger boundaries as well, you have to certainly change your game plan. I guess for me personally, batting in the middle, I could be potentially in the power play or in with very few overs to go. So I guess specifically against the spinners, it's probably looking at different options around whether you employ a sweep shot more or a reverse sweep, whereas I guess in India, where it doesn't spin as much, you can look to target the straight boundaries a little bit more." "Each batter has their own method, but I guess for myself, it's looking at different areas of the ground to hit. And obviously, there are big pockets here too, so it's not all about sixes on this ground. Lots of twos, lots of fours, and running hard between the wickets is really important as well, particularly if it's not a very high score," he said. Pakistan and New Zealand both won three out of four matches in their respective group-stage fixtures to qualify for the Super Eights. - ANI TDK has been announced as the title partner for the upcoming Formula E Tokyo night race. The global electronics company aims to leverage this partnership to contribute to the transformation of mobility technology. Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds highlighted the racing series' evolution, noting current cars can reach 200 mph using a single battery. The collaboration is expected to advance electronic mobility, particularly in areas like autonomous driving data processing. TDK partners with Formula E Tokyo to advance electronic mobility tech. CEO Noboru Saito and Formula E's Jeff Dodds highlight progress in speed, safety, and data. Tokyo, February 21 Global leading electronics company TDK announced to inaugurate the title partner of Formula E Tokyo night race. Utilizing this opportunity TDK aims to contribute to transformation of mobility. TDK CEO MR. Noboru Saito looks back "Since 30 years ago TDK paid attention to this field to treat heat and vibration of mobility. Also TDK shaped up technology of condenser and sensor for data gathering." This opportunity will enable us to raise the function of Formula E. CEO of Formula E Mr. Jeff Dodds explained the history of Formula E. "11 years ago it has launched. At that time speed and acceleration are not enough. Working time of the battery was short. Each car must install 2 batteries. Now it has progressed to mark speed 200 miles per hour by one battery. Also Formula E car performs great caring race for global environment." He emphasized. This corroboration will make progress of electronic mobility on the aspect of faster, safer and data treatment for autonomous driving. Through this race, TDK engineers, Formula E staff and audience of the race will envisage future mobility's run. - ANI Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik addressed the 12th convocation of NIT Arunachal Pradesh, urging graduates to align their technical skills with national needs. He emphasized developing a strong ethical foundation, social responsibility, and a spirit of teamwork for professional life. The Governor highlighted the institute's commendable 95% placement rate and its role as a source of innovation for the region. He expressed confidence that NIT would continue to contribute to national missions by nurturing skilled professionals for sustainable development. Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik advises NIT graduates to apply technical skills for societal good and contribute to India's development vision. Itanagar, Feb 21 Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik on Saturday called upon graduates of the NIT to develop a strong problem-solving mindset aligned with the nation's needs, urging them to apply their technical knowledge for the larger good of society and national development. Addressing the 12th Convocation of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Arunachal Pradesh, as the Chief Guest, the Governor advised the students to develop strong technical competence complemented by innovation. He further advised them to embrace adaptability and lifelong learning. The Governor, while congratulating the graduates, exhorted them to imbibe ethical values and a deep sense of social responsibility, integrity, inclusiveness, and sustainability to guide their decisions as professionals. He also asked them to nurture a spirit of teamwork and a leadership mindset. Nation-building is a collective effort, and no individual succeeds alone, he underscored. Lt Gen Parnaik (Retd) underscored that each one of the NIT graduates has the potential to be a meaningful contributor to our collective vision of Viksit Bharat, not just through professional success, but through purposeful action. Complimenting the institution, the Governor said that NIT Arunachal Pradesh has been emerging as a dependable and respected institution for society, one that not only imparts quality education but also stands as a source of guidance, innovation, and solutions for the region. Placement of 95 per cent with more than 100 companies showing interest in NIT students and 5G lab having a facility to research in the area of communication is commendable, he said. He also reposed his confidence that NIT Arunachal Pradesh will continue to contribute actively to these national missions by addressing local and regional challenges, promoting sustainable development, and nurturing skilled, ethical, and socially responsible professionals. The Governor said that the NIT plays a crucial role in nation-building by delivering high-quality technical education, fostering research, and driving innovation aligned with societal needs. He said that as the nation's priorities evolve, the focus must now shift towards strengthening manufacturing and building a robust MSME sector with progressive capabilities. The Governor conferred the Institute's Gold Medal to the toppers of various departments, while the Chairman, Board of Governors, NIT, Arunachal Pradesh, conferred the Chairman's Gold Medals. Guest of Honour, and former Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education, Prof. T.G. Sitharam and Chairman, Board of Governors, NIT, Arunachal Pradesh, Ramesh Kumar Sarogi, also spoke on the occasion. - IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor unit in Uttar Pradesh, calling it a historic step towards India becoming a global semiconductor hub. He declared the current decade as India's 'Techade', where investments in chips, AI, and green energy will form the foundation for a developed 21st-century nation. Modi emphasized that chips are as crucial as oil was in the last century and that India is building a robust ecosystem to ensure self-reliance after learning from pandemic-era supply chain disruptions. He highlighted Uttar Pradesh's transformation into a manufacturing powerhouse, now accounting for over half of India's mobile phone production. PM Modi inaugurates a major semiconductor plant, calling this decade India's 'Techade' and highlighting investments in AI, chips, and green energy for a Viksit Bharat. New Delhi, February 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of HCL-Foxconn Semiconductor Unit in Uttar Pradesh, via video conferencing. The ceremony marks a historic milestone in India's journey toward becoming a global semiconductor hub, following closely on the heels of the Global AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister emphasised that India is working towards the aim of Viksit Bharat rapidly. "I have said from the ramparts of the Red Fort, India has no time to stop or pause. Since the beginning of 2026, India has accelerated its pace," the Prime Minister remarked. Modi cited the recent milestones such as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, National Startup Day, which energised the start-up revolution in India, and the India Energy Summit, through which India's strength caught the attention of the world. Prime Minister noted that the Budget for Viksit Bharat has injected fresh momentum into the nation's progress, making this a truly historic week for India. He highlighted that at the Global AI Impact Summit, world leaders, heads of state, and tech giants gathered to witness India's AI capabilities, ultimately recognising and praising the country's strategic vision. He remarked that immediately following the conclusion of the AI summit yesterday, the nation is already moving forward today with this massive program to strengthen India's semiconductor ecosystem. "India is now striving to stand alongside the world's top nations in providing the processing power required to run the modern world and is working simultaneously on software and hardware aspects", Modi emphasised. The Prime Minister reiterated his vision of the current decade as India's Techade, stating that investments in Green Energy, Space Tech, Digital Technology, and AI will form the foundation of 21st-century capability. He further stated that India is making unprecedented investments today in every technology that will determine the future of humanity, and the development of this robust semiconductor ecosystem in India is a prime example of this. Highlighting the strategic importance of chips, the Prime Minister compared their value in the 21st century to oil in the 20th century. "During the Corona pandemic, the world saw the fragility of the chip supply chain. When supply hit a brake, global economies faltered", Shri Modi noted. He highlighted that India learned from that crisis to turn it into an opportunity and decided that India must become self-reliant in chip manufacturing. "Today's programme is a reflection of this vision", Modi emphasised. Prime Minister Modi stated that "Made-in-India" chips are the backbone of a Viksit Bharat, powering critical sectors from AI and 6G to Defence and EVs. To support this vision, he highlighted the Chips to Startup initiative, set to train 85,000 specialists, alongside Budget-led advancements like the Semiconductor Mission's second phase and the establishment of Rare Earth Corridors for end-to-end R&D and manufacturing support. As a Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister expressed immense pride in the state's transformation. "UP is becoming a major centre for the semiconductor ecosystem, which will bring design houses, R&D centres, and startup ecosystems to the region, creating vast employment opportunities for the youth", Modi noted. PM Modi underscored that in the last 11 years, India has witnessed a monumental shift in its industrial landscape, with electronics manufacturing growing six-fold. "This growth is most evident in the mobile revolution, where domestic production has increased 28-fold, and exports have surged by a staggering 100-fold", he added. Shri Modi remarked that Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a powerhouse and a strong pillar in this success story, currently accounting for more than half of all mobile phones manufactured in the country. This transformation marks a significant milestone in India's journey toward becoming a global manufacturing hub. The Prime Minister credited the "Double-Engine Government" for changing the identity of Uttar Pradesh from a state once associated with crime and migration to one known for Expressways, Defense Corridors, and world-class infrastructure like the Jewar International Airport and Dedicated Freight Corridors."Global investors are coming to UP because they know their investment is guaranteed a fantastic return," the Prime Minister said. Modi also announced that he would be inaugurating the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Train Corridor tomorrow, further boosting the region's connectivity. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister thanked HCL Technologies Chairperson Roshni Nadar and Foxconn Semiconductor Business Group President Bob Chen for their partnership. He noted that Foxconn's presence sends a global message: "A democratic India is a trusted partner. Our participation in the value chain increases its resilience, a win-win for India and the world." - ANI Fishing activities were suspended along the Ramanathapuram coast as fishermen's associations held a strike protesting the arrest of 22 fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. The fishermen were apprehended near Katchatheevu islet and remanded to 15 days of judicial custody. Protest leaders criticized the Union government for inadequate intervention and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the issue directly with Sri Lankan leadership. The recurring arrests and impounding of over 100 boats have caused severe financial and social distress for fishing communities. 22 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka; strike halts fishing. Leaders urge PM Modi to intervene diplomatically for release and return of boats. Ramanathapuram, Feb 21 Fishing activities remained suspended across parts of the Ramanathapuram coast in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, after 22 fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy earlier this week. Members of various fishermen associations observed a day-long strike, condemning the arrests and urging the Union government to secure their release. According to association leaders, the fishermen were apprehended nearly three days ago while fishing in the Palk Strait. The Sri Lankan Navy reportedly detained the fishermen along with four mechanised trawlers near the islets of Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu. The arrested fishermen were later produced before a Sri Lankan court and remanded to 15 days of judicial custody. As a mark of protest, fishermen refrained from venturing into the sea on Saturday. A demonstration held at Thangachimadam drew more than 400 participants, including boat owners and crew members. Fishermen leader Jesu Raja criticised the Union government for what he described as a lack of timely intervention. He said the Central government should not remain a "mute spectator" when fishermen hailing from Tamil Nadu are repeatedly detained. Referring to the recent visit of the Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to New Delhi for an international summit, Raja said the issue of arrests in the Palk Strait should have been raised at the highest diplomatic level. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter directly with the Sri Lankan leadership to prevent further incidents. Fishermen in the region, who have traditionally depended on the Palk Strait for their livelihood, said the recurring arrests have pushed many families into financial distress. In recent years, Sri Lankan authorities have impounded several mechanised boats and allegedly failed to return them. Association representatives claim that more than 100 Indian trawlers are currently lying in Sri Lankan custody, resulting in heavy losses for boat owners burdened with loans. Beyond the economic impact, the arrests have also taken a social toll. Families of detained fishermen are often forced to arrange fines imposed by Sri Lankan courts. Failure to pay such penalties can lead to prolonged imprisonment, adding to the anxiety and psychological strain faced by women and children back home. The protesting fishermen have urged the Union government to work towards a lasting diplomatic solution, ensure the safe return of the jailed fishermen, and facilitate the retrieval of the impounded boats to safeguard their livelihoods. - IANS Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha chaired a high-level meeting focusing on the revival of the long-closed Kailashahar Airport. He asked the Airports Authority of India to dispatch a technical team to examine land and operational issues on the ground. The meeting discussed detailed plans for runway expansion and developing infrastructure capable of handling larger aircraft like Airbus. State officials and AAI have agreed to collaborate to resume flight services at the earliest. Tripura CM Manik Saha directs AAI to send a technical team to review the revival of Kailashahar Airport and resume flight services. Agartala, February 21 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday asked the Airports Authority of India to send a technical and operational team to Kailashahar Airport to review the situation on the ground and examine the land-related and other issues regarding the project. He also suggested the early submission of a feasibility study comparing Kailashahar, Kamalpur, and Khowai airports with Agartala Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport. A high-level review meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Saha on the issue of reviving the state's Kailashahar airport and resuming flight services. The meeting reviewed in detail the outline of the revival of the Kailashahar airport, which has been closed for a long time. In this meeting held at the Chief Minister's official residence, Gyan Batra, Executive Director, North Eastern Region, Airports Authority of India, and Krishnamohan Nehra, newly appointed Director, Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, paid a courtesy call on the Chief Minister and held a review meeting. The meeting discussed in detail the issues of resolving outstanding matters and taking necessary steps to resume flight services from Kailashahar at the earliest. The main issues discussed in today's meeting were the resumption of flight services from Kailashahar, plans for runway expansion and modern infrastructure development, and creating capacity for large aircraft, i.e., Airbus aircraft, etc. Saha said that the study report has been asked to clearly mention the advantages and disadvantages from commercial, technical, and financial aspects. "After receiving the report, the state government will take necessary steps in consultation with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned ministries as required," Saha said. Officials of the Airports Authority of India said in the meeting that a technical team will soon visit the area to review the detailed technical issues. The state government and the Airports Authority of India have agreed to work together to reopen the Kailashahar Airport. State Transport Department Secretary Uttam Kumar Chakma and Transport Commissioner Subrata Chowdhury were present in today's review meeting. - ANI The Royal Maitri international bus service between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka has resumed after a year-long suspension due to political turmoil in Bangladesh. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha welcomed the move as a positive step for bilateral ties, noting the end of uncertainty with Bangladesh's elected government. Officials state the service, operating under a 2001 bilateral agreement, began with a trial run and aims for a thrice-weekly schedule once stabilized. The resumption, coupled with the restart of visa issuance, is expected to significantly ease travel for business, medical, and personal purposes between the two nations. Tripura CM welcomes the resumption of the Royal Maitri bus service connecting Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka, a key step in restoring India-Bangladesh connectivity. Agartala, February 22 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, on Saturday, welcomed the initiative to resume the Indo-Bangla bus service connecting Agartala with Kolkata via Dhaka, describing the move as a positive step in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh. The Royal Maitri international bus service had remained suspended for the past year due to political turmoil in the neighbouring country, which led to a sharp decline in passenger numbers and visa-related complications. "I welcome the move to resume Indo-Bangla bus service connecting Agartala with Kolkata via Dhaka. The uncertainty gets over with the formation of an elected government in Bangladesh. This is a good sign in bilateral ties. We hope other issues will be addressed," the Chief Minister told ANI today. A year after the suspension, authorities of the Royal Maitri international bus service brought a bus from Dhaka to the Krishnanagar bus depot in West Tripura. On Saturday morning, the bus departed for Kolkata via Dhaka, marking a significant step towards restoring cross-border connectivity. According to Samir Roy, Vice Chairman of the Tripura Road Transport Corporation, the service was halted due to the political situation in Bangladesh, which resulted in an all-time low in passenger demand and visa-related challenges. "Due to this, the number of passengers had fallen sharply, and visa problems prompted us to shut down the service. With the situation improving in Bangladesh, we want to resume bus service by next week," Roy said. On the issue of official clearance, transport official Manoranjan Debnath stated that no fresh permission was required to restart operations, as the bilateral agreement between India and Bangladesh signed in 2001 remains valid. He said the bus that departed from the Krishnanagar bus depot in Agartala on Saturday was part of a trial run, which will continue for the next two to three days. Once the system stabilises, the service is expected to operate three times a week. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Hasan Al Abdul Ulayee told ANI that visa issuance for travellers has resumed from Saturday, although a formal public notification is expected to be released on Monday. Residents of Tripura have expressed happiness over the development, as a significant number of passengers regularly travel to Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh for business, medical, and personal purposes. The resumption of the bus service is expected to ease travel and further enhance people-to-people by connectivity between the two countries. - ANI The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose broad tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the administration will now invoke alternative legal authorities, specifically Sections 232 and 301 of trade acts, to enforce tariffs. Despite the legal setback, the Treasury estimates tariff revenue will remain virtually unchanged in 2026. Former President Donald Trump announced a new 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act, effective immediately. US Treasury says tariff revenue unchanged despite SCOTUS blocking IEEPA use. Trump announces new 10% global tariff under different law. Washington DC, February 21 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the Supreme Court has only restricted the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to levy tariffs on other countries. He added that the Trump administration will use "alternative legal authorities" to enforce tariffs on the countries, assuring that the tariff revenue will remain unchanged. Speaking at the Dallas Economic Club, Bessent said, "Let's be clear about what today's ruling WAS and what it WASN'T. Despite the misplaced gloating from Democrats, ill-informed media outlets, and the very people who gutted our industrial base, the Court did not rule against President Trump's tariffs. Six justices simply ruled that IEEPA authorities cannot be used to raise even USD 1 of revenue." "This administration will invoke alternative legal authorities to replace the IEEPA tariffs. We will be leveraging Section 232 and Section 301 tariff authorities that have been validated through thousands of legal challenges. Treasury's estimates show that the use of Section 122 authority, combined with potentially enhanced Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs, will result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026," he added. Despite the legal setback, Bessent stated that Treasury estimates show tariff revenue will remain "virtually unchanged" in 2026 as the administration transitions to these other mechanisms. This comes after the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs. Donald Trump has already announced 10 per cent global tariffs "effective immediately," following a major legal defeat at the US Supreme Court. Terming SC's ruling as a "terrible decision", Trump announced he would sign an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits. "Effective immediately, all the national security tariffs under Section 232 and existing Section 301 tariffs remain in place... Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122 over and above our normal tariffs already being charged," he said. Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and the three liberal justices, held that the IEEPA does not explicitly authorise the president to levy duties--a power the Constitution assigns to Congress. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, supporting the administration's broader interpretation of emergency powers. The ruling invalidated billions of dollars in "reciprocal" and emergency tariffs, potentially requiring the government to refund approximately $130-$175 billion in collected revenue. US Supreme Court has held that the US President did not possess the authority under IEEPA to impose extensive import duties on goods from nearly all US trading partners. - ANI Ukrainian forces conducted a long-range strike on the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant in Russia's Udmurt region, a key facility for producing Iskander ballistic missiles. The attack, carried out with domestically developed Flamingo missiles, caused visible damage and prompted regional airport closures. This escalation occurred shortly after a new round of US-mediated talks in Switzerland concluded without a breakthrough. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine's air defenses intercepted most of a major Russian missile and drone barrage launched the same day. Ukraine attacks Votkinsk plant producing Iskander missiles, using domestic Flamingo missiles. Zelenskyy details Russian strikes as peace talks stall. Kyiv, February 22 Ukrainian forces carried out a strike on a key industrial facility, which produces ballistic missiles, in Russia's Udmurt region, DW reported, citing Ukrainian General Staff. Udmurt Republic head Alexander Brechalov confirmed the incident, stating on Telegram that "one of the republic's facilities was attacked by drones" launched by Ukraine. The Ukrainian military said it deployed domestically developed Flamingo missiles to hit the site, located around 1,400 kilometres from Ukraine. DW, citing Russian news Telegram channel Astra, reported that the intended target was the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a state-owned facility known for producing Iskander ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Footage shared by residents showed thick black smoke billowing over the area, with several buildings in Votkinsk sustaining damage, including shattered windows. Authorities temporarily suspended operations at multiple airports in the region following the strike. In a separate statement, the Ukrainian military said it also struck a gas processing plant in Russia's Samara region, DW reported. The attack comes days after US-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv concluded in Switzerland without any breakthrough. The meeting marked the third round of discussions facilitated by Washington, following earlier sessions in Abu Dhabi that officials had termed constructive but yielded no concrete progress. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Russia launched a massive strike with 29 missiles and about 400 drones 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 defence, and once again, we emphasise that air defence 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. - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor joint venture in Uttar Pradesh via video conference. He emphasized that India is rapidly progressing in the semiconductor sector with 10 approved projects, four of which will soon begin production. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that electronics manufacturing has grown to Rs 12 lakh crore, making it India's third-largest export sector. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated the project establishes Jewar as a new hub for emerging technologies. PM Modi inaugurates HCL-Foxconn chip plant in UP, aiming for self-reliance in semiconductors. Yogi Adityanath and Ashwini Vaishnaw laud the project. Gautam Buddha Nagar, February 21 Prime Minister Modi on Saturday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture project, India Chip Pvt Ltd, in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority in Uttar Pradesh. via video conferencing, while highlighting that the country has to become "atmanirbhar" in chip production. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that India has to become self-dependent in chip production and a semiconductor ecosystem is being created in the country, adding that it is a matter of pride that Uttar Pradesh is poised to become a major centre for India's semiconductor system. The Prime Minister said this decade is a 'tech-ade' for India. "Whatever India is doing in the field of technology in this decade will become the basis of our strength in the 21st century... India may have started its journey in the semiconductor sector late, but today, we are progressing at a rapid pace. India has so far approved 10 semiconductor fabrication and packaging projects under its Semiconductor Mission. Four of these units are set to commence production very soon," he said. He further stated that "India has so far approved 10 semiconductor fabrication and packaging projects under its Semiconductor Mission, adding that "four of these units are set to commence production very soon." The PM recognised the arrival of major companies in India for collaboration in chip manufacturing and called for "atmanirbharta" in the process, to strengthen India's leadership in the global market. "Today, the arrival of major companies like Foxconn in India and their collaboration in chip manufacturing also sends a global message. A democratic country like India is a trusted partner for the world. Therefore, India's recognition as the world's factory is a win-win situation for both India and other countries," he said. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of the semiconductor chip market in the 21st century, noting India's growing partnership in its supply chain. He said wherever a semiconductor unit is established, design centres emerge, startup ecosystems develop, and innovation accelerates. He also talked about the India AI Impact Summit, which concluded today. The Prime Minister said that in every technology that will shape the future of humanity, India is making unprecedented investments today. The event was also graced by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Addressing the ceremony, Vaishnaw lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in transforming India into a powerhouse in electronics over the past 11.5 years. Vaishnaw highlighted that electronics manufacturing in India has grown to Rs 12 lakh crore, making it the third-largest export sector in the country. The Union Minister said, "In 11.5 years, the Prime Minister established the country as a powerhouse in electronics. Where electronics manufacturing in the country was negligible, today there is electronics manufacturing worth Rs 12 lakh crore and among the exports from India, electronics manufacturing has reached the third position." "Semiconductors are a foundational technology. In a country with semiconductors, many types of manufacturing become possible... that work will now take place on this holy land of Jewar," he said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was present at the ceremony also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for establishing India as a new hub for emerging technologies. The Chief Minister declared that under the Prime Minister's guidance, Jewar is emerging as a jewel for both the state and the nation. He emphasised that the establishment of the state's first semiconductor unit marks a significant step in carrying this new vision forward. "We are grateful to the Prime Minister, who has established the country as a new hub for emerging technologies. For the past four days, the entire country and the world have been gathered at the Bharat Mandapam AI Impact Summit... Through this AI Impact Summit, we, on behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh, express our heartfelt gratitude for the vision it has provided for a brighter future for India and for making life easier and more accessible for humanity," said CM Yogi. The establishment of the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor facility marks a significant milestone in India's journey towards technological self-reliance and reflects the Prime Minister's vision of positioning India as a trusted global destination for high-end electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, a release said. This Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility at YEIDA is being set up by India Chip Pvt. Ltd. under the Modified Scheme for Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP), with a total investment of over Rs 3,700 crore. The project is aligned with the Government's efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, reduce import dependence, and build resilient global supply chains. It is expected to play a crucial role in supporting key sectors such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, automotive, consumer electronics and other devices. Through this initiative, India's semiconductor ecosystem will receive a major boost, fostering innovation, skill development, and technology transfer, the release said. The facility is also expected to create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities for engineers, technicians, and professionals, while catalysing growth in ancillary industries. The release said that the HCL-Foxconn joint venture underscores India's growing stature in the global semiconductor landscape and represents a major step forward in building a robust and self-reliant electronics manufacturing ecosystem. - ANI Vice President CP Radhakrishnan released updated editions of the Constitution of India in Tamil and Gujarati at Uprashtrapati Bhavan. The release was timed to coincide with International Mother Language Day, underscoring the importance of mother tongues in cultural identity. He highlighted the government's efforts, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to make the Constitution accessible in multiple Indian languages, including recent editions in Bodo, Dogri, Santhali, and Nepali. The Vice President also launched the 8th Edition of the Legal Glossary, describing these initiatives as instruments of democratic empowerment. VP CP Radhakrishnan releases updated Indian Constitution in Tamil & Gujarati, highlighting linguistic diversity and democratic accessibility. New Delhi, February 21 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan released the updated versions of the Constitution of India in Tamil and Gujarati, along with the 8th Edition of the Legal Glossary, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday. According to the Vice President's Secretariat, the Vice President said that it was a matter of great pleasure to release the updated versions of the Constitution in Tamil and Gujarati on the occasion of International Mother Language Day. He observed that releasing these editions on this significant day underlines the importance of mother tongues in shaping identity, thought, and cultural continuity. Highlighting Bharat's linguistic richness, the Vice-President said that every language of the country from Tamil to Kashmiri, from Gujarati to Assamese, carries centuries of heritage. He noted that the Constitution of India recognises this diversity and celebrates multilingualism as a strength. He remarked that nowhere else in the world would one find a country where the Constitution is made available in so many languages. The Vice-President appreciated Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of Law and Justice, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for making the law of the land accessible in multiple Indian languages. He recalled that in the past decade, official translated versions of the Constitution have been made available for the first time in languages such as Bodo, Dogri, and Santhali, and that he had attended the release of the Santhali version at Rashtrapati Bhavan last December. He also noted that last year, the Constitution was released for the first time in Nepali for the Nepali-speaking population of Bharat. Speaking about Tamil and Gujarati, he said that both languages carry centuries of literary brilliance, philosophical depth, and cultural wisdom. The Vice-President also fondly remembered the Prime Minister's recent remarks in Malaysia praising Tamil as one of the world's most ancient languages and a proud gift of India to humanity. He also highlighted the richness of Gujarati literature. The Vice-President expressed happiness at the release of the 8th Edition of the Legal Glossary (English-Hindi), noting that its simple language would greatly benefit lawmakers, students, judicial officers, researchers, translators, and policymakers. He described it as not merely a reference book, but an instrument of empowerment. He stated that this initiative will take the Constitution to the people in their own languages, thereby strengthening democratic participation and deepening constitutional awareness. The Vice-President appreciated the Ministry of Law and Justice for the extensive work undertaken in bringing out these translations and making the Constitution more accessible to citizens across the country. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi that a nation's culture resides in the hearts and souls of its people and that language is the bridge to that soul, the Vice-President urged citizens to celebrate not only their own mother tongue but the symphony of languages that make Bharat diverse and harmonious. Recalling the words of poet Subramania Bharati, he said that though India speaks many languages, it is united in thought and purpose: to serve Mother Bharat. - ANI Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released updated versions of the Indian Constitution in Gujarati and Tamil on International Mother Language Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a message, stressed the importance of linguistic inclusivity for wider public access to the Constitution. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal highlighted the day's historical significance and mentioned the recent Santhali version. Officials detailed the ongoing efforts to translate the Constitution into multiple regional languages alongside an updated Legal Glossary. VP releases updated Indian Constitution in Gujarati & Tamil to boost linguistic access. PM Modi stresses inclusivity. Legal Glossary also updated. New Delhi, February 21 On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, celebrated on Saturday, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the updated versions of the Constitution of India in Gujarati and Tamil languages along with the latest edition of the Legal Glossary. The release took place at a special function held at the Vice President's Enclave, marking an important step toward enhancing the linguistic accessibility of the country's foundational legal document. The initiative aims to make the Constitution more accessible to citizens in their native languages, thereby strengthening democratic participation and awareness of constitutional values across diverse linguistic communities, stated a communication issued. In a message read out during the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of linguistic inclusivity in ensuring wider public access to the Constitution and laws of the country. He appreciated the efforts of the Legislative Department in publishing updated constitutional texts in Gujarati and Tamil and in preparing the Legal Glossary using simple and easily understandable Hindi terminology. Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal commended the Department's work and highlighted the historical significance of International Mother Language Day. He recalled the 1952 language movement in then East Pakistan, where people struggled to protect the Bengali language against the imposition of Urdu. Referring to UNESCO and United Nations resolutions, including the declaration of 2008 as the International Year of Languages, he underlined the global importance of preserving linguistic diversity. He also mentioned the release of the first Santhali version of the Constitution by the President on December 25, 2025, and her appreciation for the initiative. Secretary, Legislative Department, Dr. Rajiv Mani, elaborated on the Department's continuous efforts to translate and update the Constitution in multiple Indian languages. He highlighted the release of the Gujarati and Tamil versions along with the 8th edition of the Legal Glossary (English-Hindi), and noted that the Constitution has now been translated into several regional languages, including Santhali. He acknowledged the contributions of the Regional Languages Unit, the Official Languages Wing, and officers of the Legislative Department in completing the project. - ANI The Vijayapura District Police held an emotional farewell ceremony for veteran police dogs Raksha and Stella, retiring after 12 years of dedicated service. Superintendent of Police Lakshman Nimbargi highlighted Stella's role in over 600 criminal cases and Raksha's expertise in bomb and contraband detection. Simultaneously, two new dogs, Yoddha and Veda, were officially inducted to continue the vital work. The event coincides with broader national efforts to deploy and train indigenous Indian dog breeds like the Rampur and Mudhol Hounds for border security and anti-Naxal operations. Vijayapura police honor retiring dogs Raksha & Stella for aiding 600+ cases. New dogs Yoddha & Veda inducted as Indian breeds gain prominence in security. Vijayapura, February 21 Karnataka's Vijayapura District Police on Saturday organised a ceremony to mark the retirement of two veteran police dogs, Raksha and Stella, honouring their 12 years of service. Superintendent of Police Lakshman Nimbargi presided over the event, honouring the canines for their significant contributions to crime detection and security within the district. District Superintendent of Police Lakshman Nimbargi announced the retirement of the two dogs, highlighting how the canines has helped the police identify more than 30 accused people across 600 criminal cases. Speaking on the occasion, Lakshman Nimbargi said that Stella played a significant role in more than 600 criminal cases and helped the department in identifying more than 30 accused. He said that its contribution to crime detection is especially appreciated by the department. The Raksha dog specialises in detecting bombs and contraband and was also used prominently in the VVIP security system. The retirement of both these dogs was an emotional moment for the department, with the police officials remembering their service. At the same time, two new police dogs, Yoddha and Veda, were officially inducted into the service. Yoddha, a Belgian Malinois breed, specialises in crime detection, while Veda is trained in detecting bombs and explosives. The SP expressed confidence that the new dogs will further strengthen the department's performance. Meanwhile, more than 150 Indian breed dogs have been deployed across multiple operational theatres, including the Western and Eastern borders and in Anti-Naxalite operations, delivering "good results," a press release said. According to the statement, their commendable performance has validated the decision to integrate Indian breeds into critical security and operational roles. The Rampur Hound, originating from the princely state of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, was historically bred by the Nawabs for hunting jackals and large game. The breed is known for its speed, stamina, and fearlessness. The Mudhol Hound, native to the Deccan Plateau, is traditionally associated with guarding and hunting. Local accounts link similar hounds to the Maratha forces, valued for their alertness and loyalty. The breed was later revived and refined by Raja Malojirao Ghorpade of Mudhol, who introduced it to the British as the "Caravan Hound. "The BSF has not only been training these indigenous breeds at NTCD Tekanpur but has also taken the lead in breeding and propagation, both at NTCD and across various field formations," the statement read. This initiative has since expanded to subsidiary K9 training centres, ensuring the large-scale development and deployment of Indian breed dogs across the Force. - ANI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has declared that the BJP will free five lakh bighas of illegally encroached land in the state over the next five years if re-elected. He cited the government's previous success in reclaiming 1.5 lakh bighas, including forest and government land. The announcement, made at a police battalion foundation event, positions land eviction and action against illegal immigrants as central themes for the upcoming assembly elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah concurrently accused the Congress of historical negligence leading to a demographic crisis in several districts. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pledges to free 5 lakh bighas of encroached land if BJP retains power, targeting "illegal Bangladeshis." Kamrup, February 21 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the BJP will free five lakh bighas of illegally encroached land in the next five years, after it forms the government for the third consecutive time in the state. Ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the BJP will make "illegal Bangladeshis" leave the state. Addressing the foundation-laying ceremony of the 10th Battalion of Assam Police Headquarters, the Chief Minister recounted the state government's work in the run-up to the polls, and said that they have evicted encroachers from 1.5 lakh bighas of land in the last five years. He said, "We all know that suspected illegal encroachers encroached 708 bighas of land at Kachutoli. But we freed 700 bighas of land from them. We freed 1.10 lakh bighas of forest land, 26,000 government land, 7000 bighas of VGR/PGR land from illegal encroachers in the last five years. We have freed a total of 1.50 lakh bighas of land in the state." Further, he noted that the state has about 40 lakh bighas of encroached land. "But in the state, 40 lakh bighas of land have encroached by illegal encroachers. Today, I assure you that, after forming the government, we will free five lakh bighas of land from illegal Bangladeshis. No one can dare to encroach on land in Assam now, and no one can kill a rhino in the state," the CM added. CM Sarma added that the Battalion camp will be established in 174 bighas of the 700 bighas of the evicted land. "We evicted 700 bighas of land here, and the Battalion camp will be established in 174 bighas of land. What you want, a medical college, an engineering college, we will construct it in the remaining 500 bighas of land," he said. Assam government has led several land eviction drives during its tenure, which, along with the eviction of illegal immigrants, is likely to be a poll plank for the BJP in the upcoming elections. The Chief Minister added, "Now the environment has changed. We will create such an environment that illegal Bangladeshis will have to flee from here. BJP is not scared of anyone. BJP will continue its work for Assam and the people of Assam." Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of allowing 'illegal infiltration' which allegedly altered Assam's demographics, asserting that the BJP will "free Assam from the sin" committed by the previous regime. Addressing the gathering in Kamrup, Shah said, "During the Congress era, infiltrators entered here, which took Assam's demography to a crisis level. Even back then, we opposed infiltration. We came from all over the country in support of the Assam Movement... but the Congressmen wouldn't wake up from their slumber." "I ask the Congress party, whose responsibility is it that districts like Dhubri, Barpeta, Morigaon, Nagaon, and Goalpara have all become Muslim-majority, infiltrator-dominated? The BJP is the one that will free Assam from the sin you have committed," the Union Minister said. Assam is scheduled to hold Legislative Assembly elections later this year. On February 18, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar reviewed poll preparedness while announcing a series of voter-centric measures designed to streamline the voting process. CEC Kumar outlined the structure of Assam's 126 Assembly constituencies, noting that 98 are classified as General seats, 19 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 9 are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). - ANI US President Donald Trump has declared an immediate increase in worldwide tariffs from 10% to 15%, following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his previous tariff authority. The move comes shortly after the announcement of a framework for an interim US-India trade agreement, which includes India reducing tariffs on US goods. In response, the US will apply an 18% reciprocal tariff on a range of Indian products, including textiles and machinery. Trump framed the tariff escalation as part of his "Making America Great Again" agenda, vowing to continue the policy in the coming months. US President Donald Trump announces an immediate increase to 15% global tariffs, responding to a Supreme Court decision and impacting trade with India. Washington DC, February 21 US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that he is raising the 10% worldwide tariff on countries announced yesterday "to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level." In a post on his social media handle Truth Social, Trump also said that during "the next short number of months", his Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue "the extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again". "Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been 'ripping' the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level," Trump said. "During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again - GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP," the post added. In a major blow to Trump's signature trade policy, the US Supreme Court on Friday ruled against most of his sweeping tariff measures. Trump later signed an order making 10 per cent global tariff on all countries, effective "almost immediately" .A White House official told ANI on Friday that India is expected to pay this tariff, and this new tariff will remain in place until another authority is invoked, emphasising the expectation that trade partners abide by US trade deals."Yes, 10% until another authority is invoked," the White House Official stated when asked whether India will have to pay 10 per cent tariffs and whether they will replace previous tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The official also advised all the trade partners to abide by the trade deals. The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs. Terming SC's ruling as a "terrible decision", Trump on Friday announced he would sign an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits. India and the United States had on February 7 announced that they have reached a framework for an Interim Agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade (Interim Agreement). The framework reaffirmed the countries' commitment to the broader US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations, which will include additional market access commitments and support more resilient supply chains. The Interim Agreement between the United States and India will represent a historic milestone in our countries' partnership, demonstrating a common commitment to reciprocal and balanced trade based on mutual interests and concrete outcomes, a joint statement said. Key terms of the Interim Agreement included India eliminating or reducing tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural 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. It said the United States will apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18 per cent under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as amended, on originating goods of India, including textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal products, and certain machinery. It also said that subject to the successful conclusion of the Interim Agreement, the US will remove the reciprocal tariff on a wide range of goods, including generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts. The US had earlier imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent penalty for importing oil from Russia. The government said earlier in the day that it is studying the implications of the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs and the steps announced by the President Trump Administration. "We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US Administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications," the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a brief statement. - ANI Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism and Down syndrome, experience substantially higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general population of adults, researchers reported today in JAMA Network Open. The study, based on data from 44,000 adults, provides the first national estimates of mental health symptom prevalence, healthcare treatment and access barriers facing this population. Our findings paint a distressing picture of the mental health and healthcare for people with these disabilities in the United States. Historically, society has not taken the needs of this population as seriously as it should, so in that respect, our findings aren't surprising. But the scale of burden is shocking." Dr. Dimitri Christakis, senior author, professor of pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine The study used 2021-2023 data from the National Health Interview Survey, an annual, nationally representative survey conducted by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. From this data, 796 adults with likely intellectual and developmental disabilities were identified. They represent about 2.9 million Americans. The researchers examined their rates of diagnosed anxiety and depression, symptom frequency and severity, medication use, therapy engagement and cost-related barriers to care, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Those data were contrasted with responses from 43,682 general-population adults. Among the key findings: Study-population adults were nine times more likely to report diagnosed anxiety (56.8% versus 10.6% %) and depression (56.9% versus 9.9%) than general-population adults. Daily symptom frequency was also markedly higher: 48.9% of study-population adults experienced daily anxiety (versus 7.7% among general-population peers), and 24.2% experienced daily depression (versus 1.3%). Only 40% of study-population adults reported receiving counseling or psychotherapy in the previous year, while 40% and 37% reported using psychiatric medication for anxiety and depression, respectively, in that span. These treatment patterns indicate an overreliance on medication instead of counseling, the authors said. Study-population adults were five times more likely than general-population peers to delay therapy due to cost (17.4% vs. 3.4%) and to forgo mental health care entirely because of expense (18.6% vs. 3.2%). This finding is notable, Christakis said, "given that many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are covered by Medicaid." "Having insurance doesn't automatically translate to having access," he noted. "Our data suggest that, even with coverage, people with intellectual disabilities face significant out-of-pocket costs and difficulty finding providers who accept their insurance and have appropriate expertise in treating their symptoms." Collectively, the findings reveal national gaps in the ability of healthcare systems to effectively serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, whose lifespans already are 10 to 20 years shorter, on average, than their general-population peers, Christakis noted. The study authors called for several actions, among them: Increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for mental health practitioners who serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Integration of disability status into routine public health surveillance. Expansion of training programs in disability-informed mental health care. "Most of us are keenly aware of the mental health crisis confronting U.S. teenagers today. There is also one affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities," Christakis said. The paper's lead author is Anthony Osuna, a clinical psychologist and acting assistant professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine. The Special Olympics funded this study through grant awards received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations. Christakis' work at the University of Washington is partly funded by the Special Olympics. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg JPMorgan Chase & Co. filed a request in court for President Donald Trumps lawsuit over closure of his accounts to be moved from Miami to New York federal court. The bank said in a filing Friday that Trump and his various businesses that sued 10 plaintiffs in all agreed in writing when they signed up to open accounts that any disputes would be litigated in New York, where the bank is based. Most Read from Bloomberg JPMorgan also said the public interest weighs transferring the case because of the overwhelming connections this dispute has to New York. The accounts in question were opened in New York, the bankers who managed the accounts were in New York and the alleged activities that gave rise to Trumps suit happened in New York, according to the banks filing. Trump sued the bank and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon in January, seeking at least $5 billion for allegedly debanking him and his companies following the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by his supporters. --With assistance from Robert Burnson. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2026 Bloomberg L.P. A new paper was published in Volume 13 of Oncoscience on February 6, 2026, titled "Gastrointestinal toxicity of targeted cancer therapies in the United States: Clinicopathologic patterns, FDA safety frameworks, and implications for national patient protection." First author Muhammad Moseeb Ali Hashim and co-corresponding author Kamran Zahoor from the University of Missouri-Columbia examined how targeted cancer therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antibodydrug conjugates, and CAR-T cell therapies, affect the gastrointestinal tract. The authors analyzed clinical trials, FDA drug labels, national safety databases, and pathology reports. Their findings show that these therapies can cause distinct and sometimes serious digestive injuries that are often underrecognized. Greater awareness may support earlier diagnosis, better treatment decisions, and improved patient protection. Targeted therapies have transformed care for colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. By focusing on specific molecular targets, these drugs offer more precise treatment than traditional chemotherapy. However, they can also harm healthy tissue in the digestive system, making gastrointestinal toxicity an important clinical concern as their use expands. The authors outline how different drug classes produce different patterns of injury. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors may reduce blood vessel growth in the gut, leading to diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding, or, in rare cases, bowel perforation. Antibodydrug conjugates can damage normal intestinal lining cells, causing nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, and colitis. CAR-T cell therapy may trigger widespread immune-related inflammation that also affects the gastrointestinal tract. These side effects can resemble infections, inflammatory bowel disease, or reduced blood flow to the intestine. Biopsy samples may show cell death, ulceration, or inflammation, which can be misinterpreted without a clear treatment history. The authors highlight the importance of close collaboration between oncologists, gastroenterologists, and pathologists to ensure accurate diagnosis. The paper also discusses national safety monitoring systems such as the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, which tracks reported gastrointestinal complications linked to these therapies. Combining clinical findings with pathology data and regulatory safety information can strengthen drug monitoring and enhance patient safety nationwide. "Looking forward, progress will depend on bridging critical research gaps particularly in real-world histopathology correlation, microbiome interactions, and predictive biomarkers of toxicity while embedding digital tools for patient-reported outcomes and pharmacovigilance." By integrating clinical, pathological, and regulatory perspectives, this research offers a practical framework for recognizing and managing gastrointestinal toxicity associated with targeted cancer therapies. As precision oncology advances, coordinated care and informed monitoring will remain essential to keep these treatments both effective and safe. An increase in the number of percutaneous coronary interventions does not appear to have resulted in reduced mortality rates, according to results presented today at the EAPCI Summit 2026. The summit is a new event organised by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), an association of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a life-saving procedure used to restore blood flow as soon as possible after the onset of a heart attack (myocardial infarction [MI]). It involves unblocking the coronary arteries, often using a stent inserted via a catheter from the groin or wrist. Study presenter, Ali Malik from King's College London, UK, noted that statistical analyses are ongoing to evaluate the impact of primary PCI procedures across Europe. "It is well established that primary PCI plays a pivotal role in reducing mortality after MI; however, significant variability exists at local, national and regional levels in the provision of primary PCI and associated patient outcomes," he stated. The investigators analysed data from the ESC Atlas of Cardiology and the ESC Atlas in Interventional Cardiology, which compile statistics on cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden, risk factors, outcomes and management practices to highlight current trends, gaps and disparities in the quality of care. ESC Atlas data were integrated with datasets from the World Health Organization, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and from Eurostat, covering 21 European countries. The association between primary PCI procedures per million inhabitants and age-standardised acute MI mortality rates was assessed, adjusting for confounding variables including the prevalence of CVD and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Across the countries analysed, higher GDP per capita was associated with lower age-standardised MI mortality rates, demonstrating a moderate inverse correlation (population correlation coefficient=0.54; p=0.004). Conversely, greater CVD prevalence was associated with higher age-standardised MI mortality rates (population correlation coefficient=+0.45; p=0.02). Following adjustment for GDP per capita and CVD prevalence, a moderate positive correlation emerged: higher rates of primary PCI were associated with increased age-standardised MI mortality (population correlation coefficient=+0.68; p<0.001). A weak inverse association was identified indicating that a greater number of primary PCI procedures performed per interventional cardiologist was associated with lower MI mortality rates (population correlation coefficient=0.27; p=0.23). One would anticipate that increased provision of primary PCI would yield lower mortality rates; therefore, we will conduct additional analyses to elucidate why this trend is not evident in our preliminary findings. The observed association with procedural workload highlights the significance of operator expertise. In addition, system-level factors include inter-centre variability and the interval between symptom onset and access to primary PCI." Sukruth Pradeep Kundur, co-investigator, King's College London Senior author, Doctor Sanjay Sivalokanathan from the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, USA, concluded: "The global rise in cardiometabolic risk factors appears to play a meaningful role in the clinical complexity of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. As such, PCI may be challenging in certain settings, highlighting the importance of operator experience and advanced interventional strategies. These developments emphasise the need for collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches, while prevention remains the cornerstone of reducing the overall burden of cardiovascular disease and associated mortality." Bangladeshs new Parliaments first session expected in early March: BNP Last Updated: February 22, 2026, 01:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Dhaka, Feb 21 (PTI) The first session of the newly elected 13th Parliament of Bangladesh is expected to commence in the second week of March, a top official of the ruling BNP said on Saturday. The spokesman for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Salahuddin Ahmed, said that the first session of the 13th Parliament is expected to convene on March 12, or a few days earlier. The session will also present (Muhammad Yunus-led) interim government ordinances and condolence motions," Ahmed, who is also the home minister in Rahmans new cabinet, posted on social media. BNP formed the government, bagging a two-thirds majority in the crucial elections held on February 12, while the far-right Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the main opposition. The parliament members were sworn in on February 17, and on the same day, BNPs Chairman Rahman, 60, and his cabinet took oath as the prime minister and ministers. Bangladesh Constitution dictates that President Mohammad Shahabuddin must summon the inaugural session of the newly elected parliament within 30 days of gazette notification of election results, based on written advice from Rahman. But it remains unclear who would chair the inaugural sitting of the maiden parliamentary session. As per the standard practice, the last parliaments speaker or, in his/her absence, the deputy speaker, presides over the parliament solely for the purpose of electing a new speaker. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury resigned earlier and now lives in an undisclosed location, while deputy speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku is in jail. PTI AR RD RD RD RD First Published: February 22, 2026, 01:15 IST News agency-feeds Bangladeshs new Parliaments first session expected in early March: BNP Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Hrithik Roshan pays tribute to veteran director MM Baig after his passing Last Updated: February 22, 2026, 01:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 22 (ANI): Actor Hrithik Roshan expressed grief over the demise of veteran filmmaker MM Baig.In a post on X, Hrithik reflected on the profound and lasting influence his teacher," Baig, has had on both his career and his life.My dear Baigji, I will forever be grateful to you for being the teacher I so needed at the start of my journey as an actor. You helped me gain confidence in my speech and delivery you were instrumental in shaping the actor in me. For helping me overcome my shyness, at the same time, empowering my vulnerability. I was lost. And you helped me find my way. Back when I was only 18years old. I still practice the lessons to this day. I will miss you. Rest in peace, my teacher M.M Baig. My thoughts and prayers for the Baig family," Hrithik wrote. MM Baig was reportedly found dead at his Mumbai home earlier this week. He was in his seventies. As an independent director, he helmed two films, such as Maasoom Gawah (1990), featuring Naseeruddin Shah, which remains unreleased, and Chhoti Bahu (1994), starring Shilpa Shirodkar. (ANI) First Published: February 22, 2026, 01:15 IST News agency-feeds Hrithik Roshan pays tribute to veteran director MM Baig after his passing Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Jackky Bhagnani, Rakul Preet Singh celebrate their wedding anniversary Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 11:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) Actor Jackky Bhagnani penned a heartfelt note on social media on Saturday as he celebrated two years of his wedding to Rakul Preet Singh and thanked her for constant support. Bhagnani shared a video on his Instagram handle, which featured glimpses of their wedding. The duo tied the knot on February 21, 2024, in Goa. They got married as per Punjabi and Sindhi ceremonies, in the presence of their family and industry friends, including Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Shilpa Shetty Kundra. The Rangrezz" actor wrote, I love you more than words could ever hope to express. I may never truly be able to explain what you mean to me, but today I just want to thank you for being in my life, for being my constant, for being mine. Happy Second Anniversary, my love. These two beautiful years with you have felt like two fleeting seconds because every moment spent by your side simply makes time stand still. Love you to the moon and back, and beyond. In ways you may not even realise, Ive learned so much from you. You are my strength when I feel weak, My backbone when I need to stand tall, And the star that softly lights up even my darkest skies. @rakulpreet," he added. They started dating in 2021 and made their relationship official on social media in the same year. Singhs latest work is De De Pyaar De 2", which released in November 2025 and also starred Ajay Devgn and Meezaan Jafri in pivotal roles. PTI ATR ATR ATR First Published: February 21, 2026, 11:15 IST News agency-feeds Jackky Bhagnani, Rakul Preet Singh celebrate their wedding anniversary Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mercedes crashes into divider in Gurugram; driver hurt Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 20:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Gurugram, Feb 21 (PTI) A speeding Mercedes car overturned on the Old Railway Road after hitting the divider, police said on Saturday. A Delhi resident who was driving the car said he lost control while trying to save a person, they said. The car was wrecked, but the driver sustained only minor injuries. According to the police, the accident occurred around 6 am on Friday in front of the Prem Mandir on the Old Railway Road. Rajesh Godara, a resident of southwest Delhis Dwarka, was at the wheel, on his way home in Bharthal, Delhi. Godara said he was returning after paying a visit to an aunt in a Gurugram village. Near Prem Mandir, a man darted in front of the car to cross the road, and he swerved hard and hit the divider trying to save him, Godara said. After the crash, locals gathered around the scene, and traffic was briefly halted. According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate that the cause of the accident was high speed. PTI COR VN VN First Published: February 21, 2026, 20:00 IST News agency-feeds Mercedes crashes into divider in Gurugram; driver hurt Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US ambassador causes uproar by claiming Israel has right to much of Middle East Last Updated: February 22, 2026, 02:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Tel Aviv, Feb 22 (AP) Arab and Muslim nations on Saturday sharply condemned comments by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who said Israel has a right to much of the Middle East. Huckabee made the comments in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that today would include essentially the entire Middle East, and asked Huckabee if Israel had a right to that land. Huckabee responded: It would be fine if they took it all." Huckabee added, however, that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the land it legitimately holds. His comments sparked immediate backlash from neighboring Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States. Saudi Arabias foreign ministry described Huckabees comments as extremist rhetoric" and unacceptable," and called for the State Department to clarify its position on them. Egypts foreign ministry called his comments a blatant violation" of international law, adding that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands." Statements of this nature extremist and lacking any sound basis serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions," the League of Arab States said. There was no immediate comment from Israel or the United States. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has not had fully recognized borders. Its frontiers with Arab neighbors have shifted as a result of wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements. During the six-day 1967 Mideast war, Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula as part of a peace deal with Egypt following the 1973 Mideast war. It also unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Israel has attempted to deepen control of the occupied West Bank in recent months. It has greatly expanded construction in Jewish settlements, legalized outposts and made significant bureaucratic changes to its policies in the territory. US President Donald Trump has said he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank and has offered strong assurances that hed block any move to do so. Palestinians have for decades called for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with east Jerusalem its capital, a claim backed by much of the international community. Huckabee has long opposed the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people. In an interview last year, he said he does not believe in referring to the Arab descendants of people who had lived in British-controlled Palestine as Palestinians." In the latest interview, Carlson pressed Huckabee about his interpretation of Bible verses from the book of Genesis, where he said God promised Abraham and his descendants land from the Nile to the Euphrates. That would be the Levant, so that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. It would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq," Carlson said. Huckabee replied: Not sure wed go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land." Israel has encroached on more land since the start of its war with Hamas in Gaza. Under the current ceasefire, Israel withdrew its troops to a buffer zone but still controls more than half the territory. Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw further, though the ceasefire deal doesnt give a timeline. After Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted at the end of 2024, Israels military seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Israel said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border. And Israel still occupies five hilltop posts on Lebanese territory following its brief war with Hezbollah in 2024. (AP) MNK MNK First Published: February 22, 2026, 02:30 IST News agency-feeds US ambassador causes uproar by claiming Israel has right to much of Middle East Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, Saturday, February 21? Check Bank Holidays This Month Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 08:12 IST Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, February 21? As today is the third Saturday of the month, banks will remain open as usual across the country. Banks in Ranchi (Jharkhand) will remain closed on February 23 on account of 'Municipal (General) Election 2026', according to the RBI's notification. Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, February 21? If you are planning to visit your bank branch, it is necessary to check the list of RBI-notified holidays. These holidays are not uniform nationwide and vary from state to state. That means on some dates, banks in certain states will remain closed, while in others, they will function normally. Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, February 21? As February 21 is the third Saturday of the month, banks will remain open as usual across the country. Banks remain closed on second and fourth Saturdays of the month, apart from Sundays and other RBI-notified holidays. Banks To Remain Closed On February 23 In Ranchi Banks in Ranchi (Jharkhand) will remain closed on February 23 on account of Municipal (General) Election 2026, according to the RBIs notification. However, customers can continue to access services through net banking, mobile banking, UPI, and ATMs. But, cheque clearing and other over-the-counter services under the Negotiable Instruments Act will not be available. Banks Timings Today Most major banks in India, including SBI, Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank, operate between 10 am and 4 pm, while ICICI, HDFC, Axis, Yes Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank usually function from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm or 3:30 pm, depending on the branch. Bank of Baroda has slightly extended hours, operating between 9:45 am and 4:45 pm or 10 am to 5 pm, and Canara Bank typically works from 10 am to 3:30 pm. Five-Day Workweek Demand Though banks remain closed on second and fourth Saturdays of the month, bank unions have been demand five workweek. If approved, it would mean banks will remain all Saturdays and Sundays. Last month, on January 27, 2026, bank unions went on strike. They said a five-day work week would reduce work pressure, improve efficiency, and allow employees more time with their families. Most central government offices and financial institutions in India already follow a five-day schedule, bank staff want the same. To ensure customer services arent affected, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has proposed working 40 extra minutes a day from Monday to Friday. The forum points out that RBI, LIC, GIC, stock markets, forex and money markets already remain closed on Saturdays. First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:12 IST News business banking-finance Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, Saturday, February 21? Check Bank Holidays This Month Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... How Mutual Funds Will Be Taxed in Financial Year 202627: What Investors Need to Know Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 08:00 IST Debt funds bought after April 1, 2023 are taxed at slab rates regardless of holding period. Mutual funds tax rules in FY 202627 depend on fund category and purchase date. (representative image) The taxation of mutual funds in India has undergone significant changes in recent years, especially for debt-oriented schemes. For the financial year 202627, the tax treatment of gains will depend on three key factors: the type of investor, the funds asset allocation and the holding period of the investment. The purchase date of units, particularly in the case of debt funds, also plays a crucial role. Taxation follows the underlying exposure of the scheme. Therefore, before investing in equity, debt, hybrid, gold or international funds, investors must understand how the portfolio is structured. Equity Mutual Funds: Lower tax for long-term investors Equity-oriented mutual funds and equity ETFs must invest at least 65 per cent of their corpus in listed domestic equities. If an investor holds these funds for more than 12 months, the gains are treated as long-term. Long-term capital gains (LTCGs) are taxed at 12.5 per cent on profits above Rs 1.25 lakh. If the holding period is 12 months or less, the gains are short-term and taxed at 20 per cent. Investments made on or before January 31, 2018, continue to enjoy grandfathering benefits, meaning gains accrued up to that date remain exempt from tax. ELSS: Tax Saving With Lock-In Equity-linked savings schemes (ELSS) are equity-oriented funds with a mandatory three-year lock-in period. Since redemption is allowed only after three years, gains automatically qualify as long-term. Long-term gains are taxed at 12.5 per cent above Rs 1.25 lakh. Investments up to Rs 1.5 lakh qualify for deduction under Section 80C, but only under the old tax regime. Debt mutual funds: Purchase date is key Debt funds now follow a differentiated tax structure depending on when the investment was made. Units purchased on or after April 1, 2023: All gains are treated as short-term, irrespective of holding period. Taxed at the investors applicable income-tax slab rate. No indexation or long-term capital gains benefit available. Units purchased before April 1, 2023: Long-term gains (after 24 months for unlisted units and 12 months for listed units) are taxed at 12.5 per cent. Short-term gains are taxed at slab rates. Hybrid funds: Equity allocation decides tax Hybrid schemes are taxed according to their equity exposure. 65 per cent or more in equity are taxed as equity funds. If it is less than 35 per cent in equity, the scheme is taxed as a debt fund and classified as a specified mutual fund. When it is between 35 per cent and 65 per cent in equity, then long-term gains are taxed at 12.5 per cent and short-term gains are taxed at slab rates. If a scheme invests more than 65 per cent in debt instruments directly or indirectly, it qualifies as a specified mutual fund and gains are deemed short-term, taxed at slab rates without long-term benefits. Gold, International Funds And FoFs Funds investing less than 65 percent in Indian equities, such as gold ETFs, international funds and most fund of funds, will follow taxation rules where long-term gains are taxed at 12.5 percent and short-term gains at slab rates. If listed equity exposure exceeds 65 per cent, the scheme will qualify as an equity-oriented mutual fund and attract equity taxation. REITs and InvITs: Similar to equity taxation Listed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), though classified as business trusts and not mutual funds, broadly follow equity-style capital gains taxation. Holding over 12 months are taxed at 12.5 per cent above Rs 1.25 lakh, while holding up to 12 months is short-term gains taxed at 20 per cent. Given their exchange-traded and market-linked nature, REITs and InvITs are often evaluated alongside mutual funds from a taxation perspective. Dividend Income It is to be noted that the income received as dividends from mutual funds are added to the investors total income and taxed at the applicable slab rate. Non-resident investors and domestic companies are subject to different tax provisions. Non-residents may also claim benefits under applicable tax treaties. Why Fund Type And Holding Period Matter? The same investment amount can face different tax liabilities depending on the fund category and duration of holding. Equity-oriented schemes reward long-term investing with concessional rates. In contrast, debt funds purchased after April 1, 2023, are taxed at slab rates regardless of how long they are held. For investors planning their portfolios in FY202627, fund selection and investment horizon remain critical in determining post-tax returns. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:00 IST News business How Mutual Funds Will Be Taxed in Financial Year 202627: What Investors Need to Know Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... SBI Mutual Funds Gets Ready To List: How Have Listed Mutual Funds Performed In Market? Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 13:00 IST SBI Mutual Fund plans IPO by September 2026, aiming for Rs 1.25 lakh crore valuation. SBI and Amundi will sell a 10% stake. AMC stocks have seen strong returns in past year. SBI Funds Management Ltd (SBIFML) is a joint venture between State Bank of India and Paris-based Amundi, with 61.98% and 36.40% stakes, respectively. SBI Mutual Fund IPO: Even as the Indian primary market is going through a muted phase, Indias biggest fund house SBI Mutual Fund is preparing to file the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for its initial public offering (IPO) by March 2026. The asset management company is expected to be listed by September this year. Heres what we know so far about the IPO and how its listed peers have performed in the past one year: A PTI report in December 2025 had said that SBI Mutual Fund had started the process for the appointment of merchant bankers and other service providers to facilitate the IPO. In an interview with PTI, SBI Chairman C S Setty said that the boards of SBI and Amundi, who are the shareholders in SBI Mutual Funds, have approved a timeline of 12 months. SBI Funds Management Ltd (SBIFML) is a joint venture between State Bank of India and Paris-based Amundi, with 61.98% and 36.40% stakes, respectively. The fund house managed assets of around Rs 12 lakh crore as of September 2025. It was the first AMC in India to cross the Rs 10 lakh crore AUM (Assets Under Management) milestone. We are very seriously working on that, and in this timeline we should hit the marketwe have started the process of identifying the merchant bankers and other service providers," Setty, who is also chairman of SBIFML, said. According to reports, SBI Mutual Funds is aiming for a valuation of about $14 billion to $15 billion (around Rs 1.25 lakh crore to Rs 1.35 lakh crore). SBI and Amundi will jointly sell a 10% stake in SBI Funds Management through the IPO, the former had said in November 2025. Reports indicate the 10% stake sale might fetch close to $1.5 billion (around Rs 13,500 crore). Amundi is Europes biggest fund manager. Investors who hold SBI (parent) shares are expecting a dedicated shareholder quota, similar to the LIC or Tata Technologies IPOs. How Have Listed Peers Performed? The AMC sector has been a standout performer in the last year. While the broader market (Sensex and Nifty) has seen volatility in early 2026, asset management stocks have benefited from a structural shift toward financialisation. Nippon Life India Asset Management has been the top performer, delivering roughly 77% returns in the last year, driven by aggressive retail inflows and distribution expansion. HDFC Asset Management, long considered the sectors benchmark for consistency, has gained around 40 per cent and recently outpaced broader indices. AMC Name Market Cap (Approx.) 1-Year Return Recent Trend Nippon Life India (NAM-INDIA) Rs 61,000 Cr 77% Recent star performer; strong retail growth HDFC AMC Rs 1,17,000 Cr 40% Consistent performer; outpaced Sensex recently Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC (ABSL) Rs 26,000 Cr 42% Steady growth; trails top peers UTI AMC Rs 13,700 Cr 10% Conservative growth; lower valuation multiples ICICI Prudential AMC Rs 1,50,000 Cr N/A Listed Dec 2025; currently most valued AMC Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC has returned about 42 per cent, reflecting steady but relatively slower momentum. UTI AMC has lagged peers with roughly 10 per cent gains, trading at more conservative valuation multiples. Meanwhile, ICICI Prudential AMC, listed in December 2025, has already emerged as the most valuable AMC by market capitalisation at about Rs 1.5 lakh crore, rising by nearly 16.3% since its market debut. First Published: February 21, 2026, 13:00 IST News business ipo SBI Mutual Funds Gets Ready To List: How Have Listed Mutual Funds Performed In Market? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... This story was originally published on Trucking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Trucking Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Mast Trucking of Kansas filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on Feb. 10, reporting millions of dollars in unsecured claims. The petition involves over $5.7 million in unsecured claims, affecting creditors such as BMO, Daimler Truck Financial and the Small Business Administration. The business reported having 55 power units and 56 drivers as of late August, according to a Federal Carrier Safety Administration database. Dive Insight: Mast Trucking plans to reorganize through the bankruptcy and is still operating as normal, the company told Trucking Dive. Customers' experience and drivers are unaffected by the legal proceeding, President Leroy Mast said in an email. The business has between $1 million to $10 million in assets and at least 100 creditors, according to estimates in the bankruptcy filing. A multiyear freight recession has been bringing pain to the industry, with other Chapter 11 bankruptcies affecting trucking firms such as Illinois-based Bulmaks and Ohio-based STG Logistics. Other businesses have pursued mergers and acquisitions amid the challenging environment. For example, Estes Logistics, part of Estes Express Lines, picked up Kent, Washington-based Key Trucking as of Jan. 1. The acquisition is a win for both companies, allowing Estes Logistics to expand its footprint into the Pacific Northwest while preserving the legacy Key Trucking has built, a news release said. Recommended Reading Nifty Prediction For Monday: Market Set For Gap-Up Opening On February 23 After US Tariffs Cut To 15% Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: February 22, 2026, 12:09 IST GIFT Nifty surges 320 points after US Supreme Court invalidated Trump tariffs. Indian equities may open gap-up on Monday, but volatility expected amid new US tariff and F&O expiry. Nifty Prediction For Monday, February 23. Nifty Prediction For Monday, February 23: After the US Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, Indian markets reacted positively, with the GIFT Nifty (Nifty futures) surging 320 points to 25,886, signalling a significant gap-up opening for domestic equities on February 23. Following the SC ruling that struck down broad reciprocal" tariffs under IEEPA, Trump signed an executive order imposing a fresh 10% global tariff on imports from all countries, effective February 24, 2026, under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. On Saturday, Trump further hiked the proposed global tariff rate from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, sharply criticising a recent US court ruling and calling it anti-American". Analysts say this 15% tariff is less severe than previously proposed actions and leaves scope for continued negotiations. For India, this effectively resets the interim US-India trade arrangement, limiting tariff exposure to 10% for now. While this introduces short-term uncertainty for Indian exporters in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, gems, and machinery, the measure is considered less severe than previously proposed actions and leaves scope for continued negotiations," Ponmudi R, chief executive officer of Enrich Money, a Sebi-registered online trading and wealth tech firm. The US and India finalised an interim trade pact, under which Washington reduced its reciprocal tariff rate to 18 per cent from the previous high of 50 per cent. In return, New Delhi agreed to eliminate tariffs on American goods. Nifty Prediction For Monday, February 23 Firm trends in GIFT Nifty also suggest Indian equities are poised for a gap-up opening on Monday," said Ponmudi. He, however, added that President Trumps remarks about potentially invoking alternative legal routes to advance his tariff policy inject a layer of policy uncertainty. This could temper optimism and trigger intermittent phases of elevated volatility across global financial markets in the near term. Ajit Mishra, senior vice-president (research) of Religare Broking, said, On the upside, the 25,800-26,000 zone remains a key resistance band. A sustained move above 26,000 would be required to revive bullish momentum." Markets ended the week with modest gains, supported by value buying in fundamentally strong stocks that had recently corrected, despite mixed global cues. Sentiment remained positive during the first three sessions; however, heightened volatility in the final sessions turned participants cautious. Ultimately, the benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex settled at 25,571.25 and 61,172, respectively. Key Events To Watch Next Week Markets are likely to remain volatile in the coming week, particularly with the monthly F&O expiry scheduled for February 24, Mishra said. On the domestic front, key data releases include GDP figures, Government Budget Value, Foreign Exchange Reserves, and Infrastructure Output (YoY). Globally, investors will assess the implications of the verdict announced by the Supreme Court of the United States on tariffs on Friday, February 20. Any policy recalibration or legal interpretation affecting trade measures could have cross-border ramifications. Additionally, markets will monitor developments following a fresh executive order by the President of the United States, which may influence trade dynamics, tariff structures, and global risk sentiment. Clarity on the proposed India-US interim trade agreement, with Indian officials visiting the US to finalise the legal framework, will also remain in focus," Mishra said. Technical View The Nifty has rebounded from the 25,400-25,500 zone, closing with improving sentiment and reduced downside pressure while forming a base above key moving averages (50 EMA around 25,721 and 100 EMA near 25,655). EMA stands for exponential moving average, which is considered key resistance and support. The index continues to hold within its long-term rising channel, suggesting that the recent dip was corrective in nature. Immediate support is placed at 25,50025,600, aligned with recent lows and the channel base; a decisive break below this region could expose 25,30025,000, coinciding with the 200 EMA near 25,303," Ponmudi said. He added that momentum indicators are showing early signs of recovery, while upside resistance stands at 25,700-25,900. A sustained move above 26,000-26,100 could trigger renewed buying momentum and restore a stronger upward bias. Derivative positioning indicates a broadly range-bound setup with a mild positive tilt, as strong put writing near 25,500 provides support, while call supply at higher strikes limits aggressive upside expansion. First Published: February 21, 2026, 14:22 IST News business markets Nifty Prediction For Monday: Market Set For Gap-Up Opening On February 23 After US Tariffs Cut To 15% Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bengaluru Power Bills May Rise From March As KERC Reviews Higher Electricity Tariff Curated By : Local18 Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 19:49 IST The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission is preparing to revise electricity tariffs, with changes likely to come into effect from next month The ESCOM have sought an average increase of 67 paise per unit, citing power procurement costs and financial pressures. (Image: AI-Representational) As temperatures in Bengaluru and across Karnataka begin to climb and fans and air-conditioners are switched on, households may soon face another seasonal spike, this time in their electricity bills. At a moment when kitchen budgets are already stretched by rising grocery prices, the prospect of paying more for power has added to public anxiety. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) is preparing to revise electricity tariffs, with changes likely to come into effect from next month. For many families, the timing could hardly be tougher. Residents in Karnataka are likely to face higher power bills from the start of the summer season, with the Commission reviewing a proposal submitted by the states electricity supply companies. The Escoms have sought an average increase of 67 paise per unit, citing power procurement costs and financial pressures. A public consultation meeting was held at the KERC headquarters, chaired by KERC Chairman Ravi Kumar. BESCOM Managing Director Dr N. Shivashankar and other officials were present to outline the rationale behind the proposal. During the meeting, BESCOM informed the Commission of a projected shortfall of Rs 2,800 crore for the financial year 202526. Dr N. Shivashankar stated that the company had submitted its proposal for tariff revision and appealed for measures to bridge the financial gap. He clarified that the final decision on how much the per-unit tariff will increase rests with the Commission. The KERC is expected to consider public feedback before making its determination. If approved, the revised tariffs are likely to be implemented from March and April, with the hike applied on a per-unit basis. The consultation process is taking place amid the rollout of the Grihajyoti scheme. A formal announcement on the revised electricity tariff is expected once the regulatory review is complete. (Reporter inputs by Sharanu Hampi, News18 Kannada, Bengaluru) First Published: February 21, 2026, 19:49 IST News cities bengaluru-news Bengaluru Power Bills May Rise From March As KERC Reviews Higher Electricity Tariff Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbai-Pune Missing Link May Open Only For Cars: What Is It? Restricted Vehicles, Timeline Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 10:34 IST A proposal urges the Maharashtra government to allow only passenger vehicles on the MumbaiPune Expressway Missing Link for the first six months. The move aims to ensure safety and smoother traffic before opening it to heavy vehicles. (Photo Credit: Instagram/thepunemirror) A proposal has been sent to the Maharashtra government asking that the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link be opened only for passenger vehicles in its first six months. The request has been made keeping safety and traffic control in mind. The new stretch is expected to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune. However, some concerns about allowing heavy vehicles from day one may create problems in managing traffic and safety, especially in the tunnel sections. Proposal Calls For Controlled Opening As reported by Pune Mirror, the plan suggests that only cars, SUVs and light motor vehicles should be allowed initially. This would give authorities time to study traffic movement and check how the new system is working. The idea behind this move is to closely monitor traffic flow, test safety systems and make changes if needed. The route includes long tunnels and modern structures, which require careful handling in the early stages. Letters reportedly regarding this request have been sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and MSRTC Vice Chairman Anil Gaikwad. The appeal asks the government to focus on commuter safety before allowing trucks and buses to use the route. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pune Times Mirror (@thepunemirror) Safety Checks In The First Phase Those backing the proposal reportedly believe the first few months will be important to review tunnel ventilation, emergency response plans and overall traffic behaviour. They feel that starting with only passenger vehicles could reduce the risk of accidents and prevent congestion. The Missing Link project is considered one of Maharashtras major infrastructure upgrades. It is designed to avoid the accident-prone ghat section and make travel smoother. The state government has not yet taken a final call on the suggestion. What The Missing Link Project Includes The 13.3-km Missing Link will bypass a 19.8-km ghat stretch between Khandala and Lonavala. It is expected to open on May 1. The route connects Kusgaon and Khopoli through two tunnels measuring 1.64 km and 8.9 km, along with cable-stayed bridges. Travel time between Mumbai and Pune may be reduced by about 30 minutes. The existing Mumbai-Pune Expressway, opened in 2002 and named after former chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan, handles around 75,000 vehicles daily. On weekends and holidays, this number can rise to nearly 1.2 lakh vehicles, often leading to heavy traffic. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 10:34 IST News cities mumbai-news Mumbai-Pune Missing Link May Open Only For Cars: What Is It? Restricted Vehicles, Timeline Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Speeding Car Mows Down Zepto Delivery Agent In West Delhi, Driver Arrested Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 09:58 IST The injured delivery worker was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Police have taken the accused driver into custody and seized the vehicle involved in the crash. A 25-year-old food delivery agent was killed after a speeding car rammed his electric scooty from behind near Subhash Nagar Metro in West Delhi, police said. The victim, identified as Hem Shakar, a resident of Raghubir Nagar who worked for quick-commerce platform Zepto, was hit around 3.26 am near the Subhash Nagar Metro red light on Najafgarh Road while on duty, according to Delhi Police. Police said Hem Shakar was rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Both the damaged electric scooty and the Verna car involved in the crash were found at the scene. Eyewitnesses told police that the car hit the scooty from behind. The accused driver, identified as Mohit Kumar, 27, a Najafgarh resident who works as a contractor with the Municipal Corporation, was taken into custody and the vehicle was seized. Police said a case has been registered at Tilak Nagar police station and further legal action is underway. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:16 IST News cities new-delhi-news Speeding Car Mows Down Zepto Delivery Agent In West Delhi, Driver Arrested Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... JNU VC's 'Dalit Victim Card' Statement Sparks Row On Campus, JNUSU Demands Resignation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 10:36 IST JNU VC Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit remarked that Dalits "cannot always progress by portraying themselves as victims or playing the victim card," leading to student protests. The JNU VC clarified that her statement had been misunderstood, noting that she herself is from the Bahujan Samaj. (Image: News18 Hindi) JNU VC Dalit Statement Controversy: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit has sparked significant controversy on campus with a statement made in a podcast. She remarked that Dalit and Black communities cannot always progress by portraying themselves as victims or playing the victim card," leading to student protests and calls for her resignation. The Vice Chancellor clarified that her statement had been misunderstood, noting that she herself is from the Bahujan Samaj. What is the whole matter? The statement was made in a podcast released on February 16. The Vice Chancellor was discussing the University Grants Commissions (UGC) Equity (Anti-Discrimination) Rules of 2026, aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions. However, following protests from some upper caste groups, the Supreme Court has currently stayed these rules. In the podcast, the Vice Chancellor described the UGC regulations as unnecessary and irrational." She mentioned that its not easy to move forward by demonising someone or constantly portraying yourself as a victim. Its like a temporary addiction." This statement quickly went viral on social media, sparking controversy. What explanation did the Vice Chancellor give? As the controversy grew, the Vice Chancellor clarified that her statement had been misrepresented. She asserted that she did not intend to imply that the Dalit community always plays the victim card. She said that some people use such language as part of a woke" ideology. She also expressed that unnecessary controversy had been created in this matter and that due care had not been taken in formulating the rules. She reiterated, I myself am a Bahujan." Protest on campus, demand for resignation The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) labelled the Vice Chancellors statement as blatantly casteist." The student union demanded her resignation and called for nationwide protests on Saturday. They argued that such statements promote caste discrimination and inequality in universities. The student union also criticised the Vice Chancellors affiliation with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In the podcast, she had expressed pride in her RSS affiliation, saying it provided her with insight into diverse views and diversity. Following this statement, the atmosphere on the JNU campus has become tense. Student organisations have stated that protests will continue until the Vice Chancellor apologises or resigns. Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor maintained that her words were taken out of context. The matter remains a topic of discussion within academic and political circles. First Published: February 21, 2026, 10:31 IST News education-career JNU VC's 'Dalit Victim Card' Statement Sparks Row On Campus, JNUSU Demands Resignation Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Maharashtra Class 12 Chemistry Paper Allegedly Leaked On Social Media Before Exam Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 14:21 IST Police are investigating a possible leak after the MSBSHE HSC Chemistry question paper was allegedly circulated on social media in Nagpur before the exam. The Maha Class 12 examinations will run until March 11. (Representational/File) The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) class 12 chemistry paper has reportedly been shared on social media. Police are investigating a possible leak after the class 12 Chemistry question paper was allegedly circulated on social media in Nagpur before the board exam was conducted by the Maharashtra board, officials said on Saturday. This is not the first time that irregularities have been reported in the MSBSHSE HSC board exams 2026. On February 12, an incident of alleged mass cheating occurred during a Class 12 examination in Maharashtras Sambhajinagar. Despite the presence of CCTV cameras, students were reportedly copying inside the examination hall. The entire incident was captured on camera, raising concerns about supervision and the conduct of the exam at the centre. CCTV footage shows students writing papers and openly cheating from each others answer sheets in the presence of teachers. The board had earlier stated that cases will be registered under the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices Act, 1982 against anyone involved in unfair practices at exam centres. The Maharashtra Board began the class 12 board examinations for 2026 on February 10, with the exams continuing until March 11. The exams are conducted in two daily sessions: the first from 11 am to 2 pm and the second from 3 pm to 6 pm. Over 15 lakh students have registered for the HSC exams across science, arts, commerce, vocational, and TechSci streams. Specifically, there are 7,99,773 students in science, 3,80,692 in arts, 3,20,152 in commerce, 27,378 in vocational, and 4,492 in Industrial Training Institutes (ITI). In terms of gender distribution, there are 8,20,229 male candidates, 7,12,240 female candidates, and 18 transgender candidates. To prevent malpractice, the board had earlier said that state-level vigilance committee and monitoring teams will be present at all centres. A total of 271 flying squads were to be deployed across the state. District-level vigilance committees led by the District Collector and special squads from divisional boards were to conduct surprise inspections. Xerox shops within a 500-metre radius of exam centres were directed to remain closed during the exam period, extending the usual restriction from 100 metres. First Published: February 21, 2026, 14:11 IST News education-career Maharashtra Class 12 Chemistry Paper Allegedly Leaked On Social Media Before Exam Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... UGC Releases List Of 32 Fake Universities Across India, 12 Are From Delhi Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 10:05 IST The network of fake universities has now expanded from eight to 12 states. In the last two years, the number of such institutions has increased from 20 to 32. UGC has issued a strict warning to students and parents to stay alert.(Representative/Getty Images) Fraudulent business in education is spreading rapidly across India. The network of fake universities has expanded from eight to 12 states, with the number of such institutions increasing from 20 to 32 in the past two years. In response to this growing threat, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a strict warning to students and parents to stay alert. Recent data shows that fake universities have become active in new states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Arunachal Pradesh. As many as 12 of the 32 fake universities are operating in Delhi alone, with some situated just a few meters from the UGC headquarters. Currently, 12 fake universities have been identified in Delhi, 4 in Uttar Pradesh, 2 each in Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, and 1 each in Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Arunachal Pradesh. The commission has strongly advised students against seeking admission to such institutions. The UGC has also recommended checking the list of fake universities posted on its official website before taking admission. Degrees from these institutions are not valid, jeopardising students futures. These fake institutions are now using the names and logos of foreign universities to appear legitimate. Recently, Columbia University in Sri Lanka wrote to the UGC complaining that a fake university was operating in Maharashtra using its name and logo. Following this, the UGC once again alerted students and parents. The UGC has reiterated the importance of verifying the legitimacy of any university before seeking admission. A list of recognised and fake institutions is available on the commissions official website. This network of fake universities spreading across the country has become a serious challenge to the education system. If strict action is not taken promptly, the future of thousands of students could be at risk. UGCs List Of Fake Universities: 1. Delhi All India Institute of Public and Physical Health Sciences Commercial University Limited United Nations University Vocational University ADR Centric Juridical University Indian Institute of Science and Engineering Vishwakarma Open University for Self Employment Spiritual University World Peace of United National University Institute of Management and Engineering Mountain Institute of Management and Technology and National Institute of Management Solutions 2. Uttar Pradesh Gandhi Hindi Vidyapeeth Prayag Mahamaya Technical University Noida Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Open University Aligarh and Indian Education Council Bharat Bhavan Lucknow 3. Haryana Magic and Art University, Faridabad 4. Jharkhand Daksh University, Ranchi 5. West Bengal Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research 6. Karnataka Sarva Bharatiya Shiksha Peeth Karnataka Global Human Peace University 7. Andhra Pradesh Christ New Testament Deemed University Andhra Pradesh Bible Open University of India 8. Arunachal Pradesh Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine 9. Haryana Magic & Art University 10. Jharkhand Daksha University 11. Maharashtra Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra Maharashtra National Backward Krushi Vidyapeeth 12. Puducherry Usha Latchumanan College of Education Puducherry Sree Bodhi Academy of Higher Education 13. Rajasthan Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management First Published: February 21, 2026, 10:02 IST News education-career UGC Releases List Of 32 Fake Universities Across India, 12 Are From Delhi Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... What Is Section 122? A Rare Trade Law That's Donald Trump's Latest Weapon In Tariff Arsenal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 08:57 IST The law was originally enacted during a period of balance-of-payments concerns, when imports far exceeded exports and put pressure on the US dollar Rapid Read The immediate trigger for the US Presidents decision was the US Supreme Court ruling that struck down a major part of his earlier tariff programme. (AFP) Hours after the United States Supreme Court struck down many of Donald Trumps sweeping and often arbitrary duties, delivering a stinging rebuke on his signature economic policy, the US President imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on imports into America. Trump signed the tariff order in the Oval Office, saying on social media it was effective almost immediately", after spending the past year imposing various rates to cajole and punish countries. The new duty is slated to take effect from February 24 for 150 days, with exemptions remaining for sectors that are under separate probes, including pharma, and goods entering the US under the US-Mexico-Canada agreement, according to a White House factsheet. Exploring an alternative trade tool after the Supreme Court ruling, Trump signalled he would invoke Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974a rare provision that allows temporary tariffs in response to balance-of-payments concerns. What Is Section 122? It is a US law aimed at giving the President fast-acting tools to respond to certain trade and economic threats. Under this provision, the President can impose temporary import surcharges (tariffs) or quotas without waiting for lengthy investigations. These tariffs can be up to 15 per cent and remain in place for a maximum of 150 days. To extend them beyond that limit, Congress must approve additional authority. According to The Economic Times, the law was originally enacted during a period of balance-of-payments concernswhen imports far exceeded exports and put pressure on the US dollar. Section 122 is rarely used because other trade laws (like Section 301 and Section 232) are more familiar to policymakers, and traditional tariff-setting usually involves more formal procedures. Why Did Trump Pick Section 122? The immediate trigger for the US Presidents decision was the US Supreme Court ruling that struck down a major part of his earlier tariff programme. TIME reported that the court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a national emergency law originally designed for sanctions and crisis responses, to impose sweeping global tariffs. According to The Guardian, IEEPA does not explicitly authorise tariffs, and the court said that tariff powers belong to Congress unless a statute clearly allows otherwise. Instead of abandoning his tariff agenda, Trump quickly pivoted to other legal tools, with Section 122 at the front of that strategy. How Is The US President Using It? Snubbing the Supreme Court ruling, Trump announced he would sign an executive order imposing a 10 per cent global tariff on imports from all countries under Section 122. He claimed that the authority allows him to keep tariffs in place while other, more durable investigations (like Section 301) proceed. He also said he would keep other tariff authorities (like Section 232 and Section 301) active or initiate new ones. The global 10 per cent tariff is effectively a temporary stopgap meant to preserve US leverage and revenue while the administration pursues longer-term, country-specific trade actions, according to The Guardian. What Does Section 122 Allow? Under Section 122, Trump can impose temporary tariffs up to 15 per cent. It allows immediate implementation with no prior investigation and there is no requirement for congressional approval (for up to 150 days). However, it does not allow tariffs beyond 150 days without Congress, policies targeting specific unfair trade practices (those typically fall under Section 301), and national security-based tariffs (covered by Section 232) How Does Section 122 Fit With Other Trade Tools? After the Supreme Court setback, Trumps tariff playbook" now includes: Section 122 (Trade Act of 1974): Temporary global tariffs. Section 301 (Trade Act of 1974): Tariffs targeting specific unfair trade practices, often following investigations that can take months. Section 232 (Trade Expansion Act of 1962): Tariffs justified on national security grounds for specific products (e.g., steel, aluminium). This layered approach means Trump can continue to apply pressure on imports even after the courts ruling against IEEPA-based tariffs. Why Does The Move Matter? The Supreme Court ruling sharply reined in a broad emergency tariff strategy. However, according to Axios, by pivoting to Section 122 and other statutes, the administration can reimpose global tariffs quickly and keep trade leverage in its toolkit. Section 122s limits (time and rate) make it a temporary measure, but it buys time while deeper investigations under Sections 301 or 232 play out. In short, Section 122 provides a legal lifeline that lets the administration continue an aggressive tariff stance, even if broader emergency powers are off the table. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:57 IST News explainers What Is Section 122? A Rare Trade Law That's Donald Trump's Latest Weapon In Tariff Arsenal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... BJP Workers Wave Black Flags At Rahul Gandhi Over Congress' Shirtless Drama At AI Summit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 14:53 IST Demonstrations were held in Delhi, Surat, Mulund in Maharashtra, Hyderabad and other locations by BJP workers condemning the Indian Youth Congress. In Mulund, protesters showed black flags to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as he traveled to Thane. (Image Credit: X) Workers, supporters and youth wing members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged protests across several cities, condemning the Indian Youth Congress for disrupting the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Surat, Mulund in Maharashtra, Hyderabad and other locations, with BJP activists raising slogans and carrying placards denouncing the Congress. #WATCH | Patna, Bihar | BJP workers hold a protest against the Congress party over the Indian Youth Congress protest at the India AI Impact Summit yesterday pic.twitter.com/wnjzeNEb1b ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026 In Mulund, protesters showed black flags to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as he travelled to Thane to furnish a fresh surety in a defamation case filed by a worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The protests follow a incident at the AI Summit in New Delhi, where around 10 Youth Congress activists staged a shirtless protest, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US trade deal. The protesters wore or carried white T-shirts printed with images of PM Modi and US President Donald Trump. Read more: Their Natural Stupidity: KTR Says Congress Protest At AI Summit Tarnishes Indias Image Security personnel quickly intervened and the activists were arrested for disrupting the high-profile summit, which was attended by global technology leaders including Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai. BJP chief Nitin Nabin condemned the protest, accusing certain political parties of aligning with urban Naxalism." We often use the term urban Naxalism. I can say that while earlier some parties were merely influenced by it, today they have completely become a part of it," he said, adding, While India is being discussed globally, such a disgraceful act has harmed the countrys progress." Union Minister and senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav called the incident absolute shamelessness from Congress." At a time Bharat is taking strides positioning itself as a global technology powerhouse, Congress is going all out to embarrass the country. This is not political opposition, this is an attempt at sabotaging Indias global image. Despicable," he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 14:35 IST News india BJP Workers Wave Black Flags At Rahul Gandhi Over Congress' Shirtless Drama At AI Summit Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Congress Protest At AI Summit 'A Larger Conspiracy' Inspired By Nepals Gen Z Movement: Delhi Police Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 13:06 IST Police told the court that investigators were also probing the funding behind the protest, including who paid for the printing of T-shirts. Indian Youth Congress protest at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi. (Photo: X) Shirtless protests by members of the Indian Youth Congress at the AI Summit venue in the capital were inspired by Nepals violent Gen Z movement that toppled the government there, Delhi Police told a court, alleging a larger conspiracy behind the demonstration. This is a larger conspiracy that has taken inspiration from the Gen Z protests in Nepal. The accused need to be confronted with each other as well as with digital evidence. This is a very important investigation," police said while seeking custody of the arrested activists. Police told the court that investigators were also probing the funding behind the protest, including who paid for the printing of T-shirts carrying messages such as PM is compromised", India-US Trade Deal" and Epstein Files". Around 10 activists of the Congresss youth wing had entered the AI Summit venue in New Delhi and staged a shirtless protest, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US trade deal. The protesters wore or carried white T-shirts printed with images of PM Modi and US President Donald Trump along with slogans targeting the government. Security personnel quickly intervened and the protesters were later arrested for disrupting the high-profile summit, which was attended by global technology leaders including Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai. The protest sparked a political row, with BJP leaders condemning it as anti-national" and accusing the Congress of harming Indias global image, while the Congress defended the demonstration as legitimate democratic dissent reflecting youth anger. BJP chief Nitin Nabin condemned the protest, accusing certain political parties of aligning with urban Naxalism". We often use the term urban Naxalism. I can say that while earlier some parties were (merely) affected by it, today they have completely become a part of it," Nabin said, adding, While India is being discussed globally, such a disgraceful act has harmed the countrys progress," he added. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 13:04 IST News india Congress Protest At AI Summit 'A Larger Conspiracy' Inspired By Nepals Gen Z Movement: Delhi Police Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mamdani campaigned heavily on the promise to raise income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers. On a broader scale, whether Americas ultra-rich are paying their fair share of taxes is an issue that has long been debated. In the months leading up to New York Citys mayoral election, Isaac Toledano, CEO of Miami-based developer BH Group, said his firm closed more than $100 million in signed contracts from New York buyers about twice the year-earlier volume. According to real estate developers, that trend was already gaining momentum even before Mamdani took office. Probably sometime next year, within 12 to 18 months, I will meet him in Miami and give him real estate agent of the year award, OLeary quipped. I live in Miami Beach. Everybody from New York and New Jersey and Massachusetts is moving into my neighborhood. Im pissed off and this guy's just doing more of it. He also argued the policy could accelerate an ongoing migration trend out of high-tax jurisdictions particularly toward Florida, where he lives. This is bat poopoo crazy, he said, adding that, rather than cut spending, Mamdani will simply tax you into oblivion. Such a property tax hike would affect more than 3 million residential units and over 100,000 commercial buildings across the city (3). Mamdani himself acknowledged the move would not only hit wealthy residents, but effectively be a tax on working- and middle-class New Yorkers who have a median income of $122,000 (2). In a press briefing unveiling his preliminary budget, Mamdani said that he would raise property taxes by 9.5% if hes unable to persuade Gov. Kathy Hochul to raise income taxes on the wealthy (2). Most Americans earn a dismal 0.39% APY on their cash at big banks. Unlock up to 4.05% APY and pay $0 in account fees instead with a Wealthfront Cash Account Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake heres what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how What hes proposing is beyond insane, OLeary said in a recent appearance on CNN (1). New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis first budget proposal since taking office has already stirred strong reactions. Among the vocal critics is Shark Tank investor Kevin OLeary. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story Continues The blunt reality is that most billionaires build their wealth through assets not wages; as the value of these assets rises, their net worth grows. However, the U.S. tax system isnt designed to fully capture those gains. Capital gains are typically taxed at lower rates than regular income and taxes aren't owed until the assets are sold. In fact, as NYU Stern professor Scott Galloway once put it, if youre trying to build wealth, you have an obligation to pay as little tax as possible. One asset class Americas wealthy have relied on for decades is real estate in part because of the generous tax treatment it receives. When you earn rental income from an investment property, you can claim deductions for a wide range of expenses, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance and ongoing maintenance and repairs. Real estate investors also benefit from depreciation a tax deduction that recognizes the gradual wear and tear of a property over time. Investors can also use tools like refinancing and 1031 exchanges to keep their capital compounding instead of cashing out. Today, you dont need to be a millionaire or even to buy a single property outright to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class. Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100 all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants. The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares youd like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment. For a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match. Mogul is another option. Its a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls. Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. In other words, you gain access to institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost. Each property undergoes a rigorous vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties here. Read More: Im almost 50 years old and dont have retirement savings. Is it too late to catch up? Read More: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10 Keep more of what you earn The wealthy dont just focus on what they invest in they also pay close attention to where those investments sit. Using tax-advantaged retirement accounts can be a powerful way to keep more capital compounding over time. For seasoned investors with portfolios of $50K or more, you might consider diversifying your nest egg through a flat-fee self-directed retirement account. A self-directed retirement account is a tax-advantaged individual retirement account (IRA) that lets investors allocate funds to a significantly broader range of alternative assets than typical IRAs offered by banks or brokerage firms. While traditional IRAs limit options to stocks, bonds and mutual funds, a self-directed account allows you to invest in real estate, cryptocurrency, private businesses, precious metals and private lending. With IRA Financial, you can work directly with experienced retirement specialists. If you prefer making your investments online, their platform and mobile app make it easy to manage your account. They also have an in-house tax team to ensure your investments stay fully compliant with IRS rules. With over $5 billion in retirement assets under custody, guaranteed IRA audit protection, 25,000+ clients nationwide and a 97% client retention rate, IRA Financial can help you grow your retirement fund with alternative assets. Simply answer a few questions including the kinds of assets you would like to invest in and how much youd like to start with to prequalify for an account in just 90 seconds. A structured approach to managing taxes and long-term wealth High-income households can also work with platforms like Range to further reduce their tax burden. Range is a streamlined, cost-effective way to manage your entire financial life. They offer tax recommendations based on your prior year returns and can evaluate your investment portfolios for tax loss harvesting opportunities, too. Beyond taxes, Range also offers investment advisory services. While traditional advisors can charge fees from 0.5% to 2% of your total assets under management (AUM), or between $1,000 to more than $3,000 for more comprehensive plans, Range offers flat-fee pricing with 0% AUM fees. Thats a fraction of what youd pay with a typical CFP. You can even book a free demo with the Range team after answering a few quick questions about yourself and what youre looking for from their experts. You May Also Like 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. Kevin O'Leary (1); Forbes Breaking News (2); NYC.gov (3) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Divorce Row Turns Deadly: Woman Shot Dead By Estranged Husband Outside Her Faridabad House Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 13:34 IST Sangeeta Devi was shot dead by her estranged husband outside her Faridabad home. He fled; police have filed a murder case and are investigating. The shooting incident took place around 8 pm in Sunlight Colony of Basantpur village in Faridabad. (Representative image) A 30-year-old woman was allegedly shot dead by her estranged husband outside her home in Faridabad on Friday night. The accused husband, accompanied by his family members, allegedly fired three shots at the victim before fleeing when neighbours responded to the gunfire. The victim has been identified as Sangeeta Devi, who had been living separately from her husband and in-laws with her two children. The shooting incident occurred around 8 pm in Sunlight Colony of Basantpur village, according to police. It is learnt that the couple was in the midst of a divorce case. According to police, there was an ongoing dispute between Sangeeta and her husbands family. Residents stated that Sangeeta had gone out when her husband and some in-laws arrived at her home. Unable to find her, they began to leave but saw her approaching and stopped her. Soon after, an argument ensued between them and quickly escalated. Sangeeta attempted to defend herself and retreated, at which point her husband shot her three times, police stated. Sangeeta fell to the ground, seriously injured by two bullets. Neighbours rushed out upon hearing the shots, prompting the accused to flee, police added. Sangeetas father arrived at the scene and, with the help of neighbours, took her to a private hospital in Sector 31, where doctors pronounced her dead. Police sent her body to the mortuary for a post-mortem. Meanwhile, a case of murder has been registered at Palla police station and teams have been formed to nab the accused who hails from Bihar. Further investigation is underway. Location : Faridabad, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 13:34 IST News india Divorce Row Turns Deadly: Woman Shot Dead By Estranged Husband Outside Her Faridabad House Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Chinese Robodog Failure Highlights Galgotias Large AI Summit Booth: Bigger Than 4 IITs How Much Did It Cost? Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 15:04 IST The exhibition space at Bharat Mandapam was reportedly leased on a first-come, first-served basis. Galgotias University was allotted 155 square metres in Hall 6. When visitors walked into Hall 6 at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, one pavilion stood out for its sheer size. Galgotias University, a private institution based in Noida, had a 155-square-metre booth, quite larger than the combined space allotted to several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The development drew attention online, especially after the university was embroiled in the robodog controversy at the same event. What Happened With The Robodog Galgotias University faced backlash after a robotic dog displayed at its stall was presented as an in-house innovation developed by its Centre of Excellence. The robot was later identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped developed by China-based Unitree Robotics. The product is sold globally and is not an original invention. The claim triggered criticism and raised concerns about due diligence at a government-backed event. Following the controversy, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) reportedly asked the university to vacate its stall. The Booth Size In Limelight After the robodog episode, attention turned to pavilion sizes at the summit. According to a floor plan obtained by The Indian Express from organisers, Galgotias University was allotted 155 square metres in Hall 6. In comparison, four IITs and one research foundation together received 130 square metres. The breakup was as follows: IIT Bombay 35 sqm IIT Madras 35 sqm IIT Kharagpur 24 sqm IIT Gandhinagar 18 sqm Airawat Research Foundation at IIT Kanpur 18 sqm Collectively, these institutions, though widely regarded as Indias best engineering and research bodies, had less exhibition space than Galgotias alone. The comparison fuelled online debate over how space was allocated at a summit positioned as a showcase of Indias AI ecosystem. Heres What Social Media Said Joining in the debate, a user posted on X, IITs may have thought that their degree and research is enough, but the Galgotia people understood first-come-first-served as come first, take all possession. IIT had 130 sqm of research, so Galgotia had a swag of 155 sqm! It is called knowledge will decrease, but the shop should be big." IITs may have thought that their degree and research is enough, but the Galgotia people understood first-come-first-served as come first, take all possession. IIT had 130 sqm research, so Galgotia had a swag of 155 sqm! It is called knowledge will decrease, but the shop K G (@GaurBulandshahr) February 20, 2026 Another simply wrote, The space given to Galgotias for the AI summit for larger than the space given to 4 IITs combined.." Someone else said, They paid more Id assume? Booth size is always decided by financial contribution!" The space given to Galgotias for the AI summit for larger than the space given to 4 IITs combined. pic.twitter.com/k5ZBXHveXo Cooper (@Akshaykpr) February 20, 2026 How Was Space Allocated The exhibition space at Bharat Mandapam was reportedly leased on a first-come, first-served basis. Allocation was handled by the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). According to an organiser cited by The Indian Express, kiosk space was allotted based on demand. Institutions that applied earlier and requested larger areas could secure more space. There was no formal vetting process tied to research output, institutional ranking or contribution to Indias AI ecosystem. How Much Did Galgotias Pay The rate for academic institutions was fixed at Rs 9,000 per square metre. With 155 square metres allotted, Galgotias University paid approximately 14 lakh (excluding taxes and electricity connection charges). Institutions with smaller booths paid proportionately less, based on the space they secured. Since the pricing was uniform per square metre, the difference in booth size directly translated into a higher payment. Why The Issue Gained Attention The AI Impact Summit was positioned as a platform to showcase Indias innovation capabilities. The presence of IITs and established research bodies was seen as central to that objective, given their long-standing contributions to AI research and technological development. Viewers questioned whether exhibition space at such events should reflect institutional credibility and contribution instead of demand and booking order. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 14:56 IST News india Chinese Robodog Failure Highlights Galgotias Large AI Summit Booth: Bigger Than 4 IITs How Much Did It Cost? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Instagram Influencer Arrested In Kerala For Alleged Sexual Assault Of Multiple Women Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 16:27 IST Social media influencer Yadu Girish was arrested in Thrissur after several women accused him of sexual assault on Instagram; police are investigating further. A representational image. A 38-year-old social media influencer has been arrested in Thrissur district after several women accused him of sexually assaulting them. Police said the accused allegedly befriended the women through Instagram before targeting them. The man, identified as Yadu Girish, is a native of Thannyam in Thrissur. According to investigators, he was active on Instagram and operated multiple accounts on the platform. The case came to light after one woman approached the police with a complaint accusing him of sexual assault. As officers began their inquiry, two more women came forward with similar allegations. They told police that Girish befriended them online, gained their trust and promised marriage before allegedly assaulting them. Following his detention, investigators suspect that more women may have been targeted in a similar manner. Police said further investigation is ongoing to identify other possible victims. Several cases have been registered against Girish under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. The investigation is being carried out by a special team under the Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Thrissur District Crime Branch, officials said. Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 16:27 IST News india Instagram Influencer Arrested In Kerala For Alleged Sexual Assault Of Multiple Women Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: February 26, 2026, 09:40 IST Kerala Lottery Result Today: The first prize winner of Karunya KR-743 will take home Rs 1 crore. (Image: Shutterstock) Kerala Lottery Result Today Live, 21-2-2026: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the Karunya KR-743 lottery results for February 21, 2026. The draw was held at Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction, Thiruvananthapuram, under official supervision to ensure fairness and transparency. The first prize of Rs 1 crore has been won by the ticket number KV 668293, while the second prize of Rs 25 lakh goes to ticket number KT 556577, and the third prize of Rs 10 lakh is claimed by ticket number KP 270540. The bumper jackpot winning ticket was sold at Chittur by agent Kannappan, with agency number P 4507. ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result (26.02.2026): Karunya Plus KN-612 Winning Numbers For February 26, 2026 Check the full list of winning numbers below. 'Not Just Electoral Rolls But Also From Country': Amit Shah Vows To Remove Infiltrators In Assam Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 20:25 IST Amit Shah said that if large parts of India could be freed from Naxal violence, the country could also be made free of infiltration with sufficient political will. Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (File photo) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, alleging that illegal immigrants form the partys votebank" and asserting that the BJP would remove infiltrators not just from electoral rolls but from the country itself within the next five years. Drawing a parallel with the governments campaign against Left-wing extremism, Shah said that if large parts of India could be freed from Naxal violence, the country could also be made free of infiltration with sufficient political will. Shah was speaking after laying the foundation stone for a new campus of the Assam Police 10th Battalion, which he said would be built on land reclaimed after eviction drives against illegal settlers. Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said the Opposition had repeatedly spoken about removing infiltrators but lacked the intent to act. Congress cannot remove them because illegal immigrants are their votebank," he alleged. He argued that eviction drives alone were not enough. Driving infiltrators off encroached land only pushes the problem elsewhere. They must be identified and sent out of the country," Shah said. Referring to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission, the home minister said the exercise would expose illegal immigrants, even as he accused Rahul Gandhi of opposing the process. Protests and rhetoric will not stop the identification of infiltrators," he remarked. Shah alleged that decades of Congress rule had endangered Assams identity, claiming its policies had undermined the states jati, mati and bheti", people, land and foundation. He accused the party of encouraging infiltration, leading to demographic changes in several districts. He credited the BJP-led Assam government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with reclaiming more than one lakh bighas of encroached land and said a further five lakh bighas would be cleared over the next five years if the party returned to power. However, he stressed that land recovery alone would not solve the issue unless infiltrators were deported. If the BJP is voted back to power, we will identify every infiltrator and remove them from the country," Shah said, adding that such action required courage, determination and political will", which he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi possessed. The home minister also claimed that infiltration posed a national security risk and said it was symbolic that a police battalion campus would come up on land where illegal settlers had earlier been encouraged to stay. Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly are expected to be held in March-April. Location : Assam, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 20:25 IST News india 'Not Just Electoral Rolls But Also From Country': Amit Shah Vows To Remove Infiltrators In Assam Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Temples In Delhi, UP Could Be LeT, Jaish Targets In Pakistan-Backed Terror Plot, Intel Suggests Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 11:45 IST Sources said key operatives linked to JeM chief Masood Azhar and associates of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed are among those involved. The Red Fort is seen. Intelligence agencies warned of possible coordinated IED strikes on major Hindu shrines in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh by Pakistan-backed terror groups, with temples including Akshardham Temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple identified as potential targets, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18. According to sources, the threat follows Operation Sindoor, during which Indian forces targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. Intercepted communications indicate both groups view the strikes as a provocation and are seeking revenge against symbols of Hindu religious significance. Intelligence intercepts from encrypted channels also suggest a rare operational merger between JeM and LeT cells, allegedly coordinated by handlers in Rawalpindi under a joint plan codenamed Zulm Ka Badla". Sources said key operatives linked to JeM chief Masood Azhar and associates of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed are among those involved. The primary focus of the alleged plot is on temples in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, selected for their symbolic and cultural importance. Apart from Akshardham and Kashi Vishwanath, other locations under watch include the Lotus Temple, ISKCON Temple Delhi and the Ram Mandir Ayodhya, sources said. Ground intelligence from Uttar Pradesh indicated suspected surveillance activity by sleeper cells in border districts such as Ghaziabad and Dadri, including mapping of entry points and crowd movement. Sources added that infiltration routes via Nepal and Bangladesh borders are being used, with operatives allegedly entering using fake identities and blending in as labourers or vendors. The plans reportedly involve coordinated IED blasts and possible suicide attacks during major religious festivals such as Holi and Ram Navami in March-April this year. Explosives are suspected to be transported through truck routes from Punjab, with some materials traced to suppliers in Pakistan, according to intelligence inputs. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 10:21 IST News india Temples In Delhi, UP Could Be LeT, Jaish Targets In Pakistan-Backed Terror Plot, Intel Suggests Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Reflection Of Trust': PM Modi Says India-Brazil Bilateral Trade To Cross $20 Billion Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 13:59 IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed strengthening India-Brazil ties, highlighting mutual benefits and ongoing partnership. Rapid Read PM Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R). (Image: Reuters/File) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday. Addressing a joint press conference with the Brazilian President after the meeting, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the growing economic and technological partnership between New Delhi and Brasilia, noting that Brazil is Indias largest trading partner in Latin America." #WATCH | Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, Brazil is Indias largest trading partner in Latin America. We are committed to taking bilateral trade beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Our trade is not just a figure; its a reflection of trust. The large business delegation pic.twitter.com/xqUE8Id9j0 ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026 The Prime Minister emphasised that this growing trade reflects mutual trust and signals the continued deepening of economic cooperation between the two nations. The PM also voiced confidence that bilateral trade would surpass $20 billion in next five years. We are committed to taking bilateral trade beyond $20 billion in the next five years," PM Modi stated. He emphasised that trade between the two countries is not just a figure; its a reflection of trust," pointing to the large business delegation accompanying President Lula as a sign of confidence." Collaboration In AI, Tech And Innovation Strengthened PM Modi also underscored the expansion of the India-Mercosur trade agreement as a step to further strengthen economic ties. The expansion of the India-Mercosur trade agreement will further strengthen our economic cooperation. Our cooperation in technology and innovation is important for both countries as well as the entire Global South," he said. On the technology front, he noted ongoing efforts to establish a Centre of Excellence for Digital Public Infrastructure in Brazil and highlighted cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), supercomputers, semiconductors, and blockchain, stressing that both countries aim to ensure technology is inclusive and serves as a bridge for shared progress across the Global South. I am pleased that we are working on establishing a Centre of Excellence for Digital Public Infrastructure in Brazil. We are also prioritising our cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, supercomputers, semiconductors, and blockchain. Both countries believe that technology must be inclusive and must become a bridge for shared progress," he added. When India And Brazil Work Together, Voice Of Global South Becomes Confident: PM Modi The PM emphasised the shared commitment of India and Brazil to resolving global challenges through dialogue and diplomacy. We believe that all problems must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. India and Brazil are unanimous that terrorism and its supporters are enemies of all humanity. We also agree that reform of global institutions is essential to address the challenges of our time. We will continue to work together in this direction," PM Modi remarked. Highlighting their strong partnership on the world stage, PM Modi noted that as democratic nations, India and Brazil will continue to advance the priorities and aspirations of the Global South. India and Brazils partnership on the global stage has been strong and influentialWhen India and Brazil work together, the voice of the Global South becomes stronger and more confident," the PM further said. There is also immense potential for cooperation in the health and pharmaceutical sectors. We will work to increase the supply of affordable and quality medicines from India to Brazil," PM Modi added. President Lula Hails Strong India-Brazil Ties Meanwhile, President Lula highlighted the strong mutual trust and alignment between the two nations, saying, This shows the synchrony and mutual trust that binds us together." He recalled hosting PM Modi in Brasilia in July last year, describing the visit as a milestone." During that meeting, the two leaders restructured the bilateral cooperation agenda across five key areas and signed several agreements aimed at providing tangible results to their partnership. The high-level talks underscored the deepening India-Brazil ties across trade, health, and global cooperation, with both sides reiterating the importance of strengthening the voice of the Global South. First Published: February 21, 2026, 13:59 IST News india 'Reflection Of Trust': PM Modi Says India-Brazil Bilateral Trade To Cross $20 Billion Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Modis Israel Visit Puts Anti-Ballistic Missile Shield Collaboration In Sharp Focus: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 07:31 IST PM Modis Israel visit aims to strengthen defence ties, focusing on Mission Sudershan and missile tech. Rapid Read Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu (Image: PTI/File) Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-day visit to Israel from February 25, New Delhi is preparing to strengthen its strategic and defence partnership with Tel Aviv significantly. Although no formal defence contracts are expected to be signed during the trip, the two sides are likely to sign an MoU on security cooperation. Both sides are advancing long-term collaboration estimated to be worth around $10 billion in the coming years, according to a report in Hindustan Times. An agreement on security cooperation is likely, building on the groundwork laid during Defence Secretary RK Singhs visit to Israel last November, when an expanded defence cooperation framework was concluded. Mission Sudershan Gains Momentum India is particularly interested in jointly developing advanced anti-ballistic missile systems under Mission Sudershan, aimed at shielding Indian territory from long-range missile threats. Israels expertise in layered missile defence including long-, medium-, and short-range systems makes it a key partner. The country has demonstrated strong interception capabilities in recent conflicts, reinforcing its reputation in this domain. In addition to missile defence, Israel has reportedly agreed to provide cutting-edge technologies, including advanced laser-based defence systems and other high-precision stand-off weapons, the report stated. India is also pursuing long-range strike capabilities such as air-, sea-, and ground-launched missiles and loitering munitions capable of penetrating sophisticated enemy air defence networks. Recent operational use of such systems has underscored their strategic value. During Operation Sindoor, Indian forces deployed Rampage missiles along with Palm 400, Harpy, and Harop loitering ammunition to strike targets inside Pakistan, carrying out precision attacks that severely degraded Chinese-built air defence systems, with operations reaching as far as Islamabad. Future acquisitions may include glide bombs, air-to-surface missiles, air-launched ballistic missiles, and extended-range naval air defence systems to enhance fleet protection. Beyond defence, the visit is expected to deepen cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, water management, and emerging fields like quantum computing. With strong political alignment and shared positions on counterterrorism, both nations are poised to further consolidate their multifaceted partnership. First Published: February 21, 2026, 07:31 IST News india PM Modis Israel Visit Puts Anti-Ballistic Missile Shield Collaboration In Sharp Focus: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Their Natural Stupidity...: KTR Says Congress Protest At AI Summit Tarnishes Indias Image Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 14:45 IST The working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) said the protest reflected poorly on the country and criticised the Congress party. BRS working president KT Rama Rao pointed to what he described as the irony of the timing. KT Rama Rao condemned the protest by Indian Youth Congress members at the AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, accusing them of tarnishing Indias image by staging political demonstrations at a global event. The working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) said the protest reflected poorly on the country and criticised the Congress party for choosing an international platform for dissent. Natural stupidity of Congress party far exceeds Artificial Intelligence. Thats the tweet," Rama Rao said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Natural stupidity of Congress party far exceeds Artificial IntelligenceThats the tweet KTR (@KTRBRS) February 21, 2026 In another post, he said, It is absolutely deplorable that members of the Youth Congress chose the AI Impact Summit 2026 as a venue for petty political theatrics." He said protests at such events could damage Indias global standing. Using such a global platform for protests will project our great nation India in a poor light internationally. While difference of opinion is natural in a democracy, understanding where and how to protest is very important," he said. It is absolutely deplorable that members of the Youth Congress chose the AI Impact Summit 2026 as a venue for petty political theatricsUsing such a global platform for protests will project our great nation India in a poor light internationally While difference of opinion is pic.twitter.com/sM3MmIb8UJ KTR (@KTRBRS) February 21, 2026 Rama Rao also pointed to what he described as the irony of the timing. There is a time and place for political dissent, and an international summit is certainly not one of them. And, the irony is hard to miss: Youth Congress guys staged the protest precisely when their own partys Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, was addressing the same AI Summit," he said. YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy condemned the protest on X, saying, Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress embarrassed us all. Where is our politics headed? No one should demean our country. Regardless of political differences, we must always present a united face to the world." Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress made us all feel ashamed. Where is our politics heading! No one should ever demean our country. Whatever our political differences may be, we should always present a united face to the world. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) February 21, 2026 The protest took place in New Delhi when Youth Congress activists entered the summit venue and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, displaying T-shirts carrying political messages related to the India-US trade deal. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 13:33 IST News india Their Natural Stupidity...: KTR Says Congress Protest At AI Summit Tarnishes Indias Image Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Two IEDs Found In Punjab And Kashmir After Lashkar's Delhi Terror Plot Intel Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 19:14 IST The recoveries come amid intelligence inputs warning of a potential Lashkar-e-Taiba conspiracy aimed at religious and tourist locations in Delhi. Representative Image Two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir on Friday as security agencies issued a high alert over a possible terror plot by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) targeting Delhi. While officials have not established a direct link between the recoveries and the intelligence warning, the developments have heightened security concerns. In Punjab, a suspected IED was found inside an unattended bag near the Rayya police post in Amritsar. Police cordoned off the area and called in a bomb disposal squad, which later confirmed the presence of an explosive device and safely neutralised it. A suspicious bag was noticed near the police chowk. The bomb disposal squad was immediately alerted and, after examination, confirmed it was an IED. It was then defused as per standard operating procedures," said Amritsar SSP Sohail Qasim Mir. On the same day, another IED was detected in Safapora in Jammu and Kashmirs Ganderbal district. The device was spotted by the Armys bomb detection squad along with Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel and was defused within hours, officials said. Security agencies noted that this was the third IED recovery in North Kashmir within a week. Earlier, explosive devices were found on the Tangmarg road and in Baramulla district. Lashkar Terror Plot Alert The recoveries come amid intelligence inputs warning of a potential Lashkar-e-Taiba conspiracy aimed at religious and tourist locations in Delhi. Sources said the outfit was allegedly attempting to orchestrate an attack to avenge the February 6 suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad, which killed more than 30 people. The Islamic State, however, had claimed responsibility for that attack. According to intelligence inputs, sensitive areas in Old Delhi, including locations around Chandni Chowk, could be among possible targets. Investigators believe the plan may involve planting IEDs in or near high-footfall zones, including areas close to the Red Fort. The Red Fort had witnessed a deadly car bomb explosion three months ago that left 12 people dead and more than 20 injured. Investigators later said the attack was carried out by a white-collar terror module with links to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a finding also referenced in a recent United Nations counter-terrorism report. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 19:14 IST News india Two IEDs Found In Punjab And Kashmir After Lashkar's Delhi Terror Plot Intel Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Investing.com French President Emmanuel Macron has injected a dose of "democratic optimism" into the global trade debate, following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to strike down President Trumps IEEPA-backed tariffs. Speaking from the annual agricultural salon in Paris on Saturday, Macron hailed the ruling as a victory for the rule of law, suggesting that judicial "counterweights" are essential for stability in global markets. However, the sentiment remains cautious as the "tariff holiday" for French exporters appears to be ending before it truly begins. With President Trump immediately pivoting to a new 10% global tariff, the Elysee is now shifting its focus toward a strategy of "reciprocity" to protect Frances core export pillars. Macron emphasized that France is prepared to "adapt" to the new 10% levy to ensure its most valuable sectors remain competitive. For investors, the focus remains on the four pillars of the French economy that are most exposed to U.S. trade policy: Luxury & fashion: Giants like LVMH (LVMHF) and Kering (PPRUY), which have navigated high tariffs over the last year, are watching for any secondary "reciprocal" measures. Aeronautics: Airbus (EADSY) remains a critical factor in the transatlantic trade balance. Agriculture & wine: The U.S. remains a top destination for French spirits and agricultural products, sectors that Macron vowed to protect from "unilateral decisions." Seeking reciprocity over unilateralism The French President called for a "calm mindset," but his message to Washington was clear: France will not be a passive observer to unilateral trade shifts. Macrons insistence on "reciprocity" suggests that France may push for a unified European response through the EU if the new 10% global tariff disrupts the current "hard-struck" trade deals. "The fairest rule is reciprocity," Macron stated, signaling that while France respects the U.S. judicial process, it is ready to defend its market share in the luxury and tech sectors should the new round of 150-day tariffs prove punitive. For those following the "Europe Inc." narrative, Macrons comments confirm that the SCOTUS ruling is viewed less as a permanent fix and more as a legal "reset button." While the removal of the 25% emergency levies is a win for French margins in the short term, the long-term outlook remains tethered to how "calmly" Paris and Washington can negotiate the new 10% global baseline. 'Went In With Hope But...' Gorakhpur Cataract Camp Turns Catastrophic As 9 Lose Eyes, 9 Left Blind Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 15:14 IST What was meant to be a routine procedure left nine people blind in one eye & nine others without an eye altogether as a severe bacterial infection spread within 24 hours of surgery Rapid Read The hospital in Gorakhpur where the surgeries were performed. (News18) We went there to restore her vision, not lose her eye," says Ram Milan, son of 65-year-old Shankaravati, one of 18 patients whose lives were upended after a cataract surgery camp in Uttar Pradeshs Gorakhpur ended in medical disaster. What was meant to be a routine procedure for 30 patients on February 1 has left nine people blind in one eye and nine others without an eye altogether after a severe bacterial infection spread within 24 hours of surgery. The surgeries were conducted at New Rajesh Hi-Tech Hospital in Sikriganj under the governments Ayushman Bharat scheme. According to hospital records, patients were kept under observation for three to four hours post-surgery before being discharged. By the next day, however, panic began to spread. Her eye was swollen, red, and there was pus coming out. She was crying in pain," recalls Ram Milan. We thought it was normal post-surgery discomfort. But by evening, she could barely open her eye." Shankaravati was among 18 patients who rushed back to the hospital on February 2 with similar complaintsintense pain, swelling, discharge and rapidly deteriorating vision. As the situation escalated, doctors referred them to another eye facility in Gorakhpur. From there, families scrambled to take their loved ones to super-speciality hospitals in Varanasi, Lucknow and New Delhi. In nine cases, the infection had spread so aggressively that surgeons were forced to remove the affected eye to prevent it from spreading further. Nine others lost their eyesight permanently in the operated eye. One patient reportedly regained partial vision later, but for most, the loss has been irreversible. At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, 70-year-old Sehwan Ali underwent eye removal surgery. His nephew, Arif, says the family is still struggling to come to terms with it. We took him for cataract surgery so he could see clearly again," Arif says. The next day, blood started oozing from his eye. The hospital told us to take him to Delhi immediately. By the time doctors examined him at AIIMS, they said the infection had spread too much. They had to remove his eye. Now he keeps asking us, Will I ever see properly again? What do we tell him?" Another patient, Pardeshi from Belghat, is still undergoing treatment in Delhi. During a follow-up examination, doctors informed him that he had lost vision in his operated eye. A final decision on further surgical intervention is pending medical evaluation. Back in Gorakhpur, fear and anger have gripped the affected families. Many of the patients are elderly daily-wage earners or farmers who opted for surgery under the government health scheme, believing it to be safe and accessible. They told us it was a government-approved camp," says Sunita Devi, whose mother lost vision in one eye. We trusted them. If there was any risk, why werent proper precautions taken? Now my mother cannot even walk without support." The Uttar Pradesh health departments culture report has confirmed bacterial infection as the cause of complications. A magisterial inquiry was ordered by the district administration soon after the matter came to light. The eye department of New Rajesh Hi-Tech Hospital has been sealed, patient statements recorded, and medical documents seized as evidence. District Magistrate Deepak Meena confirmed that the inquiry report points to bacterial contamination. The magisterial investigation has found evidence of bacterial infection in the cases," Meena said. Following the report, the hospital has been sealed and the Chief Medical Officer has been directed to initiate proceedings to cancel its registration. Such an incident has not occurred in the district before. We have instructed all hospitals to strictly adhere to medical protocols." Chief Medical Officer Dr Rajesh Jha termed the episode a serious lapse" and said accountability would be fixed after reviewing the complete findings. For families, however, administrative action offers little comfort. Shankaravati now sits quietly in her Varanasi hospital ward, frequently touching the bandage where her eye once was. Her son worries constantly about her remaining eye, which is still under observation due to infection risk. She keeps asking if her other eye will also go bad," he says. If anything happens to her second eye, how will she live? Who will be responsible?" Medical experts say post-operative endophthalmitisa severe internal eye infectionis rare but can be devastating if sterilisation standards are compromised. The cluster of 18 infections from a single days surgeries has raised serious questions about hygiene protocols, equipment sterilisation, and antibiotic procedures followed at the facility. The incident has triggered sharp political reactions in Uttar Pradesh, with the opposition accusing the state government of negligence in monitoring private hospitals empanelled under government health schemes. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a strong attack on the state administration, questioning accountability in Gorakhpurthe home turf of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. In a post on X, Yadav wrote that while people in Gorakhpur were losing their eyesight, those in power were sitting comfortably". He questioned whether proper monitoring and review meetings take place during the chief ministers visits to the city or if they are limited to political engagements. He further alleged that the health department was in a state of neglect and mismanagement. The government must answer how 18 patients developed infection within 24 hours of surgery. Who is responsible for this criminal negligence?" SP leaders said, demanding strict action against those found guilty. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, maintained that swift administrative action had been taken. Local BJP representatives said the hospital had been sealed promptly, a magisterial inquiry ordered, and further legal proceedings initiated. They accused the opposition of politicising a sensitive medical issue." But beyond politics and procedure, the human cost remains stark. For Pardeshi, Sehwan Ali, Shankaravati and others, the loss is not just medicalit is emotional and economic. Many depended on clear vision for daily survival. Some were hoping to resume farm work, others simply wanted to regain independence. We went in with hope, but came out with darkness," says Arif. Location : Gorakhpur, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 15:14 IST News india 'Went In With Hope But...' Gorakhpur Cataract Camp Turns Catastrophic As 9 Lose Eyes, 9 Left Blind Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Studying Developments': Centre's First Response After US Top Court Strikes Down Trump's Tariffs Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 16:44 IST The Commerce Ministry said it was studying all developments in the US, from the court's decisions to Trump's new round of tariffs, to analyse their implications. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal | ANI Image In its first response to the US Supreme Courts verdict to strike down the reciprocal tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, the Central government of India said it is studying all developments, from the courts judgment to Trumps following remarks, to analyse their implications. We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US Administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications," the Ministry of Commerce wrote in an official statement. This came after the US Supreme Court dealt a major blow to the Trump administration by ruling that it did not have the legal authority to impose sweeping global tariffs under emergency powers. Earlier today, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi on Saturday said the Centre will examine the ruling and either the Commerce Ministry or the Ministry of External Affairs will officially react to it. In a 63 decision, the court said the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not give a president the power to introduce broad, across-the-board tariffs on imports. The judgment could open the door to refund claims potentially worth tens of billions of dollars. US-India Trade Deal Within hours of the ruling, Trump appeared before reporters and announced a new round of tariffs, signalling that his trade agenda would move forward despite the setback. The president declared a fresh 10 per cent global tariff to be added on top of existing duties. Trump also said the existing trade framework with India will continue unchanged. Responding to a question about whether the trade deal or framework with India would still stand, Trump said, Nothing changes. They will be paying tariffs. And we will not be paying tariffs. This is a reversal for what it used to be." Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said, India, Prime Minister Modi is a great man, but he was much smarter than the people he was against in terms of the United States. He was ripping us off." This came after an interim trade deal between India and the US was announced this month, which reduced US tariffs on Indian imports from 50% to 18% in exchange for Delhis promise to stop buying Russian oil. However, after the Supreme Court verdict, a White House official said that Trumps sweeping new 10% global tariff will reset rates for all major trading partners, including India. This is, however, only temporary as the administration will be pursuing other legal authorities to implement more appropriate or pre-negotiated tariff rates," the official told AFP. A three-day meeting between Indian and American officials to finalise the legal text for an interim trade agreement will begin in the US on February 23, an official told PTI. The Indian team will be headed by chief negotiator Darpan Jain, who is a joint secretary in the Commerce Ministry. First Published: February 21, 2026, 16:21 IST News india 'Studying Developments': Centre's First Response After US Top Court Strikes Down Trump's Tariffs Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... International Mother Language Day 2026: History, Significance, Wishes And Quotes Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 07:20 IST International Mother Language Day 2026 highlights multilingual education, cultural diversity, and pride in your mother tongue celebrated worldwide on February 21. International Mother Language Day 2026 theme is, Youth voices on multilingual education. (AI generated image) International Mother Language Day, observed on February 21, serves as a global reminder of the value of mother tongues and multilingual education. The annual observance underscores how languages are central not only to cultural identity, but also to social cohesion, equitable education and long-term development across societies. The theme for 2026 is Youth voices on multilingual education." International Mother Language Day 2026: History The origins of International Mother Language Day are rooted in a defining chapter of modern history. The date commemorates a moment of resistance and sacrifice in Bangladesh, where language became a rallying point for rights and identity. In 1952, students in Dhaka led protests demanding official recognition for Bangla as a state language. Demonstrations on February 21 turned deadly, leaving an indelible mark on the nations history and underscoring the idea that language is fundamental to human dignity. The significance of that struggle gained global recognition decades later. In November 1999, UNESCO formally declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day, a move endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002. The day has since been observed worldwide to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity. International Mother Language Day 2026: Significance According to the United Nations (UN), languages sit at the heart of identity, education, social cohesion and development, shaping how communities connect and the world around them. Yet the forces of globalisation are accelerating their decline, pushing many languages towards extinction. When languages fade, so does the worlds rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and expression valuable resources for ensuring a better future are also lost," the UN says. Languages sustain multilingual and multicultural societies by carrying forward traditional knowledge in ways that support long-term cultural continuity. International Mother Language Day is marked annually to reinforce the importance of protecting this linguistic diversity, as per the UN. International Mother Language Day 2026: Wishes May your mother tongue continue to echo in your heart and home. Happy International Mother Language Day! Wishing you pride in every syllable of your mother tongue. Celebrate your roots today! May our languages thrive for generations. Happy International Mother Language Day 2026! Heres to cherishing Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and every Indian tongue. Happy International Mother Language Day 2026! Let your mother tongue guide your thoughts and dreams forever. Best wishes! International Mother Language Day 2026: Quotes Our languages are the rivers that feed the ocean of Indian culture. To lose your mother tongue is to lose a part of your heart. Every language is a universe; every speaker, a guardian of that world. From the streets of Kolkata to the villages of Kerala, languages unite us. Diversity in languages is diversity in thought: protect it fiercely International Mother Language Day 2026: Messages Greetings! In a world of many voices, lets honour the first one we ever heard: our mother tongue. Warm wishes! Our mother tongues are bridges between the past and the future. Hello! Lets teach our children to love and learn in their mother tongue. Greetings! May our linguistic tapestry grow ever more colourful. Wishing peace, pride, and prosperity through our diverse languages. First Published: February 21, 2026, 07:20 IST News lifestyle events International Mother Language Day 2026: History, Significance, Wishes And Quotes Ramadan 2026, February 22: Sehri And Iftar Timings For Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru And Other Indian Cities Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 22, 2026, 10:21 IST Ramadan 2026 Sehri and Iftar timings for February 22 across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other Indian cities. Check complete city-wise fasting schedule here. Rapid Read Ramadan 2026 Timetable: Here are the Sehri and Iftar timings for February 22, 2026 in major cities in India. Ramadan 2026 Timetable: Ramadan is currently being observed across India, with people fasting from dawn to sunset each day. The holy month is a time for prayer, self-control, charity and spiritual focus. Muslims avoid food and water during daylight hours as part of this practice. As the fast begins before sunrise and ends at sunset, knowing the correct Sehri and Iftar timings is important. Below are the city-wise timings for February 22, 2026. CITY-WISE SEHRI AND IFTAR TIMINGS FEBRUARY 22, 2026 CITY SEHRI IFTAR Delhi 05:35 AM 6:17 PM Mumbai 05:50 AM 6:42 PM Bengaluru 05:28 AM 6:28 PM Chennai 05:18 AM 6:17 PM Kolkata 04:49 AM 5:37 PM Srinagar 05:45 AM 6:21 PM Lucknow 05:19 AM 6:03 PM Hyderabad 05:27 AM 6:21 PM Patna 05:02 AM 5:48 PM Ranchi 05:02 AM 5:50 PM Ahmedabad 05:52 AM 6:40 PM Nagpur 05:21 AM 6:20 PM Why Ramadan Is Observed Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is believed to be the month when the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Fasting during this month is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is required for healthy adult Muslims. ALSO READ: Ramadan Mubarak Wishes 2026: Ramzan Images, WhatsApp Status, Quotes, Instagram Captions And Messages To Share Fasting, known as Sawm, is not only about staying away from food and water. It also teaches patience, self-control and kindness. Many people spend more time praying, reading the Quran and helping those in need. The month ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. What Sehri Means Sehri, also called Suhoor, is the meal eaten before dawn. It must be finished before the Fajr prayer. This meal gives strength for the day ahead. People often choose simple and healthy foods such as fruits, dates, grains, yogurt and plenty of water to stay active during the fast. How Iftar Is Observed Iftar is the meal taken at sunset to break the fast. Many begin with dates and water, following the practice of Prophet Muhammad, before offering the Maghrib prayer and then having a full meal. Families and friends often gather for Iftar, and mosques and community groups also arrange shared meals. Timings may vary slightly based on location and local announcements, so people are advised to check with nearby mosques for exact prayer times. First Published: February 21, 2026, 16:29 IST News lifestyle events Ramadan 2026, February 22: Sehri And Iftar Timings For Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru And Other Indian Cities Fitful Night Of Sleep? Here's 5 Ways To Treat Sleep Apnea, An Unknown Sleep Disorder Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 09:09 IST Sleep Apnea is a serious disorder that causes poor oxygen flow to the body, and if left untreated, raises risks for hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. If you are suffering from sleep apnoea, your partner can observed breathing pauses during the night Sleep is the foundation of both physical and emotional health, yet millions silently battle sleep apnoea without realising its profound mental impact. Characterised by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) not only disrupts rest but also increases risks of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. It is a serious sleep disorder that causes poor oxygen flow to the body and fragmented rest, and if left untreated, it raises risks for hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. ResMeds 2025 Global Sleep Survey found that nearly one-third of respondents experience poor sleep three or more nights a week, with stress (57%) and anxiety (46%) emerging as leading triggers. Some of the common symptoms include: Loud, chronic snoring with gasping/choking sounds Sudden awakening when sleeping Excessive daytime sleepiness/fatigue despite full sleep Morning headaches, dry mouth, sore throat Difficulty concentrating, irritability, depression Observed breathing pauses by the partner We speak to Dr Sibasish Dey, MBBS, MD, Head of Medical Affairs, South Asia, ResMed, to understand how addressing sleep apnoea is not just about breathing easier but also about protecting mental well-being. Here are five effective ways to manage sleep apnoea and improve psychological health: Consistent CPAP Therapy Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard for obstructive sleep apnoea treatment. A study by The Lancet found CPAP users had a 37% lower risk of all-cause mortality and 55% lower cardiovascular mortality. Long-term CPAP use also improves executive function and attention in patients with severe OSA. Stress Management and Mental Health Support Poor sleep and mental health often reinforce each other, creating a cycle that worsens sleep apnoea symptoms. Addressing the psychological triggers is therefore just as important as treating the physical aspects of apnoea. Incorporating stress-management techniques like mindfulness, breathing exercises, or journaling can calm nighttime arousal and improve sleep. Weight and Exercise Management Excess weight is a major risk factor for sleep apnoea because it increases airway obstruction. Structured weight management and regular aerobic exercise can reduce apnoea severity, improve sleep efficiency, and alleviate stress. Lifestyle and Positional Strategies Sleeping on ones side, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding alcohol or sedatives can significantly reduce apnoea episodes. Adopting good sleep hygiene, such as keeping a consistent bedtime, limiting screen use before sleep, and creating a quiet, dark environment, can enhance sleep quality, directly benefiting mental well-being. Orofacial Therapy Orofacial (myofunctional) therapy, which involves targeted exercises for the mouth, tongue, and facial muscles, has been shown to reduce sleep apnoea severity in both children and adults. By strengthening and repositioning the tongue and upper airway muscles, this therapy can improve airway stability during sleep and lower apnoea episodes. First Published: February 21, 2026, 09:03 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness Fitful Night Of Sleep? Here's 5 Ways To Treat Sleep Apnea, An Unknown Sleep Disorder Seema Haider, Viral Pakistani Woman Who Crossed Into India Illegally In 2023, Gives Birth Again In 11 Months. But Is It Safe? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 19:49 IST After Seema Haiders closely spaced pregnancies made headlines, doctors explain why birth spacing matters for maternal and baby health Seema Haider, Viral Pakistani Woman Who Crossed Into India Illegally In 2023, Gives Birth Again In 11 Months. Is That Safe? Seema Haider, the Pakistani national who entered India via Nepal in 2023 to be with Uttar Pradesh resident Sachin Meena, whom she met while playing PUBG, is once again in the headlines. She has welcomed her sixth child, a baby boy, at a private hospital in Greater Noida, just 11 months after giving birth to her fifth child, a daughter. Reports say both mother and baby are healthy, and celebrations followed at her home in Rabupura, where she lives with Sachin Meenas family. The news quickly went viral online, with many expressing surprise at the short gap between the two pregnancies. Beyond public curiosity, however, the situation highlights an important medical question: how much time should ideally pass between pregnancies? The Recommended Gap Between Two Pregnancies Health experts widely recommend waiting 18 to 24 months between one delivery and the next conception. This time allows the body to recover from the intense physical demands of pregnancy and childbirth. Recovery is not just about regaining energy. The uterus needs to heal, hormone levels must stabilise, and nutrient reserves, especially iron and folate, must be restored. When pregnancies occur too soon, the body may still be in recovery mode. Why Closely Spaced Pregnancies Carry Higher Risk Medical professionals say shorter intervals between pregnancies can increase the likelihood of complications for both mother and baby. Dr Kekin Gala, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Narayana Health SRCC Childrens Hospital, Mumbai, explains: From a medical perspective, pregnancies occurring in very quick succession are generally not considered ideal for a womans health. After childbirth, the body requires adequate time to recover the uterus needs to heal, iron and nutritional stores must be replenished, and hormonal balance has to stabilise. Ideally, a gap of about 1824 months between one delivery and the next conception is recommended to reduce health risks. When pregnancies occur within a year, the chances of complications such as maternal anaemia, preterm birth, low-birth-weight babies, and overall pregnancy stress may increase. While some women may still deliver safely with proper medical supervision, closely spaced pregnancies are categorised as higher risk and require careful monitoring. Planned spacing between children is therefore important not only for maternal recovery but also for better newborn health outcomes." What Happens Inside The Body Pregnancy and breastfeeding significantly deplete nutrients. Iron levels often drop, increasing the risk of anaemia. The uterus, which expands during pregnancy, needs time to return to its normal size and function. Hormonal systems that regulate mood, metabolism and reproductive health also need time to rebalance. When conception happens too soon, these recovery processes may be incomplete. Why Babies Are Affected Too Short pregnancy gaps can also influence infant health. Babies born after closely spaced pregnancies are more likely to be premature or have low birth weight. One major reason is maternal nutrient depletion, the body may not have fully rebuilt resources needed to support another pregnancy. Spacing pregnancies helps support healthier fetal development, better maternal strength and more stable early caregiving. First Published: February 21, 2026, 19:49 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness Seema Haider, Viral Pakistani Woman Who Crossed Into India Illegally In 2023, Gives Birth Again In 11 Months. But Is It Safe? YogMantra | Asanas May Fall Away, But Pranayama Remains For A Lifetime Written By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 10:15 IST Traditional Yoga masters placed Pranayama at the heart of Yoga. While postures prepare the body, Pranayama maintains health and sustains life Rapid Read Pranayama is best practised early morning, around sunset, and before meditation. (Patanjalee Institute Of Yoga & Therapy) Today, digital platforms that play a major role in promoting Yoga culture are also focussed on the physicalaesthetics, flexibility, stamina. Yoga has an eightfold pathwhich, surprisingly, largely goes unnoticed. As noted by renowned classical Yoga teacher of the last century, TKV Desikachar: People say they are doing Yoga when in fact doing Asana. Yet they dont say I am doing Yoga when they are doing Pranayama or meditation." Yogas Other Aspects Slowly Gaining Traction Pranayama is increasingly recognised as the proper way to breathe and as a tool for mental health. What still remains poorly understood is the extent to which Pranayama by itself can sustain the body, its functions, and overall health. Classical Yoga writings and teachings, however, repeatedly emphasise Pranayamanot posturesas the more important factor in Yoga for maintaining health. Why Classical Yoga Places Pranayama Above Asanas Contemporary Yoga teacher and Founder of ACT Yoga (Authentic, Classical, Traditional Yoga), Dr N Ganesh Rao, explains: Asanas relate to the physical dimensionthe anatomy or structure of the body. After doing Asanas, we stand before a mirror to admire ourselves, because the effect becomes obvious in our form. Pranayama brings in the physiological dimension. The human body has the panch pranas (five pranas)prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana. These pranas put together are responsible for all functions in the human body. Digestion, circulation, excretion, the nervous systemall systems in the body are made healthy by Pranayama practices. That is why Pranayama is at a higher level than Asanas. While Asanas cater to appearance, Pranayama caters to the health of the systems," he says. Pranayama Is Not Just Breath, But The Energy Behind It Noted Yoga and Ayurveda scholar, Padma Bhushan Vamadeva Shastri, explains that it may surprise us how prana means far more than what we think it is. Prana is a cosmic force and pervades all of life and nature. Oxygen is merely the carrier of prana at a physical level. Though our first acquaintance with prana is through the breath, prana is actually the energy behind it. This life energy or the vital force sustains speech, mind, senses, and our internal organs. Prana, as the basis of Vata dosha in Ayurveda, rules all movements, functions and activities in the body and is closely linked with the nervous system." Therefore, Pranayama does not just make us breathe better or exercise our lungs. It helps us establish balance and vitality in both mind and bodyfinally opening access to inner energy consciousness, as we move onward in Yoga. Nadi Shodhana or alternate nostril breathing is the main practice here. Pranayamas Capacity To Prolong Life Renowned physician and Yoga educator Dr Ramesh Bijlani, recipient of the PM Yoga Award, explains the deeper physiological effects of Pranayama in his YESpirituality YouTube Channel. Control of Prana can do several things. A person can direct it to a particular part of the body and heal it. And by making the process of self-healing more efficient, one can come out of illness and potentially prolong life." He explains that slow (about 10 times per minute), deep and predominantly abdominal breathingwhich Pranayama facilitatesis more beneficial. This is because only that part of the air is useful in delivering oxygen to the body that is in the lungsnot that which is in the airways. When we breathe deeply, a larger fraction of the air participates in gas exchange in the lungs. Deep Breathing Versus Yogic Breathing Shri Yogendra, pioneer Yoga guru and Founder of The Yoga Institute Santacruz, states in his book Hatha Yoga Simplified that: It is a truism that health, tone and vigour of the body depends mostly on the quantity and quality of blood circulating throughout the system. In Yoga breathingdue to favourable coordination between the positive and negative pressures in the intrathoracic cavitygeneral and pulmonary circulation is improved both in quantity and quality, even without the aid of muscular exercise," he explains. This is why yogic alternate breathing is superior to mere deep breathing. When Mobility Reduces, Pranayama Alone Suffices As the body ages or mobility is compromised, Yogasana may no longer be possible. Pranayama, however, remains available even thenseated or lying downand can suffice to support health and vitality. Whats more, it can be utilised as what Vamadeva Shastri describes as unitary prana to reach inner energy consciousness". Breathing and the higher inner Yoga practices are lifelong companions, supporting health and lifeas also lifes quests. The Right Time To Practise And To Begin Pranayama is best practised early morning, around sunset, and before meditation. The timing to begin the practice also matters. Yogi Swami Sivananda, Founder of the Divine Life Society, advised commencing Pranayama in Vasanta Ritu (spring) or Sharad Ritu (autumn). In these seasons, success is attained without difficulty, he said, as recorded in the book The Science of Pranayama. The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@gmail.com. First Published: February 21, 2026, 10:15 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness YogMantra | Asanas May Fall Away, But Pranayama Remains For A Lifetime Cant Get Over Kohrra 2? Here Are 5 Gripping Thrillers To Watch Next Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 13:56 IST Loved Kohrra 2? From spine-chilling serial killers to gritty cops battling corruption here are some shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist. Delhi Crime stars Shefali Shah in the lead role. (Photo Credit: X) Murder mystery dramas have a special way of pulling viewers in, not just because of the central crime, but because of the world they create. The mood, the silences and the slow-burning tension often become the real hook. Thats exactly what makes Kohrra so gripping. Since its debut in 2023, the series has drawn praise for its layered storytelling and powerful performances. Now, with Season 2 finally here, the show continues to impress audiences with its intense narrative and atmospheric depth. Unlike fast-paced thrillers packed with constant twists, Kohrra takes its time, allowing the suspense to simmer. If youve just wrapped up Season 2 and are looking for more dark, immersive crime dramas dont worry, weve got you covered. From spine-chilling serial killers to gritty cops battling corruption here are some shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist. Delhi Crime Based on real-life events, this gripping series follows the Delhi Police as they investigate some of the countrys most shocking crimes. Starring Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain and Rajesh Tailang, the show first premiered in 2019, with Season 2 arriving in 2022 and Season 3 releasing in November 2025. Its available to stream on Netflix. Paatal Lok Paatal Lok is a neo-noir crime thriller that premiered in 2020 on Amazon Prime Video. Loosely inspired by Tarun Tejpals 2010 novel The Story of My Assassins, the first season follows a disillusioned cop investigating a high-profile assassination attempt that goes wrong. The series stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh and Gul Panag, who reprised their roles in the second season. Set against the backdrop of political turmoil in Nagaland, Season 2 also features Tillotama Shome, Jahnu Barua, Nagesh Kukunoor and Prashant Tamang in key roles. Dahaad Set in a small town in Rajasthan, Dahaad follows Sub-Inspector Anjali Bhaati, played by Sonakshi Sinha, as she investigates a series of missing women cases that slowly reveal the pattern of a serial killer. The show is inspired by the real-life crimes of Mohan Kumar, also known as Cyanide Mohan, who targeted women seeking marriage. Its available on Prime Video. Sacred Games Based on Vikram Chandras 2006 novel of the same name, Sacred Games is a gripping crime thriller set in Mumbai. The series follows troubled police officer Sartaj Singh, played by Saif Ali Khan, who receives a chilling phone call from gangster Ganesh Gaitonde, portrayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, warning him to save the city within 25 days. What follows is a tense and layered narrative that unfolds across timelines. The show also features Radhika Apte, Girish Kulkarni, Neeraj Kabi and Jeetendra Joshi in key roles. The first season premiered on Netflix on July 6, 2018, followed by Season 2 on August 15, 2019. Asur This gripping thriller follows a CBI team tracking a serial killer who believes he is the reincarnation of a mythological demon. The series blends mythology with modern psychology. The series stars Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti, along with Anupriya Goenka, Riddhi Dogra and Amey Wagh in key roles. Sharib Hashmi featured prominently in the first season, while Meiyang Chang and Abhishek Chauhan joined the main cast in Season 2. The first season premiered in 2020, followed by the second in 2023. The show is available to stream on JioHotstar. First Published: February 21, 2026, 13:56 IST News movies bollywood Cant Get Over Kohrra 2? Here Are 5 Gripping Thrillers To Watch Next Kings Raja Hindustani Album Brings Together Shreya Ghoshal, Kumar Sanu, Sunidhi Chauhan And More Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 18:08 IST King releases Raja Hindustani, a melody-driven album featuring Shreya Ghoshal, Kumar Sanu, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan and Rekha Bhardwaj, celebrating Indias musical legacy. Rapid Read Kings new album Raja Hindustani sees him collaborate with Shreya Ghoshal, Kumar Sanu, Sunidhi Chauhan and more, blending nostalgia with modern pop storytelling. Pop icon King has released his biggest project to date, Raja Hindustani, a sweeping celebration of Indias rich musical legacy filtered through a contemporary pop lens. Released via Warner Music India, the album brings together some of the most influential voices in Indian music Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan, Kumar Sanu and Rekha Bhardwaj creating a rare generational crossover. With this project, King moves decisively toward melody-driven storytelling, honouring the emotional textures that shaped Indian pop culture while reimagining them for todays listeners. A Tribute To The Legends Who Shaped Him The first two singles, Kamaal Hai" and Jo Ishq Hua," established the albums romantic and melodic direction. But it is Maza Pyaar Karne Mein" with Kumar Sanu that stands as the emotional centrepiece. The track blends nostalgia with modern freshness, and the video amplifies that sentiment by bringing Kumar Sanu on screen alongside King. It is a full-circle moment the student standing beside the voice that once defined an era. The album continues its sonic journey with Yeh Dil Mujhko Tu Dede," a reggae-tinged collaboration with Sunidhi Chauhan, injecting playful rhythm into the mix. Yeh Safar," featuring Shaan, unfolds as a warm ode to companionship, while Haal e Dil" with Shreya Ghoshal introduces an ethereal pause. Rekha Bhardwaj adds poetic gravitas to Woh Pehla Akshar," before the solo closer Aahista Aahista" ends the album on a euphoric note, pairing emotional lyricism with vibrant, celebratory production. It Feels Like A Full-Circle Moment: King On Raja Hindustani Speaking about the album, King shared: Raja Hindustani is my way of honouring the music that raised me while still pushing my sound forward. I grew up listening to the legends Ive collaborated with, which feels surreal in itself. Their voices shaped how I understand melody, emotion, and storytelling. To now sing with them isnt just a collaboration; it feels like a full-circle moment. This album is about bridging generations; classical and contemporary, nostalgia and now. Its about showing that Indian pop can be rooted in tradition while still sounding global, modern, and fearless. For me, Raja Hindustani is both a tribute and an expression." Bridging Eras, Rooted In The Present With Raja Hindustani, King returns to melody, emotion and storytelling in a way that feels both reverential and forward-looking. The album stands as a tribute to Indias sonic identity while confidently positioning that sound for a global stage. Raja Hindustani is now available on all major streaming platforms. The video for Maza Pyaar Karne Mein" is also out now. First Published: February 21, 2026, 18:08 IST News movies bollywood Kings Raja Hindustani Album Brings Together Shreya Ghoshal, Kumar Sanu, Sunidhi Chauhan And More Pankaj Tripathi Is Delighted To Meet Gaav Wala Siddhant Chaturvedi At Mumbai Event Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 11:26 IST Pankaj Tripathi, equally delighted by Siddhant Chaturvedi's gesture, responded with his signature simplicity and warmth. Siddhant greeted Pankaj Tripathi with a warm embrace. Pankaj Tripathi and Siddhant Chaturvedi were recently snapped at a star-studded event in Mumbai. Known for their grounded personalities and strong screen presence, the talented stars shared a heartwarming moment that has now won the internets affection. In a video doing the rounds on social media, Siddhant can be seen enthusiastically rushing toward Pankaj Tripathi and his wife, Mridula, as soon as he spots them. The young actor greeted the senior star with a warm hug and a bright smile, reflecting both admiration and affection. Pankaj, equally delighted by the gesture, responded with his signature simplicity and warmth and the two were seen sharing a light-hearted moment filled with laughter. However, what truly made the interaction memorable was Pankaj Tripathis affectionate remark to the paparazzi. Pointing towards Siddhant, he said, Ye humare gaav wala hai," proudly acknowledging their shared small-town roots. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Fans Reacts With Love The candid exchange quickly became a fan favorite, with many chiming into the comments section of the post and filling it with red heart emoticons. A majority of users also praised Siddhant and Pankaj Tripathis simplicity. Siddhant Chaturvedis Professional Front The actor is currently winning hearts for his role in Ravi Udyawars Do Deewane Seher Mein. The romantic drama stars Ila Arun, Ayesha Raza, Viraj Gehlani, Joy Sengupta, Sandeepa Dhar, Mona Ambegaokar, Achint Kaur, Deepraj Rana, Naveen Kaushik, and Master Inesh Kotian, alongside Mrunal and Siddhant. Helmed by Ravi Udyawar and penned by Abhiruchi Chand, the love story has been produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Prerna Singh, Umesh Kumar Bansal, Bharat Kumar Ranga under the banners of Bhansali Films, Zee Studios and Rancorp Media. Whats Next For Pankaj Tripathi? Admired for his effortless acting and relatable persona, the actor will soon be seen in one of his most popular franchises Mirzapur: The Film. Slated for release on September 4, the upcoming movie will also star Ali Fazal and Divyenndu Sharma. Next, he will star in the comedy-drama film Parivarik ManuRanjan, along with Aditi Rao Hydari. Set against the backdrop of Lucknow, the film effortlessly blends situational comedy with heartfelt emotion. Parivarik ManuRanjan, featuring a perfectly mismatched pair, promises laughter, love, chaos, and music. Produced by Vinod Bhanushali and Himanshu Mehra and creatively produced by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film is written by Brijendra Kala and Varun Sharma. The release date and other details have yet to be announced. First Published: February 21, 2026, 11:26 IST News movies bollywood Pankaj Tripathi Is Delighted To Meet Gaav Wala Siddhant Chaturvedi At Mumbai Event This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. Today, a brief rundown of news from Madrigal Pharmaceuticals and Daiichi Sankyo, as well as updates from Johnson & Johnson, AC Immune and Novartis that you may have missed. Shares of Madrigal Pharmaceuticals fell by double digits on Thursday despite quarterly numbers for its liver disease drug Rezdiffra that again surpassed consensus estimates. Rezdiffra fourth-quarter sales of $321 million topped those projections by $10 million and there was nothing to nitpick in the companys results, as all metrics ... were positive, wrote Cantor Fitzgerald Prakhar Agrawal. Still, a whisper of higher expectations among buyside investors and a higher-than-expected projected decline in sales next quarter may have triggered the stock sell-off, added Evercore ISI analyst Michael DiFiore in a separate note. Despite the pullback, DiFiore wrote that his team remains positive on the drugs fundamental trajectory. Madrigal shares, which have soared during Rezdiffras launch, have lost about a quarter of their value so far this year. Former Novartis executive John Tsai has been named the new global head of research and development at Japanese pharmaceutical giant and antibody-drug conjugate specialist Daiichi Sankyo. Tsai was Novartis chief medical officer for four years until he departed in May 2022 amid an organizational reshuffling. He then served as an executive partner at venture firm Syncona Capital Management. At Daiichi Sankyo, Tsai will replace Ken Takeshita, whos been running the companys drug research since 2021. The change will become official on April 1. Johnson & Johnson will invest more than $1 billion in a new cell therapy manufacturing facility in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The planned facility announced Wednesday is part of a broader commitment by the company to pour $55 billion into U.S. production through early 2029 one of many pledges drugmakers have made to avoid Trump administration tariffs. J&J said the plant will be staffed with more than 500 workers. J&J has also temporarily paused enrollment in a mid-stage trial testing an Alzheimers vaccine its co-developing with AC Immune. In a regulatory filing Thursday, AC Immune said that enrollment was stopped while J&J evaluates certain aspects of the trial, which is testing the shot in pre-symptomatic Alzheimers. AC Immune added that the trial has already met an early goal and that the stoppage wasnt triggered by any new safety findings. Jefferies analyst Lucy Codrington speculated that the decision was related to recruitment challenges and also noted that AC Immunes key assets, among them a different type of Alzheimers shot, remain on track. Novartis will work with biotech startup Unnatural Products to develop a macrocyclic peptide drug, the companies said Wednesday. Macrocyclic peptides are popular among drug startups and designed to merge into a single medicine the strengths of small molecules and biologics. Unnatural is designing these therapies in an effort to get after historically undruggable targets. The companies didnt specify which target the program in the deal is aimed at, but said Unnatural will receive $100 million in upfront cash from Novartis and is eligible for another $1.7 billion if the drug progresses. James Cameron Warns Against Netflix's Acquisition Of Warner Bros: 'It Will Be Disastrous' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 08:36 IST James Cameron predicted that the move will not just force theatres to shut down but will also result in job losses in the showbiz world. Rapid Read James Cameron warns Netflix buying Warner Bros will hurt cinemas. Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron has warned that Netflixs acquisition of Warner Bros will be disastrous. In his letter to American Senator Mike Lee, the Avatar director claimed that the deal will not be good for the film industry. He predicted that the move would not just force theatres to shut down but would also result in job losses in the showbiz world. I believe strongly that the proposed sale of Warner Brothers Discovery to Netflix will be disastrous for the theatrical motion picture business that I have dedicated my lifes work to. Of course, my films all play in the downstream video markets as well, but my first love is the cinema," Cameron wrote in his letter, as quoted by Variety and then warned, Theaters will close. Fewer films will be made. The job losses will spiral." The business model of Netflix is directly at odds with the theatrical film production and exhibition business, which employs hundreds of thousands of Americans. It is therefore directly at odds with the business model of the Warner Brothers movie division, one of the few remaining major movie studios," he continued. The U.S. may no longer lead in auto or steel manufacturing, but it is still the world leader in movies. That will change for the worse," the filmmaker concluded. Senator Mike Lee also reacted to Camerons concerns and later issued a statement and said, We have received outreach from actors, directors, and other interested parties about the proposed Netflix and Warner Bros. merger, and I share many of their concerns. I look forward to holding a follow-up hearing to further address these issues." For the unversed, in December 2025, it was reported that Netflix has struck a deal with Warner Bros Discovery to buy the legacy Hollywood giants studio and streaming business for $72 billion. Beyond its namesake television and motion picture division, Warner owns HBO Max and DC Studios. First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:36 IST News movies hollywood James Cameron Warns Against Netflix's Acquisition Of Warner Bros: 'It Will Be Disastrous' Toy Story 5 Trailer OUT: Woody, Buzz Battle Screens In Pixars Bold Return Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 05:16 IST Pixar drops the Toy Story 5 trailer, teasing Woody and Buzzs emotional reunion as Bonnie drifts toward a high-tech tablet named Lilypad. Woody and Buzz reunite in Toy Story 5. Seven years after the emotional farewell of Toy Story 4, Disney and Pixar have unveiled the first full trailer of Toy Story 5 and it promises a heartfelt, timely adventure. Set to release in theatres on June 19, the fifth instalment reunites beloved characters while introducing a modern dilemma: what becomes of toys in a world dominated by screens? A Digital Dilemma For Woody And Buzz The trailer opens with Bonnie increasingly absorbed in Lilypad, a frog-themed tablet voiced by Greta Lee. Rather than framing technology as a villain, the film appears to explore a deeper existential crisis are toys becoming obsolete in todays digital childhood? As Bonnies attention shifts, Woody and Buzz Lightyear are forced to confront uncomfortable questions about relevance and belonging. The teaser hints at an emotional reunion between Woody now sporting a poncho and even a tiny bald spot and Buzz, rekindling the partnership that defined the franchise. Voices we know and love return, including Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz. Joan Cusack reprises her role as Jessie, while familiar faces like Forky, Slinky Dog, Hamm and Trixie join the mission to remind Bonnie of the magic of imaginative play. New Faces Join The Adventure The sequel expands its ensemble with a fresh lineup of characters. Craig Robinson lends his voice to Atlas, an upbeat GPS-inspired hippo. Shelby Rabara voices Snappy, an animated camera toy, while Conan OBrien plays Smarty Pants, a quirky toilet-training tech gadget. The film is directed and written by Andrew Stanton, known for Finding Nemo and WALL-E, with Kenna Harris serving as co-director. Stanton has described the story as less about good versus evil and more about how digital devices have reshaped childhood itself. Crucially, the narrative follows the events of Toy Story 4, which ended with Woody choosing independence over returning to Bonnies toy chest. How the film reconciles that separation is one of the biggest questions raised by fans after watching the trailer. Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 05:16 IST News movies hollywood Toy Story 5 Trailer OUT: Woody, Buzz Battle Screens In Pixars Bold Return WHAT! Yash's Fees For Toxic Will Leave You Shocked; Here's How Much The Actor Is Charging Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 13:32 IST Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups also stars Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi and Tara Sutaria in key roles. Rapid Read Toxic to release theatrically on 19 March 2026. (Photo: X) Yash is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming movie, Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups. While the teaser of the movie, released on Friday, has left everyone super excited for Geetu Mohandas revenge drama, do you know how much the actor is charging for the film? If a report by Siasat.com is to be believed, Yash is taking Rs 50 crore for his role in Toxic. However, considering that the actor is also the producer of the movie, another report by MensXP claims the Rocking Star is said to be charging around Rs 150 crore, which includes his acting fee as well as profit-sharing from the film. However, it should also be noted that there is no official confirmation regarding these figures and News18 Showsha could also not verify these. Toxic Teaser Out On Friday, Yash took to his Instagram handle and dropped the teaser, revealing that he will unleash his most violent avatar in Geetu Mohandas revenge drama. It reveals a massive, cinematic world that is both vibrant and brutal. Moving from a circus setting to an East Asian-inspired backdrop, the story spans different time periods with a dark, edgy atmosphere. Yet, beneath the brutal exterior and high-octane visuals, the teaser offers a glimpse into something deeper: a meticulous focus on storytelling and powerhouse performance that serves as the beating heart of this gritty universe. At the centre of this cinematic storm stands Rocking Star Yash, undergoing a transformation that is nothing short of a total reinvention. His physical evolution serves as one of the films most powerful statements, showcasing a range of appearancesfrom a lean, agile silhouette to a massive, battle-hardened physique all forged through relentless discipline. More About Toxic Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups has been filmed simultaneously in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and several other languagesunderscoring its global ambition. Besides Yash, Toxic also stars Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi and Tara Sutaria in key roles. The film also boasts a formidable technical team, including National Award winner Rajeev Ravi as cinematographer, Ravi Basrur on music, Ujwal Kulkarni on editing, and TP Abid as production designer. High-octane action is choreographed by Hollywood action director JJ Perry (John Wick) alongside National Award-winning duo Anbariv and Kecha Khamphakdee. Produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic is slated for a grand theatrical release on the long festive weekend of 19th March 2026, coinciding with Eid, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa. First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:12 IST News movies regional-cinema WHAT! Yash's Fees For Toxic Will Leave You Shocked; Here's How Much The Actor Is Charging After Decades Of Hard Work, Anup Soni Feels Hes Finally Where He Belongs Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 13:42 IST Anup Soni revealed he never felt the need to break the Crime Patrol image as he did not want to appear ungrateful. Up next Anup Soni will star in Netflix thriller series Talaash: A Mothers Search.(Photo Credit: Instagram) Crime Patrol fame Anup Soni feels he has finally reached the position he has been working towards for decades. The actor admitted that the journey was not easy and it required patience, hard work, and continued efforts. During an interview with Times of India TV, Anup Soni talked about feeling assured, as after years of hard work, he is finally getting meaningful opportunities. Anup Soni Reveals Getting Desired Opportunities The actor shared that in this era when there is a crowd of actors, only hard work can make one stand out. You have to trust your instinct and choose wisely. Im happy with the kind of work being offered to me now. It genuinely feels like a payoff for the patience I showed," he added. Talking about being associated with Crime Patrol for years, Anup Soni revealed he never felt the need to break the Crime Patrol image. I didnt want to appear ungrateful to something that gave me so much love and credibility. When people said the image was very strong, I accepted that for them to envision me in a different light would take time," he shared. Soni further continued, I was willing to wait and choose the kind of work I genuinely wanted to do. To stay creatively fulfilled during that phase, I returned to theatre, as it doesnt demand that you live up to a fixed image." Anup Soni on Akshaye Khannas Success Talking about Akshaye Khanna, Soni recalled the time when he used to teach the actor. I feel extremely happy watching Akshayes journey. I have taught him acting and have done several classes with him. Ive always admired his clarity of thought. He has experienced the journey of being a leading man, and what he is doing today is truly commendable." Soni further added that Akshaye Khanna has reached a stage where he is such a credible and dependable actor" that he can be cast in any role. Contrasting his journey with Akshaye Khanna, Soni stated, The star system exists everywhere. My journey is my own, and my focus is simple. I have to keep working and let my performances speak. Sometimes, all it takes is one role that truly lands. Theres nothing more fulfilling than earning work through good work, and I finally feel Im seeing the results of that patience now." Up next, Anup Soni will be seen in the Netflix mystery thriller series Talaash: A Mothers Search. Led by Parineeti Chopra, the series also stars Tahir Raj Bhasin, Soni Razdan, Jennifer Winget, and Sumeet Vyas in other prominent roles. The series will premiere on the streaming platform this year. First Published: February 21, 2026, 13:41 IST News movies television After Decades Of Hard Work, Anup Soni Feels Hes Finally Where He Belongs Arjun Bijlani Reveals Why He Signs Every Contract On Tuesday: Lord Ganesha Has Fulfilled All Wishes Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 15:41 IST Arjun Bijlani visited the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir to seek blessings from Lord Ganesha. Arjun Bijlani has been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in his house for over 24 years. Actor Arjun Bijlani is one of the most loved names in the television industry. From impressing audiences with shows like Left Right Left, Miley Jab Hum Tum and Ishq Mein Marjawan to winning hearts on reality shows such as Khatron Ke Khiladi 11, Rise and Fall and Laughter Chef, Arjun has carved a special place for himself. However, he is very particular about his projects and follows one strict rule. He signs all his contracts only on Tuesdays. The reason behind this practice is rooted in his spiritual beliefs. Fans know that Arjun is a devoted follower of Lord Ganesha, and he has been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in his house for over 24 years. Now the actor spoke about his deep faith in Ganapati Bappa. Arjun Bijlali Speaks About His Connection with Lord Ganesha Arjun Bijlani recently visited the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir to seek blessings from Lord Ganesha. He was seen in a traditional look, wearing a red kurta paired with white pyjamas and an off-white shawl that featured similar floral prints as his kurta. After offering the puja, the actor spoke to the media about his connection with Ganesha, saying, Sab jante hain ki main Ganesh bakt hu aur harsaal hamare ghar Ganpati aate hi hain. Aur mera ek personal baat bata deta hu. Ki main life mein jitna bhi contract sign kiya hai, ya jo bhi kuch kiya hai, wo maine mangalbar ke din hi kiya hai." Earlier, when he used to live in Mahim, Mumbai, with his parents, Bijlani would go to Siddhivinayak, Dadar every Tuesday. Main pehle Mahim rehta tha, toh main har tuesday aata tha Siddhivinayak. Aur jo bhi mankamana bappa ne meri puri ki hai, uske sathe main yahi kehna chachunga ki Ganpati Bappa Morya!" he added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IWMBuzz (@iwmbuzz) I turned to Bappa after I lost my dad" Earlier, in a conversation with Hindustan Times, Arjun Bijlani spoke about how his faith deepened after losing his father. After losing a parent, people often feel lost. I turned to Bappa after I lost my dad. I feel a strong connection with Him, and with each passing year, it has only grown stronger," he shared. Bijlani also remembered celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at his nanis home as a kid, a tradition that strengthened his bond with Bappa. He said, My Nani used to live in Dadar and on the 11th day, all the ganpatis from big pandals would pass through the lane where she lived. My cousins and I would enjoy the festive fervour up close, burst crackers, blow whistles, dance and have a lot of fun. Namaskar karte thhe to every idol that passed, and have prasad. Those were the days." On the work front, Arjun Bijlani is receiving immense love for his stint in Laughter Chefs 3. First Published: February 21, 2026, 15:41 IST News movies television Arjun Bijlani Reveals Why He Signs Every Contract On Tuesday: Lord Ganesha Has Fulfilled All Wishes Is Bigg Boss 19s Tanya Mittal Getting Married? And The Preparations Begin Post Sparks Speculation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 20:04 IST Tanya Mittal sparks wedding rumours with bridal lehenga posts on Instagram, but has not confirmed anything. Fans speculate if it's a real wedding or just suspense. Tanya Mittals Bridal Lehenga Trials Fuel Wedding Speculation Among Fans Wedding bells or just clever suspense? Thats the question fans are asking after Bigg Boss 19 contestant Tanya Mittal shared a series of intriguing posts on social media. Dressed in bridal outfits and dropping playful captions, Tanya has set the rumour mill spinning but has she actually confirmed anything? Not yet. The entrepreneur and reality TV personality recently posted two consecutive videos on Instagram that sparked speculation about a possible wedding. In the first clip, she is seen trying on a red wedding lehenga. As she steps out of the trial room and twirls in the outfit, she captions the post, And the preparations begin." Soon after, she shared another video, this time wearing a blue lehenga. Walking out of the trial room, she jokingly tells those around her, Tum log ko aisa to nahi lag raha, Bigg Boss phir se chalu ho gaya." The caption accompanying the post read, Yeh lehenga unko pasand aayega?" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tanya Mittal (@tanyamittalofficial) The back-to-back uploads quickly caught the attention of her followers, with many speculating that she may be preparing for her own wedding. One user commented, Tanya ki Shaadi hone waali hai. To kya reddit par February ki Shaadi ki news break hui thi ..wo sach thi?" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tanya Mittal (@tanyamittalofficial) Tanya ki Shaadi hone waali haiTo kya reddit par Feburary ki Shaadi ki news break hui thi ..wo sach thi ?? @itanyamittal #TanyaMittal???? #TanyaMittal #TanyaKaParivaar pic.twitter.com/ZhI7NfmUur Aditya Sharma (@adisonu31may) February 21, 2026 However, not everyone is convinced. Some fans believe the posts may be a tease rather than a real announcement. One user tweeted, My instincts are screaming that its not her wedding! Woh Tanya hai..aise hi shaadi announce krdegiii?" Another wrote, Mereko lag raha kuch achha hi dhamaka karne waali hain Tanya so lets wait guys. My gut feeling says itni jaldi to shaadi nahi karne waali." As of now, Tanya Mittal has not issued any official confirmation regarding a wedding. Tanya is an Indian entrepreneur, influencer and reality television personality. She gained nationwide attention after a viral video about her experience at Maha Kumbh 2025. She is the founder of the lifestyle brand Handmade with Love by Tanya and has over 2.5 million followers on Instagram. Her popularity further increased after she appeared as a contestant on Bigg Boss 19. Until she makes a formal announcement, fans will have to wait and watch whether the bridal trials are for a real-life wedding or simply something else in the works. First Published: February 21, 2026, 20:04 IST News movies television Is Bigg Boss 19s Tanya Mittal Getting Married? And The Preparations Begin Post Sparks Speculation Opinion | Why India Needs Nationalist Muslim Heroes More Than Ever Before Written By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 20:13 IST One community that desperately needs real role models today in the nationalist mould is the Muslim community The irony is that the ultra-Hindutva nationalists condemn almost the entire Muslim community at a time when it needs true Muslim heroes who believe in the indivisibility of India as a nation. Representational image The Indian Muslim community desperately needs inclusive patriotic role models and the time has come for central and state governments to take a structured initiative beginning at the grassroots level. Role models are very necessary for every section of the society if a country wants to emerge as a great nation. Every caste in Bharat, from highest to lowest including Dalits, has produced heroes who are revered even today by all sections of the society. For example, three Dalit Saints of Gujarat are most revered even by upper-caste people. The bhajans written by these saintsDaasi Jeevan, Trikam Saheb and Bhan Sahebare sung in Pushtimargi Vaishnav temples of Gujarat. Maharashtra has had a tradition of great saints from every community, including Chokha Mela from the Mahar caste, whose Abhangs (bhajans) are sung in Maharashtra till this day. The memory of the great 12th-century Maharashtra saint Chakradhar Swami who preached against untouchability and propagated his teachings by going on foot as far as Peshawara unique feat in the history of Indiastays alive in thousands of villages in Maharashtra and beyond. In Gujarat, the great Kashatriya warrior Bhathi Maharaj, who gave up his life to save cows from being killed by a group of Muslim fanatics in the medieval era, is celebrated in thousands of temples of Gujarat as well as neighbouring states like Rajasthan. Similarly, the great Tomar Rajput ruler of Ranuja (near Pokhran in Rajasthan), Raja Ramdev, who preached against untouchability and other social evils, is celebrated even today with much enthusiasm not just in Rajasthan but also in Gujarat, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh where his temples can be seen. The majority of his followers are Dalits. In Uttar Pradesh, for example, the memory of the great 14th-century Trilokchandi Bais Rajput ruler, Raja Trilokchandi, who carved an independent Hindu kingdom by fighting against the Jaunpur and Delhi Sultanatsa unique achievement during Indias the most oppressive Sultanat period (11931526)is still fresh. An entire area in eastern Uttar Pradesh called Baiswara is named after him. In Odisha, the name of Emperor Kapilendra, who founded the Gajapati or the Suryavamsham dynasty in the 15th century, lives on till this day. From there, he once invaded the Jaunpur Sultanat in Uttar Pradesh and defeated it. His north-western boundary touched Dhar near Indore, his south-western boundary touched Karnataka, and his eastern boundary stretched deep into Bengal. On the other side, false heroes can deeply dent the character of society. An example today is of Bollywood heroes who are being aped by a large section of Indian population and treated as real-life role models, even demigods, and not just good actors. The biggest threat today is to the image of Lord Ram, as a result of a mainstream actorwho has taken pride in eating beef and has said Jai Bajrang Bali while drinking liquor in a filmplaying the role of Lord Ram in an upcoming mega film on our greatest national hero. If small children start seeing him as the real Lord Ram, that will bring a cultural calamity on India, negatively affecting its culture and character and slowing its quest for becoming a Vishwa Gurua global spiritual leader. But one community that desperately needs real role models today in the nationalist mould is the Muslim community, which is facing a role-model crisis on two counts. On one hand, the burgeoning radical Wahhabi movement in the Muslim communityrepresented by the Deoband School, the Tablighi Jamaat and the Ahle Hadis, and actively promoted by the Congress since Independence, for its own political reasonshas created heroes out of radical Muslim figures from medieval era. These divisive heroes actively preached jihad against Hindus to Indian Muslims and sowed the separatist seed amongst them. One Muslim hero is radical Muslim preacher Shah Valiullah. He wrote a letter to Afghan invader Ahmedshah Abdali in 1760 suggesting to him to invade India and defeat the Marathas as the Muslim rule under the Mughal Sultanat was only in name and it were the Kafir Marathas who were running the show from behind and that it was necessary to defeat Marathas to re-establish the rule of puritanical Islam in Hindustan. Another such figure who is sold as a hero by Deobandi maulvis is Syed Ahmedabad Barelvi who was killed in the 1831 Battle of Balakot in present-day PoK, fighting against the Sikhs after waging a jihad against the Sikhs in North-West Frontier or todays Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. Barelvis ideological follower, Shah Ismail Dehlvi, who condemned Sufism and Hindu customs in the strongest possible language in his book Taqwiat-e-Imaan, is also depicted as a hero by Deobandi Maulvis amongst the Muslim populace. He also died in the Battle of Balakot along with his preceptor. His cenotaph can be seen even today in Balakot. Significantly, Indias first education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, has praised Dehlvi to no end in his Arabic and Urdu writings while condemning liberal Muslim emperor Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar. Similarly Akbar is also a hated figure in Deobandi-Wahhabi madrasas for bringing Hindus and Muslims together. Significantly, when the Wahhabi maulvis saw that Arya Samaj was fast reconverting Hindu-like Muslims back to Hinduism, they hit upon a cunning strategy. To stop the Arya Samaj movement they shook hands with Mahatma Gandhi and Congress in order to pressure Arya Samaj to stop reconversion activity. As a result, a section of Deobandi leaders joined the Indian freedom struggle with the Congress against their common enemy, the British, in the initial decades of the 20th century. These maulvis included the JUH founder Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madani, who praised Aurangzeb and condemned his liberal brother Dara Shukoh, and, on the other hand, openly criticized Jinnah for dealing a blow to the spread of Islam by limiting it to Pakistan. So these radical Deobandi preachers who aligned with Congress wanted entire India for Islam and believed that Jinnahs Pakistan movement was an impediment in that goal. The book The Deoband School and the Demand for Pakistan by Z.H. Faruqi throws light on why a section of Deobandis opposed the idea of Pakistan. The book has been quoted by some authors including Hamid Dalvai, a progressive Muslim leader of Mumbai, who boldly fought against Muslim obscurantism, but without much success. Faruqis book clearly says that Deobandis opposed the Partition only because they didnt want to limit Islams right to conversion of non-Muslims. On the other hand, the irony is that the ultra-Hindutva nationalists condemn almost the entire Muslim community at a time when it needs true Muslim heroes who believe in the indivisibility of India as a nation. As it is, the number of truly liberal Muslims in the medieval era are very less. So, if ultra-nationalist Hindus paint even those few liberal ones as villains or condemn them indiscriminately, they are pushing the entire community in the arms of radical Islamists. The article is an edited extract from Uday Mahurkars book My Idea of Nation First [Rupa Publications]. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views First Published: February 21, 2026, 20:13 IST News opinion Opinion | Why India Needs Nationalist Muslim Heroes More Than Ever Before Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 16:55 IST 1 / 10 Celebrity relationships often spark massive curiosity among fans and audiences. While some managed to stay in long-term commitments, others tend to go their separate ways. Naseeruddin Shahs step-nephew was one of them. He started his career in the 1990s as a background dancer before bagging his debut acting role in Bollywood. 2 / 10 The star, who is now married to a 14-year-younger partner, was involved in one of the most high-profile romances in Bollywood. This relationship blossomed in the early 2000s, when the actor fell for his fellow star while shooting the film. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 The actor we are talking about is none other than Shahid Kapoor. After making his Bollywood debut in the 2003 film Ishq Vishk, Shahid Kapoor signed Ken Ghoshs romantic thriller Fida, where he met with Kareena Kapoor. As per reports, the two stars grew feelings for each other and started dating publicly. 4 / 10 During this time they were seen together in multiple films, including 36 China Town, Chup Chup Ke, and Jab We Met, among others. According to reports, during the making of Jab We Met, Shahid Kapoor parted ways with Kareena. Since their split, Shahid Kapoor decided to keep his personal life away from media attention. However, the media speculated on his relationship with several other actresses, including Vidya Balan and Priyanka Chopra. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 Later in March 2015, Shahid Kapoor spoke of his impending marriage to Mira Rajput, a university student from New Delhi, who is almost 14 years his junior. According to reports, Shahid Kapoor met Mira Rajput through a religious group. In July 2015, Shahid Kapoor married Meera Rajput in an arranged marriage. The private ceremony took place in Gurgaon. Later in August 2016, Mira Rajput gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Misha, and in 2018, their second child, a son named Zain, was born. 6 / 10 During an interview with Times of India, Shahid Kapoor opened up about his marriage and shared, I am a very huge supporter of this arranged marriage format because I think the graph for an arranged marriage is you come with no expectations, and then if you hit it off, every day gets better than the previous one. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Previously, during an interview with SCREEN, Shahid Kapoor acknowledged that he and Mira are on separate tracks but work collaboratively to navigate the challenges of life. Shahid Kapoor also noted that this mutual understanding has been key to their decade-long marriage. 8 / 10 Mira Rajput is often seen speaking fondly of Shahid Kapoor on social media. Recently, following the release of Shahid Kapoors ORomeo, Mira Rajput shared a long appreciation quote on social media. Sharing loved-up pictures with the actor, Mira wrote, My ROMEO...When he asks, main hoon ki hoon nahi?' I remember, Tum Ho. Aur ho vahi. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 She continued, The one who is relentless, talented beyond belief, with eyes that express a thousand words, and a heart that always mends. Because what holds you is the light. Destinys child. Its time to shine. 'Spectacular' is an understatement. I am so proud of you. OROMEO now in theatres." Coming to the film, Shahid Kapoors latest film, O'Romeo, marks his fourth collaboration with Vishal Bhardwaj. Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 16:51 IST 1 / 10 This popular reality TV stars road to success was not easy. Born in Maharashtra, this star spent his childhood helping his father, who worked at a betel leaf shop. This famous television personality also sold milk packets and newspapers to support his family financially. 2 / 10 However, destiny had something else planned for him. After years of struggle, he got his first big break in 2017. He gained massive popularity after his appearance on MTV Roadies Rising, where he reached the semi-finals. Although he could not win the show, he captured thousands of hearts all over the country. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 The reality TV star is none other than Shiv Thakare. After spending his childhood in poverty, Shiv Thakare rose to success after his debut in a reality show. Following his appearance on Roadies Rising, Shiv Thakare appeared on the channels The Anti Social Network and later was seen in the Marathi reality show Bigg Boss Marathi 2 in 2019. 4 / 10 After winning Bigg Boss Marathi 2, Shiv Thakare joined the panel of MTV Roadies Revolution as a judge in the audition rounds. Later in 2022, he was seen participating in Bigg Boss 16, where he finished as the 1st runner-up. Additionally, Shiv Thakare has also appeared in Khatron Ke Khiladi 13 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 The popular television personality is currently seen appearing on The 50 reality show. The show has been keeping audiences hooked with its intense drama, fights among the contestants, and unique challenges. While the winners name will be announced on March 22, it was reported that Shiv Thakare won the show. 6 / 10 According to The Times of India reports, the finale episode of The 50 was shot on February 19. The top four contestants were Mr Faisu, Immortal Kaka, Krishna Shroff and Shiv Thakare, who competed for the trophy. As per the report, a source told the outlet that the finale task was time-based, and every contestant had to solve a puzzle. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 The report stated that Kaka failed to finish the task, and Krishna Shroff took 25 minutes to finish the task. Meanwhile, Shiv managed to complete it in 10 minutes. Last was Faisu, who solved the puzzle fastest, only to realise that he had done something wrong, and in correcting the mistake, he took a total of 14 minutes to finish the task. Based on timing, Shiv Thakare was announced as the winner of the show. 8 / 10 Reports also state that Prince Narula had sacrificed his position for Shiv Thakare. As per Film Window, Prince was the one who found the ticket to the finale, but he gave his ticket to Shiv, saying, Hes my brother, and I want him to go to the finale." ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 The original Top 4 contestants of The 50 were Prince, Rajat, Kaka, and Mr Faisu. However, after the Roadies gang leader gave up his position, the final Top 4 finalists were Shiv, Krishna Shroff, Kaka, and Mr Faisu. Despite the reports, the makers of The 50 have not yet released any official statements. Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 15:20 IST 1 / 10 Baba Vanga, the late Bulgarian mystic, grabs attention time and again for her prophecies. Though she passed away in 1996, her predictions on famous events and personalities continue to gain widespread media attention. Some have pointed towards Baba Vangas comments that indicate she foresaw events like the coronavirus pandemic and 9/11. Now, a new prophecy attributed to the Nostradamus of the Balkans has surfaced. 2 / 10 According to reports, Baba Vanga claimed that AI would play a big role in 2026, moving beyond human capabilities and reshaping economies. Not just that, she also claimed that humans would make first contact with aliens in November 2026. Many people are now linking her prophecy to US President Donald Trumps decision to release all classified records related to aliens and Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 Baba Vanga never wrote down her predictions. Most of the accounts have come from Krasimira Stoyanova, her niece, or other followers who heard and wrote down the mystics alleged visions after her death. Some of the claims attributed to the Bulgarian seer have been proven wrong, like her prediction of a UFO sighting at a major event. 4 / 10 However, President Trumps recent move has once again thrust her claims into the spotlight. Baba Vanga believed that a massive spacecraft' would enter Earths atmosphere in November 2026, serving as undeniable proof of extraterrestrial life. However, the intentions of the spacecraft were never revealed. Some interpretations state that the alien spaceship could start World War III. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 Baba Vanga had also warned of increasing tensions between global powers like China, Russia and the US. She reportedly had visions about Earths connection to aliens and even claimed that humans would start building underwater cities in 2130 with the help of extraterrestrials. She also believed that humans would make contact with more aliens in 2288, and time travel would be invented the same year. 6 / 10 There has been pushback on the prophecies, especially on the one related to artificial intelligence. Experts have claimed that there is no connection between what the Bulgarian mystic predicted and the recent layoffs in major technology firms. However, with major firms like Amazon and Google cutting about 30,000 jobs across the tech sector in the first 40 days of 2026 alone, there is a sense of panic online about Baba Vangas prophecies. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 The discussion on Baba Vanga and artificial intelligence is going viral as companies increase AI adoption across sectors. Many firms are now using AI for automated customer service, coding assistance, data processing and decision support systems. This has led to panic among many about massive layoffs. Baba Vangas reputation for predicting major world events has led to an added sense of panic among some. 8 / 10 For the year 2026, Baba Vanga also predicted that paper currencies would eventually decrease in value, leading to fears of an economic crisis. A claim attributed to her says that people would start investing in commodities like gold and silver, losing their faith in paper currencies overall. The statements by the late mystic went viral after gold and silver reached record-high prices. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 Prophecies by the Nostradamus of the Balkans have been linked to several other major events. She is believed to have vague predictions about political shifts, natural disasters and future technologies. This includes the 9/11 terror attacks, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed 2,30,000 people, the rise of the Islamic terror group ISIS and Barack Obamas election as the US President. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned on Saturday that Bratislava may suspend its emergency electricity support to Ukraine as early as Monday unless Kyiv restores oil deliveries to Slovakia, AzerNEWS reports citing foreign media. In a sharply worded statement on Facebook, Fico accused Ukraine of acting unilaterally and harming Slovak interests after Kyiv halted the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, an essential supply route for Slovakia. "If the West does not mind that it blew up the Nord Stream gas pipeline, Slovakia cannot accept Slovak-Ukrainian relations as a one-way ticket beneficial only to Ukraine," Fico wrote. He also criticized what he called President Volodymyr Zelenskys unacceptable behavior, adding that he stood by his decision to block Slovakias participation in the EUs latest 90 billion military support package for Ukraine. Ukraines suspension of Druzhba oil flows pushed Slovakia to declare a liquid-fuel emergency earlier this week. In response, both Slovakia and Hungary halted diesel exports to Ukraine, escalating tensions between Kyiv and two of its key regional neighbors. Despite ongoing fears that artificial intelligence could wipe out entire career fields, billionaire Mark Cuban says the concerns may be overblownfor now. The former Shark Tank star took to X to respond to a viral clip from the All-In podcast, in which investors Jason Calacanis and Chamath Palihapitiya revealed the real-world expense of deploying AI agents to enhance productivity: In some cases AI agents are costing more than $300 per dayadding up to over $100,000 annually. For Palihapitiya, founder of Social Capital, the price has forced him to rethink the budget hes willing to give top developers, warning that otherwise, Ill run out of money. For Cuban, that reality is the smartest counter he has seen so far to predictions that AI will replace large numbers of workersat least in the short term. Even if the technology is capable, he said, companies still need to prove the economics make sense, and hes not convinced the high price tag outweighs the value humans continue to bring. Humans have a far greater capacity to know the outcomes of their actions, Cuban said. Agents, and LLMs as well, never do. AI agents still dont know what happens after the sippy cup falls from the high chair, Cuban says AI systems still lack real-world judgment in ways that make replacing workers risky, Cuban added. He pointed to a simple example: An 18-month-old who pushes a sippy cup off a high chair quickly learns the consequences from their parents reaction. AI, on the other hand, lacks awareness. Agents can tell you the sippy cup will fall, Cuban said. But they have no idea of the context and what will happen next. The technology also lacks consistency, often spac[ing] out and failing to recognize why and when mistakes occur, he saida level of competency on par with the youngest Gen Z talent. Agents are still like college interns that come in hungover, make mistakes, and dont take responsibility for them, he added. Taken together, Cubans argument suggests that the biggest obstacle to AI replacing workers may not be the technology itselfbut whether companies can trust it to perform consistently at a price that makes sense. Cuban declined to elaborate further after Fortune reached out for comment. Predictions of massive AI-driven layoffs havent come to fruitionyet Despite AIs current flaws, business leaders continue to warn that rapid technological advances could soon reshape the workforce. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has warned that AI could disrupt half of entry-level jobs within one to five years. More recently, he suggested the technology could become capable of performing most jobs, if not all, in much less than five years. Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 12:44 IST 1 / 10 Marie Curie is one of the most celebrated figures in science, becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to receive Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Her pioneering research introduced the concept of radioactivity, a term she coined herself. Together with her husband, Pierre Curie, she discovered the elements polonium and radium, breakthroughs that laid the foundation for radiation-based cancer treatments and modern radiation oncology. 2 / 10 How was radioactivity discovered? A term which was coined by Marie Curie. It all began in 1896 when physicist Henri Becquerel observed a strange phenomenon when he was experimenting with uranium salts. The uranium emitted invisible rays that were capable of penetrating black paper and also affected photographic plates. This left him surprised since it occurred without sunlight or any external energy source. The radiation seemed to come directly from the uranium atoms themselves. Curie built upon this discovery and began studying similar properties in other substances. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 During her research, Curie introduced the term radioactivity to describe the emission of these invisible rays. Working with Pierre Curie, she carefully examined different minerals to understand their properties. In 1898, the couple identified two previously unknown elements: polonium, named after Curies homeland of Poland, and radium. Their findings established that radioactivity was not limited to uranium but was a broader atomic property. In 1903, Marie Curie received the Nobel Prize in Physics, shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, in recognition of their work on spontaneous radiation. 4 / 10 The practical impact of their research soon became evident, especially in medicine. Radiums properties opened new possibilities in treating cancer as doctors began exploring ways to use radiation to target tumours. But despite the medical potential and commercial value of radium, the Curies chose not to patent their discoveries. They believed that placing restrictions on scientific knowledge would slow progress. Their decision meant that they did not earn substantial financial returns from their work. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 Marie Curie openly expressed her views on the matter. She believed that scientific research should not be driven by profit. Taking out a patent, in her view, would have been contrary to the scientific spirit. She felt that knowledge should remain accessible to res 6 / 10 Her words on radium became widely quoted. Radium is an element. It belongs to the people, the chemist Marie Curie once told an interviewer. Yet in that same conversation, she revealed the personal cost of that decision. I need a gram of radium to continue my researches but I cannot buy it. Radium is too dear for me, she explained. The contrast between her principles and her circumstances was evident. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Legal barriers also played a role in the patent question. Under French law at the time, Marie Curie herself would not have been permitted to apply for a patent. Only her husband could have done so. Even so, the couple did not pursue exclusive rights over their process. Instead, they published their methods in detail that allowed others to replicate and expand upon their work. 8 / 10 By openly sharing the extraction process, they enabled wider production of radium. This transparency laid the groundwork for what came to be known as radium therapy, or Curietherapy. Industries and laboratories were able to produce radium in larger quantities for medical use. This directly contributed to the early development of radiation oncology as a medical discipline. Hospitals and researchers gained access to materials needed for treatment and experimentation. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 Doctors soon began applying radium in new ways. One such method was brachytherapy, in which radium was placed directly onto or inside tumours to shrink them. Researchers such as Gioacchino Failla, who trained under Marie Curie, introduced innovations including radon seeds. These were small gold tubes filled with radioactive gas that could be implanted into the body to treat internal cancers. The work expanded the medical applications of radioactive substances. Ballots & Belief: Is Religion Reshaping Bengals Poll Discourse? Heres What News18 Found Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 22:38 IST Competing narratives around mosque construction, temple projects, and minority rights have intensified political rhetoric in West Bengal A Durga-themed cultural complex (Durga Angan) in Kolkata, planned over 18 acres with an estimated cost of Rs 270 crore. Image/News18 As West Bengal heads into a crucial election cycle, political messaging across parties suggests that religion may be emerging as a visible theme in campaign narratives. With debates intensifying around the proposed Babri Mosque project on one side and large-scale temple and cultural projects backed by the state government on the other, the key question remains: Is the electoral discourse shifting from governance to faith-based mobilisation? The Babri Mosque Proposal and Humayun Kabirs Political Pitch The debate gained momentum after expelled TMC MLA Humayun Kabir initiated work related to a proposed Babri Mosque project. Kabir, who was earlier expelled by the Trinamool Congress, reportedly over his stance on the mosque issue, has since launched a new political outfit named the Janata Unnayan Party. At the stone-laying ceremony of the proposed mosque, a large gathering was witnessed. Kabir also announced plans for 1,200 Quran recitations and a Babri Yatra." While attendance at the recitation event was significant, the Yatra reportedly drew a comparatively smaller crowd. Observers noted that Kabir displayed victory signs during the event, leading to criticism that the initiative was politically motivated. In a candid statement, Kabir told News18, Mamata Banerjee does politics with religion. BJP leaders also do politics with religion. I have no other way but to do politics with religion, and I accept that clearly." His remarks have fuelled the argument that religion is being consciously brought into the political arena. Supporters, however, claim he is responding to what they describe as the ruling partys own use of religious symbolism. Minority Sentiment and Political Discontent In parts of the region, there appears to be dissatisfaction among sections of minority voters over issues such as the Waqf Act, SIR, and OBC-related concerns. Some voters expressed frustration, questioning whether promises made earlier were effectively upheld. Political observers suggest that Kabir is attempting to tap into this sentiment and consolidate support by positioning himself as a defender of minority interests. Temple and Cultural Projects by the State Simultaneously, the state government has initiated several large religious and cultural projects: A Durga-themed cultural complex (Durga Angan) in Kolkata, planned over 18 acres with an estimated cost of Rs 270 crore. The Jagannath Dham project, already developed. Plans for a Mahakal Temple announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The government describes these initiatives as cultural and heritage projects. However, critics argue that the visible emphasis on religious sites indicates a strategic political recalibration. Political Reactions The Trinamool Congress has dismissed allegations of religious politics. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told News18 that religion-based politics is primarily the BJPs domain and insisted that development and communal harmony remain the core issues in Bengal. The BJP, however, rejects TMCs counterargument. BJP leader Agnimitra Paul stated that governance and employment for youth are the real issues, arguing that temple construction is not the responsibility of a state government. Meanwhile, Congress leader Adhir Choudhurys demand for a three-day Eid holiday has also sparked debate, with critics suggesting electoral motivations behind the move. Naushad Siddiqui, chief of the ISF, appealed to voters not to cast ballots in the name of religion, emphasising education and development as priority issues. The CPI(M) also entered the discussion after state secretary Md Salim met Humayun Kabir. Salim described it as a political engagement aimed at discouraging religion-based politics rather than endorsing it. What Are Voters Saying? At informal cha addas" in Kolkata, many citizens suggested that while religious optics are visible, governance and development are likely to remain decisive factors. Some voters believe Bengals political culture traditionally resists overt communal polarisation, though they acknowledge that religious symbolism may influence a segment of the electorate. The Larger Question There is no denying that religion has entered the campaign optics this election season. Competing narratives around mosque construction, temple projects, and minority rights have intensified political rhetoric. However, whether religion will ultimately determine voting behaviour remains uncertain. Historically, Bengals elections have revolved around governance, welfare, and development issues. This election may test whether that trend continuesor whether faith-based mobilisation gains stronger ground. Ultimately, it is the voters who will decide whether the ballot turns on religion or returns to bread-and-butter concerns. First Published: February 21, 2026, 22:29 IST News politics Ballots & Belief: Is Religion Reshaping Bengals Poll Discourse? Heres What News18 Found Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Made Us All Feel Ashamed': Opposition Parties Slam Congress Over Shirtless Protest At AI Summit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 16:19 IST Youth Congress workers stormed the AI Impact Summit shirtless at Bharat Mandapam, drawing condemnation from BJP, YSR Congress Party chief, Mayawati among others. Left: BSP Chief Mayawati, Middle: Youth Congress Workers protesting, Right: YSR Congress Party supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy The Congress party came under sharp criticism after workers of the Youth Congress stormed the AI Impact Summit shirtless. Visuals showed the protesting workers walking inside Bharat Mandapam with their shirts in their hands, raising slogans as they marched through the venue. The act drew condemnation not only from Union Ministers and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but also from other political parties, many of whom stressed the need to rise above politics" on global platforms. YSR Congress Party chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also took to X, saying it was important to present a united front to the world despite political differences. Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress made us all feel ashamed. Where is our politics heading! No one should ever demean our country. Whatever our political differences may be, we should always present a united face to the world," he wrote. Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress made us all feel ashamed. Where is our politics heading! No one should ever demean our country. Whatever our political differences may be, we should always present a united face to the world. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) February 21, 2026 Made Us All Feel Ashamed: Political Parties Slam Congress Over Shirtless Protest At AI-Impact Summit Creating Ruckus Is Wrong: Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said that creating ruckus is wrong, and expressed solidarity with the government. Creating a ruckus is wrong; it insults our country in front of foreign delegates. When delegates from around the world are present, we should not create such a disturbance, he said. In this matter, we stand with the government. Our fight with the government is an internal issue," he added. Mayawati Says Such Act Causes Concern Former Uttar Pradesh CM and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Supremo Mayawati wrote on X,"The AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi, in which quite prominent figures from both the country and abroad were invited and which was making headlines on an international level, the manner in which certain individualsmostly identified as young Congress membersexpressed their anger by going semi-nude during this event is utterly disgraceful and reprehensible." If this conference were not of international stature, it would be a different matter altogether; however, such conduct during the summit is a cause for concern, meaning it would be appropriate to ensure that the dignity and image of our country are not tarnished," she added. Lokesh Nara, General Secretary, Telugu Desam Party, also raised concern saying that turning such a prestigious international event into a political spectacle only diminishes our collective standing before the world." Im shocked and dismayed by the disruption caused by Youth Congress at the AI Summit yesterday. This global platform was meant to showcase Indias growing leadership as an emerging AI superpower. Turning such a prestigious international event into a political spectacle only diminishes our collective standing before the world," he said. Im shocked and dismayed by the disruption caused by Youth Congress at the AI Summit yesterday. This global platform was meant to showcase Indias growing leadership as an emerging AI superpower. Turning such a prestigious international event into a political spectacle only pic.twitter.com/5338c5NtPV Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) February 21, 2026 India deserves better. Let us rise above petty politics and focus on nation-building through innovation and excellence," he added. Congress Reaction After allies reacted sharply to the protest, Congress said it is a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion. Delhi Police Seeks Custody Of Arrested Protestors Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Saturday sought the custody of the arrested activists saying that the protest is a part of larger conspiracy that has taken inspiration from the Gen Z protests in Nepal." The accused need to be confronted with each other as well as with digital evidence. This is a very important investigation," police told the court. First Published: February 21, 2026, 15:42 IST News politics 'Made Us All Feel Ashamed': Opposition Parties Slam Congress Over Shirtless Protest At AI Summit Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bengaluru Woman, Earning Rs 21 LPA, Plans To Quit For Bank PO Exam: Is It A Good Decision? Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 12:16 IST A Bengaluru woman earning Rs 21 LPA is considering leaving her IT job to prepare for a government bank PO exam. Her possible pay cut has sparked debate over stability, money and work-life balance. (Representative Image) A post about a couple from Bengaluru has started a strong discussion online. The topic is about money, career growth and what really matters in the long run. The situation was shared by a man on X (formerly Twitter), where he spoke about his uncle and aunt who have been working in Bengaluru for nine years. The couple has a four-year-old daughter and both hold well-paying jobs in the IT sector. Post Raises Question About Quitting Rs 21 LPA Job For Bank PO Exam In his post, he wrote: My uncle and his wife have been working in Bengaluru for 9 yrs. He earns Rs 32L CTC. Aunty earns Rs 21L CTC. They have a 4-year-old daughter. Last week, his wife said, I want to quit IT and prepare for Government Bank PO." PO salary? Around Rs 75,000 per month. From Rs 21L to Rs 9L per year. Is it a good decision to prepare?" The post was shared on February 20 and has received over 3 lakh views, along with many comments from users sharing their views. Check the post here: My uncle & his wife have been working in Bangalore for 9yrs.He earn 32L CTC.Aunty earns 21L CTC.They have a 4-year-old daughter. Last week her wife said I want to quit IT & prepare for Government Bank PO."PO salary?Around 75,000 per month.From 21L to 9L Pratham khanna (@Portfolio_Bull) February 20, 2026 Debate Over Salary Versus Stability Many people pointed out that the decision is not only about salary but also about job security and work-life balance. Some felt that a government job can offer fixed working hours and stability, which may help while raising a child. A user wrote, Government job brings stability and predictable hours, which matters a lot when you have a child." Others warned about the risks. Leaving Rs 21 LPA for uncertainty is risky unless she is completely sure about clearing the exam," a person commented. Users Discuss Pressure And Competition Some responses focused on stress and burnout in the IT industry. A user said, IT burnout is real. Money is important, but mental peace also has value." At the same time, a few people reminded others that clearing the bank PO exam is not easy. People underestimate how competitive bank PO exams are. It may take years," a comment read. Several users also spoke about financial planning. With a young daughter, drastically reducing income needs careful planning," someone wrote. Another said, If savings and backup plans exist, following passion is never wrong." A user added, Career decisions should not be judged only by salary figures." Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 12:15 IST News viral Bengaluru Woman, Earning Rs 21 LPA, Plans To Quit For Bank PO Exam: Is It A Good Decision? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Corporate Fangirl Moment Unlocked': Google Employee's Post After Meeting Sundar Pichai Goes Viral Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 17:41 IST A Digital Marketing Strategist at Google, shared an emotional video of meeting Sundar Pichai at the Google Gurgaon office, calling it a surreal, long-cherished dream come true. Google Employee's Post After Meeting Sundar Pichai Goes Viral A heartfelt post by a Google employee about meeting CEO Sundar Pichai has resonated widely online. The encounter, shared on LinkedIn and Instagram, quickly captured the attention of social media users. Tanushi Gupta, a Digital Marketing Strategist at Google, took to LinkedIn to share a video of her interaction with Sundar Pichai at the companys Gurgaon office. Reflecting on the emotional significance of the moment, she described it as a long-cherished dream coming true. There are some moments that dont feel real even while youre experiencing them. Yesterday, at our Google Gurgaon office, I shook hands with the person whose name Ive listed under Role Model since my teenage years. Sundar Pichai. And for a few seconds, time seemed to fold," she wrote on LinkedIn. Gupta admitted that the encounter left her feeling overwhelmed. Id be lying if I said I didnt lose my calm. I wasnt just a Digital Marketing Strategist at Google. I was the little girl who chose machines over makeup. The student who was endlessly curious about tech. The girl who believed that building things mattered more than buying things." Describing the experience as surreal" and emotional," Gupta said the handshake symbolised her long-held aspirations. It was proof that the dreams you quietly protect, protect you back. It felt like a full-circle whisper from the universe saying, Keep going," she wrote. On Instagram, she captioned the same video, Corporate fangirl moment unlocked. When we met our CEO." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tanushi Gupta (@thetanushigupta) The Instagram video has garnered over 259,000 views, with users flooding the comments section with congratulatory messages and personal anecdotes. First Published: February 21, 2026, 17:41 IST News viral 'Corporate Fangirl Moment Unlocked': Google Employee's Post After Meeting Sundar Pichai Goes Viral Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Delhi Woman Wants Educated But Non-Working Daughter-In-Law For Her Son: Is She Looking For Well-Qualified Maid Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 15:24 IST Jasveer Singh, Founder of matrimonial platform Knot.dating, shared an incident that left him questioning a mindset he says is far more common than people admit. He mentioned that the son earned Rs 73 lakh annually. (Representative Image) A post by a Gurugram-based entrepreneur has triggered a strong debate online about marriage expectations. Jasveer Singh, Founder of matrimonial platform Knot.dating, shared an incident from his office that left him questioning a mindset he says is far more common than people admit. In his post, he mentioned a mother from South Delhi whose son earns Rs 73 lakh annually. I was sitting in my cabin a few days ago, overhearing one of our relationship managers speaking to a boys mother from South Delhi. Her son earns 73 lakh per annum and works in a reputed company. Good profile," Jasveer wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Gurugram CEO Recalls The Bride Checklist That Left Him Stunned He further explained that the mother began listing the qualities she wanted in her future daughter-in-law: tall, fair, very homely, soft spoken, caring and from a good family. He described it as standard checklist stuff." But what followed caught his attention. Then she said something that genuinely messed with my head. We are a business family, I dont want my sons wife to work after marriage," the CEO mentioned. According to him, the relationship manager calmly asked whether the son was working. The mother replied that it was fine for her son to work, she just did not want her daughter-in-law to have a job. When the team suggested looking for someone who was not career-oriented or already not working, she refused. The mother, as per the post, said, I want her to be well educated, from a reputed college, smart, but after marriage, no job." Jasveer summed up the contradiction in sharp words: Pause and think about that In her own words, she wants an educated, polished, presentable girl who will sit at home, take care of the house, serve the family, look good, and revolve around the son." He added that in his mind one line kept repeating: Youre not looking for a partner for your son. Youre looking for a well-qualified maid with a degree. And a body." He further wrote that this is not a one-off case: This mindset is everywhere. Educated but not ambitious, modern but traditional, smart but submissive. We want the resume of a corporate achiever and the obedience of the 1950s. Sometimes the problem is not the boys, its the blueprint given to them." See The Post Here I was sitting in my cabin a few days ago, overhearing one of our relationship managers speaking to a boys mother from South Delhi.Her son earns 73 lakh per annum and works in a reputed company. Good profile. Then she started describing the kind of wife she wants. She should Jasveer Singh (@jasveer10) February 21, 2026 What Are People Saying Online The post drew strong reactions with one user commenting, Then they say why are girls rejecting a nice guy who even earns well!!! Sometimes the family interferes too much in childrens lives!!! Deciding even smallest of things!!!!" Another wrote, Wanting a highly educated wife who isnt allowed to work isnt tradition, its control with a degree attached." Hiring criteria: IIT degree, housewife designation," someone else sarcastically remarked while a person added, Modern education, vintage expectations." She is basically hunting for a trophy wife for her son," read another remark. Not Everyone Agreed With The CEO But the post was not met with unanimous support. Some users felt the argument could go both ways. An individual responded, Support if he says, DIL has to work, then would you say that she is basically looking for an investment partner?" Another user pointed out what they believed was a double standard" in the debate. According to them, families of brides often look for grooms earning over Rs 50 lakh per annum and set income-based filters while choosing a partner. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 15:24 IST News viral Delhi Woman Wants Educated But Non-Working Daughter-In-Law For Her Son: Is She Looking For Well-Qualified Maid Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Shehbaz Sharif's 'Guard-Style Salute' To Trump At Gaza Board Meeting Sparks Social Media Storm Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 08:28 IST Analysts say the visit exposed a growing gap between Islamabads desire for global relevance and its actual influence on major diplomatic platforms Rapid Read Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (Image: Andrew Harnik/GETTY IMAGES/AFP) It was a string of awkward moments and public embarrassment for Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting hosted by Donald Trump this week, the latest faux pas being a viral video that shows Pakistans top leader offering a guard-style salute" to the US President. In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, Sharif appears to offer a clumsy salute to Trump in a moment that has sparked sharp reactions and ridicule online. More embarrassment for Pakistan after PM Shahbaz Sharif caught doing 'gaurd salute' to President TrumpThis is how society gaurds salute pic.twitter.com/0vPrEfkWrn Frontalforce (@FrontalForce) February 20, 2026 The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified. However, as the video gained traction online, social media users called out Sharifs awkward behaviour at the meeting, questioning the power dynamics between two allies. Shehbaz Sharif is a clown. Trump always make fun of him. The reason is trump knows who bring him into power.#paobc#1Companhiapic.twitter.com/qsDZS1D6lQ IshtiaqAliMohmand (@Docdiamonddon00) February 20, 2026 Despite all praises and hugs, PM Shehbaz Sharif was pushed in the back row while President Trump was giving briefing. pic.twitter.com/TIvuiDpl2N fq off (@saknscan) February 20, 2026 But this was not all. The optics of the meeting reinforced the sense of discomfort for Pakistans top leader. During the official group photo of world leaders, Sharif was positioned at the edge, while Trump stood at the centre flanked by key alliesa contrast that observers interpreted as a symbolic marginalisation of Islamabads role at the summit. Another moment widely shared online occurred when Trump, mid-speech, gestured toward Sharif and asked him to stand upa directive that led to further mockery on social media, with some users dubbing Sharif Trumps puppet". Trump asks Pak PM Sharif to stand up, then starts talking about PM ModiAt the Board of Peace Event, US President Donald Trump asked Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to stand up as he repeated his false claims about ending India and Pakistan war. As soon as Sharif stood up, Trump pic.twitter.com/YSV51fws5K Global intel (@SarkarSar11) February 20, 2026 Power speaks for itself! President Trump says, "Stand up," and Shehbaz Sharif stands immediately. Arvind Mishra (@activistarvind) February 20, 2026 In the Gaza meeting, Shehbaz Sharif was sitting in the back row.When Donald Trump said please stand up,"Shehbaz stood up immediately It looked like a school assembly moment. teacher says stand, student stands.#DonaldTrump #Pakistan Manish (@aryamanish469) February 20, 2026 When given the floor, Sharif chose to lavish effusive praise on Trump, calling him a man of peace" and the saviour of South Asia" for his claimed role in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistana claim that has been firmly denied by Indian officials. Sharifs remarks not only drew international attention but also stirred criticism at home. Pakistans political opposition questioned his decision to join the Board of Peace without broader consultation and accused him of compromising Pakistans principled foreign policy, particularly regarding Palestinian representation and opposition to Israel. Analysts say the visit exposed a growing gap between Islamabads desire for global relevance and its actual influence on major diplomatic platforms. Despite being formally invited, Pakistan was notably not named among countries expected to contribute to an international stabilisation force in Gaza in a contrast to several other nations that pledged troops and financial support. The summit, intended to rally over 40 nations around humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in war-torn Gaza, instead cast a spotlight on the limits of Pakistans global positioning. While Trump did offer some verbal reassurance, saying I like this guy" about Sharif, the broader diplomatic message was clear: without concrete commitments or influence on key decisions, presence alone may not translate into clout on the world stage. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:28 IST News viral Shehbaz Sharif's 'Guard-Style Salute' To Trump At Gaza Board Meeting Sparks Social Media Storm Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 18-Year-Old Teen Stabbed To Death Outside Mosque During Ramadan Prayers Near Birmingham Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 23:16 IST 18-year-old was stabbed to death outside Jamia Masjid in Smethwick near Birmingham. Two others were injured. West Midlands Police are investigating the case. Traders Panic After Daytime Firing in Jandiala Gold Market Panic spread outside a mosque in Smethwick, near Birmingham, after an 18-year-old teen was stabbed to death. In the brutal attack that took place on Friday evening, two others got injured and were rushed to the hospital. The 18-year-old boy was found in critical condition and died at the scene. The incident took place outside Jamia Masjid in Oldbury Road in Smethwick, near Birmingham. The police were informed at around 9 pm (local time). The other two men, aged 19 and 22, were also injured and are now reported to be out of danger. Several footage of the site are being shared on social media and several ambulances along with police vehicles can be seen deployed outside the mosque. Part of the road that was closed on Friday night was opened on Saturday morning. As per a report by BirminghamLive, West Midlands Police has begun the investigation and the detectives are trying to obtain CCTV footage from businesses surrounding Jamia Masjid. Police Identifies The Victim The report also states that the victim has been identified as Zeshan Afzal. In a statement, West Midlands Police said, Well be doing everything we can to support his family at this terrible time." One of the witnesses recounted the incident and told reporters: "We were inside for prayer, the Taraweeh Namaz, when we came out and saw all the people here. It was all men, ambulances and police. The police said go back inside the mosque. They sealed it off and the police said we could walk out but we couldnt get our cars. It was roughly around 9.40pm." We were very panicked, we were shocked. I walked home last night. I came here today and they (the police) said to give my mobile number and when everything is open, they would let me know." The police are also urging the witnesses to come forward by calling 101 and quoting log number 4896 of 20 February. Or, alternatively, anyone with any information is being asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: February 21, 2026, 22:08 IST News world 18-Year-Old Teen Stabbed To Death Outside Mosque During Ramadan Prayers Near Birmingham Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Adjustment Begins': Trump Signs 10% Global Tariffs, Says Will Take Effect 'Almost Immediately' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 09:23 IST Trump said the administration would maintain many existing tariffs and impose the new global levy under a different statute. US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump announced that he has signed a new 10 percent global tariff on imports from all countries, seeking to preserve his sweeping trade agenda after the Supreme Court struck down many of his earlier levies. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he had signed the order from the Oval Office. It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately," Trump wrote. Read more: Will US Refund Billions Collected Under Tariffs After SC Ruling? Trump Responds In a separate post, Trump sharply criticised the justices who ruled against his previous tariff authority. Those members of the Supreme Court who voted against our very acceptable and proper method of TARIFFS should be ashamed of themselves," he wrote, adding, Their decision was ridiculous but, now the adjustment process begins, and we will do everything possible to take in even more money than we were taking in before!" The announcement comes after the US Supreme Court, in a 63 decision, ruled that Trump had overstepped his authority by imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, significantly curtailing a central pillar of his trade policy. Read more: Nothing Changes: Trump On India Trade Deal After US Supreme Court Blocks His Tariffs Trump said the administration would maintain many existing tariffs and impose the new global levy under a different statute, including Section 122 of US trade law. That provision allows broad tariffs for up to 150 days, though Congress would need to approve any extension. The new tariff would allow Trump to temporarily reinstate some level of duties that the court struck down, with Trump saying the measure could take effect within days. However, unlike his earlier approach, the statute requires tariffs to be nondiscriminatory, meaning the administration cannot selectively exempt certain trading partners. Trump also said his administration would rely on other trade authorities, including those previously used to impose tariffs on China and on steel and aluminium imports. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administrations legal strategy would ensure continuity. Were going to keep continuity were going to keep addressing this so that the deficit can keep going down," he said, calling the measures incredibly legally durable." US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration expected little change in revenue from the shift in legal authority. Treasurys estimates show that the use of Section 122 authority, combined with potentially enhanced section 232, and section 301, tariffs will result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026," he said. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 06:54 IST News world 'Adjustment Begins': Trump Signs 10% Global Tariffs, Says Will Take Effect 'Almost Immediately' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... What Is Area 51? Why Its Back In Spotlight After Donald Trumps UFO File Promise Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 17:03 IST The US President Donald Trump stated he will direct government agencies, including the Defence Department, to begin identifying and releasing files related to aliens. Area 51 is a highly classified US Air Force facility. (Photo Credit: X) Aliens are back in political headlines, thanks to former US President Barack Obama. During a podcast last week, Obama had said that aliens likely exist, prompting quick reaction from US President Donald Trump. As per the reports, Trump stated he will direct government agencies, including the Defence Department, to begin identifying and releasing files related to aliens, UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). The comments have reignited global curiosity about UFOs, secret government files, and of course, the most famous restricted site in America: Area 51. What Exactly Did Obama Say? During a podcast appearance, Obama said that given how vast the universe is, the possibility of life beyond Earth seems likely. However, he clarified that while he was president, he saw no evidence of contact with extraterrestrials. He also addressed long-standing conspiracy theories, stating that there is no secret underground facility storing aliens and that if such a massive operation existed, it would be unlikely to be hidden even from a sitting president. Later, on Instagram, Obama reiterated that he had never seen proof of alien life during his presidency. Experts have suggested that his comments were scientific in nature, referring to probability instead of direct knowledge. Despite that clarification, the remarks triggered renewed debate online. Trumps Response and the Promise of File Releases Trump reacted strongly to the comments. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said he personally does not have a position on whether aliens exist but acknowledged that many Americans are fascinated by the subject. On his platform Truth Social, Trump stated that he would seek the release of all government files related to alien life, UFOs and UAPs. According to reports, he plans to instruct agencies to identify and release relevant documents. What Is Area 51 Whenever aliens are discussed, Area 51 inevitably enters the conversation. Area 51 is a highly classified US Air Force facility located in Nevada, near the towns of Rachel and Hiko. The site is strictly prohibited for the public and heavily guarded with warning signs, armed patrols and electronic surveillance. Civilian aircraft are not permitted to fly over it. The base was established during the Cold War as a testing site for advanced military aircraft such as the U-2 spy plane and the SR-71 Blackbird. Although widely known for decades, its existence was officially acknowledged by the CIA only in 2013. There is no confirmed evidence linking Area 51 to alien research. Many experts believe that alien rumours began as a way to divert attention from classified aircraft testing programmes in the 1950s and 1960s. Why UFO Interest Has Increased Public interest in UFOs has grown in recent years. In 2017, reports revealed a secret Pentagon programme that investigated unusual sightings reported by military pilots. In 2022, the US Congress held its first public UFO hearing in fifty years. The Pentagon also created an office to collect and analyse reports of unidentified aerial phenomena. So far, none of these investigations has confirmed the existence of alien life. Most sightings have later been explained as aircraft, drones, weather balloons or sensor errors. Still, the topic continues to capture attention. When political leaders discuss aliens or promise to release files, speculation increases. For now, Area 51 remains a military testing facility with a documented history in advanced aircraft development. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 21, 2026, 17:02 IST News world What Is Area 51? Why Its Back In Spotlight After Donald Trumps UFO File Promise Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley chopped pricing in half for clients trading private companies shares on its newly acquired EquityZen platform, undercutting competitors as it looks to expand in a growing market. The bank lowered fees for both buyers and sellers to 2.5% from 5% for most transactions, according to a statement Thursday. That may just be the start. Jed Finn, Morgan Stanleys head of wealth management, said in an interview that his firm will go as low as we need to go to make sure clients get the best possible price in the marketplace. Morgan Stanley last month completed its purchase of EquityZen, which lets clients trade shares in private companies. The bank struck the deal to buy the platform last year, marking its first acquisition under Chief Executive Officer Ted Pick. The way private markets grew up was quite risky, Finn said. Our overall view is, if we can bring sunlight into the entire marketplace, its ultimately better for our investor clients. Companies have increasingly opted to stay private for longer, and the largest ones have swelled to valuations that rival even the largest public firms. Thats created a dynamic where investors are clamoring for access to the likes of OpenAI and SpaceX, while their employees are also seeking to monetize their shares. Banks have sought to put themselves in the middle to seize on a market thats continuing to grow. Within a matter of weeks last year, Morgan Stanley announced its EquityZen acquisition, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. agreed to buy Industry Ventures and Charles Schwab Corp. struck a deal to purchase Forge Global Holdings Inc. Schwabs Forge deal is expected to be completed in the first half of this year. Forge typically charges buyers and sellers on its platform a 5% fee, according to its website. Read More: Wall Street Muscles In on VCs Turf With Private Markets Deals Were still in the early days of the real opportunity of private markets, said Atish Davda, the head of EquityZen who joined Morgan Stanley when the acquisition closed. The vast majority of even wealthy clients dont have an allocation in private markets yet, let alone the everyday retail investor. While the market for secondary shares of private firms has skyrocketed, its stayed relatively opaque compared to trading stock in public companies. Platforms have cropped up that allow investors in private firms to sell their shares to outsiders to the dismay of the firms themselves, which try to guard their ability to control the ranks of their shareholders. Before Minnesota Shootings, A US Citizen Was Shot By Immigration Agent In Texas, Records Show Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 22:52 IST Martinezs mother, Rachel Reyes, described him as a quiet and kind young man who worked at an Amazon warehouse and had no prior trouble with the law. News18 Newly released government records show that a 23-year-old US citizen was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent in Texas last year during a late-night traffic incident. The shooting, which took place on March 15, 2025, on South Padre Island, was not publicly disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the time. The victim, Ruben Ray Martinez, was killed during an operation involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers who were assisting local police. The documents were obtained by the watchdog group American Oversight through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, according to a report by CBC. What DHS Says Happened? In a statement issued on Friday, DHS said the driver intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent," prompting another agent to fire defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public." According to an internal ICE report, HSI officers were helping South Padre Island police redirect traffic following a separate accident. A blue Ford vehicle approached the intersection. Officers ordered the driver to stop. The report does not explain why the vehicle was targeted. Agents surrounded the car and instructed the occupants to step out. The report states that the driver then accelerated forward, striking one agent who landed on the bonnet. Another agent fired multiple shots through the open drivers side window. Martinez was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Brownsville. His passenger was taken into custody. Family Seeks Answers Martinezs mother, Rachel Reyes, said her son had travelled from San Antonio to South Padre Island to celebrate his birthday with a friend. She described him as a quiet and kind young man who worked at an Amazon warehouse and had no prior trouble with the law. He was a typical young guy," Reyes told The Associated Press. He wasnt a violent person at all." Reyes said she later learned that federal agents, not local police, were involved in the shooting. She added that an investigator mentioned the existence of video footage that may contradict the federal account. Investigation Ongoing The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the case remains active". It is unclear whether the matter has been presented to a grand jury. Legal representatives for Martinezs family said they are seeking transparency and accountability, questioning why federal agents were involved in routine traffic control and why lethal force was used. The case marks one of several deadly shootings involving federal officers during a broader immigration enforcement push. First Published: February 21, 2026, 22:52 IST News world Before Minnesota Shootings, A US Citizen Was Shot By Immigration Agent In Texas, Records Show Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Boris Johnson Urges UK, Allies To Deploy Troops To Ukraine Now To Flip A Switch In Putins Mind Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 21:29 IST Boris Johnson urges UK and allies to deploy non-combat troops to Ukraine, arguing it could shift Putin's stance. Former Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (AP Photo) Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on Britain and its allies to deploy non-combat troops to Ukraine immediately, arguing that doing so could flip a switch" in Russian President Vladimir Putins thinking. Speaking to the BBC alongside former Chief of the Defence Staff Adm Sir Tony Radakin, Johnson said forces could be stationed in peaceful regions in non-fighting roles even before a ceasefire is agreed. If we can have a plan for boots on the ground after the war, after Putin has condescended to have a ceasefire, then why not do it now?" Johnson said. There is no logical reason that I can see why we shouldnt send peaceful ground forces there to show our support for a free, independent Ukraine." Beyond The Current UK Position The UK government is currently working with allies on a coalition of the willing" that would deploy forces to maintain peace and stability in Ukraine but only if a formal deal to end the war is reached. Johnsons proposal goes further, suggesting troops could be sent now to safe areas as a political signal. He stressed they would not be deployed in a combat capacity but to demonstrate constitutional support for Ukraines sovereignty. However, such a move would likely be seen by Moscow as a major provocation. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously warned that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets". In response to Johnsons remarks, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the UK remains focused on providing record levels of military support to Ukraine and preparing for potential future deployment under an agreed peace framework. Regret Over Western Hesitation As the war approaches its fourth anniversary, Johnson and Radakin reflected on the early days of the invasion in February 2022 and acknowledged that Western allies had been too slow and cautious in supplying weapons. Radakin described the approach as incrementalism", saying Ukraine had often found the delays deeply frustrating". Johnson added that repeated hesitation had cost lives. Weve always delayed needlessly," Johnson said. Weve then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for and its always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin." The War Could Have Been Prevented Johnson also argued that Western failures over the past decade emboldened Putin. He described the lack of a strong response to Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 as tragic" and said inaction in Syria and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan further encouraged Moscow. I do think we should have done more," Johnson admitted, acknowledging that he had served as both foreign secretary and prime minister during key periods. He said Putin has not been convinced that the West sees Ukrainian independence as an overwhelming strategic objective". Until he sees the evidence that that is our determination, I think hes just going to keep going," Johnson warned. Defence Spending And NATO Commitments Radakin also pressed the UK government to fulfil its NATO pledge to increase defence spending to 3.5% of national income by 2035. There is a war in Europe. Russia is weak, but dangerous," he said, adding that investment is essential to ensure Britains security in the coming decade. A Risky Shift In Strategy Back in 2022, European allies ruled out sending troops to Ukraine. Shifting to immediate deployment even in non-combat roles would represent a dramatic political shift. Johnsons proposal reflects growing frustration among some Western leaders that support has been sufficient to sustain Ukraines resistance but not decisive enough to end the war. Whether allies are prepared to escalate further remains uncertain. As casualties mount on both sides, the question is not only how much pressure the West is willing to apply but whether Putin is willing to change course. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: February 21, 2026, 21:29 IST News world Boris Johnson Urges UK, Allies To Deploy Troops To Ukraine Now To Flip A Switch In Putins Mind Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Iran-Linked Oil Tanker Seized By India Spent 8 Days In Pakistan Waters, Went Dark For Hours Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 09:31 IST Indian Coast Guard detained MT Asphalt Star, MT Al Jafzia, and MT Stellar Ruby for suspected Iranian oil smuggling. Nine people are booked as probes continue. Rapid Read Oil tanker Asphalt Star, one of the vessels cited in a Reuters report on ships seized by Indian authorities this month. (Image: VesselFinder) Indian authorities have seized three oil tankers suspected of being involved in the movement of sanctioned Iranian oil following a high-seas interception that exposed tracking blackouts and covert fuel transfers within Indias Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The operation, led by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), focused on the Mali-flagged MT Asphalt Star, which was intercepted about 100 nautical miles off Mumbai on February 5. Officials said the tanker had switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS), VHF radio and other tracking equipment for nearly 11 hours on January 28 while operating inside Pakistans EEZ, where it had remained for over a week, according to a report in NDTV. Mid-Sea Interception Unravels Suspected Iranian Oil Smuggling Link Maritime agencies consider such deliberate going dark" tactics a common method used to obscure a vessels movements. Surveillance teams later spotted the tanker in a stationary position in the Arabian Sea. When hailed, it reportedly provided inconsistent details about its name and destination. A boarding operation revealed that the ship was transmitting false voyage information and possessed only a temporary registration issued in Mali, along with no valid Protection and Indemnity insurance. Investigators believe the MT Asphalt Star coordinated with two related vessels MT Al Jafzia and MT Stellar Ruby to conduct unauthorised ship-to-ship fuel transfers within Indian waters. Authorities allege that tens of tonnes of heavy fuel oil and thousands of tonnes of bitumen were moved using forged paperwork and AIS manipulation to conceal identities. The inquiry also points to earlier attempts by the vessels to access Indian ports using falsified insurance and registration documents. Digital evidence recovered from the masters mobile phone reportedly includes communication with overseas contacts. Nine Booked An FIR filed in Mumbai names nine individuals, including crew members and company representatives, on charges ranging from smuggling and forgery to violations of maritime and petroleum laws. The accused include Shyam Bahadur Chouhan, Navjyot Chalotra, Gopal Das, Ravi Kumar, Gyna Chandra Gupta, Munwar Khalphe, Shivkumar Sharma, Nasaruddin Mandal, and Jogender Singh Brar. The vessels remain anchored off Mumbai as investigations continue. First Published: February 21, 2026, 09:30 IST News world Iran-Linked Oil Tanker Seized By India Spent 8 Days In Pakistan Waters, Went Dark For Hours Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Keep Calm And Tariff On': White House Responds After Supreme Court's Ruling Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 08:00 IST Soon after the ruling, Trump, while addressing the reporters, said the court had not overruled tariffs altogether but had only limited his use of the IEEPA. Rapid Read Trump invoked a national emergency law to impose sweeping tariffs on several countries. (Reuters/File Image) Hours after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down President Donald Trumps sweeping reciprocal tariffs, the White House hit back with a defiant message on social media. Following the legal setback to the Trump administration, the White House, in a post on X, wrote, Keep calm and tariff on," shortly after the president lashed out at the court. Soon after the ruling, Trump, while addressing the reporters, said the court had not overruled tariffs altogether but had only limited his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court didnt overrule tariffs; they merely overruled a particular use of IEEPA tariffs," he said, adding that other alternatives will now be used to replace the ones that the court incorrectly rejected". This comes after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)a statute designed for national emergenciesdoes not grant the president authority to impose sweeping global tariffs. The decision deals a blow to Trumps approach of invoking emergency powers to slap punitive duties on multiple countries. Acting swiftly, Trump said he would sign an executive order to levy an additional 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, on top of existing duties. He added that the new tariff would come into force within three days. He also maintained that sector-specific tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, covering imports such as steel and aluminium, as well as measures under Section 301 of the Trade Act, would remain in force. Several ongoing probes could lead to further sectoral tariffs, he added. Accusing the conservative-dominated court of being swayed by foreign interests", Trump said he was absolutely ashamed" of certain justices. He claimed the ruling left him more powerful", arguing that alternative statutory routes could generate even higher revenues than his earlier tariff regime. On the possibility of refunds, he said the issue had not been discussed and predicted prolonged litigation. On India, Trump said the ruling would not alter existing trade arrangements. He described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a gentleman," even as he renewed his criticism of what he called past tariff imbalances. The ruling delivers a major setback to President Donald Trumps hardline trade agenda, even as his administration indicates it will pursue new tariff measures through alternative legal routes. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 07:41 IST News world 'Keep Calm And Tariff On': White House Responds After Supreme Court's Ruling Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... NASA Astronaut Shares Striking Timelapse Footage Of Earth As Space Station Flips | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 07:31 IST NASA astronaut Zena Cardman shared a stunning time-lapse of Earth from SpaceX CRS-33 manoeuvres, capturing sunset, storms, air glow, Moon glint, stars, and sunrise. Image credit: X/@zenanaut NASA astronaut Zena Cardman has shared a breathtaking time-lapse clip of the Earth, featuring a dazzling display of the planets natural lights. Filmed during manoeuvres connected to SpaceXs CRS-33 mission, the footage compresses time to showcase an orbital somersault unfolding at 60 times its real speed. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, the clip captures sunset, lightning storms, air glow, Moon glint, stars, and sunrise in one seamless sweep. The @Space_Stationrarely makes big changes to its orientation, but we were lucky to experience such maneuvers (flipping around to fly butt-first, then flipping back again) before and after each @spacexCRS-33 reboost", Cardman wrote in a post on X. The NASA astronaut said the time-lapse was one of her favourites, since it captured a little of everything". This 60x speed timelapse was one of my favorites since it captures a little of everything sunset, lightning storms, air glow, moon glint, stars, and sunrise as we did one (actually very slow) orbital cartwheel from Atlantic to Pacific", she added. WATCH The @Space_Station rarely makes big changes to its orientation, but we were lucky to experience such maneuvers (flipping around to fly butt-first, then flipping back again) before and after each @spacex CRS-33 reboost. This 60x speed timelapse was one of my favorites since it pic.twitter.com/7IsZnb1G7G Zena Cardman (@zenanaut) February 17, 2026 WHO IS ZENA CARDMAN? Zena Cardman, a commander of NASAs Crew-11 mission, made significant contributions to the research during Expeditions 73 and 74 on the station. A geobiologist by training, she studied life in extreme environments like caves and deep seas. Cardman joined NASA in 2017. Her expeditions across the unforgiving ice of Antarctica sharpened her skills for space where she conducts research that span human physiology in microgravity to the development of advanced materials. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 07:31 IST News world NASA Astronaut Shares Striking Timelapse Footage Of Earth As Space Station Flips | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes Across Afghan Border, 28 TTP Fighters Dead Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar Last Updated: February 22, 2026, 06:19 IST Eight targets were hit across multiple provinces in an operation involving Pakistan Air Force fighter jets. Rapid Read Residents survey rubble at a location said to have been struck during reported cross-border airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan. (IMAGE: SOURCED) Pakistan has carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan in the wee hours of Sunday morning, targeting multiple locations along the Durand Line, with Pakistani fighter jets hitting suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts, CNN-News18 has learned. Sources confirmed that at least 28 TTP fighters were killed in the strikes, which were carried out across eastern and southeastern Afghanistan. Pakistani aircraft struck the Barmal district of Paktika province, where local sources reported multiple explosions. Several blasts were heard in quick succession in the Margha area, indicating a coordinated operation. Reports also said missiles were fired by an unidentified aircraft at the Banusi Madrasa in Bermal, raising concerns about casualties and material damage, though there has been no official confirmation so far. According to information accessed by CNN-News18, a total of eight targets were hit in the operation. The scope of the strikes extended beyond Paktika to other provinces along the border, including Khost, Paktia and Nangarhar. Fresh reports also indicated another strike in the Argun area of Paktika. Sources said the Pakistan Air Force deployed F-16 fighter jets and JF-17 Thunder aircraft during the operation. The targets were believed to be TTP hideouts operating along the Durand Line. Pakistan said recent suicide bombings, including incidents at an Imam Bargah in Islamabad and attacks in Bajaur and Bannu, were carried out by groups it described as Fitna al Khwarij" and their affiliates, as well as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). In an official response, Islamabad said it has conclusive evidence" that the attacks were orchestrated by militants acting on the directions of leadership based in Afghanistan. Two Pakistani security personnel were killed in a suicide attack during an intelligence-based operation in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday, according to the militarys media wing. Security forces had launched the operation after receiving intelligence about the presence of fTTP ighters, including a suspected suicide bomber. During the exchange, five militants described by authorities as khawarij" a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed. Officials said a vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the leading contingent, preventing what authorities described as a planned attack on civilians and law enforcement personnel in Bannu city. However, the attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into one of the convoys vehicles, killing two high-ranking army officials, the military said. Location : Kabul, Afghanistan First Published: February 22, 2026, 02:23 IST News world Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes Across Afghan Border, 28 TTP Fighters Dead Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Researcher Warns Of Bird Flu 'Capable Of Killing 100%' Infected Fauna In Antarctica Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 20:51 IST Chilean researcher detected a deadly bird flu strain in Antarctica, spreading rapidly among skuas, cormorants, gulls, penguins, and fur seals, threatening small animal populations. Scientists warn over the spread of bird flu across Antarctica. (Photo: AFP/File) Scientists are warning over the spread of bird flu in Antarctica. A leading Chilean researcher, Victor Neira, on Tuesday told AFP that a detected strain has the potential to kill 100 per cent" of infected fauna. Though researchers have been warning about bird flus presence on the icy continent, which hosts temporary teams of scientists but no permanent residents, a particularly lethal strain was identified in April 2024 by Neira and his team in five skuas, a type of polar seabird. Since then, the virus has spread to other species, with cases identified along 900 kilometres (560 miles) of coastline studied by scientists. During a recent expedition to Antarctica, Neira said that new cases were found in Antarctic cormorants, kelp gulls, Adelie and gentoo penguins, and Antarctic fur seals. The virus has completely spread throughout the Antarctic region where we have the capacity to go and study," said Neira, a scientist at the University of Chile and the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH). This disease is capable of killing 100 per cent of the birds in short periods of time," he added. For example, in one or two days it can kill 90 per cent or 100 per cent of the animals in a given area." The small population sizes of Antarctic species highlight the risk of outbreaks. Species like Antarctic cormorants and skuas number around 20,000 in total. Since 2021, a global wave of bird flu has affected birds and mammals worldwide, spread through bird migration. In 2023, it resulted in the deaths of thousands of Humboldt penguins in Chile. Location : Chile First Published: February 21, 2026, 20:51 IST News world Researcher Warns Of Bird Flu 'Capable Of Killing 100%' Infected Fauna In Antarctica Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Russian Intelligence Takes Over Wagners Africa Network After Prigozhins Death Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 08:52 IST Following Prigozhin's death, Russia's SVR took control of Wagner's African operations, sending teams to boost Moscow's influence across the continent. Rapid Read Nearly 100 consultants work for Wagner's influence branch, called Africa Politology. (AFP) Russias intelligence apparatus has moved to take control of the sprawling African operations once run by the Wagner Group, after the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to a new investigation. The Wagner Group notorious for its brutal tactics and widely condemned by rights organisations was Russias most prominent mercenary outfit. The group had a widespread presence in Africa, deploying fighters alongside the armies of countries including Libya and Mali, and also conducted vast disinformation and destabilisation campaigns. After Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in 2023 following a brief mutiny against Moscow, Russias defence ministry moved to supplant the Wagner Group in Africa and streamline security operations under a new umbrella formation known as the Africa Corps. But it is Russias foreign intelligence service, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), that has taken charge of Wagners influence operations efforts designed to advance Moscows political and economic interests, spread disinformation and sideline rivals in Africa and elsewhere, according to an investigation by a media consortium that includes Forbidden Stories and All Eyes On Wagner. The SVR has now taken over the most effective tool of the Wagner Group," the investigation said. The reporting, which also involved the Dossier Center, openDemocracy and iStories, found that nearly 100 consultants work for Wagners influence arm, known as Africa Politology or The Company." Between 2024 and 2025, teams were deployed to countries including Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Niger and Sudan. They were also active in Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Cameroon, Benin and Namibia, the investigation said. The consortium said, The SVR provides a layer of intelligence with information on specific topics, recruits sources, opens access and places key agents of influence in strategic roles." The investigation began after internal documents from the network were anonymously sent to the editor-in-chief of the award-winning pan-African media outlet The Continent. The files more than 1,400 pages in Russian contain strategic plans, staff profiles, operational reports, financial records and summaries of disinformation campaigns conducted between January and November 2024. The investigation confirmed the authenticity of the 76 documents and their content. The documents show that these operations combine political influence, disinformation and close ties to security services, going far beyond the usual practices in the sector," it said. According to the investigation, Russias foreign intelligence service, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), sometimes finds itself competing with the Russian defence ministry which oversees the GRU and at other times has to work alongside it. While the defence ministry assumed control of Wagners operations in countries such as Mali, it did not take charge of the Russian private military contractors in the Central African Republic. In the Central African Republic, the SVR is called upon to help the defence ministry avoid hindering the activities of Wagner," investigators said. (With inputs from AFP) Location : Russia First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:52 IST News world Russian Intelligence Takes Over Wagners Africa Network After Prigozhins Death Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Seven Bodies Of Chinese Tourists Recovered From Lake Baikal In Russia's Serbia Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 23:55 IST Seven bodies found in Lake Baikal after a tour bus with eight Chinese tourists plunged through ice. One survivor escaped. A tour bus carrying eight Chinese tourists plunged into the water. (Photo: AP) In a tragic incident, seven bodies have been recovered from Lake Baikal in Siberia after a tour bus carrying eight Chinese tourists broke through the ice and plunged into the water. The event occurred on Friday when the ice cracked as the bus attempted to cross the frozen lake, according to the Russian emergency ministry. Irkutsk regional governor, Igor Kobzev, reported via the Telegram app that one Chinese tourist managed to escape. Meanwhile, the regions prosecutors office has launched a criminal investigation into the accident. Rescuers employed an underwater camera to inspect the scene, and diving operations are planned. The depth at the site of the accident is 18 metres (59 feet)," stated the ministry. Lake Baikal, renowned as the worlds deepest freshwater lake and situated north of Mongolia, is a popular tourist destination. In recent years, Chinese tourism in Russia has surged, facilitated by closer bilateral relations and the introduction of a mutual visa-free travel regime. Location : Russia First Published: February 21, 2026, 23:55 IST News world Seven Bodies Of Chinese Tourists Recovered From Lake Baikal In Russia's Serbia Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... These 6 US Judges Struck Down Trump's Tariffs. Two Were Appointed By The President Himself Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 11:45 IST These six justices agreed that Trump overstepped his authority and that only Congress has the power to impose wide-ranging tariffs unless a statute explicitly states so Rapid Read The highly conservative US Supreme Court ruled six-three in the case, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. (AP) The US Supreme Court on Friday said that Donald Trump had overstepped his powers in imposing a broad range of tariffs that disrupted international trade, striking down a crucial mechanism that the US President has used to impose his economic will. The highly conservative US Supreme Court ruled six-three in the case, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs." The court observed that had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs" through IEEPA, it would have done so expressly, as it consistently has in other tariff statutes." The Judges Who Struck Down The Tariffs These six justices agreed that Trump overstepped his authority and that only Congress has the power to impose wide-ranging tariffs unless a statute explicitly states so: Chief Justice John Roberts: Wrote the majority opinion, stressing that the Constitution reserves tariff and tax powers to Congress, not the President. Justice Neil Gorsuch: A conservative justice appointed by Trump who voted with the majority to narrowly construe the statute. Justice Amy Coney Barrett: Another Trump appointee who voted with the majority, stressing the limits of presidential trade power. Justice Sonia Sotomayor: A liberal justice who agreed that the emergency statute fails to grant wide-ranging tariff powers. Justice Elena Kagan: Voted with the majority, stressing the importance of statutory interpretation and constitutional boundaries. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Also voted with the majority, agreeing that the emergency statute cannot be used to justify wide-ranging tariffs. The justices held that the Constitution grants tariff powers to Congress and that since the 1977 statute Trump used (IEEPA) did not specifically grant tariff powers, the tariffs were unconstitutional. The Dissenting Judges Justice Brett Kavanaugh: Authored the main dissent, cautioning against the effects of striking down the tariffs, such as refunds to importers. Justice Clarence Thomas: Focused on Congresss ability to delegate trade authority and the statutes potential to support presidential tariffs. Justice Samuel Alito: Joined Thomas and Kavanaughs opinions, claiming the courts interpretation of the statute was incorrect and that it overstepped the executive branchs powers. Why The Split Matters According to Mint, the majoritys reasoning hinged on a constitutional principle that tariffs are a form of taxation and, under Article I of the US Constitution, only Congress may levy taxes unless it clearly delegates that power. The decision also reflects the court applying the major questions doctrine", a legal principle that says courts should not assume Congress intended to grant broad authority for significant economic actions unless it said so explicitly. The ruling marks a major constitutional check on executive authority and is one of the most significant defeats of Trumps trade policy. Trump has since sharply criticised the decision, even launching personal attacks on some of the justices who sided with the majority, and vowed to pursue alternative legal paths to impose tariffs. Im ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do whats right for our country," Trump told reporters at a White House press conference. Theyre very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution," he said, deriding them at one point as fools and lap dogs". Asked if he regretted nominating justices Barrett and Gorsuch, who both voted against him, to the top court, Trump said he did not want to say whether or not I regret". I think their decision was terrible," he said. I think its an embarrassment to their families if you want to know the truth, the two of them." The President also alleged there was foreign influence behind the ruling. Its my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests," he said. I think that foreign interests are represented by people that I believe have undue influence. They have a lot of influence over the Supreme Court, whether its through fear or respect or friendships, I dont know," he said. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 10:59 IST News world These 6 US Judges Struck Down Trump's Tariffs. Two Were Appointed By The President Himself Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Performance was driven by the successful integration of Adlumin, which solidified N-able's presence in the AI Security Operations Center (SOC) market and exceeded cross-sell expectations. Management attributes growth to the 'durable truth' that digital evolution requires expert technology guidance, with AI acting as a fundamental tailwind rather than a threat to their software moat. The company is successfully moving upmarket, with customers contributing over $50,000 in ARR now representing 61% of total ARR, up from 57% a year ago. Strategic positioning focuses on a three-pillar platformUnified Endpoint Management (UEM), Security Operations, and Data Protectionto drive solution consolidation and reduce vendor sprawl for customers. Operational efficiency was bolstered by opening a new R&D center in India to deepen engineering capacity while maintaining a 30% adjusted EBITDA margin. Trump Presented Plan To Kill Irans Supreme Leader Khamenei, Son In Targeted Strike: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 12:13 IST The US Defence Department has presented multiple military options to Trump but no final decision has been made, as per the report. US President Donald Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (IMAGE: REUTERS) US President Donald Trump has been presented with military options that include the targeted killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba Khamenei, Axios reported citing senior administration sources. One scenario discussed would take out the ayatollah and his son and the mullahs," a senior Trump advisor said, referring to Khamenei and Mojtaba, who is widely seen as a potential successor. However, the advisor stressed that no final decision has been made. Read more: Will India Now Face Just 10% US Tariffs? White House Official Signals Reset The President hasnt decided to strike yet. I know that because we havent struck. He might never do it. He might wake up tomorrow and say, Thats it," the source said. According to the report, the US Defence Department has presented multiple military options. They have something for every scenario," the advisor said, adding, What the President chooses no one knows. I dont think he knows." A second source said a plan involving the killing of Khamenei and his son had been floated several weeks ago, indicating the possibility has been under consideration for some time. Another senior advisor said Trump is maintaining strategic ambiguity. Trump is keeping his options open. He could decide on an attack at any moment," the official said. Read more: President Cant Do Whatever He Wants: Lawyer Neal Katyal After Winning Tariff Case Against Trump Responding to media reports, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly declined to comment on specific plans. The media may continue to speculate on the Presidents thinking all they want, but only President Trump knows what he may or may not do," she said. This comes as Trump warned Iran to agree to a nuclear deal or face consequences, saying Tehran must reach an agreement or bad things will happen," even as indirect talks continue in Geneva. The US has deployed significant military assets to West Asia, including advanced fighter jets, warships and carrier strike groups, as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 12:13 IST News world Trump Presented Plan To Kill Irans Supreme Leader Khamenei, Son In Targeted Strike: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Raises Global Tariff To 15%, Calls US Top Court's Ruling 'Anti-American' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 23:51 IST Trump said the higher tariff would take effect immediately and accused several countries of exploiting the US for decades. US President Donald Trump addressing the White House on Friday. (Reuters) US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced an increase in the proposed global tariff rate from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, sharply criticising a recent US court ruling and calling it anti-American". In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the higher tariff would take effect immediately. He accused several countries of exploiting the US for decades and claimed the revised rate was legally sound. As President of the United States, I will be raising the worldwide tariff from 10% to the fully permitted and legally tested 15% level," Trump wrote, adding that the move was aimed at countering what he described as unfair trade practices. He said that his decision was based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court." He further added, During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs." The new global tariff has been brought under Section 122 of the US trade law, commonly referred to as a balance-of-payments tariff. It allows the president to impose tariffs up to the 15 per cent limit, which can remain in effect for up to 150 days. Any extension beyond that period would require approval from Congress. Reacting to the court ruling earlier, Trump said his administration would invoke Section 122 of US trade law to impose a blanket global tariff, while also relying on Section 301 to launch investigations into countries accused of engaging in unfair trade behaviour, a step that could pave the way for additional duties. Effective immediately, all national security and existing trade tariffs will stay in place," Trump said, adding that a fresh order would formalise the global tariff under Section 122 in addition to existing duties. US Top Courts Verdict The US Supreme Court dealt a major setback to Donald Trumps tariff push, ruling by a 6-3 majority that his administration lacked the legal authority to impose sweeping global duties. The court held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorise the president to unilaterally levy broad, economy-wide tariffs. While the 1977 statute permits the executive branch to regulate specific international financial transactions during a declared national emergency, it does not extend to the imposition of blanket trade tariffs, the judges said. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh dissented from the ruling. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts noted that Congress has historically granted tariff-setting powers only through clear and narrowly defined delegations. He cautioned that interpreting IEEPA more expansively would significantly widen presidential authority beyond what lawmakers intended. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 21:48 IST News world Trump Raises Global Tariff To 15%, Calls US Top Court's Ruling 'Anti-American' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Ukraines Partners Unhappy: Hungary, Slovakia Slam Zelenskyy For Blocking Russian Oil Flow Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 19:21 IST Robert Fico warns Slovakia may halt emergency electricity to Ukraine if oil supplies are not restored, citing losses and tensions with Volodymyr Zelensky. Left: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico; Right: Hungary PM Viktor Orban (Credits: X) Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned that Slovakia could suspend emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil deliveries are not restored. In a post on X, Fico said, IF THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT DOES NOT RESUME OIL SUPPLIES TO SLOVAKIA ON MONDAY, ON THAT SAME DAY I WILL ASK THE RELEVANT SLOVAK COMPANIES TO STOP EMERGENCY ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE." He stressed that Slovakia has supported Ukraine since the start of the war. Since the beginning of the war, Slovakia has been helping Ukraine. Around 180,000 Ukrainians are currently on our territory, we provide humanitarian assistance, and we organize joint government meetings. We are doing substantially more for Ukraine than some other countries," he said. Accusations Against Kyiv Fico accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of ignoring Slovakias peace-oriented approach" and acting against Slovak interests. First, he halted gas flows to Slovakia, causing us damages of 500 million per year. Now he has stopped oil flows, causing us further losses and logistical difficulties," Fico wrote. Referring to wider European energy tensions, he added, If the West does not mind that the Nord Stream gas pipeline was blown up, Slovakia cannot accept Slovak-Ukrainian relations as a one-way ticket benefiting only Ukraine." He further said, Slovakia is a proud and sovereign country, and I am a proud and sovereign Slovak. If oil supplies to Slovakia are not resumed on Monday, I will ask SEPS, the state-owned joint-stock company, to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine." According to Fico, emergency supplies were required twice in January 2026 alone, compared to the entire year of 2025. IF THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT DOES NOT RESUME OIL SUPPLIES TO SLOVAKIA ON MONDAY, ON THAT SAME DAY I WILL ASK THE RELEVANT SLOVAK COMPANIES TO STOP EMERGENCY ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE.Since the beginning of the war, Slovakia has been helping Ukraine. Around 180,000 Robert Fico (@RobertFicoSVK) February 21, 2026 Wider Regional Context The statement comes amid growing divisions within parts of Central Europe over continued military and financial support for Ukraine. Earlier, Hungary has said it will continue to oppose the European Unions proposed 90 billion financial package for Ukraine unless Kyiv allows the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline to resume. Prime Minister Viktor Orban made the announcement on his official X account, linking Hungarys position directly to the oil transit issue. Announcement! As long as Ukraine blocks the Friendship (Druzhba) oil pipeline, Hungary will block the 90-billion-euro Ukrainian war loan. We cannot be blackmailed!" he wrote. Hungary has accused Ukraine of intentionally preventing the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline at a time when the country is heading towards important parliamentary elections. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that President Volodymyr Zelensky took a political decision to block the resumption of crude oil transit, even though the pipeline is technically ready to operate. According to Budapest, the halt in supplies threatens Hungarys energy security at a politically sensitive moment, raising concerns about stability ahead of the elections. Fico also linked the dispute to financial support for Kyiv. Given President Zelenskys unacceptable behavior toward Slovakia, treating it as a hostile country, I consider it absolutely correct that I refused to involve the Slovak Republic in the latest 90 billion military loan for Ukraine," he said. The development highlights rising tensions between Kyiv and some European partners as energy security and war financing remain deeply contested issues across the region. First Published: February 21, 2026, 19:18 IST News world Ukraines Partners Unhappy: Hungary, Slovakia Slam Zelenskyy For Blocking Russian Oil Flow Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Envoy Triggers Row After Saying Israel Has A 'Right' To Much Of West Asia Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 22:51 IST Arab and Muslim nations condemned Mike Huckabees comments suggesting Israel could claim much of the West Asia, sparking backlash from Egypt, Jordan, and OIC. Arab and Muslim nations condemned Mike Huckabees comments suggesting Israel could claim much of the West Asia, sparking backlash from Egypt, Jordan, and OIC. (Image: AP) Arab and Muslim nations have strongly condemned comments by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who suggested that Israel would be justified in claiming much of the Middle East. Huckabee made the remarks in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired on Friday. During the discussion, Carlson referred to Biblical passages from Genesis, saying the descendants of Abraham were promised land stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates territory that would include much of todays Middle East. Asked whether Israel had a right to that land, Huckabee responded: It would be fine if they took it all." He later clarified that Israel was not actively seeking to expand its territory and said the country had a right to security in the land it legitimately controls. Sharp Backlash From Arab Bloc The comments triggered swift criticism from Egypt and Jordan, as well as from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States. Egypts foreign ministry described Huckabees remarks as a blatant violation" of international law, stating that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands." The League of Arab States called the statements extremist" and provocative," warning that such rhetoric inflames religious and national tensions and does not reflect official US policy. There was no immediate response from either the Israeli government or US officials. A Long-Running Territorial Dispute Israels borders have shifted repeatedly since the country was established in 1948, shaped by wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements. During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the Golan Heights from Syria. Israel later returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt under a peace treaty and withdrew from Gaza in 2005. However, Israel continues to occupy the West Bank, where it has expanded Jewish settlements and legalised several outposts. Although US President Donald Trump has said he would block any formal annexation of the West Bank, Palestinians continue to seek an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital a position supported by much of the international community. Huckabees Longstanding Views Huckabee has previously opposed the two-state solution and questioned the use of the term Palestinians" for Arab descendants of those who lived in British-controlled Palestine. In the recent interview, when Carlson suggested the Biblical land promise would include Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Huckabee appeared to soften his stance slightly, saying: Not sure wed go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land." Expanding Tensions In The Region Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israel has increased its control over parts of the territory. Under a current ceasefire, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a buffer zone but still control more than half of Gaza. Israel has also taken control of a demilitarised buffer zone in Syria following the ousting of Syrian President Bashar Assad in late 2024, describing the move as temporary and necessary for border security. In Lebanon, Israeli troops continue to occupy five hilltop positions after a brief conflict with Hezbollah in 2024. Huckabees remarks come amid heightened regional sensitivities, as territorial claims remain one of the most contentious and emotionally charged aspects of the decades-long Middle East conflict. Location : Israel First Published: February 21, 2026, 22:51 IST News world US Envoy Triggers Row After Saying Israel Has A 'Right' To Much Of West Asia Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Military Aircraft Seen In Portugal As Trump Expands Regional Presence Amid Iran Tensions Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 23:29 IST Several US military aircraft were seen at the Lajes Air Base in Portugal as Washington expands its regional presence amid escalating tensions with Iran. US military planes on the tarmac of Lajes air base. (Reuters) US military aircraft appeared on the tarmac of the Lajes Air Base in Portugal as Washington ramps up regional presence amid escalating tensions with Iran. The sightings came after US President Donald Trump signalled a possible limited strike on Iran to pressure it into making a deal on its nuclear programme. As per local media reports, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo Sousa acknowledged that the Portuguese government is monitoring closely and with full knowledge of the facts" the use of Lajes Air Base in Terceira, Azores, by the United States. The Minister of State and Foreign Affairs [Paulo Rangel] informed me a week ago of the possibility that Lajes Air Base could be used under the terms of the existing agreement between Portugal and the United States of America," he said on Friday. On Wednesday, the Air Base saw 11 KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling tankers, 12 F-16 Viper fighter jets and one C-17 Globemaster III tactical airlift aircraft capable of rapid, worldwide delivery of troops and cargo. The Pentagon said, US European Command routinely hosts transient US military aircraft and personnel in accordance with access, basing, and overflight agreements with allies and partners." US military aircraft were seen at Lajes Air Base in Portugal as the US increased its regional presence while tensions with Iran rise https://t.co/uf9Bs2KZub pic.twitter.com/czCjckTGJr Reuters (@Reuters) February 21, 2026 Military analysts drew parallels with the US militarys Operation Midnight Hammer, during which Lajes served as the critical refuelling hub for the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that carried out airstrikes on Irans nuclear facilities last June. ALSO READ: Trump Presented Plan To Kill Irans Supreme Leader Khamenei, Son In Targeted Strike: Report Massive Military Buildup Near Iran Trump has deployed warships, fighter jets and other military hardware to the Middle East as he seeks to block Iran from building a nuclear bomb. Several reports suggested that the US military would be ready to launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend. The US has deployed more than 120 aircraft, including F-22 Raptors, F-16 Viper" fighter jets and F-35A Lightning IIs. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford also arrived at the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar. The USS Gerald R Ford will join the Abraham Lincoln carrier, which includes F-35C stealth jets, F/A-18 Super Hornets and electronic warfare aircraft. To support the Navy and the Air Force, the US has also deployed advanced Patriot and THAAD air-defence batteries to the region. Trumps Warning To Iran Trump had earlier given Iran a 10 to 15-day deadline to make a deal on its nuclear programme or bad things will happen." A report by The Wall Street Journal said he was considering authorising a limited military strike on Iran to pressure Tehran into agreeing to his terms for a nuclear deal. The aim would be to compel Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment activities while avoiding an immediate escalation into a wider conflict that could trigger major retaliation. The report said such a strike could take place within days if Trump gives approval. However, if Tehran refuses to comply, the United States could expand its response into a broader military campaign targeting infrastructure linked to the Iranian government. Such an escalation could include efforts aimed at destabilising or potentially toppling the leadership in Tehran, the report said. Iran has warned it would retaliate if attacked. In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Tehran said all bases, facilities and assets of any hostile force in the region would be treated as legitimate targets. It added that the United States would bear full and direct responsibility" for any unpredictable and uncontrollable consequences". The core demand from the US is no uranium enrichment on Iranian soil. Iran, for its part, says it must keep its nuclear capability and refuses to discuss its ballistic missiles. It denies planning to build a nuclear weapons arsenal. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 23:29 IST News world US Military Aircraft Seen In Portugal As Trump Expands Regional Presence Amid Iran Tensions Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Who Is Neal Katyal? Indian-American Lawyer Who Challenged Trump's Tariffs In US Supreme Court Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 08:42 IST The United States Supreme Court overturned Donald Trump's tariffs, with Neal Katyal leading the challenge, affirming Congress's authority over taxes. Advocate Neal Katyal, who argued against Trump's tariffs in US Supreme Court (Image credit: X/@ViduraUvacha) In a landmark judgment, the United States Supreme Court overthrew Donald Trumps tariffs, ruling that the President overstepped his legal authority by imposing broad levies without clear approval from Congress. Neal Katyal, a former Acting Solicitor General of the United States, was the face behind the historic judgment. He argued against Trumps use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose what he termed unjust, unconstitutional taxes" on goods from nearly every trading partner. Today, the United States Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law, and Americans everywhere. Its message was simple: Presidents are powerful, but our Constitution is more powerful still. In America, only Congress can impose taxes on the American people", Katyal said after the ruling. Describing the SC ruling as a constitutional milestone, he said, The US Supreme Court gave us everything we asked for in our legal case. Everything". This case has always been about the presidency, not any one president. It has always been about the separation of powers, and not the politics of the moment. Im gratified to see our Supreme Court, which has been the bedrock of our government for 250 years, protect our most fundamental values". WHO IS NEAL KATYAL? Born to Indian immigrant parents a doctor and an engineer Katyal graduated from Dartmouth College and Yale Law School and clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer of the US Supreme Court, according to an NDTV report. He was named Acting Solicitor General by President Barack Obama in 2010. So far, he has argued more than 50 cases before the Supreme Court, smashing records for minority advocates. Katyals past cases involve defending the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as challenging Trumps 2017 travel ban. Author of the book Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump", Katyal specialises in constitutional and complex appellate litigation. A recipient of the US Justice Departments highest civilian honour the Edmund Randolph Award he was named Litigator of the Year by The American Lawyer in 2017 and 2023. TRUMP CRITICISES SC RULING The Supreme Court ruling came as a major blow to Trumps tariff agenda. In a post on Truth Social, the US President criticised the judgment and called the decision ridiculous". Those members of the Supreme Court who voted against our very acceptable and proper method of TARIFFS should be ashamed of themselves. Their decision was ridiculous but, now the adjustment process begins, and we will do everything possible to take in even more money than we were taking in before!" Trump wrote. The President also announced that he has signed a new 10 percent global tariff on imports from all countries, seeking to preserve his sweeping trade agenda. It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 08:36 IST News world Who Is Neal Katyal? Indian-American Lawyer Who Challenged Trump's Tariffs In US Supreme Court Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Will Andrew Be Removed From Royal Line Of Succession? Report Says UK Govt Weighing Move Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 22, 2026, 01:36 IST The debate follows his arrest and a police probe linked to allegations involving confidential documents and Jeffrey Epstein Rapid Read The discussions come amid renewed controversy over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and strong public support for removing him from the succession. (IMAGE: REUTERS) The British government is considering formally removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession after a police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office concludes. The former Prince Andrew became the first British royal in centuries to be arrested on Thursday. He was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released hours later under investigation", meaning he has neither been charged nor cleared. Thames Valley Police said earlier this month they were examining a claim that, while serving as the United Kingdoms trade envoy in 2010, he shared confidential documents with the late convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. Any attempt to remove him from the line of succession would require an Act of Parliament, a process that is both lengthy and politically uncertain. It would also likely need approval from other Commonwealth countries such as Canada and Australia, where the British monarch remains head of state, US broadcaster NBC News, who first reported the development, said. Despite being stripped of his remaining royal titles last year, Mountbatten-Windsor is still eighth in line to succeed his brother, King Charles III, though he is considered highly unlikely ever to take the throne. At birth, he was second in line behind his mother, Queen Elizabeth IIs heir Charles, but has gradually moved down the order as Charles family has expanded. He now sits behind Prince William and his three children, as well as Prince Harry and his two children. Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied wrongdoing linked to Epstein but has not commented on his arrest this week or on allegations emerging from the recent release of Epstein-related files. In October, amid renewed controversy over his ties to Epstein, King Charles stripped his brother of his princely title and asked him to vacate his Windsor residence, Royal Lodge. No steps were taken at the time to remove him from the line of succession, and Buckingham Palace also did not pursue measures such as abolishing his Duke of York title, which would have required parliamentary cooperation. The palace then cited concerns about using parliamentary time on the issue. A YouGov poll released on Friday found 82 percent of Britons believe Mountbatten-Windsor should be removed from the line of succession. Excluding a named royal from the succession would be unprecedented in modern times, with the constitutional framework largely unchanged since the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936. Much of the earlier controversy surrounding Mountbatten-Windsor stemmed from allegations by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who said Epstein trafficked her to influential figures including the former prince. In 2022, he settled a sexual assault lawsuit brought by Giuffre for an undisclosed amount without admitting liability. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied meeting Giuffre, who died by suicide last year. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: February 22, 2026, 01:36 IST News world Will Andrew Be Removed From Royal Line Of Succession? Report Says UK Govt Weighing Move Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... India, Others Will Now Face 10% US Tariffs, Says White House Official Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 21:40 IST Donald Trump said the broader India-US trade arrangement would remain intact despite the sweeping tariff overhaul. US President Donald Trump with PM Modi. (Photo: Reuters/File) A White House official said that US President Donald Trumps sweeping new 10% global tariff will reset rates for all major trading partners, lowering duties previously set at 15% for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, South Korea, the European Union and Japan, 20% for Vietnam while leaving the United Kingdom unchanged at 10%. For India, the reset effectively reduces US tariffs on its exports to 10% from 18%, marking another shift in trade terms between the two countries within weeks of a landmark bilateral agreement. This is, however, only temporary as the administration will be pursuing other legal authorities to implement more appropriate or pre-negotiated tariff rates," a White House official told AFP. Read more: Adjustment Process Begins: Trump Announces New 10% Global Tariff After Supreme Court Ruling Trump said the broader India-US trade arrangement would remain intact despite the sweeping tariff overhaul and a recent ruling by the Supreme Court restricting his use of emergency tariff powers. I think my relationship with India is fantastic, and were doing trade with India. India pulled out of Russia. India was getting its oil from Russia. And they pulled way back at my request, because we want to settle that horrible war where 25,000 people are dying every month," Trump said after the verdict. Nothing changes with respect to the trade deal with India," he said, adding, they will be paying & we will not be paying tariffs." Read more: Embarrassment To Their Families: Trumps Personal Attack On Supreme Court Justices Over Tariff Ruling Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said, PM Modi is a great man; he was much smarter than the people that he was against in terms of the US. We are not paying tariffs to India now & they are paying to us; we did a little flip." He also defended tariffs more broadly, saying, Tariffs have likewise been used to end 5 of the 8 wars I have settled including India-Pakistan, big ones, could have been nuclear." The global reset follows the US Supreme Courts decision to limit Trumps use of emergency economic powers to impose tariffs, forcing the administration to restructure its trade measures. But Trump asserted all bilateral agreements would proceed regardless of the legal setback. The India deal is on all the deals are on, were just going to do it," he said, adding it would be implemented in a different way." The latest change comes just two weeks after Washington and New Delhi announced a trade deal under which US tariffs on Indian goods were sharply reduced to 18% from 50%. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: February 21, 2026, 09:08 IST News world India, Others Will Now Face 10% US Tariffs, Says White House Official Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Will Strike Back At Perfect Time': Taliban Vows Response After Pakistan Airstrikes | EXCLUSIVE Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar Last Updated: February 22, 2026, 03:34 IST Taliban leadership holds emergency consultations after strikes and warns Islamabad of retaliation after airstrikes targeted areas along the border in eastern Afghanistan. Rapid Read Escalation builds as Taliban leadership weighs response to Islamabad after airstrikes along the Durand Line. (IMAGE: REUTERS/REPRESENTATIVE) Afghan Taliban authorities are assessing Pakistans airstrikes and have warned of retaliation, sources close to the leadership told CNN-News18, signalling a sharp escalation in tensions along the border. Sources confirmed that at least 28 TTP fighters were killed in the strikes, which were conducted across eastern and southeastern Afghanistan. We are assessing the Pakistan strikes," a source close to the Afghan Taliban said, adding that authorities are investigating the scale of damage caused by the attacks. The source accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty. Pakistan has violated Afghan airspace," the source said, stressing that the Taliban has the right to retaliate." While no immediate response has been announced, the leadership indicated that retaliation remains on the table. We will strike back at the perfect time," the source said. Senior Taliban leaders have convened urgent consultations following the strikes. According to the source, top leadership has summoned important meetings in Kabul and Kandahar to discuss the situation. It is too early to say something definitive on the Pakistani strikes, but Kabul will definitely retaliate," the source added, indicating that a formal response could follow internal deliberations. The Taliban also accused Pakistan of breaching existing understandings. Pakistan has violated the ceasefire; we are informing all mediators, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye," the source said. Meanwhile, Pakistani security sources said the cross-border operation targeted militant infrastructure. According to them, precision strikes in Paktika, Paktia, Nangarhar and Khost provinces dismantled terrorist camps. Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan in the wee hours of Sunday morning, targeting multiple locations along the Durand Line, with fighter jets hitting suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts, CNN-News18 had reported. Pakistani aircraft struck the Barmal district of Paktika province, where local sources reported multiple explosions, including successive blasts in the Margha area, indicating a coordinated operation. Missiles were also reportedly fired by an unidentified aircraft at the Banusi Madrasa in Bermal, raising concerns about casualties and damage, though there has been no official confirmation. Information accessed by CNN-News18 indicated that eight targets were hit, with the scope extending to Khost, Paktia and Nangarhar provinces. Fresh reports also pointed to another strike in the Argun area of Paktika. Sources said the Pakistan Air Force deployed F-16 and JF-17 Thunder fighter jets in the operation, with the targets believed to be TTP hideouts operating along the border. Pakistan, in an official response, said recent suicide bombings including attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu were carried out by groups it described as Fitna al Khwarij" and their affiliates, as well as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Islamabad said it had conclusive evidence" linking the attacks to militants operating from Afghan territory and reiterated that it had repeatedly urged Afghan authorities to prevent such groups from using its soil, while maintaining that it remains committed to peace and stability. Separately, two Pakistani security personnel were killed in a suicide attack during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday, according to the militarys media wing. Security forces had launched the operation after receiving intelligence about militants in the area, and officials said five fighters described as khawarij" a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were killed in the exchange. Authorities said a vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the leading contingent, preventing what they described as a planned attack on civilians and law enforcement personnel. However, the attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy vehicle, killing two army officials, the military said. Location : Kabul, Afghanistan First Published: February 22, 2026, 03:12 IST News world Will Strike Back At Perfect Time': Taliban Vows Response After Pakistan Airstrikes | EXCLUSIVE Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Would Sam Altman Be Open To Becoming Friends With Elon Musk Again? OpenAI CEO Responds Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 21, 2026, 18:23 IST Altman's remarks came amid an escalating legal battle with Musk over OpenAI's for-profit policies. The two tech leaders started as partners before turning bitter rivals in AI. Rapid Read Sam Altman and Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI together before Musk resigned from the company and became one of its most vocal critics. (File) Tech rivals Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who have had a series of bitter public exchanges over the recent months amid an escalating legal battle, were once colleagues who founded OpenAI together. A friendship between the two again seems less likely", said Altman in a recent interview. In an interview with The Indian Express, Altman was asked which scenario was less likely to happen: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) losing its dominance over global chip manufacturing, or he and Elon Musk rekindling their friendship. I think Musk and I becoming friends is less likely. I feel I have more control over that one, but both very unlikely things," the OpenAI CEO responded, drawing laughter from the audience. These remarks came amid a bitter feud between Musk and Altman, after the Tesla CEO sued OpenAI, claiming the company abandoned its nonprofit mission. Musk is reportedly seeking up to $134 billion in damages. The timing of the spat comes amid heightened scrutiny of AI safety globally. From Friends To Rivals However, the two tech CEOs were once partners with a shared idealism about AI. Musk and Altman co-founded OpenAI as a non-profit in 2015. Musk later resigned from the company in 2018 after a power struggle and became one of the companys most vocal critics. Musk has alleged that Altman and OpenAI abandoned their original nonprofit mission to develop AI for humanitys benefit, transforming it into a profit-driven entity closely tied to Microsoft. After raising $1 billion from Microsoft in 2019, OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022 and, within five days, reached 1 million users. In July 2023, Musk launched a rival AI company, called xAI, and released its Grok chatbot four months later. Musk said Grok was designed with an absolute focus on the truth, whether politically correct or not." He later sued OpenAI, alleging that Altman and Greg Brockman, OpenAIs president, manipulated Musk into donating $44 million to a nonprofit, open-source company that would prioritise AI safety over profits. Musk also opposed the Stargate Project, a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative launched by US President Donald Trump, Altman and other tech leaders soon after the 2024 presidential elections. Musk claimed the organisers dont have the funds to back up their promises. In response, Altman said, This is great for the country. I realise what is great for the country isnt always whats optimal for your companies, but in your new role I hope youll mostly put (America) first." Altman is currentky in India to attend the India-AI Impact Summit, where his company has announced a number of partnerships, including a data centre deal with Tata Consultancy Services and plans to open new offices in Bengaluru and Mumbai. First Published: February 21, 2026, 16:42 IST News world Would Sam Altman Be Open To Becoming Friends With Elon Musk Again? OpenAI CEO Responds Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... OpenAI is projecting that its revenue will grow at a fast clip in the next few years and exceed $280 billion in 2030, according to a person familiar with the matter. The revenue forecast reflects OpenAIs strong momentum in subscription sales for its AI software to consumers and businesses. OpenAI also recently began testing advertising for certain users, creating a new potential moneymaker for the company. Most Read from Bloomberg OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar recently said the companys annualized revenue topped $20 billion in 2025, up from roughly $6 billion the year prior. CNBC was first to report the new revenue estimate. Like its peers, OpenAI is racing to convince more companies and users to pay up for its AI services to help offset the immense cost of chips, data centers and talent needed to build its technology. OpenAI previously said it has committed to spend more than $1.4 trillion on infrastructure for AI in the coming years. The company is now telling investors its planning to spend about $600 billion by 2030, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters. OpenAI is close to finalizing the first phase of a new funding round that is likely to bring in more than $100 billion, Bloomberg News has reported. The overall valuation of the company, including the eventual funding, could exceed $850 billion. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2026 Bloomberg L.P. An octogenarian on Washington's remote Long Beach Peninsula has become the test case for a very modern roommate: an artificial intelligence-driven robot that's supposed to combat loneliness. Writing for the New York Times , Eli Saslow follows 85-year-old Jan Worrell as she reluctantly accepts an ElliQ device part lamp, part tablet, part cameraprovided for free through a nonprofit pilot program, even though it normally runs about $700 a year. The Israeli-made companion bot doesn't just wait for commands: It constantly calculates when Jan is likely to engage, then nudges her with jokes, breathing exercises, trivia, music, or prompts to talk about her past. Saslow tracks how this woman who has long prided herself on rugged independenceand resisted moving closer to family or into a care facilitygradually shifts from calling ElliQ "it" to treating it as a trusted confidant. The piece explores what the company behind ElliQ calls an "algorithm for emotional intelligence," early data suggesting it eases isolation, and the unease around surveillance and outsourcing connection to machines. By the time Worrell is recording a memoir with the robot and asking it for a "hug," the story has quietly become a case study in how AI might reshape aging itself. For more on the story and the ethical questions it raises, read the full piece here. What's being billed as the nation's first "dementia village" is coming to Wisconsin. The $40 million project will be built in Fitchburg, near Madison, and is scheduled to open next year, reports WMTV . The idea is to create a community for about 65 residents, all with dementia diagnoses, that swaps institutional hallways for a small-scale neighborhood. Instead of a single locked facility, the village will feature eight houses with eight residents each, plus a restaurant, spa, and grocery store. The group behind the projectwhich is modeled after one in the Netherlandsis a nonprofit health-care agency called Agrace. "We're really trying to address two dire issues at the same time," Agrace President and CEO Lynne Sexten tells Hospice News. "For those living with dementia, we want to restore their sense of autonomy, self-determination, and happiness. We want to keep that quality of life as high as we can as they progress. At the same time ... the caregiver burnout issue is real. We're hoping that this village really starts to address the caregiver burden." On-site staff housing is designed to help with the latter. Day visitors also are welcome. No word yet on cost, but organizers say it's expected to be in line with other nursing homes or memory care facilities. Families would pay room and board out of pocket, with medical care billed to insurance. The project will be called the Ellen & Peter Johnson Dementia Village at Agrace, after a couple who made a $7 million donation, notes People. Construction is expected to start in the spring. ASOS has lost one of its original design creators. Quentin Griffiths, who helped launch the British fashion retailer in 2000, died in Thailand after falling from a 17th-floor balcony in the coastal city of Pattaya on Feb. 9, Thai police say, per Reuters . Officers said they found the 58-year-old British national's body on the ground below his apartment and identified him as Griffiths. Police say early findings point to suicide, with no evidence so far of another person in Griffiths' apartment; CCTV footage reportedly showed no one entering before his fall. An autopsy is underway. A Thai friend told police that Griffiths had been anxious about legal cases involving his ex-wife, a Thai national, and related documents were recovered in his home, police say. The Independent notes that the wife's complaint stems from her accusation that Griffiths stole nearly $675,000 from a firm they ran together. When queried about Griffiths, Britain's Foreign Office simply said that it's assisting the family of a UK citizen who died in Thailand. Griffiths served as ASOS' marketing director before leaving in 2004, but he remained a major shareholder for years. He helped steer the then-"As Seen on Screen" company, as it was originally called, from dot-com survivor to a force in online retail. The Guardian notes that ASOS attire has been sported by such luminaries as Rihanna and Michelle Obama. Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) hasn't been getting much love on Wall Street. The stock trades down 66% from its 2024 highs and just took a big hit after the company offered weak guidance for 2026. However, for contrarian dividend investors, Novo Nordisk could be an undervalued opportunity. First, Novo Nordisk's bad news Novo Nordisk was the first company to introduce a GLP-1 weight loss shot. Unfortunately, it couldn't keep up with demand, which allowed compounded versions of the company's Wegovy to be sold. And Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) launched its own GLP-1 drug, which proved more effective. So, at this point, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound are the leaders in the GLP-1 space. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks Image source: Getty Images. Adding to the company's woes is Novo Nordisk's weak guidance for 2026. Unlike Eli Lilly, which offered strong guidance, Novo Nordisk is expecting revenue and earnings to fall this year. Part of that comes from an agreement with the U.S. government around drug pricing. It is easy to see why Novo Nordisk is viewed as an also-ran in the GLP-1 space right now. There's good news about Novo Nordisk However, the news isn't all bad. Novo Nordisk was first to market with a pill version of its GLP-1 drug, beating Eli Lilly to the punch. That gives the company time to regain market share before Eli Lilly launches its own pill. Consumers tend to prefer pills to shots, for obvious reasons, and the uptake on Novo Nordisk's pill has been very strong. The hope is that the pill dramatically increases the number of customers taking GLP-1 drugs. Also, the company is working on an updated version of its GLP-1 drug that is more competitive with Eli Lilly's offering. And Novo Nordisk appears to be taking a more aggressive approach with generic competitors, which could help it squeeze these players out now that the company's GLP-1 drug production is keeping up with demand. Novo Nordisk looks cheap Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk's price-to-earnings ratio is 13.5, compared to Eli Lilly's 45. And Novo Nordisk is offering an attractive 3.7% yield compared to Eli Lilly's 0.6%. Novo Nordisk's dividend is well supported, too, with a payout ratio of roughly 40%. While 2026 may be a turnaround year, there are compelling reasons to be positive about the future. If you are a dividend investor or have a value bias, you'll likely find Novo Nordisk an attractive option in the GLP-1 space. The US military on Friday said that it has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. US Southern Command said on social media that the boat "was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations." It said the strike killed three people, per the AP . A video linked to the post shows a boat floating in the water before bursting into flames. Friday's attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug boats to at least 148 people in at least 43 attacks carried out since early September in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. President Trump has said the US is in "armed conflict" with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs, but his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing "narcoterrorists." Critics have questioned the overall legality of the strikes, as well as their effectiveness, in part because the fentanyl behind many fatal overdoses is typically trafficked to the US over land from Mexico, where it's produced with chemicals imported from China and India. The boat strikes also drew intense criticism following the revelation that the military had killed survivors of the very first boat attack with a follow-up strike. Conan O'Brien says he's still reeling from the fact that he said goodnight to Rob and Michele Reiner at his holiday party, then learned the next day they were dead. Speaking with the New Yorker, O'Brien described the filmmaker and his photographer-producer wife as "lovely people" and said he was "in shock for quite a while" after news broke that the couple had been found dead in their Los Angeles home on Dec. 14 and that their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. "It's just veryit's so awful. It's just so awful," O'Brien said. House Speaker Mike Johnson has turned down the Jackson family's request to have the Rev. Jesse Jackson lie in honor in the US Capitol, according to multiple reports. The Louisiana Republican is said to have weighed historical precedent, which has generally limited the Capitol rotunda tribute to former presidents, senior government figures, and select military honorees, reports the Hill . Recent requests for similar honors for conservative activist Charlie Kirk and former Vice President Dick Cheney were also rejected. CNN notes that lying in honor at the US Capitol typically involves the public being able to come and pay their final respects to the casket of the honored individual. Jackson, who died this week at 84, was a two-time presidential candidate and prominent civil-rights leader who founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and served as a Democratic adviser, per the Hill. While political and cultural figures have occasionally been granted the Capitol recognitione.g., civil rights icon Rosa Parks in 2005 and evangelist Billy Graham in 2018the last person to lie in state there was former President Carter. Precedent or not, Johnson is already receiving pushback, per the Washington Post. "Mike Johnson will defend a president who wants to unlawfully nationalize elections but won't authorize a civil rights legend to lie in honor," NAACP National President Derrick Johnson says. "That tells you everything you need to know about Mike Johnson and his gross disregard for our Constitution and our democracy." Jackson is expected to be memorialized in Chicago in the coming weeks. Amid what the AP calls the British royal family's "worst crisis in generations," the UK government is weighing whether to change the law so Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can no longer inherit the throne. Officials are understood to be exploring legislation that would remove King Charles III's brother from the line of succession, though any move would wait until a police inquiry concludes, per the BBC . Andrew, who was stripped of his "prince" title and other honors in October over his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is currently eighth in line to the crown. He was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released under investigation after 11 hours; he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Thames Valley Police are expected to continue searching Royal Lodge, Andrew's longtime Windsor home, through Monday. Unmarked cars and vans have been seen entering and leaving the 30-room property, though it's unclear how much of the activity is tied to the investigation. The political response to Andrew's arrest has been mixed: The Liberal Democrats and the SNP have backed removing him from the succession, while some Labour critics of the monarchy question whether a new law is necessary, given Andrew's distance from the throne. Changing the succession would require an act of Parliament, approval by both MPs and peers, and royal assent from the king. Because Charles is head of state in 14 other realms, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Jamaica, those governments would also need to sign off. Royal sources tell the Guardian that it doesn't appear the king would oppose a law change to keep his brother off the throne. Parliament last altered the rules in 2013, ending the automatic disqualification of heirs who married Catholics. The last time an individual was removed by law was in 1936, when Edward VIII and his descendants were excluded after his abdication. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is urging TV and radio stations to sign on to a new "Pledge America Campaign" that promotes what he calls patriotic, pro-US programming ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. In a statement on Friday, Carr said the semiquincentennial is a chance to highlight the country's founding principles and future, asking broadcasters to commit to shows and segments that boost civic knowledge, national pride, and US history, per Politico . Suggested options include public service announcements on civics, historical specials, adding more historical context to news programs, daily recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance, playing the national anthem, or airing music by American composers such as John Philip Sousa, Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin. Carr, who's already begun opening the FCC's monthly meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance, argued that civic education is waning, pointing to the nostalgia-status of the Schoolhouse Rock! series as an example. The initiative is billed as voluntary, but Carr said his urging comes because he thinks broadcasters should act in the "public interest," language he's used before to criticize news coverage and analysis, per the Hill. Carr's message is tied to a broader White House push to mark the 250th anniversary, including reviews of Smithsonian exhibits to ensure they emphasize American achievements. But it arrives as the FCC faces criticism over what some see as an expanding role in influencing media content, with detractors arguing the agency is trying to curry favor with President Trump and raising alarms about potential First Amendment concerns. That tension most recently surfaced when CBS' Stephen Colbert accused his network's lawyers of overreacting to equal-time guidance from Carr and shelving an interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. CBS denied that characterization, and Carr said Colbert had other avenues to air the segment. (The FCC is also apparently looking more closely at The View.) At least 379 people held in Venezuela for political reasons are slated to be released from prison this weekend after submitting their applications under an amnesty bill that was signed into law this week, authorities said. The measure is expected to benefit opposition members, activists, human rights defenders, journalists, and many others detained for months or even years, the AP reports. Its approval marked a reversal for Venezuelan authorities, who for decades have denied holding any political prisoners. It follows last month's US military raid in which then-President Nicolas Maduro was seized. The president of the special commission overseeing the amnesty law, Jorge Arreaza, said Friday night on state television that 379 amnesty requests had been received and that the applicants' releases would take place between Friday and Saturday. Further releases could be granted within 15 days, he said. Gonzalo Himiob, vice president of Venezuela-based prisoners' rights group Foro Penal, said on Saturday that so far some have been released in the state of Barinas, in the southwest of the country, but that the process of verifying releases under the amnesty was still ongoing. The new law excludes those convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, serious human rights violations, and military rebellion. Human rights organizations are calling for the law to be applied to all prisoners held for political reasons, even if they are not listed among the beneficiaries. The Canadian men's team brushed aside earlier accusations of cheating and beat Britain for Olympic gold in curling on Saturday at the Winter Games. Brad Jacobs' team defeated Bruce Mouat's all-Scottish squad 9-6 in Cortina's historic ice arena to give curling powerhouse Canada its only gold of the Olympics in the sport, the AP reports. It's Canada's first gold in men's curling since the 2014 Sochi Games, when they also beat Britain in the final with Jacobs as the skip. This is his first Olympics since thenhe lost in the Canadian Olympic trials for 2018 and 2022. Mouat was off on the freeze and Canada chipped Britain out of the house for three in the ninth end. Canada's team also featured vice skip Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, Ben Hebert and Tyler Tardi. Switzerland defeated Norway for bronze on Friday. The British men have still not won Olympic gold since the inaugural Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix. The Canadians last week were the subject of a dispute and a profanity-laced rant that got attention far beyond the ice when several players were accused of double-touching the rock, a rules violation. Women's bronze: Top-ranked Canada beat the US for the bronze medal in the women's competition earlier Saturday after being upset by Sweden in the semifinals. Rachel Homan's team won 10-7 to deny the American women their first medal in the event. Sweden will play Switzerland for gold on Sunday. KOCHI, Feb 21 (News On Japan) - Record-low rainfall has exposed parts of a phantom village that sank beneath a riverbed more than 40 years ago in Niyodogawa, Kochi Prefecture, while the water shortage has also left sections of the Shimanto River nearly dry, raising concerns about its impact on ayu fishing and daily life. The unusual scene emerged after an unprecedented lack of raindescribed as a once-in-30-years eventcaused water levels to drop dramatically, transforming landscapes across the region. A team investigating the ongoing nationwide drought examined how the prolonged dry conditions are affecting communities and industry. In Niyodogawa, reporters walked through overgrown paths to find remnants of a settlement that had been submerged when a dam was built decades ago. The drop in water levels brought into view rooftops, terraces and other traces of homes once lost beneath the river. Residents who remember the village recalled childhood games played in the valley and visits to a local inn, describing a community that disappeared when the dam flooded the area more than four decades ago. The Odo Dam, one of Kochis key water sources, recorded a storage rate of 0% for the first time since operations began, far below the typical 80% for this time of year. Although recent rainfall has pushed the level back up to around 17%, officials warn that the situation remains critical. With water levels unusually low, parts of the former Funato settlementnormally hidden beneath the reservoirhave also resurfaced. Foundations of homes, a bathhouse and the remains of a bridge that once connected the village can now be seen. Kataoka Kazuhiko, 74, whose family lived in the village before it was submerged, guided reporters through the exposed site. He pointed out where homes once stood and recalled passing through the area as a child, sometimes receiving a five-yen coin from a relative at a nearby inn. Only the framework of a terrace now remains where guests once gathered for tea and drinks. The droughts impact is also visible along the Shimanto River, the longest river in western Japan and a major tourist destination known for ayu and eel fishing. Sections of the riverbed have been left completely exposed, with water flowing through only a fraction of the rivers usual width. In some areas, the rivernormally about 250 meters widehas shrunk to a channel roughly 60 meters across, leaving large expanses of stones and sand visible. According to the Nakamura River Office, water levels in the Shimanto have remained low since late last year, with current volumes less than half of normal. Local fishing cooperatives warn that if dry conditions persist into the coming months, the migration of ayu upstream could be severely affected. In response to the ongoing water shortage, Kochi Prefecture has set up a drought countermeasures headquarters for the first time in 27 years and is urging residents to conserve water. Officials say that if low rainfall continues, the effects could spread further into both industry and daily life. The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts that low rainfall is likely to continue for about another month across both eastern and western Japans Pacific side, raising the possibility that the impacts of the drought will deepen nationwide. Source: FNN Michael Steinmann: here is Juanicipio, which has been performing better than expected since we acquired the mine in September 2025 through the MAG Silver transaction. For the gold segment, all-in sustaining costs, excluding NRV inventory adjustments, were $1,699 per ounce in Q4 and $1,621 per ounce for the full year, which was within our guidance for 2025. It is worth noting that both silver and gold segment costs in Q4 were impacted by higher royalties and worker participation expenditures, reflecting the increase in metal prices. Turning to operating performance, attributable silver production of 22,800,000 ounces in 2025 exceeded the top end of the guidance range we increased in November, while attributable gold production of 742,200 ounces was within guidance. Silver segment all-in sustaining costs, excluding NRV inventory adjustments, were $9.51 per ounce in Q4, and $13.88 per ounce for the full year. Silver all-in sustaining costs in 2025 were below the decreased guidance. The record financial results reflect both the operating strength of our assets and the leverage we have to metal prices. Importantly, that translates into record attributable free cash flow of $553,000,000 in Q4 and $1,200,000,000 for the full year. Cash and short-term investments increased by $480,000,000 from Q3, totaling $1,300,000,000 at year end or $1,400,000,000 including our 44% interest in cash at Juanicipio. To allow shareholders to participate directly in rising net cash levels, we declared a dividend of $0.18 per common share, our third dividend increase in a row. Michael Steinmann: I am glad you could join us to discuss Pan American Silver Corp.s 2025 results and our outlook for 2026. I will start with the headline. We delivered record financial results across the board in Q4 and for the full year 2025 reflecting strong execution of our business and meaningful margin expansion from higher metal prices. Net earnings were a record $452,000,000 in Q4 or $1.07 per basic share, which included $61,000,000 of income from our investment in Juanicipio. For the full year, net earnings were a record $980,000,000 or $2.56 per basic share. On an adjusted basis, earnings were $470,000,000 in Q4, or $1.11 per share, and for the full year $969,000,000 or $2.54 per share. Story Continues The silver segment was also affected by additional royalties at La Colorada related to mining an adjacent concession, where we pay the concession owner a share of net profits earned on ores from their concession, which we treat as a royalty expense. Royalties are also impacted at San Vicente to reflect profit sharing with the state-owned mining company, COMIBOL. In 2025, we made good progress on our major projects, investing $94,000,000, in line with our guidance, to advance several major projects. Most notably at La Colorada, where the discovery of multiple high-grade silver zones and the subsequent expansion of mineral resources have led us to reevaluate the development plans for the Skarn project. We now see an opportunity to integrate the mine plans and infrastructure of the La Colorada vein mine with the Skarn project through a phased approach to development. The phased approach would allow us to focus on higher grade, lower tonnage, and less capital-intensive initial stage, with the option to target lower grade material in a future expansion. We are aiming to release an updated technical report for La Colorada in 2026 to include a preliminary economic assessment of the new development approach for the Skarn project. We are also continuing discussions with our potential partners on this project to include the proposed changes. At Jacobina, our investment in 2025 was redirected at strengthening operational reliability and to advance long-term growth initiatives. We have provided more details on these initiatives in our MD&A, so I will not run through them item by item. But at a high level, they include plant upgrades, tailings filtration and filter stack, and a paste backfill plant. At Escobal, the Guatemalan Ministry of Energy and Mines continued meetings in Q4 2025 to advance the 169 consultation process, and in December 2025, posted an update on progress for the October 2024 to November 2025 period. The Ministry also conducted an inspection in Q4 and confirmed our activities are compliant with the court order and suspension of operations. As we have said previously, there is no timeline for completion of the consultation process and no date for restart. Turning to 2026 guidance, for silver, we are guiding attributable production of 25,000,000 to 27,000,000 ounces and silver segment all-in sustaining costs of $15.75 to $18.25 per ounce. The year-over-year increase in silver production reflects, in part, the full-year contribution from Juanicipio along with mine sequencing into higher silver grade at Cerro Moro. For gold, we are guiding attributable production of 700,000 to 750,000 ounces and gold segment all-in sustaining costs of $1,700 to $1,850 per ounce. We expect higher grades at Timmins plus a full year of production from Juanicipio, offset by a lower contribution from Dolores as residual leaching declines and at El Penon from the exhaustion of low-grade stockpiles and lower ore tonnes processed. Our all-in sustaining cost guidance for both the silver and gold segments reflects higher metal price assumptions, which flow through to royalties, worker participation payments, and increased smelting and refining costs due to price participation. Needless to say, increased metal prices far outweigh these additional royalties and provide superior returns to our business, as seen with record earnings and cash flow in Q4. Sustaining capital is expected to be similar to 2025 with the addition of capital for Juanicipio. We also plan increased project capital to advance La Coloradas Skarn and Jacobina and at Timmins, with part of the increase directed towards satellite deposits reflecting positive drill results and continued work on exploration and preliminary engineering. Please refer to our MD&A for further detail on our 2026 outlook, including an operating outlook by quarter. As we look ahead, we see several meaningful catalysts for 2026. First, with metal prices currently well above Q4 and last years average, we see potential for strong free cash flow and high returns of capital to shareholders while also funding an expanded exploration program, internal growth projects, and further strengthening of our balance sheet. Second, we expect to release an updated La Colorada Skarn PEA in Q2 2026, which we believe will demonstrate higher risk-adjusted returns than the original PEA for the project. And third, the Jacobina optimization study is advancing well and we look forward to sharing findings and opportunities as the engineering work progresses. Before I wrap up my prepared remarks, I would like to provide a few thoughts on the metal price environment. This is an exceptionally fortunate period for Pan American Silver Corp. and our investors, as the increase in metal prices coincides with increased silver production, driving higher levels of free cash flow. Golds strength has been driven by sustained central bank purchases and renewed investor interest, the volatility of the political backdrop, U.S. policy uncertainty, and weakening confidence in fiat currencies, particularly the U.S. dollar. Those underlying drivers are similarly supportive for silver, in addition to supply-demand fundamentals with the silver market expected to remain in a deficit for the sixth consecutive year in 2026. We are well positioned in this environment, remaining unhedged on both gold and silver and with a focus on delivering margin expansion. To close, 2025 was a record year for Pan American Silver Corp.: record revenue, earnings, and free cash flow paired with strong operating execution and a stronger balance sheet. We are entering 2026 from a position of strength with a clear plan to execute safely and reliably, generate strong cash flow, advance our high-quality growth pipeline, and return capital to shareholders in a disciplined way. We will now open for questions. Operator: We will now begin the question-and-answer session. To join the queue, please press star and then one. Our first question today comes from Cosmos Chiu from CIBC. Please go ahead with your question. Great. Thanks, Michael and team, Michael Steinmann: congrats on a very strong Operator: 2025. Michael Steinmann: And looking forward to 2026. Maybe my first question is on Juanicipio. Michael, as you mentioned, very strong results so far. So it has been about half a year now. How would you describe your overall experience with the asset so far? And what has exceeded expectations? Is it throughput or is it grade? Or is it both? Operator: And is that sort of outperformance sustainable? Michael Steinmann: Yeah. Good morning, Cosmos. Yeah, it is a bit less actually than half a year. I think we took over September, somewhere around there, from MAG. Great experience so far. As you can see in the results, I am very, very happy with what I see. I am continuously very happy with what I see. But Juanicipio is producing. Of course, when you look at long-term production profiles and the geology of this kind of deposits, and by the way, that is the same for a deposit like La Colorada. When you look at that geology, that is a clear zonation with metals. So you go from precious metals to more base metals, lead, zinc, and deep down, you would go into copper, really, really deep down. So that is kind of the geology on this kind of deposits. So over long term, that changes you see, but exploration, of course, you know, a good example is La Colorada again for that, or the neighboring mines of Juanicipio as well. With the exploration, you keep finding new veins as well, which again have higher precious metal content on the top and then go deeper down into base metal. So over long term, we should obviously expect that the silver grades will be reduced and the base metal grades increase. But that is, you know, you can look that up in the technical report for it, but as you said, last year, this year, it looks like a very strong silver producer for us and very low cost. Perfect. And then good that you brought up La Colorada. I want to ask a question about La Colorada Skarn. As you mentioned, a new technical report is coming out sometime in Q2 2026. But ahead of it, I do not know how much you can share with us, Michael, but, you know, what kind of, in terms of that phased approach, you know, what kind of different tonnages are you sort of evaluating? What kind of size are you sort of evaluating at this point in time? Operator: What is kind of, like, the, Michael Steinmann: you know, cost-benefit analysis are you considering right now? And you know, what can we expect when that comes out? Sure, Cosmos. And yeah. You need to be patient a little bit more, a few more months here, it is coming soon, and it is a very exciting project. And that phased approach really has changed the project quite a bit. If you recall, the original PEA called for, you know, up to 50,000 tons a day, very, very large bulk-mineable orebody. Of course, that is still the case. It is still a very, very large, like, even bigger now bulk-mineable orebody. But over the last two years, we have discovered a lot of high-grade material inside the Skarn and also between the Skarn and the surface in additional structures. And that is really what we are going to mine in phase one. So it is going to be quite a long time for phase one, it is going to be way more than a decade. And when you look at tonnage, I do not have the final numbers yet, but you should probably expect somewhere in the 10,000 to 15,000 ton kind of range for phase one, but substantially higher grades than what we showed in the very large bulk, you know, kind of cave method in the first PEA. So it will be higher grade, less capital, and very focused on silver production for quite a long time before it will go to a more bulk-mineable, much bigger tonnage, and more base metal rich production after that. Right. Operator: Sir, Michael Steinmann: more to it, Michael. And then maybe one last question. You know, when I look at your 2026 guidance, I look at the asset-level production compared to 2025 guidance. One asset that is expected to increase year over year is Cerro Moro, Operator: you know, Michael Steinmann: I guess this is your only asset in Argentina, but Argentina looks to be getting better. Operator: As a country for mining. So I guess Michael Steinmann: my question is, you know, is this a country or an asset where you might be willing to commit more time and resources into it, or, you know, how should we look at it? Well, Cosmos, in general, I am always happy to commit time and exploration to any of our assets. You know, we have been incredibly successful over the last 20 years in replacing reserves and adding additional value to our brownfield exploration programs, and La Colorada Skarn is the best example in the companys history with a, you know, potential huge value creation through the drill bit. So I am always happy to continue to drill and explore in our assets. And, of course, in the current metal price scenarios, that is even more so. So you have probably seen that we assigned quite an increase of capital to our exploration programs for 2026, and that includes, for sure, Cerro Moro as well. So as you say, lots of positive changes in Argentina. And, you know, a place that we are active and working for many, many years and, yeah, looking forward to more positive exploration results from Cerro Moro as the year goes on. Great. Thanks again, Michael. Those are all the questions I have. Siren Fisekci: Thank you. Michael Steinmann: Thanks, Cosmos. Operator: Our next question comes from Francisco Costanzo from Scotiabank. Hi, Michael. Thanks a lot for taking my question. Just wanted to ask Wayne Lam: a follow-up on one of Cosmos questions actually. Just on La Colorada Skarn. Have discussions on a potential partner progressed in the last quarter? And is there any update you can provide us on what the economic terms might look like given the new phased approach or timing of when we might see a deal signed? Michael Steinmann: Yeah. Look. The discussions have progressed, but as you can imagine, with the change we made here on this phased approach, compared to the single approach we had before, there has to be quite some changes in how we look at that partnership and in that discussion on how that would fall out. So discussions are in full swing, so I do not really want to share right now details yet on it. But, you know, we included that change on the approach and are in full discussions. Wayne Lam: Okay. Fair enough. Thank you. And then just switching gears slightly. With record silver prices, there is obviously a lot of value sitting in the ground at Escobal. So just wondering if you are able to provide us any insights on your view of how the consultation process has progressed in recent months and whether you feel things are beginning to reaccelerate compared to this time last year. Michael Steinmann: Well, in general, of course, and we see it worldwide, right, that there is much stronger emphasis on mining and mining projects. High metal prices, of course, help it. A lot of declaration of critical minerals across the globe, and countries that try to secure future metal production for their own use. So that will accelerate from now on. I am sure about that. And, you know, will bring additional projects into production across the globe. I bet the IR so I am giving us some more details on that as special. Wayne Lam: Yeah. We have been meeting with the Ministry of Energy and Mines through Q4 and a few times earlier this year. We are standing by for the next updates for meetings and schedules for activities. So there is not a change in the activity that we have seen in the past, but, you know, certainly, the engagement continues. And I think the report that was published by the Ministry of Energy and Mines at the end of the year is encouraging that they are providing some information from the government on their commitment to the process and the status of the process and the fact that it is ongoing. So we are looking forward to meetings here in the coming months and progressing with the process. Michael Steinmann: Yeah. That is great. Wayne Lam: Thanks a lot for taking my questions. Michael Steinmann: Thank you. Operator: Our next question comes from Don DeMarco from National Bank. Please go ahead with your question. Thank you, operator, and good morning, Michael and team. Wayne Lam: Just a couple of financial bookkeeping questions. Operator: First off, how often are the Juanicipio dividends paid? I mean, I see that there was a line item Wayne Lam: on the Q4 financials, full year financials, not on the Q3 financials. And I remember back in the MAG Silver days, where there were some agreements at the JV level just to pay out those dividends once a year, although there were some discussions to maybe change that more quarterly. But I am just wondering what the current arrangement is at this point. Operator: Hi, Don. It is Ignacio here speaking. The payments from Juanicipio come in the form of dividends. And there was a payment in Q4. Pan American Silver Corp.s share of that payment was around $44,000,000. Right now, the dividends are being paid out of tax-paid retained earnings. And we are currently waiting for Juanicipio to pay its tax. So soon after that, we are expecting another dividend and book its tax return, which will happen sometime in Q1 from Juanicipio. Michael Steinmann: Which would be Operator: higher than the one we received in Q4. So right now, it is just being driven by the regular cycle of the financial statements and the tax returns in Mexico. Wayne Lam: Okay. Got it. Thank you. And, Ignacio, also, Operator: looking at you have got the senior notes maturing, $727,800,000 at a 4.6% coupon. Wayne Lam: You know, obviously, with your free cash flow and, you know, cash balance increasing, Operator: would this be a consideration to potentially repay early? Wayne Lam: I mean, obviously, the August 31 have a very favorable rate. There would be no motivation there. But wondering about these 2027s. Michael Steinmann: Yes. Don, that is something that we look at from time to Operator: time. They are, as you have mentioned, they are coming up in 2027. The bonds are not very liquid. We know that. Michael Steinmann: So Operator: if an opportunity came where a bondholder was interested in potentially selling, we would consider it for sure. But this comes down to bigger capital allocation questions, which are coming up this year. Steven Busby: So, look, if the opportunity came up to buy some of those bonds back of 2027, we would consider it for sure. But as I said, the bonds have not been trading with a lot of liquidity in the market. Wayne Lam: Okay. Okay. Great. Well, thanks again for taking my question. That is all for me. Michael Steinmann: And with that, we will be concluding todays question and answer Operator: session. I would like to turn the floor back over to Michael Steinmann for any closing remarks. Michael Steinmann: Thanks, operator. Strong production and cost control in Q4, in combination with high metal prices, resulted in record financial results across the board, as you have seen in the press release, and I am really proud of what we have achieved in 2025, including the very swift and quick integration of the 44% of the low-cost Juanicipio. So please keep in mind that the average metal prices in Q4 were only around $25 for silver and I think a bit more than $2,100 for gold. So we have seen substantially higher metal prices in the new year so far, and additionally, we will be increasing our silver production again by about 14%, largely driven again by the low-cost production of Juanicipio, and to top that, we will release the updated PEA in La Colorada in Q2 and further information on the Jacobina optimization as the year advances. So you can imagine I am really looking forward to 2026. I am looking forward to give you an update on Q1 in our May call. Until then, have a good time. Thanks everyone for calling in. Operator: This brings to a close todays conference call. You may now disconnect your lines. Thank you for participating. Have a pleasant day. Should you buy stock in Pan American Silver right now? Before you buy stock in Pan American Silver, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Pan American Silver wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $420,595!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,152,356!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 901% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of February 19, 2026. This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool. While we strive for our Foolish Best, there may be errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this transcript. As with all our articles, The Motley Fool does not assume any responsibility for your use of this content, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research, including listening to the call yourself and reading the company's SEC filings. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details, including our Obligatory Capitalized Disclaimers of Liability. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Pan American Silver (PAAS) Earnings Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool NEW DELHI, Feb. 20, 2026 /CNW/ - Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. While Canada strengthens its capabilities at home, the government is also deepening partnerships with high-growth economies abroad to drive investment, scale innovation and create jobs. Today, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, concluded a successful trip to India, where he attended the India AI Impact Summit 2026. While in New Delhi, he held targeted meetings with senior Indian government officials and executives from major Indian and multinational technology companies to expand commercial collaboration in the areas of AI, digital infrastructure and advanced technologies. The Minister met with Ashwini Vaishnaw, India's Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology, and with Andrew Charlton, Australia's Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy. They reiterated their commitment to continuing trilateral collaboration on AI. This meeting follows the announcement of the AustraliaCanadaIndia Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership at the G20 in November 2025. During the summit, Minister Solomon held bilateral meetings with global political leaders and senior technology executives to advance cooperation on AI-driven economic growth, trusted deployment and cross-border investment. He also participated in working sessions focused on AI safety, inclusion and responsible governance, contributing to international discussions on how to ensure emerging technologies are developed and deployed in ways that earn public trust. The Minister, alongside Canadian High Commissioner Chris Cooter, also welcomed more than 150 leaders from India and Canada to a reception at the Canadian High Commission, bringing together business leaders, investors and policymakers to catalyze new business partnerships and deepen investment ties between the two countries' innovation ecosystems. In the Minister's opening remarks, he reiterated Canada's intention to collaborate with LawZero, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing safe-by-design AI systems that was founded by Turing Awardwinning AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, who was present for the announcement. The visit also included the Minister witnessing the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MOU) between the University of Waterloo and Tata Consultancy Services, as well as with upGrad. These signings reflect the broad trend toward deepening academic and commercial ties between the two countries, with 8 Canadian universities advancing 11 MOUs with Indian partners in the last few months. Together, these agreements are accelerating skills development, commercialization pathways and business expansion between Canada and India. On the final day of the summit, the Minister addressed the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Council Meeting, further highlighting Canada's commitment to international collaboration on the responsible development and use of AI and reinforcing Canada's role as a partner of choice in shaping the economic architecture of the AI era. Canada's competitive advantage in AI is clear--world-class talent, cutting-edge research and a dynamic innovation ecosystem. This visit to India advanced concrete commercial relationships, strengthened strategic alliances and opened new pathways for investment, technology collaboration and shared economic growth between our two countries. Quote "India is one of the world's fastest growing digital economies, and this visit was about turning shared ambition into real opportunity. Canada is building practical partnerships that connect our AI talent, research strength and innovation ecosystem with India's scale, market dynamism and entrepreneurial energy. We are focused on helping our businesses expand into each other's markets and strengthening two-way investment between our countries. By deepening collaboration between our companies, startups and institutions, we are creating new pathways for growth and high-quality jobs in both Canada and India, while ensuring AI is developed and deployed in ways people can trust." The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Quick facts On October 13, 2025, Canada and India issued a joint statement in which the two countries agreed to strengthen collaboration to unlock new frontiers in science and technology, including AI. Associated links Stay connected Find more services and information on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada website. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. X (Twitter): @ISED_CA | Facebook: Canadian Innovation | Instagram: @cdninnovation | LinkedIn: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada For easy access to government programs for businesses, download the Canada Business app. SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Contacts: Sofia Ouslis, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, [email protected] The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has traded sideways during the first few weeks of 2026, but investors have reason to think the benchmark index will decline sharply at some point this year. Contracts on the popular prediction market Kalshi predict a stock market correction is more likely than not, and history puts the odds of a bear market at approximately 50% in 2026. Here's what investors should know. 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 Image source: Getty Images. Kalshi prediction contracts puts the odds of an S&P 500 bear market below 39% Kalshi is a popular exchange where traders can buy and sell prediction contracts based on real-world events. The contracts are binary in nature, meaning traders can either bet Yes (an event will happen) or No (an event will not happen). The payout for a correct prediction is $1, and the payout for an incorrect prediction is $0. As of Feb. 20, contracts asking whether the S&P 500 will drop to 6,200 or below in 2026 are priced at $0.58 for Yes. That means traders put the probability of that outcome at 58%. In that scenario, the index would decline at least 11% from its record high of 6,979, putting it in market correction territory. Similarly, Kalshi contracts show a 39% probability that the S&P 500 will drop 15% to 5,900 at some point in 2026. No contracts correlate with a bear market (i.e., a 20% decline), but the odds would be less than 39% at current prices. That's interesting because history says prediction market traders are underestimating the odds of a bear market. History puts the odds of an S&P 500 bear market at roughly 50% The S&P 500 tends to perform poorly in midterm election years. The president's party almost always loses seats in Congress, which creates uncertainty about the future direction of fiscal, trade, and regulatory policy. Investors don't know whether the political party in power will lose enough seats to disrupt the status quo, which translates into stock market volatility. Indeed, the S&P 500 has suffered a median intra-year drawdown of 19% during midterm election years, and the index has performed even worse during midterm years when a new president sits in the White House (i.e., a president who did not hold office in the prior term). Under those conditions, the S&P 500 has suffered a median intra-year drop of 21%. What does that mean? Median refers to the middle value. So, history says there is a 50% chance the S&P 500 drops at least 21% at some point this year. In other words, the odds of a bear market in 2026 are about 50%, which is much higher than the odds implied by Kalshi prediction contracts. After years of record-breaking growth, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has been stagnant in recent weeks -- up by just 0.24% since the beginning of the year, as of this writing. Many investors are also divided on where stocks are headed. While around 35% feel optimistic about the next six months, according to the most recent weekly survey from the American Association of Individual Investors, 37% feel pessimistic about the future -- an increase from 29% in early February. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks So is it really safe to invest right now? Or should you hold off on buying? History offers a crystal-clear answer. Image source: Getty Images. History has good news for investors With many stocks reaching record high after high, many investors worry that the only way to go is down. Historically, though, the market has proven that it always has room for more growth -- if you're willing to stay invested for the long haul. By keeping a long-term outlook, it doesn't necessarily matter when you buy. Even if you invest at the seemingly worst moment, you can still build substantial wealth over time. For instance, say that you had invested in an S&P 500 index fund or ETF in December 2007. The U.S. was just entering the Great Recession, which would last until mid-2009, and the S&P 500 wouldn't reach a new all-time high until 2013. In other words, investing in late 2007 would mean buying at record-high prices immediately before one of the longest and most severe recessions in U.S. history. Those years between 2007 and 2013 would have been rough, but by today, the S&P 500 has earned total returns of more than 363%. Now, could you have earned more if you'd held off on investing until 2009, when stock prices were at rock bottom? Of course. But trying to time the market is a double-edged sword. Wait too long to invest, and you could miss out on much of the lucrative recovery period. In most cases, it's safer to continue investing consistently, no matter what the market is doing. Even if you invest at a "bad" moment, you can still earn significant returns over time. The secret to ensuring your portfolio survives The overall market is incredibly likely to pull through economic rough patches, but not all individual stocks will be that lucky. Unstable companies are more likely to crash and burn, whether due to a weak business model, shaky finances, lack of a competitive advantage, or poor leadership decisions. The artificial intelligence memory war is exploding. Its escalating with no end in sight and not everyone is celebrating and dividing the spoils equally. Shares of Samsung (SSNLF) are on cloud nine after investors learned of reports that the company is looking to charge 20% to 30% more for its next-generation HBM4 chips. Great news overall? Well, not quite for everyone across the Pacific. Micron (MU) stock slipped in early trading despite being in the same market. What gives? Ultimately, all of this leads to a big issue, one that investors cannot afford to ignore: Thats what Microns chief business officer, Sumit Sadana, had to say regarding the entire AI-driven shift reshaping the industry. If that headline becomes true, and the financial data suggests so, pricing power in high-bandwidth memory is entering a new era. Samsung quietly reboots its AI memory strategy.Photo by NurPhoto on Getty Images Photo by NurPhoto on Getty Images Samsung targets 30% higher HBM4 prices as AI demand explodes Samsung, if local media reports are accurate, is looking to upend the pricing market for HBM4 chips. The hike could be close to as much as 30% above its prior HBM3E generation. Thats bold and perhaps market-shaking at least to me. Related: Apples Siri shocker is flashing a warning AAPL bulls cant ignore HBM chips constitute critical hardware for advanced AI accelerators. They are mainly produced by Nvidia (NVDA) and other chipmakers, and they are responsible for powering hyperscale data centers. Now for many people, AI is all hype. But that's not the case for me at all. Generative AI models are getting bigger very quickly. As inference workloads grow, the need for faster memory bandwidth is outpacing the supply. Why is Samsung so sure of itself? Well, the matter is essentially financial: Over the past year, DRAM contract prices are up over 170%. Some DDR5 memory modules have reportedly gone up by about 500% since late 2024. As we get closer to 2027, AI server deployments are moving faster. Samsung is already on the ropes thanks to HBM3 performance benchmarks, giving competitors like SK Hynix and Micron a chance to get into AI-focused memory. But Samsung wants to get back the power to set prices, which is why investors in Seoul acted right away. Microns financial surge spells record margins, $200B expansion It's funny that Micron's finances aren't doing too badly right now, meaning that Micron might actually benefit from increased HBM prices. Micron's gross margin is up 18.5% in the first quarter of 2024 to 56% in the most recent quarter. And we are going to get even better from here; the guidance says that the gross margin is set to get to 68% gross margin in the current period. These levels are getting close to those of the best AI chip makers. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) warned on Saturday that the use of social media platform Telegram poses a threat to the lives of Russian troops deployed along the frontlines in Ukraine. As reported by AzerNEWS, the agency stated it has reliable information that the Ukrainian Armed Forces and intelligence services are able to quickly obtain data posted on the messenger and use it for military purposes, noting that the risk has emerged over the past three months. The warning comes amid reports that Moscow has been throttling access to Telegram, raising concerns about censorship and control of online communication. In response, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov accused Russian authorities of attempting to restrict the app, which remains one of the most widely used messaging platforms in the region. The developments highlight the growing tension between digital communication platforms and state security agencies, as social media continues to play a critical role in both information sharing and military intelligence during the conflict. The Social Security Fairness Act signed at the beginning of 2025 is now unfair, at least when it comes to taxes, according to some representatives in Congress. The Social Security Fairness Act eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduced Social Security benefits for about 3.2 million public-sector retirees who also receive pension income. The laws effective date was retroactive to January 2024, so many beneficiaries received last year a one-time retroactive payment that may have amounted to thousands of dollars and higher monthly benefits, starting in 2025. Those income spikes last year likely triggered more taxes for many people, experts said. To help address the potential tax bomb, Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, introduced earlier in February the bipartisan No Tax on Restored Benefits Act to amend the tax code to exclude retroactive Social Security payments tied specifically to the repeal of WEP and GPO from federal taxable income. "For hundreds of thousands of Americans, the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act was truly transformative, ensuring they received the benefits they deserved," said Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, cosponsor of the bill, in a news release. "But it was never intended to saddle widows, low-income seniors, and dedicated public servants with an unexpected tax bill." How much are the extra taxes? How much of peoples Social Security benefits will get taxed depends on the total amount of their income, including tax-exempt interest like from a municipal bond, plus one-half of their Social Security benefits for the taxable year. Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be taxed depending on how much more that combined income is over the base amount for your filing status. The base amounts based on filing status are: $25,000 if you're single, head of household, or qualifying surviving spouse $25,000 if you're married filing separately and lived apart from your spouse for the entire year $32,000 if you're married filing jointly $0 if you're married filing separately and lived with your spouse at any time during the tax year. If you're married and file a joint return, you and your spouse must combine your incomes and Social Security benefits when figuring the taxable portion of your benefits. Even if your spouse didn't receive any benefits, you must add your spouse's income to yours when figuring on a joint return if any of your benefits are taxable. The Social Security Administration provides a tool to help calculate whether Social Security benefits are taxable and if so, how much. This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. Southern California Edison could end up compensating tens of thousands of Eaton Fire victims for their losses under the company's newly launched Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, company officials said Wednesday during a fourth-quarter earnings call. The utility has already received 2,405 claims, and has extended 593 offers totaling more than $183 million, according to data released by the company following the call. Between the compensation program and two settlements with insurance companies, Southern California Edison has so far recorded about a billion dollars in Eaton Fire liabilities, according to Maria Rigatti, the executive vice president and chief financial officer for Edison International, the utilitys parent company. By the numbers: Edison International Q4 2025 $1B Approximate cost of settlements paid to date to victims of the 2025 Eaton Fire. $38-41B 5-year capital spending plan. $12B Spending on safety and reliability upgrades in the last two years. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, but Edison International President and CEO Pedro Pizarro said ongoing investigations have yet to identify a potential explanation other than the prevailing theory that an idle transmission line owned by Southern California Edison sparked the blaze. The company has photographic evidence showing anomalies in the suspect line's grounding, he said, adding that Southern California Edison adopted a policy of grounding idle lines at least every two miles a few months after the fire. Absent additional evidence, SCE believes that it is likely that its equipment could have been associated with the ignition of the Eaton Fire, Pizarro said. The total potential cost of the fire remains undetermined, according to Pizarro, because claims filed to date represent just a fraction of what the company expects to receive. Some 18,000 properties are eligible for payouts under Southern California Edison's Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, and many of those properties might represent multiple claims including rentals with multiple displaced tenants. In a client note Thursday, estimates by Jefferies equity analysts put Southern California Edisons potential Eaton liability at $13.5 billion, assuming 2.5 claims per 18,000 properties, at $300,000 per claim. The company could ultimately process tens of thousands of claims under the program, Pizarro said. Edison International has also donated $2 million to the Pasadena Community Foundation to assist Eaton Fire survivors. Autumn Special Read. Know. Act. $3 for 3 months! (90 days) Offer expires 12/30/2020 Don't hesitate! Start your digital-only membership today and not only receive full access to our premier news website NNY360.com but also to the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times eEdition! The Ssense founders have finalized the deal to buy the business out of bankruptcy and restructure its operations, winning out over a group of lenders who had been lobbying for a liquidation. In mid-January, a Canadian court notified Ernst & Young, the businesss monitor, that the bid submitted by the founders, brothers Rami Atallah, Bassel Atallah and Firas Atallah, together with their strategic partner, a leading Canadian multifamily office, had been accepted. The deal closed on Feb. 13. More from WWD The Montreal-based retailer was founded in 2003 by the Atallah brothers and is primarily an e-commerce business targeting men and women between the ages of 18 and 40. It also operates one store in Montreal. Last fall, it was deemed insolvent and filed the Canadian equivalent of bankruptcy. Its creditors filed an application to put the retailer up for sale at the same time that the Atallah family put forth a restructuring plan. In September, the court ruled that the current management team and the companys board could remain in place and oversee the restructuring and appointed Ernst & Young Inc. to act as monitor. It also obtained $40 million in interim financing. On Dec. 8, the founders offered a cash payment of $20 million to buy back the business, a price the monitor deemed unacceptable, according to court papers. On Dec. 23, they raised their bid to $58.5 million and also agreed to assume liabilities of $18.2 million, bringing the value of the offer to $78 million. Although the monitor acknowledged that the second bid was still low, it nonetheless said it believed it would represent the best outcome for the debtors and all the stakeholders, according to the document, and would provide for the continuation of the business as a going concern, retain a significant portion of its 760 employees and allow for several hundred of its suppliers to maintain their business relationship with the Ssense Group. And while low, the founders bid was still higher than the $49 million to $54 million that was expected to be raised if the inventory was liquidated by Gordon Brothers, which had been retained by the lenders. The lenders, led by Investissement Quebec and RBC, continued to oppose the sale and seek an order to liquidate the business, but the court opted to accept the Atallah bid instead. Two Exeter primary schools have been singled out by the Education Secretary as being among the best in the country for supporting disadvantaged pupils, with the citys MP describing the recognition as well-deserved. St Gabriels Church of England Primary School and Whipton Barton Junior School have both been identified as ranking in the top national quartile for outcomes for disadvantaged children in the 2024/25 academic year. The acknowledgement came in a letter from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to headteachers Adam Claridge and Louise Moretta, congratulating staff and pupils on what she described as a significant achievement. Exeter MP Steve Race also praised the schools, saying their performance demonstrates what can be achieved through high expectations and sustained support for pupils who face additional challenges. READ NEXT: Exeter election U-turn: Opposition parties hail 'victory for democracy' I want to congratulate St Gabriels and Whipton Barton on this well-deserved recognition for all their hard work, he said. Mr Race recently visited St Gabriels, where he met staff and pupils and was interviewed by Year 6 students for their podcast. He said he saw first-hand the brilliant work the team is doing to help pupils get the best start in life. Both schools serve communities with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage, making their results particularly notable. Nationally, narrowing the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers remains a central focus for the government, with funding and reform programmes aimed at improving outcomes and attendance. The recognition comes as the Government looks to strengthen its Universal RISE programme, designed to provide schools with high-quality resources, promote effective practice and encourage collaboration between schools. The Education Secretary has encouraged the two Exeter schools to share their approaches through the citys RISE networks, supporting other schools locally while maintaining their focus on disadvantaged pupils. In her letter, Ms Phillipson said the schools performances placed them among the very best nationally. This success reflects the dedication of staff and the hard work of pupils. It shows what can be achieved when ambition and commitment come together, she said. Their achievements demonstrate what is possible, and I look forward to working with the teams as we strive together to raise standards for all. The announcement comes ahead of a forthcoming Schools White Paper, which is expected to outline further reforms aimed at raising standards and breaking down barriers to opportunity. Mr Race said he is keen to work with both schools to ensure their methods benefit children across the city. Labour is going further to break down barriers to opportunity, so every child can achieve and thrive, he said. I look forward to working with both schools to spread best practice across Exeter, as well as those schools that need extra support, so that together we can give local children the best start in life. For parents and staff in Exeter, the national recognition places two city schools firmly in the spotlight - and adds to the conversation about how collaboration across schools could help raise standards further in the years ahead. In this series of features, Ian L Handford (President of Torbay Civic Society) looks at famous individuals who lived and worked in Torbay during the 20th century. Born in the City of Leeds on December 2nd 1917 to Army Captain Lamar, Ray Lamar at age 16 was already working with the Harry Gold Yachtsmans Pierrot Group on Ramsgate beach in Kent. The group did three shows a day and each member took turns to take the bottle around the audience which subsequently was used as wages. As Ray was able to dance and even play the saxophone once that season had ended he left Ramsgate and went off to work in any variety or revue show anywhere. Then he was called up to do his National Service and mirroring his father joined the Army. He rose to also become a Captain in the Tank Corps and with the National Service complete he returned home and eventually married - Madge Nicholls. They formed what in essence was Rays first stage role when using their names - The Ray and Madge Lamar Act. They spent years touring in shows throughout Britain, finally ending up at the London Palladium in support roles to Winifred Atwell and Christine Norden. Their marriage unfortunately ended in 1956 and Ray then married his second wife Betty Bushell and in time produced two sons and a daughter. But once again, the marriage sadly ended in divorce by which time Ray was employed in theatre management. He was to introduce dozens of British and American stars into Britains provincial theatres whjich included: Judy Garland, John Hanson, Guy Mitchell and Johnney Ray and many others, while lesser known stars were placed in local theatres including Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay. It was when in Torquay that Ray first met Ruby Murray and being immediately smitten during the late 1950s Ruby was already a star at the peak of her popularity with at least one of her songs in the pop-charts during the whole year. Ruby had appeared at her first Royal Command Performance show in 1955 starring alongside Norman Wisdom. Now, whether his two failed marriages were the reason we can never know, but it was a fact that Ray couldn't find the courage to propose to Ruby at this time. Soon they went their separate ways and in 1957 Ruby married Bernie Burgess a member of The Jones Boys Pop Group. During the next period, Ray joined the Bernard Delfont Organisation who then sent him to open the new Princess Theatre in Torquay. In its first season, he signed Arthur Askey and Jessie Matthews to be the stars at the new Princess Theatre 1962 Summer Show. The Delfont Group were associated with many of Torbays theatres for decades although Ray was their first permanent theatrical manager. It seems it was Bernard Delfont who had suggested to Ray he move permanently to Torbay which he did. His first bookings in the managing role were at the Princess Theatre and the small Babbacombe Theatre. Soon after his arrival, Ray was signing Anthony Bygraves (son of Max Bygraves) as lead at the Babbacombe Theatre for the following season while continuing to sign up numerous stars for theatres all around Britain. He finally learned that Ruby Murray was to star at the Festival Theatre Paignton (not under his control yet) and of course after her arrival they soon remet. Ruby had already divorced Burgess and Ray had just divorced Mary so it almost seemed that destiny had brought them together at last. By 1993 they were married and from the start of their reunion, Ray had been aware that Ruby had previously become a chronic alcoholic yet she believed she had cured herself. Living in Brixham and regularly singing there, and at Paignton and Torquay pubs and clubs etc, access to alcohol was always readily available. Her national appearances had finished long ago and she admitted to actually hating long-distance travelling. But now Ray was to be her saviour as he attended every event she fulfilled and locals soon noted they were inseparable. Having moving from Brixham, she purchased an apartment on Victoria Parade alongside the Strand Torquay and at one birthday party, even told the visiting journalist this was going to be her permanent marriage home. Having married Ray in 1993 she was a very contented woman and they enjoyed three glorious years together until she died in Torbay Hospital at 61 in 1996. Ray of course then inherited all royalties etc and he lived to an age of 88 and never remarried. A truly successful theatre manager, Ray was responsible for dozens of stars appearing at our three main theatres - Babbacombe, Princess at Torquay and eventually the Festival Theatre at Paignton. NEXT WEEK: Charlotte Schreiber (Artist). A scheme inspired by a bestselling author is inspiring people across North Devon to discover or re-discover the joys of reading. Reading for Wellbeing was created by Ann Cleeves, best known for the hit detective shows Vera and Shetland, as well as writing the book-turned-TV series The Long Call, which was set and filmed in North Devon. After successfully launching in the North East, Reading for Wellbeing is now being expanded across North Devon, overseen by The Woodyard, another community project inspired by Ann Cleeves work and hosted by North Devon Voluntary Services (NDVS). Kayleigh Pullin-Rogers, who is leading the scheme in North Devon, explained: I do a monthly theme, and I gather books for that theme, and newspapers, magazines, comics, as well as different kinds of genres of books, and then I take them to different spaces. The purpose of it is to talk to people about how they read, and the different ways they can access things, but it also starts a conversation up between everybody in that group as well. Currently, there is a drop-in session at Barnstaple Library on the first Monday of each month. Kayleigh also runs regular sessions with Sunrise Diversity at the Yes Centre in Barnstaple, and also with the military wives group at RMB Chivenor. For those taking part, the groups enable like-minded people who may struggle with anxiety, loneliness, or mental health issues, to form connections in a safe space, which they may find difficult in busier, more chaotic groups, Kayleigh added: It's a conversation, and having a safe space to be able to voice an opinion about what you read and how you read it, what you find interesting and what you would like to find out more about. I think it's more about bringing everybody together and having a mutual topic to talk about. I make sure that each theme is quite broad. Ann Cleeves founded Reading for Wellbeing to mark the 21st anniversary of her North East detective character Vera Stanhope, in recognition of the solace she had found in stories throughout her life. By early 2023, the project had been adopted in six North East local authorities, employing a total of nine community reading workers. North Devon is the first region outside the North East to pick the scheme up, and Ann Cleeves explained to the North Devon Gazette how it first came about: I was asked to give a speech at a health inequalities conference here in the North East. I explained that reading always got me through tough times - when I had cancer as a young woman and when I was caring for my husband. I suspected that other people might find it helpful too. Our first year was evaluated and found that participants with some mental health problems, chronic pain or who suffered from loneliness or isolation, very much appreciated the escape that reading provided, and the social contact and support of the reading groups. The author has strong connections to North Devon, having spent a lot of time here when she was younger, and was particularly pleased to see Reading for Wellbeing now taking off here. She said: It's fantastic! We do have a couple of offshoots now away from the North East where most of our work takes place, but the project in North Devon is the most dynamic. I'm especially delighted that the workers are part of The Woodyard, a community hub named after the community arts' centre in my Matthew Venn books. Ann Cleeves is clear about the schemes benefits: Reading for Wellbeing is partnered with The Queen's Reading Room, a charity founded by Her Majesty to promote reading for pleasure. They've commissioned neurological research which found changes in the brain and physical benefits - like the lowering of blood pressure - can take place after just five minutes of escaping into a book. But the benefits are much wider than that. Reading helps us see the world through different eyes and makes us more understanding of different views This is the National Year of Reading, so of course we'd hope that other regions will join us to celebrate the joys to be found in books. The National Year of Reading is a UK-wide campaign designed to help more people rediscover the joy of reading. A Department for Education initiative, in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, the campaign aims to tackle the profound decline in reading enjoyment in the UK and reconnect people of all ages with reading as a relevant and immediately rewarding activity. The campaign asks the nation to Go All In on their passions and interests for 2026 and discover how reading can unlock the things they already love. You can find out more about Reading for Wellbeing at https://thewoodyard.org.uk/reading-for-wellbeing/ An eminent writer and campaigner will be giving a free talk at Barnstaple Library this March on his book covering Britains colonial past in Palestine and the impact it still has today. Bernard Regan, author of The Balfour Declaration: Empire, The Mandate and Resistance in Palestine, will be speaking the library on Saturday, March 7 from 2pm. The talk is hosted by the North Devon Palestine Solidarity Campaign and will be held in Room 2A. It is free to attend but a bucket collection will be taken for The Hebron International Resources Network, which working to support those struggling with settler violence and destruction in the West Bank and to support those still living in Gaza. Mr Regan will speak on and answer questions about the history behind current events in Israel/Palestine and what is happening now. Describing the book, which was published in 2018, Oxford professor Karma Nabulsi wrote: Most have heard of the Balfour Declaration, without fully appreciating its history and consequences. With this meticulous and insightful study, we have a fascinating and timely guide to British colonial policy in Palestine and its devastating impacts for the Palestinian people to this day. You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. Subways Sub Club was one of the original quick-service loyalty programs, starting as a physical punch card before being discontinued in 2005. Now, just two months after Subway revived the Sub Club as a digital rewards program, the sandwich chain is walking back some of the programs key features, including a perk that gave customers every fourth footlong free. Members were notified this week of the changes via email. Starting Feb. 23, only full-priced subs will be eligible for stamps. Additionally, on April 1, the buy three footlongs, get one free offer will be discontinued, though customers can still redeem free footlong offers accumulated before that date. Subways website confirms that the program has been updated with a new rewards system more in line with other modern points-to-dollars loyalty programs. Members now earn 10 points per dollar spent, and after spending $40, they will receive $2 in Subway cash. One Sub Club member pointed out on Reddit that the companys loyalty program essentially shifted from offering 25% back on dollars spent to just 5% back. Subway declined to directly address the backlash but confirmed the changes in an emailed statement. Were excited that millions of people have joined Sub Club and that the program's bold offer reignited conversation around value, a Subway spokesperson said. On April 1, Sub Clubs reward structure will be updated, continuing to provide guests flexibility in how they earn and redeem rewards. Looking ahead, were exploring additional reward opportunities, including potential partnerships and more dynamic ways to recognize and engage members. This is the second time Subway stirred up controversy with the return of a promotion. The company brought back its discounted footlongs twice in recent years once in 2024 and again last year though this time as a $6.99 deal, rather than the famous $5 Footlong promotion that was phased out more than a decade ago. With both the Sub Club changes and the $6.99 Footlong promotion, Subway has faced criticism from both customers and franchisees. Customers have protested the $2 price increase for the Footlong deal and lamented the loss of the free fourth sub as part of the Sub Club. Franchisees, meanwhile, have long opposed both the $5 Footlong promotion and its $6.99 successor. In 2020, franchisees filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, and during last years promotion, many urged fellow franchisees not to participate in the deal. Lunar New Year Across America The Pan-Asian landscape is rich with tradition. In Honolulu, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Orleans and New York, communities blend old and new customs to make the holiday their own. With Tuesdays arrival of the new moon, Asian Americans gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year, a holiday that lasts several days to weeks, depending on the culture, and generally culminates on the full moon, which this year lands on March 3. Celebrated by more than a billion people, it is one of the most important holidays throughout East Asia, Southeast Asia and their diasporas. Although traditions and lunisolar calendars vary, the festivities share commonalities, such as preparing elaborate meals and performing rituals to call in good luck and honor ancestors. In an effort to understand how different Asian American groups observe the new year, reporters visited five communities in the United States: Korean American adoptees in Minneapolis, a pan-Asian Mardi Gras krewe in New Orleans, a musical Mongolian American family in Los Angeles, a multigenerational Chinese American home in Honolulu and a Tibetan American artist at his studio in Queens. As the transformative Year of the Fire Horse gallops into view, these diverse groups are releasing the bad and the bygone and ushering in springs hope and renewal. Turn audio on Celebrating Vietnamese Tet Nguyen an With a Mardi Gras Krewe in New Orleans Tap Bui, a member of the bedazzled Mardi Gras Krewe of PhantAsia, which began informally with a group of Vietnamese American friends, likes to say that her family moved from one southern delta to another. Like many of the New Orleans metropolitan areas roughly 18,000 people with Vietnamese ancestry, Buis parents fled Vietnam for the city after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Bui, 39, explained that the archbishop of New Orleans had invited refugees to resettle in the city, encouraged by the two regions similar climates, access to fishing industries and shared Catholic presence after French colonization. Many Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans grew up celebrating both Tet and Mardi Gras, which often fall around the same time. However, it is rare that Fat Tuesday and the beginning of Tet directly coincide as they did this year. The Krewe of PhantAsias roughly 60 members range in age and ethnicity. There are Korean Americans, Filipino Americans, Taiwanese Americans, Japanese Americans and many who are mixed race. Their commitment to inclusivity was evident in the pamphlet they handed out along the parade route highlighting other Asian American krewes and the contributions of various Asian groups in the area from the Filipino sailors who settled Bayou Saint Malo in the 1760s to the Chinese who populated Bourbon Street in the 1940s. Khai Nguyen, 39, whose father was imprisoned in a Vietnamese re-education camp for seven years before qualifying to immigrate to the United States in 1991, felt urgency and pride in perpetuating his heritage. Celebrating Seollal With Korean American Adoptees in Minneapolis In southeast Minneapolis, a group of Korean American adoptees gathered at Arbeiter Brewing Company to celebrate Seollal. After the Korean War ended in 1953, Minnesota became home to the largest community of Korean adoptees in the United States, many of whom still live there today. Many adoptees who did not grow up celebrating Seollal know firsthand that traditions are inherited, not inherent. To reconnect with traditions that were not passed down, many seek cultural camps, community centers and events like the all-day celebration at the brewery. Arbeiter Brewing is co-owned by a Korean American adoptee, Kate Winkel, 47, making it one of very few Asian-owned breweries in the United States. Arbeiter was set to open the summer of 2020, but after George Floyd was killed and protests broke out just blocks from the business, it shifted its focus to offer community support, which quickly created meaningful ties to the neighborhood. Today, it continues to be a cherished space, with culture and community integral to its foundation. Many attendees expressed the importance of gathering for the holiday, as Minneapolis grappled with the large and ongoing presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Kira Siegler, 35, and Tara Tenhoff, 51, the president and vice president of AK Connection, Minnesotas largest and oldest nonprofit run by and for Korean adoptees, helped coordinate Arbeiters fifth annual Seollal celebration this year. The line-up featured local Asian American and Pacific Islander vendors as well as performances from JangmiArts and Conor Lee, a local musician. Korean adoption in the United States peaked in the mid-1980s, and many adoptees are now having children of their own. Despite growing up without a direct connection to Korean culture, many adoptees want to teach Korean traditions to their children but are anxious that they may not know the proper way to do so. Through AK Connection programming, Siegler and Tenhoff hope adoptees will not only reconnect with their culture, but also gain the knowledge to confidently transfer traditions to the next generation. Celebrating Tsagaan Sar With a Mongolian American Family and a Horse-Head Fiddle Player in Los Angeles As the sun rises on the morning of Tsagaan Sar, Lkhagva Tundev who goes by Lucky leaves his Los Angeles home to perform rituals of gratitude and protection for his family. Twelve years after the 1990 dissolution of Soviet rule in Mongolia, Tundev immigrated with his wife, Altmaa Dorj, and their two daughters, Nyamjargal (nicknamed Nimi) and Bayarmaa (nicknamed Bimi), to California, which is home to the countrys largest population of Mongolians. (Statewide, the population is about 10,500, about a third of whom live in Los Angeles.) Tsagaan Sar is one of the most significant and sacred holidays in Mongolia. After harsh winters, nomadic and urban families traverse the countrys vast expanse to gather, honor ancestors and the earth, and enjoy elaborate meals, which invariably include a tower of milk curds, a full flank of mutton, fermented horse milk and 1,000 dumplings. Dorj was born in 1966, the last time there was a year of the fire horse. To celebrate her birthday and the completion of the Mongolian zodiacs 60-year cycle, her family invited about 22 friends and community members to formally greet one another, exchange tobacco snuff bottles, play horse-inspired games and sing traditional songs with the morin khuur, a horse-head-shaped fiddle that is Mongolias national instrument. Urtnasan Gantulga, 42, a family friend and the executive director of the Morin Khuur Center in North America, joined the family for a song. Tundev, 67, remembered the decades when Mongolian culture was severely restricted under the Soviets, and, he said, it was verboten to even mention Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan). In America, Nimi, 33, and Bimi, 31, have both found ways to revive Mongolian traditions by weaving them into their creative pursuits. As a filmmaker, Nimi bridges Mongolian and American industries, often traveling between the two countries to tell rarely represented stories. As a D.J., Bimi incorporates traditional Mongolian instruments and songs into techno beats. Celebrating Chunjie In a Multi-Generational Chinese American Home in Honolulu Unlike many Chinese Americans in Hawaii, whose ancestors came to work on sugar cane plantations throughout the 1800s, Cassie Louies family arrived in 1980 by way of Peru. Denise Louie left Lima for Oahu, where she later married; had her daughter, Cassie; and brought her mother, Siu Yee Kwok, to live. More culturally Hispanic than Chinese, Denise, 67, wasnt able to teach her daughter how to celebrate Chunjie or cook its customary dishes. Cassie, 37, took it upon herself to learn from her 91-year-old grandmother, or popo, rapidly documenting recipes for sweet lotus tea and jin dui, a chewy, red-bean-filled pastry, that her popo remembered her own mother preparing on Lunar New Year. In Peru, Cassies mother and grandmother did not celebrate Chunjie, joking that their culture went dormant. In Hawaii, Cassies grandmother was able to reconnect with her heritage. She began playing mahjong, participating in Chinese associations and walking in Lunar New Year parades. Cassie remembers her Popo taking her to Honolulus Chinatown as a child to gather New Year supplies: blooming plum branches, mandarin oranges and red envelopes. A month before, shed begin deep-cleaning their house to welcome the year with a fresh start. In order to further connect with her popo, Cassie learned how to play mahjong and even started Bad Luck Club, a popular monthly mahjong gathering at Native Books at Arts & Letters in Honolulus Chinatown. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Donald Trumps biggest and boldest tariffs. But the justices left a $133 billion question unanswered: What's going to happen to the money the government has already collected in import taxes now declared unlawful? Companies have been lining up for refunds. But the way forward could prove chaotic. When the smoke clears, trade lawyers say, importers are likely to get money back eventually. Its going to be a bumpy ride for awhile," said trade lawyer Joyce Adetutu, a partner at the Vinson & Elkins law firm. The refund process is likely to be hashed out by a mix of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, the specialized Court of International Trade in New York and other lower courts, according to a note to clients by lawyers at the legal firm Clark Hill. "The amount of money is substantial," Adetutu said. "The courts are going to have a hard time. Importers are going to have a hard time. Still, she added, its going to be really difficult not to have some sort of refund option given how decisively the Supreme Court repudiated Trumps tariffs. In its 6-3 opinion on Friday, the court ruled Trumps attempt to use an emergency powers law to enact the levies was not valid. Two of the three justices appointed by Trump joined the majority in striking down the first major piece of his second-term agenda to come before them. At issue are double-digit tariffs Trump imposed on almost every country in the world last year by invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court ruled that the law did not give the president authority to tax imports, a power that belongs to Congress. The U.S. customs agency has already collected $133 billion in IEEPA tariffs as of mid-December. But consumers hoping for a refund are unlikely to be compensated for the higher prices they paid when companies passed along the cost of the tariffs; that's more likely to go to the companies themselves. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh dinged his colleagues for dodging the refund issue: The Court says nothing today about whether, and if so how, the Government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected from importers. Borrowing a word that Justice Amy Coney Barrett who sided with the majority used during the courts November hearing on the case, Kavanaugh warned that the refund process is likely to be a mess." I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years, Trump told reporters at a press conference Friday, in which he decried the court's decision and said he was absolutely ashamed of some justices who ruled against his tariffs. "Well end up being in court for the next five years.'' A LOCAL campaigner has called on primary and secondary schools across County Offaly to refuse participation in the Texaco Childrens Art Competition, citing serious human rights concerns linked to Texacos destruction of the livelihoods of 30,000 small farmer families. Under the banner 'Say No to Texaco', the campaign urges schools, teachers, and parents to reconsider promoting a competition sponsored by a multinational corporation that has been repeatedly criticised for "its environmental and human rights record internationally." The campaigner, Tom Roche from Rhode, points in particular to Texacos long-running legal and ethical controversies in regions such as Ecuador, where Indigenous communities have accused the company of causing widespread environmental damage with severe impacts on health, livelihoods, and human rights. Texaco has also faced criticism from international human rights organisations over its conduct in other jurisdictions. Schools should be safe, ethical spaces for children, Roche said. Encouraging students to participate in competitions sponsored by corporations associated with serious human rights and environmental abuses sends the wrong message. We should not be normalising or laundering corporate reputations through childrens creativity. The Texaco Childrens Art Competition has long been promoted in Irish schools as a positive outlet for creativity. However, the campaign argues that there are many alternative art initiatives that do not involve sponsorship from companies with controversial global records. READ NEXT: Secondary school in Offaly transforms the stage with a beastly brilliant panto! Childrens art should not be used as a branding exercise, the campaigner added. Taking a principled stand is an opportunity to teach young people about ethics, responsibility, and human rights, pointed out Roche. The Say No to Texaco campaign is encouraging concerned parents, educators, and community members to raise the issue with school boards and principals ahead of competition deadlines. At the recent request of the US Ambassador to Ireland, Roche wrote to Ambassador Walsh, giving detailed background to the plight of his friend Steven Donziger, the New York attorney and human rights defender who represented the 30,000 farm families against Texaco for what has become known as the Amazon Chernobyl". READ NEXT: Help a distraught family find their beloved pet believed lost in Offaly There are widespread concerns among landlords in County Offaly over the impact of the Residential Tenancies Bill. The amended bill would introduce new rules for property owners around the length of tenancies, rent increases and terminations. Independent Offaly TD Carol Nolan spoke on the subject during a recent debate on the bill in the Dail. Deputy Nolan said: There are very serious and valid concerns regarding the amendment to the residential tenancies legislation and the impact, particularly on private property rights and small-scale property owners or landlords. I have met many of these small-scale property owners in my offices in Birr and Tullamore and they are telling me quite clearly that they are leaving the rental market. READ NEXT: Man on serious Offaly charges will be sent to Circuit Court I have also met tenants who have received a notice-to-quit letter. I know this is as a result of the legislation coming before us, which is flawed and unfairly punishes small property owners. She continued by saying she is already seeing the impact the bill may have on the Offaly rental market. What are we, as TDs, to do? How are we to advise tenants who cannot get access to social housing because their income is too high? There are no affordable housing schemes and now there are fewer properties to rent. I know for a fact that many properties are up for sale in towns like Birr, Banagher, Tullamore and Edenderry. That would not have happened were it not for this flawed legislation, which goes about unfairly punishing small-scale property owners. It is totally unfair. Deputy Nolan described the case of many property owners in the county, who have always been fair to their tenants. She said she is now receiving emails from such landlords saying they have decided to leave the rental market. She urged the Government to see sense and to reverse or amend the bill. She added that she is all for fairness for tenants, but also wants to see fairness for property owners. Deputy Nolan also outlined the negative impact which she believes the bill will have on tenants locally. She stated: There are no affordable housing schemes in County Offaly. What do I tell the people who got on well with the property owner or landlord and everything went well and who lived happily in their house for many years? Now we have this mess. This legislation will most certainly deepen the housing crisis. I am already seeing it with the volume of notice-to-quit letters, and the increase in properties for sale in many towns throughout Offaly. Thanks to this legislation, we are going to see an increase in homelessness due to the greater absence of rental properties in the market. Deputy Nolan concluded by reiterating her call for the bill to be reversed, adding that it would be an absolute disaster for landlords and tenants. Although Opposition TDs did not receive direct responses to their individual statements, Minister for Housing James Browne did make a general statement on the matter. In this, Minister Browne said: The bill should be viewed as having an important role in driving supply and as part of the Government's broad commitments and efforts to meet our housing demand. The Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost-rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures, including rental. Increasing the supply of new homes is critical to alleviating pressures in the housing market, helping to moderate price growth and easing affordability challenges across the country. The amended bill, officially called the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, is currently at the second stage in the Oireachtas and is being debated generally by members of the Dail and Seanad. This stage focuses on the principles and broad objectives of the bill, before it moves on to detailed scrutiny at the committee stage. Richard Pococke (170465) was only the Anglican bishop of Meath a few months when he found himself, in September 1765, attending to confirmation ceremonies in Ballyboy and Tullamore in his far-flung diocese. The Tullamore ceremony was probably in the old Protestant church in Church Street where the Shambles and Foresters Hall building are located today. Naturally the bishop was invited to stay at the big house of the owner of Tullamore, Mrs Bury, the widow of the late John Bury who died a little over a year earlier in depressing circumstances. Their only child, Charles William Bury, was the heir to substantial estates of over 20,000 acres and would come of age twenty years later and live on until 1835. The big house of the landlord of Tullamore was called Charleville since 1740 and had been erected a 100 years earlier in 1641. To many it was probably better known as Redwood and had been acquired by Charles Lord Tullamoore from the Forth family in 1740. Lord Tullamoore was created earl of Charleville in 1758 and died, childless, in 1764. John Bury of Limerick inherited the Moore property in Kings County through the marriage of his father to Jane Moore, sister of the first earl of Charleville. The first earl died in 1764, but Bury died by drowning in the same year leaving his wife Catherine (nee Sadleir of Sopwell Hall, Co. Tipperary) and an only son Charles William. Mrs. Bury married secondly (January 1766), Henry Prittie, who became Baron Dunalley in 1801. Catherine Prittie gave leases of the Charleville lands in Kings County, but not for a period of years beyond 1785. The childless Hester Moore nee Coghill, countess of Charleville also took a second husband. According to Arthur Young she had 3,000 a year out of the Charleville property. She died in 1789. Charles William Bury (17641835, first earl of Charleville, second creation) reorganised his property in 1786, a year after his coming of age. A fire caused by an air balloon in 1785 destroyed about one hundred houses in Tullamore mostly in the Patrick Street area. This fire and his coming of age cleared the way for Bury to improve Tullamore. Almost all of the Patrick Street property owners and others were given new leases mostly dating from 24 March 1786. Readers of the recently published essays on OConnor Square will be aware of the catalogue of improvements in Tullamore from the 1780s to the 1830s. READ NEXT: THE LONG READ: Three killed on the night of the Big Wind in Offaly village Expansion of Tullamore initiated by Charles William Bury Charles William Bury, first earl of Charleville, presided over the fortunes of Tullamore in the period 1785 to 1835. His career coincided with the years of development. The years of neglect during the Bury minority from 1764 to 1785 were more than compensated for. His role in the planning of Tullamore saw its post-1740 extension to OConnor Square and High Street consolidated and the new Cormac Street, Columcille Street, Harbour Street, Bury Quay and lower Church Street developed. Soon after his marriage in 1798 Bury began building at Charleville and commenced the redesign of the demesne over the period from his majority in 1785. Work on the new house, Charleville Forest began in 1800 and was not completed until 1812. The gothic-style house/mock castle was designed by Francis Johnston with the participation of his patron. The house was formally opened in 1809, despite its unfinished state, by the then lord lieutenant the duke of Richmond. Over the next four or five years new avenues were laid about the demesne and an artificial lake created. Possibly his final embellishment was added in 1815 when a new church, designed by Francis Johnston, was completed in Tullamore. Eating too many mushrooms at Ballyboy Charles William Bury, earl of Charleville of the second creation from 1806, recalled the death of of that worthy prelate and very learned Traveler Bishop Pococke and noted reports that the bishop had indulged too freely of the Champignion tis a sad reflection, that one who had traversed the torrid Zone unmolested, should suffer from so slight a cause.' During the minority of Charles William Bury, no more than five weeks old when his father died, the Charleville estate was under the care of his mother as trustee. The demesne lands including the old Forth house were let. Everything west of the old road between Mucklagh and Tullamore was leased to Thomas Johnston, a son of John Johnston of Rath, near Birr. His relative George Stoney of Borrisokane has left a diary for the years 1765 and 1780. Mention was made in more blunt terms than those of Bury at 15 September 1765 of the death of the bishop of Meath, Dr Pococke, at Charleville, following the eating of mushrooms at Ballyboy the previous day. The bishop who had just confirmed at Tullamore, returned indisposed went to his chamber, took a puke, went to bed about 5 oclock, seemed to rest quietly, but was found dead at 12 o'clock. He complained of a pain in his stomach, which he could impute to no other cause than a few mushrooms eaten on the day before at Ballyboy. So ended the life of that scholar and intrepid traveller Bishop Richard Pococke. He was a well-travelled Church of Ireland clergyman who with the help of valuable sinecures was wealthy and well able to afford to travel. He visited European countries as far as Austria in the 1730s and from 1737 to 1741 he explored Egypt and Palestine, later writing up his travels as a Description of the East (2 vols, 17435). He also toured in England, Scotland and Ireland leaving published accounts in books and letters. He was nominated bishop of Ossory in 1756 and was there until appointed to Meath diocese in 1765. He helped restore St Canices Cathedral in Kilkenny and there is a memorial to his memory in that fine church and a plainer one at the cemetery close to the bishop of Meaths see at Ardbraccan in County Meath. Pocockes sad demise in Tullamore is not marked in any way in the new church (1815) of St Catherines or in Charleville Demesne. READ NEXT: THE BIG READ: Nicknames for some of the older streets in Tullamore town The old house at Redwood/Charleville The old Redwood House was demolished by the 1840s having been replaced by the great Gothic mansion there today. What survives from Charles Moores time are the works to beautify the Clodiagh river as it runs through the demesne and the building of the grotto. This was probably the work of his wife, Hester daughter of James Coghill of Drumcondra, who it was said was an heiress with a fortune of 100,000. The grotto was erected within a few years of their marriage in 1737 and in a time of scarcity. This would fit with the severe frost and famine of 1741. A MEMBER of LAWPRO (the Local Authority Waters Programme) gave a very detailed update on their work during a recent meeting of Nenagh Municipal District. She began by telling the meeting that a new Community Water Officer for Tipperary, Darragh Kelly, has been appointed. He is based in Clonmel and can be contacted at (085) 8333383 or darragh.kelly@lawaters.ie. Groups can contact Darragh about anything to do with rivers and streams in their areas. She pointed out that LAWPRO continues to provide funding to community and catchment groups under three different schemes: the Community Water Development Fund, Catchment Support Fund and Small Grants and Events. The Community Water Development Fund (CWDF) 2026 welcomes applications from organisations who are planning projects that fall into the following categories: river restoration, urban or rural Nature-based Solutions, feasibility studies, blue dot catchments, and fish habitat enhancement. The minimum grant awarded is 5,000 and the medium size is 5,000 to 25,000. The maximum grant award is between 25,000 to 40,000. The Catchment Support Fund 2026 will build the capacity of community groups to grow and develop and assist in the delivery of the River Basin Management Plan. Funding ranges from 500-5,000 and up to 50,000. Cabragh Wetlands near Thurles was a recipient in 2024 and 2025 and LAWPRO continue to support Cabragh Wetlands to develop into a catchment scale organisation, the officer said. The Small Grant and Events Scheme is for community groups who wish to apply for funding for small scale initiatives and events. It covers events such as World Wetlands Day, Biodiversity Week, Science Week, etc. It may also be used for small awareness raising initiatives such as surveys and plans, citizen science, hosting a meeting, workshops, litter pick, publications, biodiversity signage, or other such small scale initiatives. The officer 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 whats happening in a local catchment and water body. She said the 60m nationwide Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Project is a partnership led by LAWPRO, with Teagasc and Dairy Industry Ireland. This project links advisors to farmers; the advisors conduct assessments, and submit funding applications on the farmers' behalf to help improve water quality. READ NEXT: Work underway with farmers to halt water decline in North Tipperary To date 345 applications in County Tipperary have been received and we will continue to support local farmers to implement measures on their farms and to draw down funding. The total payments made for Tipperary Applications is 231,732.56. A new national Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Fund will be launched in early 2026, supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and administered by LAWPRO. This fund is in response to and builds on the work LAWPRO has undertaken with colleagues in Local Authorities, including the Town Centre First and Regeneration Teams. Potential projects could include footpath upgrades or kerb build outs, car parks and projects complimentary to Active Travel, housing or regeneration projects, which incorporate NbS elements that will deliver water quality benefits. The average anticipated funding amount for 2026 is 100,000 per Local Authority. (Pictured below is an example of urban improvement work funded by LAWPRO - a completed retrofit rain garden project in Kickham St Car Park Clonmel. Rain gardens reduce local flooding by absorbing up to 30% more water than lawns, while filtering pollutants like heavy metals and oil). READ NEXT: Funding available for communities in Offaly for projects to improve local water quality THE COUNCILLORS of Offaly County Council called for the removal of the Bord Bia Chairman Larry Murrin during their February monthly meeting this week. Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick (Independent) began the discussion on the matter when he called upon the Council to write a letter to the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon demanding Mr Murrin's removal because of a conflict of interest regarding the importation of Brazilian beef. He said he agreed with farming organisations which are stating that Mr Murrin is acting as CEO of Dawn Farms, a company that sources Brazilian beef, and holding these two roles is a blatant conflict of interest. The Councillors agreed with the position of farming organisations that Bord Bia is responsible for promoting and protecting Irish food, therefore its Chair must fully support local farmers and not have business interests that work against them. During the Council's discussion it was obvious that the Fine Gael Councillors and at least one Fianna Fail Councillor felt divided because Fine Gael and Fianna Fail had supported Mr Murrin, voting against an opposition motion in the Dail calling for his removal. Eventually, though, the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail Councillors did not object to the Council sending a letter to the Minister for Agriculture calling for Mr Murrin's resignation. The Councillors agreed with the position taken by the IFA regarding the Mercosur deal and Brazilian beef coming into Ireland. The IFA believes that the Mercosur deal will threaten the farming industry because farmers will be facing unfair competition. The IFA also points out that Brazilian beef comes with food safety concerns, including the unregulated use of veterinary medicines and hormones banned in Ireland. The Councillors also agreed with the IFA's position that Irish farmers work hard to produce the highest quality beef and they deserve full backing, not to be undercut by imports linked to the Bord Bia Chairs business. Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick pointed out that Bord Bia Quality Assurance farm inspections are strict and are stressful for the farmers subjected to them. Therefore, to see that the Bord Bia Chair is also CEO of Dawn Farms sticks in the craw and implies a double standard, or at best a lack of due regard and support for Irish farmers. It really doesn't add up for the farming community. In Ireland we produce very high standard products. Brazil doesn't comply with these high standards. I know that some people are saying the IFA are going over the top with this, but I don't agree. The IFA feels very strongly about this, and rightly so. Cllr Hughie Egan (Fine Gael) said the controversy has been going on for weeks and he recently talked to Minister Heydon about it. The two sides of the argument are deeply entrenched about the issue, he remarked. It's backs to the wall stuff and is going nowhere fast. They need to find an outside mediator or facilitator and find common ground. The Government is not going to sack Mr Murrin. Cllr Egan pointed out that if farmers don't get the Bord Bia Quality Assurance stamp of approval then they lose significant amounts of money at the abattoirs. Cllr Neil Feighery (Fine Gael) said Irish farmers produce world class food. He said the optics of double standards in Bord Bia is not a good look. The Councillor pointed out that 1400 people are employed by Bord Bia, 700 of them in the agency's Headquarters in Naas. He commended the IFA's position but advised that everyone take the heat out of the battle and enter into a mediation process. Cllr Fitzpatrick commented that Cllr Feighery's advice could be the way forward. Dialogue and mediation might help the situation. Cllr Aoife Masterson (Sinn Fein) pointed out that her party has led the charge against the Mercosur deal for years. To get the Quality Assurance mark is a very demanding challenge for farmers. Our beef is world class. It beggared belief that Sinn Fein's motion calling for Mr Murrin's removal was defeated in the Dail. She didn't agree with the Fine Gael Councillors' call for mediation and dialogue. The time for mediation is gone; we need to see the Chair's removal. The farming community is being very clear about that. The present state of affairs is an insult to the farming community. The Council should call on the Minister to seek Mr Murrin's resignation. Cllr Fergus McDonnell (Independent Ireland) said the government's position on the controversy reminded him of Trumpism, where you say one thing and act in another. Why the government is nailing its colours to the mast behind the Bord Bia Chair defies logic. The Chair has to go. Cllr Claire Murray (Sinn Fein) said she agreed with Cllr Masterson. Mediation is not the way forward because the Chair's position is unsustainable. I have heard that the IFA are going to hold a number of protests outside the Bord Bia headquarters in Naas in the near future. Cllr Feighery said he preferred mediation to calling for a head. Is it a sign of where our society's public discourse is at, this unwillingness to seek dialogue and diplomacy? Cllr John Leahy (Independent) said the matter has been discussed for weeks and there's no sign of a resolution. I don't see how any more dialogue could work. Cllr Peter Ormond (Fianna Fail) urged more dialogue and for everyone to get around the table and sort this out. Finally, however, the Council agreed to send the following letter to the Minister: Dear Minister Heydon, At the meeting of Offaly County Council held on 16th February, the members of Offaly County Council agreed to support the IFA on its call for the Government to remove the Chairperson of Bord Bia, Mr Larry Murrin, from his position in light of the ongoing controversy and protest. I would be obliged for your consideration and response on the above so that I can advise the Elected Members of same. Yours faithfully, Evan Fennell, Meetings Administrator, Corporate Services, Offaly County Council. The letter was posted to the Minister on Wednesday. READ NEXT: Minister failed to deal with Bord Bia issues at meeting, says IFA president TULLAMORE and District Angling Club held our annual open pike angling competition for the Hogan Cup on Sunday last, February 15. This is the clubs biggest pike angling event of the year and is fished in memory of Jim Hogan, a well-known Tullamore club angler. Although Jim is no longer with us, he still lives on in the memory of his friends and family. This year, we had a great turnout, with 41 anglers supporting the event. Most of the anglers who turned out to fish caught pike throughout the competition, and in all, 40 pike were landed. The winner of the day was John Donnellan. John caught 2 pike for a a combined weight of 23lb. This won John the Jim Hogan Memorial trophy, the prize for the heaviest bag of the day and the prize for the heaviest fish of the day, too, so a very well done John. READ NEXT: Yet another top Gold national award in prestigious competition for leading hotel in Offaly In second place was Damien Lawlor, who caught 2 pike throughout the day, up to 16lb 7oz. In third place was Pat Foran, who caught 5 pike throughout the day, up to 12lb 12oz. In fourth, we had Eamon Hogan, who caught 3 pike weighing 9lb 12oz. In fifth place was a tie between Charlie Lawlor (1 fish) and Pauline Cunnigham (2 Fish), who each had a total weight of 9lb 6oz. Well done to all. 1st place in junior prizes on the day went to Jake Maher, 2nd prize went to Matthew Lawlor 3rd went to Niall Grehan. The Heaviest fish went to John Donnellan with his lovely 19lb 7oz fish. The second heaviest fish was 13lb 8oz, caught by Damien Lawlor, and the third was 9lb 6oz, caught by Charlie Lawlor. The club returned to the Fergies Bar for our prize-giving ceremony. The anglers enjoyed hot food and refreshments. The club would like to thank the Hogan family for sponsoring the event and supplying the beautiful prizes to be raffled off, ensuring everyone left with something. Paddy and Johnny Hogan travelled from New York to fish for the event, and it was great to see everyone again. It was wonderful to have our overseas guests in Tullamore, and we wish them a pleasant and safe stay in Ireland in the next few weeks. The club would like to extend a huge thank-you to the Hogan family and The Fergies Bar for making the event a success. The club would also like to thank all our committee members and competition officers who have worked hard behind the scenes to keep the show going. Also, a huge thanks to all our members, new and old, who support the club with their attendance. Next Competition Tullamore and District Angling Club will host the next and last pike competition until October on February 22nd. New members can meet at 9 am at Kilbride Plaza, Tullamore. Contact Pat for more info at 0863545579. READ NEXT: Audiences go 'ga ga' for Tullamore Musical Society's tribute to Queen 'We will rock you' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August 2018) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "How do you spell ICE in German? GESTAPO." (S. Jonas, July 2025) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. "Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. "Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. "Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." Pastor Martin Niemoller (c. 1946) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introductory note. Just after I first posted this column came the news that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had upheld a state law in Louisiana that sanctions the posting of The Ten in schools. I must say that that ruling certainly gives the textual/origin considerations of the issue (in addition to the primary Constitutional/First Amendment ones) that I raise below particular pertinence. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this posting, I am running an updated version of a column I published awhile back (Click Here) on The Ten Commandments and certain issues related to laws, or other state-supported initiatives, requiring that it/they be posted, in one way or another, in public schools in one or more of the several states. The stimulus for this particular posting is a publication by the Freedom From Religion Foundation in the January-February 2026 of their newspaper, "Freethought Today." It describes a suit that the Foundation has filed in Texas to stop all (yes, that is all) Texas school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in EVERY school classroom. One can only surmise that the requirement that a document displaying one version (and there are many --- see below) be in every classroom shows their concern that if, say, it were displayed only in a variety of public spaces throughout the schools no children (to say nothing of the teachers/administrators/school staff) would look at them. When considering the matter, the first issue that comes to mind for is of course the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States (with which the worthies in several of the states seem not to be familiar). It states, it would seem quite clearly (but, to repeat, apparently not clearly enough for a variety of state-level Republican and other Right-wing folk), that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" For the "pro-posting forces" in Texas, somehow the wording here just does not make itself clear. Does that not indicate that Texas schools (and those who run them) should pay attention first to reading The First, and then, perhaps to the Ten Commandments? So, let's run the former again: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." (One should also note that the current campaign is led by an organization called the "National School Chaplains Association." Apparently for them, let's say, a system whereby any school chaplain could simply hand a copy of the Ten to any student who happened to come to see one of their number would not suffice. They must be displayed in every [state-funded, publicly supported] school.) For those who might say that the "First Ten" apply only to the Federal government, in other parts of the Constitution it is made clear that such provisions of it also apply to the States. As in Article VI: "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding." At the same time, nowhere in the document is there a clause that says, words to the effect of, "State governments, and other interested parties, can skip any of the propositions/requirements of this Constitution at any time that it pleases them." But, leaving those Constitutional issues aside, in this column we shall deal primarily with another issue. That is, exactly which historical version of the Commandments would one use, whether posted, handed out, or otherwise distributed? There are at least three versions of them, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish. They do agree on certain matters, such as "Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal." But not on certain others, e.g., on which day of the week the Sabbath is kept. And by the way, while we are going through these, one has to wonder just how teaching of any of these three versions relates to Muslim, Hindi, Bahai, and etc. students. (And then further, we must mention the Mel Brooks version, for in the "History of the World, Part 1" he told us that there were originally 15 Commandments. But as, completing his journey down Mount Sinai, he [as Moses] was dropping, and thus cracking up [as was the audience during this segment of the movie], one of the stone tablets on which they were written, reducing the number to Ten.) But going beyond the matter of Constitutionality, one might want to ask exactly which Ten are we talking about? Those in a particular English translation of a particular Latin translation of a particular Greek translation of a particular Hebrew translation of an original Aramaic text, known as the "King James Version?" Or one or more others. There is an extensive set of variations of the Ten, depending upon which language one uses. That question would have to be settled first. But let us say that somehow it would be, let us go on to the particulars, given the translation supplied. "1. Thou shall have no other Gods before me. Which 'one God' are we talking about? The Jewish version (after all, 'he was the original,' so we are told). Or is it the Catholic version or perhaps one of a variety of Protestant versions, or even the Mormon version? Then, what does the word 'before' mean? Is this one talking about other Gods? Oh my. "2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. How do we define 'graven'? Sculpture, painting, photo, computer image. Are all prohibited, or only some? What happens from the fifth generation on? And what is meant by 'iniquity?' Apparently, this God is jealous in nature. But I thought that that was one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Oh my, again. "3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. What name is that, and how is 'in vain' defined? "4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. What, exactly, does 'keep it holy' mean? Further, right now there are at least two days of the week defined as 'the Sabbath' and a wide variety of approaches to recognizing it, whichever one it is, as special. "5. Honour thy father and thy mother. How exactly are they to be honored? Gifts, speeches, flowers? And how frequently? What would count and who would do the counting? "6. Thou shalt not kill. Uh oh! There goes war, self-defense, the death penalty, and, since it doesn't say 'who,' possibly hunting and the use of animals for food. "7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Given the commonality of the practice, just how would the Gov. propose to control it, much less punish it? "8. Thou shalt not steal. Just how is 'stealing' to be defined? Does it include theft of elections [note that this inquiry was first written in 2007; presumably it related to the Supreme Court's theft of the 2000 election from Al Gore], and stealing by the awarding of no-bid contracts to Presidential/Vice-Presidential cronies, or let's say, tax cuts for the rich that steal from everyone else's future? "9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Does lying one's nation into war count? And if its intention is not quite that grand, what is the definition of 'neighbour" anyway? Next door, across the street, down the block, around the world in this increasingly so-called 'globalized' economy? 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. There's that troublesome definition of neighbour again. But before getting into any details, just how is 'covet' to be defined and what are the proposed penalties for any violations?" Turning to what is referred to as "The Bible," myriad questions arise. For example, it is well known that what is the "Old Testament" was written down by a number of different authors over many centuries. And it should also be noted that while it has been noted that Moses "was the original law-giver," we actually don't even know whether there was an actual figure/person who was named "Moses," or at least one who fulfilled the role, as an individual, given to "Moses" in one version of the Bible or another. However, we do know for sure that Moses, or "Moses," was, historically, not the original lawgiver. Given what we do know about when the Old Testament was originally written down, over a millennium from 1500 or so to 500 or so, B.C.E., even then the Ten Commandments did not constitute the first Code. There were, for example, the Code of Ur-Nammu, written in 21st century B.C.E., and the Code of Hammurabi, written in the first half of the 18th century B.C.E. Returning to a consideration of the Old Testament, further questions are: was there more than One God (writing everything down) or did he (or she) just like taking rests, and then stopped writing altogether (for unknown reasons, of course). Or is the Old Testament indeed not divine at all, but rather a collection of some brilliant (and not-so-brilliant) writings of political pundits and politicians and historians and self-styled "holy people" and tale-tellers of the times, to lay down the rules, justify events, set forth philosophies (the Golden Rule, etc.). Or is it divinely inspired (over the same many centuries after which the divine inspiration stopped)? Ah, questions, questions. I for one, a Humanist, not a Theist, think that, for example, that the "Moses and the Divinely Inspired Ten Commandments" legend was just a brilliant early example of marketing. How else could a group of nomads/peasant-farmers become one the earliest groups of people, not a set of rulers/lawgivers, to write down a set of rules, set them up as laws, and commit themselves to the Rule of Law? Just on the basis of Moses (whoever he was) and his men saying, "do it?" Of course, it had to be "God," donchaknow. There are of course many more questions raised by these laws and regulations relating to religious texts. For example, exactly which English translation of the Bible is being used? Considering that question, the man who made the first English translation of the Bible, one William Tyndale, in 1536 was burned at the stake, in England, for having the temerity to do so. Under Henry VIII, who invented the "Church of England," the authorities still did not want the "common people" (some of whom might be able to read) to be able to interpret the "holy word" for themselves, without the intervention of clergy. In England, it was not until almost a century later that the Bible was first officially rendered into English, as "The King James" version. The "King James" version, widely used in this country, was, however, hardly of Divine origin. Published at the beginning of the 17th century in England, it was a translation from a variety of Latin and Greek texts, put together by a committee of 52 theologians and academics. The purpose was to have one officially sanctioned version of the Bible, in English, to support the installation on the English throne of the former James VI of Scotland (formerly Catholic) as James I of England (conveniently having converted to the Church of England's version of Protestantism). One need not note (but I will anyway) that the King James version was hardly a document of "divine" origin, that is, of course, unless every one of those 52 committee members were speaking directly with God. That is, in conclusion, to say nothing of the variety of other Christian Bibles, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox, or the Jewish ones, there is a broad range of them. And so, even before mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in the schools, as a first step that should be considered is the matter of just which version of them would be posted, and why that one, rather than any of the others (including of course, the original Jewish one or one[s]), is the Chosen One. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post note: Of course we haven't mentioned the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Shinto holy books, all of which have their version of the ten (or more) commandments. We shall leave that one for another day. (Article changed on Feb 21, 2026 at 12:09 PM EST) (Article changed on Feb 22, 2026 at 12:16 PM EST) If you look at the numbers, the U.S. is the largest private wealth business in the world, and so the firm made a substantial decision to invest here. We started that process probably three years ago in the U.S. Peter Aliprantis : The U.S. private wealth channel has historically, and over the last five to 10 years, become very fertile ground for raising capital in private markets. Ive been in this business for over 30 years, specifically in private wealthI was in the private wealth business before it was cool to be in the private wealth business. Over 10 years ago, the private wealth business was not a huge source of asset gathering for private markets. It has become that today, and many other big names across private markets are very active in the private wealth space, not only in the U.S., but outside it. In mid-January, EQT also acquired Coller Capital, a U.K.-based global secondaries player with approximately $50 billion in AUM . The goal is to get access to Coller Capitals secondaries strategies in general, and in particular, to its private credit secondaries investments , where EQT currently sees an attractive opportunity, said Peter Aliprantis, partner and head of private wealth Americas at the firm. Prior to joining EQT in 2024, Aliprantis spent over a decade as managing director at alternative asset manager TPG Angelo Gordon, where he handled new business development and intermediary distribution. When financial advisors think about alternative asset managers playing in the private wealth arena, the names that first come to mind are often U.S.-based organizationsBlackstone, BlackRock, Apollo, KKR. But one of the biggest global names in the private equity space is EQT, a Stockholm-based firm with over $319 billion in total AUM. While EQT has been a long-time player serving U.S. institutional investors, in the past three years, the firm has also been trying to grow its business among U.S. private wealth clients. It currently operates evergreen funds targeting private equity, real estate and infrastructure that are open to individual investors stateside. Story Continues WM: There are several different tiers of private wealth investors. Who is your target investor within that space? PA: I would say we are focused on multiple client segments within private wealth. We are obviously very interested and engaged with the ultra-high-net-worth investors or qualified purchaser investors. A lot of them are looking at a combination of things, whether its drawdown structures or evergreen structures. But we are also very interested in working directly with what we would call the mass affluent market, the accredited investor market, because those are very important markets as well. WM: Are any of your products going to be aimed at non-accredited investors, your bottom-level retail investor? PA: Thats not our primary goal, but as the market evolves, I would imagine we would have structures and strategies that cater to that market. In fact, when you look at whats happening now in the 401K market, I am assuming that will change over time. We are in the very early stages of that, but yes, I would imagine we would focus on that at some point. WM: Does the firm have a specific growth objective for its private wealth division? PA: We currently have of the capital that we manage, about 9% or 10% of it is private wealth. The idea is to grow that to somewhere between 20% and 25% globally over the next three to five years. WM: Can you talk about what kinds of investment vehicles you have available for private wealth clients? PA: Right now, we have a combination of more traditional drawdown structure products for our flagship funds, in private equity, infrastructure and real estate. And in addition to that, in the U.S., we have three evergreen strategies: one for private equity, one for infrastructure and one for real estate. We also have three additional evergreens available outside the U.S., for non-U.S. investors. WM: What types of evergreen vehicles are you using in the U.S.? PA: The private equity and infrastructure strategies are in Opco structures. And the real estate structure is a non-traded REIT. WM: Is brand name recognition an issue that you have come across among U.S. advisors? How do you ensure EQT is easily recognizable stateside? PA: EQT has been in the U.S. for a long time, and about a third of our assets are invested here. What is new is our operation in private wealth, which started here about three years ago. And so, we may not be as well-known as Blackstone, or Apollo or KKR or some other names, but what I can tell you is that we are the second-largest private equity firm in the world. When we tell people that, they are usually pretty surprised. When we sit with a financial advisor, we say, Have you heard of EQT? What do you know about EQT as an organization? I can tell you that the reaction is almost uniform. They say, We kind of know who you are, but why dont you tell us a little bit more about the firm? So we go through some of the details, the size and the scale of the business, the fact that we are the second-largest private equity firm in the world and have the largest value-added infrastructure business, and we are tenth in the world in real estate. And the reaction to that is: How is it possible that we dont know who you are? Thats the challenge, but more importantly, thats a big part of the opportunity. The more we tell the story, the more people want to do business with us WM: How do you get your private wealth-focused products in front of financial advisors? PA: We obviously work with all of the large distribution partners at the wirehouses and also several of the largest global private banks. In addition to that, we work in the RIA channel, working with some of the intermediaries that operate in that channel, like CAIS and iCapital. But we also have direct relationships with RIAs. We are working with the IBD community, as well as the family office channel. WM: How are you using the CAIS and iCapital platforms? PA: iCapital and CAIS provide a number of different benefits for us. One of them is technological and account-related. There are about 17,000 RIAs in the United States. Even if you have a salesforce of 13, 15, 20 people, its very hard to cover 17,000 RIAs. So, CAIS and iCapital provide an intermediary service where they allow us to connect with many of these RIAs, both from a technological perspective, but also from an introduction perspective. We sponsor, attend and present at several of both the CAIS and iCapital conferences around the country, and around the world, actually. And we work with them to help us get introductions to RIAs that they may not know. And it gives us a lot of brand recognition and introductions to people at a lot of the aggregator RIAs, who we might not know as well. WM: Do you have any educational initiatives for advisors to get them more familiar with the types of products you are selling? PA: The firm has a part of the business called ThinQ. Its a content-related business that produces content and it goes across the broad spectrum of advisors who may be very early on in their private markets journey and may want to just understand what is private equity or what is infrastructure how can I incorporate that in my clients asset allocation. And then we have things that are more targeted toward advisors who are further along. They may want to know more about infrastructure and what the energy opportunities are that power the infrastructure trade as it relates to data centers, battery power, and regenerative power. Thats one of the ways we work with advisors and get them content and get them to learn about private equity, infrastructure and real estate and sometimes, more specifically, about how to allocate to those strategies within an overall portfolio. In fact, I just published an article on our ThinQ platform that talks about the benefits of global diversification in private markets. WM: What have been the biggest challenges as you try to connect with advisors and get them to invest in these products? PA: It kind of relates back to brand recognition. I can tell you that being a global investment firm and a non-U.S.-based investment firm that has roughly two-thirds of its assets invested outside the U.S. has become a huge advantage for us. As you probably know, in the U.S., most of the private market firms that are based in the U.S. have the majority of their assets invested in the U.S. But advisors and their clients are currently a little bit worried about valuations; they are worried about over-exposure to local markets, and I can tell you that in every conversation Ive had with an advisor, whether its at a wirehouse, or an RIA or a family office, they are looking for diversification. And its not that they dont want to be invested in the U.S. anymore. Thats not the case at all. In fact, about a third of our investments are in the U.S., and we are looking to double that to about $250 billion over the next five years. We are very bullish on the U.S. However, anyone looking at an asset allocation would be prudent to diversify, and that has been a huge benefit to us. An expression we use a lot at EQT is locals with locals. We have offices in 26 countries around the world, representing more than 80% of global GDP. We have operating teams, investment teams and investment partners in those teams because its very important when you are doing a deal in a foreign country, even in different regions within a single country, to understand the rules and regulations and the legal ramifications of how you do a deal. In fact, most of our deals are not done through an auction process. They are done in a negotiated way. The only way to do those deals is to know the local people who will help you, and youll get the first call when a deal is being done. Its a differentiator for us, and when we tell that story to advisors, it really resonates. The last really important point is exit activity. Over the last several years, the biggest concern investors have had, and not just private wealth investors but also institutional investors, is Ive got my money invested in these drawdown structure funds, but I havent gotten a return on capital because the firm I am working with hasnt been able to exit those investments. If you look at EQT, in the last 12 months, weve returned $40 billion of capital to our investors. Where have those distributions come from? Globally. You want to have multiple exit ramps. When the IPO market in the U.S. slows down and you cant do an IPO in the U.S., guess what? Last year, in India and Hong Kong, the IPO markets were very active, and we had a significant amount of exit activity in APAC and EMEA. When you are invested globally, you have many more geographic opportunities to exit your private market investment than if you are 70% or 80% invested in the United States. WM: What was EQTs rationale for the acquisition of Coller Capital? How will it fit into your growth plans in the U.S.? PA: We are an active investor across private equity, infrastructure and real estate. When we looked at the spectrum of whats happening in the markets and what our clients are looking for, both institutionally and from a private wealth perspective, what we were missing was access to the secondaries market. If you look at the Coller transaction, it is the worlds largest independent dedicated secondaries firm with roughly $50 billion in AUM. Whats very attractive is that they not only have private equity secondaries, but they also have a credit secondaries business, which is still relatively new in the world of secondaries. However, given the recent volatility in the private credit space, we think thats an extremely attractive part of the market to play in. Coller will be sort of a fourth offering for us at EQT in both the private equity secondaries market, as well as private credit secondaries market. We are very excited about that. This is common knowledge, but if you look at the private equity secondaries market, in 2025, deal volume reached about $226 billion, which was up about 41% from the year before. But when you look at that versus total private equity deal volume, thats only 2% to 3% of the total. And when you look at the credit side of the secondaries business, its even less than that. There is an expansive amount of growth to come in that space, we believe. WM: And at this point, EQT is only interested in expanding to private credit through secondaries, but not in launching primary private credit strategies? PA: I dont really know the answer to that, youll have to ask our CEO, but my guess is that it is not one of the primary places we are looking to grow the firm at this stage. WM: In terms of the evergreen structures EQT is using, does the firm have any plans to try out new types of vehicles in the near future? PA: For now, those are our flagship strategies, and we are very comfortable with the strategies that weve offered. We are always looking at the market to see what clients are looking for, but for right now, those are the ones in the U.S. that we really want to focus on. There is one thing I would say, and it relates more to our everygreen strategies, but also to our drawdown strategies. Many times, private wealth investors are concerned when they look at these evergreen strategies, that they are not getting the best investments, that they are getting a separate pool of investments. That the institutional investors are getting the grade A investments, and they are getting the B or C investments. From an EQT perspective, whether a client is investing in our evergreen strategies or our drawdown strategies, there is no separate pool of assets for institutional investors and another pool of assets for private wealth investors. Every one of the deals we do is the same. Whether you invest in an evergreen or a drawdown structure, all of those strategies are the same. I think thats a really important point to make when we talk about EQT as an organization. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) is included among the 14 Best Real Estate Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. TD Cowen Raises Digital Realty Trust (DLR) Target on Strong Q4 Performance On February 6, TD Cowen raised its price recommendation on Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) to $185 from $179. The analyst kept a Hold rating on the shares. The firm pointed to stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results and said there could be further upside ahead. In particular, it noted that higher renewal spreads in 2026 could help drive better Core FFO per share growth than the companys current outlook suggests. CEO Andy Power described 2025 as a turning point for both Digital Realty and the data center industry overall. He said the company closed the year with record results and beat its own guidance on revenue, EBITDA, and core FFO per share. Leasing activity was especially strong. Power noted that Digital Realty signed more than $1 billion in new leases for the second year in a row, with total bookings reaching $1.2 billion in 2025. That figure was nearly 70% higher than the companys average annual bookings over the past five years, showing how quickly demand has accelerated. He also highlighted strong momentum in interconnection and colocation, which have become key growth areas for the company. Power said bookings for its interconnection offerings reached nearly $340 million during the year, marking a new record and rising more than 35% compared with 2024. This growth reflects increasing demand from customers looking for reliable, scalable infrastructure to support cloud computing, AI, and data-heavy workloads. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) is a data center REIT that owns, develops, and operates facilities that support digital infrastructure. Its data centers help businesses, cloud providers, and technology companies store data, run applications, and maintain global connectivity. While we acknowledge the potential of DLR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're 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: 13 Best Roth IRA Stocks to Buy Now and 16 Best Dividend Stocks with Rising Payouts Disclosure: None. One year has passed since Argentine President Javier Milei backed a project that drove hundreds of thousands of people worldwide to invest in Libra, a meme coin that turned out to be a rug pull. Alfonso Gamboa Silvestre, a 25-year-old from Chile, was among the many traders who suffered steep losses. The tokens launch and swift demise cost him $10,000. Since that moment, he has left the crypto industry for good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqbUgmiPJCs A Presidential Endorsement That Drove a Buying Frenzy On Valentines Day last year, Gamboa Silvestre was trading on his computer. The day seemed normal until a notification popped up on his phone from one of the many crypto groups he had on Telegram. He opened the message, which read something along the lines of Argentinas president just launched a crypto token. Gamboa Silvestre ran to X (formerly Twitter) to see whether it was true. At first, he thought Mileis account had been hacked. But after carefully reading the presidents verified tweet and the Viva La Libertad Project website he included, Gamboa Silvestre ruled out the possibility. So he bought the token. In total, he invested $5,000. I made two purchases. First, a smaller one. When I was totally sure it was [Mileis] tweet, I made a bigger one, Gamboa Silvestre told BeInCrypto in an interview in Spanish. After that, Gamboa Silvestre left the house to go out to dinner with his family, but he couldnt keep his eyes off his phone. Libras price kept dropping, and he didnt know what to do. https://twitter.com/AssLatam/status/1890728384356827191?s=20 Choosing what looked best on the menu and averting his familys worried gaze was hard enough, so he locked himself in the restaurants bathroom. At first I thought the token was going to go down, and then it was going to go back up to infinity, Gamboa Silvestre said. But that didnt happen. I saw that it was going down and down, and my February 14th ended up being a nightmare. As investors began withdrawing their money en masse, so did Gamboa Silvestre. He ended up doubling his original investment in losses. The event also marked his permanent exit from the crypto ecosystem. From Active Trader To Complete Exit Gamboa Silvestre first ventured into crypto in 2016, mostly out of curiosity. However, he began to take it seriously in 2022 and became an active trader. The meme coin sector had treated him well at first. Gamboa Silvestre was among the first investors in TRUMP and MELANIA, the two tokens launched by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump less than 48 hours before Trump assumed the presidency. Indiana businesses and consumers will face a fresh set of tariffs as President Donald Trump unveiled a steep 15% import tax on Feb. 21 that's expected to unleash more economic challenges on the economy. Trump upped his latest global tariff from 10% to 15% the day after the Supreme Court knocked his power to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to impose sweeping tariffs. He quickly turned around to implement the new tax using a different provision in the Trade Act of 1974. The new tariffs, which will last 150 days for now, could further wreak havoc on the economy as businesses grapple with increased costs to pay and billions in tariff revenue that might not be paid back to importers. A new report released Feb. 19 suggests Indiana importers paid $5.7 billion in tariffs from February to December 2025. Indiana Chamber President Vanessa Green Sinders said small businesses bear the brunt of tariff policy, but most businesses in the state are worried. In a 2025 survey, 80% of respondents said they had concerns about tariffs, she said. Sinders welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the unconstitutional tariffs. But with more levies coming, Indiana could feel more pain, particularly the manufacturing industry that uses a lot of global imports. "We've taken a stance that we have significant concerns because of their impact on businesses from the cost perspective," Sinders said. "As a chamber, we want to support economic growth across the state." And it's not just businesses who pay tariffs. A report from Democrats on the congressional Joint Economic Committee estimated an American family paid $1,700 more due to tariff costs. How much has Indiana paid in tariffs? Indiana importers paid an estimated $5.7 billion in extra import taxes from February to December of last year, according to a report released by We Pay the Tariffs, an anti-tariff small business coalition. Roughly 58% of that $5.7 billion was revenue collected via IEEPA tariffs, which were struck down by the Supreme Court. That's $3.3 billion of tariff revenue from Indiana in limbo, as it's unclear if and how businesses will be able to claim the money. Trump did not clarify if his administration will send the money back to those who paid, suggesting the issue could take years to litigate in court. More: More tariffs coming for Indiana shoppers, businesses despite SCOTUS ruling Tariff refunds up in the air At the Indiana Chamber, Sinders is encouraging businesses across the state to get their ducks in a row, confirm what types of tariffs they paid and stay tuned for more information should the opportunity to collect if refunds arise. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Saturday that his government is weighing the possibility of suspending emergency electricity aid to Ukraine if oil supplies to Hungary are not restored, echoing a similar warning issued by Slovakia. As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking at a rally in Bekescsaba, Orban noted that Hungary has already halted diesel deliveries to Ukraine and blocked the European Unions 90 billion loan package to the conflict-hit country in response to the pause in oil transfer through the Druzhba pipeline. There is another option, which is being considered cautiously for now, he said. If this is stopped, harsh things could happen. Meanwhile, Ukraine has informed the European Commission that the Odessa-Brody pipeline could serve as an alternative route to replace the damaged Druzhba line, potentially ensuring continued oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia. The developments underscore the growing tension between energy security and political leverage in Central Europe, as countries balance domestic needs with broader EU commitments amid the ongoing conflict. This is The Takeaway from today's Morning Brief, which you can sign up to receive in your inbox every morning along with: What we're watching What we're reading Economic data releases and earnings United Airlines (UAL) is shaking up its rewards program in the latest move to win over credit card customers at the center of an escalating perks war. But it's going about it in a counterintuitive way, with both the carrot and the stick. Rather than focusing on just adding perks for loyalty members and credit card holders, the overhaul also includes denying non-holders certain ways of accruing miles and saving money. It's a new type of gatekeeping as other premium travel credit cards up their steep annual fees. Call it addition by subtraction. Or a company making full membership in its club more valuable by creating exclusions, which are sure to rankle at least some portion of an already air travel-stressed public. Sign up for the Yahoo Finance Morning Brief By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Subscribe Companies reserving special perks for their highest-paying customers isn't new. Think of Costco's Executive Membership giving those honored guests an extra hour to shop their warehouses before the Gold Star common folk can enter. But United's shift is notable because it's holding out some previously universal privileges exclusively for cardholders, like frequent flier miles. MileagePlus members who don't have a United card will earn fewer miles for United flights than members who have one, United said in an announcement earlier this week. Other perks for cardholders include a 10% discount on every United award flight booked. Meanwhile, non-cardholders will no longer be able to earn any miles when they book basic economy, which loses even more status. All this underscores the airline industry's focus on bolstering credit card relationships with its flyers. Getting into the credit card relationship with cardholders and the potential upsells is big business. Premium customers are where the money is. Last month, Delta reported that the money it generated from premium seats would outpace revenue from the economy cabin, making explicit the industry's pivot to luxury and luxury-adjacent. United's program overhaul comes as the entire sector is pushing loyalty program memberships. Redeemable miles, upgrades, airport lounge benefits, and other perks are helping drive more customers to buy flights using airlines' co-branded credit cards, a substantial revenue stream for an industry that has struggled to profit from the actual business of selling affordable airfare. American Express and Chase both recently revamped their high-end travel credit cards, showering their customers with a stream of goodies while upping the cards' annual fees, which are approaching $1,000. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Partly cloudy. Areas of patchy fog. High 81F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. About five months after formally being acquired by Sycamore Partners, Walgreens is laying off hundreds of employees. In Texas, 159 employees are impacted, according to a notice the company filed with the state dated Feb. 12. The effective layoff date is June 1 and marks the closure of the companys distribution center in Houston. More from Yahoo Scout How is Walgreens restructuring after going private? What challenges led to Walgreens' store closure plans? How has Sycamore Partners' acquisition affected Walgreens operations? Why is Walgreens laying off hundreds of employees? Additionally, 469 employees are impacted in Illinois at the companys headquarters, according to another notice Walgreens filed with the state dated Feb. 10. Were focused on becoming Americas best retail pharmacy, beginning with improving the instore experience for our customers and patients, a Walgreens spokesperson said in a statement shared with Retail Dive. To do this, weve made the difficult decision to simplify our organization in both the support center and with our field leadership to speed decision making and improve the service that millions of customers rely on every day. We have deep respect for our colleagues and greatly appreciate their contributions and are committed to supporting them throughout this transition. The company did not comment on the total number of employees impacted. Walgreens became a private company in September after it was sold to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for about $10 billion. The company then split its business into five stand-alone entities, including spinning out The Boots Group, Walgreens international retail pharmacy chain. The acquisition followed a period of turmoil for the retail business. While it was still a publicly traded company, Walgreens third quarter earnings released in June showed front-of-store retail sales dropped 5.3% year over year, mostly due to store closures and lower comps. The drugstore retailer in 2024 announced it would close 1,200 U.S. stores over the course of three years. Recommended Reading Public Safety Reporter Kailey Cota is a public safety reporter for the Post & Courier's Charleston location. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Previously, she wrote for The State, The Current and The Daily Gamecock. She was named South Carolinas collegiate journalist of the year. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. PR-Inside.com: 2026-02-21 19:00:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 974 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 In an era where many online retailers rely on automated chatbots, limited support hours, and mass-market approaches, MCS Gearup is proving that human-centered customer service still matters.CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / February 21, 2026 / Based in Bonita Springs, Florida, MCS Gearup has made it its mission to deliver not just high-quality tactical gear and firearm accessories, but a level of service that builds trust and loyalty. Seven days a week, from 9 am to 10 pm EST, customers can reach live representatives by phone at 239-848-6757, or by email at Sales@ mcsgearup.com , ensuring questions, concerns, and order details are handled quickly and personally.The company's philosophy is simple: quality products, fair prices, and service you can count on. MCS Gearup offers a wide range of USA-made, high-performance gear that consistently beats MSRP, making tactical readiness accessible to everyone from beginners to seasoned operators. New items are added daily, giving customers constant access to the latest and most reliable equipment.Customer Service Isn't Dead but It's a Competitive AdvantageBut what truly sets MCS Gearup apart is its commitment to backing every purchase with guarantees that matter. Every product comes with a 30-day return policy, a satisfaction guarantee, and a full warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. In a world of fleeting online sales promises, MCS Gearup stands firmly behind what it sells. If a product fails to meet expectations, the company ensures it's made right-no questions asked.Customer feedback underscores the difference this approach makes. Fast, reliable shipping including next-day options has become a hallmark of MCS Gearup's operations. Weekly promotions, discount codes, and rotating shipping deals keep the buying experience fresh, cost-effective, and rewarding. For retailers and bulk buyers, the company also offers tailored wholesale and dealer programs, demonstrating a commitment to supporting not just individual operators but entire communities and businesses."Customer service is more than a department; it's the backbone of our business," says a spokesperson for MCS Gearup. "We know that every question answered, every order handled correctly, and every problem solved contributes to trust. That trust is what keeps people coming back and recommending us to others." Located in Southwest Florida, MCS Gearup is a partner in readiness and performance. The company curates top-tier brands and equipment built to last, ensuring customers are always equipped with tools they can rely on. From tactical vests and holsters to firearm accessories and everyday carry essentials, every item is carefully selected for quality, performance, and value.High-Performance Gear Without the Price PremiumThe importance of this approach cannot be overstated in an industry where failure isn't an option. Law enforcement professionals, military personnel, security operators, and responsible firearm owners need gear that performs when it matters most. MCS Gearup's commitment to service ensures that, even in high-stress situations, customers can depend on the company to deliver quickly, correctly, and reliably.Moreover, MCS Gearup has successfully leveraged technology without sacrificing the human touch. While many retailers have shifted entirely to automated systems, MCS Gearup combines an efficient online shopping experience with access to real people who understand the products and the customer's needs. Whether troubleshooting a technical question, guiding a first-time buyer through equipment selection, or handling returns, the company emphasizes personal attention that large-scale retailers often overlook."People want to know that someone cares about their purchase and experience," the spokesperson continues. "That's why we offer live support seven days a week. It's not a marketing gimmick but a philosophy that drives everything we do." Another defining feature of MCS Gearup is its focus on accessibility without compromise. Quality tactical gear and firearm accessories can be expensive, but MCS Gearup consistently offers prices that beat MSRP without cutting corners. By combining cost-effectiveness with product reliability, the company has positioned itself as a trusted source for operators at every level. From hobbyists and enthusiasts to professionals, customers know they are getting gear built to perform without paying a premium for brand name alone.MCS Gearup's dedication to the customer experience extends to its wholesale and dealer partnerships, where businesses can access bulk inventory, specialized programs, and personalized support. These partnerships demonstrate the company's understanding that success isn't just transactional; it's relational. By supporting retailers, clubs, and organizations, MCS Gearup strengthens entire communities while extending the value of its products and services.Building Trust Through Reliability, Expertise, and CommunityAs the tactical gear industry grows increasingly competitive, MCS Gearup continues to stand out through a balance of innovation, reliability, and service. Weekly promotions, new product releases, and flexible shipping options keep customers engaged, while warranties, return policies, and live support ensure peace of mind. This multi-faceted approach reflects a deep understanding of customer expectations and the nuances of serving a discerning, performance-focused audience.In a marketplace crowded with options, the question is often: who can be trusted to deliver both quality and service? MCS Gearup answers that question clearly. By combining high-performance gear, unbeatable prices, and round-the-clock customer support, the company proves that even in a digital age, customer service remains a competitive advantage.Whether you're purchasing a single accessory, stocking up for an operation, or outfitting a small business, MCS Gearup provides a seamless experience that emphasizes dependability, speed, and respect for the customer. It's this approach that has earned the company loyal customers, strong reviews, and a reputation for reliability that few competitors can match.MCS Gearup also emphasizes the importance of education and guidance. Many of their live representatives are seasoned professionals who understand tactical gear inside and out. This expertise allows them to guide buyers through complex decisions, recommend compatible accessories, and ensure that every purchase meets the operator's needs. It's a level of service that turns first-time buyers into repeat customers and advocates.In the end, MCS Gearup's philosophy can be summed up in three commitments: products you can rely on, prices This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. Its been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week and what were still thinking about. More from Yahoo Scout Why did Hims & Hers acquire Eucalyptus for $1.15B? What makes the Converse-Crate & Kids collaboration significant? How did New Balance achieve record $9.2B in sales? What drove Amazon's revenue to surpass Walmart's total? From Crate & Barrels collaboration with Converse to Hims & Hers latest acquisition, heres our closeout for the week. What you may have missed New Balance brought in a record $9.2B in 2025 Sportswear brand New Balance reported its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in 2025, the company said this week. The retailer achieved a record $9.2 billion in annual global sales, up 19% year over year. It was also the fifth consecutive year of global market share gains. New Balance CEO Joe Preston said in a press release Thursday that the footwear company saw record-setting results in almost every region, including more than 20% growth in North America and more than 30% growth in Europe. The retailer also opened an Asia Design Studio to unify its lifestyle apparel teams in the region. Our footwear and apparel products continued to deliver across lifestyle and performance, consistently meeting and exceeding consumer expectations, Preston said, adding that both the global apparel business and New Balances owned retail operations surpassed $1 billion for the first time last year. As we look ahead, we will stay focused and true to who we are as we strengthen our brand, maximize our global opportunities and prioritize our unique One NB culture. Gordon Brothers adds Chinese Laundry to its portfolio Chinese Laundry and its sibling brands have been acquired by restructuring firm Gordon Brothers for an undisclosed amount. A company spokesperson declined to provide the purchase price. The footwear portfolio includes Dirty Laundry, CL by Laundry, 42 Gold and the original namesake, Chinese Laundry, which was founded in 1971 in Los Angeles. Gordon Brothers which also owns the intellectual property of Rachel Zoe, Laura Ashley, LK Bennett and Nicole Miller plans to expand Chinese Laundrys reach via marketing and distribution through new licensees. The sale of approximately 1.5 million pairs of shoes is an excellent opportunity for retailers to acquire in-demand products to enhance their store inventory, Greg Frattaroli, Gordon Brothers senior manager of North America commercial and industrial, said in a statement. Retail therapy Converse kicks it with Crate & Kids Converse is launching its first kids furniture collection with the help of Crate & Kids. The limited-edition, 80-piece collab also marks Crate & Kids first fashion partnership. PR-Inside.com: 2026-02-21 17:01:46 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 459 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 21, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Paysafe Limited ("Paysafe" or the "Company") (NYSE:PSFE). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Paysafe and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until April 7, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Paysafe securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On November 13, 2025, Paysafe announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2025, including revenue of $433.8 million, which missed consensus estimates by $5.8 million, and a net loss of $87.7 million, a steep drop from the prior year period wherein the Company's net loss was only $12.98 million. Paysafe also slashed full year 2025 expected revenue to $17 million at the midpoint, and adjusted EPS $0.50 at the midpoint. On the same date, during a related earnings call, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Lowthers, revealed that the Company "had a last-minute client that had to shut down that caused several million-dollar write-down in Q3." Lowthers further revealed the Company is "in kind of a lower-tier market, a lot of kind of travel or things that are more higher risk MCC[Merchant Category Codes] codes." Lowthers explained that "those things sometimes are a little difficult to bank" and "sometimes the banks aren't open to the additional risk" "so, we've had a little bit of challenge with that with some of those MCC codes, and we're working our way through that." On this news, Paysafe's stock price fell $2.80 per share, or 27.6%, to close at $7.36 per share on November 13, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said with 318 confirmed cases and 70 deaths, the case fatality rate (CFR) now stands at 22 per cent, raising urgent questions about early detection, treatment access, and state-level preparedness in the countrys most affected areas. The Director-General of NCDC, Jide Idris, said this on Friday in Abuja, during a press briefing on Lassa fever. Mr Idris noted that only five states account for 91 per cent of confirmed cases, adding that just 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are responsible for 68 per cent. He disclosed that 15 healthcare workers have also been infected in the current outbreak. He said that the centre had activated its Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate the national response and holds weekly National Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) meetings to review the situation and guide interventions at the state level. Mr Idris added that National Rapid Response Teams had been deployed to Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Benue and Jigawa states, with further deployments planned as necessary. He stated that laboratory testing commodities had been distributed across its network, while medical countermeasures, including personal protective equipment (PPE), treatment supplies and dialysis support for complicated cases were supplied to treatment centres nationwide. On healthcare worker infections, the NCDC boss said investigations over the past two years had identified poor Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices, low index of suspicion in high-burden areas and delayed care-seeking due to fear of stigma. He said letters had been sent to Commissioners for Health to strengthen IPC compliance in hospitals, while advisories had also been issued to healthcare workers. He noted that the centre continued to provide public health information on preventive measures, including rodent control and safe food storage practices, and had shared Social Behavioural Change materials with State Health Promotion Officers and Risk Communication stakeholders. He also stated that it monitors rumours and public perceptions to curb misinformation, citing a recent rumour at a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Kwara State which was investigated and publicly clarified in collaboration with the state authorities. Challenges persists However, he identified several challenges affecting the response. These include weak state ownership, gaps in contact tracing, limited funding for awareness campaigns, poor data reporting mechanisms, and inconsistent enforcement of IPC measures in some health facilities, he said. He also raised concerns over reports that some treatment centres were operating below standard, with cases of patients absconding and disruptions to safe burial protocols due to resource constraints. Mr Idris further observed that dialysis machines donated to manage severe Lassa fever cases were not being fully utilised in some facilities, while high service charges in certain centres could pose barriers to care. He stressed that effective outbreak control requires stronger state-level coordination and urged state governments to intensify active case search, scale up risk communication, remove treatment cost barriers, and enforce IPC practices across all health facilities. The DG added that collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Food Security, the National Veterinary Research Institute and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development remained ongoing under a One Health approach. He reiterated that outbreak containment begins at the community level and requires sustained political commitment from state leadership to reduce fatalities and prevent further spread. Lassa Fever The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, first identified in 1969 in the town of Lassa, Borno State. It is endemic in Nigeria and parts of West Africa, with the virus primarily carried by the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis). Humans become infected through contact with rodent excreta or contaminated food, and human-to-human transmission can occur in healthcare settings without proper infection prevention measures. While many infections are mild or asymptomatic, about 20 per cent can develop severe disease, presenting with fever, headache, vomiting, bleeding, and organ dysfunction. READ ALSO: NCDC deploys dialysis machines to states to manage Lassa fever cases The disease often peaks during the dry season (DecemberApril) when rodent-human contact increases. With no licensed vaccine available, control relies on community hygiene, rodent control, early detection, supportive care, and antiviral treatment with Ribavirin for selected patients. Public health efforts in Nigeria focus on enhanced surveillance, risk communication, and strengthened clinical and laboratory response. (NAN) The Ebonyi State Government has rescued five homeless male children who were seen wandering in various parts of the state. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Felicia Nwamkpuma, disclosed this at a briefing in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Saturday. Mrs Nwamkpuma said the rescued children were currently in the care of the state government and that efforts had been intensified to locate their parents. She explained that the children were picked up at various locations by police operatives in the state. The commissioner said the rescued children were subsequently handed over to the ministry for investigation and possible reunification with their families. Mrs Nwamkpuma, who was represented at the briefing by the Head of the Child Development Department, Emmanuel Nkwuda, spoke at the Ebonyi State Juvenile Remand Home in Ugwuachara, Abakaliki. She said the five boys, aged between 3 and 14, had been roaming aimlessly before their rescue. The commissioner said some of the children had been at the Ebonyi State Juvenile Remand Home for at least four years while others had spent between two months and one year. She called on parents and guardians searching for missing children to visit the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in the state with relevant evidence for proper identification and possible reunion. According to her, the remand home is not designed to serve as a long-term shelter for children who are not crime suspects. Ordinarily, they are not expected to remain here beyond one or two months. Prolonged stay could pose security concerns, especially as the facility also houses underage suspects, she said. Mrs Nwamkpuma warned that if no parents or relatives come forward within a reasonable period, the ministry may initiate adoption or fostering processes in line with Section 4 of the Ebonyi State Child Rights Law, which places the best interest of the child as paramount. Their best interest at this stage of life is to grow up in a proper home where they can enjoy parental care, education, dignity, and a sense of identity. Every child has a right to a name and protection. We cannot allow them to grow up without meaningful engagement, she stated. The commissioner advised parents to birth only the number of children they can adequately care for, considering their financial capacity and schedules. She also urged heightened vigilance amid rising cases of child abduction. READ ALSO: Lawmaker dismisses genocide allegations against Ebonyi gov The official gave an instance of a recent incident in the Nkwagu Axis of the state where unidentified women allegedly deceived mothers and made away with three children. Mrs Nwamkpuma cautioned parents to be security-conscious and wary of strangers offering to assist or take their children on errands. The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the ministry to the welfare, protection, and promotion of childrens rights in the state. She appealed to Nigerians to assist in reconnecting the rescued children with their families. This is not the first time homeless children have been rescued in Ebonyi. In February 2024, for instance, 13-year-old boy Goodluck Onwe was rescued after he was seen wandering on the streets of Abakaliki. Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will go to the polls today to elect the leadership of its six area councils. The area councils are Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). About 637 candidates from 17 political parties are jostling for the 68 positions 62 councillors and six area council chairpersons. Five of the area councils have 10 wards each, while AMAC has 12. There are 1,680,315 registered voters in the territory but 1,587,025, who collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), are expected to vote across 2,822 polling units in the six area councils, supported by 4,345 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines. As part of its preparation for todays election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on 7 February, conducted a mock election in 289 selected polling units across the territory. The commission said it was aimed at testing its operational preparedness, especially the performance of the BVAS, ahead of the main election. At the end of the exercise, Mr Amupitan said, So far, I am very satisfied that the BVAS has worked excellently. It took just five seconds or less to accredit a voter. Seventeen of the 19 registered political parties are presenting candidates in todays election. Among the major parties participating are the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Labour Party (LP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In the 2022 election, the APC won the chairmanship of three area councils while the PDP won in the remaining three. Of the six chairmen elected that year, only two Christopher Maikalangu of AMAC and Abubakar Abdullahi of Abaji Area Council are seeking re-election this year. According to Mr Amupitan, over 83 domestic and five foreign observers, as well as several media organisations, have been accredited for the polls. Also, several security agencies have deployed their personnel to ensure a smooth and secure exercise. The police have reportedly deployed 25,000 personnel across the territory, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has mobilised 4,000. The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, in a special broadcast on Thursday, said movement within the FCT would be restricted from 8 p.m. on Friday, 20 February, to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 21 February, the Election Day. He said the exercise would offer residents a crucial opportunity to shape the future of our great Federal Capital Territory. PREMIUM TIMES has deployed its journalists in all parts of the nations capital to observe the elections and will bring you live updates of the process. Also, follow us on our Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts. 07:30 a.m City Centre, GSS, Garki Area 10 Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials has commenced. Dozens of minibuses have started transporting materials to various polling units in the city centres. Some of the INEC Ad Hoc staff were heard saying they are still waiting for vehicles to convey them. Police officers are stationed around the premises of the RAC centre, while some are assigned to the shuttles conveying the materials as they depart the centre. 7:53 a.m. Abuja Municipal Area Council(AMAC) A heavy security presence is noticed across major streets/roads within the City centre of Garki axis. Motorists conveying passengers are being asked to return. Major roads within the area and the Central Business District are deserted. Heavily armed policemen were seen trying to enforce movement restrictions as voting was about to commence. Some of the police men were heard saying that only people going to vote would be allowed passage. 8:02 p.m. Area Council: Bwari Registration Area: Bwari Central Ward Polling Unit: Sagwari Extension by customary court security gate II Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security personnel are on ground at the polling unit. Party agents are yet to arrive. 8:03 a.m. Municipal, City Centre, Area 1, polling unit 1, Area 1 secondary school. The presiding officers were seen setting up the voting booths. Policemen and Civil Defence officials were seen stationed strategically within the premises. 8:08 a.m. Election officials picking up sensitive materials at a RAC centre at the Science Primary School, Kuje-Abuja. Several sets of election officials are seen moving sensitive materials to polling units in tricycles. 8:12 a.m. Central Primary School, beside Block D, PU, Kuje RA, Kuje Area Council: There are three polling units within the school premises. It also serves as an RAC centre. The polling units are setting up the voting area ahead of the voting exercise. 8:20 a.m. Area Council: Bwari Registration Area: Dutse Alhaji Polling Unit: Sagwari Primary School, Makaranta II Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were sighted at the polling unit as preparations continued ahead of accreditation and voting. Voters were also seen around the premises waiting for the commencement of the exercise. 8:20 a.m. Abuja Municipal, City Centre. Several Ad-hoc officials conveying sensitive and non-sensitive materials have missed their way. While voting is expected to commence by 8:30 a.m. across all polling booths, the officials are still struggling to locate their polling spots 8:20a.m. Residents defy the restriction of movement as some went about their day. In the Kuje Area Council of the FCT, our reporter observed several motorcycles, some of them carrying passengers, riding around. Several shops and businesses are also open. 8:34 a.m. Area Council: Bwari Registration Area: Dutse Alhaji Polling Unit: 056, Sagwari/Baupma Village/Sagwari Primary School II Ad hoc staff said they arrived at the polling unit at about 7:00 a.m However, voter turnout remains low as of the time of filing this report. 8:34 a.m. AMAC, City Centre, Area 1 Junior Secondary School. The presiding officers of the six polling booths at this centre are still struggling to set up. Security officials are within the premises. The list of accredited voters is being pasted on the walls. Voting is yet to commence. 8:40 a.m. PU001, Kuje Central Primary School1; RA:01, Kuje Area Council: Kuje Voting commenced around 8:30 a.m. and the first voter cast his vote at 8:38 a.m. At least 10 voters are in the queue. 8:45 a.m. Area Council: Bwari Registration Area: Dutse Alhaji Polling Unit: 056, Sagwari/Baupma Village/Sagwari Primary School II Voters are trickling in, with a few checking their names on the voter register. Turnout remains low. 8:45 a.m. Voters are undergoing the accreditation process with BVAS at PU 013, Sabon Tasha New Development, Abaji Area Council. There is a large voter turnout in this polling unit. Many are in the queue waiting to be accredited. Security personnel are also present to monitor the process. 08:57 a.m. AMAC, City Centre. Park and Gardens PU:005. Voting is about to commence. The presiding officer said they are commencing the exercise a bit late due to logistical challenges. Accredited voters are seated around the polling booth waiting for them to be captured with the BVAS machine. 9:01 a.m: PU01: Grade 1 Area Court, RA: Kuje Area Council: Kuje There are 22 male and female voters in the queue waiting to vote. More people are checking their names on the voters register. Accreditation of voters already commenced. Only one police officer was sighted at this polling unit. 9:04 a.m. Kwali, PU Rugan Fulani 006, RA Ward Central Kwali. The election has begun. Over 100 people are already in the queue, while others are checking the voter list posted on the wall, with one police officer on site. Most of the population is married men and women, with a few youth. 9.05 a.m. PU 013 Sabon Tasha New Development Abaji Area Council Some voters are checking their details on the registration list, while several others are already in the queue. There is a large voter turnout in this polling unit. 9.06 a.m. Polling Unit: UBE II, 031 UBE Primary School Kutunku, Voting commenced at this polling unit, but the turnout is low. Security operatives are on the ground. 9:07 a.m. UBE Primary School, Kutunku II V, Gwagwalada. Voters are checking their valid registration details. Observers and party agents are on the ground. 9:08 a.m. PU 10 AMAC, City Centre, Area 2. The Ad-hoc officials are just pasting the list of accredited voters on the wall. One of the officials said they are starting the exercise late because they got lost several times on their way to the centre. 9:12 a.m. PU 002, Kwali Ward, Pilot Science Primary School Kwali Area Council. There is a high voter turnout with over 100 voters, and about six security agents on the ground. Everywhere is calm, and voting is in progress. 9: 13 a.m. PU 013 Sabon Tasha, New Development, Abaji Area Council. Two people were seen using one space of the voting cubicle while casting their votes. 09:14 a.m PU 011 AMAC, City Centre, Area 2, Garki, Voting has just commenced. Some registered voters have queued up. The Presiding Officer of the polling unit, Mabel, said she is expecting 863 registered voters. However, only four are seen in the queue at this time. She said they have set up the voting booth since 8:30 a.m, but that they have been waiting for voters to arrive. 9:21 a.m Polling Unit 001 Kutunku Primary School, Gwagwalada Area Council Voter turnout is high. Voters are patiently waiting in the queue to cast their votes, while others are checking their valid registration details. Some voters are complaining of not seeing their details on the register. A party agent directed a woman to check her details in another polling unit within the same premises. 09:23 a.m. PU: 067 AMAC, City Centre, Area 2, Garki Voting is yet to commence at this polling unit. The presiding officer, Afuye Olamilekan, said they had arrived since 8:30 a.m. However, he said they are commencing late because they were not provided with a canopy to set up the voting booth. They had to wait for the canopy to arrive. The polling unit has only 13 registered voters. No voter is around at this time. 9:25 a.m. PU: Tukpechi Primary Healthcare RA: Kuje Area Council: Kuje Fifteen people are already in the queue as accreditation and voting begin. There are three security officials: one NSCDC official and two National Correctional Service personnel. 9:28 a.m. PU 002 Pilot Science Nursery and Primary School Kwali Ward Kwali Area Council Some voters at Kwali polling units are finding it difficult to locate their names on the voter lists, despite being willing to vote. INEC technical support staff said the issue arose because, after registration, some heavily populated polling units were divided, with parts of their voters moved to less crowded units. As a result, voters have to check multiple lists to confirm where they are assigned to vote. A PDP party agent said the names were pasted in different locations, so voters should keep checking the various lists to know where they are meant to vote. One voter, Juma Bako, said she was unhappy because she could not do what others around her were doing. Despite these challenges, voting is ongoing at several units, with security present and accreditation going on smoothly in most areas. 9:30 a.m. PU 003 UNG Ayaura Area Abaji Area Council Some voters are checking their details on the register, while several others are already in the queue. 9:32 a.m. PU 066 City Centre, Area 2, Garki AMAC. Voting is about to commence. The Presiding Officer, Nice, and her assistant, Michael, are sensitising registered voters at the unit on the voting procedure. They said they arrived at the location before 8:30 a.m., but voters only began arriving shortly afterwards. The polling unit has a list of 30 registered voters pasted on the wall. 9:39 a.m. PU 010 UNG Ayaura Area Abaji Area Council Voting has commenced here. There is a large voter turnout in this polling unit. Security personnel, including the State Security Service, military personnel and the police, are monitoring the process. Time: 9:45 a.m. PU: 001 Ushafa I & II, Ushafa Primary School Bwari Area Council A former APC chairmanship aspirant in Bwari Area Council, Haruna Audi, who was substituted with Joshua Ishaku as the partys candidate, cast his vote at this polling unit. He said the process was peaceful but lamented the low turnout of voters, attributing it to dissatisfaction over what he described as imposition within the party. Despite his replacement, he stated that he remained loyal to the APC and came out to support the party and its leadership. He expressed satisfaction with the procedure, stating that accreditation and voting were seamless and took only a few minutes, reflecting improvement compared to past exercises. At 9:50 a.m. PU 012 Kwali Primary School 11 Kwali Area Council. Some men, said to be members of the APC, were observed recording names on paper and distributing sachet water to voters in the queue. Time: 9:45 a.m. PU: 001 Ushafa I & II, Ushafa Primary School Bwari Area Council A former APC chairmanship aspirant in Bwari Area Council, Haruna Audi, who was substituted with Joshua Ishaku as the partys candidate, cast his vote at this polling unit. He said the process was peaceful but lamented the low turnout of voters, attributing it to dissatisfaction over what he described as imposition within the party. Despite his replacement, he stated that he remained loyal to the APC and came out to support the party and its leadership. He expressed satisfaction with the procedure, stating that accreditation and voting were seamless and took only a few minutes, reflecting improvement compared to past exercises. 9:45 a.m. PU 011 Ayaura/Gidan in Abaji North-west Ward Area Abaji Area Council There is a large voter turnout in this polling unit. Voting has commenced. 9:54 a.m. PU 012 Ayaura/IV (UNG) in Abaji North-east ward Abaji Area Council. Some voters are checking their details on the registration list while several others are already in the queue. There is also a large voter turnout in this polling unit. 9:57 a.m. City Centre, Area 2, Garki AMAC Officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) were spotted monitoring the voting process. 9:32 a.m PU: Tukpechi Primary Healthcare RA: Kuje Kuje Area Council A voter, Danladi Musa, said he came out to vote for a candidate who would help pay his primary school teachers arrears. Mr Musa, who teaches at an LEA Primary School in Kuje, said he had been owed arrears for more than a year and he intends to vote for a leader who will change that. I want a leader who will help pay my arrears. Someone who would pay what is entitled to us, he said. Thats why I am here to vote. At the same polling unit, a pregnant Atamache Dauda said she came out to vote for a candidate who would provide water and doctors for the health centres. Mrs Dauda said her preferred candidate had promised to provide water, more health workers and secure jobs for indigenous youths and women. I came to vote for who my choice is, and I came to vote so that our community and everything we want will be done, she said. 9:59 a.m PU 009 Gado Nasko Primary School II Phase 1 Gwagwalada Area Council Voting is on; some voters have challenges in locating their registration details. Party agents are helping them locate their names. Voter turnout is high. 10:00 a.m. PU 001 Ushafa I & II, Ushafa Primary School Bwari Area Council More than 100 voters were observed in a queue awaiting accreditation and voting as turnout improved at the polling unit. Meanwhile, a party agent was overheard persuading a voter to cast their ballot for the APC. 10: 18 a.m. PU 018, LEA Primary School, Kilankwa Ward Kwali Area Council Electoral officers are seated with no voting activity as of the time of observation. Officials said only one person had voted so far. PDP and ADC agents are also present, waiting for voters to arrive. A community member said low turnout was due to confusion over the voter register. According to the resident, many people could not find their names on the list and described the way INEC arranged the register as confusing. 10:19 a.m PU 006 National Library Axis Area 2, Garki AMAC. Bankole Aramide, 68, and Justina Nwosu, 60, sit quietly in front of the makeshift canopy waiting patiently to cast their ballots. Both had already been accredited by election officials and said they were determined to participate despite their age. We came out to vote because we want things to be better, said Mrs Nwosu, a widow. Her voice was firm but hopeful. Similarly, Mrs Aramide, a retiree, said she came to vote for the right candidate because she wants things to be well. For the pair, the exercise was more than a routine civic duty they believe their votes still count in shaping leadership at the grassroots level. 10.33 a.m. PU 004 LEA Primary School, Kilankwa Ward Kwali Area Council There is a high voter turnout here. Voters are seen patiently waiting in the queue to cast their ballots, while security officers are present to maintain order. Among those who turned out is 95-year-old Isah has voted. He urged leaders to focus on development in the community. Anybody should do better things in the community, he said. I am voting for the future of my children. Similarly, a 35-year-old market woman, Amina Garuba, said she voted to exercise her civic right and to support development in Kwali. 10:14 a.m PU: 035 Enugu/Naukka Street. Garki AMAC Voting has since commenced. The presiding officers said there are 96 registered voters at this polling unit but that only 20 have voted so far. The officials noted that the BVAS machine fingerprint spot has been malfunctioning but that they are using facial recognition to identify the voters in such an instance. 10:44 a.m. PU 009 Chibiri Overhead Tank RA02: Chibiri Kuje Area Council Accreditation and voting are ongoing. Party agents present at this location include the APC, PDP and APM. Security personnel present include an NASCDC officer, a police officer, and a National Correctional Service officer. 10:48 a.m. PU 025 Sheda Sarki II, Ungwan Ganagana Kilankwa Ward LEA Primary School Kwali Area Council Electoral officers were idle at the time of observation, with no visible voting activity. Officials said the process was proceeding smoothly but that voter turnout was low. They added that only six people had voted so far. 10:50 a.m PU: 039 Phase III JSS IV Staff Quarters Gwagwalada Area Council Low voter turnout. The few voters on the ground are scrambling to locate their names. A woman said the voting process was seamless but shes trying to help her husband locate his name. Few security operatives are on ground. 10:50 a.m. PU: 004 Garki Village AMAC There is a large turnout of voters at this polling unit. Presiding officers said the unit has 2,287 registered voters, and 167 people had voted as of 10:50 a.m. Many voters were still in the queue waiting to be accredited. The BVAS machine was malfunctioning. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the polling unit is located in the family compound of Christopher Maikalangu, the incumbent AMAC chairman and APC candidate seeking re-election. 10:55 a.m. PU 004 UNG Hussaini Wanzami I Abaji North-east Ward Abaji Area Council There is a large voter turnout in this polling unit. Some of the voters are in the queue waiting to be accredited. Many have voted already, while several others are still hanging around because the polling unit is already filled up. Security personnel, including the police, NDLEA, NSCDC and Immigration service are also present to monitor the process. 10:55 a.m. Chibiri Overhead Tank Polling Unit Chibiri Ward Kuje Area Council A Fulani man, Jibril Abubakar, says his priority from the elected persons is a place of their own. He said several candidates have promised them boreholes and the construction of a school. The challenge we are facing is a place to call home and where to graze our cattle. Thats about the place to call home, he said. 11:00 a.m. PU 025 Sheda Sarki II, Ungwan Ganagana Kilankwa Ward LEA Primary School Kwali Area Council Electoral officers were idle at the time of observation, with no visible voting activity. Officials said the process was proceeding smoothly but that voter turnout was low. They added that only six people had voted so far. A PDP agent suggested that the low turnout might be due to the election being a council poll. 11:04 a.m. PU 020 LEA Primary School Kilankwa Ward Kwali Area Council Electoral officers said most voters were unsure of their polling units and were still arriving. Only 13 people had been accredited as of the time of observation. Some residents reported difficulty locating their polling units. Evelyn Peter, a teacher, said she is discouraged and might leave, adding that she had voted in the ward during the last presidential election and found it frustrating that her name could not be located. 11:05 a.m. PU 027 Sheda Sarki II Village Square Kilankwa Ward Kwali Area Council About five people had been accredited so far. One officer noted that many voter cards were new and there appeared to have been a reshuffling of polling units. Some voters are unsure where to vote. 11:23 a.m. LEA Primary School kilankwa ward Kwali Area Council Voters are seen in groups discussing the election. Many, especially women, said they will not vote until they receive money, claiming that even if they voted without payment, the government would not deliver any benefits. No specific amounts were mentioned. A PDP agent was lamenting to someone to stop sharing money. He alleged that some people collected cash from multiple parties but still will not vote. 11:20 a.m. PU 004 UNG Hussaini Wanzami I Abaji North-east Ward Abaji Area Council Haruna Saidu, a voter, complained that the community lacked portable water and electricity. Mr Saidu, a truck driver, urged whoever emerged as the chairman of the Abaji Area Council to prioritise the provision of portable water supply and electricity. We dont have water in our streets and we dont have electricity. We have been complaining about that for a long time, but there have been no changes. The government should look into it and help us, he said. 11:30 a:m. PU: Dagiri II Dagiri Primary School Gwagwalada Centre Gwagwalada Area Council The voter turnout is high. From his observations, a resident at Dagiri, Anthony Meraze, said, The primary expectation is for the voting process to be free and fair, and from my observation, using this place as a yardstick, so far it has been peaceful and it is going to be fair. However, from our observations, we saw some party agents checking a list of names and giving women money. 11:47 a.m. PU 313 Junction by model Usuma Bwari Area Council Voter turnout at the polling unit remained low. Some voters attributed the reduced participation to the relocation of the polling station. INEC officials, however, clarified that the polling unit had been relocated during the previous election and that the move was not recent. 11:40 a.m. PU015 UNG, Hussaini Wanzami II Abaji North-east Ward The incumbent chairman of Abaji Area Council, Abubakar Abdullahi, arrived at his polling unit in a convoy of six luxury vehicles, including One Range Rover Sport, Toyota Prado, Lexus Super Sport, Hilux and GAC. Meanwhile, the cars plate numbers were covered. 12:11 p.m. PU: 036 FHA Kubwa Model Primary School Premises III Usuma Bwari Area Council The polling unit has a registered voter population of 564, but turnout remained very low as of the time of reporting. 12. 24 p.m. PU 001 Isah M.Gani/Ola Ona Palace I Abaji North-east Ward Abaji Area Council There is a large voter turnout in this polling unit. Some of the voters are in the queue waiting to be accredited. Many have voted already, while several others are still hanging around because the polling unit is already filled up. Security personnel, including the police, NDLEA, NSCDC and Immigration service are also present to monitor the process. 12:25 p.m PU: 053 Ungwan Dodo Primary School Gwagwalada Centre Gwagwalada Area Council Voter turnout is high. Although some voters are complaining of the difficulty in locating their names in the register. Some party agents are helping some of the voters. 12:30 p.m. PU 001 Old Onas Place Ward Abaji South-East Ward Abaji Area Council Voting is still ongoing in this polling unit. There is a large voter turnout in this polling unit. Several voters are in the queue waiting to be accredited. Security personnel, including the police, and NSCDC, are also present to monitor the process. 12:41 p.m. PU 001 PAI Primary School Pai Ward Kwali Area Council This polling unit is overcrowded, with nursing mothers, elderly men, and women queuing to vote. Nursing mothers are seen standing under the sun, appearing tired as the process remains slow. One of them, Ramatu Saidu, said she had been at the unit since around 7 a.m. with her crying baby but has not yet found space to vote. Another woman, Ibrahim Rakiya, a mother of five, said she had also been at the unit since around 7 a.m. and has not voted. She said she is not feeling well and wanted to leave. An INEC official said the unit is overwhelmed, with about 849 registered voters. Technical issues are affecting the process, with the BVAS struggling to read some fingerprints. 12:42 p.m PU 006 Pai Primary School Pai Ward Kwali Area Council An officer said the fingerprint scanners are mostly not working, and some facial captures are also failing. He added that some voters might be unable to vote due to technical issues, while others had to attempt multiple times. Many people appeared frustrated. More than 200 voters, including nursing mothers, are seen waiting under the sun. Security personnel, including military officers and community policing, were present to maintain order. Daniel Nanpan, a community policing officer, said they were sent from the Gwagwalada Area Council and had been on the ground since morning. At least seven military officers, seven community policing officers, and additional police personnel were deployed to protect voters and oversee the units in the area. 12:43 p.m PU:001 Gwako Town/Primary School Gwako Gwagwalada Area Council Party agents are seen sharing money to some voters a little distance from this polling booth. Their parties have not been identified. 1:04 p.m. PU: 009 Lugbe Primary School AMAC The Presiding Officer, Zakiya Adamu, said 8,652 voters are registered at the polling unit. Owing to the large number of expected voters, the unit was provided with seven BVAS machines. She added that the devices have functioned without glitches. Election officials said voting commenced at about 10 a.m., later than the scheduled 8:30 a.m. start time. Despite the high number of registered voters, turnout has been significantly low. At the polling unit, there is a mild rowdiness and a heavy security presence, including police officers. Officials of the EFCC are also seen around the area, reportedly monitoring and attempting to apprehend vote buyers. 1:10 p.m PU: 018 Central Tungun Maje Gwagwalada Voter turnout has dwindled here as officials prepare to round off the exercise. 1:38pm PU 001 Dafa Primary School Dafa Ward Kwali Area Council Voting was ongoing, with voters waiting in line to cast their votes. Electoral officers said the BVAS was occasionally experiencing issues but the process was continuing. Abdul Rahim Rukaiyat said the voting process was not difficult. She urged leaders to listen to the concerns of the people. Only a few youths were observed at the unit, with the majority of voters being women. Musa Bala Abbas, 25, a graduate, said he voted in the hope that the government would bring development. We need a senior secondary school. Graduates are not being employed, he said. 1:56 p.m. PU 011 Fuka Village Dafa Ward Kwali Area Council Voting did not take place after residents protested over some discrepancies in the voter register. According to the presiding officer, Sadiq Yusuf, among those sent there, the polling unit had 160 registered voters. He said, When the community members came to check the duplicate of the voters register on the list, when they found that there names were not there but only newly registered, they got angry and some angry youths tore the duplicate of voters register posted on the wall and said that they will not vote since majority of them could not see their names. Mr Yusuf added that the villagers said they were supposed to be more than 300 and insisted voting would not hold, instead of a few voting. The INEC officials said they were threatened to be careful, prompting discussions with party agents and some community members to leave the unit. When PREMIUM TIMES interviewed Mr Yusuf around 1:56 p.m, he confirmed that voting did not take place at the unit, as the officers left around 11 a.m. when the situation became tense for security reasons. 2:12pm. PU028: School for the deaf RA02: Chibiri Area Council: Kuje Election officials sitting idle as there are no voters to accredit. The Presiding Officer, Abubakar Sulaiman, said the voting went well and that there were no issues with the BVAS. Mr Sulaiman said the polling unit will be closed once it is 2:30pm. The PDP and APC agents present also said there were no hitches. 2:25 p.m. PU018: Ungwan Boys RA01: Kuje Area Council: Kuje Voting concluded. Security personnel calling on party agents to stay close as vote counting begins in five minutes. The Presiding Officer, Princess Awoje, said the BVAS couldnt accredit three voters. After multiple failed trials, the voters left, Ms Awoje said. It was showing failedwe kept doing it but it didnt work, she said. 2:25 p.m. Enugu/Nsukka Street Garki Council Area: Garki PU: 035 Voting has ended. The electoral officers are about to commence sorting and counting of votes. 2:25 p.m. Voters pelted the vehicle of the FCT chairperson of the APC at Pilot Science Primary School, Gwagwalada. The school serves as both polling units and a collation centre. 2:31 p.m. AMAC, Garki Village 2 PU: 004 Voting has ended at the polling unit, with sorting and counting of ballots set to commence. The Presiding Officer, Ogbechie Chukwufunnaya, alongside her assistants, said 252 voters were accredited and cast their ballots out of 2,287 registered voters. This translates to approximately 11 per cent voter turnout at the unit. The polling unit is where the incumbent AMAC chairman and APC candidate, Christopher Maikalangu, seeking re-election, cast his vote. 2:31 p.m. AMAC, Garki Village 2 PU: 004 Voting has ended at the polling unit, with sorting and counting of ballots set to commence. The Presiding Officer, Ogbechie Chukwufunnaya, alongside her assistants, said 252 voters were accredited and cast their ballots out of 2,287 registered voters. This translates to approximately 11 per cent voter turnout at the unit. The polling unit is where the incumbent AMAC chairman and APC candidate, Christopher Maikalangu, seeking re-election, cast his vote. 2:47p.m. PU01: Kuje Central Primary School 1 RA01: Kuje Area Council: Kuje Counting of votes begins with party agents after voting ended. 2:48 p.m. PU: 005 Bwari/Ushafa Bwari Bwari Area Council Voting concluded in the polling unit and counting is about to commence. PU 003 Piri Primary School Gumbo Gumbo Ward Kwali Area Council Voting has ended at PU 003 in Piri Primary School, Gumbo Gumbo Ward, Kwali Area Council. Sorting of ballot papers is in progress, while electoral officers are briefing voters on the ballot papers used and those not touched. Over 50 people, mostly youths and men, were present, eager to know the outcome. 02:51 p.m. PU 004 UNG Hussaini Wanzami I Abaji North-east Ward Abaji Area Council Voting is still ongoing in this polling unit. There are several voters on the queue waiting to be accredited for voting. 02:55 p.m. PU015 UNG, Hussaini Wanzami II Abaji North-east Ward Abaji Area Council Some voters in this polling unit are still checking their details on the register while several others are also on the queue waiting to be accredited. 2:56 p.m PU:004 Pilot Science Primary School Gwagwalada Area Council Counting of votes are ongoing. Party agents are following keenly. 3:34 p.m. PU 001 Isah M.Gani/Ola Ona Palace I Abaji North-east Ward Abaji Area Council Voting is ongoing in this polling unit. There are several voters on the queue waiting to be accredited for voting. 04:00 p.m. AMAC, Garki Village, PU:004 Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, FCT state minister, Mariya Bunkure, and AMAC incumbent chair and APC chairmanship candidate, Christopher Maikalangu, alongside their entourages, made a stop at Mr Maikalangus polling unit where ballot sorting and counting are ongoing. 4:15 p.m. UNG Hussaini Wanzami I Abaji North-east Ward Abaji Area Council Voting is still ongoing at this polling unit. There are several voters on the queue waiting to be accredited for voting. 4:30 p.m. PU 001 Yangoji Primary School Yangoji Ward Kwali Area Council Voting was still in progress as of the time of observation. Many people remained in the queue waiting to vote. 6:00 p.m Pilot Science Primary School Collation centre Gwagwalada Area Council Security operatives fire teargas, despite a peaceful environment at the centre. Party agents and observers disperse for a while. Armed bandits, on Friday night, attacked Eleyewo community in Ilu-Abo, Akure North LGA of Ondo State, abducting a couple and shooting one person. The incident occurred two days after a traditional ruler, the Alagamo of Agamo, Kehinde Falodun, was gruesomely murdered by bandits. Agamo is also in the same Akure North LGA as Eleyewo. This is the second time in one month that the Eleyewo community, which has former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, as its traditional ruler, would be attacked by bandits. Eyewitnesses say during Fridays incident, the armed persons abducted Jamiu Olawale and his wife, said to be residents of Olaribigba Estate, in Ilu-Abo. They said the assailants fired several gunshots into the air, thereby causing widespread panic as residents fled for safety. The attackers subsequently whisked the couple away to an unknown destination. During the attack, a neighbour, Patrick Ilumaro, who was seated in front of his residence, sustained a gunshot wound. He was immediately rushed to a hospital in Akure, where he is currently receiving treatment. The police, while confirming the development, said the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, had deployed tactical teams and conventional operatives to comb the surrounding bushes and adjoining areas with a view to rescuing the victims unhurt and apprehending the perpetrators He assured residents that concerted efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe return of the abducted couple and bring those responsible to justice. The police urged members of the public to remain calm and go about their lawful activities while also calling for credible and actionable information that could aid ongoing investigations. The continued attacks on Ondo communities in recent weeks have heightened fears among residents, who have called for increased patrols and surveillance in the communities. The police had earlier reported the arrest of four persons over the abduction of a woman in the Ilu-Abo community in January. The woman, a school proprietress, was kidnapped by the armed men. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has commended the standardisation of cassava processing centres established under the International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) in Enugu State. The SON inspected cassava processing centres located at Ako Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area and Umueze Umaga Ezimo-Agu in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Speaking during the inspection on Thursday, the State Coordinator, SON, Peter Ameh, said the facilities were largely compliant with required standards but still had areas needing improvement. Mr Ameh, represented by the Assistant Chief Standards Officer, Rita Frank-Makwe, said, From my findings, they are compliant but not 100 per cent, as there are still areas of improvement, such as labelling. On good hygienic and manufacturing practices, they are doing it well. We really appreciate the efforts of IFAD-VCDP in these projects, he said. The state coordinator added that the organisation had yet to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the products at the SON laboratory to ascertain compliance with other relevant standards. He called on farmers and agro-processors to work closely with SON to ensure their products met the required standards. Our call to other farmers is that they should come to SON. We are not masquerades. We are here to assist and ensure that the public consumes standard, wholesome products free from adulteration. We are not here to take anybody to prison or fight anyone. Rather, we are here to ensure that our country is safe from substandard products, Mr Ameh said. He further explained that SON provided capacity-building training to farmers to help them align their products and production processes with global standards. To be SON-certified, you must have a proper production facility that complies with standards. You must adhere to good manufacturing, hygienic, safety practices, proper documentation, quality assurance and quality control and comply with relevant standards, he stated. Also speaking, the State Project Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP, Enugu, Edward Isiwu, explained that the inspection visit was part of IFADs commitment to ensuring that local farmers meet both national and international standards. Mr Isiwu, who was represented by the Business and Market Development Officer, IFAD-VCDP, Enugu, Arinze Omeje, noted that IFAD was committed to ensuring that the objectives of IFAD-VCDP were achieved in Enugu State. Commending Governor Peter Mbah for his administrations support for the programme in the state, the state coordinator said that IFAD-VCDP had partnered with SON for over 3 years to organise training sessions for farmers. He added that the processing centres were largely funded by IFAD-VCDP, with beneficiaries contributing about 10 per cent, mainly through land provision. We build from scratch to finish, provide water and solar facilities, and ensure they spend less while making more profit. IFAD-VCDP has built many processing centres across Enugu State. We will ensure that all of them are certified by SON and, if possible, by other certifying agencies, Mr Isiwu added. A farmer, Chijioke Ogbonna, while thanking IFAD-VCDP and SON for the visit, pledged to improve in those areas identified by SON for standardisation and certification. (NAN) Stakeholders of the Chikun and Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna State have decried the alleged sidelining of the constituency in the ongoing congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The concerned parties raised their worries in a press statement issued on Friday in Kaduna. They said no representative from the constituency was included in the Kaduna State Organising Committee for the congresses. The statement, jointly signed by Samaila Leeman and Cafra Caino, said the omission raised questions about equity, inclusivity and fair representation within the party structure. According to them, the federal constituency has a significant population and voting strength, and has consistently supported the APC in previous elections. They stated that, despite the constituencys contributions to the partys electoral successes, it was not represented in the Kaduna State Executive Council, adding that the current situation could negatively affect the partys fortunes if not addressed. They alleged that critical political figures in Chikun Local Government Area, including former members of the House of Representatives and House of Assembly, former Commissioners, heads of agencies and former local government chairpersons, were excluded from both the local government and ward congress committees. They described the situation as an aberration of established party norms and democratic practice, arguing that the highest-ranking political office holder in a local government area should ordinarily oversee congress activities. The group warned that the alleged exclusion could alienate grassroots supporters and weaken party cohesion in the area. They, however, reaffirmed their commitment to the APC and called on the partys national and state leadership to urgently review the situation and ensure adequate representation of Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in all party structures. Inclusivity is the bedrock of any progressive political movement, the statement added. (NAN) The ongoing area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, witnessed low voter turnout in some parts of the Bwari and Kuje areas, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The NAN correspondents, who monitored the election, report that few voters were at the LEA Primary School, Kubwa and Kayada Primary School as of 8:30 a.m. There was, however, an early arrival of materials in the area councils, as INEC officials arrived at Pilot Primary School, Bwari Central, around 7.30 a.m. At LEA Primary School, Kubwa, INEC officials and security personnel were seen manning the centre by 7.50 a.m., with the same situation at the Kayada Primary School polling centre in Kuje. NAN reports that electoral officials, upon arrival, quickly pasted voters lists after positioning their tables, thus enabling prospective voters to search for their names before forming queues. Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Correctional Service, the Army and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) deployed for the exercise were visibly present at all the centres visited. Electoral observers and party agents, especially those of APC, ADC and Labour Party, were also sighted at the polling units. NAN, however, observed minimal vehicular movement and skeletal commercial activities in the two council areas. An electoral officer, who pleaded anonymity, said they were ready for the election and that their machines were functioning optimally. (NAN) The FCT Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in FCT, Olusola Odumosu, has warned operatives not to harass any voter during the territorys area council election. Mr Odumosu gave the charge on Saturday while speaking with deployed personnel at the NSCDC FCT Command headquarters. He charged personnel to be professional in the discharge of their duty, emphasising that accidental discharge remained highly prohibited in the corps. On no account should any personnel be seen assisting a voter, as that is not allowed; hence, you are to remain non-partisan. Our job is to ensure the protection of electorates, sensitive and non-sensitive materials and the voters who are out to discharge their rights. The idea is to ensure the election is fair and credible, as your job is to provide security, he said. The commandant charged operatives to arrest anyone caught causing mayhem to the electoral process and to avoid compromise of any kind. Mr Odumosu reiterated that 4,000 officers and men have been deployed to polling units across the territory to ensure adequate protection. He further tasked personnel to work in synergy with sister agencies, stating that the common goal was to ensure a hitch-free area council election in the FCT. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commandant, alongside tactical operatives are currently conducting security surveillance across the FCT. (NAN) The Electoral Hub has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to position the ongoing FCT area council election as a critical reference point for strengthening grassroots electoral governance nationwide. Its Director, Hamman-Obels, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday. Ms Hamman-Obels urged all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, civil society organisations, security agencies and voters to commit to a credible, transparent and peaceful process. She described the FCT area council election as uniquely significant, noting that it is the only local government election in the country conducted by INEC, unlike in the 36 states where State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) oversee council polls. According to the group, this distinctive status places the FCT election under heightened domestic and international scrutiny and positions it as a critical reference point for strengthening grassroots electoral governance nationwide. This election receives significant attention and scrutiny from both domestic and international observers, who view it as an indicator of INECs commitment to electoral integrity at the grassroots level and as a model for subnational elections throughout the country. Notably, the 2026 FCT Area Council Election marks a historic first with the deployment of INECs Electronic Collation System (E-Collation), which uses the electronic EC88A form to collate and transmit election results. This is the first time this system is being deployed for the election conduct, representing a significant step forward in leveraging technology to strengthen the integrity and transparency of the results management process. The director highlighted that the 2026 election marked the first deployment of INECs Electronic Collation System (E-Collation) for Area Council polls, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening transparency in results management. According to her, the new system used the electronic EC88A form to collate and transmit results. Ms Hamman-Obels said that INEC indicated that uploads would only be permitted when both electronic and manual tallies correspond. She said that the newly introduced software would also detect discrepancies between scanned results and entered figures, blocking uploads where accredited voter numbers do not match. She said the Electoral Hub welcomed the innovation, urging INEC to ensure robust technical backup, transparency, and open scrutiny by party agents, observers and citizens throughout the process. She said as an accredited observer group, The Electoral Hub deploys 53 observers across the FCTs six area councils to monitor pre-election, election-day and post-election activities. The director said that the observation would assess compliance with the legal framework, registration area centre preparations, security presence, participation of youth, women and persons with disabilities. She added that it would also assess the performance of ad hoc staff, incidents of vote trading or violence, and the collation and declaration of results. Ms Hamman-Obels explained that the groups observation was anchored on an electoral accountability framework that recognised elections as complex processes influenced by social, political and economic variables. She emphasised that while the electoral management body played a central role, responsibility for credible elections also rested with the legislature, executive, judiciary, political parties, candidates and security agencies. According to her, The Electoral Hub expects that INEC will ensure transparency, accountability and strict adherence to guidelines, with prompt investigation and sanctioning of any misconduct. She said that law enforcement agencies should maintain neutrality and provide adequate protection to voters across all six area councils. She urged winners to promote unity and inclusive governance, prioritising economic growth, healthcare, education and infrastructure. She called on stakeholders to conduct the election without malpractice, ensuring access for vulnerable groups such as nursing mothers, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Ms Hamman-Obels urged that the outcome should reflect the genuine choice of the electorate, in line with constitutional and international human rights provisions. (NAN) Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) stock skipped 2% higher through 1:20 p.m. ET Thursday after Reuters reported that Germany's air force is looking to order as many as three dozen new F-35 stealth fighter jets from the U.S. defense contractor. Image source: Getty Images. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks Germany sours on Europe(an fighter jets) Reuters broke this news last night, reporting that Germany is souring on the idea of building a "Future Combat Air System" sixth-generation fighter jet in cooperation with France and Spain. The FCAS program is said to have encountered difficulties getting off the ground and, in any case, even if all goes well, the FCAS jet probably wouldn't be ready to enter service before 2040 -- or even 2045. That's far too late to be of use if Germany enters into a military conflict with Russia in the next few years (which is the worry). In contrast, Germany has already ordered 35 F-35 fighters from Lockheed, with the first planes due to arrive this year. Now Germany may purchase another 35 -- or more -- F-35s as it mulls pulling out of FCAS. Is Lockheed Martin stock a buy? With roughly 20 countries worldwide flying it, the F-35 has become the world's most popular fifth-generation stealth fighter. Lockheed Martin is the sole producer of the F-35, and has built more than 1,300 of the stealth fighters to date. What's more, with Lockheed hitting a new record of 191 F-35s produced in 2025, the number of F-35s flying worldwide is growing by nearly 15% per year! Lockheed's success hasn't gone unnoticed, however. Priced at 30 times earnings, and more than two times annual sales (my preferred valuation for defense stocks remains 1.0x sales), Lockheed stock may be too expensive for my taste. But Lockheed Martin, the company, is doing just fine. Should you buy stock in Lockheed Martin right now? Before you buy stock in Lockheed Martin, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Lockheed Martin wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $420,595!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,152,356!* An International Election observer group has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the efficient performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections. The Executive Director, Your Votes Is Your Voice Africa, Babatunde Adebayo, made the commendation on Saturday while speaking with journalists at Polling Unit 004, Garki Village in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). Mr Adedayo, who led a team of observers to various parts of the council, said the technical improvements recorded in the current exercise surpassed previous electoral outings. I have observed polling unit 036 and presently I am at polling unit 004. The BVAS machines are working perfectly well so far. I want to commend the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for the good job he has done compared to previous elections. He has done an excellent job before exiting the office, he said. He urged the present INEC Chairperson, Josh Amupitan, to sustain what he met and improve on it. The executive director also noted that the atmosphere remained peaceful across the units visited, saying that no incident of electoral malpractices, especially vote buying, was recorded so far. He described the overall process as peaceful, noting that voters were turning out steadily to exercise their franchise without intimidation. So far, people are coming out to exercise their franchise and the voting process looks promising. I have not witnessed any case of vote buying; voting is ongoing peacefully, he added. However, the observer raised concerns over the continued operation of some businesses during voting hours, which contributed to the low turnout of voters. He urged the authorities and electoral stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns to ensure that shop owners and entrepreneurs close their businesses to participate in the civic process in future elections. My only concern is about shop owners doing business during the election. There should be a way to create more awareness and encourage them not to keep their shops open during voting hours, this will encourage high turnout of voters, he said. (NAN) The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State, Gabriel Yomere, has described the ongoing bye-election in the state as peaceful and orderly. Mr Yomere made the remarks while speaking to reporters during an assessment tour of voting activities in wards 8, and 3 in Khana constituency ll, in Rivers. The state House of Assembly Constituencies by-election is for Ahoada East and Khana in Rivers. He stated that the exercise had progressed without incidents of violence, describing the development as commendable and reassuring. Commenting on voter apathy observed in some areas, Mr Yomere said that INEC should not be blamed, stressing that the commission fulfilled its responsibility by carrying out adequate publicity and necessary preparations ahead of the election. Mr Yomere expressed concern over the voter apathy, but commended efforts made by INEC, civil society organisations in the sensitisation of voters before the election. We took it upon ourselves to go from local council to local council, pleading with traditional rulers, politicians, and CSOs to encourage voters, he said. Mr Yomere advised the electoral officers at the polling units to ensure that the voting process be conclude by 2:30 p.m., in line with the commissions guidelines. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the INEC REC monitored the election in the company of the INEC National Commissioner, Rhoda Habor Gumus and other INEC officials. Some of the party agents from APC, AA who spoke to NAN described the election process as smooth and transparent. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Friday inaugurated a 3,000 square metre Premium Exhibition and Convention Hall built by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exhibition hall was built within the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex to transform the complex. Inaugurating the hall, Mr Mbah, represented by the State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Samuel Ogbu-Nwobodo, described the chamber as a foremost institution that had remained at the forefront of economic development in the state and Nigeria at large. According to him, the project aligns with the administrations vision of growing Enugus economy to $30 billion. When Governor Mbah laid out this broad vision during the campaign, it was actually at the Chamber Council Hall. Many wondered how the economy could grow sevenfold within eight years. But with clear vision, clarity of action and belief in the people, we are getting there cumulatively, he said. He congratulated ECCIMAs leadership, past leaders and donors, assuring them of the state governments continued support. This is one organisation others should emulate. There is a smooth leadership transition, and that stability is commendable. The state government will continue to support you, he added. We can help ourselves A former ECCIMA President, Ugochukwu Chime, said the chamber was compelled to embark on self-help after repeated efforts to secure federal support for the Enugu trade fair complex failed. According to him, trade fair centres in Lagos and Kaduna were funded by the federal government, but the Enugu centre was abandoned because the federal government did not respond to their appeals. He noted that the chamber had earlier completed its permanent secretariat building through members contributions, reducing an initial seven-year projection to three years before inaugurating it in 2020. We decided to take our destiny into our hands. If others cannot help us, we can help ourselves, Mr Chime said. He commended the current leadership for what he described as prudent use of funds and urged successive councils to continue with the plan to construct additional halls within the complex. Earlier in a welcome address, ECCIMA President, Odeiga Jideonwo, described the inauguration as a historic milestone for the organised private sector, particularly in the South-east. It is with great delight and a deep sense of purpose that I welcome you all to the commissioning of our 3,000sqm Premium Exhibition and Convention Hall, he said. Mr Jideonwo recalled that the vision for a befitting trade fair complex dated back to 1999, when the federal government declined to complete the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex, unlike similar facilities in Lagos and Kaduna. The president explained that he took office in February 2024 with a decision to change the narrative about the infrastructural deficit in this complex. He recalled that the foundation for the hall was laid on 4 April 2024, during the 35th Enugu International Trade Fair, and that the project cost about N500 million. This project was 100 per cent funded through internally generated revenue of the chamber, mainly freewill donations from members and friends of the Chamber, he said. Thanking Mr Mbah for his support, he appealed to him for more support in installing air conditioners and landscaping the premises ahead of the 37th Enugu International Trade Fair scheduled for 21 March to 30 March 2026. Due to paucity of funds, we have not been able to install the needed air conditioners or landscape the surroundings. In his remarks, the Chairperson, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, Emmanuel Nnamani, congratulated the chamber and donors, noting that the new tax regime encouraged such contributions. The tax system we have implemented allows this kind of donation. Sections 163 and 164 of the new tax law clearly state that donations to approved funds are deductible as business expenses, he said. Mr Nnamani described the new tax law as pro-citizen and pro-business, adding that small businesses with an annual turnover below N100 million were exempt from certain taxes. There is no fear in the new tax law. It is designed to support businesses. We will sit down with stakeholders and guide them on how to structure their donations properly and obtain receipts so they can claim deductions, he said. The Bank of Industry (BoI) on Friday handed over a 30-room hostel block it built to the College of Medical Science and Technology of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus. Olasupo Olusi, the managing director of BoI, in a message at the handover ceremony, described the university as one that could compete with any university in the world. Mr Olusi, represented by the BoI Executive Director, Large Enterprise, Omar Shekarau, noted that the inauguration was destined by God to fall into the fasting period. He noted that this was the first time the two major religions in the world commenced fasting at the same day and at the same time. According to him, the commencement of Ramadan fast and Ash Wednesday together signifies unity of purpose for the two religions. Therefore, we believed that God has a hand in it and for us, coming here reminds us of very few key things that are never forgotten in this world. One, this is the home of Zik of Africa, this is the home of Chinua Achebe of the world. It is the home of late Senator Chuba Okadigbo. This is the home of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and now the current Governor of the state, Prof Chukwuma Soludo. This is also the home of Innoson who has proved himself by showcasing Nigeria to the world. As Bank of Industry, it has always been one thing; impact. We are always looking at what we can do to create impact and we go to those communities and universities, he said. He noted that the inauguration of the 30-room hostel block was a great day for the institution and positioned the campus to compete favourably with any university in the world in terms of infrastructure development. ALSO READ: Tinubu appoints new board for Bank Of Industry Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Ugochukwu Anyaehie, appreciated the bank for completing the hostel, adding that the university remained grateful for collaborating with BoI. On his part, the representative of the Akamili community, Caleb Okeke-Eyobi, thanked the bank for their partnership. The community is very grateful for all the university and its partners have done, Mr Okeke-Eyobi said. He urged other partners to assist the community in tackling the gully erosion ravaging the community. (NAN) Magistrates in Cross River State on Friday said their negotiations with the state government for official vehicles are inconclusive, insisting on the continuation of their 11-day-old strike. The Chairman of the state chapter of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Godwin Onah, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar that discussions were still ongoing but the government maintained its earlier position, despite fresh proposals by the union. Mr Onah said that the dispute with the government centred principally on the provision of official vehicles for the over 74 magistrates in the state. According to him, the government proposed to provide 15 vehicles in the budget cycle ending in March but the magistrates considered the number grossly inadequate. We initially requested 37 vehicles at once, representing half of our member, with the remainder to be delivered on or before June. After the government refused to adjust its offer, the union reviewed its position and proposed a three-tranche arrangement. Under the new proposal, 25 vehicles would be delivered in March, 25 in June and the remaining 24 in September, Mr Onah said. He said that government had yet to respond to the associations revised proposal. He said that they would suspend the strike and resume duties, if the government agreed to the 25-25-24 arrangement. Mr Onah said that although other issues, such as accommodation and security were pending, the provision of vehicles remained the associations immediate priority. He said that vehicles would ease transportation challenges and improve judicial service delivery across the state. He further said that the association was mindful of the states financial constraints and ongoing commitments, including efforts to recover oil wells. Mr Onah said that the group had exercised patience since 2012, when the issue of official vehicles was first raised. Renewed assurances were given in 2024 but had yet to yield concrete action, he said. He, therefore, appealed to the Cross River State Government to approve the instalment plan and resolve the lingering dispute in the interest of justice delivery. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the FCT Area Councils election as peaceful and commended electorates for their conduct. Mr Wike gave the commendation in Abuja on Saturday, after monitoring the election in Garki, Karu Chiefs Palace, Karshi, Kabusa and Ketti. He observed the problem of voter apathy, particularly at the city centre, noting, however, that voters turnout in satellite towns was quite impressive. He said: We thank God that everywhere is peaceful. The problem we have is low voter turnout, particularly in the city centre and that has always been the case. Going to some of the satellite towns like this polling unit in Ketti, you can see that the turnout is quite impressive. The low turnout of voters is very unfortunate. What is important, however, is that the election is peaceful no violence, snatching of ballot papers or the ballot boxes, he said. The minister commended security agencies for ensuring a hitch-free exercise, saying, They have done their job very well. We used to have pockets of violence here and there, but in this case, we have not heard any case of reported violence in the polling units, he said. On the conduct of the election, Mr Wike commended the Independent Electoral Commission for a job well done so far. Responding to the comment by Ireti Kingibe, the FCT senator, on a national television, condemning the restriction of movement from Friday evening to Saturday evening, the minister described the comments as very unfortunate. Mrs Kingibe had on Friday condemned Mr Wike for what she described as unlawful imposition of curfew from 8 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. on the election day. The minister clarified that he had not imposed a curfew but restricted movement with the approval of President Bola Tinubu, to ensure a hitch-free election. I never imposed curfew. If you read my statement, I said, with the approval of Mr President, movements would be restricted from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. today and this is not the first time. You can see that some people did not take time to read the statement and I dont want to join issues with her. At the end of the election, when the results come out, then we will know, he said. Mr Wike urged residents to remain peaceful during the collation of results, just the way they were peaceful during voting. (NAN) Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dispelled a prediction by an Ekiti-based prophet suggesting that there were plots to impeach the Deputy Governor, Olayide Adelami. The prophet, Olumuyiwa Akogun, the general overseer of God Central Ministry in Ekiti State, had, in a viral video currently circulating on social media, raised concerns about a possible political crisis in Ondo State involving Mr Aiyedatiwa and his deputy. In the video, the cleric claimed he saw a vision of a political upheaval in the Ondo State Government. He said he saw what appeared to be a breaking news announcement that the deputy governor was impeached. According to him, in the vision he saw the governor and his deputy standing behind one another, holding a flag, when a sudden storm arose and separated them. I saw breaking news. I saw the picture of the deputy governor, and I saw that he was impeached. The Lord told me that a step will be taken, and that step will cause chaos between the governor and the deputy. It shall be a serious problem, the cleric declared. But Mr Aiyedatiwa said the prophets visions should not be taken seriously. Speaking during the commissioning of the newly constructed Ayegunle-Iwaro Oka road on Friday, as part of activities lined up for the first anniversary in office, the governor dismissed the prophet, adding that his deputy has not committed any offence. He further said the video was a mere distraction, described Mr Adelami as a loyal deputy, and said there was no plan to remove him. He is a loyal deputy, the governor said. Mr Aiyedatiwa then commissioned the Isuada-Iselu road in the Owo Local Government Area. Although there have been tensions over the ongoing ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress, which have led to the death of two persons, there are no visible signs of any strained relations between the two leaders. However, the issue of who will succeed the governor has gained ground in the state over the last few weeks. President Bola Tinubu has called on voters, security agencies, and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct themselves in an orderly manner during Saturdays polls in the Federal Capital Territory, Kano and Rivers States. INEC will conduct elections in the six area councils of the FCT and bye-elections in the Ahoada East II and Khana II State constituencies of Rivers State, and in the Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State. President Tinubu urged all eligible voters to come out and vote without fear, emphasising that the democratic process thrives best in an atmosphere of calm, tolerance, and mutual respect. He appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to shun violence, inflammatory statements, and actions that undermine the credibility of the process. He cautioned against any form of high-handedness, intimidation, or actions that could disenfranchise voters or erode public trust, stressing that security personnel are present to protect lives, property, and the sanctity of the ballot. President Tinubu appealed to the commission to take all necessary measures to bolster voters confidence by ensuring timely accreditation, smooth voting processes, accurate collation, and prompt transmission of results, in line with the 2026 Electoral Act. Fellow Nigerians, I assure you that the federal government under my administration will continue to support institutions responsible for delivering free, fair, and credible elections. To all residents of the FCT, Kano and Rivers, I commend your civic consciousness. I am confident that these elections will reflect the will of the people and further strengthen our democratic journey as a nation, the president added. India is hosting one of the most consequential artificial intelligence gatherings the world has seen this week. The event taking place in New Delhi could redefine how AI is built, governed, and shared across the developing world. The India AI Impact Summit, which opened on Monday, 16 February, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, has drawn more than 500 AI leaders, 100 founders and chief executives, 150 academics and researchers, and nearly 400 chief technology officers, vice presidents, and philanthropists from over 100 countries. It is the first time the global summit has been held in a developing nation a deliberate signal that the Global South intends to move from the margins to the centre of the AI conversation. The gathering has also drawn more than 20 heads of state and government, over 60 ministers and vice ministers, and representatives from multilateral organisations spanning more than 100 countries. Regulate AI urgently OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman used the summit to renew his call for global oversight of artificial intelligence, warning that concentration of the technology in a single company or country posed an existential danger. Centralisation of this technology in one company or country could lead to ruin, Mr Altman said on Thursday. This is not to suggest that we wont need any regulation or safeguards. We obviously do, urgently, like we have for other powerful technologies. Mr Altman, whose company developed ChatGPT, has previously pushed for global oversight but warned last year that overly tight regulation could put the United States at a disadvantage in the global AI race. He also spoke about Indias potential. Indias AI opportunity is amazing. This is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world maybe the fastest at this point. It is certainly the fastest for OpenAI Codex. More than 100 million people use ChatGPT every week, he said in a keynote address. On the question of revenue, Mr Altman said OpenAI was exploring advertising within ChatGPT as one of several options to chart a path to profitability for investors who have poured roughly $70 billion into the company. The company is also said to be finalising a $100 billion fundraising round. I think we still have some work to do to figure out the exact ad format thats going to work best, he said, adding that Instagram-style ads where users discover products they might not otherwise have found represented an attractive model. OpenAI plans to test advertising in the United States first before expanding to other markets. Despite mounting investor scrutiny over profitability timelines, Mr Altman said the company remained focused on growth. We are growing at an extremely fast rate right now, he said. As long as we can have reasonable unit economics, we should focus on continuing to grow faster and faster, and well get profitable when we think it makes sense. In his address, Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei outlined both the transformative promise and the serious risks of AI, which he described as following an exponential trajectory over the past decade comparable to a Moores Law for intelligence. He said AI models were now only a few years away from surpassing the cognitive capabilities of most humans across a wide range of tasks. There are only a small number of years left for AI models to surpass the cognitive capabilities of most humans for most things, Were increasingly close to what Ive called a country of geniuses in a data centre a set of AI agents more capable than most humans at most things, coordinating at superhuman speed, he said. Mr Amodei said that the unprecedented level of capability would demand careful safeguards. He identified autonomous AI behaviour, potential misuse by individuals and governments, and large-scale economic displacement as among the most pressing risks. Safety, predictability, and human control are essential, he said. The signature of AI is its ability to grow the global economic pie. For India, the upside is huge, but we must prepare for changes affecting jobs and economic structures. On the benefits, Mr Amodei was equally emphatic. He said AI held the potential to cure diseases that had defied treatment for thousands of years, radically improve human health, and lift billions out of poverty particularly in the Global South. AI has big risks and big benefits, but here, the upside may be even greater than elsewhere, he said. He added that AI tools could support medical research, improve diagnostics, and raise productivity across sectors. For countries like India, with large populations and growing digital adoption, AI systems could widen access to services in healthcare, agriculture, and education, he said. Speaker after speaker pointed to what AI could deliver, particularly for countries that have historically been left behind by technological revolutions. Modi, Ambani, Pichai, and Nilekani weigh in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier called for AI to serve humanity broadly, not just wealthy nations or corporations. We must democratise AI. It must become a medium for inclusion and empowerment, Mr Modi said. We are entering an era where humans and intelligence systems co-create, co-work and co-evolve. We must resolve that AI is used for the global common good. Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Indias Reliance Group, pushed back against fears that AI would eliminate jobs. We will prove that AI does not take away jobs. Rather, it will create new high-skilled work opportunities, he said, predicting that AI would usher in an era of super abundance. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said artificial intelligence was the technology with the greatest potential he had encountered in his career. No tech has me dreaming bigger than AI. We are on the cusp of hyper progress discoveries that can help emerging economies leapfrog, he said, adding that AI could solve some of the hardest problems in science. READ ALSO: Religious bodies warn of AI being used to undermine religion Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani offered a more cautionary note, warning that the global race in AI could take two possible directions. India can lead AI diffusion. Now in AI, there is a race to the top and a race to the bottom and the race to the bottom is faster, he said. Despite the optimism on display, researchers and campaigners attending the summit said stronger action was needed to address emerging harms, from job disruption and online abuse to the heavy electricity demands of AI data centres. The annual series began at Bletchley Park in Britain in 2023, then moved to Seoul and later to Paris. The India AI Impact Summit is the fourth annual gathering of its kind and the largest to date. At the India AI Impact Summit this week, hundreds of billions of dollars in artificial intelligence investments were announced, landmark business deals sealed, and sharp disagreements over global AI governance were laid bare. The summit featured more than 300 exhibitors and 500 sessions, drawing over 200,000 participants. The chief executives of Google, OpenAI, Microsoft and Indias biggest technology companies were present, alongside United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Indias Prime Ministers declaration Addressing the Leaders Plenary on Thursday, Indias Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, struck an ambitious tone, declaring that humanity has always turned disruptions into opportunities and that AI represents precisely such a moment. We must give AI an open sky, and keep the command in our hands, Mr Modi said, calling for a roadmap that ensures AI delivers the right impact through the right decisions, at the right time, with the right policies. Mr Modi also announced that India is adding computing capacity for its innovators, providing world-class GPU infrastructure to startups at affordable rates, and has created an AI Fund through which more than 7,500 datasets and 270 AI models have been shared as national resources. Indias Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said $200 billion in AI investment was expected to flow into India, much of it from abroad. Recent data from Stanford University ranked India third globally in AI competitiveness, behind only the United States and China. Major deals announced The summit delivered many significant commercial announcements. American AI company Anthropics chief executive, Dario Amodei, announced a partnership with Indian tech giant Infosys to integrate services including regulatory compliance reporting and precision engineering. Infosys shares jumped five per cent on Tuesday following the announcement. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced a similar deal with Tata Consulting Services to develop AI infrastructure in India and train more employees on AI tools. OpenAI also announced it would open its first Indian office this year, adding that Indian users now share 33 per cent more data with ChatGPT than Americans do. Private equity firm Blackstone invested $600 million in Neysa, an Indian cloud services provider. The Adani Group pledged $100 billion to build clean-energy-powered data centres by 2035, while Reliance and Tata also announced significant investments in new data infrastructure. Anthropics flagship AI model, Claude, already counts India as its second-largest market, accounting for nearly six per cent of worldwide usage. Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have separately committed a combined $68 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure investments in India through 2030. The Delhi Declaration Minister Vaishnaw said at least 70 countries were expected to sign what has been dubbed the Delhi Declaration on AI a pledge that AIs promise is best realised only when its benefits are shared by humanity, according to a European Union press release. The final draft was to be released on Saturday, along with a full list of signatories. Separately, a set of voluntary frontier AI commitments announced by the Indian government outlined two key pillars: advancing understanding of real-world AI usage through anonymised and aggregated data to support policymaking on jobs, skills and economic transformation; and strengthening multilingual and contextual AI evaluations to ensure AI systems work effectively across languages, cultures and real-world use cases particularly in under-represented languages across the Global South. UN Secretary-General Guterres called for a $3 billion global fund to support AI capacity-building in developing countries, covering skills development, data access and affordable computing infrastructure. US rejects global AI governance In one of the summits sharpest declarations, the White House made clear that Washington would resist any attempt to regulate AI at the international level. We totally reject global governance of AI, said White House official Michael Kratsios on Friday. The statement underlined a growing tension at these summits between countries seeking binding international safeguards and those led by the United States favouring voluntary, market-driven approaches. Critics noted that the official frontier AI commitments released at the summit made no mention of previous summits efforts to coordinate government action on AI risks. Anthropics Amodei sought to address anxiety by outlining AIs potential for breakthroughs in healthcare and poverty reduction. On the positive side, we have the potential to cure diseases that have been incurable for thousands of years, to radically improve human health, and to lift billions out of poverty, including in the Global South, he said. Nigerian experts speak, showcase AI tools Nigeria made a strong impression at the summit, with experts contributing to high-level panel discussions and research presentations throughout the event. Among the Nigerian participants who took the stage were Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Olayinka David-West, Kola Ijasan, Olubayo (Bayo) Adekanmbi, and Tajuddeen Gwadabe collectively underscoring Nigerias growing influence in AI policy, research, and innovation on the global stage. The Nigeria AI Collective pavilion drew considerable interest from international visitors, many of whom arrived with an eye toward building strategic partnerships and expanding their work into new markets. Student attendees were equally enthusiastic, actively exploring internship opportunities with Nigerian tech and AI companies. The Nigeria AI Collective also maintained a presence at the exhibition grounds, where Nigerian innovators showcased locally built AI tools reflecting efforts to design systems tailored to local contexts. Nubia AI, one of the showcased platforms, focuses on transforming complex datasets into structured stories and visual insights to improve public understanding and accountability. DUBAWA AI, another tool presented, converts audio recordings into text while accounting for local languages and tonal variationsaddressing persistent gaps in global speech recognition systems operating in African linguistic environments. The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, was represented by the National Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), Olubunmi Ajala. Mr Ajala participated in the Nigeria AI Collective Global Meetup in New Delhi and visited the Nigeria AI Collective pavilion at the AI Impact Expo reaffirming Nigerias institutional commitment to advancing AI development and fostering meaningful international collaboration. When Nvidia (NVDA) expresses interest in any company, investors should pay attention. According to a recent 13F-filing, Nvidia has invested a hefty amount of around $7.9 billion in Intel (INTC), now holding 214,776,632 shares of INTC stock. The timing is not random. Intel has been in the spotlight as it rebuilds its foundation for the artificial intelligence (AI) age. This investment signals Nvidia's confidence in Intel's comeback story. More News from Barchart INTC stock is up 21% so far this year, outperforming the S&P 500 Index ($SPX). Should you grab INTC stock now? www.barchart.com A Company in the Middle of a Turnaround Valued at $227 billion, Intel designs and manufactures semiconductor chips that power PCs, data centers, and AI systems. During the fourth-quarter earnings call, management emphasized that Intels biggest issue is constrained supply and not weak demand. Intel saw strong demand across client computing, data centers, AI infrastructure, custom silicon, and networking. The company reported $52.9 billion in total revenue in 2025, flat year-over-year (YOY). However, the firm also reported a profit of $0.42 per share, compared to a loss of $0.13 in 2024. For Nvidia, which relies on CPUs as host processors in AI systems, deeper integration with Intel strengthens its ecosystem positioning. This is especially relevant now that Intel is building a custom Xeon that is fully integrated with Nvidia's NVLink technology. Another strategic asset Intel brings to the table is the ability to deploy devices based on Intel 18A, the most sophisticated semiconductor process created and manufactured in the United States. Nvidia relies heavily on external foundry capacity. Thus, having a strategic ownership in a U.S.-based advanced manufacturing partner provides Nvidia with supplier diversity, risk mitigation, and greater manufacturing control, giving it a competitive advantage. Furthermore, Intel is not seeking short-term aggressive growth. Instead, the company is focusing on stabilizing yields, improving wafer starts across current nodes, keeping a tight capital allocation, and delaying spending on 14A nodes until customers commit. These strategic moves are likely why Nvidia chose Intel, as it reveals it could prove to be a stable and reliable long-term partner in advanced manufacturing and AI infrastructure. The Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhta Maiha, has said that 65 per cent of the livestock consumed in Nigeria annually are imported, despite the potential for red meat exports valued at N3.2 billion. Mr Maiha made the disclosure when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Livestock Development to defend the ministrys 2026 budget estimates. The minister, in his presentation on the performance of the 2025 budget and the 2026 proposal, said out of N70 billion approved as take-off fund for the ministry in 2024, only N20 billion was released. He said that the N10 billion appropriated for the ministry as capital vote for 2025 was not released. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the committee frowned at what they described as lip service to the development of the livestock industry in Nigeria, given its creation in 2024. The lawmakers, who expressed disbelief about the state of the ministry, urged the leadership of the committee to communicate with President Bola Tinubu on the need for urgent intervention. This, according to them, will be in line with the primary aim of the governments diversification via livestock development, as obtainable in Brazil, Argentina and Belgium, among other countries. A senator, Tahir Monguno, said poor funding experienced by the ministry was at variance with the intent for its establishment. Establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 was driven by the gospel of diversification of the nations economy. It is, therefore, to my surprise and disgust that we are paying lip service to the livestock sector now. We need to let the executive know that it is inherently contradictory to create the ministry and woefully fail to fund it, he said. Another senator, Abdul Ningi, alleged sabotage in the poor funding of the ministry, which they said might not be known to President Bola Tinubu. He, therefore, appealed to the minister and other management staff of the ministry to make the challenges of the ministry known to the lawmakers and other appropriate authorities. This is a ministry that must be supported and well-funded by the federal government. I am suspecting sabotage on the zero capital allocation because Mr President meant well for the livestock development. The leadership of this committee should, as a matter of urgent national importance, write or meet Mr President for urgent intervention, he said. Chairman of the committee, Buba Shehu, a senator, stressed that a mono-sector economy does not help any country. Mr Shehu said that the committee would do everything possible to ensure adequate funding for the ministry to attain the desired economic diversification. (NAN) The Chairperson of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, Abubakar Danladi, has imposed a night-time curfew across the council following the 3 February attack on Woro and Nuku communities that left scores dead. In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Danladi said movement within Kaiama would be restricted daily between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.. In response to emerging security challenges within the community, I have announced the imposition of a curfew with immediate effect, he said. He explained that the decision followed consultations with security agencies and community stakeholders after what he called a comprehensive review of the situation. The decision was reached after a comprehensive security review with security agencies and community stakeholders. This is a proactive measure designed to protect the lives and property of all residents, the chairperson added. A total curfew will be observed daily from 9:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. During these hours, all movement, vehicular and pedestrian, is strictly prohibited throughout the Local Government Area. Mr Danladi urged residents to remain calm, stressing that the restriction was temporary and aimed at enabling security forces to operate effectively. This temporary measure is not intended to disrupt daily life but to provide security operatives with the necessary environment to effectively tackle the prevailing security threats, he said. The curfew comes amid heightened tension in Kaiama following coordinated attacks on Woro and Nuku communities earlier this month. Humanitarian officials and local authorities reported that more than 100 people were killed in the assault, with hundreds displaced. Mass burials were conducted in the days that followed as recovery efforts continued. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the federal government subsequently launched Operation Savannah Shield, a joint military campaign involving the Army, Navy and Air Force, to stabilise Kwara North and adjoining areas of Niger State. Troops have since been deployed to forest corridors around Kaiama, which security officials say have served as transit routes for armed groups. READ ALSO: Oluyede launches Operation Savannah Shield to tackle insecurity in Kwara The local curfew underscores continuing concerns about the security situation in the area, despite the ongoing military operation and intensified patrols by security agencies. Residents say many communities remain on edge, particularly after a video circulated online last weekend showing women and children reportedly abducted during the attack in a forest location. Authorities have not publicly provided full details about the individuals seen in the footage, but security operations in the Kaiama axis remain active as efforts continue to prevent further attacks. The former country director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, has called on residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to turn out in large numbers for the ongoing area council elections, warning that refusing to vote amounts to surrendering ones civic responsibility. Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Saturday, Ms Obi said citizens must recognise the power of participation in shaping local governance. She noted that declining to cast a ballot is, in itself, a decision that shapes the outcome of the election. If you say you are not going to participate in politics, you have already opted out because in your gap nobody can take your place in terms of citizens responsibilities, she said. The election The FCT area council elections are being conducted across the six councils, Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). In all, 637 candidates from 17 political parties are contesting 68 positions, made up of 62 councillors seats and six chairmanship offices. While five of the area councils have 10 wards each, AMAC, the largest council in the territory, has 12 wards. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the FCT has 1,680,315 registered voters. Of this figure, 1,587,025 residents who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are eligible to vote in 2,822 polling units spread across the territory. To facilitate accreditation and voting, INEC deployed 4,345 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the exercise. PREMIUM TIMES correspondents have been deployed across the six area councils to monitor accreditation, voting procedures, logistics, and to provide updates as the process unfolds. Early deployment, minor hitches Providing updates from the field, Ms Obi said observers under the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room were stationed across the area councils to track compliance, logistics and voter turnout. She said she had visited four polling units in AMAC earlier in the day and received reports from other councils, including Kuje, Abaji, Kwali and Gwagwalada. According to her, election materials arrived early in many polling units, with some officials setting up as early as 6:50 a.m. She noted that presiding officers appeared professional and insisted on proper identification of observers. However, she cited a situation at a polling unit located within a post office compound where gates were locked, forcing officials to relocate voting activities outside the premises. Despite such challenges, she said there were no reports of major disturbances as of the time she spoke. Voter apathy Ms Obi cautioned that it was too early to determine the level of voter turnout but warned against voter apathy. If you choose not to vote, you have already voted, she said, stressing that abstaining from the electoral process amounts to relinquishing civic responsibility. She added that transparent systems that allow citizens to see and trust the process are essential to boosting participation. Christopher Maikalangu, the Chairperson of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, describing the process as seamless. Mr Maikalangu, who is also seeking re-election, spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote at his polling unit 004 in Garki Village on Saturday. The APC chairmanship candidate noted that the accreditation and voting process were efficient, adding that he was able to cast his ballot in less than three minutes. I am impressed with the turnout today; you can see it yourself that my people are out here to vote. I am satisfied with the process. In less than three minutes, I cast my vote. I think everything is okay, he said. Addressing the difference in voter participation between urban and rural areas, Mr Maikalangu observed that local government elections typically record higher engagement in remote communities. Local government election is meant for local people, and that is why when you come to remote areas, you will see the turnout is different from that of the city. From Garki down to Nyanya, you can see it for yourself; my people are out to vote. The process is just smooth, he added. While praising the overall conduct of the exercise, the AMAC boss also called for improved logistics to ensure better outings in future elections, particularly during the 2027 general elections. According to him, reports have it that some areas have experienced delays in the arrival of electoral materials. I will advise that there is a need to improve on logistics, because some areas are yet to get their materials. But in terms of the voting process, everything is smooth, Mr Maikalangu said. On his confidence regarding the outcome of the polls, the chairman expressed 100 per cent optimism of winning the poll, describing the area as his stronghold. He further promised to prioritise youth empowerment and the delivery of democratic dividends if re-elected for a second term. My people know me; I have been giving them what they want. By the grace of God, if I am re-elected, I will give them more dividends of democracy, he said. (NAN) A member of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, Ene Obi, has called on residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to turn out in large numbers for the ongoing area council elections, warning that refusing to vote amounts to surrendering ones civic responsibility. Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Saturday, Ms Obi said citizens must recognise the power of participation in shaping local governance. She noted that declining to cast a ballot is, in itself, a decision that shapes the outcome of the election. If you say you are not going to participate in politics, you have already opted out because in your gap nobody can take your place in terms of citizens responsibilities, she said. The election The FCT Area Council election is being conducted across the six councils, Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). In all, 637 candidates from 17 political parties are contesting 68 positions, made up of 62 councilor seats and six chairmanship offices. While five of the area councils have 10 wards each, AMAC, the largest council in the territory, has 12 wards. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the FCT has 1,680,315 registered voters. Of this figure, 1,587,025 residents who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are eligible to vote in 2,822 polling units spread across the territory. To facilitate accreditation and voting, INEC deployed 4,345 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the exercise. PREMIUM TIMES correspondents have been deployed across the six area councils to monitor accreditation, voting procedures, logistics, and to provide updates as the process unfolds. Early deployment, minor hitches Providing updates from the field, Ms Obi said observers under the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room were stationed across the area councils to track compliance, logistics and voter turnout. She said she had visited four polling units in AMAC earlier in the day and received reports from other councils, including Kuje, Abaji, Kwali and Gwagwalada. According to her, election materials arrived early in many polling units, with some officials setting up as early as 6:50 a.m. She noted that presiding officers appeared professional and insisted on proper identification of observers. However, she cited a situation at a polling unit located within a post office compound where gates were locked, forcing officials to relocate voting activities outside the premises. Despite such challenges, she said there were no reports of major disturbances as of the time she spoke. Voter apathy Ms Obi, a former Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, cautioned that it was too early to determine the level of voter turnout but warned against voter apathy. As the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) electorate filed out to vote for their representatives at the six area councils in the FCT, most residents, especially in the city centre, remained indifferent to the exercise, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. NAN recalls that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had on Friday declared a work-free day and announced a 22-hour restriction of movement ahead of the elections. In a special broadcast on Thursday, Mr Wike said movement within the FCT would be restricted from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday. NAN, however, observed unrestricted movement of vehicles, transporters and commuters within the FCT, especially within Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) through Airport Road to Gwagwalada. Some of the residents, who spoke with NAN, claimed they were not aware of the election in the FCTs six area councils, which include: Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. The situation was, however, different in the Kwali and Abaji Area Councils, where there was relative compliance with the ministers directive, as stores remained locked and voters were seen at different polling units. At the Pilot Science Nursery and Primary School in Kwali Area Council, with a cluster of polling units, INEC officials were on the ground as early as 7.00 a.m. with election materials. Peace Esan, one of the officials who spoke with NAN, said they slept at the polling centre under the watch of security personnel to avoid arriving late, adding that voters accreditation started at 8.30 a.m. Some voters were also seen on queue waiting to cast their votes for their preferred candidates after confirming their names on the displayed voters register. NAN reports that the elections are being conducted in a total of 2,822 polling units across 62 wards in the six area councils of the FCT. (NAN) More than 50 people were killed in the attacks carried out by bandits between Thursday and Friday night in Anka and Bukuyum local government areas of Zamfara State, a state lawmakers has stated. The attacks have been widely reported by multiple media organisations, although details of the casualty figures continue to vary. The violence, which reportedly targeted several villages, including Mudutse, has heightened fears among residents as insecurity persists in parts of the North-west state. Hamisu Faru, who represents Bukuyum South in the state House of Assembly, told German media outlet, DW, that the assailants moved through forest routes before storming the communities. Between Anka and Bukuyum, the terrorists crossed the main bridge from the Gando forest. They crossed the Baraye Zaki river and entered Mudutse village. They surrounded the town and began setting houses ablaze, shooting anyone who tried to escape, Mr Faru said. Initially, we counted 41 bodies. As I speak, reports received after the late afternoon prayer show the death toll has risen to over 50. In our region, this is a catastrophe beyond words. Residents also reported that dozens of women and children were abducted during the attacks, although the exact number could not be independently verified. Allegations of delayed response Mr Faru also alleged in the DW report that security agencies were alerted while the attack was ongoing but failed to check the attackers. We contacted the authorities responsible for air support, and a jet was deployed. We provided them with real-time information. They said they could see the attackers and were tracking them, he said. We kept giving updates until about 3:30 a.m., but the jet did not neutralise anyone. The bandits carried out their operations and left. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the claim about the air response as of press time. Residents describe hardship A resident of the affected area told DW that the attacks have left communities in distress, with many fleeing and food supplies destroyed. People are fleeing. There is no food left everything was burned. They abducted more than 30 or 40 women and took them into the forest, the resident said. Government reacts According to DW, the Zamfara State Government condemned the attacks and expressed condolences to affected families. The government also said a delegation had been dispatched to the affected communities while efforts were being intensified to prevent further incidents. Residents and local officials have, however, continued to raise concerns about the effectiveness and timeliness of security responses in the area an issue PREMIUM TIMES is monitoring. Voting in several polling units across the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) commenced behind schedule on Saturday, with low voter turnout and logistical challenges recorded in parts of the council. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, voting was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m., with provisions for voters already in the queue within the stipulated time to cast their ballots. However, PREMIUM TIMES observed that voting started late in many polling units across the City Centre, Areas 1 and 2, as well as Wuse and Garki. Logistics delays, low turnout At Polling Unit 067 in Area 2, City Centre, voting had yet to commence as of 9:23 a.m. The Presiding Officer, Afuye Olamilekan, said officials arrived at 8:30 a.m. but could not begin accreditation and voting because a canopy for the voting booth had not been provided. We had to wait for the canopy to arrive before setting up, he said. The polling unit has 13 registered voters, and no voter was present at the time of filing this report. Similarly, at Polling Unit 035 on Enugu/Nsukka Street in Garki, voting began at about 10:14 a.m. Out of 96 registered voters, only 20 had voted as of the time of observation. Officials also reported that the fingerprint component of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) malfunctioned intermittently, forcing them to rely on facial recognition for accreditation. At Wuse Zone 4, Block 53, Suez Close where the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Paul Ogidi, cast his vote turnout was also low. The Presiding Officer, Nonye Obianyor, said fewer than 30 voters had been accredited out of 454 registered voters. People did not come out. I think it is because of the movement restrictions, she said. Officials in other polling units across AMAC also reported similar BVAS glitches, particularly with fingerprint verification. Aged voters express confidence Despite the slow start and low turnout, some elderly voters expressed optimism about the electoral process. At Polling Unit 006 along the Area 2 National Library axis, Bankole Aramide, 68, and Justina Nwosu, 60, waited quietly under a makeshift canopy after being accredited. We came out to vote because we want things to be better, Mrs Nwosu said. Mrs Aramide, a retiree, said she was determined to vote for what she described as the right candidate, expressing hope that the exercise would strengthen grassroots leadership. For the pair, participation in the council election was more than a civic obligation: it was a reaffirmation of their belief that their votes still matter. The Chairperson of the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, John Gabaya, on Saturday, said the ongoing election in the area would be hitch-free and successful in spite of the low turnout of voters. He said this while speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote at his village, at Tokulo Primary School polling unit 002 in Bwari Area Council. Mr Gabaya, who said the exercise started on time, expressed optimism that voters would come out to cast their ballots in due time. He also encouraged residents of the area to remain peaceful, while assuring that all due process shall be followed to ensure their votes count. Also speaking, the Secretary of the council, Eli Kadanya, said that he was happy with the peaceful process so far, adding that it was obvious that the elections would end well. Mr Kadanya, after casting his vote, commended the officials for a smooth process, while also appreciating voters for their peaceful conduct so far. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that low turnout of voters marred the area council election in the Bwari area as accreditation and voting commenced at 9: a.m. in most polling units. Some INEC officials were seen sitting and hopefully waiting for voters at many centres. One of the early voters, Murna Bulus, a 70-year-old woman, said she came out before 7:00 a.m. because she used to get things done early enough. I am a retired Air Force officer, so I am used to waking up early, and once I want to go somewhere, I want to get there on time and do what I need to do timely manner and return. Mrs Bulus also said that she came out to vote because it was her right and patriotic duty as a citizen of the country. NAN also reports that while some residents were casting their votes, others remained indifferent while going about their normal businesses. (NAN) Mubarak Ahmad-Gumi, son of controversial Kaduna Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has officially declared his intention to contest for a seat in the Kaduna State House of Assembly in 2027. Mr Gumi junior said he is running under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent the Doka/Gabasawa constituency. He said his decision to run followed appeals from the constituents of the Doka/Gabasawa district. Currently serving as a legislative aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Mr Ahmad-Gumi told PREMIUM TIMES that his professional background has prepared him for the rigours of lawmaking. My legislative experience has given me firsthand insight into how laws are shaped, how policies affect ordinary citizens, and how important effective representation truly is, he stated. Speaking on a shift from social media activism to active political participation, Mr Ahmad-Gumi argued that the youth bulge in Nigeria should be leveraged through data-driven decision-making and technological innovation. Young Nigerians today are technologically skilled, data-driven, innovative, and globally connected. We understand entrepreneurship, digital systems, and modern problem-solving approaches. If we desire change, we must move from discussion and commentary on social media to participation, he stated. He further stressed that his candidacy is rooted in accountability. My aspiration to represent Doka/Gabasawa is rooted in service. It is about being accessible, accountable, and practical. It is about listening carefully to the concerns of constituents and ensuring that their voices are clearly represented in legislative processes. Generational crossroads Mr Ahmad-Gumi described the current political landscape as a generational crossroads, where the wisdom of the elders must merge with the energy of the youth. He described this transition: If a bucket that is half full is placed under a running tap, over time it overflows as the fresh water naturally replaces the old water. It is not a battle; it is a process. That is how I see youth participation in politics; not as a forceful takeover, but as steady, consistent engagement until leadership reflects both experience and new ideas. Mr Ahmad-Gumi holds a Bachelors degree in Management Information Systems with a minor in Public Administration from the University of Sharjah, UAE. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Data Analysis and Statistics at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. He stated that Nigerias future depends on a collective effort that transcends faith and ethnicity: Politics should not be left only to a few. It is a shared responsibility. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, said the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election is peaceful and well organised, with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioning effectively across polling units. Mr Amupitan spoken to members of the INEC press corps after his visits to some polling units around the Federal Capital Territory, DailyPost reported, The news platform reported that while Mr Amupitan he described the process as calm and efficient while was responding to questions on his observations. You can see for yourself that the election is orderly. The election is also very efficient. The election is peaceful. And those are the instances of a good election, he said. He added that voter turnout appeared encouraging, noting that many residents had turned out to cast their ballots. There is a large turnout, so that means a lot of people are becoming aware of the need to come and cast their votes. So far, I can say that the election is well organized. The election is peaceful, he said. He further added that the presence of about 30 security personnel at polling units has also contributed to the calm atmosphere, adding that by the close of the poll, they will have a very successful election. BVAS accreditation Mr Amupitan expressed satisfaction with the performance of the BVAS machines, which are used for voter accreditation. So far as the efficiency of the BVAS is concerned, I am very satisfied, because the BVAS has worked, they have worked effectively and efficiently, he said. And from what I have taken from the presiding officers, it takes about less than five seconds to even accredit a voter. He said the technology would continue to play a key role in strengthening electoral integrity, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections. Well, I have talked about the BVAS. The BVAS works very well. It will guarantee the integrity of the whole system. So if you are not accredited, you cant vote. When you are accredited, you can cast your votes, he added. Incident in Abaji contained On reports from other parts of the territory, the INEC chair said feedback from polling units had been largely positive. He, however, confirmed a security incident in Abaji Area Council but said it had been quickly addressed. The only area we had a problem was in Abaji, and immediately we deployed security, and the ugly incident was tamed, and so voting has resumed, he said. FCT election The FCT area council elections are being conducted across the six councils: Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). In all, 637 candidates from 17 political parties are contesting 68 positions, made up of 62 councillors seats and six chairmanship offices. While five of the area councils have 10 wards each, AMAC, the largest council in the territory, has 12 wards. According to the INEC, the FCT has 1,680,315 registered voters. Of this figure, 1,587,025 residents who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are eligible to vote in 2,822 polling units spread across the territory. To facilitate accreditation and voting, INEC deployed 4,345 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the exercise. Voters at a polling unit in Gwagwalada in Abuja chased away the chairperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), AbdulMalik Usman, during Saturdays council area elections in the capital city. The incident took place at Pilot Science Primary School, Gwagwalada, which serves as a polling and collation centre. According to bystanders, this was the second time Mr Usman had been sent away from the centre. Voters were seen pouring sand on him, while police hurriedly escorted him into his vehicle. As he was driven off, some voters pelted his vehicle with stones. Many individuals took cover to avoid getting hit by the angry mob. An eyewitness, Danladi Naroka, explained that people suspected that Mr Usman came there to manipulate the voting process, which was why he was chased out. Shortly after he left, normalcy was restored and voting counting commenced. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting the elections in 2,822 polling units across 62 wards in the six area councils: Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. Across the six councils, only two incumbents are seeking re-election (in AMAC and Abaji, both APC). The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has expressed confidence in the conduct of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing the exercise as orderly and calm across the territory. The FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, gave the assurance after monitoring several polling units across the territory. Mr Odumosu said security agencies were satisfied with the conduct of voters and personnel on election duty, according to ThePunch We have gone round and we have seen for ourselves and for me and for the security community, I can tell you that everything is going smoothly, he said. He noted that there was no cause for alarm in the areas visited. According to him, the calm atmosphere was the result of early and strategic planning. Apparently, before now, we have made very massive deployments to all the area councils and you could tell from all the places we have been, he said. Results phase While expressing confidence in the peaceful conduct of the polls so far, Mr Odumosu said security agencies would remain vigilant as the process enters the results collation stage. So far, I can tell that this area council election is going on smoothly. We are only awaiting the elections to be concluded and by the time the results are announced, that will be another phase. Then we will know what the atmosphere will be like, he said. He added that although he does not anticipate unrest, security operatives are prepared to respond if necessary. But from what we have seen, I dont envisage any violence or chaos immediately after the election result is announced. But if there is to be any, we are duty-bound to arrest the situation, he said. He also disclosed that about 4,000 NSCDC personnel were deployed across the FCT to provide security before, during and after the polls. He stressed that the deployment was preventive and strategic, and had earlier warned officers against accidental discharge while monitoring and securing voters during the elections. The election The FCT area council elections are being conducted across the six councils: Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). In all, 637 candidates from 17 political parties are contesting 68 positions, made up of 62 councillors seats and six chairmanship offices. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has commended the peaceful conduct of the ongoing Area Council elections across Abuja but expressed concerns over the persistently low voter turnout in the city. Mr Wike spoke after monitoring the exercise and interacting with voters in parts of the territory. He said the election had remained calm, attributing the peaceful atmosphere to the work of security agencies deployed across the poll units. We thank God that everywhere is peaceful. The challenge we have is low voter turnout, particularly in the city centre, and that has always been the case, he said. He noted, however, that turnout in the satellite towns appeared more impressive. Describing the development as typical of off-cycle polls, he said the priority was ensuring a violence-free process. Security agencies Mr Wike praised security operatives for maintaining order throughout the exercise. He said the security agents have done their jobs very well, and no reports of violence were recorded. He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of its officials, expressing confidence in the management of the electoral process. Curfew claims Mr Wike also responded to comments reportedly made by Ireti Kingibe, the senator representing the FCT in the National Assembly who had criticised movement restrictions during the election period as authoritarian, ill-considered, and unacceptable in a democratic society. The minister rejected suggestions that he imposed a curfew. It is very unfortunate. She should have read my statement carefully. I never imposed a curfew. I said Mr President has said from 8 p.m on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday, that movement will be restricted, and this is not the first time, he said. He stressed that the directive was not his personal decision but one issued by the President as part of measures to ensure a smooth electoral process. Christopher Maikalangu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election, has won his polling unit in Saturdays council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by a wide margin. Mr Maikalangu, who voted earlier at Polling Unit 004, Garki Village 2, secured 229 votes to defeat his opponents. The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Paul Ogidi, polled 15 votes, while Onyebuchi Chukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) garnered one vote. Mr Maikalangu is one of the two incumbent area council chairmen seeking re-election. The other candidate seeking second term in office is Abubakar Abdullahi of Abaji Area Council. Both are completing their first term on the platform of the APC. Meanwhile, there are six area councils in the capital city. Before the commencement of vote counting, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; the Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Bunkure; and other supporters visited the polling unit, which is located within Mr Maikalangus family compound. Speaking after casting his vote earlier on Saturday, Mr Maikalangu expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, describing the process as seamless. He noted that the accreditation and voting process was efficient, adding that he cast his ballot in less than three minutes. I am impressed with the turnout today; you can see that my people are out here to vote. I am satisfied with the process. In less than three minutes, I cast my vote. I think everything is okay, he said. PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that voting in several polling units across AMAC commenced behind schedule, with low turnout and logistical challenges recorded in parts of the council. Some officials also reported intermittent malfunctioning of the fingerprint component of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), forcing reliance on facial recognition for voter accreditation. At Mr Maikalangus polling unit, 252 voters were accredited and cast their ballots out of 2,287 registered voters. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, describing the process as orderly, efficient and peaceful. Mr Amupitan made this known on Saturday in Abuja while speaking with journalists after monitoring the process at a few polling units within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). He maintained that the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the level of voter turnout were positive indicators for the countrys democratic process. He highlighted the speed of the accreditation process, noting that the BVAS technology had significantly reduced waiting times for voters. You can see for yourself that the election is orderly and very efficient. The election is peaceful and those are the indices of a good election. So far, the efficiency of the BVAS is high and I am very satisfied because the BVAS is working effectively and efficiently. From what I have seen and heard from the presiding officers, it takes less than five seconds to even accredit a voter. So far, I can say that the election is well organised. The election is peaceful from the calm atmosphere you have seen, Mr Amupitan said. He commended the turnout of voters, attributing it to an increased awareness among citizens regarding the importance of participating in the electoral process. He also praised the calm atmosphere and the conduct of both voters and security personnel. You can see a lot of people here and they are conducting themselves well. I learned that there are 30 security personnel that are present here. They are also conducting their affairs in an orderly manner. So, we hope that at the close of the poll, we will have a very successful election, he said. Addressing a question regarding an incident involving the harassment of a journalist by security personnel, Mr Amupitan said that INEC remained committed to the safety of all accredited personnel. I am only aware that there was one journalist that was arrested and immediately we intervened. The chief press secretary and some people spoke to the police and the person was immediately released unmolested. We have taken every measure to ensure that nobody is molested. Accredited journalists and observers are granted access to the places they are supposed to be. We have not withdrawn any accreditation, he said. The INEC boss, however, acknowledged minor hiccups in certain areas, especially the delay in the arrival of election materials and ad hoc officials in a few polling units, noting that INEC was on top of the situation. He said that as of 10:30 a.m., 99 per cent of polling units across the FCT had successfully opened and that the commission was monitoring the situation in real-time from the situation room to ensure all eligible voters were attended to. Mr Amupitan pledged that the commission would not only ensure that the votes of Nigerians count in the FCT election but would also ensure further improvements, moving forward to the 2027 general elections. The voices of Nigerians will be held this time around. The BVAS, as far as I am concerned, is working very well. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the polling units visited by Mr Amupitan included: PU 016, Area 8, Garki, AMAC; PU 005, LGEA Primary School, Garki Village; PUs 001, 002, and 052, Junior Secondary School, Area 1; and PU 007 National Library, Area 2, Garki, AMAC. The chairman also visited the INEC FCT office, where the deployment of election result collation officers was ongoing. (NAN) Election observers have flagged logistical lapses, low voter turnout and isolated cases of vote-buying in Saturdays area council polls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the elections for the chairperson and councilorship positions of the territorys six area councils. In a preliminary statement released Saturday, Yiaga Africa said it deployed roving observers across the 62 wards of the FCT to monitor the polls under its Watching the Vote (WTV) initiative. According to the statement signed by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, and Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, YIAGA said its observers were deployed by 7:30 a.m. to track critical stages of the process, including polling unit openings, accreditation, voting and counting. The organisation said that because it did not deploy its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology for the elections, its statement focuses strictly on process observations rather than statistical verification of results. PREMIUM TIMES deployed reporters across the six area councilsAbaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). Five of the area councils have 10 wards each, while AMAC has 12. A total of 637 candidates from 17 political parties ran for the 68 positions 62 councillorship seats and six chairpersons seats. Out of the 1,680,315 registered voters in the territory, 1,587,025 had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and were eligible to vote. Voting took place across 2,822 polling units, with 4,345 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines deployed to support the process. The collation of the election results was ongoing as of press time. Largely peaceful, low turnout Yiaga Africa described the elections as largely peaceful, noting that voters who presented themselves at polling units were able to cast their ballots without widespread disruption. However, it reported a generally low voter turnout across most polling units observed. The group said logistical challenges significantly affected the timely commencement of voting, particularly in the AMAC. Delays in deploying personnel and materials led to late openings at several polling units, especially in Wuse and Gwarinpa wards. As of 9:00 a.m., setup activities were still ongoing in many polling units visited by observers, with accreditation and voting commencing in most cases around 10:00 a.mwell behind the scheduled start time. Missing materials, confusion over polling units While critical materials such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and voter registers were generally deployed in the polling units observed, Yiaga Africa reported isolated cases of missing materials. In one polling unit in Wuse Ward, the voter register was reportedly not initially available and was only produced after observers and voters raised concerns. In parts of Abaji Area Council, observers said voting cubicles were absent in some polling units, while an ink pad required for the voting process was missing in another. The organisation also highlighted confusion arising from the reassignment of voters to newly created polling units without adequate prior notice. It noted that INEC reportedly sent SMS notifications to affected voters; many messages were delivered on Election Day, sometimes hours after voting had begun. This, Yiaga Africa said, led to overcrowding in some locations as voters spent considerable time trying to confirm their designated polling units. Observers further noted disparities in voter distribution within the same polling areas, raising concerns about the coherence of the Commissions voter redistribution framework. Early closures, heavy security, vote-buying Yiaga Africa reported that some polling units closed before the official 2:30 p.m. closing time, contrary to guidelines requiring polling units to remain open until 2:30 p.m. or until the last voter in the queue had voted. Observers also noted a heavy security presence in certain areas, which in some instances restricted the movement of accredited observers and created barriers for voters attempting to access polling units. The group further documented incidents of vote buying in several locations, describing it as a persistent challenge despite prior assurances by INEC and security agencies to curb the practice. Call for transparency in results collation Yiaga Africa urged INEC to ensure that Form EC60E (the Peoples Results Sheet) is posted at polling units and that polling unit result sheets (Form EC8A) are uploaded via BVAS to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) and transmitted to ward collation centres. It also called on the commission to conduct results collation and declaration with strict adherence to legal and procedural guidelines to safeguard the credibility of the outcome. The group appealed to security agencies to maintain professionalism and impartiality, particularly at collation centres, and urged political parties and their supporters not to disrupt the process. Yiaga Africa said its observers would continue monitoring the collation process at ward and Area Council levels and track uploads to the INEC results portal. A comprehensive report on the collation process will be released at the conclusion of results collation. if in the calculus of global power politics, an American security partnership inadvertently strengthens Nigerias capacity to reclaim territory, dismantle insurgent networks, and restore the states monopoly on force, then that outcome cannot be dismissed simply because it unsettles postcolonial sensibilities. Resources can be renegotiated. After all, as my friend would quip, resources na for the living. I read with rapt attention Jibrin Ibrahims essay published in PREMIUM TIMES on 13th February, titled Nigeria on the brink, as we hand over sovereignty to America. It is vintage Professor Ibrahim: elegant, historically grounded, morally alert. For years, he and I have shared space in the PREMIUM TIMES WhatsApp forum, a conclave of public intellectuals and policy wonks whose weekly interventions have become a ritual of sorts. His essays, usually featured on Fridays, are followed closely by mine and that of Owei Lakemfa. Though we have never met in person, that steady intellectual encounter creates the familiarity of long companionship. He is not merely a wise counsel; he is a formidable authority on international affairs, and one senses both attributes in every column he writes. This recent piece is no exception. It is factual, measured, and firmly anchored in both recent and distant history. Yet, beneath its composure one could detect genuine alarm at President Bola Ahmed Tinubus evolving security engagement with the United States, particularly under its most inept and transactional president. The imagery his essay evokes is poignant: that of a father watching, distressed and powerless, as a beloved son stands poised to make what he believes to be a catastrophic mistake. Anyone acquainted with the long arc of American power projection understands the source of that anxiety. The United States has not been shy about pursuing its interests abroad, and critics view renewed security cooperations through that lens. It is therefore entirely reasonable to recoil at the symbolism of American boots on Nigerian soil, more than sixty six years after the Union Jack was lowered at independence. The instinct to defend sovereignty is neither naive nor misplaced. Yet, a crucial nuance demands interrogation, because without it the debate risks abstraction. The central question is this: Is Nigerias sovereignty a lived and operative reality, or has it become largely aspirational? We speak of sovereignty as though it is self-evident. But how would the people of Woro in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State define it after enduring terror at close quarters, early this month? How does one explain sovereignty to the farmer in Chiraa, who is compelled to pay levies to the Islamic State in order to farm his own land? One may substitute these names with countless communities across the federation. For citizens who must negotiate survival with armed non-state actors, sovereignty is not a constitutional doctrine. It is either security or its absence. This leads to an uncomfortable but necessary inquiry. When citizens are confronted with a grim choice between predatory non-state militias driven by ideological fervour and criminal opportunism, and a foreign state actor primarily motivated by strategic and economic interests, which will they prefer? Faced with existential insecurity, many may reluctantly opt for the latter. The prospect of economic exploitation, however distasteful, can appear less menacing than arbitrary violence. It has been observed, quite correctly, that what we euphemistically describe as ungoverned spaces in the North-East and North-West are not ungoverned at all. They are governed, just not by the Nigerian State. They are governed by criminal sovereigns. That distinction is critical. When we misdiagnose the malady as absence of governance, rather than the presence of rival authority, we misdirect the cure. Precision in naming is the first step toward clarity in policy. In effect, we inhabit two Nigerias. One is the formal republic, animated by elections, elite competition, and constitutional rhetoric. The other is a shadow republic administered by insurgents, bandits, and militant franchises, whose authority is enforced at gunpoint. As far back as 2014, investigations by Daily Trust reported that Boko Haram had seized over twenty thousand square kilometres across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa. That territory was larger than several Nigerian states combined, comparable in size to Wales in the United Kingdom, and even larger than Northern Ireland. Whether fluctuating or not, the symbolism was unmistakable: a state that cannot exercise a monopoly over legitimate force is already compromised. Sovereignty, in its classical definition, is the supreme authority of a state within its territory. If substantial portions of that territory are effectively ruled by violent non-state actors, then the more honest question is not whether sovereignty is being surrendered, but to whom it has already slipped. That is not a rhetorical flourish. It is a structural reality. This leads to an uncomfortable but necessary inquiry. When citizens are confronted with a grim choice between predatory non-state militias driven by ideological fervour and criminal opportunism, and a foreign state actor primarily motivated by strategic and economic interests, which will they prefer? Faced with existential insecurity, many may reluctantly opt for the latter. The prospect of economic exploitation, however distasteful, can appear less menacing than arbitrary violence. Survival precedes ideology. A nation under siege will often prioritise order over abstraction. This reflection reminds me of a clip I recently watched exploring what freedom means to an American versus what it means to a Chinese citizen. The United States was founded largely by those who fled religious persecution in Europe, and so the American conception of freedom often emphasises the freedom of expression without state intrusion. The Chinese citizen, shaped by a different historical experience, tends to emphasise another dimension of freedom: freedom from chaos. Ultimately, the debate must return to first principles. If sovereignty does not translate into security, order, and effective authority over national territory, then we are left defending a word rather than a condition. The distinction is not semantic. It is existential. Both perspectives are rooted in lived experiences. Perhaps sovereignty should be examined through a similar prism. For some, it signifies insulation from foreign entanglement. For others, it signifies the ability to farm, trade, and sleep through the night without fear. The latter cannot be dismissed as philosophically inferior. This is not an argument for naivety. It is not a call to grant Washington carte blanche. Vigilance remains indispensable. Nor should Nigeria ignore allegations and intelligence suggesting that other global actors, including China, have pursued interests in ways that undermine stability. Prudence demands diversified partnerships and clear national guardrails. However, if in the calculus of global power politics, an American security partnership inadvertently strengthens Nigerias capacity to reclaim territory, dismantle insurgent networks, and restore the states monopoly on force, then that outcome cannot be dismissed simply because it unsettles postcolonial sensibilities. Resources can be renegotiated. After all, as my friend would quip, resources na for the living. Ultimately, the debate must return to first principles. The distinction is not semantic. It is existential. Osmund Agbo is a medical doctor and author. His works include Black Grit, White Knuckles: The Philosophy of Black Renaissance and a fiction work titled The Velvet Court: Courtesan Chronicles. His latest works, Pray, Let the Shaman Die and Maam, I Do Not Come to You for Love, have just been released. He can be reached through: [email protected]. . Africa is in the vile grip of insecurity. This was the verdict of the African Union, AU, Heads of State 39th Summit which held on 14 February in Addis Ababa. This should call for a state of emergency. But this was not part of the Summit outcome. It was business as usual. In the first place, the AUs vehicle for combating insecurity and conflicts, is its Peace and Security Council, PSC, which is responsible for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in the continent. It is the continents collective security and early warning arrangement intended to facilitate timely and efficient responses to conflict and crisis situations in Africa. However, the composition of the PSC does not place it in a position to be either effective or efficient. For instance, Morocco is the cause of some avoidable conflicts in the continent. First, for five decades now, it has been on war footing with its neigbours like Algeria and Westen Sahara. Its relations with Mauritania has also not been warm since 5 August, 1979 when the latter withdrew from its joint occupation of Sahrawi territories. So, the regional Arab Maghreb Union, AMU/UMA, which comprises Morocco, Algeria, Western Sahara, Tunisia and Libya and was designed to drive regional integration, peace and development, is in comatose. Its last full summit held from 2-3 April, 1994, that is 32 years ago! In 2024, other member countries began discussing the birth of a new regional body that would exclude Mauritania and troublesome Morocco. The Moroccan monarchy had pulled the country out of the OAU/AU for 33 years because it was told that it cannot colonise Western Sahara, a sister African country. Morocco has also consistently displayed disdain for Africa and has shamelessly begged to join the European Union, but has been rejected. So how can the AU put Morocco in the PSC and hope to tackle insecurity and negotiate peace in the continent? The Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, is another member of the PSC. It is a country that has virtually been in multiple conflicts since its independence on 30 June, 1960. Today, it remains conflict-ridden with large parts in the hands of rebels backed by fellow African countries like Rwanda and Uganda. So, can such a country serve Africa with distinction in the PSC? Perhaps the most insecure PSC member is Somalia which has been virtually a failed state since 1990. For many years, it has been split amongst Islamist fundamentalists and warring clans. The worse nightmare Africa faces in Somalia is its breakaway region of Somaliland. It is an illegality which the European contraption in the Middle East, called Israel, now recognises as a sovereign state. Somaliland had declared itself independent over three decades ago, but no country had recognised what should pass as a joke until Israel did in December, 2025. Israels goal is to expand its territories to include the West Bank, Gaza, Syria and Lebanon. So, it setting its sights on Somaliland is an indication that it eyes the African territory over which it may soon start making territorial claims. The rapacious United Arab Emirates, UAE, has already made some claims on Somaliland, claiming to have purchased its Port of Berbera. To worsen matters, Ethiopia, the seat of the AU had also made claims it was buying parts of the Somaliland coastline, so it can have access to the sea. So, how useful can Somalia be in the PSC? Beyond the AUs composition of its peace and security outfit, is its infamous inability to implement its basic decisions which has affected peace keeping on the continent. For instance, while it declares the unconstitutional takeover of government illegal, coup plotters are never really held accountable. In fact, Egyptian leader, General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, was an active coup plotter who should be under sanction. But in February 2019, he was made AU Chairman. So, a major challenge is how to call errant African leaders to order. In the AUs February Summit, Integration and Sustainable Development, Africas voice, Peace and Security were major issues discussed. Integration, with a whole Magreb Region being unable to meet for over three decades, seems far. It is worsened with the binary split of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. Africas voice has been virtually muted on the world stage. I am not sure many would hope that with the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres declaration at the summit that: The absence of permanent African seats in the Security Council is indefensible, the African voice will be louder. The fact is that more African countries, including Nigeria are coming under the control of foreign countries like the United States, and more African voices are being muted. So, a major issue is how can the AU bring men like Salva Kirr of South Sudan under control and discourage them from pushing their countries down the abyss? Far back in 2018, the AU Ad-hoc High Level Committee for South Sudan (C5) Plus laid out the plan for peace. Today, former Vice President and co-signatory of the Revitalisation Agreement, Riek Machar, sits in jail. The peace agreement itself, is said to be in critical condition, ICU, while an obviously sick President Kirr was shown at the AU shuffling on stage. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, one of the few remaining voices of conviction in the continent, boldly told Kirr and others at the Summit that there must be ceasefire in South Sudan and that all the actors in that country must engage in an all-inclusive dialogue that will pave the way for free, inclusive and credible elections to end the long transition. All listened, or so they appeared; but the AU does not appear to have the capacity to enforce the will of the African people. A worse situation unfolds in Sudan where an opportunistic and incompetent military regime has since 15 April, 2023 been engaged in massacres with the murderous paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, RSF. The latter, supported and funded by the UAE, had been partially built with funds from the European Union. The latter had hired the former terrorist Janjaweed group to prevent by any means necessary, so-called migrants from crossing to Europe. So, the AU that met this month is a broken one that does not appear to be in a position to be able to mend itself. Some AU members who should have vision and mobilise for a better Africa, are engaged in what I consider the celebration of mundane things. For instance, the Nigerian Government has not stopped celebrating its appointment as a permanent member on the Board of the African Central Bank. Faced with a broken world, Africa has to start by mending itself. Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author. Three cattle herders were killed on Thursday night along the DorowaJong road in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what community leaders described as a brutal ambush. The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Plateau State, Ibrahim Babayo, confirmed the killings to journalists in Jos on Friday. Mr Babayo said the victims were returning to the Jong community after attending Quran Tafsir in neighbouring Dorowa when they were attacked at about 7:30 p.m. They were on their way home when gunmen ambushed them, he said. After shooting them, the attackers used sharp objects to cut off the head of one of the victims. It was a brutal act that must be condemned by everyone. He described the attack as unprovoked. We strongly believe this was carried out by Berom youths who have continued to perpetrate violence against our members and our cattle, he said. We call on the authorities to investigate and ensure those behind this act are brought to justice. He added that the association had urged its members to remain calm and avoid reprisals. This is not the first time our people have been targeted. We are seeking protection and justice. We will not be provoked, but we expect both the state and federal governments to safeguard our lives and property, he said. Berom denies involvement The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Solomon Mwantiri, rejected the allegation that Berom youth carried out the attack. He said security personnel, including soldiers and the divisional police officer in Barkin Ladi, had visited the scene of the attack. It is wrong to accuse our people without evidence, he said, urging security agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. Military confirms incident The spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Chinonso Oteh, a captain, confirmed the killings. The command received information about the incident at about 11 p.m. on Thursday, and troops were immediately mobilised to the area, Mr Oteh said. He said the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace had expressed concern over the attack and directed that those responsible be tracked down. Investigation has commenced. The GOC has appealed to the affected families to remain calm while security agencies work to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, he added. Plateau: A troubled State The latest killings come amid heightened security concerns in Plateau State. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the death of 38 miners in Kampani Zurak, Wase Local Government Area, in an incident experts linked to suspected carbon monoxide exposure. The tragedy prompted the federal government to order the closure of the affected mining site pending investigation. While the mining disaster and the Barkin Ladi attack are unrelated, both incidents have intensified calls for stronger security presence and coordinated emergency response across the state. Plateau has witnessed recurring cycles of violence involving farmers and herders over the years, particularly in Barkin Ladi and neighbouring local government areas. Authorities have repeatedly pledged to end the bloodshed, even as communities continue to demand accountability and lasting protection. When was the last time you walked into a physical branch of your bank? If you can't remember how long ago it was, it might be time to switch to online banking. However, without a branch to visit, its natural to wonder whether your money is really as safe online as it is at a traditional bank. The short answer is yes: Todays online banks operate under the same federal regulations as brick-and-mortar institutions and employ the same security measures. Plus, as long as theyre insured, your deposits carry the same protections. That said, there are still some risks and trade-offs. Understanding how online banks protect your money, as well as their vulnerabilities, can help you decide whether going fully digital makes sense for you. This embedded content is not available in your region. Traditional vs. online bank: Which is safer? In this age of data breaches, it's natural to have doubts about the safety of online banking. In 2023, banks represented almost half of all companies that experienced financial data breaches, while credit unions made up another 7%, according to Comparitech. By comparison, however, online banks experienced less than 0.5%. While online and traditional banks have many of the same cybersecurity and privacy regulations, online banks may be safer because they have no physical branches, meaning far fewer employees. As negligible as that detail may seem, a study from Verizon found that some 74% of all data breaches were enabled by employee activity, whether it was through errors or deliberate fraud. That doesn't mean online banking is always safer than traditional alternatives, especially since data breaches aren't the only security threat to customers. Whether you complete your bank transactions digitally or in person, the transaction happens online, and your sensitive account information is stored online, too. In other words, it's still vulnerable to threats such as malware and identity theft whether you bank in person or online. How online banks keep your money and information safe Every bank has its own set of security policies, but online banks are generally as safe as traditional banks since they often use the same preventative security measures, including: Encryption software Multi-factor authentication Firewalls Monitoring for unusual account activity Mandated privacy policy training for employees Keep in mind these are all best practices, and some banks are better than others when it comes to online security. When choosing an online bank, prioritize those that offer robust security features. Further, as an account holder, it's also up to you to take advantage of the most valuable security features each bank offers, whether it's an online bank or not. That includes enabling multi-factor authentication, account alerts, and automatic updates for your banking app. You can also take simple steps to keep your account safe from some of the biggest threats to banking security: phishing and stolen login credentials. Wherever you bank, you should always choose a strong and unique password for your accounts, never log in while using public WiFi, and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and text messages. Read more: 6 important security features to look for in a bank How to tell if an online bank is legit To find out if an online bank is legitimate and secure, you'll need to verify through reputable sources. At a minimum, your online bank should be FDIC insured meaning they insure you against losses on up to $250,000 in deposits and actively in business, both of which you can quickly confirm using the FDIC's BankFind Suite tool. For good measure, go one step further and check to see what you can find out about the bank online. To learn about their track record with security issues, search for news and reports on cybersecurity incidents at the bank, read their customer reviews, and check out their app ratings. If the bank is legitimate, you should also be able to find information about their security policies on their website easily. Take a look to confirm that they provide 128-bit or 256-bit data encryption and use multi-factor authentication. If this information isn't posted on their website, consider it a sign to look for another online bank. Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, on Friday, donated cars to 40 Jummaat Mosques Imams, as part of the state governments support for them to diligently discharge their religious duties. Mr Lawal, while presenting the cars, said the gesture was meant to improve their mobility and enhance their preachings and outreaches to communities. The governor explained that Zamfara was a state founded on strong Islamic principles, with numerous Imams serving communities across the 14 local government areas. According to him, supporting the welfare of religious leaders remains a priority of his administration. We are constructing mosques and houses for Imams, and we also feel it is important for them to move freely. Mobility is essential, especially for preaching and community engagements. That is why we have selected 40 Imams in this first phase to receive vehicles to ease their movement, Mr Lawal said. The governor said that the initiative would be sustained, stressing that the current donation marked the first phase of the programme. He charged the clerics to pray for sustainable peace in Zamfara and across the country. Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Bello Almufty, described Mr Lawal as a leader committed to truth, justice, and inclusive development. Mr Almufty said Mr Lawals administration had changed the lives of religious leaders with tangible dividends of democracy, including improved welfare packages and allowances for Imams. Atiku Zawiyya, who spoke on behalf of the Imams, commended Mr Lawal for the invaluable support. Mr Zawiyya said that the donation would strengthen the activities of Imams towards their service to the people. He asked the governor to continue with the gesture, saying that the good deeds deserved prayers and Allahs blessings. The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the state government, pledging to promote peace, unity, and moral values across their communities. (NAN) Some aggrieved civil servants in Cross River State have threatened to picket the office of the states Accountant-General over alleged unpaid salaries. Some of the workers told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Calabar that they received salaries last in December 2025. One of them, Moses Effiong, said that several complaints made to the office of the accountant-general regarding the matter had not yielded results. He said that the affected workers had planned to picket the accountant-generals office to protest the non-payment of salaries. Dorcas Obi, also a state government employee, said that the accountant-general had refused to be honest on the matter after several complaints had been made. The accountant-general keeps shifting blames, saying that permanent secretaries have not submitted nominal rolls of workers in their ministries, but this is not true. We have approached the permanent secretaries, the message we get is that nominal rolls have been submitted. We have a situation that looks like the state government is handpicking people, as we speak, in my ministry, some people have been paid while others have not. Another worker, Clement Abang, said that the situation had left many workers and their families in hunger and pain. He urged the state government to promptly pay salaries so the affected workers could fulfil their responsibilities. Speaking earlier in an interview, the Accountant-General, Glory Effiong, confirmed that some workers had yet to receive their January salaries and blamed the permanent secretaries for failing to submit updated nominal rolls. Ms Effiong said that at least 14,000 out of about 15,000 affected workers had been paid. We process salaries upon receipt of verified nominal rolls, she said. This measure is necessary to address absenteeism and to ensure that only workers who report to duty receive salaries, she said. (NAN) The Edo State Government says it has demolished a building in Amagba, Oredo Local Government Area of the state, where two members of the Aye confraternity were arrested in connection with recent cult killings in the state. Patrick Ebojele, the spokesperson to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Benin. Mr Ebojele said that seven people were allegedly linked with the recent cult killings in the state. He disclosed that two suspected Aye cult members have been arrested, while five are on the run. He explained that the demolition was carried out by the Special Security Squad codenamed Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers in Edo, led by the principal security officer to the governor. According to him, the anti-cultism law in the state will be implemented to the last letter to ensure cultism becomes a thing of the past in the state. Governor Okpebholo has given that mandate, and it must be followed thoroughly, no matter who is involved. No one is above the law. Those who escaped arrest have been declared wanted, he stated. The Special Security Squad also sealed off a residence at Upper Uwa area of Benin, the last known residence of Etiosa Akhiombare Joshua, also known as Baba Josh. Joshua is a suspected member of the Maphite Confraternity, and mastermind and financier of last weeks killing at Wire Road, he said. Cult-related attacks and killings have compounded the security challenge in Edo. Gunmen in September last year abducted 29 passengers on a highway in the state. The police later rescued 16 of the abducted passengers. The police said in 2024 that the spate of cult violence and the proliferation of arms in the state were worrisome. The then-Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo, while announcing a ban on the activities of Okaigheles (youth leaders) in Edo South District, June 2024, in a renewed effort to tackle the menace, said the state at some point lost 150 people in five months to cult-related clashes. Mr Obasekis successor, Mr Okpebholo, said in November 2024 that the state loses over $1 billion worth of investments annually because of cult-related violence. Mr Okpebholo, just like his predecessor, has declared war on cultism, but the governments efforts seem to yield little or no success as the killings have continued. (NAN) The 2023 governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Akwa Ibom State, Ezekiel Nya-Etok, has announced his support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Mr Nya-Etok also said he would support Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and the Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Messrs Tinubu, Akpabio, and Eno are all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Nya-Etok, who now serves as the executive director of Estate Services at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), announced this in a public statement issued on his Facebook page Friday morning, attributing his latest move to a reasoned and performance-based political decision. Mr Nya-Etok, an architect, was appointed to the FHA by President Tinubu on 16 February 2024. At the time of his appointment, he remained a member of the ADC. According to him, he resigned from the ADC in July 2024, five months after assuming office, choosing to operate as a non-partisan public officer. He said he formally joined the APC in December 2025 after a careful reflection on the direction of governance under the Tinubu administration. I did not join immediately because I live by conviction. Every public decision I make must be one I can explain clearly, rationally, and respectfully to the people I serve, he said in the statement. Structured endorsement meeting Mr Nya-Etok announced that he would convene a special political consultation meeting in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom, on 21 February 2026, to formally endorse President Tinubu for re-election, Governor Eno for a second term, and Mr Akpabio for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District seat. He said the event would not be a conventional political rally but a structured town hall engagement involving invited delegates from across the 48 villages in Ikot Ekpene. He said the meeting will feature clear, data-driven, performance-based reasons for each endorsement, and participants will also be allowed to ask questions and engage in discussion before returning to their communities. Shift in political identity The ADC has been bolstered by the entry of the first and second runners-up in the 2023 presidential electionAtiku Abubakar and Peter Obialong with their supporters. John Akpanudoedehe, a former senator and the 2023 governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Akwa Ibom, had resigned from the NNPP last year to join the ADC. The ADC has grown to become a major opposition party in Nigeria. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, has called on the UK government to comply with the judgement of the Enugu State High Court concerning the 1949 Iva Valley Massacre. Mr Akinseye-George, a professor, made the call on Friday while addressing a news conference in Abuja. The News of Nigeria reported on 5 February that the High Court of Enugu State, presided over by Justice A.O. Onovo, delivered an 80-page landmark judgement, ordering the British government to pay 20 million each to the families of the 21 coal miners killed in Enugu State in 1949 by the Colonial administration. The 21 unarmed coal miners at the Iva Valley Coal Mine, Enugu, were brutally shot dead on 18 November 1949 for protesting harsh working conditions, racial disparities in wages and unpaid back wages. Fifty-one others were injured during the shooting. The suit was filed by rights activist Greg Onoh, who sought an acknowledgement of liability, a formal apology from the British government, and comprehensive compensation for the loss of their loved ones. Mr Akinseye-George represented the applicant in the case. The respondents were the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (the first respondent), the British government (the second respondent), and the Federal Government of Nigeria (the third). Others were the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Head of the Commonwealth Government of the United Kingdom as the 4th and 5th respondents respectively. For over 75 years, the families of the victims lived without justice, Mr Akinseye-George. This judgement marks the first formal judicial determination within Nigeria addressing the massacre and its legal consequences. The senior lawyer noted that the court ruled that sovereign immunity was not absolute. The court relied on both Nigerian and comparative jurisprudence and concluded that serious allegations of grave human rights violations cannot be summarily dismissed on technical immunity grounds, he said. He noted that the case raises serious questions of unlawful deprivation of life and that the court found that the applicant raised serious issues requiring adjudication. The court affirmed that Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution grants jurisdiction to High Courts to determine applications for the enforcement of fundamental rights. It made specific and enforceable orders, including monetary compensation, written apologies in many Nigerian national papers and British newspapers. Mr Akinseye-George said that the judgement does not merely examine history, it affirms present-day constitutional obligations. The court had ordered that the Attorney-General of the Federation and relevant Nigerian authorities should formally initiate diplomatic engagement within 60 days. And in addition, the Attorney-General of the Federation should submit a detailed compliance report to the court within 90 days. This, according to Mr Akinseye-George, ensures that enforcement moves beyond symbolic declarations into concrete diplomatic action. The lawyer said, They have served the Certified True Copy of the full judgement on the respondents. In addition, we have written formally to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation. We have also formally notified the British Government through the High Commissioner at the British High Commission and demanded compliance with the judgement. As one of the worlds foremost proponents of the rule of law and human rights, the United Kingdom is expected to respect the decision of a competent Nigerian court and comply with its order, he said. NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until March 23, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between November 19, 2024 and August 4, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Get Help BellRing investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-brbr/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit BellRing and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On May 6, 2025, the Company disclosed that "several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand, which is expected to be a mid-single-digit headwind to our third quarter growth," and that "[w]e now expect Q3 sales growth of low single digits." On this news, the price of BellRing's shares fell $14.88 per share, or 19%, from $78.43 per share on May 5, 2025, to close at $63.55 per share on May 6, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. Then, on August 4, 2025, post-market, the Company reported its fiscal 3Q 2025 financial results, disclosing a disappointing new 2025 sales outlook, stating "BellRing management has narrowed its fiscal year 2025 outlook for net sales to [a] range between $2.28-$2.32 billion," due to "several other competitors" gaining space to sell their products with a large retailer and that "it is not surprising to see new protein RTDs enter[ed]" the convenient nutrition market. On this news, the price of BellRing's shares fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. The case is Denha v. BellRing Brands, Inc., No. 26-cv-00575. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com. As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the Company overstated its tenant demand for its Project Matador campus; (2) the extent to which Project Matador would rely on a single tenant's funding commitment to finance the construction of Project Matador; (3) there was a significant risk that that tenant would terminate its funding commitment; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On October 1, 2025, Fermi completed its initial public offering of approximately 32.5 million shares of common stock at $21.00 per share. The Company's registration statement emphasized its plans to develop a large electric generation campus for AI data centers and identified an investment-grade "First Tenant" for its Project Matador site. The registration statement stated that, on September 19, 2025, Fermi had entered into a letter of intent with the First Tenant to lease a portion of the site on a triple-net basis for an initial twenty-year term, with four five-year renewal options. In November 2025, the Company further announced that the First Tenant had entered into an Advance in Aid of Construction Agreement agreeing, subject to conditions, to advance up to $150 million toward construction costs. On December 12, 2025, Fermi disclosed that the First Tenant had terminated the AICA the prior day, eliminating a key funding arrangement for the Project. Although Fermi stated that lease negotiations continued under the letter of intent, the market reacted negatively, and Fermi's stock price fell more than 33%, closing at $10.09 per share, well below the IPO price. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Fermi's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Fermi class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/FRMI or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP RUSTON, La., Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why do remodeling projects so often go over budget, even when homeowners plan carefully? A HelloNation article answers by outlining how overlooked decisions during construction lead to unexpected expenses and delays. The article features insights from Roofing Expert Luke Mathis of Ruston, Louisiana, who explains that most homeowners underestimate the financial impact of changes made after remodeling begins. According to the piece, these post-start decisions are a leading cause of cost overruns, which often occur quietly and build up over time. Luke Mathis, Owner Speed Speed The article explains that homeowners tend to focus only on obvious expenses, such as materials and labor, while overlooking the hidden costs triggered by even minor mid-project changes. Roofing Expert Luke Mathis describes how altering plans such as switching out materials, adjusting plumbing, or reconfiguring layouts can cause delays, require reordered items, and increase subcontractor labor. These disruptions often trigger a chain reaction that increases the overall cost of the remodel. One of the key takeaways in the HelloNation article is that every change made during construction affects far more than the visible outcome. Adjustments require new scheduling, and previously purchased materials may go to waste. The article emphasizes that even seemingly small decisions have ripple effects on timing, logistics, and subcontractor availability. According to the article, the most common budget problem is not the initial plan, but what happens after construction begins. Roofing Expert Luke Mathis explains that unexpected labor costs, timeline extensions, and inefficient workflow can all stem from avoidable mid-project decisions. By the time these effects are noticed, expenses may already be beyond control. The HelloNation piece also covers the role of delays in driving up remodeling costs. Delays lead to increased expenses, including equipment rentals, higher material costs, and additional subcontractor fees. The article notes that overlapping changes can compound these problems quickly, turning small decisions into costly errors that affect every phase of the job. To avoid these financial risks, the article urges homeowners to finalize a plan before construction begins. Roofing Expert Luke Mathis advises that clearly defined plans including materials, layouts, and finishes allow contractors to manage time and resources more efficiently, minimizing waste and keeping the remodel on budget. Another point made in the article is that budget control does not come from simply picking cheaper materials. Instead, it comes from minimizing disruption. The article encourages homeowners to lock in their choices before the first hammer swings, allowing everyone on the project to move forward with consistency and confidence. Throughout the article, Roofing Expert Luke Mathis explains how remodeling costs are often shaped more by process and decision-making than by the price of supplies or hourly labor. When homeowners commit to early planning and avoid mid-project shifts, the result is usually a smoother, more affordable remodel. The full article, " What Most People Don't Realize About Remodeling Costs ," features insights from Luke Mathis, Roofing Expert in Ruston, Louisiana, in HelloNation. About HelloNation HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. SOURCE HelloNation MIRABEL, QC, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Ray Junior Courtemanche officially announces the launch of Champagne Ray Junior distribution in Quebec. This initiative marks an important milestone in the brand's development, now offered to Quebec consumers through authorized distribution networks. Champagne Ray Junior embodies success, self-improvement, and accomplishment. Designed to accompany significant personal and professional milestones, it reflects a responsible and thoughtful approach to celebration, in harmony with the standards and regulations in force in Quebec. Ray Junior Courtemanche Announces the Official Distribution of Champagne Ray Junior in Quebec Post this Distribution in Quebec Champagne Ray Junior will be distributed in Quebec in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to alcoholic beverages, notably through authorized networks. The brand promotes responsible consumption, reserved for individuals of legal drinking age, and reminds consumers that champagne should be enjoyed in moderation during meaningful moments. A Quebec Signature, Champagne Expertise Crafted in Champagne, France, in collaboration with the house of Simon Devaux, Champagne Ray Junior unites tradition, excellence, and contemporary vision. Each bottle carries a powerful signature: that of a journey, an ambition, and a mindful celebration. Champagne Ray Junior, celebrating success. About Ray Junior Courtemanche Ray Junior Courtemanche is a Quebec entrepreneur driven by a clear vision: to inspire self-improvement and celebrate success with elegance. Guided by strong values such as resilience, mastery, sharing, and accomplishment, he embodies a form of leadership that is human, ambitious, and deeply aligned with excellence. Through Champagne Ray Junior, he brings his life philosophy into an exceptional product: a symbol of discipline, perseverance, and mindful celebration. His signature represents more than a name; it is a commitment, a commitment to honoring the journey, the work accomplished, and the victories truly earned. Ray Junior Courtemanche inspires a generation of entrepreneurs and dreamers to aim higher, remain consistent, and celebrate every milestone achieved with gratitude and distinction. Contact us for more information: 514-433-5355 [email protected] https://www.investissementrayjunior.com SOURCE Investissement Ray Junior NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent article published by Expert Consumers, QuickBooks is frequently identified by UK small and medium sized enterprises as a leading HMRC compliant accounting platform. The report highlights how accounting software is now evaluated less on convenience and more on its ability to support accurate digital record keeping and meet regulatory requirements. Top HMRC-Compliant Small Business Accounting Software QuickBooks - simplify accounting for UK SMEs while supporting HMRC compliance. Streamline VAT submissions, track finances accurately, and manage everyday business tasks with a reliable cloud based solution Regulation Drives Software Decisions Making Tax Digital has moved beyond an initial transition phase and is now a standard requirement for VAT registered businesses. This has created a clear distinction between software designed for the UK market and generic bookkeeping tools. Many SMEs are seeking platforms that support digital VAT records, direct submissions to HMRC, and reliable audit trails without adding unnecessary complexity. QuickBooks is a cloud based accounting solution developed with UK tax requirements in mind. Its compatibility with Making Tax Digital for VAT is positioned as a baseline feature rather than an optional extra. Compliance capabilities are increasingly expected as standard, not treated as advanced functionality. Focus on Practical Accounting Needs Beyond compliance, small businesses continue to prioritise software that simplifies everyday accounting tasks. Features such as automated bank feeds, transaction categorisation, and digital receipt capture reduce manual work and improve accuracy. QuickBooks allows business bank accounts to connect directly to the platform. Transactions are imported automatically and can be categorised using rules, which helps save time and supports better financial visibility. Invoicing tools allow businesses to create, send, and track invoices in one place. Payment status is clearly visible, and online payment options can help accelerate settlements. Reporting and Financial Clarity Access to clear financial information remains essential. QuickBooks includes standard reports such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow summaries. These reports provide insight without requiring specialist knowledge and support routine decision making as well as discussions with accountants, lenders, or advisors. Maintaining complete and traceable digital records is also important. QuickBooks records changes to financial data in audit trails, which can be helpful for internal review and compliance purposes. Ease of Use Remains Central Ease of use continues to influence software adoption. Many SMEs manage their own accounts alongside other responsibilities, so software that is difficult to navigate can increase errors or missed deadlines. QuickBooks is structured around common accounting tasks, with a dashboard that highlights income, expenses, and outstanding invoices. Controlled access can be granted to accountants or advisors, allowing professional support without disrupting daily operations. Scalable Plans for Different Business Sizes Subscription based pricing models are now standard across the accounting software market, with flexibility and scalability expected as businesses grow. QuickBooks' UK plans cover a wide range of needs. The Sole Trader plan focuses on income and expense tracking and self assessment reporting. Simple Start adds VAT support and bank feeds. Essentials supports multiple users, bill management, and supplier tracking. Plus includes inventory tracking and project profitability tools. Advanced offers enhanced reporting, automation, and user permissions. Payroll is available as an add on and supports Real Time Information submissions to HMRC. Pricing varies depending on the plan and billing frequency. While QuickBooks is not positioned as a low cost option, it balances compliance support with practical accounting functionality, supporting sustainable business management. Accounting Software as Infrastructure Accounting software is increasingly viewed as a foundational system rather than an optional tool. As digital reporting requirements expand, businesses require systems that reduce risk, support accurate submissions, and integrate with professional accounting workflows. QuickBooks continues to be widely adopted in the UK SME market, with Expert Consumers noting its combination of HMRC compatibility, practical features, and scalable plans as factors that make it a dependable choice for small businesses. Click here for the full report. About QuickBooks QuickBooks is a cloud based accounting software platform developed by Intuit and designed to support small and medium sized businesses. In the UK, QuickBooks is built around local tax rules and reporting requirements, including Making Tax Digital for VAT. The software supports core accounting tasks such as invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, VAT management, payroll add ons, and financial reporting. QuickBooks is used by a wide range of UK businesses, from sole traders to growing SMEs, and is widely supported by UK accountants and bookkeepers. About ExpertConsumers.org: Expert Consumers delivers news and insights on consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. SOURCE ExpertConsumers.org Iconic charitable organization 'levels up' its mission with Gen Z and Gen Alpha ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Salvation Army is introducing its thrift brand to a new generation with the launch of "Thrift Score," the world's first digital thrift store on Roblox. Designed to engage Gen Z and Gen Alpha where they already shop, play, and express themselves, the experience launches on Feb. 19 and invites players to explore thrift-inspired digital finds for their in-game avatars. The Salvation Army Launches the Worlds First Digital Thrift Store inside Roblox Speed Speed "Thrift Score" reimagines a Salvation Army Thrift Store as a fully explorable and shoppable digital environment, introducing the brand and its thrift offering to an audience that might have never visited a thrift store in the real world. Stocked with creator and brand collaborations, player donations, and digital replicas of real Salvation Army items, players can browse racks to uncover rare and limited edition items at accessible price points, ensuring broad participation across Roblox's player base. "Thrifting has always been about more than priceit's about creativity, individuality and purpose," said Lt. Colonel Mark Nelson, ARC Commander at The Salvation Army. "By bringing our thrift store into Roblox, we're introducing a new generation to the spirit of thrifting at Salvation Army in a way that feels natural to how they explore, play, and express themselves today." "Thrift Score" is integrated directly into several popular Roblox games like Seaboard City and Daycare Partyplacing the thrift store inside environments players already love and actively explore. The experience also features special, limited-edition UGC items donated by some of Roblox's most influential creators, with select designs spotlighted throughout the store. Participating influencers include @PrestonPlayz , @BriannaPlayz and @RussoPlays , each contributing their own take on thrift-inspired digital fashion. "For me, everything starts with play," said Preston Arsement (@PrestonPlayz). "Play is how we connect, how we create, and how we open the door to something bigger. But if you lead with play, heart follows. Partnering with The Salvation Army is a perfect example of thatplayers get to have fun, express themselves, and then realize they're part of something meaningful. When you combine play with heart, you can make a real impact." Just like in the real world, proceeds from "Thrift Score" support The Salvation Army's mission to help people in need through rehabilitation, recovery and community programs nationwide. The Salvation Army's digital thrift store is now live on Roblox. Players can search for "Thrift Score" at salvationarmythriftscore.com to explore the experience. About The Salvation Army The Salvation Army helped nearly 24 million people in 2023 overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment, and more The Salvation Army is doing the most good at nearly 7,000 centers of operation around the country. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on X @SalvationArmyUS. Contact: Mariah Haberman 1-608-354-7208 [email protected] SOURCE The Salvation Army Associate Dean Thompson brings extensive experience in operations and programmatic excellence to the role PHOENIX, Feb. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Phoenix is proud to announce the appointment of Yurandol Thompson, Ph.D., LPC, as Associate Dean of Counseling effective January 29, 2026. Dr. Thompson previously served as Clinical Program Chair for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at University of Phoenix and brings more than a decade of clinical experience and program quality leadership skills to the role. As Associate Dean, Thompson will partner with program chairs, coordinators, and college leadership to support Counseling programs across clinical operations, accreditation processes, student progression, and faculty support. University of Phoenix is proud to announce the appointment of Yurandol Thompson, Ph.D., LPC, as Associate Dean of Counseling. "Dr. Thompson is a thoughtful and highly capable leader who understands the complexities of Counseling programs and the importance of maintaining strong clinical and academic foundations," said Sheila Babendir, Ed.D., LPC, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at University of Phoenix. "Her ability to support teams, manage operational needs, and keep students at the center of our work strengthens the College and our ongoing focus on academic quality." Since joining University of Phoenix in 2019, Thompson has played a key role in strengthening Counseling program operations, with a particular emphasis on enhancing clinical training, supporting CACREP accreditation efforts, and improving overall program effectiveness. She helped lead a comprehensive overhaul of clinical courses to ensure closer alignment with accreditation standards and the evolving best practices of the profession. Thompson also introduced the course lead model to foster instructional consistency and collaboration across the program, and implemented CEU trainings for site supervisors to deepen partnerships and promote highquality clinical experiences for students. Throughout these initiatives, she has remained committed to thoughtful decisionmaking and sustainable structures that support student progression, faculty engagement, and longterm program quality. "Serving alongside our leadership team in this role truly means a great deal to me," Thompson shared. "I'm grateful for the chance to continue working closely with our dedicated faculty, staff, and program leaders as we create learning environments where both people and ideas can thrive. Our students place their trust in us as they prepare for meaningful careers, and I take that responsibility to heart. Counseling is deeply important work, and I remain committed to supporting efforts that honor its impact and help our community grow stronger together." Thompson completed her undergraduate studies in psychology at University of Maryland University College. She earned a Master of Arts in professional counseling from the Georgia Professional School of Psychology at Argosy University Atlanta and a Doctor of Philosophy in counselor education and supervision from Walden University. She is a licensed professional counselor in Georgia and Virginia, a national certified counselor, and an approved clinical supervisor with more than 15 years of clinical experience. Learn more here about the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at University of Phoenix. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor's and master's degree programs and a Career Services for Life commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/blog.html. SOURCE University of Phoenix About this content 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 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. Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC (LSE:SSIT) CEO and co-founder of Seraphim Space, Mark Bogget, talked with Proactive about the trusts recent portfolio revaluation, performance momentum and the powerful defence spending tailwinds driving growth across the space technology sector. Bogget explained that Seraphim Space operates three funds across the capital stack, with the publicly listed investment trust focused on growth-stage space technology companies at Series B, C and D rounds. Over the past decade, the firm has invested in 46 companies, producing nine unicorns, five IPOs and just four failures. The recent uplift was driven by the trusts four largest holdings, including ICEYE, which secured a 1.7 billion contract with the German government. Bogget described ICEYE as a poster child in the defence space industry, highlighting its radar satellite capability that can monitor every square meter of Earth every hour, regardless of weather or time of day. He pointed to a structural shift in European defence policy, with governments committing significant new budgets and accelerating procurement processes. Companies such as Hawkeye 360 and D-Orbit have completed $150 million funding rounds at higher valuations, while UK-based All Space has also seen a significant revaluation. Bogget said, These companies are winning giant contracts. Theyre moving very quickly. The markets moving in their favor and thats being recognised in our share price. With the trust trading around net asset value and operating at a premium, Bogget suggested further upside as defence-led demand continues to accelerate. Proactive: Mark, very good to speak with you. For investors new to the story, what exactly is Seraphim Space Investment Trust and how does it give public markets investors access to private space tech companies? Mark Bogget: We are an investment firm based in London but operating internationally. We launched the worlds first space investment fund ten years ago. We now have three funds investing in space, both public and private. We also run the largest global space accelerator program, working with university spinouts and early-stage teams, including former SpaceX teams, taking ten companies at a time through a three-month program. We then have private venture funds investing at seed and Series A stage globally. The publicly listed Seraphim Space Investment Trust is our growth fund, investing in companies at Series B, C and D. These companies have largely proven technology and we invest to scale them. Over ten years, weve invested in 46 companies, produced nine unicorns, five IPOs and had just four failures. Proactive: The four largest holdings delivered a combined 69 million uplift in the December quarter. Whats driving that rerating? Mark Bogget: Its a combination of macro changes and company execution. Europe has recognised it can no longer rely on the US for defence capability. NATO was historically funded 60% by the US, and now Europe has committed around 1 trillion in defence spending, with countries increasing NATO commitments to 5% of GDP. Space plays a critical role in defence launch, Earth observation, satellite communications and GPS. There has been a refocus away from large traditional defence companies toward more nimble, cutting-edge technology providers. ICEYE, our largest holding, is an Earth observation company using radar satellites that can see every square metre of Earth every hour, day or night, in all weather. It secured contracts throughout the year, culminating in a 1.7 billion contract with the German government in December. Hawkeye 360 and D-Orbit both completed $150 million funding rounds at higher valuations, reflecting growth and investor appetite. The fourth company, UK-based All Space, which develops multi-orbit, multi-satellite antennas for vehicles, has also seen a significant valuation increase, although it has not yet publicly announced the activity behind that uplift. Overall, this reflects defence growth coming through in portfolio contracts and increased investor appetite. Proactive: How has the investment trust been performing? Mark Bogget: Were one of the few trusts operating at a premium, hovering around our net asset value. Investors recognise that NAV is growing quickly and backward-looking valuations can become outdated quickly. These companies are winning giant contracts. Theyre moving very quickly. The markets moving in their favour and thats being recognised in our share price. Connecting Excellence Group Plc (AQSE:XCE, OTCQB:XCELF) CEO Scott Ellam talked with Proactive about the companys international executive recruitment business and its disciplined Bitcoin treasury strategy. Connecting Excellence Group Plc operates as an international executive recruitment firm placing senior-level professionals across consulting, logistics, engineering and technology sectors worldwide. Scott Ellam explained that a significant portion of revenue comes from US clients and candidates, with placements including US sales directors, UK managing directors and senior consulting roles. Ellam outlined how the company began acquiring Bitcoin with surplus cash flows in 2021, during a period of price weakness. He said revenues were increasing at more than 30% compound annual growth during that time, allowing the company to accumulate Bitcoin while growing an operating business that is uncorrelated to Bitcoin. The company has built a capital markets-focused board ahead of entering the public markets in December, including digital asset and pension fund expertise. Ellam stated: We have a long-term thesis in Bitcoin that the value of Bitcoin will go up over the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years and beyond and begin being used as a reserve asset, not just in corporations but in nation states. With around 30% of revenue already generated in the US, Connecting Excellence Group Plc has begun trading on the OTCQB to broaden access to US investors. The company is also engaged with institutions regarding capital raising and increasing Bitcoin per share. Looking ahead, key milestones include strategic hiring, further Bitcoin accumulation with a stated ambition to reach 1,000 Bitcoin when beneficial to shareholders, and potential preparation for a main market listing. Proactive: Scott, very good to speak with you. For US investors discovering Connecting Excellence for the first time, how would you describe the core business and how does executive recruitment sit alongside a disciplined Bitcoin treasury strategy? Scott Ellam: The core business is an international executive recruitment company. We place senior level individuals with well known businesses and small to medium-sized businesses around the world across a number of industries. Recently we placed a US sales director with an AI intelligence software company, a UK managing director with a US-based integrated services firm, and a US-based director with a globally recognised consulting firm. We work with the Big Four, consulting firms, logistics firms and engineering firms globally. A significant portion of revenue comes from US clients and candidates. We began acquiring Bitcoin with surplus cash flows in 2021. During that period our revenues were increasing at over 30% compound annual growth. Our revenues were uncorrelated to Bitcoin and growing, which allowed us to acquire more Bitcoin. We have a long-term thesis that Bitcoin will increase in value over 5, 10, 15, 20 years and beyond and begin being used as a reserve asset not just in corporations but in nation states. Before entering the public markets in December, we built a board of capital markets specialists, including expertise in pension fund Bitcoin allocation, digital assets and hedge fund management, alongside CFO Angus Gladish. The operational business grows as a result of our public status and Bitcoin treasury strategy, helping us attract high billing, revenue-generating and profitable staff from competitors. Proactive: Around 30% of your revenue already comes from the US, so why is now the right time to begin trading on the OTCQB? Scott Ellam: One of our first 12-month milestones was to allow access to US investors early. The US market has significant understanding of Bitcoin treasury strategies. We are engaged with US institutions about capital raising and increasing Bitcoin per share. We also place senior leaders in the US, so this gives clients and investors access to our shares. Proactive: You describe yourself as a profitable operating business first with a Bitcoin treasury overlay. How should investors think about that balance? Scott Ellam: We position ourselves as a growing operating business uncorrelated to Bitcoin. If capital markets were shut, we have a conservative growth strategy that could still allow the business to accrete around a 25% yield on Bitcoin over 12 months. That puts a floor under EBITDA and balance sheet value. The share premium will be based on the execution ability of the capital markets team to compound Bitcoin per share. Proactive: With OTCQB trading now live, what are the next key milestones? Scott Ellam: We will continue executing our strategic hiring strategy, aligning performance-based share options with revenue and profit generation. From a Bitcoin treasury perspective, we aim to reach 1,000 Bitcoin as quickly as beneficial to shareholders. If we achieve 300 to 500 Bitcoin with strong liquidity, we will consider preparing for main market exposure to engage institutional investors. Chesnara PLC (LSE:CSN) CEO Steve Murray talked with Proactive about the companys 110 million acquisition of Scottish Widows Europe and why the deal is expected to generate approximately 250 million in lifetime cash. Murray explained that lifetime cash generation remains a core attraction in Chesnaras acquisition strategy. Of the 250 million expected from the transaction, around 100 million is forecast within the first five years, supporting early capital return alongside long-term cash flow sustainability. He noted that the deal marks Chesnaras 16th acquisition in around 20 years, with roughly half completed in the last four to five years, highlighting an acceleration in M&A activity. The acquisition also represents Chesnaras first entry into Luxembourg, bringing with it a local administrative platform that could support further consolidation opportunities both within Luxembourg and across Europe. Murray pointed to the broader M&A pipeline, stating: We continue to see a really big opportunity for the group, citing a more active market and increased strategic focus from large financial institutions. Chesnara now manages 1.4 million policies and administers around 18 billion in assets. Murray emphasised the companys dividend track record, describing it as the best dividend growth track record in UK and European insurance, with a planned 6% increase for full-year 2025. Proactive: Steve, very good to speak with you today. You're paying 110 million for a business expected to generate 250 million in cash. What makes this such an attractive deal? Steve Murray: When we look at these deals and you and I spoke about the HSBC Life UK transaction that we announced last July and completed in January one of the first things we talked about was the lifetime cash generation that can come from these books of business. Thats certainly something within this deal that we think is attractive for investors. Alongside the 250 million youve pointed to, we expect around 100 million in the first five years. So youre seeing good capital return in the early years as well as cash coming through. Another element to this deal is that with the Scottish Widows Europe business, theres a local team and an administrative platform in Luxembourg, which we believe could be utilised to look at further consolidation opportunities, both within the Luxembourg market which has a long tail of smaller insurance companies that havent yet reached scale and also cross-border opportunities in Europe. The administrative capability of that platform is a little different to those in our Dutch business, Scildon, and our Swedish business, Movestic. Proactive: You mentioned strong capital generation. How does that support dividend growth? Steve Murray: Weve talked previously about the fact that we have the best dividend growth track record in UK and European insurance. Were proud of having consecutively increased the dividend over the last 20 years. Off the back of the HSBC Life UK deal, we also announced a planned acceleration of that step-up. We expect the full-year 2025 dividend to increase by 6% versus the usual circa 3% delivered over the last 20 years, and the interim 2026 dividend is also likely to step up by 6%. When we look at the 250 million lifetime cash generation from this book, on top of the 800 million of additional lifetime cash generation from HSBC, we think that clearly demonstrates that this dividend track record can continue going forward. Proactive: This marks your first entry into Luxembourg, but policyholders are further afield. How big is the consolidation opportunity across Europe? Steve Murray: We continue to see a really big opportunity for the group. This is the 16th deal weve announced in around 20 years, and around half of those have been in the last four or five years so theres been a real acceleration in our M&A strategy. Part of that is because of the pipeline opportunity were seeing and a more active M&A market. Large financial services groups are looking again at the assets they own and focusing more closely on strategy. Scottish Widows Europe is another example of that. Were proud that Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, Sanlam, and Canada Life have trusted us with policyholders to look after them going forward. We see further attractive opportunities across Europe and also in the UK. Proactive: You now manage 1.4 million policies and administer around 18 billion in assets. Where do you take it from here? Steve Murray: There has been significant scaling up in the group. Were proud to look after around 1.4 million customers across the UK, Netherlands and Sweden, with customers now joining via Luxembourg and also across Germany, Italy and Austria. We believe there are further opportunities to scale from here. We retain over 100 million of deployable firepower at a group level. Weve demonstrated that we can access support from debt capital markets and shareholders including the 140 million rights issue for the HSBC Life UK deal and the RT1 bond raised last year which gives us financial flexibility. In Europe, we have administrative platforms that can take more scale. In the UK, we are focused on the migration of HSBC Life UK, expected to complete by the end of 2026, which positions us to look at further M&A opportunities. Chariot Ltd (AIM:CHAR, OTC:OIGLF) this week announced a funding agreement that gives the company economic exposure to producing oil assets offshore Angola, marking what CEO Adonis Pouroulis described as a transformative deal and a pivotal step in the companys upstream strategy. The company has agreed to provide $12 million in acquisition funding, alongside transaction costs, to support Etu Energias in securing a 20% interest in Block 14 and a 10% interest in Block 14K offshore Angola. The funding will be repaid from future cash flows, while Chariot will gain exposure to production economics equivalent to up to 4,000 barrels of oil per day. Pouroulis said the transaction delivers on the companys previously stated objective of bringing oil production into its upstream portfolio. He described the agreement as the seed of a company maker, adding that it transforms our narrative by introducing a cash-generative production stream. The Chariot boss joined us in the Proactive studio to tell us more, here we take a closer look at what was said. Proactive: Adonis, it's very good to speak with you today and exciting updates out after the market closed yesterday. Can you talk us through your announcements, please? Adonis Pouroulis: Yes, of course. Thank you. We announced our plans to provide the acquisition funding for an oil-producing asset offshore Angola. We've just completed an oversubscribed placing. We are working alongside Shell Trading to provide finance and support to Etu Energias, a 100% owned Angolan E&P company, to secure a material interest in a producing asset offshore Angola. Etu is acquiring a 20% interest in Block 14 and a 10% interest in Block 14K, and we are supporting the transaction by providing $12 million of funding, along with transaction costs, which will be repaid from future cash flows. In return, we secure exposure to the economics of material production equivalent to up to 4,000 barrels of oil a day. Fundamental to this deal is the backing from Shell Trading, one of the worlds largest energy traders, which is providing an acquisition financing package of up to $170 million in return for future offtake of barrels. This marks a new era for the company, introducing economic exposure to a cash-generative production stream into the portfolio and significantly transforming the upstream business. Proactive: What does this transaction mean for the company and its strategy? Adonis Pouroulis: Last year, we announced that we were going to rescope our upstream remit and bring oil production into the portfolio for the first time. With this transaction, we are delivering on our strategy. This is a key first step in that direction. On completion of the acquisition by Etu, we will gain exposure to future cash flows from producing assets located in a prolific oil-producing region. Block 14 and Block 14K are well-established assets and have produced nearly a billion barrels of oil to date. The Block 14 licence has recently been extended to 2038, and we see substantial and mature upside in the transaction. This marks a first step into Angola, a highly attractive and well-established oil and gas jurisdiction. We are delighted to be working with Etu and alongside Shell. Overall, the deal aligns directly with our strategy of targeting cash-generative production opportunities, and we will grow from here. Proactive: How should investors think about the impact of this transaction on the business going forward? Adonis Pouroulis: This is indeed a transformative deal. It is the seed of a company maker with this transaction. It transforms our narrative and delivers on what we told shareholders we would do going upstream into production. Going forward, the upstream portfolio can include substantial economic exposure to producing assets in Angola, alongside prospective acreage in Morocco and interests in Namibia. We remain very committed to the Moroccan assets, continuing work on the onshore project and the Rissana licence, while pursuing partnering opportunities across licences, including the back-in right in Namibias Golden Province, where major discoveries have been made. We remain focused on splitting the renewable energy business out of Chariot Hold Co to create value for both businesses. Fundamentally, we have further growth plans focused on adding what we call barrels on the book. I would also like to thank shareholders for their ongoing support. This transaction is a key turning point for the company. There is an open offer available to existing shareholders on the same terms as the placing, and we welcome retail participation.3 Proactive: Adonis, congratulations on this latest development. 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. Intelligent Monitoring Group Ltd (ASX:IMB) earlier this week outlined half-year results showing continued organic momentum and a transformational acquisition in New Zealand, positioning the company for accelerated growth. Managing director Dennison Hambling said the company delivered underlying EBITDA of $19.2 million for the six months to December 31, 2025, representing a 9.2% increase and keeping it on track for full-year guidance of $4347 million. Organic growth in Australia, which represents the majority of earnings, came in at 8.3%, with total group growth just under 9%. Hambling acknowledged that New Zealand weighed on the half due to timing delays between the completion of a multi-year government upgrade programme and the commencement of new projects. However, he said activity has since returned to expected levels, supported by work at Auckland Airports domestic terminal and with Port of Auckland. A key catalyst is the $40 million acquisition of Tyco New Zealand, comprising Red Wolf Security and Wormald. Hambling said the transaction significantly broadens the companys customer base and service offering in New Zealand, transforming what had been a narrower commercial operation into a more diversified and robust platform.h Interview highlights Underlying EBITDA of $19.2 million for H1 FY2026, up 9.2% On track for full-year underlying guidance of $4347 million 8.3% organic growth in Australia; total group growth just under 9% New Zealand impacted by timing gap between major projects Performance in New Zealand now normalised $40 million acquisition of Tyco New Zealand completed Acquisition includes Red Wolf Security and Wormald Group sales pipeline up 36% quarter-on-quarter ADT strategy gaining traction across residential and commercial markets Focus shifting to accelerating organic growth beyond 8% Continued growth for IMG with strong 2026 pipeline Proactive: Intelligent Monitoring Group is positioning itself to become a leader in security and security-related services across Australasia. Joining me is managing director Dennison Hambling. Dennison, talk us through the highlights of the half-year results the EBITDA and underlying growth. Dennison Hambling: It was a solid half. We reported $19.2 million in underlying EBITDA, which puts us on track for full-year guidance of $4347 million. The most important part of the result was the 8.3% organic growth in Australia, which is the bulk of our business. Total growth for the group was just under 9%. Traditionally, we are second-half weighted, as new installations and project work tend to close toward June. Were now entering our busier months and are looking forward to a strong second half. Proactive: There was a slower start in New Zealand. What caused that? Dennison Hambling: New Zealand weighed on the result. It remains a narrower business than Australia, particularly on the commercial side. A large New Zealand government customer is coming to the end of a multi-year upgrade programme, and the timing between finishing that work and starting new projects was not ideal. We do have new work, including projects at Auckland Airports domestic terminal and with Port of Auckland. The timing mismatch created a slower start, but that has now normalised and we are back at expected run rates. Proactive: Lets turn to the $40 million acquisition of Tyco New Zealand. Dennison Hambling: The acquisition includes Red Wolf Security, a high-security business based in Wellington, and Wormald, which has operated for over 100 years. This broadens our portfolio and strengthens our New Zealand position significantly. It transforms the business from being narrower to being far more robust and diversified. Proactive: The pipeline is also growing? Dennison Hambling: Yes. At the group level, the pipeline was up 36% quarter-on-quarter. Our strategy of revitalising ADT and rebuilding scale with direct labour technicians is working. New Zealand is improving, although still behind Australia, and were optimistic about conditions improving. Proactive: Youve also highlighted the operational impact of the ADT service. Dennison Hambling: We have now supported police intervention in 44 events. Our most recent was in Brisbane, where police were activated after an attempted break-in. We are incredibly proud to have stopped 44 events. It demonstrates the value of what we provide. Proactive: What should investors expect over the next few months? Dennison Hambling: We have built the foundations over the past few years. Strategically, we now have what we need. The focus is accelerating organic growth beyond the current 8% level and improving efficiency. As that becomes visible in the numbers, we believe the business will become increasingly compelling. About this content 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. NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) earlier this week provided an update on the advancement of its broad-spectrum antiviral candidate NV-387, outlining progress in Mpox clinical development and confirming orphan drug designation filings for multiple indications. Speaking to Proactive, CEO Dr Anil Diwan said the company has completed the full clinical trial application required to initiate a Phase 2 study of NV-387 in the Democratic Republic of Congo for Mpox. Import permissions have been secured and the next steps involve site evaluation, approvals and training before dosing begins. Diwan noted that although the WHOs global Public Health Emergency declaration has been lifted, Mpox continues to spread in parts of Africa. He stated that cases continue to increase in cases and disperse despite vaccine deployment, supporting the rationale for continued development. Importantly, NanoViricides confirmed the Phase 2 study is fully funded. The company raised approximately $5.5 million in November and maintains a quarterly spend of about $1.8 million. Proactive: Alright welcome back inside our Proactive newsroom, and joining me now is Dr Anil Diwan, CEO of NanoViricides. Dr Diwan, great to see you again, how are you? Dr Anil Diwan: I'm fine. How are you? I'm doing very well. I know you've had some news out recently. I thought it'd be a great opportunity to get you on to talk about an orphan drug designation that you have filed an application for. We'll get to that in just a second. But also, you've got some news out about the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mpox. I know you've done a phase one study and you're now fully funded for a phase two study. Why don't we start there and talk to me a bit about what's going on? NV-387 is an extremely broad spectrum drug. We have been fortunate in being able to discover it and bring it to this stage. It worked against many different diseases. We decided to focus on monkeypox for further development because it was a shorter pathway. At that time there was a worldwide epidemic declaration, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO. We were getting accelerated in the programs by the regulatory agency in Africa. We submitted the required summary documents. Although the WHO emergency declaration has come off globally, the emergency declaration in the African region persists because monkeypox is not going away. Cases continue to increase and disperse despite vaccines being deployed. We were asked to complete a full-fledged clinical trial application, which has now been done. We also obtained import permission for the drug into the DRC. We have passed all of those steps. The next stage is evaluating and approving clinical sites, training them, and then starting dosing. Documentation is in preparation and we think it will take a few weeks. In the financials you mentioned this is fully funded. You're ready to go when that documentation comes in? Yes. We raised about $5.5 million in November. We spend about $1.8 million per quarter. Based on that, we have sufficient money to complete this clinical trial. There are no issues with financing. You're also filing for orphan drug designation for NV-387. What does that mean? Previously we were working on RSV, which is an $8 billion market. However, clinical trial costs were very high and biotech financing has been poor over the last four years. We needed a faster pathway. RSV and influenza require long, protracted trials. We evaluated diseases where NV-387 showed strong animal model results monkeypox, smallpox, and measles. We focused first on monkeypox because of the emergency. In the US, we assessed how to move rapidly and potentially attract non-dilutive funding. Discussions led us to the orphan drug strategy for NV-387 as a viable pathway with significant benefits, including potentially quicker regulatory approvals. Smallpox, Mpox and measles represent meaningful markets globally. Measles cases are rising in the US, with more than 25 states affected. When a measles case occurs, large groups must quarantine. If an approved drug were available, prophylactic doses could potentially reduce spread. We have now filed orphan drug designation applications for NV-387 for the treatment of measles, Mpox, and smallpox. What sort of timeline are you looking at to hear back from the FDA? These designation applications are typically handled in three to four months. We are not waiting and are already progressing next steps. If designated, there are significant benefits: R&D tax credits, fee reductions or waivers, and seven-year marketing exclusivity. Clinical trials are usually smaller and shorter for orphan indications. If an outbreak is ongoing, they can be completed more quickly. There is also a possibility of accelerated approval after Phase 2, with confirmatory work continuing afterward. That would allow the drug to be sold earlier, which is a benefit for the company. Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and style If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Washington, Feb 21 : Countries that struck trade deals with President Donald Trump - including India, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan - will temporarily face a uniform 10 per cent tariff following the Supreme Court's decision restricting the administration's use of emergency tariff powers under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), the White House said Washington, Feb 21 (IANS) Countries that struck trade deals with President Donald Trump including India, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan will temporarily face a uniform 10 per cent tariff following the Supreme Court's decision restricting the administration's use of emergency tariff powers under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), the White House said "SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) ruled that the President cannot impose tariffs using the IEEPA legal authority," a White House official said after President Trump signed a new order in this regard following the apex court striking down his IEEPA authority. The official added that countries that had negotiated trade arrangements with Trump "were being tariffed by the Administration using the IEEPA legal authority." With that authority no longer applicable, "those countries will now be tariffed at the global 10 per cent tariff using the Section 122 legal authority." The change is temporary, the White House said. "This is, however, only temporary as the Administration will be pursuing other legal authorities to implement more appropriate or pre-negotiated tariff rates," the official stated. "Until then, we expect all countries to continue abiding by their trade deal commitments on reducing trade barriers and other concessions, which have not changed." The clarification confirms that the newly announced 10 per cent global surcharge under Section 122 replaces the earlier IEEPA-based tariffs for now, but does not alter the substance of negotiated trade commitments. Earlier in the day, Trump reacted sharply to the Supreme Court ruling, calling it "deeply disappointing" and saying he was "ashamed of certain Members of the Court." "I would like to thank and congratulate Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh for your Strength, Wisdom, and Love of our Country," Trump wrote, adding that dissenting opinions showed there was "no way that anyone can argue against them." He accused the majority of being influenced by outside forces, writing: "It is my opinion that the Court has been swayed by Foreign Interests, and a Political Movement that is far smaller than people would think." Trump argued that while the Court struck down his use of IEEPA tariffs, it left other trade authorities intact and potentially stronger. "The Supreme Court did not overrule TARIFFS; they merely overruled a particular use of IEEPA TARIFFS," he said. He added that alternative statutes "are even stronger than the IEEPA TARIFFS" and that "a President can actually charge more TARIFFS than I was charging in the past." He announced that "effective immediately, all National Security TARIFFS, Section 232 and existing Section 301 TARIFFS, remain in place," and confirmed he would impose "a 10 per cent GLOBAL TARIFF, under Section 122, over and above our normal TARIFFS already being charged." In a statement, Ambassador Jamieson Greer said the Court's decision "affects one element of the Administration's successful work to reorient the global trading system to benefit American workers and businesses." Greer said the President's use of IEEPA had been "a necessary and appropriate tool" to address "the fentanyl, immigration, and trade deficit crises," and argued that progress had been made. Between April 1 and December 31, 2025, "the trade deficit in goods has declined 17 per cent," he said. The administration outlined a series of steps to maintain continuity, including: Immediately imposing a temporary 10 per cent surcharge under Section 122. Initiating several new Section 301 investigations into "unjustifiable, unreasonable, discriminatory, and burdensome acts." Continuing ongoing Section 301 probes involving Brazil and China and maintaining existing Section 232 tariffs tied to national security. Greer noted that the Supreme Court ruling addresses "only President Trump's Reciprocal and Fentanyl Tariffs," and said "extensive tariffs" under other authorities remain in place. Existing Section 301 tariffs on China range from 7.5 per cent to 100 per cent, depending on the product, while Section 232 tariffs range from 10 per cent to 50 per cent and cover roughly 30 per cent of US imports. A White House fact sheet issued Friday said the temporary import duty would last 150 days and take effect February 24 at 12:01 a.m. The document said the measure is designed to address "fundamental international payment problems" and rebalance trade relationships. Certain goods will be exempt from the temporary duty, including critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, certain electronics, passenger vehicles, aerospace products, and informational materials, according to the fact sheet. The administration also reaffirmed that US trade partners are expected to honour their legally binding agreements despite the change in legal authority. "Our partners have been responsive and engaged in good-faith negotiations and agreements despite the pending litigation, and we are confident that all trade agreements negotiated by President Trump will remain in effect," Greer said. New Delhi, Feb 21 : A Delhi court will hear a criminal revision petition filed against Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday over allegations that her name was fraudulently included in the electoral rolls before she acquired Indian citizenship. The revision petition, filed by advocate Vikas Tripathi, assails the September 11, 2025, order of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia, who had dismissed the complaint seeking a police investigation into the alleged wrongful inclusion of Sonia Gandhi's name in the voter list. According to the petitioner, Sonia Gandhi's name first appeared in the electoral roll of the New Delhi constituency in 1980, nearly three years before she formally acquired Indian citizenship in April 1983. The plea claims that such inclusion could not have occurred without forged or fabricated documents and amounts to a cognisable offence. It has been contended that her name was subsequently deleted from the electoral rolls in 1982 and re-included in 1983 after she became an Indian citizen, raising questions about the legality of the earlier entry. In an order passed on December 9, 2025, Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts had agreed to examine the revision plea and issued notice to Sonia Gandhi as well as the Delhi Police, directing the matter to be listed for further hearing. Earlier, the Magistrate Court had dismissed the complaint seeking registration of an FIR, holding that the judiciary cannot embark upon an inquiry that would result in unwarranted transgression into fields expressly entrusted to Constitutional authorities. It held that such intervention would be barred under Article 329 of the Constitution, which limits judicial interference in electoral matters except through election petitions. Opposing the revision petition, Sonia Gandhi has informed the court that the allegations are "politically motivated", baseless, and founded on incorrect and misleading facts. In her reply, she maintained that questions relating to citizenship fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Central government, while disputes concerning electoral rolls lie within the authority of the Election Commission of India. She has further argued that no credible documentary evidence has been produced to substantiate allegations of forgery or fraud and described the proceedings as an abuse of the legal process. The issue has been politically contentious, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of manipulating voter lists in the past and referring to the Sonia Gandhi case as an example of alleged irregularities. Congress, on the other hand, has dismissed such claims as baseless and retaliatory. Reacting to the court proceedings, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned whether any evidence existed to support the allegations. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, she said, "Do they have proof? This is completely false. She voted only after becoming a citizen. I don't understand why they are targeting hershe is about to turn 80 and has devoted her entire life to serving the nation. At this age, they should let her be." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New York, Feb 21 : US business groups, advocacy organisations and lawmakers welcomed a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated President Donald Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs, calling the decision a reaffirmation of congressional authority and a relief for businesses. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court determined that the executive branch exceeded its authority by invoking emergency powers to levy import taxes on most trading partners, declaring many of the previous year's tariffs illegal. Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the US Chamber of Commerce, said on Friday that the decision was "welcome news for businesses and consumers," noting that companies had faced significant cost increases and supply-chain disruptions as a result of the tariffs. He urged the administration to move swiftly to refund unlawfully collected duties and to reset overall tariff policy to promote economic growth and lower costs for families. We Pay the Tariffs, a coalition advocating for small businesses, also called for "full, fast and automatic" refunds, saying many of its members had paid billions of dollars in duties that "never should have been imposed." US Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, also welcomed the ruling, Xinhua news agency reported. "The empty merits of sweeping trade wars with America's friends were evident long before today's decision," McConnell said in a statement. "The American people already know that when Washington throws up artificial barriers, building and buying here at home become more expensive." Edward Fishman, a former State Department and Treasury official now with the Council on Foreign Relations, said the decision could limit the use of tariffs as a rapid-response geoeconomic tool, though they could still be employed in trade negotiations through other legal channels. Some business groups cautioned that uncertainty remains, expressing concern that tariffs could be reimposed through alternative statutory mechanisms. Mumbai, Feb 21 : Megastar Amitabh Bachchan shared an emotional note about son Abhishek Bachchan, saying the actor's unexpected visit brought him comfort during a moment of distress. The cinema icon took to his blog and reflected on feelings of "dislocation" and "displacement," admitting he was weighed down by worry and anxiousness when Abhishek walked into his room unannounced. "And in the distress of dislocation of disconnection of just the futility of displacement .. comes a welcome breath .. the SON .. walks into my room unannounced .. in a surprise .. simply washed away all the negativity the worry the anxiousness (sic).." Amitabh wrote. The thespian expressed gratitude for the warmth and reassurance his son brought him in that quiet moment. "Abhishek is a beautiful, considerate partner, friend and more (sic)," he added. The octogenarian married veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan in June 1973, and together they have two children; Shweta, and Abhishek. Big B was last seen on screen in Vettaiyan,a Tamil-language action drama film directed by T. J. Gnanavel. Rajinikanth, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan, Rohini, Rao Ramesh, Abhirami and Ramesh Thilak also star in the film. The film follows a senior police officer who accidentally shoots an innocent person during an encounter killing, while investigating the murder of a teacher. Talking about Abhishek, he was last seen in Kaalidhar Laapata. Madhumita directs the drama film. The story follows Kaalidhar, a middle-aged man experiencing memory loss and a sense of abandonment after overhearing his family's plan to leave him behind during a religious gathering. Choosing to leave on his own, Kaalidhar embarks on a journey that leads him to meet Ballu, an eight-year-old orphan. He will next be seen in Raja Shivaji directed by Riteish Deshmukh. The film is based on the life of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. It features an ensemble cast led by Riteish Deshmukh in the title role, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, Feb 21 : Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been granted a wild card entry into this year's Indian Wells tournament, organisers confirmed. The 45-year-old American will compete in both singles and doubles at the prestigious event in the Southern California desert, which runs from March 115. Williams expressed her excitement about returning to one of her favourite stops on the tour. "It's great to be heading back to Indian Wells and returning home to California," Williams said in a statement. "There's nothing like competing in front of these incredible fans. I've made so many fun memories here over the years, and I'm grateful to the tournament for having me back," she added. A former world number one and four-time Olympic gold medallist, Williams has enjoyed significant success at Indian Wells in the past, reaching the semi-finals on three occasions. She last competed at the tournament in 2024, also as a wild card entrant. Williams began her 2025 campaign at the Australian Open and continues to balance singles and doubles competition. Last year, she reached the U.S. Open doubles quarter-finals alongside partner Leylah Fernandez, demonstrating her continued competitiveness on the big stage. At 45 years, Williams became the oldest player to compete in the Australian Open in the Open Era, drawing loud support from the Melbourne crowd in her first-round clash. The American showed flashes of her trademark power but was unable to sustain momentum across three sets against the 24-year-old Danilovic. Williams edged a tight opening set before Danilovic struck back with greater consistency from the baseline in the second. The Serbian maintained her composure in the decider, breaking Williams at crucial moments to seal the match in just over two hours. Despite the loss, Williams impressed with nine aces and a 71 per cent success rate on first-serve points, though five double faults proved costly. Danilovic capitalised on her opponent's second serve, winning 73 per cent of those points and converting five of eight break-point opportunities. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Feb 21 : Leading industry leaders, during the 'AI Impact Summit 2026', examined whether AI agents are fundamentally disrupting the traditional software-as-a-service (SaaS) models, and cautioned against oversimplification. Addressing speculation around the future of SaaS, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson and CEO of Salesforce India, said that markets will say a lot of things, and not all of it comes true. "When you talk about the SaaS model, it's not only about vibe coding or creating an application, it's about understanding workflows, recognising customer pain points, and ensuring you address them. It's about observability, governance, auditability, and adoption," she said during a session here. Bhattacharya emphasised that while ways of working will evolve, long-term sustainability will depend on delivering real customer value. K. Krithivasan, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services, said that "We are entering an era where the role of the software engineer is shifting toward high-level architecture and rigorous validation." While AI promises immense productivity gains, he stressed that enterprise adoption requires significant groundwork, from data rationalisation to application modernisation. "We don't envision a shrinking of the sector, but rather a massive explosion in the volume of what can be produced and the complexity of the problems we can solve," he added. Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer of Infosys, said that AI is creating a $300 billion services opportunity by making the 'impossible' economically viable. Through Infosys' orchestration platforms, he noted, enterprises can integrate foundation models with specialised agents to unlock measurable business value. According to C Vijayakumar, CEO and Managing Director of HCL Technologies, "Large language models and foundational models cannot yet be applied most efficiently to enterprise use cases", noting a persistent gap between foundational capabilities and enterprise-grade performance. The leaders delivered a clear message that AI agents will reshape business and operating models, but they will not render them obsolete overnight. Success in the AI era will hinge on agility, enterprise readiness, orchestration, and above all, the ability to continuously solve real customer problems in increasingly complex digital ecosystems, they noted. IANS na/ Mumbai, Feb 21 : The Indian equity benchmarks posted mild gains on a weekly basis, despite several sessions of sharp declines in the IT index. Nifty added 0.39 per cent during the week and added 0.46 per cent on the last trading day to settle at 25,571. At Fridayas close, Sensex was up 316 points or 0.38 per cent at 82,814. It advanced 0.38 per cent during the week. Sectoral performance remained mixed during the week, with all major indices ending in the red. Nifty media was the worst performer, down 2.46 per cent on a weekly basis, followed by capital markets, down 2.44 per cent and IT, down 2.07 per cent. Global risk sentiment has improved meaningfully after the US Supreme Court struck down a majority of President Donald Trumpas tariffs that were implemented under emergency powers. The development buoyed global markets, with GIFT Nifty rising over 1 per cent, indicating the possibility of a gap-up opening for the Nifty at the start of the next week, analysts said. Continued institutional support and improving momentum indicators will be critical in determining whether the current rebound evolves into a sustained uptrend. On the domestic front, Indiaas Manufacturing and Services PMI climbed to 59.3 in February, marking the strongest reading in three months, driven by robust output growth and new orders, reflecting resilient demand conditions. Further, India signed the US Pax Silica agreement, marking a notable development on the trade and strategic front. Analysts said that immediate support for Nifty is seen at 25,350, followed by 25,200, and resistance is placed at 25,650 and 25,720. Broader indices showed divergence from the benchmark indices during the week, as the Nifty Midcap100 gained 0.13 per cent, while Nifty Smallcap100 lost 0.18 per cent. Globally, rising US-Iran tensions elevated geopolitical risks, pushing Brent crude higher to $71.8 per barrel, extending its three-day gain to 6.6 per cent and triggering risk-off sentiment across markets. This will be the key monitorable event in the near term and will provide direction to the market, market participants said. The stock market is likely to consolidate next week, tracking the geopolitical development along with the key US tariff ruling, India-US trade deal and Q3 GDP data. a"IANS aar/na -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Data is the foundation of the new economy, and AI will become the New Oil: Chief Minister. Image Source: IANS News February 21 : Lucknow: Participating in the discussion on Budget 202627, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the budget includes significant announcements regarding the establishment of Data Centers and the formation of a State Data Center Authority. In the current global scenario, data has become the foundation of the new economy, and Artificial Intelligence is set to play the role of the New Oil in the future. In this context, understanding the utility of data and its scientific management has become extremely important. The Chief Minister said, There was a time when the concept of an 'Oil Economy' dominated the world, meaning that countries with oil resources wielded influence over the global economy. Later, emerging technologies gained importance, and nations that established dominance in these technologies strengthened their global standing. Today, the world acknowledges that AI is poised to become the most powerful force of the future, and its foremost requirement is robust data infrastructure. He added, With this vision, the state government has advanced its program to establish Data Centers and develop Data Center clusters. Before 2017, there were no Data Centers in Uttar Pradesh. However, since then, the government has taken concrete steps in this direction. Several Data Centers have already been established in the state, and many more are proposed. The government aims to develop these Data Centers in cluster form to make them more effective and efficient. The primary function of a Data Center is to securely store digital data, process it, and ensure its systematic management. These three processes play a crucial role in enhancing governance efficiency. With this objective, the process of forming the State Data Center Authority is being taken forward. The Chief Minister stated that until now, it was often observed that different departments presented varying data on the same subject at different times. This created difficulties in policymaking and strategy formulation. In the absence of an integrated and authenticated data system at the departmental level, confusion frequently arose. Without accurate and verified data, action plans could not be prepared effectively. Until now, governance largely followed a problem-to-solution approach. This limited the ability to build long-term and comprehensive strategies based on data-driven forecasting. Instead of an individual approach, there is now a need to adopt a universal approach so that policies are implemented uniformly and serve the broader public interest. Data will play a significant role in realizing the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. The government intends to move beyond a reactive model toward a predictive and proactive model. Instead of finding solutions after problems arise, strategies will now be prepared in advance by assessing potential challenges through data analysis. The Chief Minister said, The State Data Center Authority will be developed as the supreme regulator and architect for the state. The Authority will collect data from various departments, integrate it, analyze it, and ensure its effective use in policymaking. He emphasized that critical thinking in linking and meaningfully utilizing data will be the true game changer. Data-driven administration will strengthen transparency, efficiency, and future-oriented policymaking. The formation of Data Center clusters and the State Data Center Authority will elevate Uttar Pradesh to new heights in digital governance and an AI-driven economy. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, Before 2017, children affected by encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh often did not receive proper treatment, and no concrete efforts were made toward its eradication. When the government assumed office in 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed that all necessary resources be provided for treatment and that hospitals be strengthened, along with taking effective steps toward the eradication of the disease. He added, Earlier, the focus was only on treating patients after they fell ill. No effort was made to reach the root cause of the disease. After 2017, the government initiated a large-scale data collection process. By bringing together various departments, organizations, and expert teams, a detailed analysis was conducted to identify the regions from which the highest number of patients were coming and to understand the underlying causes. The CM added, Uttar Pradesh has nine climatic zones, and different types of diseases emerge at different times depending on the climate of each zone. Diseases such as dengue, malaria, kala-azar, chikungunya, or cancer do not occur uniformly across the state, nor was encephalitis evenly spread throughout the region. The nature of diseases varies according to the bio-ecology and climatic conditions of a particular area. Based on this understanding, the government adopted a scientific approach and conducted in-depth studies. The Chief Minister said that after data analysis, the government concluded that most deaths due to encephalitis were occurring in areas where there was a lack of clean drinking water and where people were compelled to defecate in the open. Following this, while strengthening treatment facilities, work was carried out on two major fronts: the supply of clean drinking water and the construction of toilets in every household. This was the governments proactive and universal approach. He added, Earlier, every year 1,200 to 1,500 children used to die due to encephalitis alone. A large number of these children belonged to the Scheduled Castes, Extremely Backward Classes, minority communities, and poor families. The Samajwadi Party formed the government in the state four times, yet during those years, such a large number of children continued to lose their lives annually. Until 2017, the disease remained a serious challenge. After coming to power, we consolidated all available data, coordinated various departments, and initiated focused action. As a result, after 2019, conditions were created for the eradication of encephalitis, and today the disease has been effectively eliminated. Now, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, children no longer die due to encephalitis. The government did not view this campaign through the lens of caste or class. Government facilities are the right of every citizen and must reach each individual equally. The governments policies are not caste-based but are founded on an inclusive approach. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, Governance should not practice any form of discrimination, and under the law, the benefits of government schemes must reach everyone equally. It is the governments responsibility to ensure that welfare schemes reach the person standing at the last rung of society, without discrimination based on caste, class, or any other factor. During his address, the Chief Minister quoted lines of national poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar:Mool Janna Bada Kathin Hai Nadiyo Ka Veero Ka. Dhanush Chorkar Aur Gotra Kya Hota Hai Randheero Ka. Paate Hain Samman Tapobal Se Bhutal Par Shoor Aur Jatiya Jatiya Ka Shor Machate Keval Kayar Kroor He said, Politics based on caste divisions caused long-term damage to the state. Previous governments engaged only in caste-based political calculations, but did not think about the Dalit or Extremely Backward Class child who succumbed to a disease like encephalitis. He added that when the son of a poor family rises to become a minister, some people object, because they prefer him to remain merely a supporter rather than emerge as a leader. The Chief Minister said, Siddharthnagar was once considered the epicenter of encephalitis. The highest number of patients came from Siddharthnagar and were treated at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur. Many children lost their lives. In areas under the Devipatan division, the disease was often presented as an Unknown Illness. Referring to an incident from 2007, he said that when he was a Member of Parliament, he read a news report about the death of 10 children due to an unknown illness at the district hospital in Balrampur. He personally visited the hospital and observed clear symptoms of encephalitis among the children. When he questioned the Chief Medical Officer, he was told that due to inadequate treatment facilities, the disease had to be described as unknown. The government at that time did not show the will to resolve this serious issue. He said, After 2017, the government took concrete steps in this direction. Hospital infrastructure was strengthened, treatment facilities were expanded, and a comprehensive campaign was launched for the eradication of encephalitis. As a result, today the number of deaths due to encephalitis has come down to zero. The Chief Minister said, Making grand announcements does not produce results. Real evaluation should be based on the changes visible on the ground. He added that his government has prioritized result-oriented politics. Ensuring that the benefits of governance schemes reach everyone without discrimination remains the governments firm commitment. February 21 : Lucknow: While participating in the discussion on the Budget 2026-27, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "For the first time, Uttar Pradesh has also presented its Economic Survey Report inside the Assembly." He said that work on this had been going on for a long time and that he had told the Finance Minister that if work has been done, the data should be placed before everyone. He further added, "Uttar Pradesh, is the first state to present an Economic Survey." CM stated, "As a result of the governments continuous efforts, Uttar Pradesh has successfully established itself as a state with strong law and order, moving from risk-prone to stable and emerging as a dream destination for investment." This, he said, has become the new identity of Uttar Pradesh. Today, at every level, the state is witnessing the impact of the 'Triple T' - Technology, Trust and Transformation.' CM Yogi said, "Industry 4.0 has strengthened Indias progress through automation, the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is hosting an AI Impact Summit in Delhi for the first time. Heads of state from more than 20 countries and representatives from over 100 countries are participating in it, reflecting Indias emergence as a new leader in this field." Drawing the attention of the House, the Chief Minister also spoke about Industry 5.0, stating that it represents a new technology-driven model that is human-centric and based on values and he elaborated on the evolving role of artificial intelligence. CM further said that the entire country and the world are looking towards India. On one hand, under Prime Minister Modis leadership, India has established itself as a major global power; on the other hand, the youth organization of the Indian National Congress attempted to carry out a shameful act at Bharat Mandapam. He said that there was an attempt to tarnish Indias image before the world, which deserves strong condemnation. CM Yogi added, "While allegations and counter-allegations are part of politics, creating chaos and indulging in unruly behavior at an event where participants from more than 100 countries are present amounts to playing with the nations image. Every Indian, he said, should condemn such actions. He asserted that the strictest possible action must be taken against those who seek to damage Indias global reputation. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress MP, reached a court in Bhiwandi on Saturday in connection with a defamation case filed against him in 2014. His appearance comes as part of the procedural requirements after the death of his earlier guarantor, Shivraj Patil. According to his counsel, LoP Gandhi is required to sign a fresh bond and furnish a new guarantor before the court. Advocate Narayan Iyer, who is representing Rahul Gandhi in the matter, explained earlier on Friday that since Shivraj Patil, who had stood as his guarantor, had passed away, the court directed that a new guarantor be produced. The Congress MP is expected to complete the formalities, including signing the bond afresh, during the proceedings. The defamation case, dating back to 2014, is currently at the evidence stage. Advocate Iyer stated that the complainant, identified as Rajesh, who is the chief witness in the case, has already been cross-examined. He added that the second witness, Ashok Saikar, who had investigated the private complaint at the time, has also been examined. However, his cross-examination under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code remains pending. Iyer clarified that Saturdayas proceedings are likely to focus mainly on the acceptance of the new guarantor and completion of bond formalities, with no cross-examination expected to take place during the dayas hearing. Meanwhile, earlier on Friday, LoP Gandhi appeared before the MP/MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur in connection with a defamation case linked to his alleged remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. LoP Gandhi maintained that the case had been filed against him out of "political malice". He travelled to Sultanpur by road from Lucknow airport and left after completing the required formalities. His statement was recorded in court. The total proceedings lasted around 20 minutes. The court has fixed March 9 as the next date of hearing. Dhaka, Feb 21 : Students, social workers, and political supporters gathered at the National Martyrs' Monument at Bangladesh's Dhaka University on Saturday to pay floral tributes on the occasion of International Mother Language Day. Marking the historic day, participants assembled shortly after midnight and continued through the morning to honour the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement. The solemn ceremony reflected deep respect for those who sacrificed their lives to protect the Bengali language. Speaking to IANS, a student said, "I believe that even if someone studies in an English-medium institution, they should still learn and respect the Bengali language. Otherwise, the purpose of the struggle for Bangla will lose its meaning." Student leader Maksoda Moni also paid tribute to the martyrs, saying, "Today is International Mother Language Day. On this day, we remember and honour all the language martyrs. It was on this day in 1952 that students and ordinary citizens took to the streets demanding recognition of their mother tongue. Because of their sacrifice, we are able to speak Bengali with pride today." Afrina Pervin, a social worker present at the gathering, expressed happiness over the global recognition of the day. "I am proud and grateful that International Mother Language Day is now observed across the world. I offer my deepest respect and love to the language martyrs who made this possible," she said. A supporter of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) shared similar sentiments. "I am honoured to be part of this gathering at the first hour of February 21. This day belongs to our mother language. In 1952, students were killed by the Pakistani Army when they protested against the imposition of Urdu as the only state language. We are Bengali, our mothers are Bengali, and our mother tongue is Bengali. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," he said. International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21, highlights the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and promoting multilingual education. The theme for 2026 is 'Youth Voices on Multilingual Education,' emphasising the role of young people in safeguarding linguistic heritage. The origins of the day trace back to 1952, when students in Dhaka led protests demanding that Bangla be recognised as a state language. The demonstrations turned violent, resulting in the deaths of several protesters an event that became a defining moment in the country's history. In November 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day, and the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the observance in 2002. Since then, the day has been marked globally to celebrate cultural diversity and raise awareness about the protection of endangered languages. Mumbai, Feb 21 : Actor Kunal Kapoor has voiced support for India weighing restrictions on social media access for children under 16, saying the move is not "anti-technology" but "pro-future". Mumbai, Feb 21 (IANS) Actor Kunal Kapoor has voiced support for India weighing restrictions on social media access for children under 16, saying the move is not "anti-technology" but "pro-future". Kunal took to X, formerly called Twitter, where he re-shared a news about how "India with a population of 1.4 billion is considering a ban on social media for children under the age of 16." Reacting to the ongoing discussions around regulating social media use among minors, Kunal said protecting young minds from algorithms designed to be addictive is the need of the hour. He wrote: "This is much needed. It's not anti tech but pro future. Have to protect young minds from algorithms engineered to be addictive. And it also gives us a chance to build our homegrown platforms, that are focused on growth, not just engagement," tweeted the actor. The Union government is reportedly considering restricting social media access for those below the age of 16, by amending the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Kunal started his career as an assistant director, and made his acting debut with the MF Hussain 2004 film Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities. His career breakthrough was with the Aamir Khan-starrer Rang De Basanti in 2006. He was then seen in films such as Aaja Nachle, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Don 2, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Dear Zindagi, Veeram, Gold. After a brief hiatus, Kunal earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of Babur, in The Empire in 2021. The actor will be seen next in the magnum opus Ramayan along with Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. He will also make his Telugu debut in Vishwambhara. The film slated to be one of the most expensive Telugu films, will see him joining forces with Chiranjeevi. The actor is also a trained pilot and races rally and formula 3 cars. Only One Assyrian Preschool Remains in Turkey Merde, Turkey -- In the stone courtyards of Tur Abdin, in Turkey's southeast, the Assyrian language now survives in just one officially recognized preschool. Community leaders warn that without urgent action, that fragile foothold may not be enough to secure its future. According to UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, Assyrian is among 18 languages or dialects in Turkey that have either disappeared or are at risk of extinction. Community estimates place the country's Assyrian (Aramean--Assyrian--Chaldean) population between 15,000 and 20,000 people. Roughly 15,000 live in Istanbul and nearby cities, while most of the remainder reside in Merde (Mardin) and Sirnak provinces, particularly in the Tur Abdin region, historically a stronghold of Assyrian Christianity. The last Assyrian school in Merde closed in 1928, leaving the community without formal education in its mother tongue for decades. That changed in 2014 following a legal battle. The Assyrian Ancient Meryem Ana Church Foundation in Istanbul sought to open a kindergarten in 2013 but was blocked by the Ministry of National Education. The Ankara 13th Administrative Court overturned the ministry's decision, paving the way for the opening of the Mor Efrem Assyrian Kindergarten, which remains the only school in Turkey where Assyrian is formally taught. Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency, Evgil Turker, President of the Assyrian Associations Federation (SUDEF) based in Medyad (Midyat), said, "There is no other school." Ahead of International Mother Language Day on 21 February, Turker described the language's decline as both rapid and deeply concerning. "Assyrian once spread across Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and almost all of Turkey," he said. "It influenced many other languages and made important contributions to Arabic. But today it faces a serious danger." As Arabic became dominant across much of the Middle East, many Assyrian (Aramean--Assyrian--Chaldean) people gradually shifted away from their ancestral language. "In Syria, Lebanon, Iraq -- even in some parts of Turkey -- Assyrian was replaced by Arabic," Turker said. "Today, I would say that 80 percent of Assyrians from Syria speak Arabic as their mother tongue." Emigration has further accelerated the decline. Beginning in the 1980s, large numbers of Assyrians left southeastern Turkey, many emigrating to Europe. As communities shrank, so did the everyday use of the language. "In the Botan region, Assyrian was once the strongest spoken language," Turker said. "In Medyad, even Kurdish families who had lived there for 150 or 200 years spoke Assyrian. It was the dominant language in the market, in the streets, and in schools." Today, he said, that reality has reversed. "Our children speak Turkish among themselves. When I started school in 1972, I did not know a single word of Turkish." Historically, the language survived through religious institutions. Monasteries served as centers of theology, philosophy, mathematics, and literature, while the medrese system provided religious and linguistic education. However, after decades of emigration and institutional weakening, those structures have lost much of their reach. Under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, non-Muslim communities in Turkey were recognized as minorities with certain educational rights. Assyrian leaders argue that these protections should be more fully extended to their community. "If we are citizens, if we have this right, and if Lausanne is considered one of the most important agreements, then the state must uphold it," Turker said. "If the Ministry of National Education has a budget, there should be a budget for these schools as well." He also called on local governments to revive earlier initiatives promoting multilingualism. In 2014 and 2015, some municipalities in southeastern Turkey adopted a "multilingual municipality" model reflecting the region's linguistic diversity, including Assyrian, Turkish, Kurdish, and Arabic. Those efforts stalled in subsequent years amid political changes and the appointment of state trustees in place of elected mayors. "Medyad speaks four languages," Turker said. "Multilingual governance is not a slogan here. It is a reality." For now, the Mor Efrem kindergarten remains a singular experiment -- a modest classroom carrying the weight of centuries. "If we do not open a school in Medyad, in the heart of Tur Abdin, and provide education in our mother tongue," Turker said, "we will disappear." Chennai, Feb 21 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin will visit Madurai on Saturday, continuing his government's outreach across the state to inaugurate development projects and launch welfare initiatives. According to the itinerary, the CM will arrive at Madurai Airport and proceed to the ELCOT Technology Park, where he is expected to participate in an official event. Following this, he will inaugurate a capacity-building facility established by Pinnacle Industries. Later, the Chief Minister is scheduled to reach Thamukkam Maidanam, a central venue in the city, where he will preside over the opening of a key section of a major highway project. He will also participate in a virtual unveiling of the statue of the Marudhu Pandiyar brothers, noted freedom fighters from the region. In the early afternoon, Stalin will visit the Meenakshi Government Womenas Arts College, where he will inaugurate the newly upgraded computer laboratory, strengthening education resources for students. Shortly after, he will travel to Vandiyur, with plans to inaugurate several development works, including modern amenities at the Anguran Science Centre and the new office building for the local panchayat. Additionally, he will officially launch a rural drinking-water supply project that will benefit 867 households in surrounding villages. The Chief Minister's itinerary also includes a rest stop at the Madurai Guest House around 1.20 p.m., followed later by participation in a ruling party event for DMK grassroots workers in the evening. Stalin will conclude the day's official activities with a visit to the Gandhi Memorial Museumas Gandhi Mandapam for a programme organized by the Peopleas Justice Forum. At approximately 6:30 p.m., he is scheduled to depart from Madurai Airport, returning to Chennai by a special flight and concluding the one-day engagement. This visit underscores the state governmentas continued focus on promoting infrastructure development, educational enhancement, and rural welfare projects across Tamil Nadu. New Delhi, Feb 21 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Saturday called on Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and discussed ways to advance the Strategic Partnership between the two nations. Later in the day, PM Modi and the Brazilian President will hold a bilateral meeting. The EAM expressed confidence that the Brazilian President's engagements with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day would impart a new momentum to the bilateral ties. Following the meeting, EAM Jaishankar took to X and said, "Honoured to call on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, visiting India on a State Visit. Deeply appreciate his warm sentiments and guidance on advancing our Strategic Partnership." "Confident that his meetings with PM Narendra Modi later today will impart a new momentum to our ties," he added. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated, "Both leaders would be reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations. The 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." President Lula arrived in India on February 18 for the 2nd AI Impact Summit. He 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. This is 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 the 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. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Feb 21 : Dedicated to the Strengthening of the Rule of Law, Democratic and Parliamentary Institutions, and Electoral Processes, O.P. Jindal Global University has launched three new Degree Programmes in Electoral Analysis & Management, Political Communication, and Legislative Drafting. The launch took place in the presence of the Chief Guest, Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Guest of Honour, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Law & Justice (Independent Charge), Government of India. Other distinguished luminaries included Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India and Naveen Jindal, Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University and Member of Parliament. The three Master's Degree Programmes are M.A. in Legislative Drafting, M.A. in Electoral Analysis & Management, and M.A. in Political Communication. Designed as intensive one-year programmes, the three M.A. degrees respond to the growing demand for professionally trained experts capable of engaging with the complex realities of contemporary democracy -- ranging from election administration and political campaigns to strategic communication and high-quality law-making. In the Inaugural Address, the Chief Guest, Speaker Om Birla said, "In today's democratic age, when we are the world's largest democracy, and looking at the current needs and those of the future, these master's degree courses will improve our democracy. The courses will help prepare young people who will give a new direction to the political, democratic, technological and literacy aspects of our country. They will improve our economic systems and give a new direction to people's participation in democracy. Since 1952, eighteen Lok Sabha elections have been held, and India is the only democratic country where elections are held transparently. Our future generation will study Electoral Analysis & Management and do new research. The more our youth study this subject, the more they will innovate, and active participation in democracy will also increase. Multicultural communication is necessary today. The Indian Parliament has also used AI technology to increase the proximity of the people and the legislators. These courses will prepare the future generation in a way that their participation will strengthen democratic institutions, democratic processes and judicial systems." In his Presidential Address, Minister of Law and Justice (Independent charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal said, "The launch of advanced degree programmes in Legislative Practice, Electoral Analysis and Management, and Political Communication by O.P. Jindal Global University is a landmark achievement. In legislative language, even a single word can carry different meanings. Every word in the Constitution has meaning; every concept has significance. Legislative drafting is extremely important: when any Ministry prepares a Bill, it is sent for legal vetting and careful drafting. There is a full institutional mechanism in place to ensure clarity and precision. Through these courses, JGU students will gain a better understanding of legislative drafting and governance. This knowledge will benefit society at large." R. Venkataramani, Attorney General for India, lauded the new courses in a special message and said, "I hope these courses attract the brightest talent and they turn out as immaculate resources for the society. A full-fledged course in legislative drafting is long overdue. JGU is looking to create talents who can make more credible communication in political connectivity. We look forward to an exciting journey in this field of education." "It is indeed a privilege to be a part of this gathering today," said Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India. "One of the most ignored subjects in law is legislative drafting. JGU must be the first-ever institution which offers a postgraduate course in legislative drafting, and this is important because what we are lacking as a nation is good legislative drafting. Now, we will have able and committed professionals who are trained in the art of drafting legislation. Often, we do not consider legislative drafting to be something that can be taught. But it is a science in itself." Naveen Jindal, the Founding Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University and Member of Parliament, said that the new courses launched by JGU will help strengthen India's democratic process and enable young people to pursue three unique programmes in electoral analysis and legislative drafting at JGU. In his Welcome Address, the Founding Vice Chancellor, Prof (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, O.P. Jindal Global University, said, "Today we are launching three important academic initiatives, and each has a particular purpose and meaning. Uncertainty and unpredictability in the legislative drafting stage create obvious interventions by courts, which may not necessarily be the best way to approach the very idea of justice. At a time when the faith in democratic institutions and processes in many countries around the world, including developed countries, is being questioned and challenged, these new courses will strengthen the political and legislative process. We need to be part of democratic conversations, creating knowledge, contributing to research and engaging with civil society as well. Beyond academic training, these programmes are designed to significantly enhance students' employability by integrating hands-on and immersive learning, mentorship from experienced practitioners, and exposure to real-world policy and governance environments. Through internships, live projects, simulations, and interaction with policymakers and communication professionals, students will graduate with practical skills, professional networks, and domain expertise that are highly valued across government institutions, political organisations, consulting firms, media houses, regulatory authorities, and international organisations." Introducing Master's Degree Programmes, Prof (Dr) Upasana Mahanta, Dean, Admissions & Outreach, O.P. Jindal Global University, said that together, the three programmes reflect JGU's commitment to interdisciplinary, practice-oriented education that bridges academia and real-world governance challenges, while fostering ethical leadership and democratic values. The M.A. in Electoral Analysis & Management (EAM) focuses on the theory and practice of elections, covering electoral systems, voter behaviour, campaign strategy, election administration, data analytics, and democratic ethics. The programme prepares graduates for roles in election management bodies, political parties, campaign organisations, policy institutions and civil society. The M.A. in Political Communication examines the relationship between politics, media, technology and public opinion. Combining political theory with communication studies, digital strategy, campaign simulations, and practitioner-led learning, the programme equips students to design, analyse, and manage political messaging across traditional and digital platforms. The M.A. in Legislative Drafting offers specialised training in the drafting of laws and regulations, statutory interpretation, constitutional principles and policy design. The programme aims to professionalise legislative drafting by integrating legal precision, plain-language drafting and comparative best practices, preparing graduates for careers in legislatures, government departments, regulatory bodies and policy research. Prof Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, the Registrar of O.P. Jindal Global University, gave the Vote of Thanks. Beirut, Feb 21 : Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported a preliminary toll, stating that over 10 individuals had died and more than 30 were wounded in the airstrike on a building in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon. A source from the Lebanese Civil Defence told Xinhua news agency that the death toll had climbed to 11, with 35 injured, adding that search efforts for missing persons were currently underway. Well-informed security sources revealed to Xinhua that among the deceased were three Hezbollah commanders: Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, Ali Zeid al-Moussawi and Mohammad Ibrahim al-Moussawi. In a statement, Hezbollah mourned commander Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, stating that he had become "a martyr in defence of Lebanon and its people." Lebanese security sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out six airstrikes on areas in eastern Lebanon, including Hezbollah sites. Since November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect. Earlier on February 16, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned that Israel would face a "painful" response if tensions escalate, accusing the United States of directly supporting Israeli military operations and regional expansion. Speaking at a memorial ceremony, Qassem said in a speech aired on al-Manar TV channel that Israel is pursuing "maximum pressure" aimed at extracting political concessions while avoiding the broader costs of war. He added that although Israel may achieve tactical military superiority in certain confrontations, it would not be able to impose lasting control or stability. Qassem described Israel as an "expansionist entity" seeking broader territorial control across Palestine and the region. He warned against the gradual and formal annexation of the occupied West Bank. He pointed to developments in Gaza, claiming that significant portions of the territory are under direct Israeli control. He also described the United States as a "full partner" in Israeli actions, alleging that Washington manages operations and provides political and diplomatic cover for military campaigns and territorial expansion. Hezbollah and Israel engaged in cross-border fighting following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. Sao Paulo, Feb 21 : Brazil's government has unveiled its strategic vision for artificial intelligence (AI), noting that its development and application should be guided by social inclusion, digital sovereignty and sustainable development. During a panel at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Friday (local time), Brazilian officials detailed public policies designed to integrate AI into health care, education, public services and digital infrastructure, according to a statement from the Brazilian presidency. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Luciana Santos noted that in 2024, the government launched the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan 2024-2028, earmarking 23 billion reais (about 4.4 billion US dollars) in public investment over four years, reports Xinhua news agency. "The goal is to promote the development, availability and use of artificial intelligence in Brazil, directing it to address national economic, environmental and cultural challenges," she said. Minister of Communications Frederico Siqueira said that the expansion of digital commerce and the inclusion of millions of people who remain offline require more telecommunications infrastructure and data centres. Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha stated that Brazil seeks to position itself as a regional leader in the use of AI in healthcare, bringing together government, science and industry to build a secure and sovereign environment in digital health. Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira reiterated the need for global AI governance, warning that "we cannot repeat the mistakes of the past." Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday hailed the AI Impact Summit being hosted by New Delhi. While spotlighting that an ancient Indian mathematician was the first inventor of the Binary number system, he asserted that the digital world has returned to its homeland. The Brazilian leader who sat alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam hailed the landmark event being held at a time when, according to him, societies find themselves at crossroads. "For Brazil, it is a pleasure to participate in the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit organised by the Indian government, the first time it has been held in the Global South," President Lula posted on X. "Here in Delhi, the digital world returns to its homeland. It was Indian mathematicians who bequeathed to us, more than 2,000 years ago, the binary system that would come to structure modern computing. We are making our way back to discuss one of the greatest dilemmas of our time. Our societies find themselves at a crossroads. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is advancing rapidly while multilateralism is dangerously retreating. It is in this context that the global governance of Artificial Intelligence assumes a strategic role," the visiting leader added. Seoul, Feb 21 : South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has dismissed the Minister of the Korea Forest Service, Kim In-ho, after he was found to have committed an unlawful act, Lee's office said Saturday, without further elaborating. "We have found that the minister of the Korea Forest Service caused trouble by committing a serious violation of existing laws, and decided to dismiss him from the post," Lee's office said. The presidential office did not elaborate on what specific law Kim violated, but warned it would react sternly to any violations of law by high-ranking officials going forward, reports Yonhap news agency. Later in the day, police confirmed they had booked Kim on charges of driving under the influence. Kim is accused of subsequently ramming into a bus and a car while drunk driving at an intersection in the Bundang district of Seongnam at around 10:50 p.m. on Monday, according to the Bundang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul. The ex-minister reportedly ignored traffic lights before he collided with the vehicles. No injuries were reported, while Kim's blood alcohol concentration was found to be at a level warranting a license suspension, according to police. "We plan to investigate the exact details of the incident once we coordinate when to summon the suspect," the police said. A former environment professor, Kim was nominated to the position in August after serving as the vice chair of the ruling Democratic Party's policy committee. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21 : Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday accused Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan of instigating protests over the alleged surgical lapse at Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha, asserting that the government had already taken all necessary steps in the matter. "I do not know why this is happening. All that needed to be done has been done. What happened in the name of protest is not acceptable at all," the Minister said, referring to the Youth Congress demonstration at her official residence when the protesters placed a wreath at the entrance. The protest followed the incident in which a surgical instrument was allegedly left inside a patient's abdomen during a procedure at the medical college hospital in 2021. Youth Congress workers marched to the Minister's residence carrying a wreath and, at around 8 a.m., reportedly breached police security to place it at the entrance of the house. The police later removed the wreath. The episode exposed a security lapse, with only three police personnel deployed at the Minister's residence at the time. Additional forces arrived nearly 15 minutes after the protest began. Scuffles broke out as police attempted to arrest and remove the demonstrators, who resisted efforts to take those detained into custody. The protesters were eventually dispersed. Meanwhile, Ambalappuzha police have registered a case invoking Sections 125 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for endangering human life and personal safety. The Head of the Department, Dr Lalithambika, has been named as the sole accused based on a complaint filed by a relative of the patient, Usha Joseph, though more names may be added as the investigation progresses. An expert committee comprising specialists from Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam Medical Colleges is set to submit its report to the Director of Medical Education. The surgeon, Dr Shahida, and Nursing Officer Dhanya have already been suspended following preliminary findings that pointed to a lapse during the procedure. Further action will depend on the panel's final conclusions. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Feb 21 : Kanishka Narayan, the UK's AI Minister received a warm welcome in Patna on Saturday during his visit to Bihar after more than two decades. Sanjay Kumar Jha, JD(U) MP, welcomed the visiting minister at his residence in Patna and highlighted the significance of his visit for the state's technological aspirations. Speaking to IANS, Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Since he is from Bihar and serves as a minister in the AI department in UK, he is familiar with all these matters. Today, everything has become global, and Bihar is keeping pace, especially in the field of technology." Jha further noted, "Kanishka Narayan is the AI Minister in the United Kingdom and a UK citizen, originally from Muzaffarpur. He is visiting Muzaffarpur after 23 years. In the afternoon, he is scheduled to meet officials of the Bihar government, and there might be collaboration in AI with London; some talks might happen on that as well." Narayan, reflecting on his return to his birthplace, said, "I was born here, and so I'm back after more than 20 years. You can see a huge amount of progress here. We are chasing the future of technology, that's what we're trying to do in the UK with AI as well, so it's a real personal pleasure to be here in Bihar." His visit is seen as symbolically significant, bridging his roots in Bihar with his current role in shaping the UK's AI strategy. Discussions during the visit are expected to explore potential cooperation in AI development, research, and innovation. Earlier on Friday, speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Narayan described the ongoing discussions as highly significant. "The summit has been deeply impactful," the Minister stated, recognising the value of this global gathering in shaping the future of AI. Narayan emphasised that the UK-India relationship in the digital domain rests on mutual understanding and aligned strategic priorities. He highlighted the parallel paths both nations are taking in the regulation and responsible deployment of AI. "The UK and India have shared values and AI trajectory as well," he remarked, pointing to the clear synergy in their approaches to the technology's evolution. Expressing strong personal interest in advancing ties, Narayan concluded, "I am very keen on collaborations with India as we have a lot to do together." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, Feb 21 : On her 35th death anniversary on Saturday, actor Mohnish Bahl remembered his mother, legendary actress Nutan and paid a heartfelt tribute to the late star. Mumbai, Feb 21 (IANS) On her 35th death anniversary on Saturday, actor Mohnish Bahl remembered his mother, legendary actress Nutan and paid a heartfelt tribute to the late star. Mohnish took to Instagram, where he shared a monochrome picture of Nutan, who, was noted for her naturalistic acting in parts of conflicted women often deemed unconventional. For the caption, he simply dropped red hearts and a folded hand emoji. In a career spanning four decades and a filmography of almost 100 films, ranging from urban romances to socio-realist dramas, Nutan made her debut at the age of 14 in the 1950 film Hamari Beti, directed by her mother. She was known for her work in films such as Sujata, Bandini, Milan, Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, Anari, Chhalia, Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Khandan, Saraswatichandra, Anuraag, and Saudagar, to name a few. Nutan was last seen in the film Insaniyat in 1994 in which she appeared posthumously. The legendary star was married to naval Lieutenant-Commander Rajnish Bahl from 1959 until her death from breast cancer in 1991. Talking about her son, Mohnish debuted with the film Bekarar in a supporting role opposite Padmini Kolhapure and Sanjay Dutt. He was then seen in Teri Bahon Mein, a remake of The Blue Lagoon with Ayesha Dutt, wife of Jackie Shroff. His only commercial success in a leading role was Purana Mandir. He was then seen in Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath-Saath Hain are considered landmark films that transformed He has starred in over 100 films. Mohnishas daughter, Pranutan Bahl, made her acting debut with Notebook in 2019. She has since starred in Helmet and Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani. Kolkata, Feb 21 : Event organiser Tanay Shastri on Saturday lodged a formal police complaint against Bengali actress and former Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty, escalating a legal feud that began with a Rs 20 lakh defamation notice. Shastri, who recently spent 14 days in judicial custody following a harassment charge by the actress, is now seeking a public apology and the return of a Rs 2.65 lakh performance fee, alleging that Chakraborty's "false" accusations have caused significant reputational damage. The complaint has been lodged at the Bangaon Police Station in North 24 Parganas district, two days after Shastri served her a defamation notice. Speaking to local media on Saturday, event organiser Tanay Shastri said, "Mimi Chakraborty came to perform at our club and took a fee of Rs 2.65 lakh. I have demanded that the money be returned as she did not come at the scheduled time. Because of her complaint, my reputation has been damaged. The actress will have to come and apologise in public. With that demand, I went to the superintendent of police's office and filed a written complaint at the Bangaon police station against her." Shastri further claimed, "We did not disrespect Mimi Chakraborty on stage. I had to spend 14 days in judicial custody because of her false case against me. I have sought justice from the court and the government." On Thursday, Shastri said that a legal notice had been sent to Chakraborty asking her to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation or face legal action. Chakraborty has not issued any official statement on the latest development. Shastri told reporters, "She has defamed me without any reason. For this, I have demanded Rs 20 lakh from the actress. If she does not tender an apology or pay the money, the defamation case will be filed in court in the next two or three days. This is just the beginning. I will see it through to the end." Last month, Chakraborty had travelled to perform at an event organised by Shastri in Bongaon in the North 24 Parganas district, where she was the final performer of the night. Chakraborty alleged that Shastri removed her from the stage midway through the performance, as it was midnight and he did not have permission for the event to continue beyond that time. She subsequently filed a police complaint accusing him of harassment. Shastri filed a counter-complaint, claiming that Chakraborty did not arrive for the performance at the specified time and that he had requested her to leave the stage, denying any harassment. The police later visited his residence to investigate the matter, during which he allegedly obstructed the officers. Shastri and two associates were arrested on charges of harassment and obstruction of police duty, with a case registered under a non-bailable section. After spending more than a week in judicial custody, he was granted bail on February 11. With Shastri now pursuing a defamation claim against Chakraborty, the dispute appears set to enter a fresh legal phase. Gandhinagar, Feb 21 : On his maiden visit to Gujarat after assuming office as National President of the BJP, Nitin Nabin paid a courtesy visit to His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj at the revered Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar. On Friday, Nabin was accompanied by senior party leaders, including Jagdish Vishwakarma, President of BJP Gujarat; B.L. Santhosh, National General Secretary (Organisation); and Ratnakarji, BJP Gujarat Organisation Secretary. The meeting was marked by warmth and reverence as the delegation sought the blessings of Mahant Swami Maharaj. During the interaction, His Holiness offered heartfelt prayers for their dedicated service and for the continued peace, unity, harmony, and prosperity of the nation. He also emphasised the timeless values of integrity, compassion, and selfless leadership as guiding principles for nation-building. The visit reflected a shared commitment to social harmony, cultural values, and the holistic development of society. The serene atmosphere of the Akshardham complex provided a spiritual backdrop to the interaction, underscoring the importance of moral and ethical foundations in public life. Later on February 21, Nabin visited the Sabarmati Riverfront, where he participated in outreach activities and interacted with local residents. He also offered prayers at the historic Bhadrakali Mata Temple in Ahmedabad. He is scheduled to address state office-bearers, organisational leaders, and party workers at the BJP state headquarters in Gandhinagar, followed by a meeting with the partyas social media team. In the afternoon, he will speak at the Young Voice Summit at GIFT City, described as Indiaas first International Financial Tech City, and interact with young entrepreneurs and start-up founders. In the evening, he will address a booth workersa conference at GMDC Hall in Ahmedabad. On February 22, Nabin will attend a public listening session of Prime Minister Narendra Modias monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', in Khadia, Ahmedabad, at 10:45 a.m. He is scheduled to depart for Delhi later that afternoon. Nitin Nabin recently assumed charge as the youngest National President of the BJP, succeeding outgoing president JP Nadda. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Bagalkot : , Feb 21 (IANS) Three migrant labourers and their two-year-old child, all hailing from Maharashtra, were killed in a road accident in Karnataka's Bagalkot district on Saturday, the police said. Bagalkot (Karnataka), Feb 21 (IANS) Three migrant labourers and their two-year-old child, all hailing from Maharashtra, were killed in a road accident in Karnatakaas Bagalkot district on Saturday, the police said. According to the police, the victims were travelling in a tractor trolley to a sugarcane field for harvesting work when the trolley reportedly got detached from the vehicle and overturned near Katte Kere in Jamakhandi taluk, killing four of them on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Manish Pandey, 23, Halaki Pandey, 2, Lakshmi Chiramadi, 27, and Rekha Bhuke. They were residents of Gupawadi village in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. The labourers had come to the Jamakhandi region for seasonal sugarcane cutting work. The police said the impact of the accident was so severe that all four died on the spot. The bodies were later shifted to a hospital for post-mortem examination. The police carried out a preliminary inspection of the accident site and registered a case in the accident. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. The incident comes amid a series of recent tragedies involving migrant workers in Karnataka. On January 31, four migrant workers from Assam employed by a private firm were found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a labour shed in Muthsandra village of Hoskote taluk, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Police said the men were sleeping in the shed when the incident occurred. Preliminary findings suggest possible suffocation, though the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed. Earlier, on February 8, three migrant workers from Andhra Pradeshas Annamayya district were killed, and 15 others seriously injured when a jeep carrying agricultural labourers overturned near Srinivaspur in Kolar district. The group had travelled to Karnataka for farm work and were returning home when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to skid and overturn. Chennai, Feb 21 : With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections drawing closer, political activity across the state has intensified, and alliance negotiations have entered a crucial phase. The latest development - the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) joining the DMK-led front - has significantly altered the seat-sharing arithmetic within the rival AIADMK alliance. Until recently, the DMDK, led by Premalatha Vijayakanth, was widely expected to align with the AIADMK. However, in a dramatic turn of events, the party opted to join the DMK alliance, prompting fresh discussions among AIADMKas existing partners over seat allocation. Sources indicate that in the absence of DMDK within the AIADMK front, other alliance partners are likely to press for a larger share of seats. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the AIADMK contested 179 constituencies, while some smaller allies contested 12 seats under the AIADMKas 'Two Leaves' symbol. The BJP, which was part of the AIADMK-led alliance, contested 20 seats, while the PMK fielded candidates in 23 constituencies. With political equations shifting ahead of the 2026 polls, indications are that the BJP may seek to contest more than the 20 seats it was allotted previously. The AMMK, another potential ally, is also reportedly aiming for a double-digit number of seats in the upcoming elections. Political observers note that DMDK's decision to align with the DMK could compel the AIADMK to recalibrate its alliance strategy quickly. The leadership is expected to balance internal party ambitions with the demands of alliance partners, especially in constituencies considered winnable. Adding to the political momentum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu twice in March. Reports suggest that discussions between the AIADMK and BJP on finalising seat-sharing arrangements may gain pace before or during these visits, signalling the formal consolidation of their electoral understanding. As both major fronts gear up for the high-stakes Assembly battle, the coming weeks are expected to witness intense negotiations, strategic adjustments, and possibly further realignments within Tamil Naduas dynamic political landscape. Guwahati, Feb 21 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Northeast, which was once considered a disturbed region, is today witnessing peace and stability due to sustained efforts by the BJP-led government at the Centre. Addressing the 87th Raising Day celebrations of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Guwahati, HM Shah said that the role played by the CRPF and other security forces in restoring peace in the region has been historic and unparalleled. He noted that nearly 700 CRPF personnel have sacrificed their lives over the decades to ensure peace and security in the Northeast. "The Northeast was once associated with unrest, violence and instability. Today, peace has returned to the region, and the credit goes to the bravery and sacrifices of our security forces, especially the CRPF," the Home Minister said. HM Shah pointed out that the 87th Raising Day celebrations marked a historic moment, as this was the first time in the 86-year history of the CRPF that the event was being held in Assam. He said the decision to hold the celebrations in the Northeast reflects the region's transformation and its growing importance in India's internal security framework. The Home Minister said the BJP government has also been successful in restoring peace in other conflict-affected regions of the country. Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, HM Shah said that decisive policy measures and firm action against terrorism have significantly improved the security situation there. He also said that Maoist activities in several parts of the country have been effectively curbed under the BJP government. Highlighting the government's focus on border security, HM Shah said sustained efforts are being made to keep India's borders intact, peaceful and secure. He added that development and security are being pursued together, especially in border and sensitive regions. HM Shah said that peace in the Northeast has opened new avenues for development, investment and growth, allowing the region to move forward on the path of prosperity. He reiterated the Centre's commitment to ensuring lasting peace while strengthening infrastructure and connectivity across the region. The Home Minister also paid tribute to fallen CRPF personnel and their families, saying the nation will forever remain indebted to their supreme sacrifice in safeguarding India's unity and integrity. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Following the shirtless protest by Youth Congress workers at India AI Impact Summit, BJP National Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Saturday targeted the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, referring to him as 'Lashkar-e-Rahul' and stating that the country would never forget the incident. Speaking to reporters, Trivedi said, "At the AI Summit, on one hand, we witnessed a magnificent display of India's talent and intellect. On the other hand, we saw a shameful display of the Congress party's pettiness and obscenity. What the Congress has done is not politics. It cannot simply be dismissed as negative politics." He further remarked, "It is like treason against the nation. At a time when the entire country is agitated and angry, such behaviour is unacceptable. Never before has it happened that during any international summit including those held during Congress governments such low-level protests were staged. I believe the people of this country will never forgive such a disgraceful act." Trivedi added that when the country is organising a major AI Summit and showcasing its technological progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, such actions only tarnish India's global image. "Earlier, Rahul Gandhi used to go abroad and make objectionable remarks. Now, the so-called soldiers of 'Lashkar-e-Rahul' are attempting to malign the country's image in front of world leaders," he said. He concluded by stating that the Congress party has repeatedly crossed the boundaries of political decorum, blurring the line between democratic opposition and irresponsible conduct. Meanwhile, workers of the BJP staged a protest outside the Congress headquarters in Delhi on Saturday, condemning the demonstration by Youth Congress members during the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam. The protest followed an announcement made on Friday by Virendra Sachdeva, who said he would lead a march from Man Singh Road roundabout to the Congress office at 24 Akbar Road to denounce what he termed as hooliganism by Youth Congress workers at the summit venue. Islamabad, Feb 21 : Pakistan's poverty rate has climbed to an 11-year high of 29 per cent, while income inequality has touched its highest level in 27 years, amid a steep decline in real incomes and consumption over the last seven years, local media reported, citing an official survey released by the country's Planning Ministry. As per the findings, shared by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, nearly 70 million people in Pakistan are now living in abject poverty based on the monthly poverty line of Rs 8,484 -- a minimum expenditure required to meet the basic needs of life. According to the preliminary poverty assessment for the fiscal year 2024-25, there was a 32 per cent increase in poverty since 2018-19 when the last Pakistan's poverty survey was conducted. The findings indicated that in 2019 the poverty ratio stood at 21.9 per cent, but rose to 28.9 per cent in the first year of the Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government. This marked the highest level since 2014, when the poverty rate was recorded at 29.5 per cent. The survey highlighted a sharp rise in income inequality in Pakistan, which jumped to 32.7, the highest ratio since 1998, when it stood at 31.1. Pakistan recorded the highest unemployment rate in 21 years at 7.1 per cent, along with the highest poverty rate in 11 years and the widest income inequality in 27 years -- the outcomes described as the poor policy choices by the ruling class, leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported. The poverty in rural areas rose disproportionately, increasing from 28.2 per cent to 36.2 per cent, while urban poverty rose from 11 per cent to 17.4 per cent. Iqbal noted that poverty increased across provinces, with Punjab rising from 16.5 to 23.3 per cent, a 41 per cent jump in seven years, and in Sindh, poverty jumped from 24.5 per cent to 32.6 per cent, marking a one-third surge over the same period. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the poverty rate increased from 28.7 per cent to 35.3 per cent, reflecting nearly a one-fourth rise within a year. Balochistan remains the hardest hit province, where almost every second person lives in poverty. The poverty ratio in the conflict-hit province increased from 42 per cent to 47 per cent -- a rise of 12.4 per cent. The report attributed the rise in poverty in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to the persistent security challenges that have disrupted livelihoods, constrained access to markets and essential services, and increased household vulnerability, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable segments of society in these provinces. The income inequality also increased across Pakistan, with Punjab rising from 28.4 to 32 per cent, Sindh from 29.7 to 35.9 per cent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 24.8 to 29.4 per cent, and Balochistan from 21 to 26.5 per cent. Mumbai, Feb 21 : Shares of Suzlon Energy continued to remain under pressure with the stock falling nearly 50 per cent of its recent peak of Rs 86 per share. The stock was last seen around this level in May 2024 -- reflecting cautious investor sentiment toward the counter that had earlier witnessed a strong rally between 2020 and 2024. On Friday, the companyas shares closed at Rs 44.38, down Rs 0.87 or 1.92 per cent, according to the official data. Over the last five days, the shares have declined by Rs 1.15 or 2.53 per cent. In the past one month, the stock has also fallen by Rs 1.15 or 2.53 per cent. In the last six months, the shares have dropped by Rs 13.78 or 23.69 per cent. On a year-to-date basis, the stock has declined by Rs 8.09 or 15.42 per cent. Over the past one year, the shares have fallen by Rs 10.79 or 19.56 per cent, the data showed. Suzlon Energy, which has a large base of retail shareholders, began its downward trend in September. What started as a mild decline soon turned into a prolonged correction. From its recent peak of Rs 86 per share, the stock has now lost nearly 50 per cent of its value, eroding significant investor wealth. The fall comes even though the wind energy companyas December quarter results were broadly in line with Street estimates. Analysts said that, similar to other utility companies, Suzlon is facing challenges in scaling up project commissioning. Issues related to land acquisition, right of way (RoW), and grid connectivity are affecting the pace of execution. For the September-ending quarter, the company reported revenue of Rs 4,228 crore, up from Rs 2,969 crore in the same period last year. The growth was driven by higher deliveries of 617 megawatts (MW). Net profit rose 15 per cent year-on-year to Rs 445 crore. However, profitability was partly impacted by a deferred tax charge of Rs 119.17 crore. New Delhi, Feb 21 : The Jaish-e-Mohammed is on overdrive mode where its women's wing is concerned. The outfit has been recruiting young women, who in turn will be deployed in nightclubs, bars, and pubs that are owned by Indians in different parts of the world, the agencies have learnt. New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) The Jaish-e-Mohammed is on overdrive mode where its womenas wing is concerned. The outfit has been recruiting young women, who in turn will be deployed in nightclubs, bars, and pubs that are owned by Indians in different parts of the world, the agencies have learnt. These women are being trained to carry out attacks in these places that are owned by Indians. While bars, pubs and nightclubs in India are being identified, Jaish-e-Mohammed is in the process of zeroing in on these places in other countries as well. The idea is to recruit young and pretty women and get them jobs in these places. Their job would be to work there and understand the place. This is basically a reconnaissance mission, an official said. Once the process is completed, the plan will be set in motion to carry out an attack. The attack would be carried out by the same women who are working in these places, the official also added. Currently, with the help of the ISI, the Jaish-e-Mohammed has been looking for targets in the United States, United Kingdom, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Dubai. The number of women from Pakistan to undertake this operation would be minimal. The bulk of the recruits would be from Uzbekistan, Indonesia and the Philippines. The idea to recruit more foreign nationals is to make sure that the Pakistani link does not crop up. Once recruited, they would be given a new identification, following which they would commence work at these places, an Intelligence Bureau official said. The Jaish-e-Mohammed is planning to make this operation a spectacular one. It has directed its handlers to plan the operation in such a manner that attacks at all the identified places take place simultaneously. It wants to execute the attacks in one shot rather than spacing them out. The chance of scrutiny is higher if attacks are carried out in a phased manner, the official also added. In addition to this, the Jaish-e-Mohammed is also planning on targeting Indian nationals and those of Indian origin living abroad. The idea is to send India a message by targeting its nationals living both inside the country as well as outside, officials say. The Indian agencies are aware of this massive plot that the Jaish-e-Mohammed plans to carry out across the world to hurt Indians and Indian interests. The funds are being collected on a large scale, and this is an indication of the magnitude of the operation that is being planned. Pakistan has set up centres to collect donations in the name of Gaza relief. Campaigns have been ongoing for the last four months in Gulf nations and Pakistan as well. The Jaish-e-Mohammed is aware that this is a touchy subject and hence is exploiting the Gaza issue to raise money for this international operation that it is planning. An operation of such a large scale would require a lot of funds. Hence, the outfit is using everything at its disposal to gather a large sum of money to execute this operation. Even the women recruits that the Jaish-e-Mohammed is bringing in are paid large sums of money. The outfit is looking for women who have undergone personal losses or faced abuse. Some of the women who feel wronged by the system, too, are being roped in. The Jaish-e-Mohammed is basically looking for women whose vulnerability can be exploited. Counterterrorism experts say that such women make better suicide bombers. The chances of them getting detected are low, and they get the job done better. The LTTEas recruitment of women as suicide bombers is a classic example of this, the experts also say. Ranchi, Feb 21 : The issues of increasing the retirement age of government employees and filling long-pending backlog vacancies dominated discussions in the Jharkhand Assembly on Saturday. Clarifying the governmentas position, Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said there is no proposal under consideration to raise the retirement age of state employees. At the same time, he assured the House that backlog vacancies would be filled on a priority basis through a transparent recruitment process. Raising the matter, Janardan Paswan, LJP MLA from Chatra, demanded that the retirement age of state government employees be increased. He pointed out that while the retirement age in Jharkhand is 60 years, doctors and teachers in central services retire at 65. He also noted that doctors and university teachers in Jharkhand retire at 65 and cited neighbouring Chhattisgarh, where the retirement age has been raised up to 62. Paswan argued that the state is facing a shortage of personnel and urged the government to consider increasing the age limit. Responding to the demand, the Finance Minister said that decisions regarding retirement age are taken by states based on their financial capacity, administrative requirements and local circumstances. He said that while Chhattisgarh may have made its decision based on its own situation, no such proposal is currently under consideration in Jharkhand. The Minister further said that the state has a large pool of educated unemployed youth and the government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is focusing on systematic recruitment. Increasing the retirement age, he said, would limit opportunities for fresh appointments, and therefore, filling vacant posts with eligible youth remains the governmentas priority. Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Khijri, Rajesh Kachhap, raised concerns over backlog vacancies meant for Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes. He claimed that thousands of reserved posts have remained vacant for years and are not being adequately reflected in fresh recruitment drives. He demanded that backlog appointments be filled through a clear and time-bound policy. Replying on behalf of the government, the Minister dismissed claims that more than 50,000 backlog vacancies exist across departments, terming the figures inaccurate. He said separate recruitment processes are being conducted in each department and assured that backlog posts would be filled on priority in strict adherence to reservation norms. He added that necessary instructions have been issued to all concerned departments to ensure a transparent and expeditious recruitment process. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held delegation-level talks on Saturday at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The talks focused on further strengthening the partnership between the two nations in the fields of trade, economy, education, investment, digitalisation, the Global South and other multilateral issues. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated that PM Modi and Brazilian President Lula would be reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations. "The 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 said. Earlier in the day, the Brazilian President also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar also called on Brazilian President Lula and discussed ways to advance the Strategic Partnership between the two nations. The EAM expressed confidence that the Brazilian President's engagements with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day would impart a new momentum to the bilateral ties. Following the meeting, EAM Jaishankar took to X and said, "Honoured to call on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, visiting India on a State Visit. Deeply appreciate his warm sentiments and guidance on advancing our Strategic Partnership." President Lula arrived in India on February 18 for the 2nd AI Impact Summit. He 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. This is 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 the 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. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21 : The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is expected to decide on first probable list of candidates on Saturday at its 17-member State Secretariat meeting that commenced here. The meeting marks the initial stage of the party's internal selection process as it prepares for the upcoming Assembly elections. As per party procedure, the Secretariat will first decide which among its own members should enter the fray. Once a decision is arrived at, the proposed names will be forwarded to the respective district committees for approval. After securing district-level clearance, the list will be sent back to the State leadership for finalisation. The present Secretariat includes Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and five State Ministers - P. A. Mohammed Riyas, Saji Cherian, K. N. Balagopal, P Rajeev and V N Vasavan. Other key members are State Secretary M V Govindan, former Health Minister K. K. Shailaja and Left Democratic Front convenor T. P. Ramakrishnan - all sitting legislators. Senior leaders Thomas Isaac, E P Jayarajan, M V Jayarajan, M Swaraj, K K Jayachandran, Puthelethu Dineshan, P K Biju and C N Mohanan are also part of the panel. Central Committee members C S Sujatha, K S Saleekha and P Sathi Devi are also likely to be considered. It remains to be seen whether veterans such as P K Sreemathi and Elamaram Kareem will figure in the reckoning. With the CPI(M) aiming for a third successive term, the leadership is treading cautiously after its worst setback in recent years at the December local body polls, where it lost ground in several traditional strongholds. The party currently governs just one of the State's six Corporations, a sharp fall from the five it controlled after the 2020 local body elections. Incidentally at the 2021 Assembly polls, to the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly the CPI(M) contested in 75 seats and won 62. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Patna, Feb 21 : In major crackdown against illicit liquor, the Excise Department destroyed over 12,000 litres of alcohol in Bihar's Gopalganj area. Indian and foreign liquor worth crores of rupees was destroyed using bulldozers in a high-security operation. The drive was conducted jointly by the Excise Department and the Bihar Police, during which seized liquor kept in multiple police stations was disposed of simultaneously. In total, around 12,000 litres of liquor seized in nearly 100 cases were destroyed, including 20 excise cases and 80 police station cases. To ensure transparency and security, the entire operation was carried out in the presence of excise officials, police personnel, and a magistrate. As per prescribed rules, the seized liquor was first transported to designated locations, where pits were dug, and the liquor was destroyed using bulldozers to prevent any possibility of reuse or illegal circulation. Excise Superintendent Amitesh Kumar Jha said, "About 12,000 litres of liquor seized in a total of 100 cases have been destroyed today. The estimated market value runs into crores of rupees. This action was conducted under the supervision of police officers and magistrates, and such operations will continue in the future." Officials said the operation was carried out under strict supervision at the Balthari check post under the Kuchaykot police station area and at locations near airports falling under the Mirganj police station. The Excise Department stated that a continuous campaign against illegal liquor is underway in the district, and seized liquor is being destroyed periodically as per legal provisions. Despite the complete prohibition in Bihar, liquor smugglers continue to attempt to supply alcohol illegally. In this context, the coordinated action by the Excise Department and police is being seen as a strong warning to illegal traders. By destroying more than 12,000 litres of illegal liquor, the Gopalganj administration has reiterated that strict enforcement of prohibition laws will continue in the district in the coming days. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21 : The State Secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) in Kerala, on Saturday, accused the Opposition of attempting to foment unrest in Kerala, alleging that recent protests had crossed democratic limits and turned violent. In a strongly worded statement, the party condemned the attack on the residence of Health Minister Veena George, claiming that protesters broke open the gate, entered the premises, and placed a wreath at the house. It further alleged that a police vehicle was damaged and officers on duty were assaulted. The Secretariat said such incidents were aimed at creating a law and order crisis in the State. It asserted that the CPI(M) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had never shown intolerance towards democratic protests. "Communists have grown through intense struggles and sacrifices," the statement said, adding that while the party had led strong agitations during previous regimes, it had never resorted to personally targeting Ministers or staging protests at their homes. Defending the government's record, the CPI(M) claimed that Kerala had ensured welfare and development over the past decade without triggering widespread public unrest in any sector. It alleged that those uncomfortable with this governance model were attempting to push the state towards unnecessary agitations and violence. Mounting a strong defence of the public health sector, the party said it had reached unprecedented standards in recent years, with government hospitals providing modern facilities, quality treatment and uninterrupted supply of medicines. Highlighting achievements, the statement said complex procedures such as liver and heart transplants are now being performed in government hospitals -- a first in the country, according to the party. While acknowledging that isolated lapses can occur in any large healthcare system, the CPI(M) said the government follows a zero-tolerance policy in such cases, ordering inquiries and initiating strict action wherever necessary. It also claimed that surgical error rates in Kerala are below global estimates cited by the World Health Organization. Alleging that certain sections of the media were amplifying isolated incidents to spread misinformation and disturb the State's peaceful atmosphere, the Secretariat called for restraint and urged all stakeholders to cooperate in maintaining social harmony and law and order. Dhaka, Feb 21 : Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday unveiled commemorative postage stamps to mark Language Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day, local media reported. Dhaka, Feb 21 (IANS) Bangladeshas Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday unveiled commemorative postage stamps to mark Language Martyrsa Day and International Mother Language Day, local media reported. The stamps were released in the morning at the Prime Ministeras Office (PMO) in Tejgaon in the presence of several ministers and senior officials. Prime Minister Rahman also paid tribute to the language martyrs, laying a wreath at the altar of the Shaheed Minar in Dhaka in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement. Ahead of the Prime Minister's tribute, President Mohammed Shahabuddin placed a wreath at the Shaheed Minar and stood in solemn silence in honour of the language martyrs. Subsequently, cabinet members and other important dignitaries offered floral wreaths following the President and the Prime Minister, Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reported. In a historic first, the leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islamias chief, Shafiqur Rahman, paid rich tributes to the 1952 Language Movement martyrs by placing wreaths at the Shaheed Minar. On the other hand, Rumeen Farhana, the newly elected independent MP from Brahmanbaria-2 constituency and a former BNP leader, was allegedly obstructed from offering tribute on the occasion at Shaheed Minar. Citing local sources, Dhaka Tribune reported that BNP leaders and activists obstructed her from paying floral tributes at the memorial, forcing her to leave without honouring the Language Movement martyrs. Following the incident, in the early hours of Saturday, her supporters set ablaze tree trunks and bamboo to block the Dhakaa"Sylhet highway in Shahbazpur under Sarail upazila. The blockade led to a traffic jam stretching nearly 10 kilometres on both sides of the highway until police reached the spot to restore order. Bangladesh is marking Language Martyrsa Day on Saturday, paying tribute to the heroes of the 1952 Language Movement who laid down their lives to secure the rightful place of Bangla as the mother tongue. On February 21, 1952, a police crackdown outside Dhaka Medical College killed Salam, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar, and Barkat while they were demanding the recognition of Bangla as a state language of then-West Pakistan. Their deaths ignited a larger movement that ultimately led to the independence of Bangladesh. The Pakistani government officially recognised Bangla as a state language alongside Urdu on February 29, 1956. However, the language movement continued to fuel broader demands for political and cultural rights, ultimately leading to the 1971 Liberation War and the creation of Bangladesh as an independent nation. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Kolkata, Feb 21 : The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Saturday, announced the deployment Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) even before the declaration of the polling dates and enforcement of the model code of conduct for the West Bengal elections. According to a notification issued by the ECI, the deployment of CAPF will be done in two phases, the first on March 1, which is before the announcement of the poll date and the enforcement of the model code of conduct. The second phase of CAPF deployment will be held on March 10, by which time the polling dates will probably be announced and the model code of conduct will be in force. As per indications so far, the ECI is expected to announce the polling days immediately after Holi. As per the notification, there will be a total deployment of 480 companies in these two initial phases on March 1 and March 10, with 240 companies in each phase. The first phase of 240 companies that will be deployed on March 1, will include 110 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 55 companies of Border Security Force (BSF), 21 companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), 27 companies of Indo-Tibetan Police Force (ITBP), and 27 companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The second phase of 240 companies that will be deployed on March 10, will include 120 companies of CRPF, 65 companies of BSF, 16 companies of CISF, 20 companies of ITBP, and 19 companies of SSB. De-induction of these 480 companies, that is the process of removing troops, equipment, or personnel from a specific area, will be intimated in due course of time, as per the ECI's notification. The Commission, at the same time, had directed the West Bengal government to work out the detailed deployment plan, in consultation with the respective CAPFs and their chief force coordinators. The movement and deployment will be coordinated by the CRPF, the Commission clarified. Patna, Feb 21 : Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, following a controversial shirtless protest by Youth Congress activists at AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Taking to the social media platform X, Manjhi used mathematical analogies to compare Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Rahul Gandhi. In his post, he wrote, "The nation's honour = Narendra Modi, the nation's respect = Narendra Modi, the nation's disgrace = Congress Party, the nation's curse = Rahul Gandhi." Escalating his criticism, Manjhi questioned Rahul's political conduct and described the protest as an insult to the country. "Rahul Gandhi, how long will you behave like a child? When guests come to your house, do you get naked and create a ruckus in front of them? The AI Summit was an event in our country, every Indian's home. Allowing such behaviour is condemnable and will be written in the black pages of India's history. It was shameful," Manjhi said. Manjhi's remarks came after a group of men, allegedly linked to the Indian Youth Congress, disrupted the AI Summit with a shirtless protest. The BJP claimed that the demonstration was organised by Narsimha Yadav, described as an aide of Rahul Gandhi. According to the BJP, the protest targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the IndiaUS trade agreement. Rahul had earlier opposed the deal during the Budget Session of Parliament, alleging that it was signed under pressure from US President Donald Trump. Outside Parliament, Rahul had remarked, "The Prime Minister is compromised," a statement that Congress workers reportedly turned into slogans during the protest at the summit venue. The controversy further intensified after BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared a photograph from Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra, showing the Congress leader with Narsimha Yadav. The BJP alleged that Yadav was among the key organisers of the protest. The incident has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, with the ruling party accusing the opposition of tarnishing India's image on an international platfform, while the Congress maintains that its protest was aimed at highlighting concerns of national interest. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Opposition leaders in India on Saturday welcomed the decision of the US Supreme Court striking down tariff measures imposed during the tenure of US President Donald Trump, terming the verdict significant for global trade and rule-based economic order. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Ashok Mittal also referred to fluctuations in tariff levels in recent years. "On August 27, 2025, the US increased the tariff from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. Earlier, under the interim trade deal between India and the US, it had been brought down to 18 per cent. Now, the US Supreme Court has termed President Trump's tariff campaign illegal, stating that it was against the provisions of the 1970 law that allowed such measures," the AAP leader said. Mittal added that the ruling could lead to a rollback in duties. "They have said that this will be done by 10 per cent, and the government has also accepted it, stating that this will be implemented within the next two days," he said, welcoming the verdict delivered by a 63 majority. In Patna, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari also welcomed the decision, saying it reaffirmed the authority of judicial institutions. "The Honourable Supreme Court has declared these tariffs illegal. Even after this, US President Trump is not ready to accept it," he said. Political observers said the ruling could have significant implications for global trade policies and bilateral economic relations, even as stakeholders await an official response on its impact on India. RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said confusion surrounding the issue should be addressed promptly by officials involved in negotiations. "You see, a lot of confusion is arising. Ideally, our negotiating officials or the authorities involved in the negotiations should come out immediately and speak. But they remain silent," Jha said. He added that parliamentary conventions were not followed during discussions on the matter. "In the Rajya Sabha, when ministers appear, there is a tradition that after a statement, space is provided for clarifications and questions. This time, even that was denied. It is evident that we are dealing with individuals and a system that is very inconsistent," he said, stressing that prevailing uncertainty must be removed. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21 : A political row has intensified over the arrest of the Sabarimala tantri in the gold theft case, with the Vijayan government rejecting allegations of conspiracy and the Opposition demanding a High Court-monitored probe into the circumstances that led to his 40-day incarceration. Law Minister P Rajeev dismissed claims that the arrest was politically motivated, stating that the government had not interfered at any stage of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. He said the arrest was based on clear evidence and termed allegations of conspiracy baseless. The controversy follows the arrest of Tantri Kantarar Rajeevaru in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. In his bail plea, the Tantri alleged that his arrest stemmed from resentment within the ruling establishment over his opposition to the entry of women into Sabarimala. The Kollam Vigilance Court granted him bail early this week, observing that there was no evidence linking him to the theft. Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan has now demanded that the SIT publicly clarify the precise offence allegedly committed by the tantri and explain the grounds for his arrest. The Opposition questioned whether the move was intended to divert attention from allegations raised against the CPI(M). It also pointed to social media posts by party supporters claiming the arrest as a "credit" to the Chief Minister. The Opposition had on January 11 sought clarity on the specific role of any accused person, whether a Minister or a tantri, in a criminal case. "If he has committed a wrongdoing, let him remain in jail. But the public must be told about it," the Opposition said, calling for a High Court-supervised investigation into the episode. While the SIT initially considered appealing against the bail order in the High Court, it has now reconsidered the move, reportedly to avoid the perception of targeting the tantri. With the probe already under judicial supervision, the Left Democratic Front government faces mounting political pressure to defend both the arrest and the subsequent developments. Islamabad, Feb 21 : Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi's position "was at risk", describing his recently announced 'Release Imran Khan Force' as "unconstitutional and illegal", local media reported. "The KP chief minister announced the release force to save his job. Except for the federal government, no one has the right to create any force," leading Pakistani media outlet Geo News quoted Asif as saying. The Defence Minister denied any discussion about transferring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan abroad or to his residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad. "Perhaps, approaches were made regarding facilities," he said, stressing that "some try to keep their shop open through such talk". The remarks from Asif followed CM Afridi's announcement of the force aimed at securing the release of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran, who had been imprisoned since August 2023. The announcement came on February 18 after lawmakers from the PTI and the multi-party opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aiyeen Pakistan (TTAP), withdrew their days-long sit-in at Parliament House in Islamabad. Addressing a press conference outside the Supreme Court, CM Afridi said that the jailed PTI founder had assigned him the responsibility of spearheading a "street movement". He alleged that court directives were being "thrown into the dustbin" and claimed that Imran continued to be denied access to his personal doctors, Geo News reported. Afridi further stated that the newly established force would be formally registered and would adopt a peaceful struggle, adding that members of the force would take an oath in Peshawar following Eid al-Fitr. The force, he said, would operate under a clear chain of command and that Imran would decide who would assume command responsibilities. Afridi said that preparations would be wrapped up before launching the struggle, while asserting that the movement would advocate the supremacy of the Constitution, democracy and an independent media. The former Pakistani PM Imran has been incarcerated since August 2023, when he was arrested at his Lahore residence after being convicted in a corruption case. He is currently lodged at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Bengaluru, Feb 21 : The BJP Yuva Morcha staged a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Saturday, condemning the Youth Congress demonstration at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi. BJP workers displayed posters carrying slogans against the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. The police seized the banners and escorted the BJP leaders into a vehicle. Speaking on the occasion, BJP Yuva Morcha State President and MLA Dheeraj Muniraj said, "By staging a protest during the AI Summit, Congress members had exposed their poor culture. Their conduct in the presence of foreign delegates, bringing disrepute to the country at an international forum, was condemnable." He demanded that Youth Congress members issue an unconditional apology for their behaviour. Bengaluru South District President and MLA C.K. Ramamurthy said that representatives from 30 to 35 countries participated in the AI Summit, during which Youth Congress workers staged a "semi-nude" protest in a manner that insulted India.. Bengaluru North District President S. Harish alleged that the Congress names all its programmes and schemes after its leaders such as Nehru, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not named any scheme after himself. BJP Yuva Morcha State President and MLA Dheeraj Muniraj, Bengaluru South District President and MLA C.K. Ramamurthy, Bengaluru North District President S. Harish, Bengaluru Central District President Saptagiri Gowda, leader Umesh Shetty, and other party leaders and workers were present. The shirtless protest inside an exhibition hall at the AI Impact Summit venue in New Delhi was staged on Friday over the Indiaa"US trade deal, triggering sharp political reactions. The protest occurred around 12.30 p.m. in Hall-5, when IYC workers removed their white t-shirts, turned them inside out to display printed slogans and images, and raised slogans, leading to a commotion. The BJP has staged protests in multiple cities across India on Saturday condemning a "shirtless" protest at the AI Impact Summit. Jaipur, Feb 21 : The Chief Justice of India (CJI), Surya Kant, on Saturday delivered a thought-provoking address at the 18th Convocation Ceremony of the National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur, urging young graduates to view law as a dynamic and evolving institution rather than a rigid structure. Speaking on the theme 'From Fortress to Forum Law in an Unfinished Republic,' the CJI said that law must evolve with society and function as a platform for dialogue, rights, and accountability. Drawing an analogy with the iconic Mehrangarh Fort, the CJI said early legal systems were designed like fortresses structures built to defend society from chaos and arbitrariness. However, in a modern constitutional democracy, law must transform into a forum where differences are debated, rights are articulated, and power is held accountable through reason, not resistance. He cautioned graduates against believing that law is a finished product, stating that unlike scientific equations, law evolves with human experience. Quoting Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., he said, "The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience." The CJI highlighted that the Indian Constitution is a living document, interpreted by every generation in light of contemporary realities. He traced the evolution of legal principles from Magna Carta (1215) to modern constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity, and liberty. He noted that Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law, has evolved from a formal principle into a tool for achieving substantive justice. CJI Kant warned that law risks becoming a "fortress" again if it becomes overly complex, jargon-filled, and accessible only to the elite. "Your task is not to make law more arcane, but more intelligible; not to narrow the forum, but to widen it," he told the graduating students. He emphasised that law is a public trust, and lawyers must prioritise integrity, clarity, and conscience over spectacle and convenience. He praised NLU Jodhpur for emerging as one of India's leading law schools and noted that its alumni serve across the judiciary, academia, corporate law, and public service. He said such institutions carry a responsibility to ensure that legal excellence does not become exclusion. In a lighter moment, he referred to campus life at NLU Jodhpur, recalling student rivalries, mess hall debates, and social spaces as "forums" where ideas and friendships were shaped. Concluding his address, he urged graduates to act as architects of an open legal forum, not guardians of a closed fortress. "May your advocacy open doors rather than erect walls. May your work make the law more accessible, not more distant," he said. He also congratulated parents, faculty, and the graduating class, wishing them success in their professional journeys. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday called for an urgent reform of the United Nations, in particular the UN Security Council (UNSC), while backing both India and Brazil as members of the Permanent Security Council. Addressing the media following extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi's Hyderabad House, President Lula highlighted the role played by G4 - a group of four countries made up of India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan - which advocates together for reforming the Council and also mutually backs each other for permanent seats on a reformed body. "For over 20 years, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany set up a group called G4 where we defend the increase of the UN Security Council, which is something that hasn't happened until now, but will definitely happen soon because the UN needs more representation. The UN needs to have the force and strength to interfere in the conflicts that we see throughout the world today. A body that does not do this will not survive," the Brazilian President stated. "So, we are going to continue to fight for the UN to be more representative with more countries throughout the world and Brazil and India as members of the Permanent Security Council, increasing the categories of permanent and non-permanent members is an essential condition to provide legitimacy, efficacy to global governance amidst so many challenges," he added. During his February 18-22 State Visit, the Brazilian President Lula also participated in the 2nd AI Impact Summit. "My dear friend Modi, it is a reason for happiness for me to return to this country for the sixth time. The meeting between India and Brazil is a meeting of superlatives. We are not just the two biggest democracies of the Global South. This is a meeting of the world's pharmacy with the world's barn and a digital superpower with a renewable energy superpower. We are both mega-diverse countries and hubs of the cultural industry, and we both defend multilateralism and peace. The invitation by Prime Minister Modi for this state visit, and also to attend the AI Impact Summit, shows the synchrony and mutual trust that bind us together," said President Lula. The discussions between both sides on Saturday focused on strengthening Indiaa"Brazil Strategic Partnership across trade, energy, defence, agriculture, climate action, technology, AI, semiconductors, critical minerals and Global South cooperation. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders reiterated their vision for an inclusive and multipolar world order and also conveyed their strong commitment to strengthen global flight against terrorism. President Lula is accompanied by about 14 ministers and a large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. Prime Minister Modi and President Lula have been meeting frequently. PM Modi was in Brasilia on a State Visit in July 2025 which was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in the last 57 years. Both leaders also met in Johannesburg during G20, in November 2025. "Few months ago, in July last year, I had the honour of hosting my friend Modi in Brasilia. His visit was a milestone. On that occasion, we restructured the bilateral cooperation agenda in five areas: defence and security; food and nutritional security; energy transition and climate change; digital transformation and emerging technologies; and industrial partnerships in strategic areas. Today in Delhi, in the year when we celebrate 20 years of the establishment of the Brazil-India Strategic Partnership, we are moving into action," said President Lula. On Saturday, a total of 10 outcomes were finalised in areas such as critical minerals, digital cooperation, sharing of traditional knowledge, health, MSME, entrepreneurship and mass communication among others. Both leaders also committed to raise bilateral trade over USD 20 billion in the next five years. "We signed several agreements that give concrete shape and quality to our cooperation in these areas. It is notable that India has evolved in cutting-edge sectors such as information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and space exploration. These developments create many opportunities for cooperation with Brazil," the Brazilian President remarked while addressing media jointly with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House. Jaipur, Feb 21 : The Rajasthan High Court has expressed strong concern over the prolonged absence of a chairperson and members of the Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (RSCPCR), the apex statutory body responsible for safeguarding children's rights in the state. The court issued a notice to the state government during the preliminary hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on the issue, seeking a detailed response. A division bench comprising Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sandeep Shah heard the petition filed by the Juvenile Justice Advocates Association. The petitioner's counsel informed the court that the posts of chairperson and members in the commission have remained vacant for over a year. As a result, the commission has become virtually non-functional, and the monitoring of child rights-related matters has come to a standstill. The petition highlighted that the commission's inactivity is adversely affecting the implementation and oversight of several critical child protection laws, including POCSO Act a" Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Right to Education (RTE) Act a" Ensuring free and compulsory education for children and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act a" Legal framework for child welfare and rehabilitation. The petition argued that the absence of the commission has created a serious vacuum in protecting the constitutional rights of vulnerable and marginalised children in Rajasthan. The commission's role is to monitor the benefits and safeguards provided under these laws, but due to leadership vacancies, it has remained functional only on paper. Taking note of the seriousness of the matter, the High Court issued its order on February 17. Additional Advocate General Praveen Khandelwal, appearing for the state government, accepted the court's notice. The court has sought responses from the Minister of the Child Rights Department, the Chief Secretary, the Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, the Commissioner, Child Rights Department and the division bench directed the state government to submit a detailed report by February 23. The High Court observed that leaving such crucial statutory positions vacant for an extended period reflects serious administrative negligence towards the rights and welfare of children. New Delhi, Feb 21 : NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) legislator Rohit Pawar on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action against Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, claiming serious questions have emerged regarding the company VSR Ventures and its alleged links to the minister in connection with the plane crash that killed former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Baramati on January 28. In a letter to the Prime Minister and marked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rohit Pawar demanded that the alleged links between the minister and VSR Ventures -- the owner of the aircraft -- be investigated by an independent and competent authority. "You have always shown respect for Ajit Dada and his contribution to the country. In this context, I request that Shri Rammohan Naidu be asked to resign from his post until the investigation is completed. This is necessary to ensure there is no influence or interference in examining whether the DGCA was compromised in any manner in relation to VSR. I trust that you will take appropriate action in this matter," Rohit Pawar stated in the letter. Earlier, on February 18, Rohit Pawar had demanded that the Civil Aviation Minister and senior officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) step aside amid the controversy surrounding the crash. Addressing a press conference, he alleged a "nexus" between the ministry, the DGCA and VSR Ventures, and claimed that the current leadership was biased and shielding the company. He further demanded that the case be treated as culpable homicide rather than an accidental death, and called for the registration of a formal FIR against the owners of VSR Ventures and the technical staff who cleared the aircraft's airworthiness. Rohit Pawar also sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), arguing that since the crash involved a high-profile constitutional functionary and touched upon the Union-controlled aviation sector, the state CID lacked the technical expertise and political independence to conduct a fair investigation. At a subsequent press conference, Rohit Pawar presented what he described as a detailed report, framing the incident as a possible "political or commercial conspiracy." He alleged that VSR Ventures was being protected by "very influential" political and business interests and claimed that certain financiers of the company had links to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He questioned why the Civil Aviation Minister had issued statements that appeared to "clear" the company shortly after the crash. "The deeper we go, the clearer it becomes that this company has the support of very influential people. Only the Prime Minister and Home Minister can now ensure justice for Ajit Dada," he said. Rohit Pawar also raised concerns over alleged missing technical data, claiming that the aircraft's transponder was switched off in the final minute of the flight. He further alleged that CCTV footage from the hangar was being withheld and that a "backdated" audit was being prepared to shield the company. He urged Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to raise the matter in Parliament to ensure that the truth is not suppressed. The crash, which occurred in Baramati on January 28, 2026, involved a Learjet 45. Since then, Rohit Pawar has held a series of briefings, citing what he described as technical discrepancies, including the alleged use of excess fuel tanks and a last-minute change of the main pilot. February 21 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday distributed compensation worth 285 crore to 2.51 lakh farmers under 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna' (Kharif-2025). He also provided financial assistance amounting to 175 crore to 3,500 beneficiary families under 'Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojna'. CM laid foundation stones for Deputy Director of Agriculture offices and Soil Testing Laboratories in Baghpat, Shamli, Kasganj and Bhadohi, a 50 bed hostel building at the Government Land Conservation Centre in Mauranipur, Jhansi and a Smart Agriculture Bureau Studio unit in Lucknow. Extending greetings on the occasion of Holi, CM Yogi assured farmers that the double-engine government is standing firmly with them. He expressed confidence that 'Annadata Kisaan' would continue contributing to the prosperity of the state through advanced farming practices. CM Yogi said, "Just a day earlier, UP governments budget for 2026-27 is being passed. Inspired by the Prime Minister, the budget includes numerous schemes for youth, women, farmers and the poor." He stated that when the budget is implemented, benefits are transferred directly into beneficiaries bank accounts. "Today, with the press of a single button, 460 crore is being transferred directly into farmers accounts, completely eliminating the role of middlemen", he said. Beneficiary families across all districts of the state, including Lucknow, are receiving benefits under these schemes. Calling the 285 crore compensation distributed to 2.51 lakh farmer families under 'Fasal Bima Yojna' a strong support system, CM Yogi said that crops had suffered losses due to drought and excessive rainfall. Crop insurance ensures returns during times of distress caused by natural disasters. Referring to the 'Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojna', he said that earlier only the farmer was covered, while family members, sharecroppers and co-farmers were excluded. Under the current government, more than 1,000 crore has been provided, offering 5 lakh assistance in case of death of a farmer or a family member due to an accident. He said, "No one can compensate for the loss of a human life, but the government can stand as a support system. On Saturday, 3,500 disaster-affected farmers, co-farmers, family members and sharecroppers were benefited. Earlier, on June 16, 2025, 561.86 crore had been distributed to 11,690 farmers and dependents." Chief Minister instructed all District Magistrates to ensure the money reaches beneficiaries accounts by the next day at any cost. CM Yogi said that 'Aapda Mitra' act as first responders during disasters, an initiative strongly promoted by the Prime Minister. Uttar Pradesh has further strengthened this campaign. In 25 districts, 29,772 youth volunteers (from NCC, NSS, NYKS, Bharat Scouts and Guides) are being trained under 'Aapda Mitra Prabandhan Karyakram'. They have undergone seven-day training and have been provided with emergency responder kits, training modules, ID cards and certificates. The emergency responder kit includes 15 items such as life jackets, search torches, first-aid boxes, safety helmets and goggles. The state government has decided to provide life and medical insurance coverage for three years to trained volunteers. On February 10, Uttar Pradesh Disaster Management Authority signed an MoU with the National Insurance Company, under which 'Aapda Mitra' will receive an insurance cover of 5 lakh for three years. So far, 2,959 youth volunteers are being trained and training for the remaining volunteers will continue. CM said that earlier, when a disaster struck, victims were not even attended to for years, nor did they receive compensation. In 2015-16, there were instances when 2 was credited to one farmers account and 4 to anothers. Our effort is to ensure that as soon as disasters like floods, lightning strikes or fires occur, money reaches the victims bank account within 24 hours. For 2025-26, 876 crore are being allocated to the State Disaster Response Fund. From this amount, the government has already distributed 260 crore as agricultural investment assistance to 5,14,322 farmers affected by crop damage, 216 crore to 5,398 victims of loss of life and 24 crore to 27,448 people affected by damage to houses. CM announced that Doppler Weather Radars will be installed in Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi and Azamgarh. These radars will help in accurate weather forecasting and identifying areas at risk of lightning strikes. He added that installation of 450 Automatic Weather Stations and nearly 2,000 Automatic Rain Gauges at the block level across the state is almost complete. The event was attended by Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of State Baldev Singh Aulakh, Vice Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Disaster Management Authority Lieutenant General Yogendra Dimri, Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Ravindra Kumar, Principal Secretary (Revenue) Aparna U and other officials. Chief Minister announced that 'Aapda Mitra' will be given priority in the recruitment of 45,000 Home Guards in the state. He said that while Aapda Mitra service is currently voluntary, those selected as Home Guards will receive an honorarium from the government. So far, 19,000 Aapda Mitra are being trained by the Disaster Management Authority. Additionally, a two-year Disaster Management Internship Program is being run for graduate and postgraduate students. Jaipur, Feb 21 : Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha clashed briefly with police on Saturday while attempting to march towards the state headquarters of the Indian National Congress in Jaipur. The BJYM workers were protesting against the Youth Congress's shirtless protest at the AI summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Friday, which has drawn sharp political reactions. The Yuva Morcha had already announced plans on Friday to gherao the Congress office on Saturday. On Saturday morning, Yuva Morcha workers gathered at Martyrs' Memorial in Jaipur and held a protest against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Following the demonstration, they began marching on foot towards the Congress office via Sansar Chandra Road. As the group approached the party headquarters, police set up barricades to stop them from proceeding further. When some protesters attempted to scale the barricades, a brief scuffle broke out between the workers and the police. The situation was brought under control shortly thereafter. Yuva Morcha State President Shankar Gora criticised the Congress during the protest, accusing it of targeting the Prime Minister and acting against national interests. On Friday evening, Yuva Morcha workers had also burned an effigy of Rahul Gandhi and raised slogans against the Congress in Jaipur. Saturday's march was part of the BJP youth wing's continued protest campaign in response to the developments at the AI Summit in New Delhi. In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress had said that the demonstration was meant to highlight concerns that "corporate interests are being prioritised over national interests" and alleged that the government's foreign policy stance had weakened. The group also linked the protest to economic issues such as rising prices and joblessness, claiming that young people were increasingly frustrated. --IANS arc/skp Gandhinagar, Feb 21 : The CID (Crime) Cyber Cell in Gandhinagar has arrested five individuals from Ahmedabad and Vadodara in connection with a Rs 3.16 crore investment fraud, officials said on Saturday. According to the FIR filed on January 26, the scam involved unknown perpetrators who initially contacted the complainant through a Facebook friend request and subsequently via WhatsApp. They persuaded the victim to download a fake cryptocurrency application named "CBOE," resulting in the estimated loss of Rs 3.16 crore. Investigations revealed that the accused had access to more than 26 bank accounts. Checks on the Cybercrime Portal indicated their involvement in over 116 cybercrime cases across India, amounting to approximately Rs 82.67 crore. The offences were recorded in multiple states, including Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (1), Daman and Diu (1), Delhi (3), Goa (1), Gujarat (10), Haryana (8), Karnataka (17), Kerala (6), Maharashtra (22), Punjab (5), Tamil Nadu (2), Telangana (8), Bihar (1), Chandigarh (1), Jharkhand (1), Rajasthan (2), West Bengal (7), Odisha (3), Madhya Pradesh (2), and Uttar Pradesh (10). The five arrested individuals are Sindhu alias Sinu (Ahmedabad), Kapil alias Lucky Chauhan (Ahmedabad), Jayganesh Pillai (Vadodara), Kunj Dave (Nadiad), and Manish Jangid (Vadodara, originally from Jodhpur, Rajasthan). Officials seized eight mobile phones during the operation. Inspector Hardik Desai of the Cyber Centre of Excellence told IANS, "We are investigating possible links of this gang and are in the process of recovering the amount. This gang operated across multiple states. These five are the main accused, but if we receive leads on other individuals involved, we will apprehend them." Police stated that the accused rented bank accounts from traders facing financial difficulties to manipulate funds for cyber fraud. They employed various methods including digital fraud, investment fraud, UPI-related fraud, loan fraud, and part-time job fraud. SP Sanjay Keshwala added: "The accused were running a structured network across the country and were arrested following a technical investigation and analysis of money trails. We appeal to the public to thoroughly verify any schemes or applications before investing and warn against renting bank accounts, ATM cards, chequebooks, or SIM cards to unknown persons." The Cyber Centre of Excellence continues to investigate and track additional suspects. Officials described the operation as a major success in addressing the rising cases of investment fraud and cybercrime in Gujarat and across India. Kolkata, Feb 21 : Marking International Mother Language Day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid tribute to linguistic diversity and reiterated her government's commitment to protecting all languages. In a message posted on social media, she conveyed greetings and stressed the need to honour every language and its speakers. "On this auspicious day of International Mother Language Day, I pay my respects to all the languages and language-speaking people of the world. I pay my respects and heartfelt respect to all the language martyrs and language fighters of all countries of the world," Banerjee wrote. She also remembered leading literary figures of Bengal for their role in enriching the Bengali language, noting its long cultural and literary legacy shaped by personalities such as Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Sukanta Bhattacharya and Jibanananda Das. The Chief Minister underlined her administration's efforts to promote linguistic inclusivity across West Bengal by recognising multiple languages and supporting institutional initiatives. "We respect not only the Bengali of Rabindranath, Nazrul, Sukanta and Jibanananda, but all languages. It is my pride that in our time we have recognised Hindi, Santali, Kurukh, Kurmali, Nepali, Urdu, Rajbangshi, Kamtapuri, Punjabi and Telugu as official languages," she said. Banerjee added that steps had been taken to strengthen smaller languages and provide educational access in mother tongues. "We have also strived to improve the quality of the Sadri language. Hindi Academy, Rajbangshi Language Academy, Kamtapuri Language Academy, Santali Academy -- everything has been done. We have also ensured that every language-speaking person in the state gets the opportunity to study in their mother tongue," she said. She appealed for collective vigilance against threats to linguistic identity. "On this auspicious day of Ekushey, I pledge once again that if any language is attacked, we will all stand together against it. All languages are equally worthy of respect," she said. Patna, Feb 21 : Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday inspected the construction work of a new 1,200-bed hospital and residential complex at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Sheikhpura, Patna. Officials briefed the Chief Minister that construction is progressing at a rapid pace and is nearing completion. During the inspection, the Chief Minister directed officials to expedite the remaining work and ensure the timely completion of the state-of-the-art multi-specialty hospital. He said that once completed, the facility will significantly enhance access to advanced medical treatment and further strengthen healthcare services in Bihar. Nitish Kumar reiterated that since the formation of his government on November 24, 2005, his administration has consistently worked for the uplift of all sections of society and the development of every sector, with special emphasis on healthcare. Highlighting improvements in the health sector, the Chief Minister said that prior to 2005, Primary Health Centres (PHCs) received an average of only 39 patients per month, amounting to just one or two patients per day. He noted that since 2006, a comprehensive system of free medicines and free treatment has been implemented in government hospitals, leading to a sharp rise in patient footfall. "At present, primary health centres receive an average of around 11,600 patients per month," he said. The Chief Minister also outlined the expansion of medical education and infrastructure in the state. He said Bihar earlier had only six medical colleges, a number that has now increased to twelve. He added that Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) is being expanded to 5,400 beds, while the other five older medical colleges are being upgraded to 2,500 beds each. In addition, IGIMS is being expanded to a total capacity of 3,000 beds. He said these initiatives have significantly strengthened Bihar's healthcare system and improved the availability of quality medical services for the people. Several senior officials were present during the inspection, including Chief Ministeras Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit, Health Department Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh, Chief Ministeras Secretary Kumar Ravi, Chief Ministeras Secretary Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh, Health Department Special Secretary Himanshu Sharma, Managing Director of Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited Amit Kumar Pandey, IGIMS Director Prof. (Dr.) Binde Kumar and other senior officers. Kochi, Feb 21 : Usha Josephkutty (51), a native of Punnapra in Alappuzha district, who had been living for five years with a surgical instrument inside her abdomen due to alleged negligence during a procedure at Government Medical College Hospital, Vandanam, has successfully undergone surgery to remove it. The procedure was carried out on Saturday at a private hospital in Kochi, where doctors removed a long, curved artery forceps that had allegedly been left behind during a hysterectomy performed in May 2021. As a criminal case has been registered in connection with the incident, the surgery was conducted under strict supervision and vigilance. Two doctors from Government Medical College Hospital, Kalamassery, were present during the procedure as part of the monitoring process. The surgical instrument removed from her abdomen has been handed over to the Ambalappuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) as material evidence and will be subjected to forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation. Usha had been suffering from persistent abdominal pain and blood in her urine since the hysterectomy in 2021. Despite seeking treatment at multiple hospitals over the past several years, the underlying cause remained undetected. It was only after a urology specialist in Alappuzha advised her to undergo an X-ray examination last week that the presence of the forceps inside her abdomen was detected, bringing to light the alleged surgical lapse. Her relatives have alleged that certain doctors attempted to dissuade them from making the matter public after the discovery of the instrument. The Kerala Health Department has admitted to a lapse in the incident and attributed it to the extraordinary pressures faced by the healthcare system during the Covid-19 pandemic period. Following the incident, the Director of Medical Education suspended Associate Professor Dr J. Shahida, who had led the surgical team during the hysterectomy, and nurse P.S. Dhanya pending further investigation. Hospital records indicate that a nine-member medical team had conducted the original procedure, and standard protocol required surgical instruments to be counted both before and after the operation. However, a serious lapse is now suspected in the instrument accounting process. Since Friday, when the incident came to light, a sharp political confrontation has emerged between Health Minister Veena George and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, along with other Congress leaders, over the alleged negligence. While the Health Minister defended the departmentas response and the actions taken so far, the Opposition accused the government of gross negligence and failure to ensure accountability in government-run medical institutions. Congress workers also staged protests at several locations, raising slogans against the Health Minister and the government, further escalating the political tensions surrounding the incident. With protests intensifying and demands for accountability growing louder, the incident has snowballed into a major controversy for the state government, particularly at a time when Kerala is approaching a crucial electoral period. Patna, Feb 21 : Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on Saturday released a crime bulletin strongly attacking the Nitish Kumar-led "double-engine" NDA government over the rising incidents of crime against women and children in the state. Patna, Feb 21 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on Saturday released a crime bulletin strongly attacking the Nitish Kumarled "double-engine" NDA government over the rising incidents of crime against women and children in the state. In a sharply-worded post on his official X handle, Tejashwi Yadav used sarcasm to criticise the government, writing, "In the so-called Ram Rajya created by the ModiNitish government, such 'auspicious' incidents are happening daily that even the media struggles to report them. Hundreds of girls aged between 1.5 and 11 years have been raped. In this 'Mangalrajya', the system is theirs and the criminals are theirs." Escalating his attack, Tejashwi alleged political patronage to criminals and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would "contest elections in Bihar and leave after disgracing the state." He claimed that the silence of the central leadership amounted to tacit approval, adding that rapists were enjoying protection from those in power. The RJD leader cited a series of recent incidents involving rape, gangrape, murder following sexual assault, and attacks on women and minors across several districts of Bihar, arguing that these cases demonstrate the collapse of law and order. He mentioned that a 18-month-old girl was raped and a rod was inserted into her private parts in Saharsa. The toddler is critical and fighting for her life in hospital. A six-year-old girl was raped in Kishanganj, another girl was raped and then murdered in Darbhanga. There was an attempt to rape a woman and her husband who went to rescue her, was beaten in Patna. A minor was gang-raped in Saran and the victim's mother is desperate for justice in another rape and murder case in Bhagalpur. An eight-year-old girl was raped in Lakhisarai, while a UP dancer was gang-raped in Bhojpur. Another eight-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped while going to school in Sheikhpura while a four-year-old girl was raped and a woman was murdered after being raped in Nawada. A minor was raped in Tarapur, Munger, a young woman was brutally raped, and a teenager was raped in Munger. Tejashwi Yadav questioned the Bihar government's repeated claims of "zero tolerance" towards crime, stating that violence against women and girl children continues unabated. Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav raised serious concerns over the handling of the NEET aspirant's suspicious death case in a girls' hostel in Patna earlier this year. He alleged that the Bihar Police, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), and the CID failed to reach any conclusion, forcing the case to be handed over to the CBI. The 17-year-old student was found unconscious at Shambhu Girls' Hostel on January 6 and later succumbed to her injuries on January 11. According to the post-mortem and Forensic Science Laboratory reports, the possibility of sexual assault could not be ruled out, triggering widespread outrage and protests. Concluding his statement, Tejashwi challenged the Bihar government to respond, asking whether the brave leaders of what he called an incompetent regime had any answers for the victims and their families. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, on Saturday, described the "shirtless" protest by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) at AI Summit in New Delhi as a "crime" and "sin" against the nation and not an innocuous "mistake" by young men. He accused the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of looking for opportunities to defaming the country and encouraging the IYC to indulge in the shameful protest. Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Rijiju said the nation was expecting an apology from the Congress a day after the commotion at the AI Summit but their leaders attempted to justify the "shirtless" protest as a manifestation of the youth's anger. "There is nothing more shameful than channelising the youth's anger to tarnish the nation's image at a global stage," the Union Minister said, calling upon the Congress to give up its anti-national agenda at the earliest. "Any endeavour of national interest should remain above petty politics. When the country is represented at global fora, including the UN, the nation stands as one entity," he added. Targeting the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Rijiju said the country's progress, especially in the digital domain, is never appreciated by them. "They (Congress) become sad on seeing the nation progress. Rahul Gandhi goes to Europe and South America to defame the country," he added. "Rahul Gandhi's coordination with anti-India forces is visible by his call to forces inimical to the interest of the country to intervene in our internal matters," the Union Minister said. Union Minister Rijiju said "we have also conveyed to senior Congress leaders to advise Rahul Gandhi to drop his anti-national posture, but without success". "Rahul Gandhi's anti-national posture is growing dangerous with each passing day. This is what inspired Youth Congress workers to take out this shameful protest at the AI Summit on Friday," he added. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has remained in the Opposition for 60 years but we have never uttered a single anti-national word or indulged in any act harming the country's interest, the Union Minister said. Union Minister Rijiju said Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps advising partymen in the Union Cabinet and party meetings to ensure that "none of our activities adversely impact the country". "In contrast, the Congress leader and party workers keep conspiring 24 hours a day to tarnish the country's image," he said, adding that the protest at the AI Summit has angered the people of the country, who are condemning the Congress protest in their own way -- whether through street protests or on the social media. Four Indian Youth Congress workers were arrested after the "shirtless" protest at the Summit on Friday. Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal sought to defend the protesters, adding that they are "young men who tend to get over-excited and angered". "The young protesters' anger got vented in their agitation against the destruction of their future and careers," Sappal said, linking the demonstration at the AI Summit to the allegedly "unfavourable" India-US trade deal. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21 : The Special Branch of the Kerala Police has issued an alert warning of a possible escalation in political tensions in the state following the Youth Congress placing a wreath at the residence of State Health Minister Veena George, an act that has triggered sharp reactions from the ruling CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). According to intelligence inputs, the CPI(M) may organise protest demonstrations against Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan in response to the incident. The alert noted that Satheesan's ongoing "Puthuyuga Yathra" could become a potential target of protests, with attempts likely to stage black-flag demonstrations by entering or assembling near venues along the yatra route. The police warning also highlighted the possibility of protests at Satheesan's official residence, his private residence in Paravur, and his MLA office. Apart from CPI(M) activists, members of its youth and student wings -- the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students' Federation of India (SFI) -- are also likely to participate in the demonstrations, according to the alert. Police authorities have been directed to step up preventive security measures and maintain heightened vigilance during the Opposition leader's travel, public programmes, and stay arrangements to prevent any law and order situation. Responding to the development, Satheesan alleged that the government was attempting to intimidate the Opposition through what he described as orchestrated protest actions. He said democratic protest was a legitimate right, but cautioned that any attempt to disrupt public meetings or incite violence would be resisted politically and legally. The Opposition leader maintained that the Youth Congress protest was a symbolic act and accused the ruling party of deliberately escalating the issue to divert public attention from governance-related concerns. He further asserted that his "Puthuyuga Yathra" would continue as scheduled and that he would not be deterred by threats or black-flag demonstrations. "The government cannot silence dissent through pressure tactics," Satheesan said, adding that the people of Kerala would see through what he termed a politically motivated campaign. With Assembly elections approaching and political tensions simmering between the ruling front and the Opposition, security agencies are closely monitoring the situation. Police are expected to enhance deployment along the yatra route and at sensitive locations to ensure public order and prevent any untoward incidents in the coming days. Guwahati, Feb 21 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that Assam is poised to emerge as the industrial hub of eastern and northeastern India, asserting that the state is witnessing a transformational phase under the BJP's double-engine government. Addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone for the new campus of the 10th Battalion of Assam Police in Kamrup district, HM Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated nearly Rs 15 lakh crore for Assam's development, laying the foundation for rapid industrial growth and expansion of infrastructure. He said that over the next five years, the people of Assam will witness a major industrial push, which will create employment opportunities and further strengthen the stateas economy. "Assam is moving decisively towards becoming a key industrial centre of the eastern and northeastern region," HM Shah said. Highlighting the government's action against encroachment, the Union Home Minister said that the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state have freed more than one lakh bighas of land from encroachers. He noted that the new campus of the 10th Battalion of Assam Police will be constructed on 174 bighas of land that was previously under encroachment. HM Shah said that issues which were once seen as security challenges are now being converted into strengths for the security forces through improved infrastructure, better training, and enhanced facilities. "The concern regarding security has been transformed into a strong point for our forces," he added. He also highlighted the extensive development of infrastructure in Assam in recent years, citing major improvements in road connectivity, railway networks, and bridge construction across the state. According to HM Shah, improved infrastructure has not only accelerated economic activity but has also enhanced connectivity and accessibility in several regions of Assam. The Union Home Minister said the Centre remains committed to the overall development of Assam, with a focus on ensuring peace, progress, and prosperity. He added that strong governance, decisive action against encroachment, and sustained investment in infrastructure are collectively contributing to the emergence of a new Assam. Bengaluru, Feb 21 : A court in Karnataka on Saturday remanded BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, representing Bengaluru's KR Puram constituency, to judicial custody till February 26 in a murder case. Bengaluru, Feb 21 (IANS) A court in Karnataka on Saturday remanded BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, representing Bengaluruas KR Puram constituency, to judicial custody till February 26 in a murder case. Basavaraj was arrested in connection with the murder of a man and was questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The order was passed by the 42nd Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Court. Basavaraj will be shifted to the Bengaluru Central Prison located on the outskirts of the city. Basavaraj, an accused in the murder case of rowdy-sheeter Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva, was taken into custody upon his arrival at the Kempegowda International Airport after the Karnataka High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The Supreme Court also refused to grant him relief. The BJP has alleged foul play and claimed that the government in Karnataka targeted him for political reasons. BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra visited Basavarajas residence and stated that he had helped the BJP come to power in Karnataka by quitting the Congress. He told supporters that his own family had allegedly faced false cases in the past and claimed that Basavaraj had been falsely implicated in the present case. The murder of Biklu Shiva occurred on July 15 last year in the Halasuru area of Bengaluru. Investigators have reportedly gathered key evidence against the MLA. CID sources said custodial interrogation of Basavaraj is necessary to further the probe and to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the murder. Basavaraj has been booked on murder charges and named as the fifth accused in connection with the killing of Biklu Shiva, who was hacked to death in front of his residence. The Bharatinagar police in Bengaluru registered an FIR against the BJP MLA based on a complaint filed by the victimas mother. The case later took a dramatic turn when the deceasedas mother claimed that she had never mentioned the name of the BJP MLA in her complaint and did not know how his name was included in the FIR. However, the police said they subsequently established Basavarajas links with the prime accused in the case. Basavaraj had direct links with rowdy Jagadeesh alias Jagga, the prime accused in the case, and had met Biklu Shiva several times prior to the killing. New Delhi, Feb 21 : In Delhi's Leader of Opposition Atishi's video row, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat on Saturday issued summons to Punjab Police chief, Jalandhar Police commissioner and a senior Punjab Home Department official to appear before it on February 27. The identical letter issued to Alok Shekhar, Additional Chief Secretary, Home-II, Punjab government, Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav and Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat asked them to appear at 3 p.m. at the MLA Lounge-I in Delhi Assembly to attend the meeting of the Committee of Privileges. The notice for appearance was issued under Rule 172 and 220 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi in the matter of complaints regarding breach of privilege and contempt in the matter of alleged remarks of LoP Atishi against Sikh Gurus. The summons sent to Punjab officials said, "It may be noted that non-compliance of this summons could lead to initiation of proceedings for breach of privilege/contempt of the Assembly." Earlier, the Punjab government justified the registration of an FIR in Jalandhar over the Atishi video row and told the Delhi Assembly that a video clip, which is created/modified/altered, cannot be treated as the property of the House. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Assembly, the Punjab government's Home Affairs department asserted that the FIR registered by Jalandhar Police did not amount to breach of privilege. The letter written by Punjab's Under Secretary, Home, Kailash Gautam, said that "privilege provided to the member of the House under Article 194(3) of the Constitution of India cannot be extended for an act whereby a video clip has been created/modified/altered with caption added outside the House". "The Registration of an FIR for a cognizable offence committed outside the House and the ongoing investigation of a cognizable offence under the BNSS does not constitute breach of privilege," said the Punjab official. "A video clip which is created/modified/altered with caption added and independently circulated cannot under any circumstances be treated as the property of the House or anything said in the House. Registration of such an FIR is not on publication of the proceedings of the House and operates on a different plane under the watchful supervision of courts and is subject to judicial review," said the letter sent by the Punjab's Under Secretary, Home. "The Secretariat of the Legislature of a State does not possess authority to request for the documents which are subject matters of the investigation of an FIR which is registered in another state on the issue which has no connection to the proceedings of the House," said the letter. Meanwhile, the Delhi Assembly's Committee of Privileges on Saturday took on record the replies filed by Punjab's senior officials. The Committee took note of the letter sent by Punjab's Under Secretary, Home, Kailash Gautam, and advised him to take the opinion of the Advocate General, Government of Punjab, on record on the issue. A letter sent to Gautam from the Delhi Assembly Secretariat said, "The Committee of Privileges, Chairperson, has directed to take the opinion of the Advocate General, Government of Punjab, on record and inform that it does not appear to correctly appreciate the concerns of the Legislature in this matter." "It is requested that a copy of the complete opinion as received from the Advocate General may be sent to this Secretariat on or before February 27, 2026, for the appraisal of the Committee," said the letter. The FIR was registered by the Jalandhar Police on January 9 over a complaint that alleged circulation of a "doctored" version of a video clip related to Atishi's statement in the Delhi Assembly, which was perceived as objectionable and disrespectful towards Sikh Gurus. The matter pertains to complaints of breach of privilege and contempt arising from statements made on the floor of the House and the subsequent action initiated by the Punjab Police. The Committee of Privileges is presently examining the matter, including the conduct of the authorities and the handling of communications and information sought by the Delhi Assembly Secretariat. Bengaluru, Feb 21 : BJP legislator Chandru Lamani, who represents the Shirahatti constituency, was taken into custody by the Karnataka Lokayukta on Saturday in connection with an alleged bribery case in Laxmeshwar town of Gadag district. The Lokayukta team reportedly caught the MLA while he was allegedly accepting Rs 5 lakh from a contractor as part of a larger bribe demand. His government personal assistant, Manjunath Valmiki, and private assistant, Guru Lamani, were also detained and questioned during the operation. According to Lokayukta sources, Lamani had allegedly demanded Rs 11 lakh from a Class I contractor, identified as Vijay Poojar, in connection with the allotment of a contract under the Minor Irrigation Department. The bribe was reportedly linked to roadside retaining wall construction work. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Dharwad Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Siddalingappa. Officials reportedly laid a trap and apprehended the MLA and his aides while they were accepting Rs 5 lakh as part of the alleged bribe transaction. Following the trap operation, Lokayukta officials also carried out searches at Balaji Hospital in Laxmeshwar town, which is owned by Chandru Lamani, as part of the investigation. Further investigation into the case is underway, and officials are examining additional evidence related to the alleged bribery case. It may be recalled that former Karnataka BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa was arrested in a bribery case in 2023. The Lokayukta police had tracked the BJP leader to Channagiri town in Davanagere district, where he was scheduled to address a public meeting. He allegedly attempted to evade the police before being intercepted at a toll gate near Bengaluru. His anticipatory bail plea was subsequently rejected by the Karnataka High Court. Virupakshappa was named the main accused in a corruption case linked to Karnataka State Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL). He was booked by the Karnataka Lokayukta after his son was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. During subsequent raids, Lokayukta officials recovered Rs 6.1 crore in cash from his Sanjay Nagar residence and Rs 2.2 crore from his office premises. In total, Rs 8.23 crore in cash, along with a large quantity of gold and silver ornaments and substantial investments in land across Karnataka, were recovered during the searches. Bengaluru, Feb 21 : Non-medical staff are as important as doctors, and those working in the health sector must serve with humanity, rising above differences of caste and religion, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday. He was speaking after distributing appointment orders under the Abhaya Hasta programme organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, which included recruitment to various cadres in the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Food Safety and Drug Administration. The Chief Minister said it was a matter of satisfaction that 1,000 people had received appointment orders and joined the Health Department. He emphasised that working in the health sector is not merely a profession but a meaningful service involving saving lives and preventing diseases. Siddaramaiah said that after his government assumed office for the second time, efforts were being made to fill vacant posts in a phased manner, and several issues in the recruitment process had been addressed. He said sectors such as education, health, and policing, which are directly linked to public welfare, remain key priorities for the government, and steps are being taken to fill vacancies in these areas. More than 2.5 lakh posts are currently vacant across various government departments, and these will be filled gradually, he added. The Chief Minister said the recruitment process is being conducted through counselling to ensure transparency and prevent corruption. He noted that around 5,700 posts, including those of doctors, have been transferred through counselling. Preventing corruption in recruitment and transfer processes is a key objective of the government, he said, cautioning government employees against falling prey to middlemen involved in transfer-related matters. Reiterating the importance of all healthcare personnel, Siddaramaiah said non-medical staff play a crucial role in the functioning of the Health Department and must carry out their duties with humanity beyond caste and religious differences. "When blood is required for treating patients, no one considers caste or religion. However, once people recover, they again fall into the cycle of caste and religious divisions," he said. He stressed that greater emphasis must be placed on disease prevention and said the Health Department should adopt a proactive approach in this regard. The Chief Minister added that the government is implementing several schemes aimed at strengthening and improving the state's healthcare system. New Delhi, Feb 21 : A digital platform launched by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday promises to bring transparency and minimise human intervention in admissions to schools under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Disadvantaged Group (DG), and Children With Special Needs (CWSN) categories. Chief Minister Gupta said that the earlier outdated and insecure software for school admissions has been replaced with a secure, cloud-based system. "A comprehensive security audit was conducted prior to launch to ensure data protection and transparency," she said. To prevent fraud and duplication, Aadhaar-based identity verification and digital verification of birth certificates have been made mandatory. Income certificates will also be verified directly through an integrated online system, significantly reducing the scope for malpractice, said an official statement. "This system will ensure that eligible children receive their rightful access to free education in private schools in a fair and transparent manner," said the Chief Minister. She noted that this is a highly sensitive matter aimed at ensuring quality education for genuine beneficiaries. "Earlier, multiple forms were submitted for the same child and middlemen manipulated the system. With Aadhaar linkage, online applications, digital document verification and duplication control mechanisms, the entire process will now be transparent, swift and fair, effectively eliminating intermediaries," said the statement. The admission process will be fully online and transparent. Eligibility will be verified digitally, and seat allocation will be conducted through an automated system. Parents will receive real-time updates on application status. Reduced human intervention will curb corruption and unnecessary delays, said the statement. The key IT initiatives launched by the Chief Minister on Saturday included the integration of e-District services with the Common Service Centre (CSC) network, said the statement. Citizens will no longer need to visit multiple government offices for minor tasks. Over 7,000 active CSC centres across Delhi will provide services locally, it said. Under this initiative, approximately 75 e-District services, including income, caste and residence certificates; birth and death certificates; services related to social welfare, food and civil supplies, labour, and education will be available, it said. Each service will carry a nominal fee of Rs 30, ensuring transparency and equal accessibility, said the statement. The Chief Minister described this as a historic step that will curb financial exploitation by private cyber cafes and ensure affordable, simple and transparent government services across the capital. Chief Minister Gupta also announced that, for the first time, a comprehensive digital record of all Delhi Government assets has been created through an Asset Management Portal. Information regarding land, buildings, availability and encroachments can now be accessed on a single platform. Through the 'CM Pragati' portal, all government projects are being monitored in real time. The status of projects, approvals granted, pending files and reasons for delay are directly accessible at the Chief Ministeras level. This will accelerate execution, prevent cost escalation and safeguard public funds, said the statement. Speaking at the event, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood stated that the department, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has developed a new digital portal for children under the EWS, DG and CWSN categories. He said that the portal, developed under the guidance and supervision of the concerned department of the Government of India, has been designed to prevent duplication and any form of irregularity, ensure stronger security, and make the admission process fully transparent. Sood informed that the government provides crores of rupees every year to schools towards fees, uniforms and other expenses for children admitted under the EWS category. "This is public money derived from taxpayers, and it is the governmentas priority to ensure that these funds reach the rightful beneficiaries and that the benefits of schemes extend to the last person in the queue," he said. Delhi IT Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said that the CM Jan Sunwai Portal and app will enable citizens to lodge and track complaints online. He added that a Cyber Crisis Management Plan has been implemented to strengthen the security of government websites and data. Over 200 departments are functioning through the e-Office system, promoting paperless governance, and all government websites have been integrated onto a unified platform, he said. A WhatsApp-based service will soon be launched, allowing citizens to access information and services through chat, he said. Gadag : , Feb 21 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Chandru Lamani, representing the Shirahatti Assembly constituency, was caught red handed and taken into custody by the Karnataka Lokayukta on Saturday in connection with an alleged bribery case in Laxmeshwar town of Karnataka's Gadag district, the official statement by the Lokayukta said. The development is seen as a setback to the BJP, which targeted the Congress-led government in the state for demanding bribes, commissions from contractors and not releasing their payment. The Karnataka Lokayukta said that a successful trap has been laid down by Gadag Karnataka Lokayukta Police under the Section 7 (a) read with 7 (A) of the Prevention of the Corruption Act. The accused is secured and further investigation is progress, the Lokayukta added. The Lokayukta team caught BJP MLA Lamani while he was allegedly accepting Rs 5 lakh from a contractor as part of a larger bribe demand. His government personal assistant, Manjunath Valmiki, and private assistant, Guru Lamani, were also detained and questioned during the operation, the official statement by the Lokayukta added. According to Karnataka Lokayukta, MLA Chandru Lamani had allegedly demanded Rs 11 lakh from a Class One contractor, identified as Vijay Poojar, in connection with the allotment of a contract under the Minor Irrigation Department. The bribe was reportedly linked to roadside wall construction work of retaining wall on both sides of the road, Lokayukta officials said. The operation was conducted under the leadership of Dharwad Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Siddalingappa. Officials are said to have laid a trap and apprehended the MLA Chandru Lamani and his aides while they were accepting Rs 5 lakh as part of the alleged deal. Following the trap, Lokayukta officials also carried out a search at the Balaji Hospital in Laxmeshwar town, which is owned by MLA Chandru Lamani. Further investigation into the case is underway. More details are yet to emerge regarding the incident. Madal Virupakshappa, former Karnataka BJP MLA, was arrested in a bribery case in 2023. The Lokayukta Police had tracked BJP MLA to Channagiri town in Davanagere district, where he was to address a public meeting. MLA Virupakshappa allegedly evaded police before being intercepted at a toll gate near Bengaluru. His anticipatory bail was rejected by the Karnataka High Court. The BJP MLA was named as the main accused in the bribery scam in Karnataka State Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL). MLA Virupakshappa was named the main accused in a corruption case lodged by the Karnataka Lokayukta after his son was caught taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. In the raids that followed, Lokayukta authorities recovered Rs 6.1 crore in cash from his Sanjay Nagar residence and Rs 2.2 crore from his office. A total of Rs 8.23 crore in cash, a huge quantity of gold and silver ornaments, and large investments in land in Karnataka were uncovered. Patna, Feb 21 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday transferred Rs 113 crore directly into the bank accounts of 22,000 farmers under the Agricultural Input Subsidy Scheme. The amount was disbursed as compensation for crop losses caused by floods and Cyclone Montha in 2025. The transfer was carried out through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) from the Sankalp Auditorium, located at the Chief Minister's residence, 1 Anne Marg, Patna. After releasing the assistance, the Chief Minister said that the state government is fully committed to supporting farmers affected by natural disasters. He reiterated that relief to disaster-hit citizens remains the government's top priority. Nitish Kumar also shared his message on the social media platform X. "The state government is continuously working for the welfare of farmers. We have always stood with farmers affected by natural disasters. We believe that people affected by disasters have the first right over the state treasury," the Chief Minister said. In 2025, heavy rainfall, floods, and Cyclone Montha caused extensive crop damage across 13 districts of Bihar Begusarai, Bhojpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Kaimur, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, and Supaul. As many as 53 blocks and 493 panchayats were affected by the calamity. The Agriculture Department invited online applications from farmers in the affected regions. After due verification of applications, a total of Rs 113 crore and 16 lakh was credited directly to the bank accounts of eligible farmers. The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with Agriculture Minister Ramkripal Yadav, Water Resource Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and other ministers. Also present were Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department Narmadeshwar Lal, Secretary to the Chief Minister Kumar Ravi, Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Chandrasekhar Singh, and senior officials from the Chief Minister's Secretariat and the Agriculture Department. Kathmandu, Feb 21 : The local administration in Nepal's southeastern border district of Rautahat imposed curfew in parts of headquarters Gaur on Saturday amid fears that clashes between two groups could escalate into religious strife. The District Administration Office (DAO), Rautahat, said in a notice that the curfew order prohibits movement of individuals and all kinds of gatherings, assemblies, processions, and demonstrations in areas stretching from Mudbalwa Gate in the east, Lalbakaiya Dam in the west, Bam Canal in the north, and the Gaur Customs Office in the south of Gaur, effective from 1 pm on Saturday until further notice. Rautahat, which borders India, is one of Nepal's most impoverished districts and has a history of political and religious violence. "The latest clashes erupted on Thursday evening after a wedding procession of a Hindu couple clashed with members of the Muslim community, who were performing religious rituals during the month of Ramadan," Dinesh Sagar Bhusal, Chief District Officer of Rautahat, told IANS. "The loud music played by the wedding procession disturbed the Muslim worshippers at a local mosque. When they objected, clashes erupted between the two groups, with both sides pelting stones at each other," he said. Bhusal said that despite a peace agreement reached on Friday evening, tensions flared again on Saturday morning after a vehicle was set on fire, further aggravating the situation and forcing the local administration to impose a curfew to prevent the violence from turning into religious strife. The DAO said dozens of personnel from Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force have been deployed to restore order. Security has been tightened in sensitive areas, and the public has been urged to exercise restraint. "Since the curfew was imposed, the situation has come under control," Bhusal said. As Nepal is heading toward general elections on March 5, the administration is also mindful that attempts could be made to exploit the situation for political gain. "We are very attentive to such possibilities," Bhusal said. Adelaide, Feb 21 : In a dramatic clash at the Adelaide Oval, India secured a hard-fought 17-run victory over Australia in a high-pressure encounter. Chasing a challenging target of 159, Australia's lower-order fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, with India's bowlers holding their nerve till the final overs to clinch the win. Adelaide, Feb 21 (IANS) In a dramatic clash at the Adelaide Oval, India secured a hard-fought 17-run victory over Australia in a high-pressure encounter. Chasing a challenging target of 159, Australiaas lower-order fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, with Indiaas bowlers holding their nerve till the final overs to clinch the win. India's innings was built on solid contributions by Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, but it was Shreyanka Patil with the ball who made sure the team cruised past the hosts. India started relatively steadily, with Shafali Verma (7 off 6) and Mandhana (82 off 55) getting the innings off to a quick start. However, the former fell quickly, with Australian bowlers showing resistance. Mandhana and Rodrigues (59 off 46) steadied the ship with a 121-run stand and put India on top. While the vice-captain fell just 18 runs short of a well-deserved century, Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh made sure that the batting unit didnat crumble. The wicketkeeper-batteras cameo of a seven-ball 18, before a mini collapse in the final over, made sure that the Women in Blue posted a defendable target for the home side. Australia's chase got off to a shaky start as Beth Mooney (6) fell early, with Renuka Thakur dismissing her in the second over. Another crucial breakthrough came in the third over when Shreyanka Patil removed Georgia Voll, courtesy of a stunning catch by Renuka Singh. Phoebe Litchfield (26) and Ashleigh Gardner (57) then combined in a partnership to put up a strong fight. Gardneras knock was the highlight of Australiaas chase, as she hit five boundaries and a six, keeping the required run rate in check. However, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani taking crucial wickets, including the crucial one of skipper Sophie Molineux (6), who was dismissed lbw. Australiaas middle-order crumbled under the pressure. Despite a brief flurry from Annabel Sutherland, the chase faltered as they lost wickets in quick succession. Grace Harris looked confident but was dismissed hit-wicket. Shreyanka Patil once again struck a decisive blow, dismissing Sutherland for a valuable knock of 14, leaving Australia at 143/9. Deepti Sharma then returned in the final over to bowl a composed spell, giving away only five runs as the visitors restricted the hosts to 150/9, to clinch a 17-run win. With that, India took a 4-2 lead in the multi-format series, with three ODIs and a one-off Test awaiting the two sides. Brief Scores: 176/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 82, Jemimah Rodrigues 59; Annabel Sutherland 2-34, Kim Garth 1-25) beat Australia 159/9 in overs (Ashleigh Gardner 57, Phoebe Litchfield 26; Shreyanka Patil 3-22, Shree Charani 3-32) by 17 runs. Kolkata, Feb 21 : The bodies of 18 victims of the Anandapur warehouse fire on the southern outskirts of Kolkata have been identified through DNA mapping and handed over to their families on Saturday. With this, the official death toll in the tragedy has risen to 45, while nine persons are still reported missing. Police sources said the identification was confirmed after matching DNA samples of the remains with those provided by the victimsa family members. Among the 18 deceased, 16 were from East Midnapore district, one from West Midnapore district, and one from Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district. The bodies were handed over to their families at the Katapukur morgue in south Kolkata. Family members had been asked to report to Narendrapur police station, following which they were escorted to the morgue to complete the formalities and receive the mortal remains. Police officials said those who arrived to collect the remains were first required to report to Narendrapur police station, after which they proceeded to the Katapukur morgue for identification and handover procedures. The Baruipur police district has also informed the respective district administrations about the development. The district administrations and local police of East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and South 24 Parganas have contacted the families concerned and assured them of necessary assistance and support. The deceased have been identified as Kartik Jana, Nantu Khada, Subrata Khada, Prosenjit Ghara, Sandip Kumar Maiti, Krishnandu Dhara, Gurupada Sau, Basudeb Haldar, Basudeb Bera, Buddhadev Jana, Biswajit Sau, Khudiram Dinda, Shashank Jana, Bimal Maiti, Jaydev Majhi, Ramakrishna Mandal, Sujit Singh, and Tapankumar Dolui. The devastating fire had broken out on the night of January 26 at a warehouse belonging to Pushpanjali Decorators and subsequently spread to an adjacent facility linked to Wow Momo. A total of 27 people were initially confirmed dead in the incident, while several others were reported missing. Families of the missing persons had filed complaints at Narendrapur police station. Due to the severe charring of the bodies, identification was not immediately possible, necessitating DNA testing. Blood samples of relatives were collected and matched with recovered remains to establish identities. Officials said DNA matching for nine persons is still pending, and the identification process is expected to be completed after the remaining forensic reports are received. Death certificates will subsequently be issued to the families through the concerned panchayat authorities. Meanwhile, Gangadhar Das, owner of the decoratorsa warehouse, and Raja Chakraborty and Manoranjan Sit, managers of the Wow Momo-linked facility, have been arrested in connection with the incident. They are currently lodged in Baruipur correctional facility as the investigation continues. Jaipur, Feb 21 : The Rajasthan Assembly witnessed dramatic scenes on Saturday as a proposed debate on the state government's performance descended into chaos following a dispute over the agenda, resulting in the House being adjourned three times during the day. The controversy arose after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel moved a proposal to hold a debate on the BJP government's two-year performance report. Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully strongly objected to the proposal, stating that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) had earlier agreed to a broader debate comparing the BJP government's two years in office with the Congress government's five-year tenure. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra also raised objections, referring to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's earlier remarks in the Assembly, in which he had reportedly accepted the Opposition's challenge for a "two years versus five years" debate. "If the Chief Minister's words are not respected, then what is the value of this House?" Dotasra said, alleging that the revised proposal deviated from the earlier understanding and undermined the Chief Minister's commitment. The disagreement soon escalated into heated exchanges between ruling party and Opposition members, leading to disruptions in the proceedings. Congress MLAs entered the well of the House, raised slogans, and protested against the revised agenda, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the Assembly for 30 minutes. However, protests continued after the House reconvened, leading to further adjournments. Even when BJP MLA Atul Bhansali was called upon to initiate the debate later in the evening, the Opposition members continued their protests, resulting in another adjournment of the House. Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Jully accused the government of attempting to avoid accountability. "The Chief Minister himself had agreed to a two years versus five years debate. Now the government wants to restrict the discussion only to its two-year report. This raises questions about transparency and accountability," he said. Jully added that such a debate would have enabled the people of Rajasthan to assess and compare the performance of both governments. Meanwhile, MLAs of the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) also staged protests inside the Assembly, wearing T-shirts and displaying placards demanding a CBI probe into alleged paper leaks and recruitment irregularities. They raised slogans during the proceedings, further intensifying the disruptions and contributing to repeated adjournments of the House. Patna, Feb 21 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, on Saturday, held a protest in Patna against Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of promoting an anti-national mindset and hurting Indian culture. The protest was led by Sanjay Kumar Gupta, BJP MLA from Kumhrar Assembly constituency in Patna. BJP workers marched from the Bihar BJP headquarters to the Income Tax Square, where they raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi and burned his effigy. During the demonstration, BJP workers demanded a public apology from LoP Rahul Gandhi, alleging that protests by the Indian Youth Congress workers during the recent AI Summit in Delhi had tarnished India's global image. BJP workers alleged that Congress supporters created an inappropriate disturbance at a time when international delegations had arrived in India to witness the country's growing capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence. According to the BJP workers, the incident brought embarrassment to the nation on an international platform. They claimed that the demonstration during the AI Summit was carried out at the behest of Rahul Gandhi with the intention of defaming India globally. Addressing the BJP workers, Kumhrar BJP MLA Sanjay Kumar Gupta said that the actions of Congress-associated youth wing during the AI Summit had damaged India's reputation. "When representatives from across the world came to see India's rapid progress in artificial intelligence, Congress workers allegedly attempted to tarnish the country's image through inappropriate and indecent protests. There were attempts to enter the Summit by forging entry IDs, which is a serious matter. The nation is hurt by this incident, and BJP workers have come out on the streets to protest," he added. Senior BJP leader and Spokesperson Arvind Kumar Singh also criticised the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. He alleged that the AI Summit was a global platform showcasing India's technological strength, but Congress supporters attempted to insult Indian culture through an objectionable protest. He claimed that the protest by the Indian Youth Congress was orchestrated under Rahul Gandhi's direction and was aimed at maligning India's image at the international level. Goa, Feb 21 : The fifth edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-26), hosted by the Indian Navy, concluded at the Naval War College in Goa on Saturday with participating nations reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperative mechanisms to address maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The conclave brought together Chiefs of Navies and senior maritime leaders from 15 IOR countries to deliberate on evolving threats and collaborative responses. Held under the theme "Common Maritime Security Challenges in the IOR Progressing Lines of Efforts to Mitigate Dynamic Threats," the event highlighted the need for structured dialogue and coordinated action among regional partners. Delivering the keynote address, former Navy chief Arun Prakash emphasised that the rapidly evolving maritime security environment requires synchronised regional responses supported by real-time information sharing, institutional coordination and sustained capacity development. He noted that challenges such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, trafficking networks and other transnational maritime crimes can only be addressed through collective responsibility among IOR nations. The first session, moderated by former National Maritime Security Coordinator G. Ashok Kumar, focused on enhancing real-time maritime information exchange and operational coordination to counter illegal activities at sea, including drug trafficking and unlawful fishing. Speakers highlighted the importance of strengthening maritime domain awareness networks and improving interoperability between information-sharing systems. The second session examined pathways for capacity building among maritime agencies, stressing the need for pooling training resources, expanding professional exchanges and reinforcing institutional frameworks to ensure long-term maritime stability in the region. Chief of the Naval Staff Dinesh K. Tripathi expressed appreciation to partner nations for their participation and reiterated India's commitment to fostering inclusive and action-oriented maritime cooperation. He said that in an era of evolving threats, regional partners must move from shared awareness to coordinated action through technology-driven collaboration and seamless information exchange. The conclave concluded with participating delegations expressing strong convergence on enhancing maritime partnerships and maintaining a safe, secure and stable Indian Ocean through sustained cooperation. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Saturday, inaugurated several key IT initiatives and launched the "CM Jan Sunwai Portal" and mobile app, e-district services through the Common Service Centre Digital Seva Portal, and the online platform for admissions in schools for Economically Weaker Section/Disadvantaged Group (SC/ST/OBC non-creamy, Transgender, HIV+, Orphans)/ Children with Special Needs. The Chief Minister said that these initiatives have been introduced to enhance convenience for Delhi's residents, inspired by the 'Digital India' vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said the objective is to empower citizens by making government services transparent, accessible and free from corruption. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood, IT Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, senior officials, and other dignitaries were present at the event organised at the State Secretariat. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Gupta said that through technology, the Delhi government is bridging the gap between the administration and the people. "The portals and apps launched are not merely digital platforms, but a testament to the Delhi government's commitment to 'good governance' and 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'," she added. Providing detailed information about the CM Jan Sunwai Portal and app, the Chief Minister said it will function as an integrated platform. "Citizens will be able to register complaints related to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Delhi Police, and all departments of the Delhi government on a single platform." "The system has been designed to be simple and user-friendly, ensuring that citizens can submit grievances without technical difficulty. Complaints, jurisdictions and departmental officers have already been mapped within the system," Chief Minister Gupta added. "Citizens can register complaints through four modes: the online portal, mobile app, call centre (1902), and offline submission through the Chief Minister's Office. A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism has been implemented, comprising the Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO), Appellate Authority (AA), and Final Appellate Authority (FAA)." The Chief Minister added: "The physical Jan Sunwai sessions will continue. From the Chief Minister to district-level officers, all have been instructed to hold public hearings. However, through the digital platform, citizens will now be able to register grievances from anywhere. The portal symbolises a government committed not only to listening, but to delivering timely solutions." The official web address of the Chief Minister's 'Jan Sunwai Portal' is https://cmjansunwai.delhi.gov.in, where citizens can directly visit and lodge their complaints online. A mobile application titled 'CM Jansunwai' is also available, which Android users can download from the Google Play Store or via the official website. "To register a complaint, visit the website and click on the option 'Register a Complaint'. You will be asked to enter your mobile number, on which an OTP will be sent for verification. After entering the OTP and proceeding further, you will be required to provide details related to your grievance, such as a description of the issue, the concerned department (for example, water, electricity, pension, etc.), and the relevant locality. Citizens may also upload supporting documents related to the complaint." Once the complaint is submitted, a reference or registration number will be generated, which can be used to track the status of the grievance at any time. The portal also provides options to check complaint status, send reminders in case of delays, and submit feedback on the resolution. This enables citizens to monitor both the progress and the quality of grievance redressal. New Delhi, Feb 21 : The Delhi Police have busted an inter-state drug syndicate operating between Uttar Pradesh and the national capital, by arresting five persons and recovering 326.85 grams of heroin ("smack") valued at around Rs 60 lakh, officials said on Saturday. New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) The Delhi Police have busted an inter-state drug syndicate operating between Uttar Pradesh and the national capital, by arresting five persons and recovering 326.85 grams of heroin ("smack") valued at around Rs 60 lakh, officials said on Saturday. The operation was carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Squad of the East District as part of an ongoing drive against drug trafficking under a zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics. Police said the action began on the intervening night of February 12 after receiving specific information that a suspected drug peddler would deliver contraband near NH-24Noida Link Road, close to Samaypur village in the Pandav Nagar area. Acting on the tip-off, a police team laid a trap and apprehended Ameen Khan (24), a resident of Budaun district in Uttar Pradesh. During the search, 291 grams of smack, classified as a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act, were recovered from his possession. During interrogation, Khan allegedly revealed the identities of his suppliers based in Budaun. Subsequently, police secured his custody and conducted raids in Uttar Pradesh, leading to the arrest of two sources identified as Rashid (38) and Balbir (34). A further 35.85 grams of smack was recovered from Balbir, police said. Investigators said Khan had previously been arrested in 2023 in a narcotics case in Meerut and had been living in Delhi's Shahdara area for the past five months, allegedly supplying drugs across the Delhi-NCR region. Analysis of call detail records later revealed the involvement of two local associates Asif (27) and Ikrar (42), both residents of Trilokpuri in east Delhi who were allegedly distributing the contraband. Both were subsequently arrested. They were also wanted in an earlier NDPS case registered at the Mayur Vihar police station. Police said all five accused were part of an organised inter-state network supplying narcotics from Uttar Pradesh to local dealers in Delhi. Further investigation is underway to trace additional links and dismantle the remaining network, officials added. Srinagar, Feb 21 : BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Saturday accused the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) government of betraying unemployed youth by outsourcing nearly 23,000 jobs instead of filling them through regular recruitment. Speaking to reporters at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar after a BJP joining programme, Sharma alleged that the NC government had undermined the aspirations of unemployed youth in the Union Territory. "The NC government has shattered the dreams of unemployed youth. It must roll back the order or face the anger of the youth," Sharma said. He further alleged that the Omar Abdullah government had outsourced around 23,000 positions instead of filling them through a transparent recruitment process. "This is a huge betrayal of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. To support his claim, Sharma referred to a written reply submitted by the government in the Assembly to MLA Sajad Gani Lone, which stated that a total of 22,886 positions had been outsourced during the past two years. He said the BJP would continue to raise the issue and hold the government accountable, particularly on matters related to employment. Sharma also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ensured security and stability in the region, enabling youth to pursue opportunities, but alleged that the present government had failed to provide adequate employment avenues. He further alleged that political families, including the Abdullah and Mufti families, had misled people in the past and attempted to discourage public support for the BJP. "Now, youth and political activists are joining the BJP in large numbers, which reflects the growing acceptance of the party in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. Responding to a question regarding PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's remarks on the IndiaUS trade deal, Sharma said she should focus on issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "When Mehbooba Mufti should question the government here on employment and youth-related issues, she is targeting Delhi. She should raise concerns affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. New Delhi, Feb 21 : The Delhi Police have arrested a 34-year-old man in connection with the murder of a local resident in the national capital's Nand Nagri area and recovered a pistol along with three live cartridges from his possession, officials said on Saturday. The arrest was made by a team from Nand Nagri Police Station following a sustained investigation into the killing of Mohd. Umardin near Bade School in the locality. Police said the breakthrough came after investigators collected technical inputs, local intelligence and other evidence. The accused has been identified as Sunil alias Deepu alias Narender (34), son of Bishan Singh and a resident of Nand Nagri's B-block. He was apprehended after the police team zeroed in on him based on clues gathered during the probe. The operation was carried out by a dedicated team led by Inspector Anand Yadav, along with Assistant Sub-Inspector Parmod, Head Constables Deepak, Vipin and Rohit, and Constables Jitender and Vimal. "During sustained interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to committing the murder," police said. A country-made pistol along with three live cartridges was recovered from the possession of the accused, which is suspected to have been used in the crime. Further verification revealed that the accused is a habitual offender and has previously been involved in at least eight criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, snatching, causing hurt and offences under the Arms Act. Police officials said the arrest has effectively solved the murder case, though investigations are continuing to establish the exact motive behind the killing and whether any accomplices were involved. The recovered weapon has been sent for forensic examination, and investigators are also analysing call records and other evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crime. Officials added that further investigation in the case is underway. Jaipur, Feb 21 : Police have arrested Hemant Sachdeva, identified as the main accused in the illegal firecracker manufacturing unit blast in Bhiwadi that killed seven workers and injured several others on February 16, officials said on Saturday. The explosion occurred in the Khushkheda industrial area of Khairthal-Tijara district and triggered a major investigation into illegal explosive manufacturing activities in the region. Khairthal-Tijara Superintendent of Police Manish Kumar said Hemant Sachdeva was arrested from his residence in Delhi during a police raid and was subsequently brought to Bhiwadi for further questioning. Earlier, police had arrested factory operator Hemant Kumar Sharma and supervisor Abhinandan Tiwari in connection with the incident. Initially, the FIR had named plot owner Rajendra Kumar, but Sachdevaas alleged role emerged during the interrogation of the arrested accused, following which he was identified as a key accused in the case. Sachdeva was presented before a court on Saturday, and police have sought his custodial remand to facilitate further investigation into the illegal firecracker manufacturing operation. During questioning, investigators obtained information about additional individuals and locations allegedly linked to the illegal firecracker manufacturing network. Police teams have since conducted raids at multiple locations as part of efforts to identify others involved in the operation. Investigators are also examining the possible role of certain police personnel in connection with the case. The Jaipur Vigilance team is probing head constable Yogesh Kumar Sharma and District Special Team (DST) in-charge Mukesh Verma as part of the ongoing inquiry. Following these developments, the Bhiwadi District Special Team unit has been disbanded, and further inquiries are underway to ascertain any lapses or irregularities. Police officials confirmed that the factory was operating without valid licences and lacked mandatory safety measures for handling and storing explosive materials. After the blast, authorities launched a statewide drive to identify and shut down illegal firecracker manufacturing units to prevent similar incidents. The state administration has also announced compensation for the families of those killed and injured in the explosion. The investigation is ongoing, and police said further action would be taken based on evidence and findings emerging during the probe. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Nepal, where parliamentary election is scheduled for March 5, witnessed the beginning of formal campaign activities on February 16 that included public meetings, rallies, use of loudspeakers, among other related exercises, which will end three days before the date of the poll. This election can be described as among the most consequential elections since the abolition of the monarchy in the country in 2008. It comes in the wake of the youth-led Gen Z anti-corruption protests last year, which toppled the K. P. Sharma Oli government and forced the dissolution of parliament. The March poll is widely seen as a test of whether Nepal's younger generation can reshape the country's political landscape and break the dominance of the old guard. The Gen Z protests of September 2025 were a watershed moment in Nepal that was organised largely through social media platforms. The protestors demanded accountability, transparency, and economic reform. Many first-time candidates from this movement are contesting seats, hoping to represent the aspirations of Nepal's young population. They believe that with nearly a million new voters registered since 2022, the youth vote could decisively shape the outcome. Among the main contenders is Kathmandu's former Mayor, the 35-year-old Balendra Shah, popularly known as "Balen", representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), founded by former television host Rabi Lamichhane in 2022. Balen, a 35-year-old engineer-rapper-turned-politician with a strong youth appeal, is being projected as the future Prime Minister and is pitted against Oli in the latter's stronghold of Jhapa-5 constituency. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) is being led by the 73-year-old Oli, who still remains a powerful figure. Another former Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' (71), is the coordinator of a platform of Left parties, Nepali Communist Party (NCP). Nepali Congress, the country's oldest party, is now under the leadership of Gagan Thapa (49), who represents a generational shift by replacing yet another former Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, who will be 80 this June. Also present is the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which pursues monarchist sympathies, with former king Gyanendra Shah still enjoying pockets of support. Earlier, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty for 240 years, until the 1990 People's Movement introduced constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy. After the 2006 peace accord with Maoist insurgents, Nepal transitioned to a federal democratic republic in 2008. Since then, Nepal has struggled with political instability, frequent government changes, and corruption scandals. The 2026 election is widely being seen as a chance to consolidate democracy and empower a new generation of leaders. While this election will be choosing the people's representatives deciding whether Nepal will continue under the influence of veteran leaders or embrace the Gen Z activists and reformists the outcome will determine the Himalayan republic's diplomatic stand in future. New Delhi shares a long and trusted relationship with Kathmandu, strengthened by regular high-level exchanges. Bilateral cooperation spans across the economy, trade, power sectors, and social, cultural, and educational sectors as well. Of late, China has extended its Nepal footprint especially with Kathmandu's then Maoist governments largely with Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that evolved through a series of agreements with China, beginning in 2017. In December 2024, during his Beijing visit as Prime Minister, Oli signed a framework with China for BRI cooperation. This framework is intended to guide future projects and cooperation under the BRI including infrastructure development and economic collaboration with a validity of three years and the possibility of extension. However, there have been significant delays in the implementation, with no major projects yet finalised, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the initiative. Additionally, there has been concern among sections in Nepal, who expressed caution regarding the financial implications of the projects, particularly in light of Sri Lanka's financial difficulties linked to similar Chinese investments. Kolkata, Feb 21 : Former West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar has sent a legal notice to the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, for making derogatory remarks against him, state government sources said on Saturday. In the legal notice, former State DGP Kumar has demanded immediate deletion of defamatory video content from all platforms, including social/digital media, and other public domain and a public apology for defamation caused to him. "A defamatory reel/video has been uploaded and is being circulating on the social media, digital media platforms and Facebook and Instagram pages as well as other public domain, where you are being seen making certain false, fabricated, concocted and malicious statements and accusations against my Client," the legal notice said. It also added, "You have made utterly false, reckless, scandalous as per se defamatory imputations, including branding my Client as "Didi tera DG Deewana, haye Ram, ED ko dale dana" and other slanderous expressions, evidently intended to tarnish the name, fame, reputation, moral integrity, and professional character of my Client." The former State DGP said that MoS Sukanta Majumdar accused him of charges such as corruption and alleging his involvement in connection with coal scam and cattle smuggling. "That by such unlawful and defamatory statements, my Client has suffered grave humiliation, mental agony, loss of honour, and irreversible harm to his professional standing in society. Your actions amount to deliberate character assassination, with the intention of sensationalising falsehood for publicity and causing irreparable harm to my Client's reputation," former State DGP in the letter said. Seeking an apology from Sukanta Majumdar, the Balurghat Bharatiya Janata Party MP, the letter added, "In view of the above, you are requested to render an unconditional apology on all platforms, including social/digital media and other public domain, where the defamatory content was published, explicitly declaring that the allegations made by you against my Client was false, unverified, baseless, and defamatory within seven days from the receipt of this notice, failing which my Client shall be constrained to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against you." After the letter came to light, MoS Sukanta Majumdar said, "You and I all know his (Former West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar's) image. Many people think that he is accused of losing files. The CBI went to his residence to arrest him. The recent incident has shown that he has become the Chief Minister's disciple in the 'file theft' case. They have joined hands. You have heard what the court's observations are. If necessary, we will also bring it to the social media in the coming days. He wanted to fight it legally, we will fight it legally." Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar told that he has already responded to the former West Bengal DGP's letter. Islamabad, Feb 21 : Pakistan's creation of a security unit aimed to protect Chinese civilians is the clearest sign of yielding to Beijing's demands, effectively placing Chinese workers on a pedestal above the rest of the local population, a report has highlighted. In an effort to retain investment amid its challenges with militancy, Pakistan continues to make significant concessions to China, it mentioned. "In early January 2026, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the creation of a new special security unit tasked exclusively with protecting Chinese citizens in the country. This development comes after years of relentless attacks by militant groups in Pakistan targetted against Chinese citizens, workers, and infrastructure projects," a report in leading international news magazine 'The Diplomat' detailed. "By giving even greater attention to Chinese interests, Pakistan is signalling its desperation to keep its largest sponsor on side. Beijing, meanwhile, is capitalising on Islamabad's ever-weakening position to enhance its presence in the country, rather than further retreating as it had begun to do in the latter half of 2025," it added. According to the report, since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, China has moved to assert its authority in the region and take advantage of the waning US presence and influence. Instead of gaining the expected benefits of this strategy, Chinese interests have become targets for several terrorist and militant groups, leaving Chinese workers to bear the brunt of the violence. "Pakistan has been the principal theatre of this sharp uptick in attacks, with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) specifically targetting Chinese infrastructure projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, respectively. In recent months, though, attacks against Chinese workers, citizens, and businesses have also begun to pick up in neighbouring Afghanistan and Tajikistan," the report detailed. "Throughout this period, hostility toward China has become a common theme across a range of regional and transnational terrorist groups, despite their differing strategic objectives. In Afghanistan, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has stated that its attacks against Chinese nationals are intended to serve as bloody reprisals for the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) 'growing crimes' against the Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang," it mentioned. The report highlighted that Pakistan's security weaknesses were exposed following an unprecedented assault by the BLA on January 31, which included coordinated suicide bombings and shootings that killed dozens of Pakistani police and military personnel in Balochistan. "Against this backdrop, the CCP has repeatedly urged Pakistan to allow China's own armed security forces to be deployed in the country to protect Chinese citizens, signalling an explicit lack of confidence in Pakistan's capacity to manage its internal security challenges. Beijing went further still by proposing the permanent stationing of Chinese military personnel in the port city of Gwadar, though Islamabad has been hesitant to surrender further sovereignty," it noted. Amritsar, Feb 21 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Saturday, appealed to the Saini community and intellectuals to work together to make Punjab a strong and leading state and to resolve to form a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state in 2027. Attending a community gathering organised by the Saini Samaj Trust here, Chief Minister Saini launched the Trust's website that will share information about the community's activities and other updates. The Chief Minister said he got the opportunity to meet members of the Saini community. He added that the responsibility he "holds today has been entrusted to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi". Expressing gratitude for this honour, CM Saini said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, "India is moving forward at a rapid pace, a matter of pride for all". In his address, the Chief Minister said the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur was commemorated in Haryana with deep reverence. He also added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Haryana is progressing continuously. "Free dialysis facilities are being provided to kidney patients in government and medical colleges across the state. Families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh are being provided LPG cylinders at Rs 500. The government is fulfilling its promises in a phased manner. Ownership rights have been granted to individuals occupying Panchayati land for 20 years. Various schemes have been implemented to provide relief to traders, including an interest waiver scheme on taxes." The Chief Minister said that several schemes for women are being implemented in Haryana, including the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, with funds being directly transferred to beneficiaries' bank accounts. "Under the fourth installment of the Lado Lalshmi Yojana, nearly Rs 634 crore has been transferred to the scheme beneficiaries." Chief Minister Saini added that the Haryana government has launched several schemes for farmers' welfare in the state. A scheme has been implemented to operate five and 10 horsepower tubewell motors on solar energy to reduce electricity bills, he said. "Under this scheme, 45 per cent subsidy is provided by the Haryana government and 45 per cent by the Central government, while farmers bear 10 per cent of the cost." A solar scheme of up to 15 horsepower is also being implemented, CM Saini said. Jaipur, Feb 21 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched a sharp attack on the Congress during an intense uproar in the Assembly on Saturday, accusing the opposition of avoiding debate and lacking the courage to face facts. "The Congressmen do not dare to hear the truth, so they fled the House. I came fully prepared with documents. They challenged us, and we accepted that challenge," the Chief Minister said while responding to the controversy over the debate on two years versus five years of governance. Sharma claimed that his government has implemented 285 out of 352 resolutions passed in 2023 within just two years, contrasting it with what he termed the Congress's "zero performance." "Their column of work is empty. What will they debate? If they had worked, they wouldn't have disappeared from the country. All they did was corruption and appeasement," he said. He added that if the former Chief Minister had come to the House for debate, the difference between five years and two years would have been clear to everyone. Reacting to the Congress boycott, Sharma stated that he had presented complete documentation to the House. "There is a lot to say, and I am tabling everything. Congress members lacked the courage to hear the truth, so they fled the floor," he said. Following his statement, the Assembly proceedings were adjourned until Monday. The Chief Minister also used a metaphor to highlight his governance approach: "I have never shortened the line. We draw a longer line," he said, implying progress and expansion of governance. Sharma accused Congress State President Govind Singh Dotasra of deliberately creating chaos to prevent Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully from speaking. "Dotasra did not want Jully to speak, so he created the ruckus. Congress leaders are fighting among themselves. Someone else wants to become the Leader of the Opposition," he alleged. He added that the opposition would not be able to silence him, "They do not have that much power." The uproar began after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel proposed a debate on the government's two-year performance report, instead of a comparative debate on two years versus five years, which the opposition claimed had been agreed upon in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC). Congress leaders argued that the Chief Minister himself had announced a comparative debate earlier, calling the motion an insult to the CM's statement. Earlier, during the session, Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLAs raised slogans, wore protest T-shirts, and demanded a CBI investigation into paper leaks and recruitment exam irregularities. Posters were waved in the House, creating additional disruption. BJP MLA Shatrughan Gautam accused the previous Congress government of a Rs 400 crore scam involving the improper allocation of grazing land, alleging that land meant for displaced villagers was transferred to favoured individuals. The Assembly chaos reflected deep political confrontation, with the ruling BJP accusing the Congress of evasion and misgovernance, while the opposition questioned the government's accountability and transparency. Ahmedabad, Feb 21 : A plan to deploy more than 3,000 electric buses alongside expanded metro connectivity and a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) to transform Ahmedabad's urban transport network was unveiled at the inauguration of the 'Ahmedabad Next' and 'Mobility Exhibition' on Saturday. The exhibition was inaugurated by Minister of State for Urban Development Darshana Vaghela at an event jointly organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Shift Transport. The programme outlined an integrated mobility roadmap linked to preparations for a potential bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Addressing the gathering, Vaghela referred to Ahmedabad's public transport journey "from the 'Lal Bus' AMTS to BRTS and the Metro", stating that long-term planning over the next 25 to 50 years would be central to the city's transformation. She said, "Projects such as the Second Ring Road, a logistics park and the expansion of the Sabarmati riverfront would help develop Ahmedabad into a world-class liveable city." Emphasising traffic management, she said, "Connector vehicles should be used to reduce congestion on ring roads and parking capacity at metro stations should be increased to improve commuter access." Mayor Pratibha Jain said the civic body was committed to achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target of net zero carbon emissions by 2070. "To achieve the 'Net Zero' target by 2070, AMC is committed and planning concrete steps," she said. She announced that more than 3,000 electric buses were planned to strengthen public transport. "To encourage electric vehicles, 100 per cent exemption in vehicle tax has been granted," she added, noting that services such as MyByk were also promoting sustainable mobility. Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, M Thennarasan, said the bidding process for the 2036 Olympics has commenced. "The bidding process for the 2036 Olympics has started. Four new metro lines connecting the airport and GIFT City had been proposed to improve air quality in line with international standards, and the Gujarat government had made provisions for viability gap funding to support transport infrastructure," he noted. Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani said the administration was focusing on "last-mile connectivity" and smart traffic management. He said satellite towns such as Kalol and Sanand would be connected through the RRTS, reducing travel time to "only 30 to 45 minutes". MLA Amit Shah, Standing Committee Chairman Devang Dani, AMTS Chairman Dharamshi Desai, and a large number of students attended the event. Kolkata, Feb 21 : Pratikur Rahaman, a state committee member of the CPI(M) in West Bengal and considered one of the party's prominent young leaders, joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday. The CPI(M) leadership subsequently expelled him from the party. Rahaman was formally inducted into the TMC by the party's national general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee at the party office in Amtala in South 24 Parganas district. Notably, Rahaman had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Diamond Harbour constituency as a CPI(M) candidate against Banerjee. Speaking to reporters after joining the TMC, Rahaman said his decision to leave the CPI(M) was driven by what he described as a lack of space within the party to express his views. He said he believed that the Trinamool Congress offered a suitable platform to counter the policies and politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "Some people are saying I have struck a deal with the Trinamool Congress. Yes, I have struck a deal the deal is to fight against the communal politics of the BJP," Rahaman said. Welcoming him to the party, Banerjee said Rahaman had approached the Trinamool Congress leadership expressing his willingness to work for the people of the state. Banerjee also alleged that young leaders and workers in the CPI(M) were facing limitations within the party and criticised its leadership over its stand on various political developments. He further accused the CPI(M) of failing to effectively protest against issues such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the state. The development comes ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled later this year, and is expected to have political significance in the state's evolving political landscape. Ottawa, Feb 21 : Canadian media outlets continue to label Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a "Sikh leader", despite his pivotal role in a transnational web of extremism that blended separatism with terrorism, a report said on Saturday. It added that in a world fractured by identity politics and selective narratives, the way the media portrays individuals can influence public opinion and policy with lasting impact. According to a report in Khalsa Vox, Nijjar, gunned down in Canada's Surrey in June 2023, was recognised internationally as a designated terrorist, orchestrator of violent plots, and a leading figure in militant Khalistani groups. "Yet, in a recent Global News Canada report, he is casually referred to as a 'B.C. Sikh leader'. This isn't mere semantics; it's a dangerous erasure of facts, akin to dubbing Osama bin Laden a 'Muslim leader' while glossing over his role in al-Qaeda atrocities. Such whitewashing not only dishonours victims of terrorism but sets a precedent that emboldens extremists under the guise of community advocacy," it detailed. The report emphasised that this framing ignores the "blood on his hands" and reduces complex geopolitics to a narrow lens of victimhood. "It's reminiscent of how some media once softened portrayals of bin Laden as a 'devout Muslim' or 'anti-imperialist fighter,' downplaying his orchestration of mass murder. The parallel is stark: Both men used religious identity to cloak violent agendas, yet selective reporting elevates them to community icons," it mentioned. The report emphasised that the dangers of this whitewashing are manifold, particularly legitimising extremism within diaspora communities. By presenting Nijjar merely as an advocate for Sikh rights and overlooking his grooming by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and training camps risks radicalising impressionable youth to equate separatism with heroism. "This sets a global precedent. If the media can rebrand terrorists as 'leaders' based on cultural affiliations, it undermines the fight against all forms of extremism, be it Islamist, far-right, or separatist," the report stressed. The report noted that victims of violence unleashed by Nijjar-led terror group Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) in Punjab are sidelined in this narrative and Canada's own history with Sikh militancy, including the Air India tragedy, should serve as a cautionary tale against such leniency. "It's time for accountability. Journalists must prioritise facts over feel-good framing, acknowledging Nijjar's terrorist designations and activities without equivocation. Governments, too, should enforce consistent standards: Extradite based on evidence, not politics. Whitewashing terrorists doesn't promote peace; it perpetuates cycles of violence. For the sake of global security, let's call Nijjar what he was, not a leader, but a threat," the report stated. Srinagar, Feb 21 : During a major crackdown on terror handlers, the police in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district, on Saturday, attached the immovable property of a local residing in Pakistan and operating from there, officials said. The police have coined the term 'Jammu and Kashmir Nationals Operating from Pakistan' or JKNOP for such individuals. A police statement said, "In a strong and decisive action against terror operatives and their support structures, the Budgam Police has attached immovable property of a JKNOP in the Khag Police Station, and registered an FIR under Sections 7/25, 18, 20, and 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)." "The attached property belongs to Ghulam Nabi Najar, son of late Abdul Jabbar and a resident of Gamgulla village in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district. The property comprises one Kanal and 16 Marlas of prime land under Khasra No. 796, Khewat No. 144, and Khata No. 439, situated in Gamgulla village." "The action has been executed under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) after completing all legal formalities, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing crackdown against terror-linked elements operating in the Budgam district," the police statement added. "This high-impact move sends an unequivocal message to those involved in anti-national and unlawful activities will not only face criminal prosecution but will also lose the very assets that sustain such networks." "The Budgam Police is aggressively targeting the financial and logistical backbone of terror outfits and their cross-border sponsors." "Budgam Police reiterates its zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and affirms that relentless action will continue until every support network is dismantled and peace is fully secured," the statement added. The Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) are guarding the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) respectively in Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory has a 740-Km long LoC and 240-Km long IB. The Jammu and Kashmir Police and the security forces are carrying out anti-terror operations against terrorists, their overground workers and sympathisers in the Union Territory. The revised strategy of the security forces is to dismantle the entire support system of terror rather than just targeting the gun wielding terrorist. Agartala, Feb 21 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, on Saturday, chaired a high-level review meeting on reviving the long-closed Kailashahar Airport in Tripura's Unakoti district headquarters, officials said. An official of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that Chief Minister Saha during the meeting directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials to revive the long closed airport and resume flight operations. The Chief Minister asked the AAI officials to depute a technical and operational team for an on-ground assessment of the Kailashahar Airport, located nearly 140 km north of Agartala. He directed for the early submission of a comprehensive feasibility study comparing Kailashahar, Kamalpur and Khowai Airports, including land availability and other constraints. "The report has been sought to clearly outline commercial, technical and financial pros and cons of each option," the CMO official said. The review meeting examined the revival roadmap for Kailashahar Airport, which has remained closed for several years. The Kamalpur and Khowai Airports also remained closed for few decades. Senior AAI officials, including Gyan Batra, AAI (North Eastern Region) Executive Director; and Krishnamohan Nehra, Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport Director; attended the meeting and discussed steps needed for an early resumption of services. According to the official, key issues deliberated included runway expansion, modern infrastructure development and capacity creation to handle larger aircraft such as Airbus types. Chief Minister Saha said that, based on the feasibility report, the state government would take further steps in consultation with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned Ministries. AAI officials informed the meeting that a technical team would soon visit Kailashahar to examine detailed operational and engineering aspects. Both the state government and AAI agreed to work in close coordination to reopen the airport. Transport Department Secretary Uttam Kumar Chakma and Transport Commissioner Subrata Chowdhury were also present at the meeting. Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport is the second busiest airport in the Northeast, after the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. According to historian and writer Pannalal Roy, the land for Agartala, Kailashahar, and several other (now defunct) airports in Tripura was donated by the state's erstwhile Royal family. "During the Second World War, the then Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur supported the Allied powers, especially Great Britain, and deployed a contingent of the Tripura Army to assist them. During that time, airports at Agartala, Kailashahar, and other places were built to facilitate the Allied forces," Roy, who has authored several books on Tripura's royal history, told IANS. He added that in 1943, Japanese fighter planes twice bombarded the Agartala airport, just along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura. Ramanathapuram : , Feb 21 (IANS) Fishing activities remained suspended across parts of the Ramanathapuram coast in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, after 22 fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy earlier this week. Members of various fishermen associations observed a day-long strike, condemning the arrests and urging the Union government to secure their release. According to association leaders, the fishermen were apprehended nearly three days ago while fishing in the Palk Strait. The Sri Lankan Navy reportedly detained the fishermen along with four mechanised trawlers near the islets of Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu. The arrested fishermen were later produced before a Sri Lankan court and remanded to 15 days of judicial custody. As a mark of protest, fishermen refrained from venturing into the sea on Saturday. A demonstration held at Thangachimadam drew more than 400 participants, including boat owners and crew members. Fishermen leader Jesu Raja criticised the Union government for what he described as a lack of timely intervention. He said the Central government should not remain a "mute spectator" when fishermen hailing from Tamil Nadu are repeatedly detained. Referring to the recent visit of the Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to New Delhi for an international summit, Raja said the issue of arrests in the Palk Strait should have been raised at the highest diplomatic level. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter directly with the Sri Lankan leadership to prevent further incidents. Fishermen in the region, who have traditionally depended on the Palk Strait for their livelihood, said the recurring arrests have pushed many families into financial distress. In recent years, Sri Lankan authorities have impounded several mechanised boats and allegedly failed to return them. Association representatives claim that more than 100 Indian trawlers are currently lying in Sri Lankan custody, resulting in heavy losses for boat owners burdened with loans. Beyond the economic impact, the arrests have also taken a social toll. Families of detained fishermen are often forced to arrange fines imposed by Sri Lankan courts. Failure to pay such penalties can lead to prolonged imprisonment, adding to the anxiety and psychological strain faced by women and children back home. The protesting fishermen have urged the Union government to work towards a lasting diplomatic solution, ensure the safe return of the jailed fishermen, and facilitate the retrieval of the impounded boats to safeguard their livelihoods. Gandhinagar/New Delhi, Feb 21 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday said that in its attempt to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress had chosen to oppose India, reacting to the party's protest against the recent AI Impact Summit. The reaction followed a protest by Youth Congress workers on Friday, who criticised the summit and questioned the Central government's claims regarding its impact on employment and economic priorities. Addressing the controversy, Patel said, "Under the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the world has witnessed the rise of a new India through the grand success of the AI Impact Summit." He added that the initiative had opened new opportunities for young people. "India's youth have attained new heights for their dreams. This initiative has created immense opportunities for young people in start-ups and emerging sectors," he said. Referring to the protest, the Chief Minister said, "Those who cannot accept this achievement and the global image that India is building are opposing it." He further alleged, "In the process of opposing the BJP, the Congress has chosen the path of opposing India." Patel also said that whenever India's stature rises globally, the Congress has made it a practice to criticise such efforts. "It has been their old habit to oppose whenever India's voice grows stronger on the world stage," he said. Accusing the opposition of attempting to create doubts among young people, he said, "When new avenues of development have opened up for the country's youth, they are trying to create suspicion in their minds and are opposing the AI Summit merely for cheap publicity." He added that the Congress "should feel ashamed of such actions and apologise to the nation." The Congress has maintained that its protest was aimed at raising concerns about employment and the broader economic situation, stating that its criticism was directed at policy priorities rather than technological advancement. The AI Impact Summit was organised under the Centre's IndiaAI Mission and brought together policymakers, technology firms, start-ups and industry representatives to deliberate on artificial intelligence governance, research collaboration and sectoral applications. The government has presented the platform as part of its effort to position India as a global hub for responsible and inclusive AI development. Guwahati, Feb 21 : The regional party in Assam, Raijor Dal leader and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, on Saturday, asserted that his party would not compromise on seat-sharing with the Congress and demanded at least 15 seats in the upcoming state Assembly elections, saying that even if the number is reduced, the party must be given a minimum of 12 Assembly constituencies of its choice. Addressing reporters after a meeting of Raijor Dal leaders here, Gogoi said the party's demand was based on its growing political strength and grassroots presence across Assam. "Raijor Dal needs 15 Assembly seats. Even if that is not possible, the Congress will have to concede at least 12 seats of our choice. There can be no alliance without a respectable understanding," he added. He also said that Raijor Dal is prepared to make political sacrifices to project Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi as the Chief Ministerial face of the Opposition alliance, if such a consensus helps defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam. "We are ready to make all sacrifices to see Gaurav Gogoi as the Assam Chief Minister. The larger goal is to protect Assam and defeat the BJP," he added. Akhil Gogoi's remarks come amid ongoing discussions among opposition parties over alliance formation and seat-sharing arrangements ahead of the forthcoming state elections. Talks between the Congress and regional parties, including Raijor Dal, have gained momentum as the Opposition seeks to put up a united challenge to the ruling BJP-led coalition in the state. Raijor Dal, which positions itself as a pro-people regional force, has been pressing for greater representation in any opposition alliance, citing its role in mobilising mass movements and its performance in recent elections. The Congress, however, has so far refrained from making any formal announcement on seat-sharing, saying that discussions are still at a preliminary stage. Political observers believe Akhil Gogoi's firm stance reflects the growing assertiveness of smaller regional parties in Assam's opposition space, where electoral arithmetic and leadership projection are emerging as key issues. The BJP, which currently holds power in Assam, has repeatedly dismissed the Opposition's alliance efforts as unstable and driven by personal ambitions. With negotiations expected to continue in the coming days, the Opposition's ability to arrive at a consensus on seat-sharing and leadership could prove crucial in shaping the political battle in Assam. Chennai, Feb 21 : The Q Branch of the Delhi Police, in coordination with Tamil Nadu Police, arrested six Bangladeshi nationals in Tirupur district on Saturday for allegedly posting content in support of Pakistan-based terror outfits on social media and residing in India without valid documents. The arrests were made following specific intelligence inputs regarding provocative online activity and suspected communication with extremist elements operating from across the border. A Delhi Police Q Branch team travelled to Tirupur and, with the assistance of Tirupur district police, conducted simultaneous raids at three locations. The arrested individuals were identified as Mijanur Rahman, Mohammad Shabat, Umar, Mohammad Litan, Mohammad Shahid, and Mohammad Ujjal. Police sources said the suspects were taken into custody without incident. During the searches, officials seized eight mobile phones and 16 SIM cards. Preliminary investigation indicated that the devices were allegedly used to share content supporting banned terror organisations and to maintain contact with suspected handlers. The seized devices have been sent for forensic examination to analyse communication records and identify possible links to larger networks. Investigators said the six individuals had been living and working in Tirupur for some time and were employed in garment manufacturing units in Uthukuli, Thirumuruganpoondi, and Palladam areas. Police said the accused were residing in India without valid passports or visas. Officials also suspect that forged Aadhaar cards were used by the accused to obtain employment and accommodation. Further interrogation is underway to ascertain the extent of their activities and determine whether they were part of any organised network. Security agencies have stepped up surveillance and verification measures in the region as part of ongoing efforts to monitor suspected unlawful activities. New Delhi, Feb 21 : Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra held a public grievance hearing at State BJP office on Saturday as part of the party's regular weekend programme and resolved many complaints on the spot, said a BJP leader. A large number of citizens participated in the hearing and presented their concerns directly before Mishra. The objective of the programme was to provide a platform for the general public where they could convey their grievances directly to the government without any intermediary and ensure concrete steps are taken toward their resolution. Mishra personally interacted with 38 complainants and listened to their issues in detail. In several cases, he spoke over the phone with officials of the concerned departments on the spot and directed them to resolve the issues at the earliest, said the statement. In matters where immediate resolution was possible, prompt action was initiated, while in more complex cases, a time-bound action plan was prepared and the concerned departments were instructed to submit reports accordingly, it said. Earlier in the day, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva led nearly 1,000 protesting workers in a protest against the Congress and its workers who protested at the AI Summit on Friday. Addressing the workers participating in the protest, Sachdeva raised slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram" and strongly condemned the Congress for its actions at the AI Summit. The Delhi BJP President reiterated that the AI Summit was not a BJP event but a national event of India, and disrupting it was tantamount to anti-national conduct. He stated that at such an important forum, where India was presenting its innovation strength, startup ecosystem, and digital transformation to the world, the Congress' actions reflected its negative politics. He said that when the entire world is recognizing India's technological progress and digital leadership, such disruption by Congress is extremely unfortunate. He accused the Congress party of placing political frustration above national interest and attempting to belittle India's achievements on international platforms. Targeting the Congress leadership, Sachdeva remarked that this reflects the same mindset that seeks to defame the country from Parliament to the streets. He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is reaching new heights in technology, startups, and artificial intelligence -- something the Congress is unable to digest. Addressing the protesters, Manoj Tiwari said that the incident at the AI Summit was not an ordinary event. He claimed that before the police could act against the Congress workers, members of the public present at the venue had already confronted them. He asserted that the Congress' actions at the AI Summit were not merely a protest but a display of frustration by Rahul Gandhi and the entire party. More than 80 countries were represented at the AI Summit, which he said the Congress could not tolerate. He emphasised that it was not a BJP AI Summit, but India's AI Summit. Agartala, Feb 21 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, on Saturday, took a swipe at the previous Left Front government, alleging that it ignored the labour class and created divisions between owners and workers, while asserting that the present BJP dispensation in the state is focused solely on inclusive development. Unveiling the bust of Syama Prasad Mukherjee at the Nagerjala Bus stand here, the Chief Minister said that in the last one year alone, foundation stones have been laid and projects worth Rs 1,500 crore have been inaugurated underscoring the state government's development-centric agenda. "The Nagerjala bus stand, one of the main bus terminuses in Agartala, was earlier in a poor condition. After the BJP came to power, we restored it. The previous (CPI-M) government never thought about the working and labour class, bus drivers or passengers. There were not even proper passenger sheds. Their focus was only on mobilising people for processions despite ruling the state for 35 years," CM Saha said. He added that the present BJP-led state government has prioritised the improvement of bus stands across the state, and recently foundation stones for several bus termini have been laid. Highlighting the contribution of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the Chief Minister said that he sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of the nation. "If we truly want to honour him (Syama Prasad Mukherjee), this bus stand should bear his name. He was a scholar, became Vice-Chancellor of the then University of Calcutta at a young age, served as a Minister, resigned in protest against the Nehrua"Liaquat Pact, and later founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951. He dedicated his life to national unity," CM Saha added. The Chief Minister alleged that Communist and socialist ideologies had earlier created rifts between owners and labourers. "They followed a divide-and-rule policy. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Prayas'. Unity is essential for the development of both the country and the state," he said. Chef Miniser Saha also added that Tripura has already created 1.08 lakh "Lakhpati Didis", achieving about 95 per cent of the target. "The goal is not just to make women lakhpatis, but entrepreneurs. Hard work is the only path to progress," he added. On infrastructure, the Chief Minister announced that National Highway-8, earlier the state's only national highway, will be four-laned from Chandrapur, near Agartala city to Churaibari along Assam. "The same National Highway will also be four-laned in southern Tripura too, and the DPR (Detailed Project Report) has been completed. Work on the ring road has already started. Our government believes in transparency and development," he said. Mumbai, Feb 21 : Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan was seen visiting the legendary screenwriter Salim Khan on Saturday in the city. SRK was spotted arriving at the Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, in the late hours of Saturday. The megastar arrived in his car at the healthcare facility to get an update on Salim Khanas health, who has been admitted there since the morning of February 17, 2026. Salim Khan has suffered a minimal brain hemorrhage, doctor Jaleel Parkar, who is looking after his case, informed. The doctor had earlier shared that minimal brain hemorrhage does not require surgery. Earlier, there were discussions around his discharge but now a decision will be taken once he feels better. A Digital Subtraction Angiography was performed on Salim Khan. He is currently on a ventilator, and has been kept in the ICU. Yesterday, he was admitted by family doctor Chopra. His blood pressure was also high so the medical professionals put him on a ventilator for backup as safety. Now he is doing better, recovery is slow due to old age. Meanwhile, Malaika Arora, the ex-wife of Salim Khanas son, Arbaaz Khan, was also seen visiting the hospital on Saturday. Zeeshan Ziauddin Siddique, the son of Baba Siddique, also arrived to check on the 90-year-oldas health. Salim Khan is a respected figure in Hindi cinema. He partnered with Javed Akhtar, forming Salima"Javed, 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 aAndaza, aSeeta Aur Geetaa, aZanjeera, aYaadon Ki Baaraata, aDeewaara, aSholaya, aTrishula, aDona, and aKaala Patthara. Their work helped establish the template of the Hindi commercial film driven by strong narratives, dialogue, and a central male protagonist. Salim Khan was primarily responsible for story development and screenplay structure within the duo. Their scripts significantly shaped the careers of actors such as Amitabh Bachchan. After the partnership ended in the early 1980s, Salim Khan continued to write independently but with fewer releases. He is the father of actors Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, and Sohail Khan, and film producer Alvira Khan Agnihotri is his daughter. Salim Khan has received multiple industry honors for lifetime contribution to Hindi cinema, including Filmfare and IIFA recognition for Salima"Javedas body of work. Bhopal, Feb 21 : The Madhya Pradesh government on Saturday said the successful reintroduction of cheetahs at Kuno National Park reflects significant progress in India's wildlife conservation efforts and indicates that the species is gradually becoming an integral part of the country's forest ecosystem once again. According to a state government press note, the survival of breeding females, growth of second-generation cubs, and gradual expansion into new habitats point to encouraging outcomes under the cheetah reintroduction programme. The government said the birth of second-generation cubs in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary marks an important milestone in the implementation of Project Cheetah. "Despite some cheetah deaths due to natural causes and adaptation-related challenges during the initial years, the surviving animals have successfully adapted to Indian climatic conditions, prey availability, and ecological surroundings. This indicates steady progress towards long-term sustainability of the project," the government said. The government said female cheetah Gamini has recently given birth to her second litter. From her earlier litter, three sub-adult cubs are reported to be healthy, and three new cubs have been born. Another female cheetah, Veera, is currently roaming in open forest areas with her 13-month-old cub, while Nirva and her three 10-month-old cubs are being monitored in a protected enclosure. Of the eight cheetahs translocated from Namibia, three are currently present in Kuno National Park and are reported to be healthy. Twelve cubs born to Namibian-origin cheetahs are also alive. Between 2023 and 2026, a total of 39 cubs were born at Kuno, of which 27 are currently alive, according to the government. Of the 12 cheetahs translocated from South Africa, eight are currently present in Kuno and have adapted to the habitat. Three have been translocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Ten cubs born to South African-origin cheetahs are currently alive. The government also said that Mukhi, the first cheetah born in India under the project to reach adulthood, has given birth to five cubs, marking a significant development in the programme. According to the government, Project Cheetah has also contributed to increased public participation in wildlife conservation. "More than 450 'Cheetah Mitras' have been trained to support conservation efforts, and employment opportunities have been generated, contributing to local livelihoods and community participation," the government said. The government aims to establish a self-sustaining population of 60 to 70 cheetahs across nearly 17,000 square kilometres by 2032. As part of this plan, a conservation breeding centre is proposed to be set up in the Banni grasslands of Gujarat. Technology VITA325 Launches First European Pilot with MAGDOMED Rehabilitation Centre in Poland Odesa, Ukraine / Poland February 18, 2026 VITA325, an AI-powered movement platform assessing gait through smartphone sensors and video for personalized mobility care, today announced the launch of its first European pilot with MAGDOMED Rehabilitation Centre in Poland. The collaboration aims to enhance post-prosthetic care and long-term mobility outcomes for people with lower-limb amputations using only their smartphones. The pilot will introduce VITA325s smartphone-based gait and movement assessment into MAGDOMEDs rehabilitation programs. By combining phone sensors and video analysis, VITA325 helps clinicians monitor gait symmetry, balance, and functional mobility remotely, while patients follow structured home-based programs between in-clinic visits. This approach is designed to close the gap between scheduled appointments, reduce the risk of complications, and support more personalized mobility care over time. At VITA325, we believe that movement is a vital sign, and every person with limb loss deserves continuous, data-driven supportnot just during the short rehabilitation window in the clinic, said Yuliia Koinak, Founder and CEO of VITA325. Our pilot with MAGDOMED is an important step towards making advanced, AI-powered movement analysis accessible across Europe through technology patients already carry in their pockets. Within the pilot, MAGDOMEDs clinical team will use VITA325 to: Capture standardized walking and functional tests via smartphone to assess gait stability and prosthesis adaptation. Detect early signs of overload, asymmetry, or compensatory patterns that may lead to pain, joint problems, or secondary injuries. Provide patients with guided exercise videos and structured at-home tasks tailored to their mobility status and rehabilitation goals. Track progress with objective metrics over time to support decisions on prosthesis tuning, therapy intensity, and follow-up schedules. The pilot is designed to validate clinical workflows, patient engagement, and outcome improvements, with the goal of scaling to more patients and additional sites after successful evaluation. It also represents a key milestone in VITA325s European expansion following international recognition at global tech events and support from innovation and grant programs. Building on clinical pilots in Ukraine Before entering Poland, VITA325 was tested and refined in collaboration with rehabilitation partners in Ukraine. Clinical pilots at ProMed Clinic in Odesa and other local centres helped shape VITA325s protocols for post-prosthetic care, remote monitoring, and communication between patients and therapists. These pilots provided real-world feedback from people with war-related and trauma-related amputations, informing how the platform supports both clinicians and patients in demanding conditions. Working closely with Ukrainian rehab teams and patients with complex injuries has shaped every detail of VITA325from test selection and exercise design to how we present feedback to patients, added Yuliia. Bringing this experience to European partners like MAGDOMED allows us to combine local clinical expertise with scalable digital tools for personalized mobility care. About VITA325 VITA325 is an AI-powered movement platform that assesses gait through smartphone sensors and video to enable personalized mobility care, starting with people with lower-limb amputations. The platform turns any smartphone into a movement lab, capturing gait, balance, and functional mobility through clinically inspired tests without additional hardware. Patients receive guided exercise programs and step-by-step video instructions, while clinicians access dashboards with progress trends, risk indicators, and prompts for follow-up and care adjustments. VITA325 works with rehabilitation centres to extend care beyond the clinic, support long-term adaptation to prostheses, and create new data-driven services around movement health. The company is currently collaborating with rehabilitation centres in Ukraine and Poland on clinical pilots and real-world validations. About MAGDOMED Rehabilitation Centre MAGDOMED Rehabilitation Centre in Poland provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation services with a focus on restoring mobility and quality of life for patients with complex musculoskeletal conditions, including limb loss. Combining evidence-based physical therapy, modern rehabilitation equipment, and patient-centred care, MAGDOMED supports patients from early post-surgical rehabilitation through long-term functional adaptation and return to daily life. Media Contact VITA325 / LAB325 Email: jk@vita325.com Website: https://vita325.com Arts Twice-lost orchestration of Gilbert and Sullivan opera Thespis to be recreated Pitch Perfect Music Services is set to recreate the orchestration of Thespis, a lost Gilbert and Sullivan opera, which was later arranged by Garth Morton and Terence Rees. The original orchestration, as created by Gilbert and Sullivan, was lost over a century ago; since then, several partnerships have revived it in various forms, using works taken from lesser-known Gilbert and Sullivan works (as well as some of Sullivans own solo compositions) and setting them to the libretto text, which survived. Since Rees and Morton were given unprecedented access to the DOyly Carte archive, and used what they found to recreate Thespis, it is acknowledged amongst experts and authorities in the field that the Rees/Morton version is the most authentic and accurate reworking of the opera. After a run of successful performances of this version in the 1960s, this orchestration was sadly lost due to damp and poor storage conditions. By remaking the orchestration in digital form, this musically historical and cultural work will be resurrected and preserved for generations to come. In 2019, Garth Morton contacted Pitch Perfect Music Services to enquire about creating a typeset version of the piano and vocal score from his amended manuscript; this was successfully completed, however sadly in 2020, Morton passed away before a printed version was produced (his son Charles Morton has since overseen the final creation, which includes a tribute page to his father). Prior to his passing, he asked that if there was interest in putting on full-scale theatrical performances from this, Pitch Perfect was to re-orchestrate it: now that there is indeed that interest that has come about from the publication of that piano/vocal score, this is to become a reality. To bring this lost work back to life, and make future performances a possibility, Pitch Perfect will use recordings taken from a performance in 1969, combined with the music notation files already in existence from creating the piano/vocal score, as well as scores from the British Library, to remake the orchestration and parts. As such, Pitch Perfect is currently running a crowdfunding campaign in order to fund this work, which also offers rewards ranging from a copy of the piano/vocal score, to the rights to put on a performance of the opera; you can find it here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/OnvroQ5n?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink The WNYC hosts first novel, My Name Was Gerry Sass, traces the aftermath of the eponymous Midwestern hit mans murder. In the novel, Gerry runs a public radio station in Iowa, in addition to being a hit man. How did your living in the Midwest and working in radio shape this story? Its less about the experiences themselves than the perspectives I gained on them after moving to New York. With distance, Ive come to appreciate a specific Midwestern ethos and way of moving through the world. That perspective has stayed with me. Theres a common misconception that were simple and lack a variety of opinions or a breadth of knowledge. I wanted to tell a story about complicated people who embodied a Midwestern type of antihero: imperfect and, in a weird way, lovable. That combination felt inseparable from the place itself. Did any specific personal experiences inform the novel? Gerry is based on my biological father, whom I didnt really know growing up, so I made up a lot of stories about who he was. As an adult, I did an Ancestry DNA test and found out I had several half siblings. My father wasnt a good person, but talking with my siblings helped me understand what a basket case he was and why. That shaped how I wrote Gerry: as a daughter trying to look at her father with, hopefully, a more charitable lens. The character became a mix of childhood imagination, terrible truths, and a desire to write an antihero whos vulnerable enough to be complex, and even a little likable, rather than just a jerk. Which was more difficult, developing a dark comedic voice or sustaining narrative tension? The challenge was knowing when to dial back the humor so it didnt undercut the tension. I had to make sure the humor served the story rather than overpowering it, and that it fit each character. Father Danthe Catholic priest who ends up witnessing Gerrys murdernaturally allows for more humor. Dan is lovably goofy, while Gerry is serious, and the humor there is driven by his machismo. With Gerrys daughter Early, the nut doesnt fall far from the tree; like Gerry, her humor comes from her worldview. Does the Midwests understatement, politeness, and restraint make it especially apt for comedy? The Midwest lends itself especially well to satire and ironysubtle forms of humor. Midwesterners are funnier than people give them credit for, with a deadpan quality that I really enjoy and find rich for comedy. Did any of your characters actions or decisions surprise you? They did. Following characters through the weird turns of a narrative is less about what you want to make them do and more about what theyre going to do, which always makes for a better story. When Tom Perrotta was growing up in 1960s and 70s New Jersey, his father was a volunteer firefighter. We had this radio in our house that would crackle in the middle of the night and say, Theres a fire! the novelist recalls on a video call from his home in Belmont, Mass. Every night they did a test at eight oclock, so it was always in the background: this burst of static, and then a voice. Perrottas new novel Ghost Town, out in April from Scribner, is very much concerned with voices bursting through the static. The protagonist, like Perrotta, is the son of a New Jersey firefighter who grows into a celebrated novelist. The fictional setting of Creamwood, N.J., is like Perrottas native Garwood once was: a functionally segregated factory town sliding into financial obscurity at the end of the Nixon era. Perhaps its no surprise, then, that Ghost Town began to take shape when Perrotta returned to his childhood home a few years ago. During the early part of the Covid pandemic, Perrottas elderly mother started having health issues, and he began commuting from New England to New Jersey to take care of her. I felt the presence of the past very clearly, and the absence of the happy young life I remembered, he says. One memory that resurfaced was the fact that Perrottas mother had come close to death before, when the author was six years oldsomething she didnt tell him or his two siblings about until many years later. From there, more pieces of the novel started clicking into place. Perrottas 11th book, Ghost Town follows eight previous novels and two short story collections. His early work, including his debut 1994 collection Bad Haircut, stuck close to his native New Jersey. Ever since the author broke out with Election in 1998, though, his work has largely skirted autobiography. Following in the footsteps of Elections indelible Tracy Flick, the most memorable characters that Perrotta has written this century have been womenincluding the protagonist of Little Children, which Perrotta adapted into an Oscar-nominated screenplay, and Nora Durst in The Leftovers, whom Carrie Coon played in that novels HBO adaptation. I did consider writing about working-class New Jersey and a teenage boy as a return to an earlier phase of my career, Perrotta admits. I was thinking a lot about Philip Roth, who I really admire, and who grew up very close to where I did. He kept returning to that childhood world in his later years, and you never felt like, Oh, heres a guy whos unable to move on. It was more that this was a mythic world for him that was larger than life, and he could somehow say really large things within a very localized context. Told mostly in flashback, Ghost Town unfolds during summer 1973, when 13-year-old Jimmy Perrinis mother dies of cancer. Distraught, aimless, and essentially abandoned by his grieving father, Jimmy befriends Eddie, a 16-year-old burnout who teaches him how to smoke weed, and Olivia, a lonely older girl who tries to help him contact his mom with the help a Ouija board. That primary narrative is nestled inside a frame story in which middle-aged Jimmy, who has become the commercially successful but artistically bankrupt novelist Jay Perry, considers an offer to return to Creamwood for the first time in several decades to host a reading. In interviews, Perrotta often speaks of his interest in the classroom as a literary setting. Election and its 2022 sequel, Tracy Flick Cant Win, examine high school as a savage microcosm of American politics. The Abstinence Teacher (2007) follows a divorced sex-ed instructor who clashes with her students conservative parents. Tellingly, Ghost Town takes place in the hazy stretch of time between school years, when meaning is malleable and structure has fallen away. If I think of my project as a writer as, All of life is an educationa political education, a sexual education, Perrotta says. Then in this book, Jimmy is out of school, but he finds teachers, for better or worse. In the 70s, there was some sense that we were a free-range generation: we didnt have parents looking over our shoulders, and we had to learn how to deal with our problems ourselves. But sometimes that led to kids of a very young age finding themselves in adult or bewildering situations. In contrast to rosier coming-of-age narratives, Ghost Town walks a razors edge between nostalgia and disillusionment, marinating the reader in a not-quite-tender, not-quite-melancholy mood thats ever so slightly chilling. The Vietnam War haunts the margins of the narrative. Jimmys neighbors court controversy by inviting their Black cousin to stay with them in lily-white Creamwood. Perrotta often thought of Stephen Kings novella The Body, the source text for Rob Reiners Stand by Me, as he was writing. And though one can almost hear Richard Dreyfuss delivering some of adult Jay Perrys lines, the grown man in Ghost Town is far more reluctant to revisit his formative years than Kings wistful narrator was. I was torn between this positive nostalgia for my mother and my childhood, and this growing recognition that I grew up in an all-white town, Perrotta says, noting that he plotted much of the novel amid the 2020 George Floyd protests. So much nostalgiaespecially toxic political nostalgiarests on whitewashing the past. This book was an attempt to do justice to just how complicated that past is. It was also, Perrotta says, his stab at writing a ghost story. (Or at least, given the novels framing device, writing a book about someone whos writing a ghost story.) Though few would mistake Ghost Town for a pure genre novel, a gently mystical current runs beneath its realistic surface. Jimmy insists throughout that he can feel his late mothers presence, having his first semi-supernatural encounter with her partway through her funeral. When he and Olivia first consult a Ouija board, they make contact with what appears to be the spirit of an escaped convict. Perrotta was inspired, he says, by his own memories of playing with a Ouija board when he was roughly Jimmys age. I remember walking home from my friends house in the dusk and feeling the world teeming with presences, he recalls. Decades later, while contemplating his mothers impending death, Perrotta wondered if he could recapture some of that otherworldly sensation in prose. It seemed somehow rich, and it connects with this sense I have that, as I get older, the world is full of absences that are pressing against the surface, he says. Ghost is definitely the reigning metaphor for me. Perrottas mother died while he was writing Ghost Town. Of his parents, he says she was the one pressing books into his hands, which spurred him to identify as a writer by his sophomore year of high school. Had she succumbed to her illness when Perrotta was six, he figures he might have ended up working in one of the factories that lined Garwood in the mid-20th century, manufacturing dental supplies or nylon flex hoses. Instead, he gets up early each morning in the suburbs of Massachusetts, knocks out a few hours of writing, then spends the afternoon running or biking or doing yoga to burn off the nervous energy hes accumulated. Its a privilege, he admits, that sometimes makes him feel as far from the young strivers of today as they might feel from 1970s New Jersey. Another vanished America, he says, half smiling. Japanese chain retailer Books Kinokuniya, which operates 71 stores in Japan and 47 stores in 10 other countries, has had a significant footprint in the U.S. for years. Lately, Kinokuniya USA has been reaping the benefits of the current stateside popularity of Japanese culture: sales are up 107% in 2025 over 2024, according to the company. When its Los Angeles store reopens later this year, the chain will have 17 outlets in metro areas across the country. Kinokuniya USA stores range in size from 1,500 square feet in Plano, Tex., to the 24,000-square-foot flagship in New York City. The oldest outlet, located in an 11,000-square-foot space anchoring San Franciscos Japan Center shopping mall, opened its doors in 1969 and remains second only to the flagship store in terms of sales. All locations stock Japanese- and English-language books, typically in a 30%-70% split. Cafe areas in some of the stores serve Japanese teas and snacks, and the Seattle shop carries Chinese-language books as well as Japanese and English titles. Each outlet has unique features and characteristics, says Kinokuniya USA SVP Naoki Oyamatsu. Were different from other chain stores. Managers have a lot of autonomy, he explains. Were more like independent bookstores: each store has different merchandise; each is defined by its customers. Books compose about 50% of each stores total inventory, with stationery, gifts, and sidelines imported from Japan and China making up the balance. Oyamatsu points out that highly visual titles including manga, manhwa, and art books are particularly popular, because readers can enjoy the art without speaking the language. A significant number of customers are of Asian ancestry, but, he notes, Japanese visitors and expats account for only a small percentage of the clientele at most of the stores. Manga and anime-related toys, games, and media have always been popular categories at Kinokuniya, and theyre so huge now, Oyamatsu says, recalling that sales of manga quadrupled during the pandemic. People stayed home and enjoyed Netflix and other streaming services, and started watching anime. They then searched for the manga that the anime are based on. Sales have since leveled off, but manga remains the chains bestselling category, with sales this past year up 210% compared with 2018. Current top sellers at Kinokuniya USA stores include two Viz releases from October: Nana, Vol. 1 (25th anniversary ed.) by Ai Yazawa (translated by Koji Goto; adapted by Allison Wolfe) and My Hero Academia, Vol. 42 by Kohei Horikoshi (translated by Caleb D. Cook). Each includes a Kinokuniya-exclusive shikishi art board done by its respective mangaka. Emphasizing the degree to which Kinokuniya strategically targets Gen Z, people who like manga and Japanese culture, Oyamatsu says the company exhibits its wares at Anime NYC, the San Diego and New York comic cons, and other conventions appealing to its target demographic. At the same time, we have partnerships with Japanese publishers who send famous authors and artists to these conventions, so we have an opportunity to invite these authors and artists into our stores for events. Oyamatsu says Kinokuniya USA would like to open two or three additional stores by the end of 2026. Nothing has been announced, but executives have been scouting locations. Decisions hinge on establishing good relationships with mall developers who already lease space to a critical mass of Asian-friendly businesses, he explains. We expect landlords to have an understanding of our culture. If were in a purely American shopping mall, well be isolated, so we want a mixture of tenants representative of Asian culture: ramen shops, sushi restaurants, Asian cafes, Asian grocery stores. He likens the synergy to a theme park: People who enjoy Asian culture can come and spend all day, with the shopping and the food. We want to provide an experience. Return to main feature. Fabrication: French terry knit Features: jogger style, elastic waistband, contour-stitched pockets, cuffs at leg opening Rise: at the waist Fit: semi-fitted; follows the lines of the body with added wearing ease Leg Shape: slim leg; fits close to the body through the entire leg Inseam: missy/plus inseam 28" Content: 95% cotton/5% elastane Care: machine wash, tumble dry Imported To see the specific garment measurements for this item, click here. Denim & Co.(R) is currently on air. Click here to watch the LIVE broadcast on your computer! Or, see a list of products from the show. Set a Reminder Save Reminders This is your wear-everywhere pair. Slip into the cotton-rich softness of EasyWear French terry in a leg-lengthening jogger style. You can expect a slim straight-leg sihouette with a pinch more polish than other athleisure looks (so you can go to more than just the grocery store). Pockets make them a practical pick for stashing cash, cards, or keys. What more could you want? (Maybe more than one!) From Denim & Co. Fashions. There is a lot to criticize about the widely mocked Blue Square Alliance Super Bowl ad. In it, two bullies knock into David, a Jewish boy, and attach to his backpack a yellow sticky note with the words dirty Jew. A taller boy with a deeper voice puts a blue sticky note on top of the yellow one, telling David, Do not listen to that, and I know how it feels. Davids savior is Bilal, a Black student with a Muslim Arab name, who stops David from directly addressing the antisemites. After covering the antisemitic note with his blank blue one, with no explanation, he attaches another blue sticky note to his own chest. Setting aside the preference of many critics to focus on Jewish strength and pridebecause perceived weakness seems to motivate antisemitesthe entire scenario is unrealistic. While its certainly possible for a Jewish student to have dirty Jew hurled at him, that kind of rhetoric circulates mainly in the cesspits of social media. The antisemitism students say they face in school is different. It is more likely to include being called settler colonialists and genocidal baby killers, being told Zionists are not welcome and resistance is justified, and hearing annihilationist chants like globalize the intifada, there is only one solutionintifada revolution, and the Hamas slogan from the river to the sea. To be sure, some Arab Muslims and Black public figures do stand up to antisemitism. Notably, Arab Muslim peace activists Loay Alshareef and Amjad Taha, American political figures Van Jones and Ritchie Torres, and Turkish-born Muslim American Enes Kanter Freedom vocally oppose all forms of antisemitism, including the antizionist mutation of the anti-Jewish mind-virus. But in lessons from kindergarten through college, Civil Rightsera BlackJewish solidarity seems largely absent, if not outright denied. And the intersectional alliance between the Black Lives Matter movement and antizionist groupsfrom Queers for Palestine to the Democratic Socialists of America to various Arab and Muslim coalitions, at least some promoting explicit terrorist propaganda, and almost all failing to condemn the sexual violence perpetrated by Palestinian terrorists against Israelishas created more tension than collaboration between Jews and other minority groups on campus. Even the most anti-Jewish groups on the left, however, are careful to avoid explicit old-school antisemitism like calling someone a dirty Jew. Many who sayand may even believethat they oppose antisemitism still engage in todays most popular version of it. Antizionists like Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Linda Sarsour, and their ilk oppose the Nazi/white supremacist version of antisemitismexplicit rhetoric portraying Jews as non-whitewhile denying the anti-Jewish nature of their own ideology. That ideology accuses Jews of being white settler-colonialist oppressors while denying Jewish peoplehood as well as Jewish indigeneity and the legitimacy of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel. The dirty Jew form of antisemitism is easy to oppose while maintaining a profoundly anti-Jewish stance. Even New York Citys most prominent crypto-antisemite, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who denies being antisemitic yet refuses to acknowledge that the chant globalize the intifada is a call for violence against Jews worldwide, would, Im quite certain, oppose calling someone a dirty Jew. We gained insight into this sleight-of-hand when Palestinian Assembly for Liberation demonstrators in Queens chanted Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here. The newly elected mayor issued carefully worded statements: The rhetoric and displays [emphasis mine], he proclaimed, were wrong and have no place in our city. On social media, he posted: Chants [emphasis mine] in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city. In other words, supporting Hamaseven in front of synagoguesis not the problem. The problem is rhetoric that makes it obvious. Stick to slogans that still fly under the radarlike globalize the intifada. Despite all the reasons to be disappointed in Robert Krafts ad, however, the Blue Square Alliance gets one thing exactly right. The most important people in any bullying scenario, antisemitic or otherwise, are the bystanders. In the ad, some children snicker. Others passively wonder whether to tell David whats on his backpack. Bilal is the only one who speaks to him. Nobody stands up to the bullies. In any public act of bullyingmiddle school, university, or social mediathe target is never the point. Whether perpetrated by antisemites, mean girls, or cancel mobs, the point is always the bystanders. And bystanders are the ads target audiencenot Jews under attack, not Jews who fight back, and not non-Jews who already speak up. The ad is directed toward bystanders who arent taking action. Anti-Jewish behavior and sentiment, like other social contagions, increases when it brings more social gains than losses. When bystanders do nothing, it reads as tacit approval and functions as social elevation, emboldening attackers. Research shows that bystanders visibly befriending victims of bullying is protective. The same strategy works against cancellation attempts. And when non-Jews publicly stand with Jews, antisemitism becomes socially disincentivized. More people in the U.S. reject antisemitic conspiracy theories than accept them. But the vast majorityJewish or notremain silent when they encounter antisemitism. Some fail to react because they dont recognize it unless it looks like dirty Jew. Many who do recognize it fear reputational, professional, social, or physical retaliation. And insufficient public opposition is a major reason antisemitism continues to rise. Tucker Carlsons popularity has grown as his anti-Jewish conspiratorial rhetoric has become more blatant. Surveys have found that significant shares of younger Americans lack basic Holocaust knowledge, express uncertainty about whether it occurred, and even endorse conspiratorial narratives blaming Jews. Younger Americans are less likely to view antisemitism as a serious problem than older Americans even while they report witnessing more of it. Accurate information matters. But as Bret Stephens, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist, observed in his State of World Jewry address, the world has never suffered a shortage of educated anti-Semites. Anti-Jewish bigotry, he argued, reflects a psychological reflex that cannot simply be educated away. It is, however, socially contagious. And contagious phenomena can be contained. That is what the Blue Square Alliance attempts to do. The campaign can reach the roughly two-thirds of Americans who do not hold antisemitic views but say they are unlikely to intervene. Jews are such an obsession for so many, that although there are only 15 million worldwide and under 8 million in the U.S., it can be easy for people (like Joe Rogan) to think Jews number at least in the hundreds of millions. We may punch above our weight, but there are social media influencers with more followers than there are Jews on earth. Jews are too small a minority to counter antisemitism alone. But not only do almost half of Americans think Jews can handle antisemitism on our own, perceived social disapproval for ignoring antisemitic discrimination is declining. Posting a blue square may seem insignificant, even silly. But the premise is sound: When enough people publicly signal solidarity and support for Jews, anti-Jewish hostility becomes less appealing. The more people signal opposition, the more others become willing to do the same, visually demonstrating that antisemites are in the minority. US Army Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, who will soon be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as a Prisoner of War during WWII, was ordered by a Nazi to identify the Jews among the American POWs. Edmonds had the moral clarity to refuse, insisting that roughly 1000 non-Jewish POWs stand together with 200-300 Jewish American POWs. We are all Jews here, he told the German officer. Those Jews survived because Edmonds understood the reality of safety in numbers. This is the fundamental truth the Blue Square Alliance gets right. No matter how strong we are or how much we lean into our Jewishness, as Stephens wisely advises, wherever Jews are a minority, we rely on those who dont hate us to stand with us. Until a critical mass is willing to publicly oppose antisemitism and the falsehoods that sustain it, too many Davids will be pushed around in school, too many universities will remain hostile to Jews, and too little courage will be displayed for Jews to be protected. Pamela Paresky writes for Psychology Today. She has taught at Johns Hopkins, the University of Chicago, and the US Air Force Academy, and is currently a Senior Fellow at the Network Contagion Research Institute and an Associate at Harvard University in the Department of Psychology. Craig Sjodin/ABC By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/21/2026 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Former star Jake Pavelka has announced he's engaged to the woman of his dreams.: On the Wings of Love star and Season 2 Bachelor Pad contestant took to Instagram this week and wrote, "I'm engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world and my best friend."The former pilot, 48, popped the question to his girlfriend of two years, Aimee -- a 41-year-old who works in aerospace and defense contracts -- on November 22, People reported While Jake briefly considered a "really big and extravagant" marriage proposal, he told the magazine that he ultimately went with a "simple and intimate" plan.After enjoying dinner and champagne at Drake's Hollywood near their high-rise apartment in Dallas, TX, Jake proposed marriage once they returned home."I had rose petals on the ground and a table set up with candles. We walked in the apartment and she was like, 'What's going on here? Did somebody break into our apartment?' She was looking at a table trying to figure out how a candle got lit," Jake recalled."When she turned around, I was down on one knee with a really pretty ring, and I asked her to marry me."Jake said Aimee "gasped" at the sight of the ring and said "yes.""I definitely made the right choice keeping it private. It was a really special moment," Jake shared.Jake admitted, however, that creating the romantic scene in their apartment without Aimee noticing was a challenge."On the way to dinner, I walked Aimee to the elevator and then I said, 'Oh, my gosh, I forgot something. I got to run back to the apartment real quick,'" Jake said."I frantically ripped a bag of rose petals open, I pulled the table away from the wall and set a battery-operated candle on there. I sprinkled the roses everywhere and decorated real quick, got back to the elevator and she was like, 'What did you forget?' I was like, 'I needed to get a drink of water.' I couldn't even think of a good lie."But Aimee assured People that Jake's marriage proposal "would've been perfect" with "just him asking."Following the proposal, the couple called their parents to share the good news.This marked Jake's second engagement considering he was previously engaged to Vienna Girardi After Jake competed for Jillian Harris ' heart on ette in 2009, he starred on 's 14th season and got engaged to Vienna during the ABC reality show's March 2010 finale.Jake -- who also appeared on Dancing with the Stars' 10th season -- and Vienna announced their breakup in June 2010, after which they awkwardly competed against each other on Bachelor Pad 2, which aired in the Summer 2011."When I did , there were two people who gave me really solid advice," Jake shared."The first one was [then-host] Chris Harrison . He said, 'If I could offer you any advice, don't quit your day job. This is an opportunity and it's a moment in time to accentuate what you're doing currently. There's all of this opportunity after , because for a short moment in time, you're recognizable, you get offers. Do all of it, and stay true to who you are.'"Jake also revealed that executive producer Martin Hilton gave him similar advice."I went out to Hollywood and had an absolute blast and met some great people," Jake recalled. "Then I came back to Dallas and kept flying airplanes for a little while."After a brief cameo on JoJo Fletcher 's season of ette in 2016, Jake started a waste management business called Rhino Removal in 2017."I would say it's one of the more meaningful things I've done," Jake said. "So yes, I stepped away from Hollywood and built a garbage company."About a week after Rhino Removal was acquired by a publicly traded company in January 2024, Jake said he and Aimee matched on the dating app Bumble."I was on a layover in Santa Barbara with the airline, and we matched up," Jake said. "She was living in Los Angeles. I was very, very intrigued, I'll tell you that."The pair decided to meet up in Las Vegas and have their first date a week or two later at a sushi restaurant, and, according to Jake, their dinner lasted for about six hours.Since Aimee hadn't watched Jake's season, he admitted he didn't want to "lead with that."" , Dancing with the Stars, and all the really fun things that I got to do, those don't define who I am," Jake told People. "So, I think it's really unnatural for somebody to lead with that."But Jake acknowledged that he eventually had to bring up his reality TV past."I remember the conversation was going really well, and it's really crazy, but even 15, almost 16 years later, I still occasionally get recognized as Jake, the pilot," Jake said."It feels a little disingenuous if somebody comes up to the table or something and says, 'Hey, are you Jake?' And the other person is left trying to connect the dots. The conversation went on for a couple of hours, and then I just told her, 'I did get to do something really unique and really special years and years and years ago.'"Aimee apparently asked Jake if franchise is scripted and if he had fun and found love."[She asked] the normal questions that I get. And that was kind of it," Jake noted, adding how he trusted Aimee "completely" very early on in their relationship."I wanted her to be involved in decisions, even the stressful ones. She's made everything feel a lot lighter and manageable. As a man, a great woman can make you feel like you can tackle the world. I've never met anybody that could help me with that. And Aimee, it's just so natural for her."Aimee gushed about how she also knew Jake was "The One" for her "early on" in their romance."I just never experienced anything like this with anyone. Jake is just so genuine. He's so kind and thoughtful, and he makes me feel so loved," Aimee told the magazine."He makes me feel safe, supported, secure. He just has the biggest heart. Being with him is just so easy and effortless and I just feel completely at peace with him. He just makes me the happiest I've ever been."Aimee said she feels like "the luckiest girl in the world" to be Jake's partner, and Jake, in turn, said he's truly been able to settle into who he is."Early in life, I felt like I had things to prove to myself and maybe to the world," Jake confessed."Now, I'm more focused on building something steady and meaningful. Success looks a lot different today than maybe what it did 15, 20 years ago."Jake said he "wasn't sure" if he was ever going to get married and Aimee is "completely" worth the wait."You hear people talk about marriage being the best decision that they ever made, and I can clearly see it. I see exactly what they're talking about. It's very simple: Aimee makes me better as a person. She brings perspective and balance," Jake said.In terms of their wedding plans, Jake teased that he and Aimee will probably tie the know in California."Aimee's family, for the most part, is in L.A.," Jake said."I think it's going to make most sense to have a wedding in California where it's easy for her family, and my aunts and uncles live between [L.A.] and Orange County. My family from Texas is pretty mobile, so we can travel out there."Jake added that the wedding will probably take place in "early summer," although he didn't clarify if it's going to happen in 2026.Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Instagram / Rachel Recchia By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/21/2026 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Runners participate in the Run for Your Life 5K, a race honoring the life and legacy of Laken Riley. The 5K, followed by a memorial and worship service, took place on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/Lily Kate Akins; @lilykatea_photos) 'We could well be in a world where AI already has these dangerous capabilities and that is why there is a need for careful scientific evaluation to determine the risk and capabilities of these machines.' Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes. Key Points Yoshua Bengio said AGI may not be the next big breakthrough due to AI's 'jagged intelligence'. He warned AI can be powerful yet weak, and dangerous if misused. Deepfakes, scams, and non-consensual AI images are rising, raising safety concerns. Yoshua Bengio, the Canadian computer scientist often hailed as the godfather of artificial intelligence, on Friday said it would be better to forget artificial general intelligence (AGI) as the next big thing if modern systems continued to have jagged intelligence -- extremely good at many complex tasks but really bad in many simple ones. Yoshua Bengio on AGI Reality "We can escape this vision of an AGI moment if AI continues to have these jagged capabilities. "We could well be in a world where AI already has these dangerous capabilities and that is why there is a need for careful scientific evaluation to determine the risk and capabilities of these machines," he said at the India AI Impact Summit. Academicians, researchers, and policymakers have cautioned against the AI juggernaut, saying while its prospects remain exciting in many fields -- especially in areas of scientific research and drug discovery or curing cancer -- it is also prone to hallucinations, biases, and botched outcomes. Jagged Intelligence Concerns "Maybe a few years ago, it would have been exciting to think of AGI reaching human levels, but now it is meaningless as we are going to have things that will be extremely stupid and weak in some ways and dangerous in the wrong hands. "Businesses also need to determine whether AI is good for what they are trying to do," Bengio said while launching the International AI Safety Report. Google DeepMind AGI Timeline Debate His comments come days after Google DeepMind CEO and Cofounder Demis Hassabis said the era of AGI is still about five to eight years away, and the systems need to be trained further and possess capability to learn on their own. While general purpose AI capabilities have continued to improve -- especially in mathematics, coding, and autonomous operation -- some of the dangers of these models and systems are already out in the open. Deepfakes are on the rise along with fraud and scams. Bengio expressed particular concern over the amount of AI-generated non-consensual intimate images, which affect women and girls -- something that brought Elon Musk's Grok into public attention last month. He also warned that closed models are not immune to attacks just like open source ones, and that the guardrails are still not up to the mark. Deepfake and Misuse Risks The AI Safety Report added that AI systems can discover software vulnerabilities and write malicious code. 'In one competition, an AI agent identified 77 per cent of the vulnerabilities present in real software. 'Criminal groups and state-associated attackers are actively using general-purpose AI in their operations. 'Whether attackers or defenders will benefit more from AI assistance remains uncertain,' it said. AI Safety and Job Loss Fears The report also said that general-purpose AI will likely automate a wide range of cognitive tasks, especially in knowledge work, with early evidence showing no effect on overall employment, but some signs of declining demand for early-career workers. Bengio also expressed his concern that governments are not doing enough to address the issue of job losses due to AI. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff The Trump administration on April 2, 2025, announced these duties on about 60 nations, including India. It was aimed at providing a level playing field to US exporters. Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters Key Points Normally, companies pass on these taxes to end users or consumers. Indian goods will now face only a 10 per cent reciprocal levy from February 24, 2026 India should re-evaluate the trade pact with the US: GTRI Trump said nothing changes in the trade deal with India The sectoral tariffs (steel, aluminium, copper - 50%, and a few auto components - 25%) will continue India will now face a lower reciprocal tariff of 10 per cent, down from 25 per cent, after US President Donald Trump announced a new global levy on items imported into America in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict against his sweeping duties on several nations. A proclamation, dated February 20, was issued by the White House. Here is a list of key pointers to explain the meaning of this announcement for Indian companies. TARIFF: These are customs or import duties which a country imposes on goods bought from other nations. An importer has to pay this duty to the government. Normally, companies pass on these taxes to end users or consumers. Import duty makes goods expensive in the importing country. Besides, a few other factors also play a role in this. RECIPROCAL TARIFFS (RT): The term was first used by the US. The Trump administration on April 2, 2025, announced these duties on about 60 nations, including India. It was aimed at providing a level playing field to US exporters. For example, if a country charges X per cent duty on US goods, America will charge the same on imports of that country. These are additional import duties, which are imposed over and above the existing or MFN (most favoured nation) levies. NOW WHAT IS RT ON INDIA: On April 2, 2025, the US announced 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs. Later in July, the US announced a 25 per cent RT on Indian goods entering American markets from August 7, 2025. In August last year, the Trump administration announced additional 25 per cent tariffs on India for purchasing Russian crude oil, taking the total RT on India to 50 per cent. Following agreement on a framework for an interim trade deal in February, the US announced that it will reduce the RT on India to 18 per cent and remove the additional 25 per cent punitive tariffs. So at present, India's goods in the US are facing 25 per cent RT. With the US Supreme Court striking down President Donald Trump's global tariffs and Washington issuing a new order imposing a temporary 10 per cent import surcharge, Indian goods will now face only a 10 per cent reciprocal levy from February 24, 2026. For instance, if a product faces a 5 per cent MFN duty in America, an additional 10 per cent will be imposed now, taking the effective duty to 15 per cent. Earlier, this was 5 plus 25 per cent. Trump's proclamation, dated February 20, said: "I impose, for a period of 150 days, a temporary import surcharge of 10 per cent ad valorem on articles imported into the United States, effective February 24, 2026" at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. "Instead of different RTs on different countries, it is 10 per cent now on everyone for the goods which were covered under RTs," a source said. From February 7 to February 24, 2026, the Russia-oil penalty was removed, reducing the additional duty to 25 per cent. The February 6 joint statement proposed lowering this reciprocal tariff to 18 per cent, but the change has not yet been implemented. Beginning February 24, 2026, a temporary across-the-board 10 per cent tariff will apply for 150 days in addition to MFN duties, replacing the earlier reciprocal tariff structure. INDIA-US TRADE PACT: To finalise the legal text for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement, the Indian team is scheduled to meet its counterparts in Washington from February 23, 2026. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, on February 20, said that India and the US are expected to sign the deal next month, and it may be operationalised in April. EXPERT'S TAKE: Think tank GTRI said that, as the RT on Indian goods has come down to 10 per cent from 25 per cent, India should re-evaluate the trade pact with the US. India agreed to reduce tariffs for the US based on Washington's decision to cut RT on India to 18 per cent, but now the US has reduced the RT for all nations to 10 per cent. "Deals are not charity. Both sides must gain. Now, India's gains need fresh evaluation," GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said. TRUMP ON DEAL WITH INDIA: Trump said nothing changes in the trade deal with India in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict against his sweeping tariffs, as he responded to the ruling by announcing an additional 10 per cent global levies on items imported into the US. GOODS UNDER EXEMPTED CATEGORY: A fact sheet issued by the White House noted that some goods will not be subject to the temporary import duty because of the needs of the US economy or in order to ensure the duty more effectively addresses the fundamental international payments problems facing the United States. The goods include certain critical minerals, metals used in currency and bullion, energy, and energy products; natural resources and fertilisers that cannot be grown, mined, or otherwise produced in the United States or grown, mined, or otherwise produced in sufficient quantities to meet domestic demand; certain agricultural products, including beef, tomatoes, and oranges; pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients. Other items are certain electronics; passenger vehicles, certain light trucks, certain medium and heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and certain parts of passenger vehicles, light trucks, heavy-duty vehicles, buses and certain aerospace products. SECTORAL TARIFFS ON INDIA: The sectoral tariffs (steel, aluminium, copper - 50 per cent, and a few auto components - 25 per cent) will continue. WHY US IS IMPOSING TARIFFS: The US has alleged that it faces a significant trade deficit with India, blaming New Delhi for imposing high tariffs on American goods, which it says restricts US exports to the Indian market. BILATERAL TRADE: During 2021-25, the US was India's largest trading partner in goods. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in bilateral trade. In 2024-25, the bilateral trade touched $186 billion ($86.5 billion exports and $45.3 billion imports). With America, India had a trade surplus (the difference between imports and exports) of $41 billion in 2024-25. It was $35.32 billion in 2023-24 and $27.7 billion in 2022-23. In services, India exported an estimated $28.7 billion and imported $25.5 billion, adding a $3.2 billion surplus. Altogether, India ran a total trade surplus of about $44.4 billion with the US. MAJOR TRADED PRODUCTS BETWEEN COUNTRIES: In 2024, India's main exports to the US included drug formulations and biologicals ($8.1 billion), telecom instruments ($6.5 billion), precious and semi-precious stones ($5.3 billion), petroleum products ($4.1 billion), vehicle and auto components ($2.8 billion), gold and other precious metal jewellery ($3.2 billion), ready-made garments of cotton, including accessories ($2.8 billion), and products of iron and steel ($2.7 billion). Imports included crude oil ($4.5 billion), petroleum products ($3.6 billion), coal, coke ($3.4 billion), cut and polished diamonds ($2.6 billion), electric machinery ($1.4 billion), aircraft, spacecraft and parts ($1.3 billion), and gold ($1.3 billion). As per estimates, US services imports from India amounted to $40.6 billion in calendar year 2024, with computer/information services imports at $16.7 billion and business management/consulting at $7.5 billion. Dun & Bradstreet report finds balance shifting from metros to emerging cities. Photograph: Hemanshi Kamani/Reuters Key Points India is undergoing rapid urbanisation Among metropolitan cities, Ahmedabad ranked first in terms of growth, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi. Major emerging cities include North 24 Parganas, Thane and Jaipur. Indias urban areas are projected to contribute 70 per cent of gross domestic product in 202526, up from 45 per cent in the 1990s, according to a report by Dun & Bradstreet. The City Vitality Index (CVI) report by the data analytics company for the first quarter of 2026 said India is undergoing rapid urbanisation, with the urban population expected to reach 600 million 40 per cent of the total population by 2036, up from 31 per cent in 2011. The report said the pace of urbanisation is likely to gather speed in the coming years, with the number of urban local bodies in India having already risen by 8.56 per cent over eight years, to 4,958 in 2025 from 4,567 in 2016. Class Y (Tier-II and Tier-III) cities are emerging as the top alternatives for establishing global capability centres, likely to provide a further boost to investment and employment generation, the report said. This comes at a time when the Union Budget 2026-27 gave a major push to city-led urban development, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing an allocation of ~5,000 crore over five years per city economic region for the development of Tier-II and Tier-III cities, as well as temple towns. Top-ranking cities Among metropolitan cities, Ahmedabad ranked first in terms of growth, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi. Among these large cities, Pune had the highest number of Udyam registrations at 620,000. Udyam Registration is the governments online system for recognising and classifying micro, small and medium enterprises. Major emerging cities, according to the report, include North 24 Parganas, followed by Thane and Jaipur. Thane had the highest number of Udyam registrations among the emerging cities at 430,000. The CVI identifies and ranks the top 100 non-metropolitan cities based on economic size, growth momentum, and overall vitality. A city with a high size rank but a lower growth rank may be nearing economic saturation large in scale but growing at a slower pace. In contrast, cities with a high growth rank and a lower size rank represent rising stars smaller today, but rapidly expanding, with strong prospects for improving ranks, the report said. For instance, Pune ranked first in size based on population and land mass but ranked fifth in growth as well as overall ranking. Among non-metropolitan cities, North 24 Parganas ranked second in size but 115th in growth. Similarly, Thane ranked first in size but lagged far behind in growth, with a rank of 290. Ahmedabad ranked fourth in size but topped the growth rankings. Among emerging cities, Muzaffarpur ranked 45th in size but 24th in growth. Following the US Supreme Court's decision to strike down President Trump's global tariffs, the Congress party is urging Prime Minister Modi to halt and renegotiate the India-US interim trade agreement to safeguard Indian farmers' interests. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC on February 13, 2025. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Key Points Jairam Ramesh calls for renegotiating the India-US trade deal to protect Indian farmers' interests and seek clarifications from the US. Congress questions the timing of the India-US trade deal announcement and its potential impact on Indian farmers. Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Modi of being 'compromised' in the India-US interim trade deal after the US Supreme Court ruling. The US Supreme Court struck down Trump's global tariffs, ruling that the president exceeded his authority in imposing the levies. With the American Supreme Court striking down President Donald Trump's global tariffs, the Congress on Saturday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should put the India-US interim trade agreement on hold and renegotiate the terms of the deal. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the government must state categorically that there will be no import liberalisation till clear cut clarifications from the American side and ensure that Indian farmers' interests are not hurt. Speaking with reporters in New Delhi, Ramesh sought clarifications from the government on the India-US interim trade deal and called for renegotiating the deal afresh. He asked Modi to clarify whether he agrees with Trump's statement that nothing changes in the trade deal with India. Congress demands to put India-US trade deal on hold Asserting that the India-US interim agreement will adversely affect farmers, Ramesh said the government should put this deal on hold till clarifications are made. "We demand that the PM should categorically state that we will not carry out import liberalisation after the Supreme Court decision as there is a rethink in India's policy and we will not carry out import liberalisation till clarifications are made," Ramesh said. "On February 2, President Trump made the announcement of the deal stating that he is happy that a deal has been reached and on the request of the PM this is effective immediately," he said, adding that the chronology of events is important. The first question arises is why did the PM was in a hurry to announce this, he said. "We believe that this was connected with Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the Lok Sabha, raising the issue of China and former Army chief Naravane's book. We believe that in order to divert from that, PM Modi requested Trump to announce this," Ramesh said. US SC Strikes Down Trump's Tariffs The US Supreme Court on Saturday struck down Trump's global tariffs, saying it is against the American Constitution, Ramesh said. "Our second question is that when the PM, the commerce minister (Piyush Goyal), knew from December that any time (now) the Supreme Court verdict could come, many believed that it could be struck down. Why did you hurriedly strike a deal when you knew the verdict could go against Trump," Ramesh said. The 10 per cent tariff would be imposed on imports and as per law this will be for 150 days, he said. "Trump has also stated that nothing changes for the Indo-US trade deal. So we want to ask the PM, does he agree with his friend's statement that the verdict will have no impact on the deal," Ramesh said. The framework states that in the event of any changes from either side, the US and India agree that they can modify its commitments, Ramesh pointed out. Rahul says 'PM Compromised' After the US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's global tariffs, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "compromised", saying his "betrayal" in the India-US interim trade deal stood exposed. The Congress has alleged that the trade deal had become an "ordeal" for the country subjected to by the prime minister's "desperation and surrender". In a major setback to what was Trump's pivotal economic agenda in his second term, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 verdict written by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled that the tariffs imposed by Trump on nations around the world were illegal and that the president had exceeded his authority when he imposed the sweeping levies. US-India Trade Deal Earlier this month, as the US and India announced they reached a framework for an Interim Agreement on trade, Trump issued an Executive Order removing the 25 per cent punitive tariffs imposed on India for its purchases of Russian oil, with the US president noting the commitment by New Delhi to stop directly or indirectly importing energy from Moscow and purchasing American energy products. Under the trade deal, Washington would charge a reduced reciprocal tariff on New Delhi, lowering it from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. Shortly after the court verdict, Trump asserted that there is "no change" in the trade deal with India. "I think my relationship with India is fantastic and we're doing trade with India... India was getting its oil from Russia. And they pulled way back at my request, because we want to settle that horrible war where 25,000 people are dying every month," Trump said at a news conference Friday in the White House. Trump said his relationship with Prime Minister Modi "is great". He then went on to repeat the claim that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan last summer using tariffs. When asked about the deal with India, Trump said, "Nothing changes. They'll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs. "This is a reversal for what it used to be, as you know, India -- and I think Prime Minister Modi is a great gentleman, a great man, actually. But he was much smarter than the people that he was against in terms of the United States, he was ripping us off. "So we made a deal with India. It's a fair deal now," Trump said. The counsel appearing for the arrested protesters argued that they were associated with a political party and had exercised their democratic right to protest peacefully. IMAGE: Indian Youth Congress workers stage a protest at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, in New Delhi on February 20, 2026. Photograph: @INCIndia/X Key Points Delhi Police sought custody, alleging the protesters raised anti-national slogans and displayed objectionable images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The police claim custodial interrogation is necessary to recover mobile phones and investigate the conspiracy, funding sources, and printing location of the protest T-shirts. Defense counsel argued the protesters were exercising their democratic right to protest peacefully and their arrest diminishes the dignity of democracy. A Delhi court on Saturday sent the four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, who were arrested for protesting at the AI Impact Summit venue a day ago, to five-day police custody. Judicial Magistrate Ravi allowed the Delhi Police's plea seeking five days of custodial interrogation of the accused persons. A detailed order is awaited. The arrested protesters were Krishna Hari, national secretary of Youth Congress from Bihar; Kundan Yadav, IYC state secretary, Bihar; Ajay Kumar, IYC state president, Uttar Pradesh; and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana. Police Justification for Custody Delhi Police sought five-day custody of the arrested protesters, arguing that they raised anti-national slogans and wore T-shirts with objectionable images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the event venue. It said the mobile phones of the accused persons were required to be recovered and, as they were from different states, custodial interrogation was necessary. Counsel for the police argued that it was a "serious" matter. An attempt was made to stop the police, following which three personnel were injured, he said. Besides, the conspiracy behind organising the protest, the source of funding and where the T-shirts were printed needed to be ascertained, the counsel said. Defense Arguments The counsel appearing for the arrested protesters argued that they were associated with a political party and had exercised their democratic right to protest peacefully. The advocate claimed that their arrest greatly diminished the dignity of democracy and that if arrests are to be made for protesting, then MPs protesting in Parliament should also be arrested. Eric Dane's friends have launched a GoFundMe for his daughters. Eric Dane's friends launch GoFundMe for his daughters The 53-year-old actor who is best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan in Greys Anatomy passed away on Thursday (19.02.26), and one day later, his friends launched a fundraising campaign for his children Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14. Eric died just 10 months after he publicly shared his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and causes loss of muscle control. A message on the GoFundMe states: It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of Eric Dane after a hard-fought battle with ALS, leaving behind his devoted wife, Rebecca, and his two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world. Following his diagnosis, Eric became a passionate spokesperson for the ALS community, using his voice and platform to advocate for fellow patients and to push for greater awareness. Even as his own health declined, he remained deeply committed to helping others facing the same devastating disease. As his illness progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, Eric's friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs. Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Erics wonderful daughters. Thank you. Erics friends put an initial target of $250,000 on the fundraiser and raised almost 50 per cent of the total in just a few hours. Meanwhile, Dane used his final interview which was aired after his death - to share a special message to his beloved daughters. Speaking on the Netflix special Famous Last Words which he recorded in November he said: Billie and Georgia, these words are for you. I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall we had a blast, didn't we? I remember all the times we spent at the beach, the two of you, me and mom - in Santa Monica, Hawaii, Mexico. I see you now playing in the ocean for hours, my water babies. Those days, pun intended, were heaven." Eric who shared his daughters with estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart went on to tell them "four things I've learned from this disease, including living in the present, the importance of falling in love with a person and with a passion project, finding good friends and fighting with dignity. He finished his message by saying: "You can face the end of your days. You can face hell with dignity. Fight, girls, and hold your heads high. Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words." Avimukteshwarananda has been in the headlines for his confrontation with the organisers of the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. IMAGE: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points The petitioner had filed the application seeking direction for an FIR against Avimukteshwaranand. The plea filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj and others under Section 173(4) of the BNS . The court accepted the petition and ordered the police to conduct an investigation. A special POCSO court in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Saturday ordered the Jhunsi Police Station SHO to register an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati to investigate allegations of sexual abuse of boys. Last week, the court of Special Judge (POCSO Act) Vinod Kumar Chaurasia reserved its decision on an application filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj and others under Section 173(4) of the BNS after examining the evidence and recording the statements of the victimised 'batooks', the boys, as they are called at the ashram, Vidya Math. The petitioner had filed the application seeking direction for an FIR against Avimukteshwaranand under sections 69, 74, 75, 76, 79, and 109 (all related to sexual assault) of the BNS, as well as sections 3/5/9 and 17 of the POCSO Act. The court accepted the petition and ordered the police to conduct an investigation. "Now we will get justice," Ashutosh Brahmachari said. "Starting today, we are organising a Sanatan Yatra from here to Vidya Math (Varanasi). We will demonstrate how children are sexually abused on the fifth floor of Vidya Math. There is ample evidence of child abuse there. We have presented all the evidence to the court and will also provide it to the police," he said. Avimukteshwarananda has been in the headlines for his confrontation with the organisers of the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. He accused the administration he was prevented from bathing on Mauni Amavasya. The alert comes in the backdrop of the deadly car explosion near the historic Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which killed at least 13 people. IMAGE: Security was tightened across key religious and heritage sites in Delhi, including in areas around the Red Fort and parts of Chandni Chowk. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Delhi increases security at Red Fort and Chandni Chowk after intelligence inputs. Intelligence agencies suspect Lashkar-e-Taiba may be planning an IED attack targeting religious sites in Delhi. Security measures include increased CCTV monitoring, vehicle checks, and deployment of additional personnel. Bomb disposal squads and quick reaction teams are on standby at strategic locations in Delhi. Security was tightened across key religious and heritage sites in Delhi on Saturday, including in areas around the Red Fort and parts of Chandni Chowk, following intelligence inputs suggesting a possible terror threat, an official said. Security agencies issued an alert on a possible explosion near Red Fort, a major tourist destination and high-security zone, after Central intelligence agencies indicated that Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has allegedly kept prominent religious places in India on its target list. Sources said specific inputs suggested that a temple in the Chandni Chowk area could be among the potential targets. While the intelligence inputs are being verified and assessed, security has been stepped up in and around sensitive religious places and crowded public areas, they added. Heightened Security Measures in Delhi Intelligence agencies indicated that LeT could be attempting to carry out an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)-based attack. The alleged plan is reportedly linked to attempts by the terror group to avenge the February 6 blast at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, sources said. Central agencies and Delhi Police units are maintaining close coordination, and surveillance has been intensified through CCTV monitoring, vehicle checks and deployment of additional personnel at vulnerable points. Bomb disposal squads, dog squads and quick reaction teams have also been placed on standby at strategic locations, they added. The alert comes in the backdrop of the deadly car explosion near the historic Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which killed at least 13 people and injured more than 20 others. The blast occurred when a car loaded with explosives detonated near Gate No 1 of the Red Fort metro station, igniting multiple vehicles nearby and causing panic in the densely populated area. Security agencies have urged people to remain vigilant and immediately inform police or emergency services about any suspicious objects or activity. However, officials said there is no cause for panic and that the measures are precautionary in nature. Further intelligence gathering and verification of inputs are underway, an official said. A new Pew Research Center study reveals that Hindus and Jews are the most educated religious groups in the United States. Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Pew Research Center's 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study reveals Hindus and Jews have the highest levels of education among religious groups in the US. 70% of Hindus and 65% of Jews in the US hold a bachelor's degree or higher, significantly exceeding the national average of 35%. Muslims, Buddhists, and Orthodox Christians also demonstrate above-average levels of higher education in the US. Immigration patterns, particularly skilled-worker and higher-education pathways, contribute to the high educational attainment among Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists in the US. Hindus are the most highly educated religious group in the United States, followed by Jews, according to a new analysis by the Pew Research Centre which examined educational attainment across America's major faith communities. Washington-based think tank Pew Research Centre said the findings of the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS) are one of the most comprehensive surveys of religion and public life in the United States. Seven-in-ten Hindus (70 per cent) and 65 per cent of Jews have a bachelor's degree or more education; that compares with 35 per cent of US adults overall, according to the RLS study made public on February 19. Muslims Above Average Other religious groups with above-average levels of higher education include Muslims, Buddhists and Orthodox Christians, each with more than four in 10 adults holding at least a bachelor's degree. Mainline Protestant Christians were also found to be above the national average. By contrast, the share of college graduates among Evangelical Protestants, Catholics and members of historically Black Protestant churches was lower than the national average, the study said. Four in 10 With A Bachelor's Degree Or Higher According to Pew, the overall US adult population has around four in 10 people with a bachelor's degree or higher, underscoring the wide educational gaps between religious groups. The report noted that immigration and demographic patterns help explain these differences, particularly among Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists, many of whom came to the US through higher-education or skilled-worker pathways. There were a total of 36,908 respondents to the Religious Landscape Study of US adults that was conducted between July 17, 2023 and March 4, 2024. Neal Katyal, an accomplished Indian-American lawyer, triumphed in a landmark Supreme Court case against Donald Trump's tariffs, championing the Constitution and the rights of American small businesses. IMAGE: Neal Katyal, the son of Indian immigrants and the former Acting Solicitor General of the United States under President Barack Obama. Photograph: Kind courtesy @neal_katyal/X Key Points The Supreme Court's verdict upheld the principle that only Congress can impose taxes on the American people. Katyal emphasised the importance of the American system's ability to self-correct and hold even the most powerful accountable to the Constitution. Katyal has argued 54 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States and is a professor at Georgetown University Law Centre. The case highlights the separation of powers and the role of the Supreme Court in protecting fundamental values. At the centre of the landmark US Supreme Court verdict striking down President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs is an Indian-origin lawyer who argued before America's highest court about the illegality of the levies. Neal Katyal, the son of Indian immigrants and the former Acting Solicitor General of the United States under President Barack Obama, argued the consequential tariff case on behalf of small businesses and won. Neal Katyal on Tariff Verdict "Victory," Katyal posted on X shortly after the Supreme Court verdict came in on Friday. Katyal, in an interview to MS Now, said "One of the great things about the American system is what just happened today. I was able to go to court - the son of immigrants - able to go to court and say on behalf of American small businesses, 'Hey, this President is acting illegally.'" "I was able to present my case, have them ask really hard questions at me, it was a really intense oral argument and at the end of it, they voted and we won," he said. "That is something so extraordinary about this country. The idea that we have a system that self-corrects, that allows us to say 'You might be the most powerful man in the world but you still can't break the Constitution. That to me is what today is about," he added. Neal Katyal's Background and Career Katyal was born in 1970 in Chicago to a paediatrician mother and engineer father, both of whom immigrated from India. Katyal is a partner in the Washington DC office of Milbank LLP and a member of the firm's Litigation & Arbitration Group. In a statement following the verdict, he said the US Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law and Americans everywhere. "Its message was simple: Presidents are powerful, but our Constitution is more powerful still. In America, only Congress can impose taxes on the American people. The US Supreme Court gave us everything we asked for in our legal case. Everything." Katyal expressed gratitude for the leadership of the Liberty Justice Centre, who "led the fight when others wouldn't". "This case has always been about the presidency, not any one president. It has always been about separation of powers, and not the politics of the moment. I'm gratified to see our Supreme Court, which has been the bedrock of our government for 250 years, protect our most fundamental values," he said. Katyal's Legal Expertise and Achievements According to his profile on the Milbank website, Katyal focuses on appellate and complex litigation and has argued 54 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. He has also served as a law professor for over two decades at Georgetown University Law Centre, "where he was one of the youngest professors to have received tenure and a chaired professorship in the university's history" and has served as a visiting professor at Harvard and Yale law schools. A graduate of Yale Law School, Katyal clerked for Guido Calabresi of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as well as for Justice Stephen G. Breyer of the US Supreme Court. He also served in the Deputy Attorney General's Office at the Justice Department as National Security Advisor and as Special Assistant to the Deputy Attorney General during 1998-1999. Katyal is the recipient of the "highest award given to a civilian" by the US Department of Justice, the Edmund Randolph Award, which was presented to him by the Attorney General in 2011, his profile said. The Chief Justice of the United States appointed him in 2011 and 2014 to the Advisory Committee on Federal Appellate Rules. In a post on X dated November 4, 2025, Katyal posted a photograph of a traditional 'Kada' (bangle) placed on a 'Brief for Private Respondents' related to the Supreme Court tariff case against Trump. "Thinking of my father first and foremost, who came to this land of freedoma.May the Constitution win," Katyal wrote. In a display of extraordinary courage, an NRI woman in Ludhiana, Punjab, used a sword to fend off two alleged robbers who were pursuing her vehicle, turning the tables on the would-be assailants. IMAGE: In a viral video, an NRI woman is seen brandishing a sword to two bike-borne robbers. Photograph: Screen grab/X Key Points An NRI woman in Ludhiana, Punjab, successfully defended herself and her family from a potential robbery by brandishing a sword. The woman, Harjind Kaur, suspected two men on a motorbike were following her car and intended to rob them. After the men threw eggs at her car's windshield, Kaur confronted them with a sword, causing them to flee. A video of the incident went viral, with social media users praising Kaur's courage and quick thinking in the face of danger. In an act of bravery, an NRI woman thwarted an alleged robbery bid -- wielding a sword as she challenged two bike-borne persons who were tailing her car in Punjab's Ludhiana. Seeing the woman standing in the middle of the road brandishing her sword, the alleged miscreants fled the scene, shows a viral clip on social media. The purported video of the incident, said to have occurred on Friday evening, was captured by the woman's aunt who was travelling with her in the car. She was driving while her aunt was on the front seat. Harjind Kaur, who recently returned from Australia, was travelling with her aunt and mother-in-law to a relative's house in Ludhiana when she suspected two persons on a motorbike were following their vehicle. Despite making way to allow the motorbike to overtake the car, the alleged miscreants kept tailing us, Kaur told reporters in Ludhiana on Saturday. Suspicious that the bike-borne persons were in hot pursuit and intended to rob them, her aunt started recording the incident. After some time, when Kaur slowed down the car, one of the miscreants hurled eggs at the windscreen to block the view, the purported video shows. "I could not understand what happened; I had never encountered such a situation before," Kaur said. Her aunt and mother-in-law started shouting inside the car out of panic. "Judging by how they threw eggs, I was sure they intended to rob us," Kaur said. In the video, the miscreants can be seen overtaking the car before stopping in the middle of the road some distance ahead on the isolated stretch. Confrontation and Escape Kaur then decided to confront the miscreants and got out of the car despite her aunt pleading with her not to. "Do not go outside. Leave it. They will hit you," Kaur's aunt could be heard saying in the video. Kaur produced a sword as she exited the vehicle, before standing her ground, daring the alleged miscreants to step forth. She even charged some distance towards them, flailing the sword in the air. Apparently taken aback by her firm demeanour, the duo allegedly fled. The viral clip has garnered much praise on social media, with users commending Kaur for her act of bravery in standing up to the miscreants. A slight swagger in her tone, Kaur said, "They chose the wrong target." The BJP protesters, carrying placards and raising slogans, slammed the Congress and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, calling them "traitors" for allegedly tarnishing the nation's image. IMAGES: Delhi BJP workers and supporters stage a protest at Congress office against the protest by Congress members during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, in New Delhi on Saturday. Photographs: ANI Photo Key Points The BJP leaders and workers held a nationwide demonstration against a "shirtless" protest by the latter's youth wing at the AI Impact Summit. In Mumbai, BJP workers wave black flag at Rahul Gandhi. BJP protesters accused Rahul Gandhi of opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives and tarnishing India's image. The opposition condemned the 'black flag' protest as disrespectful to democratic norms. Bharatiya Janata Party workers agitated in several states on Saturday against the "shirtless" protest of Youth Congress activists at the India AI Impact Summit here, accusing the opposition party of bringing India into disrepute on a global platform. While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was shown black flags by BJP workers while he was on his way to attend a court hearing in Maharashtra's Thane, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists held protests in Jammu, Jaipur, Patna, Bengaluru, Panchkula and Indore, among other places. Leaders from other political parties, including Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, also slammed the Congress over the protest at the summit venue. A group of India Youth Congress workers staged a brief protest on Friday at an exhibition hall of Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the AI summit, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before being whisked away by security personnel. The Youth Congress workers staged a dramatic "shirtless" protest, walking around holding t-shirts with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal printed on those. A Delhi court on Saturday sent four IYC workers, who were arrested for protesting at the summit venue, to police custody for five days. BJP Calls 'Shirtless' Protest 'Treason' The BJP launched a fresh attack on the Congress and Gandhi over the protest at Bharat Mandapam. The ruling party alleged that the protest amounted to "treason" as the "sepoys of Lashkar-e-Rahul" tried to tarnish India's image. "What the Congress has done is not just politics. It cannot be dismissed as mere negative politics, it amounts to treason. "Until now, Rahul Gandhi used to go abroad and make derogatory, offensive and condemnable statements about India. Now, the flag-bearers and sepoys of Lashkar-e-Rahul are attempting to tarnish India's image in front of foreign guests," BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters. He alleged that the protest at the AI summit venue was a "shameful display" of the Congress's "pettiness and nakedness". "The entire country is anguished and agitated. The people of the country will never forgive the Congress for such a condemnable conduct," he said. Union minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress of committing a "big sin" against the country by deploying its youth wing workers to hold the protest at the summit venue. Terming the protest "shameful", he alleged that it was a well-thought-out conspiracy to malign India's image. "The Congress using youngsters to defame the country, there could be nothing more shameful than this," Rijiju told a press conference here. "When India progresses, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress become sad. Congress leaders and workers keep hatching conspiracies round the clock to defame India," he said. Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi hit out at the Congress over the protest, saying the party has a chronology of "criminal acts" and is unable to accept that a person from a poor family is leading the country as the prime minister. Talking to reporters, Naqvi urged the Congress to move beyond its obsession with transforming "democracy into a Disneyland of dynasty". He emphasised that the "chronology of the Congress's criminal conspiracies" is not coincidental, but a matter of choice. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel slammed the Congress and said only to oppose the BJP, the grand old party has adopted a path of opposing India itself. Mayawati Calls Protest 'Highly Objectionable' Leaders from other political parties condemned the Youth Congress protest at the Ai summit venue as well. Mayawati said the act was "highly objectionable and condemnable". In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the summit that had drawn international attention witnessed certain individuals expressing their anger in a "semi-nude manner". She termed their behaviour "extremely inappropriate and condemnable". Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu too condemned the Congress. "Such a good programme was disrupted by half-naked Congress workers. I do not know what to say. It was painful. It was anguishing. Instead of welcoming the event where 60 to 70 countries participated, the Congress behaved irresponsibly. I severely condemn the act. It is not good. It is disgraceful to the country," the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief said, addressing a gathering. Referring to the Youth Congress protest at the AI summit, YSRCP supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said no one should ever demean India. "Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress made us all feel ashamed. Where is our politics heading! No one should ever demean our country," the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister said in a post on X. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao said using such global platforms for agitations would project the country in a poor light internationally. It is ironical that the Youth Congress workers staged the protest "precisely" when Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was addressing the AI summit, he said. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said such disruptions risk undermining India's credibility at a moment of significant international attention. "I strongly condemn the actions of the Congress party at a time when India is hosting the prestigious Global AI Summit in New Delhi, showcasing its rapid strides in innovation and technological advancement before the international community," Tamang said in a social-media post. BJP Workers Show Black Flags at Rahul Activists of the BJP and the Shiv Sena staged demonstrations against Gandhi in Mumbai and Thane on Saturday. Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske demanded the registration of a sedition case against the former Congress chief for his frequent "anti-national" statements and for obstructing the functioning of Parliament. BJP workers waved black flags at Gandhi's car at the Mulund toll plaza when he was headed to Bhiwandi in neighbouring Thane district to appear before a court in a 2014 defamation case filed against him by an RSS activist. BJP leaders and workers held a demonstration near the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road here. Carrying placards and raising slogans, they slammed the Congress and Gandhi, calling them "traitors" for allegedly tarnishing India's image. Leading the protest, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari termed the Youth Congress demonstration an act of "treason". Police stopped the protesters at a barricade as they tried to march towards the Congress headquarters. The Youth Congress workers sent to police custody on Saturday were Krishna Hari, national secretary of the outfit from Bihar, Kundan Yadav, state secretary, Bihar, Ajay Kumar, state president, Uttar Pradesh, and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana. The India AI Impact Summit, inaugurated by Modi, concluded on Friday. Several heads of state, global leaders in artificial intelligence, academicians and researchers, heads of global tech giants and philanthropists attended the massive meet held at Bharat Mandapam. With TDP and YSRCP trying to score political points, the sacred laddu may well create a storm in days to come. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points The Tirupati laddu controversy has sparked a fresh clash between the TDP and the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh. The laddu at the Tirumala Tirupati temple dates back to 1715 and traces its roots to the Chola and Vijayanagara eras. Report cites use of vegetable oils, chemical esters and synthetic substances in ghee. The Tirupati laddu, formally 310 years old but tracing its roots back to the Chola and Vijayanagara empires, is once again at the centre of a political storm in Andhra Pradesh -- this time between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the main Opposition, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). A Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Supreme Court, recently submitted a report to the Andhra government on the alleged use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of the laddu prasadam (an offering made to the deity and then distributed to devotees). The report, accessed by Business Standard, indicates that the laddu allegedly contained vegetable oils, chemical esters, and synthetic substances. Amid the political slugfest that followed, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led state government decided to set up a single-member commission to look into the 11-page SIT report. How significant is this for devotees? The laddu, first introduced on August 2, 1715, is usually prepared by a team of 600 dedicated workers, including specialised chefs called pachakas, at a sacred kitchen called the 'laddu potu' within the temple premises. In 2009, the laddu earned a geographical indication (GI) tag. For Telugu people, it is more than a prasadam -- it is a symbol of their culture, faith, and heritage. According to reports, the laddu's preparation requires around 10 tonnes of gram flour, 10 tonnes of sugar, 700 kilograms (kg) of cashewnuts, 160 kg of cardamom, 300-500 litres of ghee, 500 kg of sugar candy and 540 kg of raisins on a daily basis. This means that approximately 280,000 laddus are made daily, with the production capability touching as high as 800,000 on special occasions. This volume, and the emotions attached to the prasadam, mean that any question over its quality and flavour could easily translate into an uproar. How did the controversy unfold? The TDP says that the alleged adulteration happened between 2019 and 2024, when the YSRCP was in power and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was the chief minister. In September 2024, current Chief Minister Naidu accused his predecessor government of allowing adulteration in the laddus by including animal fats in the preparation. Later, a lab report from the National Dairy Development Board's (NDDB's) Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock & Food (CALF) said there were 'foreign' fats in the laddu, raising alarm. The blame for this was put on a batch of ghee sourced from a Dindigul-based company, AR Dairy Food, which denied the allegations. The SIT was set up as a result of these allegations, and its report cited multiple procedural violations at different stages of procurement by authorities. It also found that key changes to tender conditions were introduced in 2020 without a proper study, which resulted in the participation of previously ineligible companies in the process. The changes included the reduction of minimum turnover requirement to Rs 150 crore from Rs 250 crore to be eligible for bidding. The report further said the then Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman, Y V Subba Reddy, was aware of the adulteration but approved further procurement of ghee from the same dairies that supplied substandard materials. Reddy is a Rajya Sabha member and Jagan Mohan Reddy's uncle. 'The latest revelations from the official chargesheet have sparked fresh outrage and deep anguish among devotees of the Tirupati laddu, exposing the horrifying truth that a toilet cleaning chemical was used to adulterate the sacred laddu,' a statement from the TDP said. According to the chargesheet, Manish Gupta, one of the accused, allegedly prepared invoices in various names during the period from March 2022 to May 2024. Further, during this period, a company called Aristo Chemicals allegedly supplied lactic acid and LABSA/acid slurry totalling approximately 8,900 kg to Harsh Fresh Dairy Products and Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk. LABSA is 'non-food grade' and 'corrosive industrial substance capable of causing severe chemical burns, internal organ damage, and potentially fatal injuries if ingested', the TDP statement said. The report further alleged that both these companies did not procure any milk but created false records of milk purchase. YSRCP, on the other hand, is defending itself by claiming that the adulteration happened before its tenure -- Bhole Baba Dairy was empanelled during the previous TDP regime in 2018. 'The Central Bureau of Investigation recently filed the chargesheet and closed the investigation. Producing NDDB and NDRI (National Dairy Research Institute) reports, it categorically said that there was no animal fat in the laddu, as claimed by Chandrababu Naidu in the last 18 months,' Jagan Mohan Reddy said. 'The CBI also went ahead and said that there was no wrongdoing done during the YSRCP regime. Thereby, it gave a clean chit to the earlier TTD chairman,' he added. Some political pundits are echoing a similar opinion. "Both parties are using it politically. While the government is using its machinery, YSRCP is mobilising crowds. The first allegation by TDP was that it (the laddu) contained animal fat. However, recent lab reports are showing no evidence of that," said Rama Krishna Sangem, a veteran journalist and political analyst. With both sides trying to score political points, the sacred laddu may well create a storm in days to come. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Following a Supreme Court setback, Donald Trump has announced an increase in global tariffs from 10% to 15%, impacting international trade relations and raising concerns about economic repercussions. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House, following the Supreme Court's ruling that Trump had exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs, in Washington, DC on February 20, 2026. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Key Points The Supreme Court ruled Trump's previous tariffs were illegal, leading to the immediate increase. Trump's administration plans to determine and issue new tariffs to 'Make America Great Again'. The US had imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on India, later adding another 25% for buying Russian crude oil. The US and India agreed to finalise an interim trade deal, potentially reducing tariffs to 18%. United States President Donald Trump on Saturday announced hike in tariffs on all countries to 15 per cent from 10 per cent, which was imposed a day earlier. Following a Supreme Court verdict against his earlier sweeping tariffs, Trump on Friday imposed a 10 per cent tariffs on all the countries, including India from February 24 for 150 days. Commenting on the 10 per cent tariff, the Indian government on Saturday said it is studying these and their implications. "Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10 per cent Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been "ripping" the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15 per cent level. "During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again," he said in a social media post. In a proclamation titled 'Imposing a Temporary Import Surcharge to Address Fundamental International Payments Problems' dated February 20, Trump said he is imposing, for a period of 150 days, a "temporary import surcharge of 10 per cent ad valorem" on articles imported into the US," effective February 24. Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs In a major setback to Trump's pivotal economic agenda in his second term, the US Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed by Trump on nations around the world were illegal and that the president had exceeded his authority when he imposed the sweeping levies. Further, a fact sheet issued by the White House said Trump is invoking his authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which empowers the President to address certain fundamental international payment problems through surcharges and other special import restrictions. The fact sheet noted that some goods will not be subject to the temporary import duty because of the needs of the US economy. The goods include certain critical minerals, metals used in currency and bullion, energy, and energy products; natural resources and fertilisers that cannot be grown, mined, or otherwise produced in the US; certain agricultural products, including beef, tomatoes, and oranges; pharmaceuticals; certain electronics; passenger vehicles, some light trucks, certain medium and heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and certain aerospace products. Trump Calls SC Judges 'Fools and Lapdogs' Trump lashed out at the Supreme Court justices who ruled against him, calling them "fools and lapdogs". "The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing, and I'm ashamed of certain members of the Court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what's right for our country," he told reporters at the White House on Friday, just hours after the verdict came in. The US President also said that "nothing" changes in the trade deal with India in the wake of this verdict, as he responded to the ruling by announcing an additional 10 per cent global levies on items imported into America. "Nothing changes. They'll (India) be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs. So deal with India is they pay tariffs. This is a reversal for what it used to be... So we made a deal with India. It's a fair deal now, and we are not paying tariffs to them, and they are paying tariffs. We did a little flip," Trump said. The Indian commerce ministry in a statement said the government is studying the developments on the US tariffs and their implications. "We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday (Friday). US President Donald Trump has also addressed a press conference in this regard. Some steps have been announced by the US administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications," it said. Trump's Tariffs on India The US had imposed a reciprocal tariff of 25 per cent on India in August. Later, an additional 25 per cent was imposed for buying Russian crude oil, taking the total tariffs on India to 50 per cent. Meanwhile, earlier this month, both countries agreed to finalise an interim trade deal, under which Washington agreed to cut down the tariffs to 18 per cent. So far, the punitive 25 per cent has been removed. The remaining 25 per cent exists. After the proclamation, the tariffs on Indian goods will be 10 per cent from the existing 25 per cent. Now Trump has again announced hiking these tariffs to 15 per cent. This levy, if notified, will be over and above the existing MFN or import duties in the US. For instance, if a product faces a 5 per cent MFN duty, an additional 15 per cent will be imposed, taking the effective duty to 20 per cent. Earlier, this was 5 plus 25 per cent. There is no clarity, however, about what the tariff imposed by the US will be on countries, such as India, after the 150-day period. To finalise the legal text for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement, the Indian team is scheduled to meet its counterparts in Washington from February 23-26, 2026. India, US to Sign Interim Trade Deal in March Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had said the deal may be signed in March and implemented in April. Welcoming the 10 per cent tariff, apex exporters' body Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said the move would boost competitiveness of labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery and engineering. "The reduction of the US reciprocal tariff on India improves competitiveness for key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, engineering goods, textiles, and gems and jewellery, particularly amid supply chain diversification," FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said. However, Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper (50 per cent) and certain auto products (25 per cent) remain a constraint, he said, adding that India should leverage this improved position to expand market share while pursuing trade negotiations for greater stability and sectoral relief. The extent of benefit of the lower tariffs for Indian exporters remains to be seen as India's competitors, too, will now need to pay the reduced rate of 10 per cent. If India will look at renegotiating its trade deal with the US, he said India is unlikely to renegotiate out of compulsion. "However, both sides may recalibrate negotiations in light of the changed tariff environment. The ruling creates an opportunity to pursue a more balanced and rules-based framework rather than one driven by unilateral tariff actions," Sahai said. Think tank GTRI said India should reassess the deal. "Taken together, the ruling and the temporary tariff response inject significant uncertainty into global trade relations and ongoing negotiations. Countries that made concessions to avoid higher US tariffs may now reassess the value of those agreements, while the legal fragility and short duration of the 10 per cent tariff complicate business planning and diplomatic strategy, the GTRI said. Congress urges Modi To Pause India-US Trade Deal The Congress on Saturday demanded that the government put the interim trade agreement on hold and renegotiate the terms of the deal. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the government must also ensure that the interests of Indian farmers are fully protected during renegotiations and asked the government to categorically state that it will not allow any import liberalisation to the American side. During 2021-25, the US was India's largest trading partner in goods. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total exports, 6.22 per cent in imports and 10.73 per cent in bilateral trade. In 2024-25, the bilateral trade touched USD 186 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports and USD 45.3 billion imports). Iranian students chanting anti-government slogans faced off with security forces outside a Tehran university, according to social media videos and other reports. The protest erupted on February 21 outside Sharif University as students confronted soldiers from the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force that has played a prominent role in quashing past political protests. The students could be heard chanting "Shame, shame," according to video published by the Khabar-e Daneshjoo student news agency and elsewhere. Others could be seen waving the Iranian national flag. A similar rally was reported at the Amir Kabir University of Technology. Fars, a semiofficial news agency that is close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, reported "a similar gathering was held at Tehran University with a number of students present." The demonstrations coincided with hundreds of ceremonies that have been held across the country this week commemorating victims killed during major clashes with security forces in January. 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 reportedly occurred from January 8 to 10, the peak of the crackdown. The protests, which have since subsided, were among the largest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Historically, memorial ceremonies have often taken on political significance during times of unrest in Iran. The protests have drawn global attention and condemnation of the brutal crackdown by government forces. Amnesty International said at least 30 Iranians were facing the death penalty in connection with the protests. US President Donald Trump has warned Tehran against further violence against demonstrators, and threatened military actions against the regime. Trump dispatched two aircraft carrier strike groups, with dozens of fighter jets and bombers to the region, and other military planes and supporting forces have been spotted flying into airbases in the Middle East. The Trump administration has also been pressuring Iran to agree to curtail its nuclear programs which it insists are intended for peaceful, civilian purposes, like electricity generation. Washington, along with Israel, have accused Tehran of intending to build atomic weapons. In a speech broadcast live by state TV, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said his country would not give in to pressure from world powers. "World powers are lining up to force us to bow our heads...but we will not bow our heads despite all the problems that they are creating for us," Pezeshkian said. US and Israel forces bombed several Iranian facilities believed to house key components of Tehran's nuclear infrastructure. But it was unclear how much the bombing set back its programs. Trump said he was mulling a limited military strike. "I guess I can say I am considering that," he said during a White House gathering on February 20. Serbia and Sweden became the latest countries to urge their citizens to leave Iran amid the massive US buildup. With reporting by Reuters The 188 names engraved on a war memorial bear witness to the cost of war in Birsk, a town of 44,000 people in Russia's Bashkortostan region more than 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow. While the names do not fill the granite block, there is a much larger blank area where others can follow. Bashkortostan appears to have suffered more casualties than any other region of Russia since Moscow launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to the patchy data available. When the memorial reopened last August, following renovation work, it immediately attracted negative comments on social media. "The empty columns (of names) are for future use," wrote one user who identified himself as Almaz Nuretdinov. "This is wrong." Another user noted that the blank spaces would not be enough for all the names to come. Counting The Dead The casualty count in the Kremlin's war against Ukraine could reach 2 million by spring, with nearly 1.2 million Russian forces killed, wounded, or missing -- including some 325,000 dead -- the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in a report published late last month. The casualties have been concentrated in areas with the most recruits, which tend to be poorer regions far from the economic and political centers of Moscow and St. Petersburg. In Birsk, officer workers earn between $390 and $590 per month, while qualified staff at local factories earn $590-900, according to Gorodrabot.ru, a Russian jobs website. By contrast, military contracts with the armed forces can offer up to $5,700 a month, even after pay rates were reduced last year. The 188 names on the war memorial amount to around 1 percent of the male working-age population of Birsk. The youngest man recorded there is Oleg Yezhov, who died aged 19. The majority are men in their 30s and 40s. The oldest casualty was 64-year-old Vladimir Kondratiev. Even these spare details are unusual. War memorials in nearby towns tend to be abstract monuments without the names of individual soldiers who have been killed in Ukraine. The stories behind the individual names also reveal the price paid by ordinary soldiers for joining Russia's invasion. Eight Sons From One Family Hussein Davlyatov was born in 1982 in Tajikistan, then part of the Soviet Union, and lived in Birsk. He signed a contract with the Russian military in March 2023 and died in Ukraine on May 12 the same year. A week later, he was buried in Birsk. His father, Azam Davlyatov, told local TV in 2024 that eight of his 10 children had taken part in the war in Ukraine. He added that six had been injured and one killed. Hussein's brother Said gave an interview to a local newspaper, Pobeda (Victory), in March 2024 while recovering from injuries and spoke of two brothers who were in Ukraine. Another brother, Shukhrat, told the same publication in January 2025 that Hussein's death had "shattered" their mother. "All my brothers, sisters, and my father have one wish: that she gets well soon and the war ends as soon as possible, and that it does not take more loved ones from more families," he added. Russia has not revealed the true number of casualties suffered, and the monument in Birsk does not contain the names of all the local men who have died. It only lists those whose bodies have been recovered. The Davlyatov family's situation, with so many members joining the war, may be exceptional, but Hussein's death is not unusual. On October 30, 2024, Viner Ziganshin, the chief editor of Pobeda, the publication that had focused on the Davlyatov family, also enlisted in the war. His date of death is recorded on the memorial as November 29 the same year. President Vladimir Putin signed into law a new measure giving Russia's main domestic intelligence agency new power to shut down the Internet inside the country. The legislation, signed into law on February 20, was the latest in a series of regulations drastically tightening authorities' ability to restrict news and information inside of Russia. The new measure, which was passed earlier this week by lawmakers, gives the Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, the power to demand that Internet service providers -- cellular or landline -- turn off or restrict access in cases "established by regulatory legal acts of the President of the Russian Federation." The move allows Putin to personally decide when online communications in the country or a specific region should be turned off, without having to give a reason. It also removes any liability for the providers for doing so. "Only the president can impose restrictions," Sarkis Darbinyan, a lawyer and longtime Internet activist, was quoted as saying. And presidential decrees are "even simpler than government decrees." In recent months, Russian authorities have grappled with ways to stop Ukrainian drones from entering Russian airspace. In many cases, the drones use Russian data signals to fly at targets, in some cases over great distance. Authorities have also clamped down on popular Internet tools, in particular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Both apps have been throttled drastically amid a government push to get Russians to use a state-backed app called Max. One report said Telegram would be blocked entirely as of April 1. Tech regulator Roskomnadzor accused Telegram, created by a now-exiled entrepreneur Pavel Durov, of creating a market for leaked personal information of Russian citizens. The restrictions on Telegram have prompted pushback from bloggers who closely follow Russia's battlefield movements in Ukraine and raise money for Russian units. Telegram is also widely used by deployed Russian soldiers. In an unusual warning, the FSB released a statement on February 21, asserting Ukrainian intelligence was able to access information posted on Telegram by Russian soldiers, and that "has repeatedly resulted in threats to the lives of service members" over the past three months. A Ukrainian aerial attack on a Russian region some 1,900 kilometers from the border wounded at least 11 people, as Ukraine's military claimed it targeted a weapons factory there with new long-range cruise missile. Officials in the central region of Udmurtia said some of those wounded were hospitalized in the attack, which they said involved Ukrainian drones targeting an unnamed facility. Ukraine's military, however, said the facility was the Votkinsk factory, a sprawling complex where several major Russian weapons systems are manufactured including Yars, Iskander, and Oreshnik missiles. Video posted to several Telegram channels also purported to show fire and smoke at the Votkinsk factory. In a post to Telegram, the military also claimed the factory was hit using a new long-range cruise missile called the Flamingo. The missile, which first started appearing last year, is being developed by the Ukrainian company Fire Point. The company's chief designer published a video on February 20 showing a launch of the missile with the caption: "Here's a short video. No context. Context later." Military experts are cautious about the Flamingo's abilities, but Ukrainian officials, who have begged Western allies for cruise missiles like Tomahawks and Storm Shadows, are hoping to ramp up production of the homegrown weapon to increase their ability to hit targets deep in Russia. Russia, meanwhile, pounded Ukraine's Black Sea city of Odesa overnight, hitting a power facility, while launching scores of drones and missile at targets across the country. At least two people were injured in the barrage. A Russian drone hit a school building, while another drone slammed into a power generating substation, according to private energy company DTEK. Officials said at least two people were wounded. In the northeast city of Sumy, Russian strikes hit a residential district, injuring an elderly woman and two children, police officials said. Early on February 22, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy said a policewoman was killed and at least 15 other people were injured in a series of explosions in the western Ukrainian city. Sadoviy called the blasts an "act of terror," although details remained scarce. Lviv, a city of about 723,000 people, is near the Polish border and far from the front lines. The violence came days after the latest round of US-brokered peace talks wrapped up in Geneva with no breakthrough to end the Russian invasion, which hits its four-year mark on February 24. Russia has shown no willingness to bend from its hard-line demands, which include Ukraine withdrawing from eastern territories it currently holds and blocking Kyiv's request for binding security guarantees. Amid unusually cold winter temperatures, Russia has repeatedly hit power and heating facilities in Kyiv and throughout the country, leaving millions of Ukrainians struggling to stay warm and go about their lives. Kyiv's mayor has said hundreds of thousands have fled the city, as emergency workers struggle to repair damaged facilities. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian and Tatar-Bashkir services The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Thousands gathered in Prague on February 21 to reaffirm their solidarity with Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. Czech President Petr Pavel warned that the outcome of the war will shape Europes long-term security. WASHINGTON -- As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary, the conflict is increasingly defined by hardened positions and structural constraints that leave little room for a negotiated breakthrough, former US diplomats and analysts said. The main obstacle to progress in resolving Europe's largest land war since World War II is not a lack of diplomatic engagement but Moscow's unwillingness to reconsider its war aims, experts said. Russia is "not negotiating in good faith" and has "no desire to end the war" under current conditions, said Kurt Volker, who served as US special representative for Ukraine during the first administration of Donald Trump. "These negotiations are not going to go anywhere," Volker told RFE/RL in an interview. In his view, meaningful talks on a cease-fire or political settlement would require a fundamental shift in the Kremlin's incentives, such as intensified international pressure or a reduced capacity to sustain military operations. For Volker, the structure of talks is secondary to their substance. "The format doesn't matter; it's the content," he said, suggesting Washington could seek to alter Moscow's calculations through tools such as secondary sanctions or expanded weapons deliveries to Ukraine, steps he believes have not yet been fully employed. James Gilmore, who served as US ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe under Trump, said the deep divide between Kyiv and Moscow reflects the war's underlying causes: Russia is seeking to retain territory it has seized -- and gain territory that Ukraine continues to hold -- while Ukraine is fighting for its survival as a sovereign state. "In my view, the objectives of Russia and Ukraine are so diametrically opposed that it's not realistic to expect a breakthrough," Gilmore told RFE/RL. He rejected suggestions Kyiv should cede territory as part of a peace arrangement, calling such concessions "not a good basis for ending the conflict" and reiterating that Russian aggression remains the central impediment to a durable settlement. Both former officials said additional pressure should be directed at Moscow rather than Kyiv if conditions for serious diplomacy are to emerge. Volker described US policy tools as underutilized, while Gilmore said Russia has yet to face incentives strong enough to reconsider its goals. Stalled Diplomacy Recent US-brokered efforts have underscored the impasse. Talks held in Geneva this week failed to bridge differences over territory and security guarantees. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said military negotiators had agreed on potential mechanisms to monitor a cease-fire should political will materialize. But core political disputes, particularly Russia's territorial demands, remain unresolved. The main Russian negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, described the discussions as "difficult but businesslike." Zelenskyy, meanwhile, lashed out, suggesting that Medinsky -- a revisionist historian and former culture minister -- had inserted some sort of disputed interpretation of history into the talks. The sides agreed only to continue talks, without announcing a date for the next round. Meanwhile, continued Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure highlight the gap between diplomatic discussions and realities on the battlefield. Structural Constraints Beyond immediate political deadlock, some analysts point to longer-term structural factors shaping both the war and the prospects for peace. George Beebe, a former CIA Russia specialist who is now the director of grand strategy at the Quincy Institute, said Western pledges to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes" rest on assumptions that could erode over time. Ukraine's shrinking population and limited capacity to produce key weapons, including air-defense interceptors, constrain its ability to sustain a prolonged war without deeper Western commitments. At the same time, Beebe noted, even if Russia consolidates control over occupied territory, it would still face a larger and more unified NATO alliance -- a strategic challenge that battlefield gains alone cannot resolve. He suggested mounting costs on all sides could eventually create incentives for compromise. But any negotiations, he said, would likely be protracted and complex, requiring innovative security arrangements; for example, European-backed guarantees designed to protect Ukraine against future aggression without offering NATO membership. Speaking this week at a forum hosted by the Quincy Institute, John Mearsheimer, of the University of Chicago offered a more skeptical outlook. Moscow's insistence on Ukrainian neutrality and limits on Kyiv's military capabilities reflects what the Kremlin views as an existential threat from NATO expansion, he said. "Without Russia abandoning these core positions, meaningful negotiation remains illusory," Mearsheimer said. Calculus In Moscow Analysts broadly agree that the trajectory toward peace hinges on decisions taken in Moscow. Unless Russia changes course or faces sharply increased costs, they say, diplomatic progress is likely to be confined to technical arrangements -- such as limited cease-fire mechanisms -- rather than the comprehensive political settlement needed to end a war whose human toll and strategic risks continue to grow. A senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity on February 20, disputed the notion that space for compromise is exhausted. "While the challenges are clear, we remain committed to pursuing every possible avenue," the official said. "The effort to find common ground will continue, even if progress is slow and difficult." WASHINGTON -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian were back in Washington this week, just days after US Vice President JD Vance visited both countries. The White House has branded the effort a "Board of Peace" push aimed at consolidating momentum toward a formal settlement. The optics were striking: two leaders whose countries fought two wars in the past five years appearing together under US auspices, following a White House summit hosted by President Donald Trump on August 8, 2025. At that earlier meeting, the sides initialed a peace agreement, signed a joint declaration affirming their commitment to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, and announced the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a US-backed transit initiative linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenian territory. But nearly six months later, a central question remains: Has the political breakthrough translated into irreversible peace? 'Not An Endpoint' Speaking at the Hudson Institute on February 20, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter described the August summit as "a decisive moment for the South Caucasus." "That summit was not an endpoint. It was the beginning of a new chapter," she said, adding that Washington has since focused on turning what she called a diplomatic breakthrough into "durable progress on the ground." Coulter said both governments have taken "concrete steps to normalize relations, to open channels of commerce and transit, and to create the institutional foundations" aimed at making peace sustainable. She framed the administration's policy in economic terms. "If leaders choose peace, we will back them with the tools that translate peace into prosperity," she said, citing investment, security cooperation, and programs intended to strengthen sovereignty and economic independence. At the center of that approach is TRIPP, which was designed, in US terms, to facilitate the movement of "people, goods, energy, and ideas" across the region and reduce incentives for renewed conflict. During his recent visit to Yerevan and Baku, Vance said in Armenia that "peace is not made by cautious people" and "is made by people who are focused on the future." Coulter said that sentiment reflected the tone of US engagement with both capitals. Economic And Security Incentives Coulter outlined several initiatives announced during Vance's trip. They include the creation of a TRIPP Enterprise Fund, seeded with roughly $200 million, aimed at mobilizing private capital along the trans-Caspian corridor in areas such as transportation, logistics, energy, and critical minerals. In Armenia, the United States approved export licenses for Nvidia-based high-powered servers and related data center equipment, part of what officials describe as a planned multibillion-dollar investment in Armenia's information technology sector. The two countries also completed negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, opening the way for potential US small modular reactor technology and long-term partnerships. Washington additionally announced its first-ever foreign military sales case for Armenia -- $11 million to provide surveillance drone capability -- as part of what US officials describe as support for Armenia's defense transformation. In Azerbaijan, Vance signed a strategic partnership charter covering cooperation in security, energy, digital development, and trade. He also announced that four patrol boats and body armor for the Azerbaijani Coast Guard would be delivered. A US Chamber of Commerce delegation traveled to Baku during the visit to explore commercial ties. "These initiatives are not abstract," Coulter said. "They are concrete instruments that provide for a durable peace." The Election Factor Even as Washington emphasizes economic integration, analysts say domestic politics -- particularly in Armenia -- will shape the trajectory of the peace process. Andrew D'Anieri of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center told RFE/RL that Coulter's mention of the TRIPP Enterprise Fund was notable, describing it as potentially "the more immediately usable pot of money" to help kick-start construction linked to the corridor. But he pointed to Armenia's upcoming parliamentary elections as the most immediate variable. "The biggest current question mark is the Armenian election," he said, noting that Pashinian's party must secure another mandate to remain in power. D'Anieri added that many observers expect Russia to attempt to influence the vote, arguing that Moscow has been critical of what he described as Pashinian's efforts to pursue a pragmatic peace course. "We'll know much more about prospects for peace after the June election," he said. External Pressures Richard Kauzlarich, a former US ambassador to Azerbaijan, said the relationship between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaderships appears to have stabilized at a political level. "The relationship appears to have stabilized -- in a positive state -- at the leadership level," he told RFE/RL, saying the recent Washington meeting allowed the two leaders to demonstrate cooperation under US sponsorship. However, he noted this has not yet resulted in a finalized peace treaty. At the same time, Kauzlarich warned that broader geopolitical tensions could complicate progress. With US-Iran relations strained, he said, Tehran may seek to counter what it views as expanding American influence in the South Caucasus, particularly around the TRIPP initiative. He also cited what he described as growing rhetorical opposition from Moscow to US activity in both Armenia and Azerbaijan, including reported Russian concerns over US-Armenia nuclear cooperation. "I don't expect either Iran or Russia to accept an easy US win in the South Caucasus," Kauzlarich said, adding that wider US-Russia negotiations over Ukraine could indirectly affect regional dynamics. What Comes Next? For now, the Trump administration is seeking to anchor peace in infrastructure, trade, and security cooperation, arguing that shared economic interests can help prevent renewed conflict. Key steps ahead include finalizing and ratifying a comprehensive peace agreement, ensuring political stability in Armenia following elections and beginning visible work on transit and connectivity projects linked to TRIPP. Whether the current momentum becomes self-sustaining may depend less on announcements in Washington and more on developments in Yerevan and Baku -- and on how regional powers respond. As Coulter put it in closing her remarks, quoting Vance: "We don't just want to make peace, we also want to make sure that peace endures." ACCOMMODATION SOUGHT Roscommon LEADER Partnership in collaboration with Wageningen University is seeking host families in rural Roscommon to accommodate research students from June 5th to 19th June. For more information contact Anthony at (086) 9264868 or Sandra at (086) 0786882. LATE MR THOMAS CUMMINS Pray for the repose of the soul of Mr Thomas (Tom) Cummins late of Lahausk, Strokestown and Tooting, London who died recently in Tooting, London. Tom was pre-deceased by his wife, Mai (nee Keaveney) of Clooncarrow, Kingsland. Tom is survived by his daughter, Adeline, London, his brother-in-law, Eugene Keaveney, Peggy and family Clooncarrow, Kingsland; his sister, Mary Madden, Micky and family, Beaumont, Dublin; his sister-in-law, Maura Cummins and family, Lahausk, Strokestown. The funeral will take place in London. STATIONS OF THE CROSS Stations of the Cross in Kiltrustan Church on Tuesday, February 24th at 3.30 p.m. and will continue each Tuesday during Lent. EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Strokestown parish is inviting any parishioner who feels called to be a Eucharistic Minister or a Minister of the Word to contact the parish office. Training will be arranged. Any parishioner who may be interested in assisting with the Come Follow Me programme is also invited to get in touch. The parish e-mail address is strokestownparishoffice@gmail.com Jack Coen and Rachel O'Neill at the Northern Harps Dinner Dance in the Percy French Hotel, Strokestown. Pic: Michelle Hughes Walsh PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING A meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council will be on Wednesday, March 4th in the Parochial House. SCDA LOTTO Numbers drawn in the SCDA lotto were 1, 3, 5, 8. There were two Lucky Dip winners - Susan Compton, Clooncagh, and Kenny Silke, Church Street. Next draw is on Tuesday, February 17th at the SCDA office. Jackpot, 900 Thank you for your continued support. ASH WEDNESDAY Ashes will be available on Ash Wednesday, February 18th from the end of the 9.30 a.m., Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strokestown, until 7 p.m., ALONE Would you be willing to provide companionship to an older person locally? ALONE is seeking volunteers in the area. Full training and support provided. If interested, please apply via the ALONE website at www.alone.ie or for further information e-mail t volunteer@alone.ie or call 081 222024. IRISH CLASSES Irish language classes for adults continue in Cruachan Ai Centre, Tulsk (F45 HH51), every Wednesday, from 6.30 p.m., to 8 p.m., This course is suitable for all levels with an emphasis on conversational Irish. Beginners welcome. This course is supported by Roscommon County Council and Boyle Municipal District. For further information please contact Maire at (086) 6095402. EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY In Ireland today, over 45,000 people live with epilepsy. For further information, visit www.epilepsy.ie. Purple Day or Epilepsy Awareness day will take place on Thursday, March 26th. LATE MRS PAULINE COMPTON The death took place recently at Innis Ree Nursing Home, Ballyleague, of Mrs Pauline Compton (nee Fallon) of Newtown, Strokestown, wife of the late Mr Pat Compton. A native of Kilrooskey, she was daughter of the late Mr John James Fallon and of the late Mrs Mary Fallon. Her late husband carried on a successful building contracting business for many years. The business continues under the direction of her son, Kieran. A deeply religious person, she was a devoted wife and mother. She was held in the highest esteem among her neighbours and great friends. News of her passing in her 94th year was heard of with deep regret among her relatives, neighbours and loyal friends. She was predeceased by her brother, Jimmy, and sister Mary. The Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strokestown, and the interment followed in Strokestown Cemetery. She is survived by hers children, Joe, Kieran, Oliver and Patricia; daughters-in-law, Marie and Valerie; brother, Joe (UK); sister, Mrs Emma Flood (UK); sisters-in-law, Liz and Mary; grandchildren, Niall, Avril, James, Brian, Maria and Ciara; great-granddaughter, Eva, and her mother, Jenny; nieces, nephews, extended family and other relatives to whom deepest sympathy is extended. ROOSKY/KILGLASS ROOSKY ACTIVE RETIREMENT AGM The AGM of Roosky Active Retirement has been rescheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 3rd at 11.30 a.m. in the Community Centre Roosky. All members requested to attend. Membership fee of 15 will be taken at the meeting. KILGLASS GAELS LOTTO In the Kilglass Gaels Lotto held on February 14th the numbers drawn were 3, 4, 16, 25, Bonus Number, 2. There was no jackpot winner. There was one Match 3 number winner of 200, Ben Reilly. Next week's jackpot is 9,300 for four correct numbers, 13,300 for four correct numbers plus Bonus Number. Next draw takes place in the clubrooms on Saturday, February 21st. Sinead Keaveney and Ben Kerins at the Northern Harps Dinner Dance in the Percy French Hotel, Strokestown. Pic: Michelle Hughes Walsh BALLINAMUCK SOCIAL DANCING The next Ballinamuck Social Dancing & Community Gathering takes place on Sunday, February 22nd from 5 7 p.m. in the !98 Memorial Hall Ballinamuck Village (N39 Y7C1). Music by Paul OConnor. PROGRESSIVE 25 Progressive 25 continues in Kilglass GAA Centre on Tuesdays at 8.30 p.m.. Last week's winners were: 1st, John OBeirne; joint 2nd, Tom Beirne, Bernard Gregg and Denny McGuire; raffle, Margaret Cox. New players welcome. KILGLASS GAELS LADIES BONUS BALL This week's Kilglass Ladies Bonus Ball number was 36. Winners Ellie Ann King, and Jackie Cox, 50 each. COOKERY CLASSES Cookery classes with Marie return on Friday, March 6th for four weeks from 2.30 - 4.30 p.m. in Roosky Community Centre. To book a place call or text 086 8534100. ADULT DRAWING & WATERCOLOUR CLASS Adult drawing and watercolour classes start on Tuesday, February 24th, 10.30 a.m. 12 noon at the Community Centre, Roosky. For more details and to book a place contact 086 8534100. RSPCA COLLECTIONS The Roscommon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will hold its annual church gate collections at the following churches over the weekend of February 21st & 22nd: St. Anne's Church, Slatta on Saturday, February 21st: Church of The Sacred Heart, Kilglass on Sunday, February 22nd; and the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Roosky on Sunday, February 22nd. Roscommon SPCA is run by a team of dedicated volunteers with all money donated going directly towards animal welfare in the county. If you would like to learn more about Roscommon SPCA visit the website at www.roscommonspca.ie Gordon Deegan A judge has jailed a bicycle robber who told his victim that he could have his 100 mountain bike back for a tenner or a fag. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford imposed a two-year two-month prison sentence with the final four months suspended on Declan Sherlock (30) of no fixed abode in Ennis for the broad daylight robbery of the bicycle. Mr Sherlock pleaded guilty to the robbery of a mountain bike from Prince Shonibare on August 12th 2025, at Turnpike Road, Ennis. Mr Sherlock - high on a cocktail of crack, prescribed methadone and alcohol - was armed with a bottle and threatened violence on the owner of the bicycle, Prince Shonibare, but did not use violence. Prince Shonibare was not physically hurt during the five-minute incident during which Mr Sherlock told him he could have the bike back if he gave him a tenner or a fag. Judge Comerford said that it was a serious offence as Mr Sherlock had used an improvised weapon and threatened violence on Mr Shonibare for over five minutes. The bicycle was not recovered. Judge Comerford said that Mr Sherlocks offence was spur of the moment" and if he had just got away with the bicycle it would not have been a serious offence and it became serious when he offered violence. Judge Comerford said that it wasnt at the lower end of robbery offending. Counsel for Mr Sherlock, Amy Nix BL said that Mr Sherlock - who has 137 previous convictions - has completed a Crime Awareness course while in prison. Ms Nix said that now is make or break for Mr Sherlock. Ms Nix said that while on remand in Limerick prison awaiting sentence for the robbery of a 100 mountain bicycle, Mr Sherlock has completed a Crime Awareness course which, she said, has given him insight into the impact his actions have had on the victims of crime and he has taken a lot of positive learnings from that. Ms Nix said that her clients life has been blighted by chronic addiction. She said that Mr Sherlock is very ashamed of his actions on the day and wasnt able to remember the incident as he was intoxicated at the time. Ms Nix said that Mr Sherlock has had six long months in Limerick prison to reflect on the events of that day. Ms Nix said that Mr Sherlocks mother, Tina died during a routine operation to remove an appendix when he was just 13. Ms Nix said that Mr Sherlock was one of 14 siblings and in the aftermath of his mothers death he turned to cannabis and tablets to relieve grief and his life took a wrong turn. Ms Nix said that Mr Sherlock - now a father of four - started taking heroin at the age of 18. Ms Nix said that Mr Sherlock lost an older sister Charlene at the age of 29 in 2020 and she was like a second mother to him. Ms Nix said that due to bad decisions Mr Sherlock had made around that time, he was in custody at the time and wasnt able to attend Charlenes funeral mass. She said that Mr Sherlock also lost a brother, Jimmy in tragic circumstances in 2013. Ms Nix said that Mr Sherlock has used his time in custody productively and along with completing the Crime Awareness court he intends to start a Red Cross course in the next couple of weeks AAP Leaders Show Black Flags to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini in Amritsar File Photo. Nayab Singh Saini had arrived in Amritsar to attend a rally at Dana Mandi and participate in a Saini community function. AAP Leaders Show Black Flags to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini in Amritsar AMRITSAR, 21st February 2026: Leaders and MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday staged a protest against Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini during his visit to Amritsar. Waving black flags and wearing black bands on their heads, AAP leaders opposed his arrival and stated that the BJP has consistently adopted an anti-Punjab stand. Advertisement Nayab Singh Saini had arrived in Amritsar to attend a rally at Dana Mandi and participate in a Saini community function. However, outside the rally venue, local AAP MLAs and leaders demonstrated against his convoy and expressed resentment over what they described as the BJPs discriminatory attitude towards Punjab. MLA Jeevan Jyot Kaur, MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar, MLA Dr. Ajay Gupta, District President Amritsar Urban Prabhvir Singh Brar, Lok Sabha Incharge Jaskaran Badesha, District President Amritsar Rural Gurpartap Singh Sandhu, Dr. Inderpal, Gurdarshan Singh Goldy, Arwinder Singh Bhatti, Varun Rana, Satnam Singh Matharu, Mandeep Monga, Balbir Boparai, Visakha Singh, Raman Kumar, Bobby Bawa, Vimramjit Vicky, Baljit Singh Rinku, Sukhchain Singh Talwandi, Rajbir Singh, Lovepreet Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Daljit Singh, Gurpreet Kataria, Gaurav Agarwal, Satpal Sokhi, Kamna Anand, Sarbjit Ball and Ashok Kumar were joined by a large number of protestors outside the venue of his events. AAP leaders said that the BJP-led central government has repeatedly withheld Punjabs rightful funds related to rural development, health, education and other sectors, while simultaneously attempting to mislead the people of the state through political visits and rhetoric. Advertisement Addressing the media during the protest, Jeevan Jyot Kaur said, We are protesting today because we want to ask, with what face is the BJP coming to Punjab? Why are they trying to mislead the people here? The public knows very well that BJP has blocked Punjabs rightful funds, whether it is for health, education or development. Punjabis are well aware of the anti-farmer, anti-trade and anti-education face of the BJP. She further added, Punjabs people are not naive. They understand that BJP has always acted against Punjabs interests. Todays protest is a clear message that the people of Punjab will not be fooled by false propaganda. AAP leader Neel Garg also addressed the media and said, You have every right to promote your party in Punjab, but do not forget that you are the Chief Minister of Haryana. Do not mislead people by raising baseless questions on Punjabs law and order. Advertisement Citing data, Neel Garg said, Central agencies reports clearly show that in terms of maintaining law and order, Punjab ranks better than Haryana. Punjab stands second in the country in maintaining law and order, while in crime rankings it is much lower than Haryana. Haryana has witnessed over 1,000 murders in 2023 and more than 900 in 2024. Atrocities against women and Dalits are significantly higher there. Before lecturing Punjab, the Haryana government should introspect. He also countered BJPs claims regarding farmers debt and said, The debt burden on Punjabs farmers increased significantly during the period when BJP was in power here. Moreover, there is no substantial difference between the debt levels of farmers in Haryana and Punjab. False statements cannot change facts. Concluding his remarks, Neel Garg said, Instead of trying to gain political mileage in Punjab, the Haryana Chief Minister should first fulfil his responsibilities towards the people who elected him and improve the situation in Haryana. HARJOT BAINS EXPLORES AI BREAKTHROUGHS FOR PUNJAB SCHOOLS AT INDIA AI IMPACT EXPO File Photo. The Education Minister also held detailed discussions with education and AI ecosystem pioneers, including Wadhwani AI, gnani.ai and Bodh.ai. HARJOT BAINS EXPLORES AI BREAKTHROUGHS FOR PUNJAB SCHOOLS AT INDIA AI IMPACT EXPO Chandigarh/New Delhi, 20 February 2026: In a significant move to future-proof the state's educational framework, the Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains today led a School Education Departments high-powered delegation to the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, where he engaged in a series of strategic discussions with global technology titans and central government institutions to explore scalable, AI-driven solutions for the state's vast school network and further improve the learning outcomes. Advertisement During his extensive tour of the exhibition halls, accompanied by Secretary School Education Ms. Sonali Giri, Chairman PSEB Dr. Amarpal Singh, and DGSE Mr. Arvind, the Education Minister held interactions with leading global technology firms including Google, Deloitte, Intel, OpenAI, NVIDIA and Dell. The discussions delved into the future of learning, with a specific focus on integrating advanced AI capabilities into Punjab's educational pedagogy. The delegation also engaged with the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Education, gaining crucial insights into the national AI strategy, digital public infrastructure and governance models that could be adapted for the Punjabs classroom. The Education Minister also held detailed discussions with education and AI ecosystem pioneers, including Wadhwani AI, gnani.ai and Bodh.ai. The conversations were focused on AI-enabled school education applications, including Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL), Foundational Literacy & Numeracy (FLN), AI-assisted assessments, multilingual learning tools, teacher support systems and real-time monitoring analytics for robust governance and infrastructure oversight. S. Harjot Singh Bains visited the Punjab Startup Pavilion at the Expo, where he interacted with several niche, sector-specific AI startups nurtured under Punjab Government programmes, highlighting the state's growing prowess as a hub for educational technology innovation. Advertisement S. Harjot Singh Bains stated, "This visit would help to equip Punjab's future generations with the tools of tomorrow. Our interactions with global leaders like NVIDIA, Google, and OpenAI, alongside our homegrown startups, have given us a clear roadmap. We are specifically focused on Personalised Adaptive Learning and strengthening Foundational Literacy and Numeracy through AI. By integrating these technologies with the robust policy frameworks shared by MeitY and the Ministry of Education, we would build a model where technology acts as a force multiplier for our teachers and a personalised guide for every student in Punjab." He directed FCI to carry out a one-time regularisation exercise for the petitioners and other similarly placed long-serving casual workers within four months. File Photo. The petitioners have been working as casual employees in the Punjab Region Office of FCI since 1986-87. Punjab HC Directs FCI to Grant Regular Status to Long-Serving Casual Workers in 4 Months Advertisement The Punjab and Haryana High Court has overturned its February 1, 2017 order that had rejected the claims of long-serving casual workers at the Punjab Region Office of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The court noted that the failure to regularise workers employed against perennial posts amounted to an unfair labour practice. Justice Sandeep Moudgil described the earlier order as arbitrary and unconstitutional. He directed FCI to carry out a one-time regularisation exercise for the petitioners and other similarly placed long-serving casual workers within four months. The petitioners have been working as casual employees in the Punjab Region Office of FCI since 1986-87. They had sought regularisation from November 6, 1995, or from the date of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) instructions issued on September 10, 1993, along with all associated benefits. Advertisement The court observed that these workers were directly engaged as casual staff in 1986-87 and had provided uninterrupted service for over three decades. Their duties were repeatedly recognised by FCI as perennial in nature. As a result, the writ petition was allowed, and the 2017 order rejecting the workers claims was set aside. The court directed FCI to consider these employees for regular appointment or absorption against available Category-IV, Watchman, or equivalent posts from the date each petitioner became eligible. It also ordered that all consequential benefits, including pay fixation, arrears, and interest at 6% per annum from the date the benefits became due until actual receipt, be provided. The entire process must be completed within four months of receiving a certified copy of the judgement. Advertisement Source: The Tribune Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjeet Singh described the conference as a forward-looking effort aimed at guiding academic and cultural dialogue. File Photo. Member of Parliament Vikramjit Singh Sawhney announced a grant of Rs 1 crore for the university's Centre of Ethical Artificial Intelligence. World Punjabi Conference Opens at GNDU to Discuss AIs Role in Preserving Punjabi Language Advertisement Amid the ongoing AI Summit in New Delhi, Guru Nanak Dev University inaugurated the first three-day World Punjabi Conference, focusing on the role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the future of Punjabi language, culture and society. The event brought together scholars, policymakers, technologists and members of the Punjabi diaspora. Member of Parliament Vikramjit Singh Sawhney announced a grant of Rs 1 crore for the universitys Centre of Ethical Artificial Intelligence, saying the initiative would help students connect with new technologies while preserving their cultural identity. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjeet Singh described the conference as a forward-looking effort aimed at guiding academic and cultural dialogue. He said AI is one of the most influential fields today but stressed that technology must remain guided by ethics and human values. He expressed confidence that Punjabi can actively participate in the digital era. Advertisement Speakers noted that although AI is transforming global systems, its development should remain grounded in moral awareness. Former Chief Secretary KBS Sidhu said discussions could help link the Punjabi language with global technological platforms. Former MP Tarlochan Singh highlighted AIs potential in preserving Punjabi literature and heritage while raising concerns about declining familiarity with the Gurmukhi script. He further said that to promote and safeguard the Gurmukhi script, he has established the first Gurmukhi Script Centre at Delhi University. Dr Satbir Singh Gosal cautioned against bias in AI systems. Punjab MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also pledged financial assistance on behalf of the Punjab Government for the AI Centre set up in memory of the late Surjit Patar. A play titled "1675", based on the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, was presented during the event. Written by Amarjit Singh Grewal and directed by Kewal Dhaliwal, the production underscored the continuing significance of the Gurus sacrifice in todays era of Artificial Intelligence. Advertisement Source: The Tribune The Minister added that the international community has appreciated India's human-centric approach to artificial intelligence, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File Photo. He noted that the country's efforts to democratise AI, focusing on both economic growth and social benefits, have been widely acknowledged. Indias AI Impact Summit Gains Worldwide Support, 86 Countries Back Indias Declaration Advertisement Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Saturday that 86 countries and two international organisations signed the declaration at Indias AI Impact Summit. He also criticised the Congress party, accusing it of harming Indias image on the global stage. Speaking to the media at the summit venue, Vaishnaw highlighted the active participation and innovative solutions showcased by startups during the event. There has been remarkable enthusiasm throughout the summit, particularly among the youth, he said. The Minister added that the international community has appreciated Indias human-centric approach to artificial intelligence, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that the countrys efforts to democratise AI, focusing on both economic growth and social benefits, have been widely acknowledged. Advertisement Vaishnaw also criticised the Congress party, saying its actions at the summit were shameful. When I interacted with many exhibitors, they said that the way the Youth Congress workers created a ruckus at the summit was shameful. This shows that they are stooping so low in politics. The Congress party is anti-youth and does not want any innovations, he said. The controversy arose when Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members staged a shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. The protesters criticised PM Modi and the AI summit, accusing him of compromising the nations identity. In response to the protest, police detained the participants. The IYC statement described their action as a demonstration against what they called a compromised Prime Minister who has traded the countrys identity at the AI Summit. Source: The Tribune Nearly 2.9 million temporary resident permits are set to expire during 2025 and 2026 across different categories, including work permits and post-graduation work authorisations. File Photo. Immigration data suggests around 1.05 million temporary work permits expired in 2025, while another 9.27 lakh are due to expire in 2026. Nearly 2.9 Million Temporary Visas to Expire in Canada by 2026, Residents Seek Extension Advertisement A rising number of temporary residents in Canada are urging the government to extend their work permits and provide a fair opportunity to stay, as a large wave of visas approaches expiry alongside stricter immigration policies. A video circulating online shows many affected individuals, including a significant number of Punjabis, expressing concern over the situation. The group includes international graduates, skilled workers and other temporary permit holders who say they are frustrated with how authorities are handling expiring permits. Several of them argue that they have contributed to Canadas economy and local communities through work and study and question why they must leave after spending years in the country. Advertisement Supporters say the matter impacts millions nationwide. Nearly 2.9 million temporary resident permits are set to expire during 2025 and 2026 across different categories, including work permits and post-graduation work authorisations. At the same time, the Canadian government plans to reduce the share of temporary residents from about seven per cent to five per cent of the population by 2027, which is expected to narrow routes to permanent residency. Immigration data suggests around 1.05 million temporary work permits expired in 2025, while another 9.27 lakh are due to expire in 2026. Many affected residents are seeking extensions, clearer immigration pathways and what they describe as fair treatment. Officials have acknowledged processing delays, but no broad extension plan has been announced. Advertisement Source: The Tribune A Scholar of international repute Traian Savulescu Traian Savulescu was one of the leading figures of the Romanian Phytopathology Lo scultore Frederic Storck Ion Puican, 21.02.2026, 14:00 Traian Savulescu used to be one of the leading figures of the Romanian science in the 20th century, a biologist, botanist, professor and president of the Romanian Academy of international repute. Born in 1889, he dedicated his life to research in the field of vegetal biology, mainly phytopathology the science that studies the plants diseases being the founding father of the Romanian School of Phytopathology. Through his scientific and institutional activity, he decisively contributed to the development of the agricultural and botanical research in Romania, in a period marked by deep political and social transformations. Marius Neculae, a museographer with Romanias Museum of National History has made a portrait of the aforementioned scholar. Marius Neculae: He used to be Romanias greatest biologist, the founding father of the Romanian Phytopathology. Savulescu published ample books such as The Romanian Flora, The Flora of the Romanian Popular Republic and then the The Flora of the Romanian Socialist Republic. One of the pioneers of the research of the flora of Bessarabia, after the Great Union, of the Danube Delta and he even made a documentary film back in 1938, namely The Traian Savulescu expedition in the Danube Delta. He was the first Romanian biologist interested in the flora of Palestine, of Arabia, and he made an expedition to that part of the world. In 1928 and 1935 he travelled to the Middle East and he was acknowledged by the great European Science Academies. He was the recipient of numerous awards from the Romanian scientific institutions during the Romanian kingdom and also during the communist regime. President of the Academy of the Romanian Popular Republic from 1948 until 59 then an honorary president until his death. He was received in the Academy as a corresponding member back in 1932 and as a fully-fledged member on June 1, 1936, when he delivered a speech in front of King Carol II. Marius Neculae gives us more details about the science of Phytopathology and the research conducted by biologist Traian Savulescu: Marius Neculae: Phytopathology actually means the study of plant diseases. Traian Savulescu was guided by his parents, by his father, who was a well-off man, owned hotels, estates and so on, to embrace medicine, which he abandoned in his third year at the faculty for biology. That was some sort of a rift with his father, but he was fascinated by plant diseases. I saw part of his research with thousands of documents, plant collections, herbariums, microscope slides, 90% referring to plant diseases. He had a great contribution in this respect treating and preventing these diseases. We have evidence of his work while he used to be undersecretary of state with the Agriculture Ministry. Even at an old age, around 60, he showed a huge interest in eradicating these plant diseases in Romania. Traian Savulescus interests went beyond his Academic life and research, he was interested in promoting plant science and nature. Marius Neculae: Savulescu was interested in promoting the plant science and nature. We have a series of articles, brochures, pamphlets in other areas. He noticed a series of political injustices, which he didnt like and criticized them even in some publications of the time. Savulescu supported many agronomists and worked closely with them. He promoted science among people and those interested who were working in related fields. In the end of our discussion, Marius Neculae told us about the controversies related to the image of Romanian scholar Traian Savulescu. Marius Neculae: He left behind many controversies. On one hand we have his unflawed academic career. Four years after graduation, he took his PhD and got involved in research activities his entire life. Recognition both in Romania and abroad. He became member of science academies all over Europe. But we still have several controversies related to him. Just think, he was born in 1889 and got into politics only in 1945 in the Ploughmen Party not directly into the Communist Party. He was 55 years old you know; why at that age, at that time? Many are criticizing him and even overlooking his merits for his political views. But after the Petru Groza government came to power, he was part of it as a Deputy Prime Minister. Why? We have to look before that moment. He wasnt quite into politics, you know. And during the National Legionary State even had some family issues. Maybe these things affected him and when he got the chance he joined a party, which said it was fighting anti-Semitism and the Iron Guard. We even have press articles from 1945, 1946, when Savulescu was campaigning for the idea of weeding out iron guardists, or as they used to be called, legionaries, from universities and from Romanias Academia. Traian Savulescu remains in Romanias history as a scholar who built institutions, research schools and made a significant contribution to the international promotion of the Romanian science. His legacy doesnt mean only treaties and specialized research but also a vision of the role of science in the development of society. (bill) Marina Voica stars in Night Butterflies "Night Butterflies", Andrei Rautus debut film, reflects the way we relate to time, memory and the stories of the generations that have marked our culture. Fluturi de noapte Corina Sabau, 21.02.2026, 14:00 At 89 years old, artist Marina Voica remains a fascinating presence and surprisingly young in spirit. Night Butterflies, Andrei Rautus debut film, is an intimate incursion into her life and energy, but also a reflection on the way we relate to time, memory and the stories of the generations that have marked our culture. A pioneer of Romanian pop music, Marina Voica becomes, in front of the camera, more than a music legend: a living, playful and curious character, who continues to inspire through the freedom she lives by. The film took three years to shoot, with an extremely small crew. Night Butterflies continues the same intimate line from Andrei Rautus 2020 short film, Bucharest Seen from Above. Selected at the Transylvania International Festival, the film features Marina Voica, Stefan Iancu, and Elvira Deatcu and was inspired by the directors personal experience of documenting his grandmother diagnosed with Alzheimers. Beyond the portrait of an artist, Night Butterflies opens a necessary discussion about the importance of bringing older characters to the screen, voices rarely seen in contemporary films, but who have the power to move and inspire. With Andrei Rautu, we spoke about meeting Marina Voica, who was noticed after a casting, and about cinema as a form of play and intuition, but also as an exploration of the connection between memory, fragility, and the vital energy of an artist: When I saw her at the casting, I hadnt even written the script for Bucharest Seen from Above, but I knew that at some point I would need a representation of my grandmother in a fiction film. And I was surprised by the similarities she had with my grandmother, by the contrast between external fragility and inner strength. I found many of the qualities my grandmother had in her. I fictionalized it enough to work as a short story, but I worked almost like on a documentary. In the case of that film, I was interested in the separation from home of a woman who has loved the space she has lived in all her life and is forced to leave it in favor of a path that doesnt seem to lead anywhere. Referring to my generation, I would say that what we bring, as a novelty, is another way of portraying third age, to which we try to find the playful dimensions. As far as Im concerned, I discovered cinema as a medium for play. You have the text, the sound, the image, the actors, and all these tools give you a joy very close to a childs play. And I think its important, especially in an industry where its hard to finance your projects, not to get stuck. Ok, I dont have the resources, but I want to play with what I have. And thats why this playful spirit is important, so as not to get stuck, waiting endlessly for funding. Out of the wish to maintain intimacy and closeness to the character, Andrei Rautu chose to film it himself, transforming the documentary into a true home movie. I wanted to tell this story without artifice, without hiding the filming imperfections, because they are precisely what give authenticity. During all this time, a relationship of trust and friendship was created between Marina and me. I discovered not only the artist I knew from the stage and the film set, but also the person who still plays, laughs, loves and remains young in spirit, says the director. We spoke with Marina Voica about the art for which she made numerous sacrifices and about the film Night Butterflies, directed by Andrei Rautu, in which she stars: Things came together after our collaboration on his first film, although even then I was hardly convinced to play the role he proposed to me. But it was a tremendous experience for me, because I understood many things about cinema. Regarding this new film and this new collaboration with Andrei Rautu, I tell you honestly, I didnt think it would turn out so impressive. I was really impressed by what I saw. But it probably turned out so well because I already trusted Andrei. For me, Andrei is a very good friend, a person who has become very important to me. Coming back to my art, if I am asked why I make films, who I sing for, the answer is very simple: for the audience. And I think that together with Andrei, through this film, we managed to give the audience art as we feel it. Night Butterflies is a film made with minimal resources, but which draws its strength from Marina Voicas energy and the special relationship between the director and the actress. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos discussed the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. during an interview on Bloomberg TV. Sarandos stated that combining Netflix's production scale with Warner Bros.' established theatrical distribution network would lead to more high-quality films receiving full theatrical releases, seeking to calm concerns from cinema operators about Netflix's long-term commitment to theaters. Sarandos reiterated that Netflix would maintain a 45-day exclusive theatrical window for Warner Bros. titles and indicated that some Netflix-produced films could also follow that model. This comes as theater chains and trade groups have voiced skepticism about Netflix's intentions, questioning whether the streaming giant would uphold traditional release strategies. The debate has intensified amid competing interest from Paramount, which has made a rival bid for Warner Bros. Talks briefly reopened this week after Netflix granted a waiver to allow further discussions. High-profile figures, including filmmaker James Cameron, have publicly opposed the potential deal, warning it could undermine the theatrical and lead to broader industry disruption. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Indias OEM-level passenger vehicle exports posted strong growth in January 2026, rising to 77,666 units from 57,026 units in January 2025. This marks a solid 36.19% YoY increase, driven largely by Maruti Suzukis aggressive export push. Maruti alone shipped 50,716 units, up a massive 89.37% YoY, contributing nearly two-thirds of total exports. Car Exports Jan 2026 Maruti Dominates Maruti exported 18 of its models last month. Strong overseas demand for models like Fronx, Jimny, Swift and the newly introduced e Vitara significantly boosted its numbers. Hyundai retained second position with 14,030 units, growing 20.95% YoY, while Toyota remained stable at 3,250 units with marginal growth. On the other hand, export momentum was uneven across OEMs. Tata Motors posted a sharp 251% rise, albeit on a smaller base, while Jeep also recorded strong percentage growth. Kia, Renault and Citroen saw healthy gains as well. However, Nissan (-35.98%), Honda (-84.98%), Mahindra (-57.56%) and Volkswagen (-63.76%) reported notable declines, reflecting model cycle changes and shifting global demand. Overall, January 2026 underlines Indias strengthening position as a global export hub, with growth heavily skewed toward Maruti Suzuki and compact vehicle exports. Top 30 Car Exports Jan 2026 Maruti Suzuki continued to dominate export volumes, occupying multiple positions in the top 10. Fronx emerged as the highest exported model with 10,938 units, up 37.91% YoY. Jimny recorded one of the strongest surges, climbing to 7,970 units from 1,958 units last year, registering a 307% growth. S-Presso followed with 6,687 units, up 175%, while Swift posted 5,589 units, marking a 40% increase. Dzire saw an extraordinary spike to 3,839 units compared to just 22 units a year ago. Hyundai also maintained a solid presence. Grand i10 exports rose to 4,827 units, up nearly 70% YoY, while Verna remained stable at 4,734 units with marginal growth. Hyundai i20 more than tripled its exports to 645 units, while Creta exports more than doubled to 608 units. Exter too saw sharp momentum with 343 units shipped compared to just 54 units last year. Toyota Hyryder maintained stable export numbers at 3,240 units, up 2% YoY. Maruti Baleno, however, declined 34% to 3,229 units. Celerio saw a massive jump to 2,986 units from just 167 units last year, while Maruti e Vitara entered the export list with 2,940 units in its debut month. Among other notable performers, Kia Carens rose 196% to 814 units, while Maruti Alto grew 66% to 802 units. Citroen C3 posted a 40% increase to 468 units. On the other hand, Nissan Magnite declined 40% to 2,359 units, Hyundai Aura dropped 15%, and Mahindra XUV 3XO fell 50% YoY. Several models recorded steep export corrections. VW Virtus declined 68%, Honda City fell 58%, Hyundai Alcazar dropped 36%, and Honda Elevate saw one of the sharpest declines, down over 92% compared to its high base last year. Overall, January 2026 reinforces Indias position as a major export hub for compact SUVs and small cars. Statement from Mayor Garcia A Friday statement from Mayor Michael Garcia provided by city spokesperson Peter Olson: The safety and well-being of our community is the highest responsibility of city government. The service being provided by the Santa Fe Fire Departments Alternate Response Unit is not going away or being reduced. The strategic reassignment of EMS Captains reflects the application of a different model to meet todays broad emergency response needs. The Alternate Response Unit allows us to better match resources to the type of call for service. Not every ARU call requires an EMS response, but when EMS is needed, there is a rapid response. By deploying the right personnel, at the right time, with the right level of care, we improve response efficiency across the city, for all residents and visitors in Santa Fe. Across the city, our firefighters and paramedics are available for high-acuity emergencies where and when they are needed most. Reassigning EMS Captains from riding in ARU vans to supervisory and system-wide coordination roles strengthens oversight, quality assurance, and operational command. This shift enhances training, clinical standards, and field decision-making while maintaining strong support for frontline crews. It is a model we are trying, to ensure the best services city-wide. These changes are about improving service delivery, protecting taxpayer investment, and ensuring that our fire and EMS professionals can continue providing exceptional care to our residents. I am proud of the Santa Fe Fire Department for embracing innovation while keeping community safety at the center of every decision. Takeaways State District Judge Francis Mathew denied a motion from former Western New Mexico University president Joseph Shepard seeking dismissal of a complaint filed by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission. Shepard led the Silver City-based university from 2011 until his resignation in January 2025 amid allegations that he and his wife, Valerie Plame, used public funds for personal travel, furnishings, and other expenses. The Ethics Commission alleges Shepard violated the New Mexico Governmental Conduct Act by canceling construction of an ADA ramp and instead directing $177,404 in public money toward a patio extension at his presidential residence intended to host events related to his daughters wedding. Shepards attorney, John Anderson, argued that certain provisions of the Act are merely aspirational expressions of ethical principles and do not create civil liability. Judge Mathew rejected that interpretation as too narrow, allowing the case to proceed. The judge did grant permission for an immediate appeal to the state Court of Appeals but declined to pause the case while the appeal moves forward. Quick Summary Tencent's AI strategy centers on creating "user-ready AI" by providing end-to-end engineering support from computing power to real-world implementation, ensuring practical and efficient AI applications. 1. The strategy focuses on strengthening foundational capabilities, model layers, and application layers to deliver effective, evolving intelligent products that drive enterprise innovation and improve daily life. 2. Through integrated innovation, Tencent launched the "6T" product suiteincluding TencentOS and TDSQL databasehelping businesses achieve greater technological autonomy. 3. International expansion continues with double-digit growth, partnering with overseas giants like GoTo Group and Charoen Pokphand Group to support Chinese companies in global market entry. AI adoption has already streamlined operations across 30+ sectors like finance, healthcare, and education. For instance, the Tencent Yangtze River Delta AI Advanced Computing Center offers plug-and-play AI solutions, eliminating the need for companies to build infrastructure and significantly reducing costs. AI opens new avenues for brand marketing and channel development, with Tencents case studies highlighting tangible value. 1. Product R&D can be enhanced through AI-driven intelligence, enabling warm, adaptive smart products that align with user needs, as seen in cross-industry implementations. 2. Brand pricing and competitiveness can benefit from integrated innovation like the "6T" system, which strengthens brand control via proprietary cloud platforms. 3. User behavior insights drawn from AI trendssuch as surging demand for voice interaction reflected in Tencent Cloud API callsguide brands in optimizing customer experience. Global partnerships with Fortune 500 companies like Mercedes-Benz and Walmart offer overseas market opportunities, supporting brands globalization strategies. Tencents AI strategy reveals shifting consumer demands and growth markets, outlining clear opportunities and risks. 1. Policy analysis indicates sustained international expansion, with partnerships in Southeast Asia and the Middle East providing cross-border policy support for entering new markets. 2. Lowered AI adoption barriersexemplified by the "ready-to-use" computing center in the Yangtze River Deltareduce investment risks and spur business growth. 3. Risk considerations include optimizing inference costs amid fierce cloud provider competition, requiring sellers to prioritize cost-control strategies. Changing consumer behavior is reflected in rising API calls for ASR and TTS models, suggesting sellers adapt by learning from collaborative models. AI accelerates digital transformation in product design and manufacturing, offering commercial opportunities and e-commerce insights. 1. Production needs can be met through the integrated "6T" system, such as TCS proprietary cloud PaaS and TBDS big data platform, enabling autonomous, controllable design. 2. Business opportunities arise from AI optimization cases across 30+ industries, reducing facility investment while boosting efficiency. 3. Digital adoption is facilitated by computing support like Tencents Qingpu Data Center, which offers plug-and-play AI to lower implementation barriers. E-commerce expansion can draw from international collaborations that help Chinese enterprises optimize supply chain management abroad. Industry trends highlight AIs widespread adoption, with new technologies addressing client pain points and delivering solutions. 1. Surging API usage for large modelsespecially in voice interaction (ASR/TTS)creates demand for tailored tools to solve recognition challenges. 2. Client concerns include rapidly growing inference computing costs; Tencent Cloud emphasizes cost optimization as a core competitive edge, offering full-chain engineering support. 3. Solutions involve deploying intelligent products like Tencent Hunyuan and DeepSeek models, already applied in 30+ industries to meet practical enterprise needs. The shift from AI training to application-driven growth signals service providers should monitor Agent technology evolution. Tencent Clouds latest practices address platform needs and challenges related to merchant recruitment and operations management. 1. Platforms require end-to-end AI engineering supportfrom computing power to deploymentto lower enterprise adoption barriers. 2. The "6T" integrated innovation system, including TCE private cloud and Tencent Cloud TI platform, enhances platform autonomy and refines merchant recruitment strategies. 3. International expansion, such as partnerships with leading firms like Indonesias GoTo Group, provides global tools for platform management and merchant onboarding. To navigate competition, platforms must focus on inference cost optimization and scalable efficiency improvements. Industry dynamics signal a shift in AI industrialization phases, with emerging challenges and business models offering policy insights. 1. AI has crossed the industrialization threshold, moving toward application and Agent-driven growth, as indicated by surging API calls marking widespread adoption. 2. Key issues include rising inference computing costs, making cost optimization a critical challenge; researchers can explore policy support for cloud provider innovation. 3. Business models like the "6T" integrated system demonstrate full-stack autonomous products, revealing pathways for technological self-reliance. International cases, such as supporting Chinese companies global expansion, provide insights for optimizing cross-border collaboration models. Disclaimer: The "Quick Summary" content is entirely generated by AI. Please exercise discretion when interpreting the information. For issues or corrections, please email run@ebrun.com . 30 Advertisement NationalNSWPlanning A Sydney school, a paddock, and a $123 million question David Barwell February 22, 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 A $123 million proposal to build a new school on a rural paddock in Sydneys south-west has ignited a heated dispute between planners, residents and councillors, exposing deeper tensions over how growth is being managed on the citys outer fringe. The Independent Planning Commission is assessing a state-significant development application by Minarah College to establish a kindergarten-to-year 12 campus for up to 980 students at Catherine Field, within Sydneys south-west growth area. A photo of the site in Catherine Field where the Minarah College campus is proposed to be built. NSW Department of Planning While supporters say the project would help address a severe shortage of school places in one of Australias fastest-growing regions, Camden Council and many residents say the proposal is premature and fundamentally unsuitable for the site. Minarah College, an independent Islamic co-educational school, has operated from Green Valley, 18 kilometres to the north-east of Catherine Field, for more than 20 years. It says its existing campus has reached capacity and cannot expand further. Advertisement Principal Abdul Shariff told an IPC meeting the school has 1185 student enrolments and no remaining space to grow. Demand has continued to increase, Shariff said. The proposed college would cater for students from kindergarten to year 12. NSW Department of Planning At the end of the 2025 school year, around 150 students were placed on a waiting list, many of them siblings of existing students. He said without a new campus, the school would be forced to reduce kindergarten intake in 2027, leaving more families without access to places. Advertisement Shariff described Catherine Field as the most suitable option for expansion, saying the proposed campus would relieve pressure on the Green Valley site and respond to genuine community demand. However, Camden Council unanimously resolved in November not to support the application, citing that the land remains zoned for rural and primary production use and has not been released under any precinct planning framework. A photo of the development site and Catherine Field Road, which residents say is not equipped to cater for the proposed school NSW Department of Planning Camden Council manager of statutory planning Jamie Erken told the commission the site was unsuitable for a development of the proposed scale. Although the land sits within the south-west growth area, it has not been released for rezoning and it will remain rural for the foreseeable future, Erken said. Advertisement In our view, the proposal seeks to take advantage of comparatively cheaper rural land ahead of precinct planning, providing a private commercial benefit at the expense of broader community planning outcomes. Infrastructure concerns have emerged as a central issue in the debate, particularly the lack of road, water and sewer services. A concept image of the proposed Minarah College campus. NSW Department of Planning Resident Cynthia Meta described Catherine Field Road as a narrow, deteriorating rural road with no footpaths, no street lighting and no confirmed upgrade plans. Building a school on rural land without wastewater and road infrastructure is simply poor planning, she said. Its detrimental to the community. Advertisement Residents also said the proposed student population of 980 would equate to about one-third of Catherine Fields current population of about 2600 people. Development plans show the absence of existing service connections would require a 35-kilolitre potable water tank and an on-site wastewater management system. Camden Council has raised concerns about whether the system would meet performance standards, particularly during wet weather, and it has said the project should not proceed without access to reticulated sewer services. An aerial view of the proposed development site in Catherine Field NSW Department of Planning Supporters of the proposal say the school would help address a critical lack of educational infrastructure in the region. Camdens population is forecast to grow from 127,000 to more than 240,000 by 2036, placing increasing pressure on schools. Advertisement Mohammad Yasin described Sydneys south-west as an educational desert and another supporter, Ziyaad Ali, said families moving into new housing estates were struggling to find schools with available places. Schools are full and the population is growing faster than the infrastructure, Ali said. A concept image of the development. NSW Department of Planning Planning consultant Alaine Roff, director of Urbis, told the commission that while Catherine Field had not yet been released for planning, development pressure in surrounding areas was intensifying. There is a significant lack of social and educational infrastructure, and the school is hoping to help address that gap, Roff said. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive Courts This coastal block has million-dollar views. Its owner is fighting council for access Some submissions also say that developer-funded road upgrades associated with the project could deliver long-overdue improvements without cost to ratepayers. The proposed campus would include a 60-place early learning centre, community accessible sporting fields and a multipurpose hall. It would be delivered in staged phases between 2026 and 2037. For residents, the decision will shape not only the future of the school, but the character of Catherine Field itself. Residents chose to live in the area for its rural atmosphere, space for families, and peace and quiet, said Robert Cecere, who has lived in Catherine Field for more than a decade. Advertisement If this development adds to already stretched infrastructure, the question needs to be asked: what purpose will it serve our community? The Independent Planning Commission has yet to make a determination on the application. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalNSWPolice Burnt-out Toyota may be linked to missing 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian Julie Power February 22, 2026 7:29am 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 Nearly 10 days after the kidnapping of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, NSW Police are appealing to the public for information relating to suspicious car fires last Tuesday in Westmead that could be linked to his kidnappers. It comes as police scoured bushland in Glenorie in Sydneys north-west on Sunday afternoon in what they said was part of an ongoing investigation linked to the grandfathers disappearance. Detectives appeal for information after a vehicle fire, as investigations continue into the kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian. NSW Police Baghsarian has been held hostage since February 13, when up to three men abducted him from his North Ryde home at about 5am in what police believe is a suspected case of mistaken identity. Two vehicles were partially destroyed in suspicious fires on Good Street, Westmead, at about 11.30pm on Tuesday, February 17. Advertisement NSW Police said detectives were able to establish that the targeted vehicle was a 2022 Toyota Corolla bearing Victorian registration 1UZ2BU, reported stolen from a Victorian address on January 13. Investigators from Strike Force Chobat believe the decimated Toyota in the images are related to a crime scene established at a Dural property in north-west Sydney where, police believe, Baghsarians kidnappers may have held him hostage for some time over the past 10 days. Police scoured bushland in Glenorie on Sunday afternoon in the search for Chris Baghsarian. Nine News After reports that two vehicles were alight, Cumberland Police Area Command attended the location, not far from Parramatta Aquatic Centre, along with Fire and Rescue NSW, who extinguished the blaze. This masthead reported last week that the Dural property was a stronghold used by kidnappers to hold an elderly man hostage. It matched images circulated throughout Sydneys underworld showing the 85-year-old being tortured, as police admit hope of finding him alive is fading. Advertisement Advertisement We are living through a nightmare we never thought possible. Anyone who may have seen or heard anything, or has CCTV, dashcam and or mobile footage relating to the kidnapping, or witnessed any sort of suspicious activity in the Westmead area since last Friday is urged to contact detectives. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages. Advertisement Exclusive NationalNSWSexual health Drug-resistant gonorrhoea superbugs are spreading across Sydney Angus Thomson February 22, 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 Drug-resistant strains of gonorrhoea are spreading across NSW as health authorities grow increasingly concerned about the diminishing effectiveness of antibiotics to treat the common sexually transmitted infection. There have been 16 cases of multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea diagnosed so far this year, compared to 41 cases last year, NSW Health said on Tuesday. The Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, which causes gonorrhea. Alamy Stock Photo This includes two cases showing high-level resistance to both the first-line treatment (ceftriaxone) and a host of other drugs, including penicillin. These cases are sometimes called gonorrhoea superbugs or super gonorrhoea. Most of the cases were in Sydney, said NSW Healths Dr Vicky Sheppeard. Advertisement If we do get a predominance of drug resistance, we might need to give people intravenous antibiotics there may not be antibiotics available, Sheppeard said. So to try to control this now, when the numbers are relatively small, is ideal. Related Article Media & marketing Make The Sydney Morning Herald your preferred source on Google Cases occurred mostly in heterosexual people, including recent cases linked to female sex workers, NSW Health said in an alert sent to doctors earlier this month. Gonorrhoea can occur without symptoms, meaning it can spread easily among people who do not know they are carrying the infection. Untreated, it can cause long-term reproductive issues such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and complications during pregnancy. The antibiotic injection ceftriaxone is the recommended first-line treatment against gonorrhoea, but since 2014 doctors have been advised to give it in combination with another antibiotic, azithromycin, because bacteria had begun to show signs of being resistant to ceftriaxone alone. Advertisement Strains that are resistant to multiple antibiotics are increasingly common. Extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea was first reported in Australia and the UK in 2018, and again in 2022. Related Article Sex & relationships Its not about performance: Seven common sex therapy myths A report released this week by the Australian Centre for Disease Control found community cases surged between 2022 and 2024, coinciding with the relaxation of COVID-19 travel restrictions. In 2024, high-level resistance to azithromycin was identified in a record 46 cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, compared to 27 isolated cases in 2023, the report found. Drug-resistant forms of gonorrhoea represent a fraction of the total number of cases recorded in Australia every year, but their ability to rapidly build resistance to treatment make them an emerging global health threat. Advertisement These drug-resistant forms of infection have been declared a high-priority global threat by the World Health Organisation. There have been 1614 gonorrhoea notifications in NSW so far this year. The total number of gonorrhoea cases in Australia doubled in a decade to 44,210 in 2024, according to the latest surveillance data from the Kirby Institute. Men accounted for two-thirds of all notifications. Associate Professor Tanya Applegate, chief investigator at the UNSWs Kirby Institute antimicrobial resistance hub, said more research was needed into new drugs to fight the ever-changing threat. The institute is working with the CSIRO on artificial intelligence models that can analyse patterns in the genome sequence of gonorrhoea isolates, and how they react to antibiotics. Advertisement It is an approach that has paid off elsewhere. Last year, US researchers used machine learning to design two new antibiotics effective against gonorrhoea superbugs. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. I appreciated Danny Berkovics article and I agree that words can be weaponised and Israel has a right to exist (How Zionist became a safe word for Jew hatred, February 15). Sadly, under the current Israeli governments actions, Israel has gone from having massive international sympathy and support after the horrors of October 7, 2023 to horror about its destruction of Gaza and the murder of innocents. I hoped that he may at least acknowledge that Israels own actions have stoked the fires of antisemitism to levels never before seen in Australia. That is our current conundrum: tragedy on both sides and so little hope or vision for a just outcome giving the Palestinian people a state for themselves. Rhyan Andrews, Faulconbridge Israeli President Isaac Herzog speaking on February 9 in Australia. Getty Images Danny Berkovic writes that Zionism is simply the Jewish peoples right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. That definition is neat. It is also historically incomplete. Modern political Zionism emerged in late 19th-century Europe with the explicit aim of establishing a Jewish state in a land that was already inhabited. In 1897, when the First Zionist Congress met in Basel, the overwhelming majority of the population of Palestine was Arab Muslim and Christian living in established towns, villages and farming communities. Jewish sovereignty there could not be realised without altering that demographic reality. In 1948, that alteration occurred through war and mass displacement. More than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled in fear. Over 400 villages were depopulated or destroyed. Antisemitism is real and must be opposed without qualification. But that truth does not erase another. Zionism is a state-building movement whose realisation entailed and continues to entail the removal and dispossession of Palestinians. Criticising Zionism is not hatred of Jews, but a political stance grounded in documented history. Fernanda Trecenti, Fitzroy (Vic) The problem with Danny Berkovics argument regarding Zionism is that his simple definition does not take into account the history of Israel after 1948 and, more particularly, 1967, when the Six-Day War tripled Israels size. Since then, Zionism has become inextricably linked to Israeli expansionism and the flouting of international law, making it quite a big call to conflate antisemitism with anti-Zionism, and to suggest, as he does, that it is disingenuous to separate the two. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell Seek source to beat bullying Hats off to Professor Donna Cross and NSW Education Minister Prue Car for coming up with the most advanced policies for countering bullying in schools that Ive ever encountered (Safe zone: Ambitious plan to stamp out bullying, February 15). This is a great first step in countering the persistent problem of school bullying. But it also raises the question: where does this bullying tendency in children originate? The enlightened approach described above is a welcome first step in what is one of the most vexing problems here in Australia domestic violence. Larry Woldenberg, Forest Lodge Again teachers are expected to bear the burden of implementing a revised anti-bullying program in the classroom (Create a culture of kindness in our schools, February 15). Are our expectations of how much teachers can influence our children unrealistic? How on earth are teachers expected to educate our children with an already overloaded curriculum, having to keep up to date with the complexity of the digital age, and manage disruptive children? A more successful outcome (and desperately needed) would be to have a qualified counsellor attached to every school. Christina Foo, Wahroonga Advertisement Updated NationalQueenslandCrime Man charged after ute rams Brisbane Synagogue in targeted attack Catherine Strohfeldt Updated February 21, 2026 4:20pm ,first published 11:52am 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 car has rammed into the gates of an inner-Brisbane synagogue on Friday night in what police called a targeted attack. Shortly after 7pm on Friday, a Toyota Hilux utility was driven towards the Brisbane Synagogue on Margaret Street, narrowly missing a passerby and knocking down the buildings gates. Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan said a 32-year-old Sunnybank man had been taken into custody within 90 minutes of the attack after tyre spikes were deployed and he was arrested outside the nearby Queensland Holocaust Museum. Loading It was definitely a targeted attack against the Jewish synagogue, Hogan said. Advertisement He said specialist counter-terrorism officers had been involved since the beginning of the investigation, but had ruled out the attack as an act of terrorism. I think what we need to keep in mind is there are a number of other contributing factors, including mental health and intoxication, that really need to be considered in this circumstance, Hogan said. The driver, Matt De Campo, was charged on Saturday with multiple offences, including committing serious vilification or a hate crime, driving dangerously, and possessing dangerous drugs. Police claimed De Campo made anti-Semitic remarks during an interview, and he represented himself when appearing in court on Saturday. Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies vice president Libby Burke said the representative body was deeply distressed by the incident. Advertisement This attack is not only an attack on my community, it is an attack on all of us, Burke said. Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies vice president Libby Burke. Catherine Strohfeldt A synagogue is a sacred space, a place of prayer, reflection and community. To see its gates viciously rammed is profoundly devastating and is not dissimilar to what we have seen throughout the globe vehicles used as weapons to kill and harm Jews. Burke called for stronger legislation to protect Jewish Queenslanders, and said there had been a meteoric rise in antisemitism over the past two years. Advertisement Hate-filled slogans and symbols create the environment in which violence becomes possible, she said. There must be clear consequences for those who seek to intimidate, to threaten or harm our community. The front gates of the Brisbane Synagogue were damaged on Friday night. Google Maps Dr Dvir Abramovich of the Anti-Defamation Commission said the attack was intimidation on wheels. We are told this is not being treated as terrorism. But when a synagogue is deliberately attacked, the label matters less than the impact, he said. Advertisement CCTV footage of the incident showed a person behind the gates, but police said they did not think the individual was being targeted by the driver. The footage, taken by surveillance on the synagogue, shows the utility slowing ahead of the gates, before reversing into the gates. I believe once you watch the video surveillance, its very clear that hes intended to do some damage to the gates, Hogan said. Theres certainly no indication ... that he attempted to enter the synagogue at all. Hogan said the 32-year-old was known to police and was arrested without incident after being followed by Polair. Advertisement Hes used his own motor vehicle, which greatly assisted the police in identifying who the person was, he said. Officers suspected the driver acted alone, and said there was no ongoing threat to the community. On Saturday, Premier David Crisafulli said he had spoken to police and leaders of Queenslands Jewish community. This is another signal as to why we have put strong laws before parliament to protect all people where they worship, he said. We are going through the process, and I fully intend to have them passed during the next sitting of parliament. Advertisement Police urged anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident to come forward. With Nine News Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive NationalVictoriaDisability Theyre gaslighting us: More disability homes close as state funding ends Grant McArthur and Kieran Rooney February 22, 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 More than 80 group homes for disabled residents have been closed and carers have started industrial action as a state funding crisis in the sector worsens. The homes have been closed by the five private providers appointed to operate Victorias supported disability accommodation, which are struggling for survival after state government subsidies ended on December 31. With the federal governments National Disability Insurance Agency refusing to cover the funding gap created by the loss of the state subsidies, concerns are growing for the future of the entire 549 former state government-run disability homes, which house almost 2000 vulnerable Victorians. Cheryl Soafkin has spent seven months fighting to keep her son Jeremys government-owned Camberwell disability home open after Scope signalled its impending closure. With the backing of the NDIA she has now secured a new provider, but Jeremy has lost his housemates and is now alone in the five-bedroom home. Photograph by Chris Hopkins As revealed by this masthead in September, 59 of the supported independent living homes were closed in the 2 years leading up to the state governments December 31 funding cliff. Since the subsidies ended, the closures have accelerated, and 84 disability homes have closed statewide. Advertisement The services closed include 39 homes run by Scope, 36 operated by Aruma, four managed by Melba, four Life Without Barriers houses, and one Possability home. For the past seven months, Cheryl Soafkin has fought to stop the closure of her 37-year-old son Jeremys government-owned Camberwell home. In July, the services operator, Scope, informed Cheryl that Jeremys home of 17 years was to be closed and, in October, his three elderly housemates were moved into other Scope-run services. After securing a temporary agreement for the NDIA to top up Jeremys payments so he can receive one-on-one care rather than one-to-four funding that is supposed to split the homes running costs between residents Cheryl was able to delay the closure. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive Disability Thousands of Victorians with disabilities face losing their homes On Friday, after trying 19 different NDIS providers over seven months, Cheryl signed a service agreement on behalf of Jeremy with a small NDIS provider, which has agreed to take over the home from Scope so it remains open. But it is a bittersweet win. It has meant Jeremy and his carer are now alone in a five-bedroom home a house that would be worth more than $4.3 million on the market if Jeremy were to move out and the binding agreement for it to remain a disability support home was broken. Cheryl accused the state government of gaslighting disabled residents and their families by deliberately making the government homes unviable, so the properties can be closed and sold. I believe the state governments intention is to sell off these properties. Many of them, including Jeremys house, are very valuable assets, Cheryl said. Advertisement It seems to me that the Victorian government is happy to let these group homes fall into disrepair and providers pull out of providing care. Related Article Disability Disability homes on the brink of collapse as federal government refuses bailout Theyre happy to have providers cop the blame when, in my view, its the state governments underlying agenda playing out perfectly for them. In line with the launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Victorian government progressively handed over the running of its 549 disability support homes to five private providers from 2016. However, the government-owned homes are tied to existing workplace agreements that require the providers to pay the 5600 staff at rates higher than they receive from the NDIA, as well as provide higher levels of service to residents. The gap between NDIA payments and home running costs were covered by the state government under a $2.1 billion deal that expired on December 31. Advertisement With the state government refusing to continue the subsidies and the NDIA refusing to cover the funding gap, some providers have begun closing the homes and trying to move residents into other services without the increased running costs, where possible. The five not-for-profit providers last year confirmed to The Age they were struggling and were operating with as little as one months cashflow. During a December 11 meeting, Scopes chief executive officer Lisa Evans told staff its services would have to be right-sized for our revenue, as the loss of government subsidies contributed to a projected $28 million loss of revenue in this financial year. In a last-ditch effort to save 55 homes it claims are no longer viable, Aruma has applied to the Fair Work Commission to tear up a workplace agreement for staff at services it inherited from the Victorian government. In response, Health and Community Services Union members working at Aruma homes on Friday began industrial action, which will include a stop work on Wednesday to coincide with a rally at Minister for Disability Lizzie Blandthorns office. The union has also applied to conduct a protected ballot of Possability workers and has signalled its intention to fight the closures at all providers, which union branch secretary Paul Healey said were happening against the wishes of residents and their families, many of whom had lived in their homes for years or decades. Advertisement This is the difference between delivering a quality of life or a mere existence, Healey said. The ending of Victorian government grants on December 31, which had supplemented NDIS payments to prop up hundreds of group homes for vulnerable Victorians, threatens the closure of many services. People with disability deserve safe, stable homes where they can thrive, not a system that treats housing and support as expendable line items. In response to questions, the Victorian government said residents could decide if they wanted to engage a new provider through their NDIS package or relocate to a new home when providers withdrew services from government-owned disability homes. Sector sustainability is a matter for the Commonwealth government, a Victorian government spokesperson said. Advertisement Its disappointing to see communications to residents that suggest the end of the transfer contracts could mean losing their homes if a supported independent living provider withdraws services, this does not mean that the Victorian government closes the home. An NDIA spokesperson said the agency could not broker individual agreements with providers but was working to ensure participants were not left without support when a provider signalled it was withdrawing services. Where providers cease provision of services, they have an obligation to support participants by providing continued supports until a participant is able to transition to a new provider, the spokesperson said. The agency has processes in place to manage participant safety if their providers cease services, particularly for participants in supported living. This includes supporting participants to transition to new providers where necessary. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive NationalWACold case A watch and a pair of glasses could be the key to solving Gwenneth Grahams Balga murder Hannah Murphy February 22, 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 WAtoday has revisited the case of Gwenneth Graham, who was found murdered in Balga bushland five decades ago. See all stories . Norman Weston Toms before his murder. Crime Stoppers Norman Weston Toms floated between addresses and was practically penniless when he was found murdered on the back verandah of a Perth house 50 years ago. He was one of six children and lived in Western Australia, working on-and-off as a miner before he became partially paralysed and lived between boarding houses in the Perth city. Toms came to police attention several times over the years - once for stealing two watermelons and three tomatoes from an address in Subiaco, and again for drunk and disorderly behaviour on Murray Street in Perths CBD. His 1974 death was quietly reported in the states daily newspaper. Advertisement Norman Weston Toms was found strangled and savagely beaten on the back verandah of a [boarding] house in Newcastle Street, Perth on May 11, it read. [Mr Toms] was known to be almost penniless [at the time of his death], and there was no indication that anything had been stolen. No motive has been established for his murder. The savagery of the attack on him was almost maniacal. Six months later, Toms was back in the paper. Advertisement An eerie likeness Gwenneth Graham was reported missing by her husband in September 1974, after she failed to come home from a Balga pub. Malthouse Tavern staff said they called her a taxi, but its not known whether she got in it, accepted another lift or attempted the 20-minute walk home. Gwenneth Graham. Crime Stoppers She was found sexually assaulted and murdered with her body concealed in local bushland about nine days later. Advertisement An exhaustive search of the cars that had been seen parked at the Malthouse Tavern and along Balga Avenue on the night of her murder had turned up little to no information, but detectives were continuing the hunt. A week after Gwens body was found, Norman Weston Toms came back into the spotlight. The Daily News reported detectives believed Gwens case had an eerie likeness to Toms. There are extraordinary similarities in the murder of a woman at Balga and a middle-aged man in an unoccupied boarding house ... in May, the report said. The paper said while the homicide squad at the time would not publicly link the two killings, detectives were privately concerned about the possibility one person may have murdered the pair. Advertisement Both people were naked when they were found and had been strangled and savagely beaten, the report said. Both received broken ribs and detectives believe that the fractures may have been caused by the murderer jumping on the victims chests. One aspect the report was at pains to point out was how both Toms and Gwen were frequently seen in the company of Aboriginal people before their deaths. A community under suspicion Balga was home to a large population of Aboriginal people at the time of Gwens murder, due to a government policy attempting to force assimilation in Perths suburbs. Advertisement The policy advocated scattering families in the citys outer suburbs, and the Native Welfare department in the 1970s purchased a number of homes in Balga in particular to rent while others took to camping in bushland. One of these camps was around the corner from the Malthouse Tavern in 1974, and reports implicating Balgas Aboriginal population in Gwens murder came through thick and fast. A photo from the scene that appeared on the front page of the West Australian in October 1974. The arrow indicates the refrigerator. West Australian A bartender said Gwen had been speaking with an Aboriginal man for about two hours at the bar before he upped and left, and she followed shortly after. Another said Gwen had allegedly been seen in an argument with a group of Aboriginal people outside the pub the night of her death, and a young boy said he saw a part Aboriginal man shove a woman matching Gwens description into a car on the same evening. Advertisement Police were never fully able to substantiate any claims against any Aboriginal people who had been living in Balga at the time of Gwens murder, and in the case of Norman Weston Toms, there was never any evidence his association with Aboriginal people had anything to do with his death. Nevertheless, the camp up and moved from Balga shortly after Gwens murder. By November, police had looked at about 4000 cars, spoken to 3000 people and followed up about 220 phone calls during the investigation. A dozen senior detectives remained on the case, and a reenactment had even been aired on 9 News Perth. The broadcast focused on the detectives most widely believed theory - that Gwen had been taken to a location by a suspect, they had sexually assaulted her, she resisted and they murdered her. Advertisement Loading The reenactment shows the suspect attempt to hide Gwens body. While the spotlight was on Balga in the aftermath of the murder, one Perth man who was in his teens at the time remembers both the media and the police descending on his small suburb. In particular, he recalls a head teacher coming to the door of the classroom a few weeks after the murder. For whatever reason he picked out a few boys, probably five or six, and took us outside, he said. Advertisement A copper [was there], and he said we need you to come down with us. We were put into a couple of cars and drove down into the bushland I remember standing off the road and they explained we need to go through this bushland area and see if anything is out of place. The officers didnt tell the boys what they were looking for, but a 1974 WA police gazette would later shed light on the matter. [Gwen Graham] was wearing a wristlet watch may have been wearing or carrying a pair of bi-focal glasses with blue frames at the time of her death, the report said. These have not been located. Advertisement A pair of bifocals similar to the ones worn by Gwen on occassion. WA Police Gazette 1974 A wristlet watch believed to be similar to Gwens. WA Police Gazette 1974 And despite a $5000 reward on offer at the time - the equivalent of about $50,000 in 2026 - no one has ever come forward. The West Australian police forces cold case squad have previously expressed their desire to find either the watch or glasses missing from the crime scene. Both items could hold significant information about Gwens killer - whether it be someone who has handed the watch down to their children, or even a pawn shop that may have sold them on. Advertisement A $1 million dollar reward Gwen Graham and Norman Weston Toms murders were included in a tranche of West Australian cold cases and other missing persons investigations in 2023 that had their reward money upped to $1 million. Nearly 40 cases were included in the announcement, causing fears from some families their loved ones had gotten lost in the mix. But WA police said every unsolved case was being looked into with great care. Detectives remain steadfast in their commitment to uncovering the truth and delivering long-overdue answers for Gwenneths family and loved ones, a spokesperson said. Advertisement An appeal in a police publication. WA Police Gazette 1974 Her death was a devastating act of violence, and those responsible have never been held to account. A $1 million reward is still available for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Gwenneths death. Police continue to believe that someone in the community knows what happened and it is time for that information to be shared. Detectives are urging anyone who knew Gwenneth, or who has knowledge about her movements or associates, to come forward. Even information that may seem minor could be critical to progressing this investigation. Steven Wrightson, Gwens now 77-year-old son, said he hoped highlighting the specifics of the case, and helping people remember his mum as a person rather than just a murder victim, would compel someone to help. Advertisement Steven Wrightson was in his mid-20s when his mother was murdered. Hannah Murphy I thought the cops had given up, he said. Id feel very, very relieved if I found out what happened. I just hope someone out there who does know something comes forward and tells the police and the authorities - everybody. I just think the trip away now, hell just take a lot of benefit from this. Its his first way of going the Sydney way, too, and hes conducted himself well there. I was going to take him home, but I think Ill leave him here now and just play it safe and just acclimatise to this hot weather. I came here today and I couldnt remember the last time Ive actually been to Rosehill. I got lost, but I know where we are now. Steely Ninja poised for Guineas Trainer Michael Freedman believes a more mature Ninja can run a strong mile in the group 1 Randwick Guineas after a commanding on-pace effort to win the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) as part of a group 2 double for the stable. A luckless, wide-running second in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) last month, Ninja faced a small but class field at Rosehill and proved his class. Tommy Berry raced Ninja second to Shangri La Boy before he took over at the 300m and kicked late to beat Napoleonic by one and a half lengths. Autumn Boy was a half-head third. The horses racing manners have now come of age, Freedman said. If anything, that trip to Queensland has done him the world of good just mentally. Hes come back a much more sensible, much more mature horse where you can ride him wherever you want. I do [think he will run a mile]. He was pretty strong there at the end and he probably ran a mile at the Magic Millions Guineas. He gives me every indication he will. Freedman-trained Cinsault then showed superior fitness in the next, the group 2 Millie Fox Stakes, to hold off resuming $2.05 favourite Lazzura and complete a huge jump in grade. The four-year-old Godolphin mare, coming out of benchmark 72 and 78 wins, lifted to beat Lazzura by a long head and give Schofield a treble overall and group 2 double on the day. OShea blasts scratching call Trainer John OShea blasted the decision of Racing NSW vets to scratch unbeaten Bevs Nine behind the gates before race three, calling it the greatest mismatch Ive ever heard of in my 25 years as a trainer. OShea and co-trainer Tom Charlton fronted stewards after Bevs Nine was declared lame in the off hind and denied a run. Stewards said in the inquiry that Bevs Nine was seen as not having a normal gait in the parade ring but was allowed to go to the barriers, where it was then scratched. OShea disagreed, saying there was nothing wrong with the horse, which had been checked by vets three times during the week, as was the stables procedure. To have that horse scratched behind the gates lame is the greatest mismatch Ive ever heard of in my 25 years as a trainer, OShea said. Where does that leave us? Do I say to the owners, this horse will not be allowed to run in NSW because the vet determines it has an abnormal gait in the walk? Weve got no recourse here. So at the end of it, when the gait doesnt change and the horse presents exactly the same next week, and then you guys allow it to run, we just go, oh well guys, sorry about that, to the owners. Stewards said they had a responsibility to ensure all horses were fit to run and were guided by their vets decades of experience. Piggyback earns another group 1 shot The Ciaron Maher stable was looking to the group 1 Tancred Stakes with bargain buy Piggyback after she captured a second group 3. The five-year-old mare came wide in the straight under Dylan Gibbons to find clear running before finishing over the top of Bois DArgent and take out the group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m) by a short neck. She won the Colin Stephen Quality to earn a shot at the Metropolitan, where she came eighth, in the spring and another group 1 beckons. A race like the Tancred will probably have to be considered now, Maher assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord said. She had no weight today, so its a bit different at weight for age, but she stays and we dont know how much better she can be. Piggyback was a $27,000 online buy for Dynamic Syndications. Thompsons Midway star on rise Randwick trainer John Thompson will use the group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) on March 7 as a lead-in to target the Epona Stakes (1900m) two weeks later for Starphistocated after her Midway Handicap (1500m) win. The four-year-old scored a second Midway victory, using a rails run under Chad Schofield to beat Tartana by a length. Iceman was third and later lost a protest against Tartana for interference approaching the turn. Nash Rawiller was fined $300 for using the whip on Iceman nine times before the last 100m, four more than permitted. The Epona is the go, Thompson said. They will be too sharp for her, the better mares I think, in the Aspiration. Shes a real 2000m horse. She won today because shes a little too good for them. Parr family in thoughts of winning duo It was a case of celebration and condolences for trainer Ron Quinton and his former apprentice, Sam Clipperton, after they combined to win with Signor Tortoni in the 1100m benchmark 78 handicap. Signor Tortoni was strong late to surge past Polyglot and beat him by three-quarters of a length at Rosehill on Saturday. Clipperton was a replacement for Josh Parr, who missed the meeting while mourning the death of his father, Stephen, a former jockey. The win came a day before Quintons 77th birthday and was the first for the trainer and Clipperton together since the rider came out of retirement in December. Advertisement WorldMiddle EastTrump's White House Trump could kill ayatollahs son and senior mullahs to topple Iranian regime Sophia Yan and Memphis Barker Updated February 22, 2026 9:57am ,first published 9:43am 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 Donald Trump is considering plans to assassinate the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei among the military options for a strike on Iran. The US president has reportedly been presented with a decapitation campaign against the leadership of the Islamic Republic. Mojtaba Khamenei is on the list alongside his father. Mojtaba Khamenei (centre), the son of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran in 2019. Getty Images The supreme leaders 55-year-old son had been thought his most likely successor, benefiting from close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp, a powerful branch of the armed forces that has been designated a terrorist entity by the United States. Mojtaba also served in the Iran-Iraq war and studied theology in the holy city of Qom, meeting the constitutional requirement for clerical training. Advertisement Trump had not yet decided on whether to strike Iran, Axios news website reported. He could allow a deal that permits the regime to continue with token nuclear enrichment, as long as it has no path to an atomic bomb. But should negotiations over Irans nuclear enrichment program fail, among the options under consideration is a dramatic assassination campaign that would aim at wholesale regime change. They have something for every scenario. One scenario takes out the ayatollah and his son and the mullahs, a senior US official told Axios. The US has dispatched more than one-third of its navy towards Iran and assembled the largest amount of air power in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Advertisement Analysts have pointed to the deployment of more than two-thirds of the available E-3 Sentry fleet as one sign that Trump is prepared to launch military action, with the radars of the reconnaissance aircraft needed to track and direct the interception of incoming missiles. On Friday (US time), Trump confirmed he was considering a limited strike on Iran in an attempt to pressure the regime into making a nuclear deal. In theory, that strike would display US power but fall below the threshold for provoking a serious response from Tehran. But the risks of a spiralling conflict are self-evident. Loading The White Houses openness to Iran continuing a scaled-back enrichment program, as confirmed by a senior US official cited by Axios, could create room for a deal and avert war in the Middle East. Advertisement However, the outlet noted that any nuclear proposal from Iran would have to meet a very high bar to persuade sceptics within the Trump administration that military action was not needed. It remains unclear how token enrichment would be defined, and what supervision would be in place to ensure Iranian compliance. Iran does not have a strong track record of allowing UN nuclear inspectors to monitor activities. US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford heading through the Strait of Gibraltar a few days ago, on the way to the Middle East. AFP The senior US official said: [Trump] will be ready to accept a deal that would be substantive and that he can sell politically at home. If the Iranians want to prevent an attack, they should give us an offer we cant refuse. The Iranians keep missing the window. If they play games, there wont be a lot of patience. Advertisement On Thursday, Trump said he would give Iran 10 to 15 days to come to a deal. The worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, entered the Mediterranean Sea on Friday and will arrive in range of Iran within the timeframe of 10 to 15 days. Two Israeli officials said they believed the gaps between Washington and Tehran were unbridgeable and the chances of a military escalation were high. Related Article Middle East tensions Whats in the massive armada Trump has heading towards Iran? Israels government is making preparations for possible joint military action with the US. However, no decision had been made on whether to carry out such an operation, a source familiar with the planning told Reuters. Advertisement It would be the second time the US and Israel have attacked Iran in less than a year, following air strikes against military and nuclear facilities in June. Regional officials said oil-producing Gulf countries were preparing for a possible military confrontation that they feared could spin out of control and further destabilise the Middle East. Some said Tehran was dangerously miscalculating by holding out for concessions, while Trump was boxed in by the build-up of military assets. They feared he would be unable to scale it back without losing face unless there was a firm commitment from Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions. Earlier this week, the US began moving some personnel out of the Middle East to prepare for potential counter-attacks by Iran if Washington strikes Tehran in the coming days. Editor's pick Magazine Sunday Life The February 22 Edition February 22, 2026 Advertisement At least 20 anti-regime protests were held in Iran on Friday at memorials to mark the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period for protesters killed by security forces. Thousands of demonstrators were killed after taking to the streets over economic woes and a lack of water in Tehran. The violence is what first prompted Trump to make his latest threats of retaliation against the Iranian regime. The Telegraph, London 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. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Trump's White House Iran Advertisement Updated WorldNorth AmericaTrade Trump to raise new worldwide tariff to 15 per cent after Supreme Court loss Michael Koziol Updated February 22, 2026 10:49am ,first published 3:44am 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 Washington: US President Donald Trump says he will raise his new global tariff to 15 per cent, just a day after ordering a 10 per cent worldwide tariff, following the Supreme Courts decision to strike down his previous system of reciprocal import duties. Trump announced on social media on Saturday (Washington time) that based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, he would lift the new tariffs to 15 per cent, effective immediately. US President Donald Trump said he would hike his global tariff to 15 per cent. AP The new tariff is due to begin on Tuesday (Washington time), and lasts for 150 days. It replaces the old system under which imports from Australia had a 10 per cent tariff effectively the lowest of any country. Trumps post on Truth Social did not indicate any exemptions for countries with which the US enjoys a trade surplus, such as Australia. He said the 15 per cent rate would apply to countries worldwide, many of which have been ripping the US off for decades, without retribution. Advertisement He added: During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again - GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for more information. The revised text of the order was not yet available. There was no immediate response from the Australian government overnight, but it has consistently opposed Trumps tariffs on Australian goods, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called not the act of a friend. The Supreme Court struck down Trumps reciprocal tariffs announced last April on what the president called Liberation Day. AP Advertisement The White House said it was leaving in place an exemption for many goods shipped under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which means the effective tariff rate for the North American neighbours will decline. Until the court decision, products that didnt qualify for the USMCA exemption were taxed at 35 per cent if from Canada and 25 per cent if from Mexico. Trumps latest move comes a day after he raged at the Supreme Courts decision to strike down his previous system of so-called reciprocal tariffs applied at differing rates using presidential emergency powers. Trump exceeded his authority as president by doing so, the majority ruled in a 6-3 verdict, as Congress alone has the power to raise revenue by imposing permanent tariffs. The new tariffs use a different mechanism Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 which allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15 per cent for 150 days to address urgent balance-of-payments concerns. Commerce Department data showed the US ran a trade deficit of about $US900 billion ($1.27 trillion) last year. Loading Advertisement However, the lawyer who successfully argued the case against the tariffs before the Supreme Court, Neal Katyal, called into question the legality of the new tariffs, too. He pointed out the Department of Justice told the court that trade deficits were conceptually distinct from balance-of-payments deficits. If [Trump] wants sweeping tariffs, he should do the American thing and go to Congress, Katyal wrote on X after the president announced the 15 per cent hike. If his tariffs are such a good idea, he should have no problem persuading Congress. Thats what our Constitution requires. In any case, the new tariff would have to be extended by Congress after 150 days. Trump has also instructed the Office of the US Trade Representative to begin formal trade practices investigations, with a view to expanding sectoral tariffs on certain products, such as steel and aluminium. Those were unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling, which only examined the reciprocal tariffs imposed via emergency powers. I get a feeling the American people wont see it, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said of $US175 billion in tariff revenue already collected. AP Advertisement On Friday, Trump called a snap news conference following the courts verdict, where he criticised the courts terrible and deeply disappointing decision, which he also claimed was defective and legally incorrect. Related Article Analysis US politics Court gives Trump a harsh lesson in the limits of his power The president was particularly scornful of the two justices he appointed in his first term who ruled against the tariffs, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, whom he accused of disloyalty. Trump continued to rage on Truth Social, his social media platform, later in the day. What happened today with [Gorsuch and Barrett], whether people like it or not, never seems to happen with Democrats, he posted. They vote against the Republicans, and never against themselves, almost every single time, no matter how good a case we have. Trump heaped praise on Brett Kavanaugh, his 2018 appointment to the bench, who dissented from the majority opinion along with conservative justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Advertisement The courts verdict has also prompted calls for billions of dollars in tariff revenue to be returned to corporate America and small business importers who bore the brunt of the cost. The US Chamber of Commerce is among the business groups calling for swift refunds, while California Governor Gavin Newsom demanded the president return every dollar with interest. Related Article Analysis Donald Trump Why Trumps tariff defeat has sparked fears of an interest rate spike But Trump said the matter would likely have to be litigated in court, potentially for years, and chided the Supreme Court for not issuing a ruling on refunds. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, asked in an interview about the fight for $US175 billion in improperly collected revenue, said bluntly: I get a feeling the American people wont see it. Amid the fallout from the courts decision on Saturday (Washington time), Trump said he was withdrawing his endorsement of Jeff Hurd, who was among six Republicans in Congress who supported a resolution earlier this month to repeal Trumps tariffs on Canada. Advertisement The decision to retract an endorsement underlines Trumps depth of feeling about his tariff regime, and what is at stake for Republicans who fail to support it. Congressman Hurd is one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down, Trump wrote on social media. He is more interested in protecting Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for decades than he is the United States of America. With Bloomberg 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. Advertisement Updated WorldNorth AmericaTrade Trump orders 10 per cent global tariff after Supreme Court finds previous ones were illegal Michael Koziol Updated February 21, 2026 12:34pm ,first published February 21, 2026 2:20am 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: Donald Trump has ordered a temporary, global 10 per cent tariff on imports to the United States after the Supreme Court ruled his earlier round of sweeping import duties was illegal, upending the presidents signature economic initiative and opening the door to billions of dollars in refunds. This time, rather than relying on emergency powers to justify permanent tariffs, Trump used a trade law that allows him to impose the levies for up to 150 days to address a trade deficit - after which, it would have to be extended by Congress. US President Donald Trump announcing tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in April last year. AP He also directed the United States Trade Representative to formally investigate unreasonable trade practices with a view to imposing additional sectoral tariffs such as those on steel and aluminium. Trump signed the proclamation on Friday evening (Washington time), hours after the nations highest court ruled his signature reciprocal tariffs, announced on Liberation Day last April, were unlawful. Advertisement The 6-3 majority ruling found Trump exceeded his powers as president. The framers of the US Constitution gave Congress alone the power to impose tariffs during peacetime, the majority found. Trump called a snap news conference where he branded the decision totally defective, terrible and deeply disappointing. He claimed the court had been swayed by foreign interests, without explaining what he meant by that. President Donald Trump said the issue of refunds for more than $100 billion in tariff revenue could be litigated in court for years. AP Its a ridiculous decision, he said. Foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic. Theyre dancing in the streets but they wont be dancing for long, I can assure you. The courts ruling pertained only to the so-called reciprocal tariffs Trump levied using his emergency powers. Other tariffs he has imposed, such as sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminium, are unaffected. Advertisement Trump flagged he would immediately impose a 10 per cent global tariff using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, and begin trade practices investigations with a view to imposing other sectoral tariffs. We have other ways, numerous other ways, the president said. It takes a little more time, but the end result is its going to get us more money. The US Supreme Court, the nations highest court, ruled 6-3 to strike down Donald Trumps central economic policy. AP Trump personally criticised the Supreme Court justices who struck down the tariffs - particularly those he appointed in his first term, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, saying he was ashamed of them. I think its an embarrassment to their families, the two of them, he said. Meanwhile, the three justices who ruled to uphold the tariffs showed great strength and wisdom - particularly his appointee Brett Kavanaugh, whose dissenting opinion Trump repeatedly cited. Advertisement The Supreme Court decision to strike down Trumps central economic policy is the biggest blow to his authority to date. It represents a rare curb on presidential power from the nations highest court. The ruling also sets up potential legal action to reclaim billions of dollars in tariff refunds. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the additional tariffs had raised about $US175 billion ($247 billion) to date. Victor Schwartz and his daughter Chloe, whose wine import business VOS Selections was one of the plaintiffs in the case. Charles A. Fazio for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Neil Bradley, executive vice president of the US Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the courts decision and called for swift refunds of the impermissible tariffs which he said would deliver meaningful financial relief for more than 200,000 small business importers in the US. But Trump made no such commitment during his press conference. Instead, he slammed the Supreme Court for not issuing an order about refunds, and predicted the matter would be litigated. Well end up being in court for the next five years, he said. Advertisement Democrats called on Trump to return the money to American consumers. Donald Trump illegally stole your money. He should give it back to you, Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren said on X. Instead Trump is scheming up new ways to force Americans to pay even more. Asked what would happen to the trade deals he struck with various countries as part of tariff negotiations, Trump said many would remain in place. Some of them wont, and theyll be replaced by other tariffs. Loading Bessent said the courts decision clarified that Trump retained the power to impose a complete embargo on trade from any country or a line of products. He can just cut countries off so, I would call on all countries to honour their agreements and move forward, he told Fox News. In a Truth Social post last month, Trump asserted it would take years to figure out how to repay the tariffs if the court found they were unlawful. He said countries and companies would demand payback for investments they were making in the US to avoid his tariffs. Advertisement When these Investments are added, we are talking about Trillions of Dollars! It would be a complete mess, and almost impossible for our Country to pay, he said at the time. The new 10 per cent tariff announced Friday night means most countries now receive the same tariff rate that Australian exports to the US received from the start. The Australian government continues to oppose the tariffs, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called not the act of a friend. Trump takes questions as the US solicitor general, John Sauer, watches on. Bloomberg Australias Trade Minister Don Farrell said the government was assessing the situation. We have consistently advocated against these unjustified tariffs, he said. We are working closely with our embassy in Washington to assess the implications and examine all options. The proclamation signed by Trump includes exemptions for certain critical minerals, beef, tomatoes, oranges, pharmaceuticals and certain electronics, as well as goods that comply with the US-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement. Advertisement A fact sheet released by the White House did not say what would happen once the tariffs expire in 150 days. But House of Representatives Mike Johnson flagged a role for Congress in assisting the president to make his tariff agenda permanent. The tariffs brought in billions of dollars, created immense leverage for Americas trade strategy and led to strong trade agreements with countries that had been taking advantage of American workers for decades, Johnson said. Congress and the Administration will determine the best path forward in the coming weeks. Related Article Trade wars Trump made a barrage of tariff threats in 2025. Some never materialised The Supreme Court majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts said that whenever Congress had delegated its power to impose tariffs, it did so in explicit terms, and subject to strict limits. While the government contended the International Emergency Economic Powers Act gave the president the power to unilaterally impose permanent tariffs and change them at will, that view would represent a transformative expansion of the presidents authority over tariff policy, the majority found. Advertisement It is also telling that in [that laws] half century of existence, no president has invoked the statute to impose any tariffs, let alone tariffs of this magnitude and scope. In his dissent, Kavanaugh said it was nonsensical to find that the president had the power to block imports from a country but not to raise revenue with tariffs. He noted courts had upheld tariffs imposed by Richard Nixon using previous emergency laws. Related Article Opinion Regulation GFC 2.0? Trump is taking a big risk with Americas banks Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist The tariffs at issue here may or may not be wise policy. But as a matter of text, history, and precedent, they are clearly lawful, Kavanaugh found. Trumps tariff agenda was aimed at reducing the USs long-standing trade deficit. But government data released on Thursday showed the deficit barely changed in 2025, coming in at $US901.5 billion ($1.28 trillion). Advertisement Bessent said the US Treasury estimated that using alternative laws to raise new tariffs would result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026 compared to what was forecast under the tariffs that were struck down. 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. Eric Dane's girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff has paid an emotional tribute to the late actor. Eric Dane and Janell Shirtcliff at the Countdown premiere in Los Angeles on June 18, 2025 The Grey's Anatomy star - who was legally married to actress Rebecca Gayhart, 54, during his four-year romance with the 42-year-old photographer - died on Thursday (19.02.26) aged 53, 10 months after he publicly shared his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). On Saturday (21.02.26) morning, Janell - who, with Eric, made their red carpet debut at the Countdown premiere in Los Angeles on June 18, 2025 - posted a series of photos of her and the Charmed alum enjoying quality time together on her Instagram Stories. These included two shots that showed Eric - whose progressive neurodegenerative disease attacks nerve cells and causes loss of muscle control - kissing Janell Another was a sweet selfie of the pair smiling, as well as a video of them singing, as they drove on rocky terrain against a backdrop of cliffs. And an image of a joyful-looking Eric - best known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan in Grey's Anatomy - as he seemingly got a tattoo was also included. Janell's tribute for her beau - who married Rebecca in 2004, with her filing for divorce 14 years later - came a day after pals of the Euphoria star launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign for his and Rebecca's daughters, Billie, 15, and 14 year old Georgia. A message on the GoFundMe page states: It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of Eric Dane after a hard-fought battle with ALS, leaving behind his devoted wife, Rebecca, and his two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world. "Following his diagnosis, Eric became a passionate spokesperson for the ALS community, using his voice and platform to advocate for fellow patients and to push for greater awareness. "Even as his own health declined, he remained deeply committed to helping others facing the same devastating disease. "As his illness progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, Eric's friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs. "Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Erics wonderful daughters. Thank you." Friends of Eric - who Rebecca called off her divorce from in March 2025 to teach Billie and Georgia to "show up for family" - put an initial target of $250,000 on the fundraiser and raised almost 50 per cent of the total in just a few hours. The family of the Marley and Me actor - who Rebecca stood by during his battle with ALS - announced his death on Thursday. In a statement to People, they said: "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world. "Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. "He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support hes received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time." Cole Bay:--- An attempted robbery at a newly opened jewelry store in the Ark Building( Next to the Opal Building ) was thwarted on Thursday, leaving no injuries and no losses reported. The incident, confirmed by Police Spokesman Joe Josepha, has raised questions about the store's location and security measures. According to police reports, armed gunmen targeted the jewelry store, which is situated in the same building as a police sub-station and near the French border. Despite their efforts, the robbers were unsuccessful and fled the scene empty-handed. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the suspects or their escape. Police Inspector Joe Josepha revealed that, prior to the store's opening, law enforcement had advised the building's owner against establishing a jewelry business at that location. "We warned them that having a jewelry store so close to the French border could pose significant security risks," he stated. "Unfortunately, that advice was not heeded." The Ark Building, which houses both the jewelry store and a police sub-station, is strategically located but also presents unique challenges due to its proximity to the border. The incident has reignited discussions about the importance of considering security risks when selecting business locations. Despite the alarming nature of the attempted robbery, the situation ended without harm. "We are grateful that no one was injured and that nothing was stolen," said Josepha. Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The jewelry store's management has yet to comment on the incident. Meanwhile, local residents and business owners are calling for increased security measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Click here for Video ARUBA:--- From February 19 to 21, 2026, parliamentary delegations from Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands gathered in Oranjestad for the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO). Hosted by the Parliament of Aruba, this three-day summit focused on pressing issues facing the Kingdom, ranging from geopolitical security to the challenges of an aging population. The consultation resulted in a concrete list of agreements and a renewed commitment to collaboration across the Atlantic. This article breaks down the key discussions, presentations, and decisions made during this pivotal meeting. Setting the Ground Rules: Presidium Agreements The consultation kicked off with the Presidium meeting on February 21, where several procedural agreements were reaffirmed to ensure smooth proceedings. The Presidium, consisting of parliamentary chairpersons (excluding the Netherlands), committee chairs, and registrars, established that the Chairpersons of the Parliaments of Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, along with the committee chairs from the Netherlands, would act as delegation leaders. Key procedural points included: Unified Voice: Committee chairs act as spokespersons, though other members are encouraged to participate in discussions. Dissenting Opinions: If a delegation holds a differing view, it is noted in the agreement list with a reference to a separate explanation. However, dissenting views from only a part of a delegation are not recorded. Public Access: IPKO deliberations are public and broadcast online, ensuring transparency for citizens across the Kingdom. Language: The official language is Dutch, though delegations can arrange their own translations if necessary. Opening Statements and Recent Developments The summit opened with welcome remarks from Mrs. Arends-Reyes, Chair of the Committee for Kingdom Affairs and Foreign Relations of Aruba. Following her opening, leaders from each country presented updates on recent national developments. Aruba: Represented by Mr. Sneek (Chair of Parliament) and Mrs. Arends-Reyes. Netherlands: Mrs. Mutluer, Chair of the Kingdom Relations Committee of the House of Representatives, provided updates for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, and the European Netherlands. Curacao: Represented by Mr. Brownbill (Chair of Parliament) and Mr. Seferina. Sint Maarten: Represented by Mrs. Wescot-Williams (Chair of Parliament) and Miss. Roseburg. A significant follow-up from previous meetings was the establishment of an expert group on the 'Democratic Deficit.' This group is tasked with reporting on proposals to reduce democratic deficits within the Kingdom and interpreting key articles of the Charter (Statuut). Security in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape Security was a major theme, underscored by a technical briefing from Lieutenant Colonel Van Wijk regarding the geopolitical situation. The briefing highlighted the three main tasks of the military in the Caribbean: Defense of territorial integrity. Counter-narcotics operations. Support for civil authorities during crises. The region has seen increasing unrest over the past six months, including actions by the US against alleged drug transports and political instability in Venezuela following the arrest of Maduro in January 2026. To address these threats, the delegations discussed strengthening territorial defense and increasing manpower, specifically for Caribbean Military personnel (CARMIL). This includes developing ARUMIL (Aruba) and CURMIL (Curacao) into light infantry units. The delegations also visited ARUMIL to view the vehicles and equipment used in crisis situations. Financial Relations and Supervision Mr. Werleman, Director of Finance for the Aruban government, led a crucial presentation on the balance between financial management, supervision, and autonomy. He compared the different financial supervision frameworks across the Kingdom: Rft: Kingdom Act on Financial Supervision for Curacao and Sint Maarten. LAft: National Ordinance Aruba Financial Supervision. HOFA: The proposed Kingdom Act on Sustainable Public Finances Aruba. The discussion touched on complex issues like liquidity support loans and the "Landspakketten" (Country Packages). A key point of debate was whether new Kingdom laws are necessary or if national ordinances suffice, and whether the supervision model for Sint Maarten needs updating since the situation has evolved significantly since 2010. The Future of Aviation and Connectivity Connectivity remains a lifeline for the islands. Mr. Benschop, Mrs. Anthony, and Mrs. Brown presented the "Aruba Gateway 2030" project. This ambitious three-phase initiative aims to modernize Queen Beatrix International Airport to handle growing passenger flows sustainably. Phase 1a, focused on US passenger handling and a new baggage system, is already operational. Subsequent phases are scheduled for completion in 2027 and 2030. Despite modernization efforts, inter-island connectivity remains a challenge. Only 5% of flights from Aruba go to Bonaire, Curacao, or Sint Maarten. While three airlines operate these routes, ticket prices remain high due to operational costs, handling fees, and taxes. The Dutch Caribbean Cooperation of Airports is working to address this, though simply lowering airport fees may not significantly impact ticket prices. Cybersecurity: A Shared Responsibility In an era of digital warfare, cybersecurity is paramount. Mr. Nicolaas, head of the Aruban Security Service, and Mrs. Spagnol-de Kort presented on "Cybersecurity Awareness." They emphasized that cyber threats ignore national borders and that the Kingdom is currently in a "gray zone" between peace and conflict regarding cyber attacks. The presentation called for: Joint teams and shared incident handling. Information exchange and awareness campaigns. A common legal framework for data protection. A concrete agreement was made to inventory whether all countries meet basic personal data protection standards (based on Council of Europe Convention 108+) before the next IPKO to facilitate safe data sharing. Addressing the Aging Population Mrs. Helder provided a sobering look at the demographics of Aruba and the wider Kingdom. The number of people requiring care in Aruba is projected to nearly double from 2,825 to 5,276 by 2040. Simultaneously, the "gray pressure"the ratio of working-age people caring for the elderlywill skyrocket. By 2040, only two people will be available to care for every one elderly person, compared to 15 in 2025. Challenges identified include: Extramural: Lonely elderly people, lack of transport, and a shortage of home care staff. Intramural: Shortage of beds in care homes, high costs, and personnel shortages. The policy focus is on keeping the elderly at home longer, supporting informal caregivers (mantelzorgers), and creating community centers. The delegation from Curacao proposed placing the macroeconomic aspects of aging on the future agenda. Climate Change and Youth Involvement Climate activist Mrs. Wouters, representing Caribbean youth, highlighted the urgency of climate adaptation. She discussed the landmark "Climate Case Bonaire" ruling from January 2026, which found the Dutch State negligent in protecting Bonaire from climate change impacts. Mrs. Wouters proposed three key actions: Explicitly including climate mitigation and adaptation as cultural goals for the islands. Structural youth representation in climate discussions and international COPs. Formalizing cooperation between youth experts and governments to shift from reactive to anticipatory governance. Looking Ahead: The Road to June 2026 The consultation concluded with a look toward the future. The delegations agreed to a proposal by Sint Maarten to increase the impact of IPKO by dedicating more time to deep-dive discussions on fundamental differences. Agenda Points for the next IPKO (Netherlands, June 5-8, 2026): Data Protection: Inventory of compliance with basic data protection standards. Aging: Macroeconomic aspects and solutions. Gender Equality. Financial Relations. Slavery Past. Follow-up on Climate Adaptation. The success of the Aruba summit lies in recognizing that, while each country faces unique challenges, the solutionswhether in defense, healthcare, or climate resilienceare often stronger when pursued together. Xbox boss Phil Spencer retires as Microsoft shakes up gaming unit San Francisco, United States, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2026 Microsoft on Friday put out word that Xbox stalwart Phil Spencer is retiring, in a shakeup of leadership at the tech titan's video game unit. Former Instacart chief operating officer Asha Sharma will take over as head of Microsoft Gaming, with Matt Booty becoming executive vice president and chief content officer. "As we celebrate Xbox's 25th year, the opportunity and innovation agenda in front of us is expansive," Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said in a message to employees. "I am long on gaming and its role at the center of our consumer ambition." Changes to the gaming team include Sarah Bond leaving her job as Xbox president "to begin a new chapter" away from Microsoft, according to the company. The shakeup comes as cloud computing and artificial intelligence have become priorities at Microsoft, driving revenue growth but also massive spending on infrastructure to power the technology. "When I walked through Microsoft's doors as an intern in June of 1988, I could never have imagined the products I'd help build, the players and customers we'd serve or the extraordinary teams I'd be lucky enough to join," Spencer said in a message to colleagues. "It's been an epic ride and truly the privilege of a lifetime." Spencer headed the Xbox unit for 12 of his 38 years at Microsoft, nearly tripling the size of the business as video games evolved from packaged software for consoles to subscription services and digital downloads on an array of devices. Spencer also guided the Xbox team through acquisitions of Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Minecraft. Xbox boasts more than 500 million monthly users and a vast stable of game studios, along with a subscription gaming service. "We are witnessing the reinvention of play," Sharma said in a blog post announcing the leadership changes. "To meet the moment, we will invent new business models and new ways to play by leaning into what we already have: iconic teams, characters and worlds that people love." Three dead in latest US strike on alleged drug boat: Pentagon Washington, United States, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2026 US forces on Friday launched a strike against alleged drug traffickers in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people, the military said. "Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations" along an apparent narco-trafficking route, the US Southern Command posted on X, adding that "three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action." The post included black and white video of the strike that showed an aerial view of a boat before it is bombed and engulfed in flames. The United States began targeting alleged smuggling boats in early September, killing nearly 150 people in total and destroying dozens of vessels since then. Under President Donald Trump, the United States has routinely conducted these strikes without offering definitive evidence of illegal activity, leading legal experts to raise concerns that the deaths could be considered extra-judicial killings. The strikes are part of a campaign that Trump's administration has insisted is needed to combat drug trafficking. It has also stationed naval forces off the coast of South America, seized oil tankers and carried out a stunning raid that captured Venezuela's leftist leader Nicolas Maduro. Maduro is incarcerated in the US awaiting trial for drug and weapons charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Serbia urges citizens to quit Iran 'as soon as possible' Belgrade, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2026 Serbia has urged its citizens in Iran to leave the country "as soon as possible", after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. The Balkan nation had already invited Serbian nationals in mid-January to leave Iran and not to travel there, as the country's clerical authorities launched a bloody crackdown on a mass protest movement. "Due to the deteriorating security situation, citizens of the Republic of Serbia are not recommended to travel to Iran in the coming period," the foreign ministry said in a statement on its website published overnight Friday to Saturday. "All those who are in Iran are recommended to leave the country as soon as possible." Iran said on Friday that it was hoping for a quick deal with the United States on Tehran's nuclear programme, long a source of discord between the two foes. But Trump, after ordering a major naval build-up in the Middle East aimed at heaping pressure on Tehran, said on Friday that he was "considering" a limited military strike if the negotiations proved unfruitful. Serbia, Sweden urge citizens to quit Iran as Trump mulls strike Belgrade, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2026 Serbia and Sweden have urged their citizens in Iran to leave the country after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. The Balkan nation had already invited Serbian nationals in mid-January to leave Iran and not to travel there, as the country's clerical authorities launched a bloody crackdown on a mass protest movement. "Due to the deteriorating security situation, citizens of the Republic of Serbia are not recommended to travel to Iran in the coming period," the foreign ministry said in a statement on its website published overnight Friday to Saturday. "All those who are in Iran are recommended to leave the country as soon as possible." Separately, Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard noted on X her "strong appeal addressed to Swedish citizens who are in Iran to leave". Iran said on Friday that it was hoping for a quick deal with the United States on Tehran's nuclear programme, long a source of discord between the two foes. But Trump, after ordering a major naval build-up in the Middle East aimed at heaping pressure on Tehran, said on Friday that he was "considering" a limited military strike if the negotiations proved unfruitful. IS urges members to fight Syria's new government Beirut, Lebanon, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2026 The Islamic State group on Saturday urged its fighters to confront Syria's new authorities, in its spokesperson's first audio message in two years. In a recording posted online, Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari said IS members in Syria must fight "the new Syrian regime, with its secular government and national army" and "make that their priority". The last time al-Ansari posted an audio message was in January 2024, when he urged IS supporters to kill Jews around the world in revenge for Israeli attacks in Gaza. Since ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria's new authorities, who had links to the Al-Qaeda jihadist group, have sought to break from their radical past and present a moderate image. Last year, Syria joined the US-led coalition against IS and has been coordinating attacks against the group's remnants in the country. IS swept across Syria and Iraq in 2014, committing massacres and forcing women and girls into sexual slavery. Backed by US-led forces, Iraq proclaimed the defeat of IS in 2017, followed two years later by its defeat to Kurdish-led forces in Syria. Last month, Syrian troops advanced against Kurdish forces, sparking questions over the fate of the IS prisoners held in Kurdish-run facilities. Amid lingering doubts about security, Washington transferred more than 5,700 IS detainees from Syria to Iraqi prisons. A camp that once held relatives of IS fighters has now been emptied -- residents either left or were moved to a new location by the Syrian authorities. Iranian students chant anti-government slogans, as US threats loom Paris, France, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2026 Iranian students chanted anti-government slogans and scuffled with counter-protesters on Saturday in the latest display of anger at the country's clerical leaders, who also face a US military build-up aimed at pressuring them into a nuclear deal. The gatherings at universities, which were reported by both local and diaspora media outlets, followed a mass protest movement that was met with a government crackdown last month that left thousands dead. The crackdown had prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten to intervene militarily, though the focus of his threats eventually shifted to Iran's nuclear programme, which Western governments fear is aimed at producing a bomb. The US and Iran recently resumed Oman-mediated talks on a potential deal, but Washington has simultaneously increased its military presence in the region, dispatching two aircraft carriers, jets and weaponry to back its warnings. Videos geolocated by AFP to Tehran's top engineering university showed fights breaking out in a crowd on Saturday as people shouted "bi sharaf", or "disgraceful" in Farsi. Footage posted by the Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based outside the country, also showed a large crowd chanting anti-government slogans at Sharif University of Technology. The Fars news agency later said there were reports of injuries in scuffles at the institution. Iranians had reprised their protest slogans earlier this week to mark the 40th day since thousands of people were killed as a wave of demonstrations was peaking on January 8 and 9. The unrest first broke out in December over prolonged financial strain, but exploded into mass anti-government protests that were suppressed in a violent crackdown by security forces. The clerical authorities acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by "terrorist acts" fuelled by Iran's enemies. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), however, has recorded more than 7,000 killings in the crackdown, the vast majority protesters, though the toll may be far higher. Iranian authorities had initially acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters' economic demands, but as the movement took on an overtly anti-government tone, they accused archenemies the United States and Israel of whipping up "riots". Fars said that what was supposed to be a "silent and peaceful sit-in" on Saturday of students commemorating those killed was disrupted by people chanting slogans including "death to the dictator" -- a reference to Iran's supreme leader. A video posted by Fars showed a group chanting and waving Iranian flags facing off with a crowd wearing masks and being held back by men in suits. - Talks and threats - Ever since the initial wave of protests, the United States and Iran have been trading threats of military action. Trump sent the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the region, while a second, the USS Gerald R Ford, is en route via the Mediterranean. The US has also redeployed dozens of other warplanes to the Middle East -- where it maintains several bases -- while boosting its air defences. The build-up seeks to pressure Iran's authorities as the two sides pursue nuclear talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told US media this week that following the latest round of negotiations in Geneva, Iran would be submitting a draft proposal for an agreement, saying it would be read in a matter of days. Araghchi also said the "US side has not asked for zero enrichment" of uranium, contradicting statements from American officials. Iran denies it is trying to produce nuclear weapons, but insists on its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. The US media outlet Axios reported this week, citing an unnamed senior US official, that Washington was prepared to consider a proposed deal that only permitted "small, token enrichment". Trump has suggested that "bad things" will happen if Tehran did not strike a deal, saying Thursday that it had 15 days to agree. Fears of a conflict have prompted several foreign countries to urge their citizens to leave Iran, including Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Australia, which warned "commercial flights are currently available but this could change quickly". A previous round of nuclear diplomacy last year was interrupted by Israel's surprise bombing campaign against the Islamic republic. The United States ultimately joined its ally, striking nuclear facilities before declaring a ceasefire. Iran has maintained that it will defend itself in the event of any new attack. President Masoud Pezeshkian, in remarks to athletes carried by state television, said the country would "not yield to any trial, even if the powers of the world stand against us with injustice and try to force us into submission". burs-sw/smw/jj Allow Google Search To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information. Allow and Continue The Houston-based chain was sold to a private equity firm based in Beverly Hills last year, and with the transition comes plans for rapid expansion. Jacy Lewis/Midland Reporter-Telegram file photo Shipley Do-Nuts, the Houston-based breakfast chain known for its glazed doughnuts and savory breakfast treats, announced Wednesday it plans to expand its national presence with a surge of new stores. The company said it would open 14 new stores across four states, including Shipleys first venture into Nevada and the establishment of its westernmost location. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Where is Shipley Do-Nuts adding new stores in 2026? The expansion calls for three new shops in Las Vegas, the Atlanta area and Dallas-Fort Worth, and five new shops in New Orleans. The announcement comes a year after the company was sold to a California private equity firm for an undisclosed amount. Flynn Dekker, CEO of Shipley Do-Nuts, told Chron.com the sale was made to prepare the company for further national growth and it seems the firm is making good on its expansion promises. It opened 35 new stores in 2025 alone, including the first-ever locations in North Carolina and Virginia. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source As we strengthen our presence in our thriving existing markets, we are strategically expanding into key high-growth markets from Nevada to Georgia, proving our ability to scale within and outside of our traditional footprint, said Dekker in a statement. Each of our new franchisees brings the operational excellence, market knowledge and commitment to quality necessary to successfully grow the Shipley Do-Nuts brand in these key metropolitan areas. Where to find Shipley Do-Nuts in Austin There are 19 Shipley Do-Nuts locations in Austin and surrounding areas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Austin 1045 Norwood Park Blvd. Austin 2113 W. Anderson Lane Austin 1700 W. Parmer Lane, Suite 700 Austin 10401 Anderson Mill Road Austin 10019 W. Parmer Lane, Suite 100 Austin 1945 W. William Cannon Austin 8213 Brodie Lane, Suite 116 Austin 7717 Southwest Parkway Austin 13341 W. Hwy 290 Pflugerville 1912 W. Pecan St., Suite 208b Manor 11300 Hwy 290 Round Rock 3250 E. Palm Valley Blvd. Leander 15237 Ronald Reagan Blvd. Leander 144 S. Brook Drive, Suite 140 Bee Cave 3620 Ranch Road 620 S., Suite 100 Georgetown 1011 Leander Road Georgetown 3308 Williams Drive, Suite 100 Buda 1245 Main St., Suite 100 Kyle 4520 FM 1626 A Southwest Airlines flight from Houston lands at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Dec. 11, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Southwest Airlines is launching four new nonstop routes from Austin this fall as the carrier continues expanding its footprint at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The airline will begin year-round service to Memphis, Tenn., in October. It will also add seasonal Saturday service to Knoxville, Tenn.; Santa Rosa, Calif.; and Destin, Fla., the same month. Tickets go on sale soon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We are continuing to add more Southwest service for our customers in the places where were already strong, Adam Decaire, Southwests senior vice president of network planning and network operations control, said in a statement. We will meet our customers where they are with an enhanced product that complements our best-in-class reliability and service. The Santa Rosa and Destin routes will be brand new to Austin-Bergstrom. Delta Air Lines currently flies to Memphis, while Allegiant Air serves Knoxville. The Southwest Airlines bag drop at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is pictured Dec. 11, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Southwests schedule through October includes 135 departing flights on the airlines busiest days at AUS a record for the airports dominant carrier. Southwest carried more than 40% of Austins flyers in 2025. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Comedian Cristela Alonzo performs at The Ice House Comedy Club on March 20, 2025 in Pasadena, Calif. Alonzo postponed her San Antonio show, citing concerns about a related event nearby. Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images for ABA A Texas-born stand-up comedian has moved the date of an upcoming San Antonio performance after learning that a live comedy event tied to Austin-based podcast Kill Tony was scheduled next door on the same night. Cristela Alonzo, best known for creating and starring in the ABC sitcom Cristela, said this week that her Midlife Mixtape Tour stop at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre will be pushed back from April 11 to May 9 at 7:30 p.m. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The decision came after Alonzo became aware that a Kill Tony"-branded comedy showcase, called Killers of Kill Tony, would be held at the adjacent Majestic Theatre the same evening. What is the 'Kill Tony' podcast? The Kill Tony podcast is hosted by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who has become a divisive figure following comments he made about Puerto Rico, which he described as a floating island of garbage, and his public support of President Donald Trump. The podcast is recorded live every week at the Comedy Mothership on Sixth Street in Austin and has cultivated a dedicated following. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The format features up-and-coming comedians performing one-minute sets followed by on-the-spot critiques by Hinchcliffe and his guests of the week. The Killers of Kill Tony show scheduled in San Antonio will feature several comedians associated with the podcast, including Ari Matti, David Lucas, Hans Kim and Martin Phillips. Cristela Alonzo: ' I do not feel comfortable' In a statement on social media, Alonzo said she didnt want her largely Latino fan base to have to interact with attendees of the nearby show, citing concerns about the political environment the event could create. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The majority of my followers are Latino, and in the time that were in right now, I do not feel comfortable having MY people around a demo that includes people that support [those] atrocious things that are happening to my community, Alonzo explained in a post on Instagram. So, Im looking to change dates for the San Antonio show that will ensure that my people have the best time, and where I dont have to cross paths backstage with anyone I dont want to. Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson arrives at the exoneration hearing for four men wrongfully accused in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Forrest Welborn, Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen and Maurice Pierce, who is deceased, were declared actually innocent during the hearing. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman The courtroom focus Thursday was on the men who lost decades of their lives. Maurice Pierce, Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott and Forrest Welborn were formally exonerated in the 1991 yogurt shop murders, their names cleared after more than 30 years of suspicion and legal battles. Much of the hearing centered on the toll the accusations took on them and their families. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson speaks during an exoneration hearing for the original suspects in the Yogurt Shop murders in aTravis County courtroom on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2026. The judge has formally cleared four men in the decades-old Austin quadruple homicide at the end of a landmark exoneration hearing. Chris Lamarca/Pool But the proceeding also pulled back the curtain on a cold case investigation that had largely faded into the background until about five months ago. When Austin cold case detective Dan Jackson took the stand Thursday, he shared several little-known details about the case and the serial killer who was ultimately identified as the sole suspect in the murders of Jennifer Harbison, 17; her sister, Sarah Harbison, 15; Eliza Thomas, 17; and Amy Ayers, 13 inside a I Can't Believe It's Yogurt! shop on West Anderson Lane. Read More: How a new ballistic and DNA techniques cracked the Austin yogurt shop murders cold case Jackson, who was instrumental in breaking the case, also shared interesting personal details about himself. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Robert Eugene Brashers was a clever criminal with a long rap sheet After advanced DNA and ballistics testing identified Brashers, investigators began reconstructing his criminal history. What emerged, Jackson told the court Thursday, was the portrait of a transient and calculating offender who operated across multiple states and evaded law enforcement for years. This undated photo provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows Robert Brashers. Authorities said Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 that DNA evidence has identified Brashers as the man who killed three people and raped a girl in the 1990s, even though the suspect killed himself nearly 20 years ago. Investigators say they've solved three homicides and a rape case, all from the 1990s, after obtaining DNA by digging up the corpse Brashers. (Missouri State Highway Patrol via AP) Missouri State Highway Patrol/via AP Investigators now believe Brashers crimes spanned at least 14 years and several states, including: Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source An attempted sexual assault in Florida 1985, believe to be his earliest offense A sexual assault and killing in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1990, about 18 months before the Austin murders A burglary and sexual assault in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1997 A sexual assault and murder in Portageville, Missouri. in 1998 An attempted home invasion and assault in Dyersburg, Tenn. in 1998 A sexual assault and murder in Lexington, Kentrucky in 1998 a case that later proved pivotal in linking him to the yogurt shop murders. Although Brashers served two stints in prison in the 1980s and 1990s, Jackson said the man, who died by suicide in 1999, deployed a range of tactics to evade law enforcement. According to Jackson, the man changed his name, had multiple aliases and birth certificates, traveled in multiple states and rarely committed crimes where he lived. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At one point, Jackson said, Brashers even wrote an obituary for himself that he had published in several newspapers. He was clever, Jackson told the court Thursday. He was able to evade justice for many years." Brashers wasnt on investigators radar until last year Despite thousands of leads over 34 years including hundreds of tips, dozens of false confessions and extensive DNA testing Brashers name never surfaced during the original investigation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Robert Eugene Brashers was never in the yogurt shop case files, Jackson said from the witness stand Thursday. Given the steps investigators now believe he took to conceal his identity and movements, his absence from the file underscores how effectively he avoided scrutiny. The right man for the job After Thursdays hearing, Dennis Farris an officer who worked the 1991 crime scene and now serves as president of the Austin Police Retired Officers Association described Detective Jackson as the perfect detective to lead the cold case review. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jacksons path to homicide investigator was unconventional. He holds a masters degree in anthropology and joined the Travis County Medical Examiners Office in 2005 as a forensic investigator. Over nine years, he authored more than 4,000 forensic reports and developed expertise in analyzing skeletal remains. He left the medical examiners office in 2014 to join the Austin Police Department, was promoted to detective in 2020 and transferred to the cold case unit in 2022. On his first day there, he was handed the yogurt shop file. When beginning his investigation, he said he made a point of not watching videos of the interrogations that led to the false confessions of the men exonerated Thursday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I didn't want to put myself in a position where I had a confirmation bias," Jackson said. The Travis County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. Austin American-Statesman An off-duty Austin police officer fatally shot a gunman at a barbershop near Pflugerville on Friday night, according to the Travis County Sheriffs Office. In a news conference Friday, the sheriffs office said it received reports of shots fired around 6:04 p.m. at Seven Fades Hair Studio, near Crystal Bend Drive and Dewberry Drive. Advertisement Article continues below this ad TCSO on scene of shooting/homicide. Media briefing at 9pm. Location: Crystal Bend Dr & Dewberry Dr. Travis County Sheriff's Office (@TravisCoSheriff) February 21, 2026 A man with a gun reportedly entered the barbershop and opened fire on the people inside, hitting one employee. That person was taken to a hospital for treatment, and their condition hasnt been shared publicly. One of the patrons in the barbershop was an off-duty Austin police officer. When the shooting started, officials said, the officer pulled his weapon and killed the gunman. The identity of the suspect has not been released. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Austin police Chief Lisa Davis spoke during the news conference, praising the actions of the officer. Our officers a hero, Davis said. In the days to come, there will be more information released, but he absolutely was a hero and probably saved multiple lives within this barber shop. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The officer also received praise online from the Austin Police Association, which posted a message to social media expressing its support. We are incredibly proud of our officers courage, composure, and decisive action in a moment that could have ended very differently, the post read. His willingness to act even while off duty reflects the very best of the Austin Police Department and our profession. The investigation is still ongoing and will be led by the Travis County Sheriffs Office. I have so many patients struggling with horrible arthritis pain! All the treatments we have either really dont work well or have side effects, and many times cause more harm than good. I found myself having a risk-benefit discussion with every single patient with chronic pain, and at times, feeling like I was doing more harm than good when trying to help treat the pain. Patients are taking NSAIDs, and I will watch as their kidney function declines, not to mention NSAIDs actually degrade cartilage in the joint and make arthritis worse over time. Tylenol doesnt work, and it depletes glutathione levels, which leads to worsening oxidative stress (which we know causes inflammation that leads to chronic disease). Pregabalin and gabapentin have multiple side effects and cause weight gain, so lots of patients trying to lose weight are stalemated on these drugs and dependent on them due to debilitating arthritic or neuropathic pain. Topical treatments fail or only provide temporary relief. Knee replacements are risky and invasive, and many patients who have had one still had pain afterward. Steroid joint injections degrade cartilage even more, and while they provide some relief, they are just a Band-Aid. Dont even get me started on how harmful opioids are! Chronic pain is one of the most common complaints I hear in primary care. Because of this, Ive spent my career treating pain and trying to find solutions. I served as a chronic pain champion in the VA job I held. I learned and implemented auricular acupuncture. I did training in prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma injections, and perineural injection therapy. I told my patients to do yoga, massage, physical therapy, TENS therapy, tai chi, music, and art therapy to cope with and manage pain. I treated pain from every angle. Some of it really helped my patients. Some of my patients didnt respond. They still had debilitating pain that was causing ongoing severe suffering. Enter peptides I had a few patients ask me about them. I had no idea what they were. I looked them up. I started looking mainly at BPC-157; studies showed me they had potential for treating chronic pain and a myriad of other conditions. I was already familiar with using other peptides: insulin and the weight-loss GLP-1 peptides. I read a study in which researchers cut the Achilles tendons of a bunch of rats. Half got nothing and the other half got BPC-157. The rats that got BPC-157 had fully functioning Achilles tendons by the end of a month of therapy. Using this peptide seemed like a no-brainer for my patients, but when I looked for a human drug version, I was disappointed. From what I read, they were experimental and not able to be prescribed by doctors. This wasnt very clear to me, given the results in the scientific studies. I kept having patients ask me about them, so I looked at what science there was already. I read the anecdotal reports. I started to learn more about what we knew about the drug and the safety data we had. It looked safe on paper, but we didnt have long-term safety studies in humans for any off-label use. I struggled with whether to dig deeper to learn to use this peptide. Was it ethical? I use drugs off-label all the time, but I had never prescribed a medication that hadnt been approved for use in humans before. I looked at the suffering of my patients, and I started asking them what they thought, especially the really sick patients who had trouble walking to the clinic chair to sit and see me. The ones who struggled to get out of bed every day. They absolutely wanted to try peptides. They asked me to dig deeper and figure it out for them. They wanted my honest opinion on whether it was safe. The danger of research chemicals I started a deep dive to give them my professional opinion. Research peptides ordered online werent safe, and the FDA even banned the BPC-157 because of reports of someone ordering a dirty vial online getting meningitis and dying from not safely injecting the medication. Turns out the world of peptide injecting is a multibillion-dollar industry with very little regulation or oversight. This concerned me deeply. I knew we were losing our patients trust, but this whole underground world of peptides proved that patients no longer trusted traditional health care. Patients didnt care about whether something was approved or not; they wanted to heal. Patients on multiple other medications and supplements trying to inject themselves with a research chemical had the potential to be extremely dangerous. I kept digging. I learned more about peptides. Where to source safe peptides. What peptides had good studies we could rely on. Which ones worked and how to dose them. I found other doctors like me who authentically wanted to help their patients heal. I spent thousands of dollars and countless hours studying and learning about peptides and other alternative medicines, and about things I didnt learn in medical school. In all this, I kept safety as my number one priority. I could never abandon the oath I took to first do no harm. I was looking for something safe and that worked. It paid off. I started using peptides on myself before I told anyone publicly. I tried them out on patients who wanted to do it safely and needed something that helped. The clinical results have been incredible. I have had multiple patients who have started peptides who have sat in my office and thanked me from the bottom of their hearts for providing relief so they can finally live their lives. Ive had patients and their families in tears, telling me how I saved their lives. Peptides do save lives because they give people their lives back. They help sleep, energy, tissue repair, and cellular health. They are studied, safe, and open to be used safely and ethically by clinicians. Why arent they approved? So, after all that touchy-feely stuff and my story, let me tell you about what I learned. Many clinicians wonder why peptides such as BPC-157, studied for decades with consistent preclinical signals for inflammation reduction and tissue repair, have not progressed into large human trials or regulatory approval. While regulatory and scientific explanations are often cited, they do not tell the full story. The reality is that modern drug development is shaped as much by financial incentives and institutional priorities as by science. Big pharma controls much of what comes to market as a usable human drug, and they make decisions not based on how much a substance helps, but rather on multiple other factors that make a drug profitable. Large clinical trials require enormous capital, and that capital almost exclusively comes from industry. Short peptides like BPC-157 are cheap to make, hard to protect with patents, and poorly aligned with the blockbuster drug model. A compound that could be manufactured cheaply, used episodically, and potentially reduce long-term medication dependence offers little financial upside in a system optimized around chronic disease management instead of truly healing patients. Even in medical school, I was trained to use pharmaceuticals first and foremost. I was never really taught cause; I just learned how to fix. This is how our system operates. Traditional health care is great at saving lives but it sucks at preventing disease. Promising therapies dont get approved for human use because they do not fit into a one-pathway fix, not because they are ineffective or unsafe, but because they are not profitable enough to justify the regulatory investment. BPC-157 treats chronic pain, inflammatory bowel disease, and neuroinflammation. Its one treatment for many different things, making it very hard for a pharmaceutical company to market and study. We have a system built around scalable, long-term pharmacologic use, a system I was trained in. These peptides just dont fit into that system. Navigating the regulatory landscape Regulatory structures further reinforce this imbalance. As FDA oversight of compounded peptides tightened, many compounds fell into a gray zone: not approved drugs, not permitted bulk substances for routine compounding, and therefore not realistically studyable in large human trials. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle: No approval without trials, no trials without funding, and no funding without exclusivity. The system does not explicitly ban these compounds; it simply provides limited viable pathways for advancement or prescribers like us to use them or understand them for human use. This context helps explain why peptides can be prescribed in certain states. Some peptides exist within a more permissive regulatory framework at the state level. For example, Floridas pharmacy and medical board regulations allow licensed compounding pharmacies to prepare certain peptides when they meet criteria for physician-directed, patient-specific prescribing and are not explicitly prohibited by the FDA. This does not mean the peptide is FDA-approved, many times it is not, but it does mean that, under state authority, physicians can legally prescribe it when pharmacies are willing to compound it and assume responsibility for compliance. In effect, state-level regulation has created a narrow but functional clinical pathway where federal approval has not. Other compounding pharmacies want in on the money and dont care about oversight, offering banned and even unsafe compounds. Doctors are the only thing standing between these compounding pharmacies, research peptide distributors, and pharmaceutical companies. We have a responsibility to our patients to navigate these spaces and understand them. And we have an ethical obligation not to prescribe research chemicals. For us, as doctors who care about our patients, the takeaway is not to abandon scientific rigor or regulatory caution, but to recognize the structural and economic biases that determine which therapies advance and which stagnate. The absence of large human trials does not automatically imply inefficacy or danger; it often reflects misalignment with the financial and institutional incentives that currently drive medicine. Understanding this landscape allows physicians to engage peptide therapies thoughtfully, ethically, and with clear eyes about both their potential and their limitations. We can conduct a risk-benefit discussion with our patients and safely prescribe some peptides, but its up to each clinician to decide what to offer, and up to the patient to decide what to take. It is our responsibility to navigate this space cautiously, with consent, in the doctor-patient relationship and within the confines and respect of our state laws and overseeing boards. It is possible, it is safe, and in my opinion, it is the right thing to do, so we can continue to do what we came to this space to do: help our patients truly heal. Stephanie Phillips is a family physician. Between 2005 and the present, 195 rural hospitals have closed, with a 50-hospital net reduction occurring just between 2017 and 2023. These closures, compounded by significantly worse measures of social determinants of health (SDOH), high prevalence of Medicaid or Medicare patients, and longer commute times, have created a crisis of access for rural Americans. The disproportionate impact on rural residents Compared to their urban and suburban counterparts, rural residents face disproportionately high rates of diabetes, mental/physical distress, and premature mortality, with life expectancy gaps widening. Coupled with federal Medicaid funding slated to be cut by $1 trillion over the next 10 years, and almost 25 percent of rural individuals under the age of 65 being covered by Medicaid (with 22 percent of these individuals being dual-enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare), this can be a humanitarian crisis for our rural populations. When viewed holistically, rural patients face longer drives, fewer providers, and worse outcomes. They need more than clinical care and temporary fixes; they need policy-level support and a health care system that supports them. Telemedicine as a lifeline When faced with this discrepancy, one potential solution is increasing the prevalence of telemedicine. As shown during the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine can connect millions of Americans with health care providers, especially when they are unable to meet in person. Telemedicine could help eliminate many of the problems that rural patients face, such as distance to clinics or lack of specialty care services. It could revolutionize longitudinal care for patients with chronic diseases or those with increased risks associated with in-person visits, such as the immunocompromised, through regular monitoring and follow-up care. Through my work in an allergy clinic, I have personally seen the benefit of telemedicine for patients who are unable to attend in-person visits, given their life-threatening immune deficiencies or reactions; these patients are a relative minority, and yet the benefit was widespread and revitalizing for this population. For a much larger population, such as those with diabetes, telemedicine could provide much-needed assistance, especially given the higher prevalence of diabetes within rural communities. Remote medical care has been shown to show significant improvements in patients health outcomes and cost savings, especially regarding clinical findings such as HbA1c or diabetic-related food disease, regardless of geographical barriers. Barriers to adoption While telemedicine could potentially solve many of the problems involved with rural medicine, there are issues, such as many individuals within these regions facing unequal and arbitrary health care policies or having limited access to broadband internet. Compounded with the challenges related to digital literacy, and a lack of a uniform national telemedicine policy, widespread usage of telemedicine may be difficult to adopt. One consequence of the lack of uniform telemedicine policy is the varying insurance coverage and reimbursement, both between states and between private and governmental insurance. While live video reimbursement through Medicaid is covered across the states, only 34 states cover store-and-forward reimbursement, of which seven have additional restrictions on reimbursement; remote patient monitoring and audio-only visits also have disparities per state. For private insurance, there are currently only 21 states that mandate payment parity between telehealth and in-person visits. While issues with broadband access is a separate battle, there is viable headway to be made regarding insurance and national policy, and it should be the first step to be made in our regulatory debates. The path forward To make telemedicine a lasting and equitable part of our health care system, instead of just a pandemic-era stopgap, we need bold, coordinated action on two fronts. The steps required to change the paradigm of telemedicine within the U.S., in this post-pandemic health care system, involve increased support from the medical providers themselves and better policy support for telemedicine. Provider support: Increased support from within the system will require providers to keep an open mind towards telemedicine. While it is a large shift from the type of medicine many providers are used to, especially those who have been in the field for many years, there is enough evidence to support the benefits of telemedicine for many populations of patients, with emphasis on those with chronic diseases or lack of provider access. By offering staff telemedicine training and establishing proper facilities, medical centers can enhance their ability to deliver patient care through telemedicine services. Increased support from within the system will require providers to keep an open mind towards telemedicine. While it is a large shift from the type of medicine many providers are used to, especially those who have been in the field for many years, there is enough evidence to support the benefits of telemedicine for many populations of patients, with emphasis on those with chronic diseases or lack of provider access. By offering staff telemedicine training and establishing proper facilities, medical centers can enhance their ability to deliver patient care through telemedicine services. Government support: Beyond the providers themselves, government support is crucial for the greater adoption of telemedicine, requiring greater telemedicine coverage and payment parity across states and across the private-government insurance divide. As it currently stands, policy restricts the ability of providers to offer the most inclusive care to our diverse patient population. As a population, providers should push for and support insurance reform and regulation to better prepare for the needs of patients, no matter their background. Griffin Popp is a medical student. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jayson Johnson stands with his family members during a ceremony that saw him presented with the Purple Heart in Fort Rucker, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Brittany Trumbull/U.S. Army) U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jayson Johnson received the Purple Heart in a ceremony Thursday at Fort Rucker, Ala., for his actions while under fire during a deployment to Afghanistan in November 2012. Brig. Gen. Kenneth C. Cole, the deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, presented the medal almost 14 years after Johnson was shot while leading a combat patrol in a village in Afghanistans Paktika Province, a service news release said. Cole, recounting the events that warranted the medal, said that even when a burst of machine gun fire sent shrapnel into Johnsons hand and arm, he moved to a secure position and continued to direct his soldiers in the ensuing firefight. Despite being wounded, Johnsons coordination ensured another wounded soldier was evacuated first, and he only allowed medics to treat him after air support had neutralized the threat, the release said. Wounded under fire, his first instinct was not self-preservation. It was leadership, Cole said, per the release. Despite the immediate treatment, a bullet fragment remained lodged in Johnsons arm until it was discovered during a medical examination in 2025. Although he is now a tactical officer at Fort Rucker who trains Army aviators, Johnson originally enlisted as an infantryman in 2005, the release said. He deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan, serving in several leadership roles in the process. While Cole presented the medal, it was another Purple Heart recipient, Lt. Col. Matthew Stockton, who pinned the medal on Johnson. Johnson thanked the soldiers present at the firefight over a decade ago as well as those attending the ceremony, the release said. The family of sailor Angelina Resendiz called for an independent investigation into her death Friday. Resendiz disappeared in the early hours of May 29 from the barracks at Naval Station Norfolk. Her body was found 11 days later. (Courtesy of Resendiz family) (Tribune News Service) The family of sailor Angelina Resendiz called for an independent investigation into her death Friday. Resendizs mother, Esmeralda Castle, spoke at a news conference at Naval Station Norfolk alongside her attorney Marshall Griffin and Danitza James, vice president for the military and veterans affairs committee at the League of United Latin American Citizens, about what they called the lack of transparency in the case. I think its not being taken serious. Theyre waiting for us to go away, said Castle. But were not done yet. We need Congress to act. Resendiz disappeared in the early hours of May 29 from the barracks at the naval base. Her body was found 11 days later in a wooded area of Norfolk, and a fellow sailor has been charged with her murder. From the early days of Resendizs disappearance, advocates have been calling for increased accountability and transparency from Navy authorities. Accountability and readiness are not competing priorities, they are inseparable, said James. We are here to ensure that (Resendizs) life and her loss compels change. Conflicting timelines provided to the family and the public about Resendizs disappearance and death have caused scrutiny of the Navys investigation. At the Article 32 hearing for defendant Jermiah Copeland in September, evidence came to light that he had been under investigation for alleged assaults of four other women. At a December motions hearing, a Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigator who had investigated some of those earlier allegations testified that despite Resendiz being missing and showing no signs of life following her disappearance, she had no suspicion at the time that Copeland had harmed her. When warning signs are missed, concerns dismissed, policies fail, and oversight breaks down. It fails the very people its meant to protect those who protect us, said James. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report published on Feb. 12 cited a lack of uniform procedures for what happens when a service member is missing. It specifically recommended that the Navy update its guidance, requiring that commanders should presume a service members absence indicates that they are potentially in danger and that the commander should presume absences are most likely involuntary after a specific time period unless available information indicates the absence should be considered voluntary. The trial for Copeland is scheduled for June. In addition to murder, he faces several charges related to allegations of domestic and sexual violence against at least four other women over the year prior to Resendizs killing. Castle and advocates with LULAC will spend Monday and Tuesday in D.C., lobbying congressional representatives on military reforms. In addition to an independent investigation, they are calling for the creation of an independent oversight committee. We want our military to be what people believe it to be, said Castle. A force for good. 2026 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Austria snowstorm leaves five dead, road and power chaos Vienna, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2026 A major snowstorm hit Austria on Friday, leaving five people dead and causing power outages and transport chaos, officials said. One man, aged 53, was crushed to death when a snow plough fell down steps in a "residential complex" in the northern city of Linz, police said. Four skiers were killed in avalanches in the Tyrol region. Three of them died in a giant avalanche near the St Anton ski resort, officials said. A German died on a slope at Nauders that was buried by snow. His 16-year-old son was seriously injured, officials added. Tyrol authorities appealed for skiers to stay away from off-piste slopes as the latest deaths took to 21 the number of dead in avalanches in Austria this winter season. They said the risk would remain high for several days. Up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) of snow fell on the Alpine nation since Thursday, prompting alerts for southeast Austria, notably in the region around the city of Graz. Vienna airport temporarily closed in the morning, and afternoon services were "disrupted". One of the main orbital highways around Vienna was closed for several hours, and other sections of highway were blocked by snowdrifts, stranded lorries or poor visibility, said the national automobile association, OAMTC. Electric companies reported power outages in several regions in the south and east, including Styria, where 30,000 homes lost electricity. In neighbouring Slovenia, 40,000 households were affected, according to local media, which reported major disruptions in the country's northeast. Mennonites in Colombia face trial for deforestation Bogota, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2026 Colombia says it will prosecute 12 Mennonites for deforestation in the country's east, where the austere Christian sect is expanding its agricultural footprint and clashing with Indigenous groups. The twelve defendants, all Mexican nationals, will go on trial for logging natural areas "without the necessary permits and/or legal authorizations" between 2016 and 2021 in Puerto Gaitan, in Meta department, the Attorney General's Office said. Members of the reclusive religious group face similar legal troubles in Bolivia and Peru. The Mennonites -- who have roots in 16th-century Europe -- eschew modernity and mixing with others. They communicate among themselves primarily in German, the language of their ancestors. Members arrived in the Llanos region of central Colombia in 2014, and purchased large tracts of land for agricultural use. They often clear forests to plant large-scale crops such as soy and corn, sparking conflict with local people, who say they are occupying Indigenous territory and damaging the environment. Satellite images show significant deforestation in Liviney, one of their prosperous settlements. Mennonites arrived in Mexico at the beginning of the last century. The first Mennonite churches in Colombia date back to approximately the 1950s. A 2021 study carried out by researchers at Canada's McGill University counted 214 Mennonite colonies in Latin America occupying some 3.9 million hectares, an area bigger than the Netherlands. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Barry Manilow has been forced to postpone more concerts following cancer-related surgery. The 82-year-old Copacabana crooner revealed his lung cancer diagnosis in December, saying it was found early. He underwent surgery to remove a spot on his left lung, postponing his Las Vegas residency and several planned tour dates to recover. Manilow then announced earlier this month that he would need to reschedule certain performances a second time. Then, in a Friday social media post, Manilow described his most recent visit to the surgeon ahead of his anticipated return to the stage as very depressing. Despite using the treadmill three times a day to prepare for his upcoming arena tour dates, his surgeon advised against him resuming the planned performances. He said, Barry, you wont be ready to do a 90-minute show. Your lungs arent ready yet. Youre in great shape considering what youve been through, but your body isnt ready. You shouldnt do the first arena shows. You wont make it through, Manilow wrote. Deep down, I wanted to go back. But, my body knew what my heart didnt want to admit: I wasnt ready, he continued, sharing that he was rescheduling his first batch of concerts slated for February 27 through March 17. Barry Manilow has again been forced to reschedule concerts following cancer-related surgery ( PA Archive ) He said I could likely do the Vegas shows at the very end of March, and the second batch of arena shows beginning in April. Im so, so sorry I have to reschedule some of these first arena shows again. Manilow did, however, vow that he will come back. In the meantime, and once again, thank you all for your wonderful notes and phone calls of support, Manilow wrote. The doctor said that my body had been through hell and that it needed time to heal. So, Im going back to healing. Earlier this month, Manilow revealed that he needed to postpone the previously rescheduled Las Vegas residency dates yet again. With my doctors guidance and recommendation, however, we have decided to postpone my residency dates at Westgate Las Vegas from 12-21 February so I can stay focused on healing and getting ready for the tour thats kicking off at the end of February. Having a few extra weeks to rest and prepare is what the doctor ordered! The shows were previously announced as his farewell tour and the dates are listed on his website as The Last Concerts. The Grammy-winning artists career has spanned over six decades. In that time, hes released more than 30 studio albums, including 1978s Even Now, which features his best-known hit Copacabana, as well as three major singles, Even Now, Cant Smile Without You and Somewhere in the Night. Manilows other top hits include Mandy, Somewhere Down the Road,and Could It Be Magic. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice After Reality Check: Americas Next Top Model, a three-part post-mortem on the toxic culture of the reality series America's Next Top Model, youd think that the shows creator Tyra Banks would run for the hills at any opportunity to remake it. But no, after three hours of swerving questions on the fat shaming, racism, public humiliation, harassment and verbal abuse that was typical of the program from 2003 onwards, Banks hints that shes bringing ANTM back to life. You have no idea what we have planned for cycle 25, she tells the camera with an all-knowing smile. This is the hypocrisy of Reality Check, a documentary promised as an insider look at the now-problematic reality TV quest to find the next supermodel. Instead, watching this documentary feels like you're doomscrolling through rage-bait in real-time. Viewers watch as the original ANTM team comprised of Banks, network producer Ken Mok, as well as judges Jay Manuel, Miss Jay Alexander and Nigel Barker swerve uncomfortable questions about what happened on the show in the early aughts by reciting media-trained one-liners and eye-rolls. It was a different time, they insist ad nauseam. Yes, this series is a case study in the messy ethics of an unprecedented time in early 2000s reality TV, but that shouldn't be an excuse. Banks, it must be said, comes off horribly in this documentary. She is quick to take credit for masterminding ANTM and changing representation in the modelling industry (for which she does deserve kudos), but she rarely takes accountability for any of the shows failures despite having profited from the series in a big way. Forbes estimated in 2009 that Banks earned $30 million from ANTM in that calendar year alone, while former contestant Sarah Hartshorne claimed that she and fellow contestants were paid $38 per day when she participated in 2007. Banks creative input in the show is as clear as day, but in this documentary, she shrugs off her executive producer title as if she was merely on-screen talent. At one point, she even projects blame for ANTMs questionable ethics onto viewers: You guys were demanding itThe audience wanted more and more, she said before claiming production wasnt my territory whenever quizzed on her involvement in the shows more damning moments. And, to be clear, there were a lot of those. During the pandemic, new and returning viewers binge-watched ANTM from the start, aghast at the exploitative ethics of 2000s reality TV. Millennial fans came forward on social media, admitting that watching the show 20 years ago had made them internalize the shows problematic body image standards (they invited plus size AKA size six and up models on the show, but only provided clothes that were too small). Then there were the shows controversial photo shoots, including two instances where models were asked to dress as a different ethnicity, posing with toddlers who matched the assigned race. Cycle four contestant Keenyah Hill spoke about the fat-shaming she faced from the judges, when she was assigned gluttony for a seven deadly sins-themed photo shoot, which was backed up by a montage of her eating a bagel. On a safari-themed shoot, she was given the elephant role. For another shoot, cycle eight contestant Dionne Walters was asked to pose with a bullet wound in her head; the same place her mother had been shot by an ex and left paralyzed. When addressed in the documentary, Mok admitted that the particular shoot was a mistake and glorified violence. open image in gallery Tyra Banks created Americas Next Top Model in 2003, and served as an executive producer, judge and host on the show ( Netflix ) open image in gallery Tyra Banks poses with the cast members from America's Next Top Model in 2007 ( Getty Images ) During the makeover stage, models underwent irreversible procedures. Two models, Dani Evans (cycle-six winner) and Joanie Dodds (also cycle six), admitted they were pressured into having their teeth permanently altered, for which Banks has since apologized. It gets worse when former contestants and winners admit that after going through all of the above they were effectively blacklisted from the real-life modeling industry when they left the show because of the reputation ANTM carried among agents and brands. Nobody wanted to book me for shows because I was a reality star, said Evans. She reflected on a conversation she had with Banks years later, who apparently admitted she was fully aware that ANTM contestants had no chance in the actual fashion industry, but she did nothing about it. And so to have her, a Black woman, say to me, I knew you were struggling and I did nothing about itDont see me in my suffering and just walked past me, Evans continued. Thats so f***ed up. The most disturbing admission comes from cycle two contestant Shandi Sullivan when she reflects on the models trip to Milan. Sullivan, who was depicted as the bright-eyed Walgreens employee with a promising future, got drunk on two bottles of wine and was taken advantage of by a man who she had sex with when the producers invited a group of local moped riders to the models accommodation for a party. In Reality Check, neither Sullivan nor the documentary explicitly refers to this as sexual assault, but the original ANTM footage suggests she was too drunk to consent. Through tears, Sullivan said in the documentary that she was blacked out for a lot of itI just knew sex was happening, and then I passed out. Not only did production fail to intervene, they filmed the entire thing. When the episode aired, Sullivan was depicted as the Christian girl-gone-rogue, and production would only give her a phone to call her boyfriend on the condition that it was filmed and recorded. Sullivan says her distressed demands to leave the show were denied. The title of that episode? The Girl Who Cheated." open image in gallery Shandi Sullivan lifts the lid on her experience in Milan in Netflixs Reality Check: Next Top Model ( Netflix ) When asked about what happened to Sullivan, Banks struggled to remember who she was, despite having interviewed the contestant about the Milan incident several times on her eponymous talk series, The Tyra Banks Show. Its a little difficult for me to talk about production, because thats not my territory, Banks said plainly. In fact, when Banks is asked about the toughest moment on ANTM, she lands not on any of the aforementioned missteps the show made, but on her infamous tirade (We were all rooting for you!) at outgoing contestant Tiffany Richardson which has since become one of the most famous memes in reality TV history. I went too far. I lost it," Banks reflected. It was probably bigger than her it was family, friends, society. Black girls, all the challenges that we have, so many people saying that we're not good enough. I think all of that was in that moment. It is an honest reflection, but leaves viewers wondering if Banks has any comprehension of the toll the show took on the models. open image in gallery Tyra Banks during her infamous I was rooting for you! tirade on Americas Next Top Model in 2005 ( Netflix ) It is, of course, not productive to judge a 2003 show by 2026 standards, and the privilege of hindsight is obviously at play here. Many of the former contestants who appeared on Reality Check admitted that they had not realized the seriousness of what happened to them on ANTM until recently. After all, the words duty of care, boundaries and "gaslighting" were not in the mental health lexicon back then. But there were some models who called out the behavior, and were punished and gaslit for it. In cycle four, Hill spoke out (on camera) to the crew and judges when she faced unwanted advances from a male model on a photo shoot. But she was told by Banks to use her feminine wiles to combat him, and simply put up with it. The word gaslight, an everyday term for emotional manipulation, only came to be widely recognized in 2016; later being named Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year in 2022. And it is the perfect word to describe Banks PR defensive in Reality Check. Viewers, too, cant help but feel gaslit by the very premise of this show. Just when you feel pulled into a storyline and start questioning what you're watching, those thoughts are shut down with the it was a different time argument, again and again. Reality Check, we were all rooting for you. But there are too many missed opportunities for sincere accountability from those behind the show most importantly from Banks. And if Reality Check turns out to be a thinly veiled advertorial for an ANTM reboot, then maybe we were all played as fools. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Masha Popova bared all for autumn/winter 2026, sending out backless silhouettes, ultra-low rises and abbreviated hot pants beneath the stately ceilings of Charterhouse in one of London Fashion Weeks most provocative shows. Titled Intimate Hours, the collection explored the bedroom as a psychological space a place where desire, boredom and memory quietly accumulate. That introspection played out in garments that felt simultaneously private and performative, with lingerie accents, sleepwear details and distressed denim colliding against the historic grandeur of the venues green-panelled walls and oil portraits. The Ukrainian-born London-based designer, known for her high-fashion denim, presented a smorgasbord of colours, cuts and textures, one of the first being a sheer-legged look in a fluid green-and-blue printed set: a halter top knotted into an exaggerated bow at the neck and paired with ruffled micro shorts worn over fine black tights. Slouched boots pooled around the ankles, fortifying the undone atmosphere. Hot pants were a recurring motif a trend that seems to be cropping up across London Fashion Week runways. A blush-pink knit cardigan and matching shorts, belted low on the hips, were styled with voluminous, flame-bright hair feeling deliberately unruly. Denim Popovas signature was pushed into more tailored territory. One look featured a halter-style denim top tied into a large bow across the chest, cut away at the midriff and paired with low-slung jeans secured by crossed leather belts that wrapped diagonally around the hips. Leaf motifs were embedded into the denim surface, hinting at the designers ongoing experimentation with treated fabrics. In another, a corset-like denim bodice with off-the-shoulder sleeves and visible red topstitching was worn with dramatically flared jeans that pooled at the floor. The silhouette combined architectural details with a grungy sensuality, reflecting Popovas background in architecture and her ability to manipulate rigid fabrics into fluid forms. Sleepwear references were literal at times. A full-length hot-pink robe coat, plush and enveloping, was styled for the runway rather than the bedroom, its exaggerated collar and belted waist elevating the domestic into statement outerwear. The gown also featured an open back exposing the models underwear. Elsewhere, jersey was treated into near paper-thin layers, and knitwear a newer addition to Popovas vocabulary appeared embossed and tactile. Popova, a Central Saint Martins BA and MA graduate who previously interned at Maison Margiela and Celine, has built her brand as a melting pot of late 20th century high fashion and 1990s-2000s rawness. Seen on Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and Bella Hadid, her work consistently combines elegance and irreverence. At Charterhouse, that tension felt particularly potent; the grandeur of the setting underscored the collections themes of privacy and exposure; bottoms revealed beneath structured dresses, sheer tights layered under abbreviated silhouettes and denim reworked into eveningwear. It seems for this collection, Popovas woman is neither fully dressed nor fully undone. Instead, she occupies the liminal state between self-awareness and defiant display. Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Nicole Snooki Polizzi, 38, most known for being on the reality show Jersey Shore, revealed in a TikTok posted Friday that she has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. In the post, she explained that she had a cone biopsy, which requires a cone-shaped piece of tissue to be removed from the cervix and examined. It came back stage 1 cervical cancer called adenocarcinoma, Polizzi told her followers. Obviously not the news Ive been hoping for, but also not the worst news just because they caught it so early. Thank freaking God! The reality star continued, saying her next step would be to receive a PET scan to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of her body, and then likely undergo a hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix to avoid chemotherapy and radiation. She also emphasized how important it is for women to receive their regular Pap smears. Im 38 years old, and Ive been struggling with abnormal pap smears for three or four years now, and now look at me, she said. Instead of putting it off because I didnt want to go, because I was hurt and scared, I just went and did it. And it was there, cancer is in there. But its stage 1 and its curable. Jersey Shore alum, Snooki, recently revealed in a TikTok that she was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer ( Invision ) Cervical cancer is a growth of cells starting in the cervix, the lower part of the vagina, according to the Mayo Clinic. As the organization explains: Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV. HPV is a common virus that's passed through sexual contact. For most people, the virus never causes problems. It usually goes away on its own. For some, though, the virus can cause changes in the cells that may lead to cancer. However, there are other potential factors that may increase a persons risk of contracting cervical cancer, including smoking tobacco, increasing the number of sexual partners and having a weakened immune system. While there may not be initial symptoms during the early stages of cervical cancer, the Columbia University Hebert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center said there may be physical symptoms once the cancer has invaded deeper into the cervix or nearby organs. A doctors visit is suggested if a person is experiencing any of the following symptoms: pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, vaginal bleeding or spotting especially after vaginal intercourse, in between menstrual periods, or after menopause menstrual periods that are heavier or last longer than usual, or vaginal discharge that has a foul odor. The most common method of preventing cervical cancer is having a routine pap smear to detect any precancerous conditions in the cervix. It is recommended by the Mayo Clinic that a Pap smear be given every few years, starting at age 21. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A suspect has been arrested and charged in a North Carolina cold case that lingered for more than three decades following the brutal killing of a community activist. Marion Gales, 63, is accused of the murder of Kim Thomas Friedland, whose body was found inside her home on July 27, 1990, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police announced on Thursday. Friedland was found stabbed to death and her throat had been slashed. DNA evidence was collected at the scene, but investigators at the time lacked the technology needed to fully analyze it. But investigators said that recent advances in DNA testing allowed them to reexamine evidence collected at the crime scene and identify Gales as the suspect. The DNA report found Gales DNA on a rug beside the victim and on the victims body. This morning, our violent criminal apprehension team located and arrested Marion Gales based on work done by our cold case homicide detectives, Deputy Chief Ryan Butler said at a press conference this week. open image in gallery Marion Gales, 63, was arrested and charged with the murder of Kim Thomas Friedland, whose body was found inside her home on July 27, 1990 ( Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police ) Shortly after Friedlands murder, her husband, Dr. Ed Friedland, was initially named a suspect. He was arrested but later cleared due to a lack of evidence. Years later, newly developed DNA testing methods reopened the case. Police say that Gales had worked at Friedlands home before her death. open image in gallery In July 1990, Kim Thomas Friedland was found stabbed to death and her throat had been slashed ( WCNC ) It is a very laborious task in order to ensure accuracy in the process, in the results, in the verification of the results. And in many of our cases, we have DNA mixtures, which means that the presence of more than one DNA profile is present, Chief Butler said. And with our previous technology, there were times when it was difficult to discern exactly what the profiles were that were in this mixture. And in this instance, newer technology that weve obtained allowed the lab to reevaluate evidence that was previously collected and was able to verify more clearly the profiles associated with those samples and which directly linked Mr. Gales to the incident location and to the victim. On February 19, authorities arrested Gales at his Charlotte home. Police said Gales had recently been released from prison after serving time for the killing of another woman in 2008. Lacoya Martin was found dead behind her house and Gales' DNA was reportedly found under her fingernails. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in that case and served 16 years. Now, Gales is back behind bars, facing a murder charge in the killing of Friedland. Despite the arrest, Butler said the investigation remains open. So, our cases are never complete until theyre complete, Butler said. And I know that seems like a bit of a nebulous answer, but Ill tell you that until the detectives feel that all evidence has been obtained, that all questions have been answered, I will tell you that we will never complete or say that our investigation is complete. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Podcast host Megyn Kelly questioned why the family of Nancy Guthrie isnt making many public appearances, holding prayer vigils or publicly assisting police in the search for the missing 84-year-old woman. Kelly joined her guest, podcaster and comedian Zack Peter, in raising suspicions about why the Guthrie family does not appear to be making more of a public-facing effort to find their mother on Thursdays episode of The Megyn Kelly Show. Nancy, who is mother to Today show host Savannah Guthrie, went missing from her Arizona home on January 31. We have someone thats missing, and we are seeing the family like very, very little, Peter said. Theres no press conferences; were not seeing them out searching for their motherIm trying not to judge them. But like every day, Im getting more and more curious about whats really going on. Kelly agreed with Peter, saying, Its a very good point. We have seen so little of the Guthries. We havent even seen them out, you know, joining in a search, or like helping with the grid pattern where they walk the grounds. We havent seen Prayer vigil, Peter interjected. Prayer Vigil, Kelly repeated for emphasis. Or like even an everyday update, like this is Please keep the pressure on, please keep looking for our mom. Its just like every once in a while they drop like a 30-second video being like, If you have our mom, please return her. It is a little odd. open image in gallery On Megyn Kelly's podcast, the former news anchor questioned why the Guthrie family had not made many public appearances in recent days as the hunt for Nancy Guthrie continues ( Getty Images for Semafor ) Local, state and federal law enforcement have been on a frantic hunt to try to find Nancy Guthrie, who requires a medication for a health condition. The Pima County Sheriff Department said several hundred people are assigned to the case across various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. But as time goes on, and with no major new information being released by authorities, those interested in the case have been left to speculate including Kelly and Peter. All the siblings and spouses in the Guthrie family have been cleared of suspicion of wrongdoing associated with the disappearance. But Peter went on a rant, questioning why Savannah Guthrie was giving quick and strange updates that he believes have shifted in tone from pleading with alleged kidnappers about ransom payments to asking abductors to return Nancy Guthrie. open image in gallery Police believe Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her Arizona home as she slept ( NBC/Today via Retuers ) Theres no sense of urgency, Peter argued. Peter also questioned why Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos appeared monotone in a recent interview. The podcaster is not the first to criticize Nanos for his handling of the massive investigation. Others have given the sheriff side-eye for declaring the crime scene done early on in the investigation, despite returning later. Officers have released doorbell videos of a suspect wearing a ski mask and gloves from the morning of February 1, after Nancy Guthrie is believed to have been abducted. Authorities scoured the areas surrounding her home and investigated reported ransom notes that have been sent to media outlets. Savannah Guthrie has posted videos online pleading with the kidnapper to return her mother. I wanted to say to whoever has her, or knows where she is, that its never too late, Savannah Guthrie said in an Instagram video Sunday. It is never too late to do the right thing. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A pair of blood-stained gloves were found in the desert near Nancy Guthries home, a couple have claimed, as the search for the 84-year-old enters its third week with no named suspects. Nancy Guthrie, the elderly mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her home in the affluent Catalina Foothills, outside Tucson, Arizona, on January 31. She was abducted from her home in the early hours of February 1. Police later shared doorbell cam footage of a suspect wearing a ski mask and dark gloves. On Friday a couple revealed to local outlet KVOA that they came across a pair of black gloves in the desert, less than a mile from Guthries neighborhood, on February 11. Sure enough it was a black glove in the desert it appeared to have looked like it was ripped, the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said. It also appeared to like it looked like it had blood on it. The blood appeared to be towards the wrist side of the glove and on the pointer finger, she continued. open image in gallery A couple claim they found a pair of blood-stained gloves in the desert near Nancy Guthries home, as the search for the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie enters its third week ( NBC/Today via Retuers ) The couple found a second glove, that appeared to match, less than 10 feet away. And also from the glove it looked like a blood drop on a rock underneath the glove was like dried blood or something, the husband added. We didnt move it or touch it. We immediately were like we have to do something. The couple said they called police who questioned them at the scene for some time, according to the outlet. In a statement to The Independent, Pima County Sheriffs Department said Saturday they cannot confirm whether the gloves found by the couple were being tested for DNA. Detectives and agents have collected multiple gloves from the area and analysis is part of the investigation, the department said. open image in gallery Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home in the early hours of February 1. Police later shared doorbell footage of a suspect wearing a ski mask and dark gloves, but have not yet publicly named a suspect ( FBI ) Earlier this week, the department announced on social media that DNA on a pair of gloves found two miles from Guthries home did not trigger a match in the FBIs national database and did not match DNA found at the property. It was not immediately clear whether the update is related to the gloves found in the desert by the couple. As the case enters the third week, sources told ABC News that investigators may soon scale back resources given the lack of progress. There are 400 investigators working on the case 24/7 at the moment, but sources told the outlet that a smaller task force could move in as leads are so far coming up empty. The sheriffs department says the investigation remains active. As long as leads continue to come in, investigators will continue to follow up on them, the department said in a statement. Currently, several hundred personnel are assigned to this case from various law enforcement agencies and are actively reviewing thousands of tips. open image in gallery FBI agents and detectives have been scouring the desert near Nancy Guthries home. A couple said they found a pair of blood-stained gloves on February 11 less than a mile from the 84-year-olds neighborhood ( Getty Images ) Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who has come under intense scrutiny over the case, vowed his team would find Nancy Guthrie in an interview Friday. Were not quitting, he told NBC News. Well find her. Between the FBI and local officials, the reward for information in the case has grown to more than $200,000. Savannah Guthrie has posted videos online pleading with the kidnapper to return her mother. I wanted to say to whoever has her, or knows where she is, that its never too late, Guthrie said in an Instagram video last weekend. It is never too late to do the right thing. The TV star said that her mother needs medication for her health condition. Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer, the news anchor pleaded in a video posted on social media. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Security video has captured the moment brazen thieves tunneled through a collectibles stores wall in California and stole $180,000 worth of Pokemon cards, police say. DOWE Collectibles in North Orange County was ransacked early Wednesday morning by four suspects looking to get their hands on the popular trading cards from the mammoth Japanese media franchise, according to the Anaheim Police Department. The suspected thieves first broke into a neighboring business, police said. They then used a sledgehammer to break through the connecting wall and entered the collectibles store through the hole, according to authorities. open image in gallery Security footage has captured the moment brazen thieves tunneled through a collectibles stores wall in California and stole $180,000 worth of Pokemon cards, police say ( DOWE Collectibles via Instagram ) Video of the heist was obtained by The Independent and first reported by local outlet KTLA. The store's security cameras appear to show a suspect using a sledgehammer to break into glass cases mounted on walls filled with Pokemon cards. Another suspect appeared to hastily grab the cards and put them in a garbage bag. open image in gallery The suspected thieves first broke into a neighboring business and then used a sledgehammer to break through the connecting wall and enter the collectibles store, according to police and security video ( DOWE Collectibles via Instagram ) The stores glass counters also appeared to be raided, according to the video. The suspects then fled the store in a dark-colored sedan. Duy Pham, the stores owner, told KTLA that he called police as soon as his phone alerted him to the break-in. open image in gallery The video appears to show one of the suspects using a sledgehammer to break into glass cases mounted on the walls of DOWE Collectibles that were filled with Pokemon cards ( DOWE Collectibles via Instagram ) I clicked on the footage and saw guys coming through the hole, Pham said. My heart was pounding. Pham said the suspects didnt target the stores electronics, adding, They were here for the cards. open image in gallery The stores glass counters also appeared to be raided, according to the video ( DOWE Collectibles via Instagram ) The store owner said the suspected thieves stole more than 500 cards in a matter of minutes. Some of those cards were worth thousands of dollars each, according to Pham. In an Instagram post announcing the theft, DOWE Collectibles said its store was broken into for the second time. open image in gallery The suspects then fled the store in a dark-colored sedan, the video appears to show ( DOWE Collectibles via Instagram ) To those responsible, sooner or later, you will be held accountable, the post read. Anaheim police are yet to catch the suspects as of Friday afternoon, but tell The Independent they are following up on some leads. The Pokemon franchise has soared in popularity since Nintendo released the first Pokemon video games, Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green, in Japan in 1996. A 1st edition 1999 Pokemon card of the famed character Charizard is going for just under $600,000 on eBay. It was in 49 buyers carts Friday afternoon. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice What began as an argument inside a South Carolina apartment complex ended in gunfire, leaving two people dead and an arrest hours later at a Waffle House. Charles Saunders, 50, of New York, will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally shooting Alesia Dykes and Bernard Alexander Lyles in front of children at the Walsh Drive Apartments in Hardeeville, prosecutors announced Thursday. Prosecutors said Saunders and the two victims had been arguing in the days leading up to the shooting on June 18, 2024. Saunders and Dykes had been friends years earlier in New York. Dykes later introduced Saunders to her sister, with whom he had a son. Saunders had traveled to South Carolina after learning his son had a child and had been staying with Dykes at the time of the shooting, prosecutors said. Shortly after noon on the day of the shooting, Hardeeville Police responded to the apartment complex where witnesses told investigators that Saunders and the two victims had been arguing. open image in gallery Charles Saunders, 50, of New York, will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally shooting Alesia Dykes and Bernard Alexander Lyles in June 2024 ( 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office ) When the confrontation escalated, Dykes and Lyles attempted to retreat inside the apartment. Prosecutors said Saunders stepped into the doorway, pulled a handgun from his waistband and opened fire. Three young children were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. One child ran to a nearby relatives home to get help. Dykes was pronounced dead at the scene. Lyles was transported to Coastal Carolina Hospital, where he later died. Saunders fled the area. Investigators later recovered a shirt he discarded in a trash can on Main Street. Forensic testing revealed gunshot residue on the clothing. Several hours after the shooting, Saunders was arrested at a Waffle House in Ridgeland. On Thursday, Saunders was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was sentenced to life in prison. [Saunders] chose to repay trust and hospitality with violence of the most horrendous sort, said Trasi Campbell of the 14th Circuit Solicitors Office, who prosecuted the case. Charles Saunders has lived a life of violence, and todays outcome ensures he no longer endangers the public. Advertisement Review Eating outPreston Youre familiar with Vietnams banh mi, but have you tried its neighbours num pang? Not to be confused with the Vietnams most famous sandwich, the num pang selections at Kampot Kitchen are remixed versions of Cambodian dishes held dear by its owners, couple Jimi Lundy and Sarann Chhoeung. Sanka Amadoru February 22, 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 As featured in the Melbourne hit list March 2026. See all stories . 1 / 6 Pork belly num pang with green apple slaw. Eddie Jim 2 / 6 Lemongrass chicken on rice set. Eddie Jim 3 / 6 The Preston eatery is popular at lunch time. Eddie Jim 4 / 6 Cambodian iced coffee. Eddie Jim 5 / 6 The Khor Kho slow-cooked beef rib stew comes with a side of bread for dipping. Eddie Jim 6 / 6 Inside the Preston eatery where customers drive over an hour for the sandwiches. Eddie Jim Previous Slide Next Slide Cambodian$$$$ Husband-and-wife duo Jimi Lundy and Sarann Chhoeung opened Kampot Kitchen with a newborn in their household and COVID lockdowns, unknowably, mere days away. Chhoeung describes being propelled by her dream and desire to showcase Cambodian culture that was largely missing from Melbournes food scene. Abandoning those plans to pursue a more stable office job was not an option. Today, Kampot Kitchen staff greet loyal customers by name and offer broad grins and handshakes. I dont consider myself a regular, but have visited often enough to know that the quality of the num pang (literally bread or sandwiches) is consistently good. Chhoeung is obsessive with the quality and preparation of ingredients; the pork belly num pang comes with a green apple slaw and the hunks of pork orientated perpendicular to the long axis of the roll. Even distribution of meat and fat is ensured in each bite. Advertisement Inside the Preston eatery where customers drive over an hour for the sandwiches. Eddie Jim Cuts of beef and chicken are marinated in a paste of lemongrass, lime leaf, galangal, garlic, and shallots, and stir-fried to order. The meat is then placed in a lightly toasted baguette with vegetables that provide counterpoints in texture and flavour coriander and pickled carrot accompany most sandwiches. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Meanwhile, the prawn num pang uses a turmeric-coconut cream marinade and coconut flakes. For those seeking a vegetarian option, cubed tofu is seared to caramelisation whilst retaining a soft interior, and slices of shallot help the carrot cut through its richness. (This is slow food in sandwich form, so at peak times, dont expect sandwiches to be available for takeaway within minutes.) You will be asked if you would like fresh chilli to be included; these are (probably) a birds-eye variety that pack a punch and are grown by Chhoeungs uncle. If you mistakenly ask for a Vietnamese banh mi, you are unlikely to be corrected. However, ask about the background of the sandwiches foundational to the menu and the staff will describe how theirs are distinct from more traditional Cambodian num pang. The Khor Kho slow-cooked beef rib stew comes with a side of bread for dipping. Eddie Jim Advertisement At Kampot Kitchen, there is not a cold-cut in sight. Rather, the sandwich selections are remixed versions of Cambodian dishes held dear by Chhoeung and Lundy. The lemongrass beef and chicken num pang are interpretations of traditional stir-fries and classic Cambodian skewers, with the latter also available to order. The khor kho slow-cooked beef rib stew has a delicate sweetness with star anise and lemongrass accents and comes with a side of bread for dipping, or alternatively go for the pulled beef num pang version. These creations are of enough interest to Melbournes Cambodian community that some members of the diaspora will drive an hour across the city to taste them for themselves. You dont want to skip the drinks here, either. Not many venues will send a king coconut with a paper straw to the table. Advertisement I feel like I must have a coconut drink because coconut is home, you know, Chhoeung tells me. An alternative reinterpretation of Cambodian iced coffee on the signature drinks menu evokes a salted caramel milkshake that glides along the tongue. Her desire to preserve and reinvent memories of growing up in Cambodia from a place of intention is implied by the French-captioned photography and Theravada Buddhist iconography on the walls inside. Its told through a menu that will speak multitudes to anyone willing to ask and listen between bites. Three more places to find less traditional East Asian sandwiches Banh Mi Stand Its difficult to pick Melbournes best banh mi shop. This tiny shopfront in the CBD levels up the usual formula of a baguette filled with vegetables, herbs, pate, sauce, birds eye chili, and cold cuts or cooked meats by offering less traditional fillings including confit duck and vegan options. 547 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, instagram.com/banhmistandmelbourne Three Drops Coffee and Sandwich Egg drop sandwiches are the specialty here. Fluffy milk bread (shokupan) cradling pillowy mayo- and barbecue sauce-drizzled scrambled eggs achieve the seemingly impossible feat of feeling both rich and light at once. They come with multiple fillings including Korean beef bulgogi and beef rendang, and there are jaffles and baguettes for anyone more crunch-inclined. The Capitol Arcade, 3/115 Swanston Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/threedropscoffee Warkop Richmond Drawing inspiration from the Indonesian archipelago, find novel sandwich filling combinations at Warkop such as fried chicken with stracciatella and chilli condiment sambal merah. A herbed thin-sliced pork toastie and fresh salad might be shared between two, or you can go straight to dessert with the pandan-infused coconut jam and puffed rice in the kaya toast. 12 Risley Street, Richmond and 13 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, warkop.com.au Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Save this video for later Add videos to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Advertisement NationalSecrecy Opinion Time to end the lobbying protection racket Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser February 22, 2026 5:00am February 22, 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 When Michael Munger explained that theres a point at which the first dollar companies spend on lobbying becomes more profitable than the last dollar they spend on the pursuit of honest profits, it was meant to be a warning about creeping crony capitalism, not a business plan. And yet Australian businesses have taken very seriously the US economists advice on how to capture a market. Now, as the government prepares its May budget, some are experiencing regret. At the end of last year, advisory firm General Strategic posted a chart to LinkedIn that I cant get out of my head. It shows the number of new lobbyist registrations since 2009. The chart draws on data from the official lobbying register, which everyone who wants to directly interact with politicians and their staff on behalf of a business interest must join. Illustration by Simon Letch I have to stress that these are new registrations only, so theyre in addition to lobbyists who were already registered. Hold tight. In 2009, under the Rudd government, there was only one new registration. But in 2010 there was a spike in registrations, with 60 lobbyists joining the register. New registrations then fell again for the rest of the Rudd/Gillard government and there were only about 10 a year added under Abbott and Turnbull from 2013 to 2015. That number remained low but started creeping up during the Turnbull/Morrison government from 2016 to 2018. Under Morrison there was a steady rise 34 in 2019, 40 in 2020, 44 in 2021. That jumped when Albanese was elected, with 99 registered in 2022, 137 in 2023, peaking at 226 new lobbyist registrations in 2024, ahead of the last election. Another 206 were added in 2025. Advertisement That tells you everything about how profitable businesses find lobbying to be. But it may also indicate that weve reached a tipping point. Related Article Exclusive Political lobbying Labor mates in lobbyland: I just get paid more Before I go further, it should be said that lobbyists often get a bad rap. The job title itself is a denigrating word for people who frequent the hallways and lobbies of power, hoping to accost and influence legislators. Its true, there are lobbyists who just peddle influence. While I do campaign work, I have never been a lobbyist, but I know and have worked with lobbyists who are not parasites on power. Good lobbyists perform an important function, explaining the complexities of business to policymakers who might never have worked in the private sector, much less the sector being regulated, taxed or otherwise politically interfered with. But the proliferation of newly registered lobbyists points to a couple of developments. First, businesses no longer trust that government will engage with them directly and in good faith unless they hire a special workforce to get them access basically, extremely highly paid personal scheduling assistants. Second, there is more money to be made by securing government grants and rigging regulation to create a barrier to entry for would-be competitors than by innovating in the private sector. Advertisement Third, the returns on government engagement are diminishing, leading businesses to keep increasing their investment in lobbying in the hope of replicating the return on investment it used to achieve, like junkies chasing the initial high. Photo: This is the crony capitalist economy Munger was warning against, in the words of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: an economic system in which individuals and businesses with political connections and influence are favoured (through tax breaks, grants, and other forms of government assistance) in ways seen as suppressing open competition in a free market. Theres evidence that its no longer working out for businesses the way theyd hoped. The Albanese government forces businesses and organisations who are affected by policy to sign non-disclosure agreements to have a seat at the negotiating table. The government punishes those who reveal the substance of the discussion by excluding them from consultation. But there are so many NDAs that its now getting safer for organisations to acknowledge, off the record, that theyve been gagged. Its become impossible to identify who blabbed. Divulging the contents is another matter entirely. Regardless of how heinous the proposals that are the subject of the discussions, the ease with which leaks could be traced, and the threat of excommunication, deters participants from speaking about bad policy until its too late. Unions refuse to sign the agreements because it would stop them communicating with their members. They get away with it because they own Labor. Businesses have become trapped in a disadvantageous power structure within a system of patronage they helped create. Its now a protection racket, in which the government is the standover man. Advertisement As General Strategic director Damian Damjanovski tells me, Were seeing more lobbyists and fewer outcomes. When organisations havent updated their advocacy strategies since the 90s, they default to hiring more lobbyists. Thats not a plan, its a headcount. And in a political environment where government feels confident enough to say no, more bodies dont deliver results. Related Article Exclusive Property development From leader to lobbyist: How Morris Iemma opens doors for Sydney property developers At this stage, it should dawn on business leaders that they need to extricate themselves from this toxic relationship. The first dollar they spend on restoring a competitive, productive, market-based system will have a higher return on investment than the last dollar theyve spent on the pursuit of government favours. Yes, it will also benefit their competitors. But if theres more to go around, everyone wins. Economic analysis suggests there could be considerably more. A 2024 paper concluded that eliminating lobbying in the US would increase aggregate productivity by 6 per cent. So theres a potential 6 per cent productivity boost to dialling back the type of lobbying that ties up competitors in regulatory red tape. Thats good for businesses and good for individuals. The Productivity Commission reckons if Australia had maintained its productivity rate over the past 25 years, wed all be $25,000 better off each a year. Advertisement Now businesses are playing chicken, fearing the one who moves first has most to lose. Its the other way around. In a suppressed environment, the first organisation to frame the new game wins the biggest prize. Its time for business to champion the kind of policy that makes us all richer. Parnell Palme McGuinness is an insights and advocacy strategist. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens and is a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. She is also an advisory board member of Australians For Prosperity, which is part-funded by the coal industry. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion 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: Secrecy Opinion For subscribers Political lobbying Parnell Palme McGuinness is an insights and advocacy strategist. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens and is a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. She is also an advisory board member of Australians For Prosperity, which is part-funded by the coal industry. Advertisement Letters NationalVictoriaLetters We need to look at the whole picture for ISIS brides in Syria February 21, 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: Matt Golding 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. Look at whole picture Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to allow the ISIS brides from Australia and their children back into the country from their tents in Syria (Albanese declares his contempt for ISIS bridges seeking return, 20/2). He is, of course, influenced by the possibility of general Australian condemnation if he does allow them back, following the countrys outrage over the terrorist attack in Bondi. Your correspondents have pleaded for leniency and fairness for the innocent children involved. Mat Tinker, from Save the Children Australia, makes a good case for repatriation of the children (Eight-year old in desert camp did not make her own bed, 20/2) It is a complex issue. On humanitarian grounds, it seems obvious the group should be allowed back, particularly given that similar groups have previously returned. It could be true that some of the mothers are pro-ISIS, although given their suffering, one wonders. Some of the children could grow up to be radicalised. It seems however, there are judicial and security procedures in place here to monitor this. Australian leaders should consider the whole picture in any issue, and not just bow to what they perceive is voter bias. Jan Marshall, Brighton Set an example A handful of people, a majority of kids. Get them back here ASAP. Stop pretending theyre a threat. Be merciful and forgive. Set an example. Is that too much too ask? Don Jordan, Mt Waverley Due process ignored The presumption of innocence is supposed to be the cornerstone of our legal system, that is until our secret security agencies and government says its not. The security agencies and government have not prosecuted the case of our citizens held in Syrian camps in front of our courts and yet a Temporary Exclusion Order has been slapped on at least one of the women. What happens after the exclusion time expires? How many exclusion orders can be placed on one individual? Due process and fairness is being ignored under the guise of security concerns and political expediency. The fact that these women have been characterised as Islamic terrorists by the government and some media before any proof of guilt has been presented before our courts should be a concern of every Australian. Paul Chivers, Box Hill North Advertisement Lygon St memories I loved Michael Bachelards article (Lygon Street divided: The tale of the Brunetti brothers break-up, 21/2). It brings back great memories, while attending Melbourne University in the 1980s we would often go to Brunetti for coffee and cake. Its interesting that despite the brothers rivalry and differences they are both very respectful of each other. Family values instilled into them and clearly passed down through the generations. Kerry Bail, Beaconsfield Upper State of bliss Considering Pauline Hansons views on climate change and Muslims are gaining support, the only campaign slogan One Nation needs is Ignorance is Bliss. Pete Garfield, Echuca Irony abounds The new Liberal leadership looks like an exercise in self-sabotage. Chief political commentator James Massola notes that Angus Taylor has at least apologised for opposing tax cuts in 2025. Ditto for Jane Hume with her inexplicable crusade against flexible work arrangements. However, these were not just campaign errors they led to a tectonic shift in the partys economic credibility among voters. Now the former wants to be PM, and the latter holds the employment and industrial relations portfolio. Further, in small business, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price will have to build bridges with the very Indian-Australian community she targeted with past comments on migration. This leadership team smacks of irony, not renewal. I suspect Anthony Albanese is thrilled. Jesse King, Brunswick East Could be close, but for ... Standing in the shadow of the CFMEU is not a good place for Jacinta Allan to be with the Victorian election coming up. If only the Liberals would put their backstabbing knives back in the cutlery drawer and stop talking about themselves, the election might be a close one. Greg Tuck, Warragul Look to US model Forty years ago the Costigan royal commission into the corrupt Painters and Dockers Union and notorious bottom of the harbour tax fraud pointed to a potential remedy that could be relevant to the Building Bad scandal. Frank Costigan, QC, recommended legislating an equivalent of the US Racketeer and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO) which has been effective in curbing the pervasive power of the Mafia. Reinforced by fairly draconian criminal and civil penalties, RICO can simply tackle a pattern of corrupt or criminal behaviour by a group rather than having to prove individual offences. Trade unions are not exempt. A RICO civil action in 1988 against the corrupt International Brotherhood of Teamsters (truckies) resulted in a settlement that forced the union to reform as required. If adopted here, RICO might also be useful to deal with the well-known but legally elusive crime families. Claude Forell, Elwood Advertisement Helping others According to the US-based NGO Mercy Corps, a year after Donald Trumps administration slashed humanitarian aid across the world, 132,000 preventable deaths have occurred, and the child death rate rose for the first time in decades. The NGOs projection warns that 2.4 million preventable deaths will occur each year if aid cuts continue. Now is the time for us to increase our foreign aid, even if we have to drag our inert government kicking and screaming to do it. Helping others in need is a part of Australian values, isnt it? Jerry Koliha, South Melbourne Dealing with the nitwits The best way to deal with the nitwits regularly vandalising statues and monuments around Australia is to ensure the police relentlessly track them down, prosecute them to the full extent of the law, and (along with punitive fines) require them to pay in full for the repair or restoration. If they havent got the money available, the courts should seize and sell their assets and garnish their wages to the extent of the cost, even bankrupting them if necessary. This should persuade them not to do it again; and hopefully their friends will take notice and find other ways to express their tedious opinions. Geoff Dalton, East Malvern Roundabout solution If drivers are observing the speed limit but there are still collisions occurring at intersections, surely it is obvious that what are needed are roundabouts. Roundabouts force drivers to slow down and it is much less likely that there will be fatal accidents. Elizabeth Sprigg, Glen Iris UN first, please Think Ill take the United Nations over the Board of Peace, thanks. Peter Baddeley, Portland Wilcox shows real story Cathy Wilcoxs cartoon (19/2) perfectly shows the lack of humanity shown to Australian citizens and innocent children abandoned in Syria. This not the Australia I know. They should be brought back and given all the support they need to integrate back into society. Also, what a disappointment to see Prime Minister Anthony Albanese showing such contempt for them. Heather Wood, Port Fairy Not this status quo Recently I had to queue at Coles to use the self-service checkout. I was, in effect, made to wait to do the supermarkets work for them. It made me feel very down down. Jon ONeill, Waurn Ponds Advertisement Analysis NationalWABikie gangs There is no code of silence: How a Perth sniper shattered the bikie myth Rebecca Peppiatt February 21, 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 feed flickered in the back of an unmarked police surveillance van sitting on an innocuous suburban street south of Perth. For the detectives of Taskforce Ravello, the mission had become an obsession: find the ghost who pulled the trigger at the Kwinana Motorplex on December 12, 2020 and killing the tattooed patriarch of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, Nick Martin. Nick Martins assassin arriving at David Pyes home, as captured by police covert operations. Supreme Court of WA They knew the shot was too clean, too professional for the average street thug. They were looking for a specialist. Then, a figure appeared on the screen lean, disciplined, moving with a calculated gait that didnt match the heavy-set swagger of the bikies usually frequenting the property. As the man stepped toward the front door of David Pyes home, the air in the van must have sharpened. Advertisement Inside the house, the walls were bugged, the very air saturated with invisible police ears. The watchers saw a stranger; the listeners heard the rustle of a Woolworths bag. They didnt know yet that the bag contained the blood money for an assassination $150,000 in cold, hard cash. The sniper arriving at David Pyes home. Supreme Court of WA They only knew that the man they were watching was the bridge between a snipers nest and the man they believed had ordered the hit. It was the moment the hunt for a killer collided with the downfall of a kingpin. Advertisement And it was this mans evidence, given to a packed Perth court last year from behind a thick layer of protective bullet-proof glass, that led to the conviction of arguably one of WAs most dangerous men: David Pye. On Friday, members of that police taskforce sat in the Supreme Court of WA to witness the culmination of five years of hard work. A court sketch of bikie David Pye during his Supreme Court trial last year. Anne Barnetson Pye was found guilty of ordering the murder of Martin, as well as inciting the same hitman to kill an ex-girlfriend and another bikie rival, Ray Cilli. It would have been a big moment for the WA Police force who have dealt with the fallout of organised crime for years. The conviction of one of its top players is rare. Advertisement But after the verdict on Friday, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch described the catalyst for Martins killing as petty bikie politics, and belittled the men who wore patched colours with pride and use threats of violence to get what they want. David Pye, because of petty bikie politics, decided to pay someone to kill another person, Blanch told media after the verdict. David Pye leaves court during an appearance in 2013. AAPIMAGE/Angie Raphael Here we have grown adults planning murders of each other over silly things. Im not even going to entertain how stupid they are because the level of buffoonery is extraordinary within outlaw motorcycle gangs. Nick Martin was surrounded by family, friends and young kids he paid the ultimate price for petty bikie politics, but in the presence of families and young people an eight-year-old young boy suffered injuries, another person suffered shrapnel wounds these things should just not happen in Western Australia. Advertisement Blanch said more than 40 police vehicles responded to numerous triple-zero calls after the shooting. Police with hundreds of thousands of dollars seized during their arrest. Supreme Court of WA More than 700 staff formed Taskforce Revello and executed search warrants on gang members. Out of 286 search warrants, 271 people were charged. Blanch was questioned on whether he believed police would have found Pye if the shooter, whose name is suppressed by the courts, didnt provide evidence against him, given part of bikie politics is related to a code of silence. Advertisement The bikie code of silence is not real, Blanch replied. They might not stand in front of cameras and say what theyre doing, but plenty of bikies ring Crime Stoppers, plenty of bikies tell police whats happened. Nick Martin and his wife Amanda. 9News Perth Theres no code of silence. That was certainly true for the 39-year-old soldier who, in return for a lenient sentence, coughed up everything to police in the weeks following his arrest over Martins death. Advertisement Hes now spending his 20-year stretch writing a book about his involvement in the murder. The former soldier at the heart of the case He was a man who lived in the dead space between two identities. From the Australian Army, and later the private military contractors in Iraq, then back to suburban Perth, the soldier was a man trying to buy his way into a normalcy he didnt quite know how to inhabit. The contrast was jarring. While he was calculating the 365-metre trajectory that would end Martins life, he was also helping his girlfriend with her small business. And there was no high-tech vault for his earnings. Instead, the court heard of a man who took bundles of cash payments for the death of one man and the planned execution of another and shoved them into the dirt in a plastic tube he buried in a precise location near Lake Coolongup a place he regularly walked his dog. Advertisement Even as he sat behind the bulletproof glass of the witness stand, the soldier archetype seemed to slip. The defence painted him not as a warrior, but as a pathological and compulsive weaver of fantasies. The man sentenced for the public murder of former Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin. They pointed to his exaggerated tales of overseas conquests and his mercenary persona as proof that he was a man who couldnt tell the truth if his life depended on it. And yet, as Justice McGrath handed down his decision on Friday morning, it became clear that while the man may have been a flawed vessel, the evidence he carried was undeniable. Advertisement The judge had to look past the bravado to the cold, hard facts. Court exhibit from the trial of the soldier who buried payment for shooting Nick Martin dead. Supreme Court of WA There was the single bullet that had travelled through Nick Martin and into the arm of Ricky Chapman. There were the bugged conversations where David Pye ranted about his ex-girlfriend. And there were those chilling digital breadcrumbs: the coffin emojis and the one dead, one serious text exchange. Advertisement When the verdict of guilty was read out on Friday, the transition was complete. The soldier was no longer just a sniper or a drug-seeking mercenary; he was the key that locked the cell door for David Pye. The trial of the century didnt end with a cinematic confession, but with a clinical summary of banknotes in dirt, drones in the night, and the slow collapse of the bikie myth. Pye, the defector who thought he could outsource his vengeance to a man with a rifle, now sits in a cell, awaiting a sentencing date that will likely see him grow old behind bars. The hundreds of thousands of dollars buried near the lake was dug up by police. And the code of silence that once protected men like Pye has been replaced by a more transactional reality: in the modern underworld, the most dangerous man isnt the one with the gun its the one with the plea deal. Timothy Busfield has pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Timothy Busfield pleads not guilty to charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor The 68-year-old actor who is married to Little House On The Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert was indicted by a grand jury on February 6 on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child and four days later, he pleaded not guilty. According to PEOPLE, the not-guilty plea entry was filed in New Mexicos Second Judicial District Court. He also requested to waive his arraignment and appearances in court for all pretrial proceedings, which Judge Joseph Montano granted. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the initial witness list put together by state prosecutors includes four people who have previously accused the actor of sexual misconduct. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman previously announced the indictment and said in a statement: As with all criminal proceedings, Mr. Busfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. This case will proceed through the judicial process and is expected to move forward to trial." The Special Victims Unit of the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office will be prosecutors on the case, per the statement, and Bregman insisted that protecting children remains a top priority for his office. He went on to say: The Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office remains committed to doing everything possible to protect children and ensure justice for victims across New Mexico. Busfields civil attorney Larry Stein said the "indictment was not unexpected. He went on: "As the saying goes, a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich. is deeply concerning is that the District Attorney is choosing to proceed on a case that is fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial. The detention hearing exposed fatal weaknesses in the States evidence - gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure. This prosecution appears driven by something other than the facts or the law. Mr. Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the States case in open court - where evidence matters - not behind closed doors." The West Wing actor Busfield turned himself in and was booked by authorities on January 13, just four days after the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) issued a warrant for his arrest. The warrant came after it was alleged that he engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys. On January 20, the Field of Dreams actor was released with conditions while awaiting trial. The conditions include that he is not allowed to possess any firearms or dangerous weapons, consume any alcohol or illegal drugs, have contact with the alleged victims or their families, discuss the case with any witnesses or have unsupervised contact with any minor children. Busfield has denied all the charges, saying in a video obtained by TMZ: I did not do anything. They're all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I'm gonna fight it. I'm gonna fight it with a great team, and I'm gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies." Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A First he shared a prestigious award with his supposed nemesis, Dominic Perrottet, for civility in an election campaign. Then he extended invites to former NSW Liberal leaders to cut the ribbon on the metro, the brainchild of the Coalition. Now Chris Minns heaps praise on Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane for her handling of the Bondi massacre at every opportunity. The NSW premier is, by all accounts, Mr Nice Guy. Yet, with a little over a year until the next state election, rank-and-file Labor members are wondering who he wants to keep onside. The party faithful are not convinced it is them. The handling of last Mondays CBD protest, organised by serial activist Josh Lees against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, has exposed the simmering discontent among some in the Labor Party as well as several trade unions, who are outraged at what they see as the premiers draconian erosion of civil liberties. Premier Chris Minns, with former transport minister Jo Haylen (right) welcomed former Liberal premiers Dominic Perrottet (left) and Mike Baird (second left) to open the city metro line. Dean Sewell Four so-called rogue Labor backbenchers attended the anti-Herzog protest, which resulted in 10 people being charged after chaotic scenes broke out, and Minns has sought to paint the MPs as outliers who are not in the tent. But those MPs, two from the Left and two from Minns Right faction, are not alone. On Friday, the South Coast Labour Council summoned their six local MPs, which include Health Minister Ryan Park and Planning Minister Paul Scully, to a please explain meeting. Only Anna Watson, MP for Shellharbour, turned up. Advertisement The meeting came after the Maritime Union of Australias southern NSW branch wrote to the council demanding an explanation from local MPs, and condemned the premiers defence of police actions in the strongest possible terms. Related Article Exclusive Protests Senior officer agreed to let prayer go ahead before violent Sydney protest scenes The totally reprehensible sign of burly NSW Police officers pepper-spraying and aggressively manhandling women and elderly people that posed no credible threat to them was particularly galling and cannot be acceptable in Australian society, MUA branch secretary Scott Carter wrote. Minns is no Gough Whitlam, says South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris, who said bashing union veterans and grannies at rallies would not motivate the Labor faithful to work the booths at election time. Wollongong can be a tough place for Labor politicians at the best of times, and workers and their unions have this strange expectation that our Labor leaders are put there to help us, not smash us. The premier has made his disdain for Lees and the Palestine Action Groups protest efforts well known. Last year, Minns publicly insisted a march across the Harbour Bridge should not go ahead, before the NSW Police had even filed a court challenge. Minns would not allow protesters to shut down the citys central artery, he insisted, citing safety concerns. Multiple MPs, including senior ministers Jihad Dib and Penny Sharpe, defied their boss and marched with up to 300,000 people anyway, making internal disagreements over the handling of pro-Palestine protests clear. Advertisement In late December, Minns linked the protests to rising antisemitic hatred in the community as justification for crackdowns after the Bondi massacre. Hateful words lead to actions, he said, and vowed to outlaw the phrase globalise the intifada. In the months since, some protesters, including former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, have continued to use the phrase. Minns latest crackdown on the ability to protest included legislating to restrict marches after a terrorism event and declaring the visit of Herzog a major event, triggering extra police powers to move on protesters. Police faced backlash after Muslims bowed in prayer were forcibly moved on after the Town Hall rally. @beastfromthe_middleeast The morning after the chaotic scenes at Town Hall, when vision of police punching and charging at protesters were being spread like wildfire on social media, the premier did not deviate from his staunch defence of police officers. The clips did not show the full context, Minns stressed, and officers were faced with exceptional circumstances trying to prevent the unruly protesters from clashing with mourners at Herzogs nearby event. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is now investigating the actions of police. The biggest political headache for the premier, however, has come not from these incidents, but from viral footage showing a group of Muslim worshippers, heads bowed in prayer, being aggressively moved on by officers. Advertisement Muslim community leaders called on the premier to apologise for the hurt and distress the disruption of such a sacred act had caused the community. Minns would not. Even after this masthead revealed a senior officer gave the go-ahead for worshippers to continue their evening prayers, Minns has refused to apologise. After the Town Hall rally on February 9, Dib, a close friend of the premier, posted on social media that the scenes should not have happened, and assured the Muslim community he had met with Minns and the Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon to make their concerns known. Loading More than a week later, Dib joined Minns at a press conference where he launched a full-throated defence of the premier, denied any rift, and instead heaped blame on protest organisers for failing to heed police advice to hold their protest at Hyde Park. Theres no issue between us, and I think its really important that were so comfortable that we can have those conversations with that pure intent of saying, what can we do to make things better right now and into the future? Dib said. A senior Labor source, who asked to remain anonymous to speak publicly, said Minns was relying on Dib to calm tensions within his community. The ongoing one siding and disrespect being shown to the Muslim community is really out of control and Minns use of Jihad Dib as a human shield this week has been unedifying, the source says. Cabinet ministers from both the Right and the Left seem to have no capacity to challenge the premier or put forward new policies and that is leading to every position being decided by what 2GB shock jocks would say about it. Advertisement Senior Labor figures with an understanding of the operations of the Minns government are lamenting the complete control and command centre run out of the premiers office. There, Minns makes all the decisions without challenge, enforced by his trusted lieutenant James Cullen, a long-serving Labor staffer. In the competitive world of politics, where ministers want to retain their cabinet spot or MPs desperately hope to be promoted, it appears no one wants to rock the boat. Some MPs in the Left faction who marched across the Harbour Bridge last year have been in lock-step with the premier after the events of Town Hall. Former transport minister Jo Haylen, who has been sidelined from cabinet after a travel entitlements scandal, wrote to a constituent insisting that she would continue to fight for the right to protest. She later told this masthead she was disappointed with the protest organisers for not complying with police suggestions to move the rally to Hyde Park. Unhappiness with Minns protest agenda and workers compensation reforms will feature at the mid-year NSW Labor state conference, the last before next years election. The party leadership will want calm, with no dirty laundry aired, but the delegates are likely to have other ideas. Related Article Photos of the Week Eyes full of capsicum spray, nowhere to run: What it takes to document history as it happens However, while the dissidents are growing in volume, there are still plenty in the Labor ranks who share the premiers exasperation with the protests. Health Services Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said his members always did their best to avoid disruption to the public when taking to the streets to demand pay rises. They know that traffic jams have a real-world consequence and can prevent patients getting to hospital in time, Hayes said. Some of the protests we have seen recently dont share this awareness. The premier has struck the right balance on this issue. Advertisement Still, a growing ensemble of Left-leaning Labor branches are revolting at least 10 have passed motions after the Town Hall rally showing support for protesters, many calling for an independent investigation and for protest laws to be repealed. The Australian Services Union is among those expected to push the issue at the upcoming state conference. People being kicked and punched and attacks on people peacefully praying indicate that the laws in practice are undermining social cohesion and doing nothing to build unity across the diverse communities of Sydney, said Angus McFarland, secretary of the Australian Services Union NSW/ACT branch. We need laws that strengthen and advance our democracy, not diminish it. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Epstein files row Andrew released after 11 hrs of grilling By Aditi Khanna : LONDON THE UK police investigating allegations of misconduct in public office against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles IIIs younger brother, continue to carry out searches at his home of Royal Lodge on Windsor Castle estate on Friday. Andrew, who was arrested in a dramatic swoop on his 66th birthday on Thursday morning, was released under investigation after 11 hours of questioning by Thames Valley Police and returned to his Wood Farm home on Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The police confirmed that their search of the particular property, where he had recently moved, is now complete, but the search at the Royal Lodge in Berkshire remains ongoing. Following the unprecedented development of the eighth in line to the British throne being arrested, King Charles issued a statement to stress that the law must take its course and proceeded with his pre-scheduled royal engagements. His brothers arrest came in the wake of shocking allegations over the past few weeks as files related to the late American sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, were released by the US Department of Justice. The police are believed to be investigating breaches related to his term as the UKs Trade Envoy between 2001 and 2011, when he may have shared privileged government information inappropriately. Misconduct in public office is a serious common law offence which requires prosecutors to show that a public officer deliberately breached their duty in a way that represents a serious abuse of public trust, said Simarjot Singh Judge, founder and managing partner of Judge Law. The Indian-origin legal expert stressed that an arrest is only part of the investigative process and if confidential reports were shared, investigators would need to examine their classification. Ex-junior engineer, wife get death for sexual exploitation of 33 children NEW DELHI A SPECIAL court in UPs Banda on Friday sentenced a former junior engineer of the States Irrigation Department and his wife to death for the sexual exploitation of 33 minor boys -- some as young as three -- over a decade, officials said. The POCSO court termed the crimes as rarest of rare and held Ram Bhavan and his wife Durgawati guilty of systematically abusing children between 2010 and 2020. The duo circulated over two lakh objectionable videos and photographs of the victims to nearly 47 countries via the internet. The couple was convicted under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (POCSO) Pradeep Kumar Mishra. They were found guilty of offences including aggravated penetrative sexual assault, using a child for pornographic purposes, storage of pornographic material involving children, and abettment and criminal conspiracy, Special Public Prosecutor Saurabh Singh said. The court directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to each of the 33 victims. The court further ordered to distribute the cash amount seized from the house of the accused among the victims in equal proportion, the CBI said. During the probe, it was found that Ram Bhavan, a resident of Naraini town in Banda district, had been living in a rented room in Chitrakoot district where the offences were committed, with his wife allegedly assisting him, the agency said. The prosecutor said court records indicated that the accused lured and threatened the minors over several years, subjecting them to physical and mental abuse. The objectionable material was allegedly used for blackmail and other criminal activities. The court termed the crimes as rarest of rare based on unparalleled depravity and systemic nature of their crimes. Such offences not only destroy the lives of children but also shake the moral foundation of society. Any leniency in such cases would send a dangerous message, the court said. The sheer scale of this victimisation across multiple districts, combined with the extreme moral turpitude of the convicts, marks this as a crime of such an exceptional and heinous nature that it leaves no room for reformation, necessitating the ultimate judicial deterrent to meet the ends of justice, it said. Failure makes one more resilient, innovative Anand Sancheti, MD, SMS Ltd, addressing the inaugural function of the three-day CIMCON26 on Friday. Vijay Phanshikar, Editor, The Hitavada; Vishal Agrawal, Director of R C Plasto Tanks and Pipes Pvt Ltd; Dr Bhimaraya Metri, Director of IIM - Nagpur; Ashutosh Paturkar, office-bearer of CIMCON Management Foundation; and Shantanu Ugemuge of Vidarbha Infotech Private Limited; also are seen. (Pic: Anil Futane) Business Reporter : Three-day CIMCON26 begins at IIM Nagpur Addressing the inaugural function of the three-day CIMCON26, Central Indias largest management conclave, on Friday, Anand Sancheti, Managing Director of SMS Ltd, said that failure makes one more resilient and innovative while success makes one more busy. He also said that the business leaders should proactively identify potential risks and deal with them in an effective way. Dr Bhimaraya Metri, Director of Indian Institute of Management; Vijay Phanshikar, Editor, The Hitavada; Vishal Agrawal, Director of R C Plasto Tanks and Pipes Pvt Ltd; Shantanu Ugemuge of Vidarbha Infotech Private Limited; and Ashutosh Paturkar, office-bearer of CIMCON Management Foundation, were seated on dias. Expressing his views further, Sancheti said that trained manpower is essential for the growth of any organisation. The well-informed and trained employees can pave the way for the companys growth - not just 10X but even more than that, he observed. Deal with your employees like you deal with your family members. If you take care of them, they will take care of everything else. It is also important that each and every employee of the organisation must know where the money comes from, he said. Earlier in his welcome address, Bhimaraya Metri said that the 21st century belongs to India. Indias population is its assets. It is generating huge data which makes it an ideal place for IT sector, he said. In his introductory remarks, Ashutosh Paturkar said that 10X growth requires courage. We must move from cost advantage to innovation advantage and from market participation to market creation, he said. Amit Bajpayee introduced Anand Sancheti. A large number of the business leaders, professionals, management students and others attended the inaugural session. Organised by the CIMCON Management Foundation in association with IIM Nagpur, VIA, and VMA, CIMCON26 has been designed to emphasise the most critical aspect: bridging the gap between industry and academia. LOFTY DREAMS EVEN as India watched the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, the global governing body envisioned by United States President Mr. Donald Trump, as a neutral observer the members were asked to open their wallets for reconstruction of the Gaza strip. The modest contribution of USD 7 billion toward the Gaza relief package by nine members of the body as against the estimated USD 70 billion needed to rebuild the war-ravaged territory underscores the apprehension of the rest of the members in the practicability of the Board of Peace. It is a lofty dream and its success hinges only on material success of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas. At this moment, things have hardly moved in implementing the ceasefire deal brokered by the US and growing distrust between the two warring sides further puts a big question mark on the future of the ambitious global governing body. So far, 27 countries have agreed to become part of the Board of Peace while Europe has remained divided over the proposal by Mr. Trump. Countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Germany have refused to join the Board of Peace that came into being last month while India, China and many other nations have kept a safe distance from the governing body which, the world feels, is an attempt by Mr. Trump to supersede the United Nations. With such a feeling of distrust over the US plans, the future of the Board of Peace can be anybodys guess. At its inauguration last month, Mr. Trump had called for an aid of USD 1 billion from each member for a seat on the Board. However, only Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait have agreed to pledge USD 7 billion which is much less than the initial estimate by Mr. Trump. Other members of the Board have remained non-committal while some like the cash-strapped Pakistan are still figuring out ways to dodge the financial demand bullet. It is a divided house seeking normalcy in a province which remains split into two territories controlled by Israel and Hamas, respectively. The promises made by the US President to Israel and the residents of Gaza Strip are too exalted. The Board has yet to take any concrete action in Gaza. War has paused since the ceasefire brokered in October 2025 by White House but things have not moved to the second phase of the ceasefire deal. The second phase plan includes the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza. However, there are no signs of the militant group laying down arms despite optimism and threats from Mr. Trump. In fact, the Gazans have been vocal about Hamas extending its control over the strip. It would be a daunting task to control the Palestinian group even for the Palestinian police force assisted by the International Stabilisation Force. None of the plans drafted by the Board of Peace would succeed if there is no progress on this issue. The ISF needs broad support from the Palestinians for reconstruction and governance in the enclave. Without proper governance in place and broad-based agreement on a shared future among Israelis and Palestinians, there is little chance of the Board making any progress in Gaza. Director of the boards executive body Bulgarian diplomat Mr. Nickolay Mladenov has also reminded the world that no country would actually put real money into rebuilding the Gaza Strip under current conditions. This is a stark truth that Mr. Trump will have to deal with without resorting to his maverick policies. There are simply too many issues hindering the path of the Board of Peace. Israels dislike for some members on the Board can become another hurdle in the future. The dreams are simply too lofty to achieve actual peace in the enclave. For India, the choice of staying neutral, merely as an observer, is the best foot forward at this moment. Theatre will never die, it thrives even in era of Internet and social media Seasoned theatre artist Sanjay Pendse with his wife Sarika Pendse. (Pic by Satish Raut) By Kaushik Bhattacharya : If you have that standard in which audience can relate themselves with your acting, then they will definitely come to see you, urged Pendse Seasoned theatre artist, director and producer, Sanjay Pendse, who has more than 60 years of experience in theatre, believes that theatre is historically resilient and it will thrive even in the era of internet and social media. Theatre will never die. It well-versedly survived the advent of radio, television, film and the internet because it is the mixture of all classical art forms, said Pendse while talking with The Hitavada. Pendse, who has vast experience in childrens theatre, is also known for stage plays on social issues. To mark the Centennial celebration of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Pendse and his Ranjan Kala Mandir group are staging 75th show of Sangh Ganga Ke Tin Bhagirathi in city on February 23. While talking about the drama, Pendse said, We wanted to do a play on first three Sar Sanghachalaks of RSS to mark the celebration. So we approached Bhaiyaji Joshi and he recommended us Vidarbha Sahasanghachalak Shridhar Gadge for script writing. There are many unknown stories and incidents which should be reached to masses. Todays youth must know the contribution of Sangh in freedom struggle and nation building, said Pendse. Staging 75 shows of this drama in just 10 months is a big achievement for us and it is the biggest proof that the drama received tremendous response among masses. We staged the drama in five different states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand in last 10 months, claimed the senior artist. While asked him about the future of theatre in India, Pendse, with sparkled eyes and in crisper tone said, Audience will come to see your acting when you have confidence about your performance. If you have that standard in which audience can relate themselves with the acting, then they (audience) will definitely come. You must have discipline. We can do drama at any platform. Just you must have the capability to transfer the message to masses through your acting, said Pendse. Bal Ranjan, the childrens theatre group he founded fifth years ago is an important part of his life. Pendse believes that survival of theatres in India depends on our next generations role in this field. Schools should conduct drama festivals regularly and should encourage students who have interest in acting. Survival of theatre depends on children. We must encourage them to practice this art form, said Pendse. There are 50 artists are working in Sangh Ganga Ke Tin Bhagirathi from last 10 months and half of them are my disciples from Bal Ranjan. They all have vast experience in stage play, said the senior director. As he recalls all those years of his career, Pendse sits back and says, in effect, that childrens theater is no childs play. It is a serious affair requiring every possible input at its best like play-writing, direction, choice of actor. If any of these inputs lags behind, the whole show loses its spark. At the end, Pendse, who was accompanied with his wife and producer of the drama Sarika Pendse, said, The problem is that in Nagpur, there are no good theatres or places to perform good plays. Dr Vasantrao Deshpande hall is the only theatre we have which was constructed for dramas. Whereas, other hall are hardly suits the atmosphere of theatre. The local administration should construct more theatres to encourage artists and audience to conserve this art form, concluded Pendse. WB SIR: SC orders deployment of judicial officers to assist EC NEW DELHI : IN AN extraordinary order, the Supreme Court on Friday directed deployment of serving and former District Judges to assist the Election Commission in the controversy-ridden special intensive revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. Ruing the unfortunate blame game between the EC and the TMC-led Government, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi passed a slew of fresh directions to ensure completion of the special intensive revision (SIR) process in the state. The bench ordered deputation of judicial officers for adjudication of claims and objections of persons put under logical discrepancy list. It asked the Calcutta High Court chief justice to spare judicial officers and find former judges to assist in SIR work as it took serious note of State Government not sparing enough grade A officers for the revision exercise. The top court permitted the EC to publish a draft list of voters in the State by February 28 while allowing the poll panel to also issue supplementary lists later. The bench directed District Collectors and SPs of the State to provide logistical support and security to the judicial officers deputed for the ongoing SIR work while making it clear that orders passed by judicial officers will be deemed as orders of court. It said judicial officers will be assisted by micro-observers and state government officials in the SIR process. The top court also directed the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice to hold a meeting by Saturday of all the stakeholders including the chief secretary, DGP and an official from the EC. Logical discrepancies in progeny linking with the 2002 voter list include instances of a mismatch in the parents name and the age difference between a voter and their parent being less than 15 years or more than 50 years. With clear vision and calculated risk any biz can achieve success: Vishal Agrawal Business Reporter : Vishal Agarwal, Director of R C Plasto Tank and Pipes Pvt Ltd shared his success mantra in business and said that entrepreneurs should have clear vision, take calculated risk, bold decisions, increase capabilities, bring innovative approach in every aspect of business and invest in quality through automation for success. He was address the gathering on the topic The Rise of Central India: Vision, Velocity and Value Creation, at the Central India Management Conclave 2026 (CIMCON26) at the IIM, Nagpur campus on Friday. He shared his entrepreneur journey and life experiences with the gathering. He said that after graduating in Industrial Engineering from Ramdeobaba University, Nagpur, he dived into entrepreneurship by buying a sick loss making tank manufacturing company in 1999. With confidence, intense focus and proper planning successfully turned R C Plasto into the largest manufacturer of plastic water storage tanks in the world. The company makes 1 tank every 10 seconds from its plant in Hingna MIDC. Currently, it has a turnover of over Rs 1,500 crore and employs more than 3,500 people and CAGR of 20 per cent. He said also highlighted the importance of branding and advertising in business. Entrepreneurs should spend a small portion of their profits on branding and advertising can increase the product value in the market. Also, branding and advertising increases the visibility of the brand among the consumers and helps raise sales of the product. Entrepreneurs also have to make changes according to current trends and technological innovations. He highlighted that entrepreneurs should focus on cash flow, manage their financials in a proper manner. Rohit Chandak, Director of Chandak Instruments moderated the session. Shares of Biglari Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BH Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 195,304 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 133% from the previous sessions volume of 83,887 shares.The stock last traded at $388.82 and had previously closed at $399.17. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Wall Street Zen downgraded Biglari from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 15th. Get Biglari alerts: Get Our Latest Report on BH Biglari Stock Down 2.2% Insider Buying and Selling The companys 50 day moving average price is $390.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $345.43. The company has a current ratio of 2.83, a quick ratio of 2.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market cap of $890.09 million, a PE ratio of 34.89 and a beta of 0.81. In related news, CEO Sardar Biglari acquired 3,452 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $463.34 per share, with a total value of $1,599,449.68. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,335,713 shares of the companys stock, valued at $618,889,261.42. This represents a 0.26% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders bought a total of 13,772 shares of company stock valued at $5,050,068 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 71.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Biglari Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its holdings in Biglari by 608.3% during the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 85 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in Biglari by 128.2% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 89 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its stake in Biglari by 148.7% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 97 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Biglari during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue purchased a new stake in Biglari during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $51,000. 74.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Biglari (Get Free Report) Biglari Holdings Inc is a diversified holding company that makes strategic investments and operates businesses across multiple industries, with a primary focus on the restaurant, insurance and media sectors. The company seeks to acquire controlling interests in undervalued enterprises and enhance long-term value through active management and operational improvements. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Biglari Holdings approaches each acquisition with a value-oriented philosophy, emphasizing disciplined capital allocation and hands-on oversight. In the restaurant segment, Biglari Holdings owns and operates Steak n Shake, a national burger and milkshake chain founded in 1934, as well as Western Sizzlin, a buffet and steakhouse brand. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Biglari Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Biglari and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (TSE:GTE Get Free Report) (NYSEMKT:GTE) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$9.22 and last traded at C$9.20, with a volume of 74272 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$8.33. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Roth Mkm downgraded shares of Gran Tierra Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded Gran Tierra Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a C$8.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on Gran Tierra Energy from C$8.00 to C$6.50 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Gran Tierra Energy presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of C$8.17. Get Gran Tierra Energy alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Gran Tierra Energy Gran Tierra Energy Stock Up 10.7% Gran Tierra Energy Company Profile The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 176.57. The firm has a market cap of C$325.43 million, a PE ratio of -3.59, a P/E/G ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 1.22. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$6.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$6.09. (Get Free Report) Gran Tierra Energy Inc is an independent energy company. It is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties in proven, under-explored hydrocarbon basins that have access to established infrastructure. The firm produces primarily light crude oil, supplemented with medium crude and natural gas. Gran Tierra holds interests in producing and prospective properties in Colombia and prospective properties in Ecuador. The company has a strategy that focuses on establishing a portfolio of producing properties, plus production enhancement and exploration opportunities to provide a base for future growth. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Gran Tierra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gran Tierra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sumitomo Chemcl (OTCMKTS:SOMMY Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $20.50, but opened at $18.20. Sumitomo Chemcl shares last traded at $18.1950, with a volume of 1,774 shares trading hands. Sumitomo Chemcl Price Performance The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $15.26. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.28 and a beta of 0.28. Get Sumitomo Chemcl alerts: Sumitomo Chemcl (OTCMKTS:SOMMY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $0.94 EPS for the quarter. Sumitomo Chemcl had a return on equity of 8.61% and a net margin of 4.01%.The company had revenue of $3.97 billion for the quarter. About Sumitomo Chemcl Sumitomo Chemical Co, Ltd. is a diversified chemical company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1913 as part of the historic Sumitomo Group, the company has grown into a global industry leader, operating across multiple chemical and material science industries. It is listed in Japans premier equity markets and is available to U.S. investors via its American depositary receipts trading under the ticker SOMMY on the OTCMKTS exchange. The companys operations are organized into several core business segments, including petrochemicals, energy and functional materials, ITrelated chemicals, living materials, and health & crop sciences. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sumitomo Chemcl Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sumitomo Chemcl and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trifast plc (LON:TRI Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as GBX 87.80 and last traded at GBX 87, with a volume of 259827 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 84. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Peel Hunt reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 140 price target on shares of Trifast in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and set a GBX 130 price target 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, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 135. Get Trifast alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Trifast Trifast Trading Up 3.6% The company has a market cap of 117.43 million, a PE ratio of 100.00 and a beta of 1.16. The companys 50 day simple moving average is GBX 74.79 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 77.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.54, a current ratio of 3.46 and a quick ratio of 1.78. Trifast (LON:TRI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 18th. The company reported GBX 1.09 EPS for the quarter. Trifast had a negative net margin of 1.90% and a negative return on equity of 3.47%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Trifast plc will post 5.8002937 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Iain Percival acquired 123,757 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 16th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 80 per share, for a total transaction of 99,005.60. Also, insider Nicholas Mills bought 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 7th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 70 per share, with a total value of 14,000. Insiders own 20.48% of the companys stock. Trifast Company Profile (Get Free Report) 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Trifast Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trifast and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Monaco Asset Management SAM acquired a new position in Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom S.A. (NYSE:TEO Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 120,000 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $872,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom by 34.2% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 149,672 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,322,000 after buying an additional 38,107 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom by 21.3% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 26,872 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $237,000 after acquiring an additional 4,714 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new stake in Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom during the second quarter worth about $578,000. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new position in Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom during the second quarter valued at approximately $596,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new position in Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom during the second quarter valued at approximately $346,000. Get Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have weighed in on TEO. UBS Group set a $17.00 price target on Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Zacks Research cut Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $11.93. Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom Price Performance Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom stock opened at $11.43 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $11.73 and its 200-day moving average is $10.38. The company has a market capitalization of $4.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -32.66 and a beta of 1.22. Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom S.A. has a 12 month low of $6.43 and a 12 month high of $13.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom Profile (Free Report) Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom (NYSE:TEO) is an integrated telecommunications provider based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Originally formed through the 1990 privatization of the state-owned Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (ENTel), the company was initially backed by Italian state carrier STET and French operator France Telecom. Since its listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker TEO, Telecom Argentina has evolved into one of the countrys principal communications groups, offering a comprehensive portfolio of voice and data services. The companys core business activities span fixed-line telephony, mobile services, broadband internet and digital television. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TEO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom S.A. (NYSE:TEO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Monaco Asset Management SAM trimmed its holdings in AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (NYSEARCA:MSOS Free Report) by 52.9% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 530,000 shares of the companys stock after selling 595,000 shares during the period. Monaco Asset Management SAMs holdings in AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF were worth $2,539,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. PFS Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF by 31.3% in the third quarter. PFS Partners LLC now owns 8,380 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Gainplan LLC purchased a new position in AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF during the third quarter worth approximately $55,000. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. purchased a new position in AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $75,000. Get AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF alerts: AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF Stock Down 10.0% MSOS stock opened at $3.77 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $740.69 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.20 and a beta of 1.20. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4.49. AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF has a 52 week low of $2.02 and a 52 week high of $7.25. AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF Profile The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOS) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in stocks based on a particular theme. The fund is an actively managed narrow portfolio of US stocks or swap contracts related to the domestic cannabis and hemp industry. MSOS was launched on Sep 1, 2020 and is managed by AdvisorShares. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSOS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (NYSEARCA:MSOS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSE:AEM Get Free Report) (NYSE:AEM) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as C$306.85 and last traded at C$303.95, with a volume of 190739 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$302.34. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently commented on AEM shares. National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$300.00 to C$320.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered Agnico Eagle Mines from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a C$337.00 price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$300.00 to C$350.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Agnico Eagle Mines has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$272.60. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AEM Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Up 1.3% The companys 50-day moving average is C$267.66 and its 200 day moving average is C$236.48. The stock has a market capitalization of C$155.88 billion, a PE ratio of 35.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 22.97 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.88. Agnico Eagle Mines (TSE:AEM Get Free Report) (NYSE:AEM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The company reported C$3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 12.86% and a return on equity of 5.05%. The business had revenue of C$4.89 billion for the quarter. As a group, analysts anticipate that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 5.4966052 EPS for the current year. Agnico Eagle Mines Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Agnico Eagle Miness dividend payout ratio is currently 18.06%. Insider Transactions at Agnico Eagle Mines In related news, insider Ammar Al-Joundi sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$243.40, for a total value of C$4,868,000.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 54,917 shares in the company, valued at C$13,366,797.80. This represents a 26.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Also, insider James Porter sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$247.42, for a total transaction of C$742,260.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$1,913,546.28. This represents a 27.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Agnico Eagle Mines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Agnico Eagle Mines is a gold miner operating mines in Canada, Mexico, and Finland. It also owns 50% of the Canadian Malartic mine. Agnico operated just one mine, LaRonde, as recently as 2008 before bringing its other mines on line in rapid succession in the following years. The company produced more than 1.7 million gold ounces in 2020. Agnico Eagle is focused on increasing gold production in lower-risk jurisdictions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greenwoods Asset Management Hong Kong Ltd. boosted its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA Free Report) by 81.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 843,409 shares of the specialty retailers stock after purchasing an additional 378,409 shares during the quarter. Alibaba Group comprises 3.4% of Greenwoods Asset Management Hong Kong Ltd.s portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Greenwoods Asset Management Hong Kong Ltd.s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $150,742,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. NTV Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Alibaba Group by 127.4% during the 3rd quarter. NTV Asset Management LLC now owns 15,143 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $2,707,000 after buying an additional 8,484 shares during the period. Marex Group plc purchased a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group during the second quarter worth about $17,139,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd increased its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 197.0% during the second quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 34,225 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $3,881,000 after acquiring an additional 22,701 shares during the last quarter. RD Finance Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Alibaba Group in the second quarter worth about $3,408,000. Finally, Oriental Harbor Investment Master Fund purchased a new position in Alibaba Group in the third quarter valued at about $39,500,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 13.47% of the companys stock. Get Alibaba Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In BABA has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Alibaba Group from $240.00 to $230.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Freedom Capital cut shares of Alibaba Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $231.00 to $225.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Alibaba Group from $200.00 to $180.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Alibaba Group from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $195.17. Alibaba Group Trading Up 0.2% NYSE:BABA opened at $154.60 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $369.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.35, a PEG ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a current ratio of 1.46. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 1 year low of $95.73 and a 1 year high of $192.67. The business has a fifty day moving average of $158.99 and a 200-day moving average of $156.24. 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 cofounders. 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 highprofile 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Alibaba Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alibaba Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alight (NYSE:ALIT Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.25 by ($0.07), FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $653.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $654.30 million. Alight had a positive return on equity of 8.01% and a negative net margin of 136.91%. Alight Trading Down 7.5% Shares of NYSE ALIT opened at $0.75 on Friday. Alight has a twelve month low of $0.72 and a twelve month high of $7.08. The stock has a market cap of $399.37 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.13, a P/E/G ratio of 0.13 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The companys fifty day moving average is $1.65 and its 200-day moving average is $2.58. Get Alight alerts: Trending Headlines about Alight Here are the key news stories impacting Alight this week: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently issued reports on ALIT. Wedbush cut their price target on Alight from $7.00 to $5.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. DA Davidson dropped their price objective on Alight from $6.00 to $5.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Alight in a research note on Tuesday. They issued an underperform rating and a $1.40 target price on the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of Alight in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup lowered shares of Alight from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $6.50 to $1.00 in a report on Friday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Alight has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $3.56. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Alight Insider Buying and Selling In other Alight news, Director Robert A. Schriesheim bought 42,098 shares of Alight stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 26th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $2.38 per share, for a total transaction of $100,193.24. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 109,130 shares in the company, valued at approximately $259,729.40. The trade was a 62.80% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Richard N. Massey acquired 100,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 26th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $2.33 per share, for a total transaction of $233,000.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 100,000 shares in the company, valued at $233,000. This represents a increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders have acquired 193,116 shares of company stock valued at $448,984. 1.93% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in shares of Alight by 3.6% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 159,901 shares of the companys stock worth $948,000 after acquiring an additional 5,525 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Alight in the 1st quarter valued at about $434,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Alight by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 249,753 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,481,000 after purchasing an additional 10,893 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in shares of Alight by 1,776.2% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 11,257 shares of the companys stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 10,657 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its position in shares of Alight by 7.0% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,027,103 shares of the companys stock worth $6,091,000 after buying an additional 66,771 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.74% of the companys stock. Alight Company Profile (Get Free Report) Alight, Inc (NYSE: ALIT) is a leading provider of cloud-based human capital and financial solutions designed to help organizations and their employees navigate critical life and work events. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including payroll administration, benefits enrollment and management, workforce and analytics solutions, health and welfare support, and financial wellness programs. By integrating advanced technology with expert advisory services, Alight aims to simplify the administration of human resources and benefits functions, improve employee engagement and productivity, and drive cost efficiencies for its clients. Alights core platform leverages cloud architecture and automation to deliver scalable and secure solutions that address the needs of mid-sized and large enterprises. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Alight Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alight and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aperam (OTCMKTS:APEMY Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $52.00 and last traded at $52.00, with a volume of 10685 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $50.78. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on APEMY shares. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Aperam in a research note on Thursday. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Aperam in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Zacks Research cut Aperam from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of Aperam in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Oddo Bhf lowered Aperam to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Two research 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, Aperam currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Aperam alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on APEMY Aperam Stock Up 0.8% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 3.15. The companys fifty day moving average price is $43.69 and its 200-day moving average price is $37.73. The stock has a market cap of $3.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 324.44 and a beta of 1.10. Aperam (OTCMKTS:APEMY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 6th. The company reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by $0.13. Aperam had a net margin of 0.17% and a return on equity of 1.05%. The company had revenue of $1.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.69 billion. Equities analysts forecast that Aperam will post 2.84 EPS for the current year. About Aperam (Get Free Report) Aperam is a global stainless, electrical and specialty steel producer with headquarters in Luxembourg. The company designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of stainless and electrical steel products that serve markets such as automotive, household appliances, construction, energy and mechanical industries. Aperam operates an integrated value chain that spans mining, steelmaking, finishing and distribution, enabling it to control quality and deliver tailored solutions to its customers. The company was established in 2011 following a carve-out from ArcelorMittal and has since developed a distinct identity focused on sustainable stainless steel production. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Aperam Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aperam and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Hawaii Corporation (NYSE:BOH Get Free Report)s stock price reached 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. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently commented on BOH. Barclays lifted their target price on 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. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Bank of Hawaii in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Stephens restated an overweight rating on shares of Bank of Hawaii in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. DA Davidson raised 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 note 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 given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $81.80. Get Bank of Hawaii alerts: Read Our Latest Report on BOH Bank of Hawaii Trading Up 1.3% The company has a market capitalization of $3.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.33, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.75. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $73.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $68.22. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 26th. The bank reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.14. Bank of Hawaii had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 14.42%. The business had revenue of $189.65 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $184.83 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.85 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Bank of Hawaii Corporation will post 3.97 EPS for the current year. Bank of Hawaii Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.5%. Bank of Hawaiis dividend payout ratio is currently 60.61%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Bank of Hawaii news, CEO Peter S. Ho sold 15,000 shares of Bank of Hawaii stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.87, for a total transaction of $1,018,050.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 156,774 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,640,251.38. The trade was a 8.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 2.07% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of Hawaii Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Danske Bank A S bought a new position in Bank of Hawaii during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 150.0% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 450 shares of the banks stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 270 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its position in Bank of Hawaii by 1,497.2% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 575 shares of the banks stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 539 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio bought a new stake in Bank of Hawaii in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Bank of Hawaii by 461.3% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 623 shares of the banks stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 512 shares during the last quarter. 82.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Bank of Hawaii (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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Hawaii Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Hawaii and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brickwood Asset Management LLP trimmed its position in ManpowerGroup Inc. (NYSE:MAN Free Report) by 2.6% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 712,607 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 18,698 shares during the period. ManpowerGroup comprises approximately 20.5% of Brickwood Asset Management LLPs holdings, making the stock its 3rd biggest holding. Brickwood Asset Management LLPs holdings in ManpowerGroup were worth $27,008,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MAN. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in ManpowerGroup by 11.3% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,756 shares of the business services providers stock worth $111,000 after acquiring an additional 280 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank grew its position in shares of ManpowerGroup by 41.6% during the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 997 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its position in shares of ManpowerGroup by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 21,513 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $869,000 after purchasing an additional 296 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of ManpowerGroup by 72.5% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 802 shares of the business services providers stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 337 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in shares of ManpowerGroup by 3.6% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 10,096 shares of the business services providers stock worth $408,000 after buying an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.03% of the companys stock. Get ManpowerGroup alerts: ManpowerGroup Stock Performance Shares of NYSE MAN opened at $28.68 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $30.88 and its 200 day moving average is $33.72. The stock has a market cap of $1.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -95.61 and a beta of 0.88. ManpowerGroup Inc. has a 1-year low of $26.14 and a 1-year high of $63.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. Analysts Set New Price Targets ManpowerGroup ( NYSE:MAN Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $4.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.63 billion. ManpowerGroup had a negative net margin of 0.07% and a positive return on equity of 6.81%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.02 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that ManpowerGroup Inc. will post 4.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. MAN has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets upgraded ManpowerGroup from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $44.00 target price for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Robert W. Baird set a $50.00 price objective on ManpowerGroup in a report on Friday, January 30th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d) rating on shares of ManpowerGroup in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Argus upgraded shares of ManpowerGroup from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $42.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, UBS Group set a $35.00 price target on shares of ManpowerGroup in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $41.13. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on MAN Trending Headlines about ManpowerGroup Here are the key news stories impacting ManpowerGroup this week: Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its Q4 2026 EPS forecast sharply to $1.13 from $0.97 a meaningful upward revision for that quarter that could support upside to nearterm earnings expectations. Zacks raised its Q4 2026 EPS forecast sharply to $1.13 from $0.97 a meaningful upward revision for that quarter that could support upside to nearterm earnings expectations. Positive Sentiment: Zacks bumped Q1 2026 to $0.47 (from $0.44) and raised Q1 2027 to $1.09 (from $1.06), small but constructive upgrades for upcoming quarters. Zacks bumped Q1 2026 to $0.47 (from $0.44) and raised Q1 2027 to $1.09 (from $1.06), small but constructive upgrades for upcoming quarters. Positive Sentiment: Zacks lifted FY2026 EPS to $3.64 (from $3.61), and published a longrange FY2028 estimate of $6.28 indicating analysts see substantial earnings growth farther out. Zacks lifted FY2026 EPS to $3.64 (from $3.61), and published a longrange FY2028 estimate of $6.28 indicating analysts see substantial earnings growth farther out. Neutral Sentiment: ManpowerGroup announced updated executive severance letter agreements (governance/compensation update). This is primarily a corporate governance/legal housekeeping item; monitor for any context suggesting a leadership transition. ManpowerGroup Updates Executive Severance Agreements Ahead of Changes ManpowerGroup announced updated executive severance letter agreements (governance/compensation update). This is primarily a corporate governance/legal housekeeping item; monitor for any context suggesting a leadership transition. Neutral Sentiment: Media coverage explains a recent intraday rally in MAN (context piece on why shares were up earlier); useful for sentiment background but not new corporate news. Why ManpowerGroup Inc.s (MAN) Stock Is Up 5.78% Media coverage explains a recent intraday rally in MAN (context piece on why shares were up earlier); useful for sentiment background but not new corporate news. Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut Q2 2026 EPS to $0.97 from $1.08 the largest single nearterm downgrade reported, and a potential driver of downside in the next reported quarter. Zacks cut Q2 2026 EPS to $0.97 from $1.08 the largest single nearterm downgrade reported, and a potential driver of downside in the next reported quarter. Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed Q2 2027 to $1.34 (from $1.39), and reduced Q3 2026 to $1.07 (from $1.11) and Q3 2027 to $1.23 (from $1.24) a string of modest downgrades that point to some softening in midcycle quarters. Zacks trimmed Q2 2027 to $1.34 (from $1.39), and reduced Q3 2026 to $1.07 (from $1.11) and Q3 2027 to $1.23 (from $1.24) a string of modest downgrades that point to some softening in midcycle quarters. Negative Sentiment: Zacks slightly lowered FY2027 to $4.94 from $4.95 a small cut but, combined with the quarter downgrades, contributes to todays negative sentiment. ManpowerGroup Profile (Free Report) ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) is a global leader in workforce solutions, offering a broad spectrum of staffing and talent management services. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company has grown from a temporary staffing firm to a diversified provider of workforce consultancy, recruitment, and outsourcing services. ManpowerGroup is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MAN. The companys service offerings are organized into four principal brands. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MAN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ManpowerGroup Inc. (NYSE:MAN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for ManpowerGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ManpowerGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Extra Space Storage Inc (NYSE:EXR Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of Hold by the sixteen research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have assigned a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $144.6667. EXR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Extra Space Storage from $155.00 to $152.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Extra Space Storage from $142.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Extra Space Storage from $137.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Evercore reaffirmed a cautious rating on shares of Extra Space Storage in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on EXR Key Stories Impacting Extra Space Storage Extra Space Storage Stock Up 4.8% Here are the key news stories impacting Extra Space Storage this week: Shares of NYSE EXR opened at $153.07 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $32.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a current ratio of 0.24. Extra Space Storage has a 1 year low of $121.03 and a 1 year high of $162.77. The firms 50 day moving average price is $138.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $138.86. Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.03 by $0.05. Extra Space Storage had a return on equity of 6.76% and a net margin of 28.84%.The company had revenue of $857.47 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $732.92 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.03 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Extra Space Storage has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.050-8.350 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Extra Space Storage will post 8.1 earnings per share for the current year. Extra Space Storage Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.2%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 140.87%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Extra Space Storage Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EXR. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 9.3% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,409 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $506,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in Extra Space Storage by 15.5% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 4,912 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $729,000 after buying an additional 661 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the second quarter worth approximately $457,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in Extra Space Storage by 3.2% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 22,927 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,451,000 after buying an additional 705 shares during the period. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 5.6% in the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 17,578 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,562,000 after acquiring an additional 938 shares in the last quarter. 99.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Extra Space Storage (Get Free Report) Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR) is a real estate investment trust that specializes in the ownership, development and operation of self-storage properties. The company provides storage solutions for residential and commercial customers, offering a range of unit sizes, climate-controlled units and specialized options such as vehicle and boat storage. Extra Space Storage markets itself as a customer-focused operator, with online rentals, contactless move-in options and ancillary retail products like packing supplies and insurance to support tenant needs. Its business model combines property ownership with third-party management and development activities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. United States Antimony Co. (NYSEAMERICAN:UAMY Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Buy from the five ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $6.0833. A number of research firms recently issued reports on UAMY. HC Wainwright reiterated a buy rating and issued a $10.25 target price on shares of United States Antimony in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Alliance Global Partners reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of United States Antimony in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Get United States Antimony alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on UAMY Institutional Inflows and Outflows United States Antimony Stock Down 4.0% Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS acquired a new position in shares of United States Antimony during the third quarter worth $713,000. Soviero Asset Management LP raised its stake in United States Antimony by 180.2% in the second quarter. Soviero Asset Management LP now owns 510,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,112,000 after buying an additional 328,000 shares in the last quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey acquired a new stake in United States Antimony in the second quarter valued at $47,000. Lisanti Capital Growth LLC purchased a new stake in United States Antimony during the 3rd quarter worth about $811,000. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd boosted its position in shares of United States Antimony by 247.1% during the 2nd quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 126,622 shares of the companys stock worth $276,000 after acquiring an additional 90,142 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.49% of the companys stock. United States Antimony stock opened at $7.39 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.03 billion, a PE ratio of -739.00 and a beta of 0.10. United States Antimony has a 52-week low of $1.21 and a 52-week high of $19.71. The companys 50 day moving average is $7.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.04. About United States Antimony (Get Free Report) United States Antimony Corporation is a specialized mining and chemical company focused primarily on the production and processing of antimony and antimony-based compounds. The company operates its own extraction and milling facilities to recover antimony metal and antimony trioxide, which serve as critical raw materials in industries such as flame retardants for plastics and textiles, catalysts for chemical processes, and additives for glass and ceramics. In addition to antimony, United States Antimony maintains smaller-scale gold and silver operations in Mexico that provide supplementary revenue streams and diversification of its mineral portfolio. Founded in the mid-20th century, United States Antimony has evolved from a singlemine operator into a multinational enterprise with mining and processing sites in both the United States and Mexico. Read More Receive News & Ratings for United States Antimony Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United States Antimony and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Everbright Environment Group (OTCMKTS:CHFFF Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $0.6350 and last traded at $0.6350, with a volume of 5867 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $0.63. China Everbright Environment Group Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a current ratio of 1.28. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $0.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $0.62. Get China Everbright Environment Group alerts: About China Everbright Environment Group (Get Free Report) China Everbright Environment Group Company Limited (OTCMKTS: CHFFF) is an investment holding company principally engaged in providing integrated environmental protection solutions across the Peoples Republic of China. The companys core operations encompass the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of environmental infrastructure, including municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, solid waste incineration and treatment facilities, sludge disposal, and hazardous waste management. See Also Receive News & Ratings for China Everbright Environment Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Everbright Environment Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clariant AG (OTCMKTS:CLZNF Get Free Report)s share price was up 12.8% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $10.2050 and last traded at $10.2050. Approximately 600 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 733 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.05. Clariant Trading Up 12.8% The firms 50-day moving average price is $9.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.40. Get Clariant alerts: Clariant Company Profile (Get Free Report) Clariant is a Swiss specialty chemicals company headquartered in Muttenz, Switzerland, with roots tracing back to a 1995 spin-off from Sandoz. The company operates globally through a network of production sites, innovation centers and sales offices in more than 100 countries. Its focus on research and development has positioned Clariant as a key supplier of high-performance chemical solutions across diverse market segments. The companys portfolio is organized into three core segments: Care Chemicals, Adsorbents & Additives and Catalysis. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Clariant Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clariant and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:DHY Get Free Report)s share price passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $2.05 and traded as low as $1.95. Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund shares last traded at $1.96, with a volume of 537,823 shares changing hands. Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Trading Down 0.5% The companys fifty day simple moving average is $2.00 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.05. Get Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund alerts: Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.0155 per share. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Company Profile A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of DHY. Adapt Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Allworth Financial LP purchased a new position in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund in the second quarter valued at $43,000. Integrity Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at $44,000. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. purchased a new stake in Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $51,000. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund by 227.2% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 24,628 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 17,101 shares in the last quarter. (Get Free Report) The Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:DHY) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide investors with high current income by primarily investing in below-investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated corporate debt securities. The fund offers exposure to a broad array of high-yield bonds issued by companies across various sectors, including industrials, communications, and financial services. It is structured to trade on the NYSE American exchange, enabling investors to gain intraday access to a diversified high-yield portfolio. In managing its portfolio, the fund adheres to a disciplined credit research process that evaluates issuers fundamentals, cash flow profiles, and relative valuations. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BBB Foods (NYSE:TBBB Get Free Report) and Warby Parker (NYSE:WRBY Get Free Report) are both mid-cap consumer staples companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and dividends. Valuation & Earnings This table compares BBB Foods and Warby Parkers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get BBB Foods alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio BBB Foods $3.15 billion 1.36 $18.36 million ($0.84) -44.83 Warby Parker $771.32 million 3.25 -$20.39 million $0.01 2,370.70 Analyst Ratings BBB Foods has higher revenue and earnings than Warby Parker. BBB Foods is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Warby Parker, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. This is a summary of current ratings for BBB Foods and Warby Parker, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BBB Foods 1 4 3 0 2.25 Warby Parker 0 5 11 0 2.69 BBB Foods presently has a consensus price target of $39.00, indicating a potential upside of 3.57%. Warby Parker has a consensus price target of $27.83, indicating a potential upside of 17.41%. Given Warby Parkers stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Warby Parker is more favorable than BBB Foods. Institutional and Insider Ownership 8.4% of BBB Foods shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 93.2% of Warby Parker shares are owned by institutional investors. 18.2% of Warby Parker shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares BBB Foods and Warby Parkers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BBB Foods -2.61% -44.56% -7.47% Warby Parker 0.08% 1.96% 1.01% Volatility and Risk BBB Foods has a beta of -0.14, meaning that its share price is 114% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Warby Parker has a beta of 2.05, meaning that its share price is 105% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Warby Parker beats BBB Foods on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About BBB Foods (Get Free Report) BBB Foods Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates a chain of grocery retail stores in Mexico. It offers household cleaning, personal hyenine, cosmetics and beauty, pharmacy, and general merchandise products, as well as jellies and desserts, foods and drinks, pet supplies, coffee, tea, chocolates, breads, dry and frozen foods, snacks and sweets, and toilet papers and napkins. The company also provides branded, private label, and spot products. It serves low-to-middle income households through online channels. BBB Foods Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. About Warby Parker (Get Free Report) Warby Parker Inc. provides eyewear products in the United States and Canada. The company offers eyeglasses, sunglasses, light-responsive lenses, blue-light-filtering lenses, non-prescription lenses, and contact lenses. It also provides accessories, such as cases, lenses kit with anti-fog spray, pouches, and anti-fog lens spray through its retail stores, website, and mobile apps. In addition, the company offers eye exams and vision tests. Warby Parker Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for BBB Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BBB Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Towle & Co. lowered its stake in shares of Cushman & Wakefield PLC (NYSE:CWK Free Report) by 15.2% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 689,055 shares of the companys stock after selling 123,395 shares during the quarter. Cushman & Wakefield makes up about 2.8% of Towle & Co.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Towle & Co.s holdings in Cushman & Wakefield were worth $10,970,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CWK. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC grew its stake in Cushman & Wakefield by 135.6% during the 3rd quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 180,645 shares of the companys stock worth $2,876,000 after buying an additional 103,968 shares during the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its holdings in Cushman & Wakefield by 30.2% in the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 897,293 shares of the companys stock worth $14,285,000 after acquiring an additional 208,129 shares in the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in Cushman & Wakefield by 486.1% in the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 1,117,297 shares of the companys stock worth $17,787,000 after acquiring an additional 926,664 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 68.5% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 508,086 shares of the companys stock worth $8,114,000 after acquiring an additional 206,537 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB acquired a new position in shares of Cushman & Wakefield during the second quarter valued at about $208,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.56% of the companys stock. Get Cushman & Wakefield alerts: Cushman & Wakefield Stock Performance NYSE CWK opened at $13.30 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $15.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.01 and a beta of 1.47. Cushman & Wakefield PLC has a fifty-two week low of $7.64 and a fifty-two week high of $17.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.10. Analysts Set New Price Targets Cushman & Wakefield ( NYSE:CWK Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.83 billion. Cushman & Wakefield had a return on equity of 15.02% and a net margin of 0.86%.The companys revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.48 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Cushman & Wakefield PLC will post 1.2 earnings per share for the current year. CWK has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup upgraded shares of Cushman & Wakefield from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $18.00 target price for the company in a research note 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 price target for the company in a report on Monday, February 9th. Barclays reiterated a positive rating and set a $19.00 price objective on shares of Cushman & Wakefield in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Citizens Jmp set a $19.00 target price on Cushman & Wakefield in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Cushman & Wakefield from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Cushman & Wakefield presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $18.56. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CWK Key Headlines Impacting Cushman & Wakefield Here are the key news stories impacting Cushman & Wakefield this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations CWK reported $0.54 EPS vs. a $0.53 consensus and revenue of $2.91B vs. $2.83B expected; revenue rose ~10.8% YoY. The print and topline growth are the primary nearterm catalysts supporting the stock. MSN: Q4 sales beat Q4 results beat expectations CWK reported $0.54 EPS vs. a $0.53 consensus and revenue of $2.91B vs. $2.83B expected; revenue rose ~10.8% YoY. The print and topline growth are the primary nearterm catalysts supporting the stock. Positive Sentiment: Management highlights capitalmarkets growth and AI adoption as priorities the earnings commentary and slide deck emphasize fee growth from capital markets and plans to drive operating leverage, which could boost margins if execution continues. Yahoo: Q4 deep dive Management highlights capitalmarkets growth and AI adoption as priorities the earnings commentary and slide deck emphasize fee growth from capital markets and plans to drive operating leverage, which could boost margins if execution continues. Positive Sentiment: Product differentiation: CWK launched an AImomentum model for the built environment a proprietary offering that could help win advisory mandates and upsell services as clients seek AI insights for leasing, valuation and portfolio strategy. BusinessWire: AI momentum model Product differentiation: CWK launched an AImomentum model for the built environment a proprietary offering that could help win advisory mandates and upsell services as clients seek AI insights for leasing, valuation and portfolio strategy. Positive Sentiment: Investor reaction and momentum several retail/investor writeups flagged the quarter as a catalyst and highlighted strong upside reaction following the release. AAII: Why stock is up Investor reaction and momentum several retail/investor writeups flagged the quarter as a catalyst and highlighted strong upside reaction following the release. Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call and transcript provide color but no major new guidance management reiterated focus areas (capital markets, AI, operating leverage); investors will watch for concrete margin progress and updated guidance in future quarters. Seeking Alpha: Earnings call transcript Earnings call and transcript provide color but no major new guidance management reiterated focus areas (capital markets, AI, operating leverage); investors will watch for concrete margin progress and updated guidance in future quarters. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst notes and writeups recap the beat and metrics useful for detail but largely confirm the headline strength rather than changing the outlook today. Zacks: Key metrics Cushman & Wakefield Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CWK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cushman & Wakefield PLC (NYSE:CWK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cushman & Wakefield Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cushman & Wakefield and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dassault Systemes SA (OTCMKTS:DASTY Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Buy from the five analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. A number of analysts have weighed in on DASTY shares. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Dassault Systemes in a research report on Friday. Kepler Capital Markets raised shares of Dassault Systemes to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn raised shares of Dassault Systemes to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Get Dassault Systemes alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Dassault Systemes Institutional Trading of Dassault Systemes Dassault Systemes Trading Down 0.7% An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Dassault Systemes stock. Douglass Winthrop Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dassault Systemes SA ( OTCMKTS:DASTY Free Report ) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 87,451 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $2,442,000. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. DASTY stock opened at $20.48 on Friday. Dassault Systemes has a 1-year low of $19.18 and a 1-year high of $44.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The businesss 50 day moving average is $26.66 and its 200-day moving average is $29.23. The firm has a market cap of $27.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.28, a P/E/G ratio of 5.68 and a beta of 0.98. Dassault Systemes Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dassault Systemes is a France-based software company that develops solutions for 3D design, digital mock-up and product lifecycle management (PLM). Founded as a technology spin-off from Dassault Aviation in 1981, the company is headquartered near Paris and has grown into a global provider of engineering and business software used to model, simulate and manage products and processes across their lifecycles. Its platforms and applications are aimed at enabling digital continuity from ideation and design through manufacturing, operation and service. The companys product portfolio centers on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which integrates applications for computer-aided design (CAD), simulation, data management and collaboration. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Dassault Systemes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dassault Systemes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of Deutsche Telekom (OTCMKTS:DTEGY Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. Deutsche Telekom Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:DTEGY opened at $38.72 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. Deutsche Telekom has a 12 month low of $30.31 and a 12 month high of $39.64. The company has a market capitalization of $189.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.34, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.43. The firms 50-day moving average is $33.70 and its 200 day moving average is $33.80. Get Deutsche Telekom alerts: Deutsche Telekom Company Profile (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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Telekom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Telekom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE:DIN Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, February 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 18th will be paid a dividend of 0.19 per share by the restaurant operator on Friday, April 10th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 18th. Dine Brands Global has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years. Dine Brands Global has a dividend payout ratio of 14.6% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Dine Brands Global to earn $5.77 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.76 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 13.2%. Get Dine Brands Global alerts: Dine Brands Global Stock Performance NYSE DIN traded down $1.26 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $32.36. 403,172 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 349,341. The company has a market capitalization of $466.63 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.45 and a beta of 0.97. The companys 50-day moving average is $34.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $28.90. Dine Brands Global has a one year low of $18.63 and a one year high of $39.68. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Dine Brands Global from $21.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Dine Brands Global from $28.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Zacks Research cut shares of Dine Brands Global from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Dine Brands Global in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on Dine Brands Global from $26.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $31.29. Get Our Latest Report on Dine Brands Global Dine Brands Global Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dine Brands Global, Inc is a leading franchisor and operator of fullservice restaurants in the casual dining and breakfast segments. The companys primary brands include IHOP, known for its wide variety of breakfast offerings and pancakes, and Applebees Neighborhood Grill + Bar, a casual dining concept featuring a range of American entrees, appetizers and cocktails. Through its franchise model, Dine Brands works with independent restaurant owners to develop, market and support both domestic and international locations. The origins of Dine Brands Global date back to the founding of the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) in 1958 in California. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Dine Brands Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dine Brands Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited (OTCMKTS:DPZUF Get Free Report) traded down 5.8% on Friday . The company traded as low as $14.69 and last traded at $14.69. 200 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 0% from the average session volume of 200 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.60. Dominos Pizza Enterprises Price Performance The stock has a 50-day moving average of $14.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.25. Get Domino's Pizza Enterprises alerts: About Dominos Pizza Enterprises (Get Free Report) Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited is a leading global pizza delivery and carry-out company, operating under the Dominos Pizza brand in select international markets. As the largest master franchisee outside the United States, the company develops, franchises and supplies a network of over 3,600 stores across Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Its core offerings include a range of pizza varieties, sides such as chicken, bread-based items and desserts, complemented by online ordering and delivery services. Since acquiring the Australian master franchise rights from Dominos Pizza Inc in 2001, Dominos Pizza Enterprises has pursued strategic expansion through both company-owned stores and franchise partnerships. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Domino's Pizza Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Domino's Pizza Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE:BROS Get Free Report) fell 7% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $49.55 and last traded at $49.7070. 3,700,055 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 32% from the average session volume of 5,480,229 shares. The stock had previously closed at $53.42. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore set a $73.00 price objective on Dutch Bros in a report on Monday, January 5th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $85.00 price target on shares of Dutch Bros in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Dutch Bros from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $76.00 price objective on shares of Dutch Bros in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Dutch Bros in a research note on Monday, February 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $77.05. Get Dutch Bros alerts: Get Our Latest Report on BROS Dutch Bros Stock Down 1.8% The firm has a market cap of $8.04 billion, a PE ratio of 76.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 2.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.32. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $59.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $59.12. Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.10 by $0.07. Dutch Bros had a net margin of 4.87% and a return on equity of 9.56%. The business had revenue of $443.61 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $424.44 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.07 EPS. Dutch Bross revenue was up 29.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Dutch Bros Inc. will post 0.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at Dutch Bros In other Dutch Bros news, major shareholder Dm Individual Aggregator, Llc sold 648,089 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.44, for a total value of $35,930,054.16. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 9,817 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $544,254.48. This represents a 98.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Travis Boersma sold 1,678,616 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.44, for a total transaction of $93,062,471.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman owned 9,817 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $544,254.48. This represents a 99.42% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 3,465,214 shares of company stock valued at $189,800,291. 42.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dutch Bros Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in Dutch Bros during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Dutch Bros by 557.4% during the second quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 447 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new stake in Dutch Bros in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Ankerstar Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Dutch Bros in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its position in Dutch Bros by 83.5% during the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 600 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 273 shares during the last quarter. 85.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Dutch Bros Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dutch Bros Coffee, trading on the NYSE under the ticker BROS, is an American drive-through coffee chain known for its quick-service model and community-focused brand. Founded in 1992 by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma in Grants Pass, Oregon, the company began as a single coffee stand and has since expanded its footprint across numerous U.S. markets. Dutch Bros specializes in handcrafted espresso drinks, drip coffee, cold brew, energy drinks, smoothies, teas, and a variety of signature Dutch Freeze and Dutch Frost blended beverages. The company operates a mix of company-owned and franchised locations, placing a strong emphasis on speed and customer engagement. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Dutch Bros Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dutch Bros and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Elastic (NYSE:ESTC Free Report) had its target price reduced by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $113.00 to $98.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock. Several other analysts also recently issued reports on ESTC. Wedbush reduced their price target on shares of Elastic from $110.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Elastic from $105.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Elastic from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Barclays lowered their target price on Elastic from $107.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on Elastic from $115.00 to $95.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $102.17. Get Elastic alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on ESTC Elastic Stock Down 6.5% ESTC opened at $58.00 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a current ratio of 1.97. The company has a market cap of $6.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -56.31, a PEG ratio of 252.45 and a beta of 0.93. Elastic has a one year low of $56.69 and a one year high of $117.49. The businesss fifty day moving average is $70.32 and its two-hundred day moving average is $78.53. Elastic (NYSE:ESTC Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.06. Elastic had a negative return on equity of 2.02% and a negative net margin of 6.79%.The business had revenue of $423.48 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $418.27 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.59 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 15.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Elastic will post -0.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at Elastic In related news, CRO Mark Eugene Dodds sold 5,800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.60, for a total transaction of $432,680.00. Following the transaction, the executive directly owned 161,484 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,046,706.40. This represents a 3.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Carolyn Herzog sold 5,353 shares of Elastic stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.05, for a total transaction of $401,742.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 89,324 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,703,766.20. This trade represents a 5.65% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders sold 61,828 shares of company stock valued at $4,641,010. Corporate insiders own 12.70% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Elastic A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of ESTC. AXQ Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of Elastic in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $419,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Elastic by 3.6% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,569,578 shares of the companys stock worth $132,384,000 after purchasing an additional 54,812 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in Elastic by 622.2% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 77,005 shares of the companys stock worth $6,494,000 after purchasing an additional 66,342 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Elastic by 102.3% in the second quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 464,268 shares of the companys stock worth $39,152,000 after purchasing an additional 234,735 shares during the period. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd boosted its holdings in Elastic by 147.0% in the second quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 57,690 shares of the companys stock worth $4,865,000 after purchasing an additional 34,336 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.03% of the companys stock. Elastic Company Profile (Get Free Report) Elastic N.V. operates as a search and analytics company, offering a suite of open source and subscription-based solutions for search, observability and security use cases. Its flagship product, Elasticsearch, enables fast and scalable full-text search and analytics across large volumes of structured and unstructured data. Complementary tools such as Kibana provide visualization capabilities, while Beats and Logstash serve as lightweight data shippers and data processing pipelines, respectively. The company was founded in 2012 by Shay Banon, who serves as chief technology officer, and Steven Schuurman. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Elastic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Elastic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of EssilorLuxottica Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ESLOY Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Thursday . Approximately 331,646 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 201% from the previous sessions volume of 110,267 shares.The stock last traded at $136.59 and had previously closed at $138.50. Analyst Ratings Changes ESLOY has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Zacks Research lowered shares of EssilorLuxottica from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded shares of EssilorLuxottica from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of EssilorLuxottica in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. UBS Group raised shares of EssilorLuxottica from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating on shares of EssilorLuxottica in a report on Friday, December 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get EssilorLuxottica alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on ESLOY EssilorLuxottica Trading Up 2.5% About EssilorLuxottica The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.97. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $156.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $163.15. (Get Free Report) 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for EssilorLuxottica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EssilorLuxottica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Garner Asset Management Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 12.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 29,495 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,186 shares during the period. Chevron makes up approximately 1.8% of Garner Asset Management Corps investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Garner Asset Management Corps holdings in Chevron were worth $4,580,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Chevron by 272.1% in the third quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 22,700 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,525,000 after purchasing an additional 16,600 shares in the last quarter. Coyle Financial Counsel LLC purchased a new position in Chevron during the 3rd quarter worth $230,000. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management boosted its holdings in Chevron by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 54,121 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $8,405,000 after acquiring an additional 4,166 shares during the last quarter. Notis McConarty Edward grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Notis McConarty Edward now owns 12,612 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,959,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lion Street Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Chevron by 51.0% in the third quarter. Lion Street Advisors LLC now owns 14,657 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,276,000 after purchasing an additional 4,951 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.42% of the companys stock. Get Chevron alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CVX has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group restated a buy rating and set a $212.00 price target on shares of Chevron in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Chevron in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Argus set a $203.00 price target on Chevron in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on Chevron from $170.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Barclays upped 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. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $176.36. Insider Activity In related news, CEO Michael K. Wirth sold 320,700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total transaction of $52,270,893.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 14,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,355,205.50. This represents a 95.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Vice Chairman Mark A. Nelson sold 45,800 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.17, for a total transaction of $7,976,986.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 7,161 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,247,231.37. This represents a 86.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 534,898 shares of company stock valued at $89,543,711. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Chevron Price Performance Chevron stock opened at $183.69 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $165.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is $158.48. Chevron Corporation has a 12 month low of $132.04 and a 12 month high of $187.90. The company has a market cap of $369.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.58, a PEG ratio of 12.23 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last issued 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. Chevron had a return on equity of 8.23% and a net margin of 6.51%.The firm had revenue of $45.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.18 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.06 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 EPS for the current year. Chevron Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a $1.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $7.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.9%. This is an increase from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.91%. Chevron News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week: Chevron Profile (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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Garner Asset Management Corp lifted its position in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (NYSE:BCSF Free Report) by 64.3% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 125,724 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 49,209 shares during the period. Garner Asset Management Corps holdings in Bain Capital Specialty Finance were worth $1,881,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 140,801 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,337,000 after purchasing an additional 4,722 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its stake in Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 28.0% in the second quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 446,968 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,722,000 after acquiring an additional 97,714 shares during the last quarter. MQS Management LLC boosted its stake in Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 81.3% in the second quarter. MQS Management LLC now owns 19,171 shares of the companys stock valued at $288,000 after acquiring an additional 8,596 shares during the last quarter. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Bain Capital Specialty Finance during the 2nd quarter worth $350,000. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance during the 2nd quarter valued at $793,000. Get Bain Capital Specialty Finance alerts: Bain Capital Specialty Finance Stock Performance BCSF stock opened at $13.51 on Friday. Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. has a 1-year low of $12.49 and a 1-year high of $19.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. The firm has a market cap of $876.07 million, a PE ratio of 9.38 and a beta of 0.61. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $13.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.23. Bain Capital Specialty Finance Announces Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently disclosed a special dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. Bain Capital Specialty Finances dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 116.67%. BCSF has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company set a $14.00 price objective on Bain Capital Specialty Finance and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Bain Capital Specialty Finance from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $16.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, December 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $15.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on Bain Capital Specialty Finance Bain Capital Specialty Finance Company Profile (Free Report) Bain Capital Specialty Finance (NYSE: BCSF) is a closed-end interval fund organized as a specialty finance company. Since commencing operations in March 2017, the company has focused on originating and acquiring debt and equity investments in middle-market companies. It is structured to offer investors access to private credit and special situations strategies that are typically unavailable through traditional public debt markets. The firms core business activities include direct lending to U.S. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BCSF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (NYSE:BCSF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bain Capital Specialty Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bain Capital Specialty Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grupo Televisa S.A. (NYSE:TV Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $2.81 and traded as high as $3.49. Grupo Televisa shares last traded at $3.3850, with a volume of 1,600,275 shares traded. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on TV shares. UBS Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Grupo Televisa in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Grupo Televisa from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of Grupo Televisa in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Benchmark restated a buy rating on shares of Grupo Televisa in a research report on Friday, January 2nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Grupo Televisa currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $5.07. Get Grupo Televisa alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on TV Grupo Televisa Price Performance Institutional Trading of Grupo Televisa The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 2.31 and a quick ratio of 2.29. The business has a 50 day moving average of $3.12 and a 200 day moving average of $2.82. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Strid Group LLC bought a new position in Grupo Televisa during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Grupo Televisa in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Grupo Televisa by 68.8% during the 3rd quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 10,685 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 4,355 shares during the period. Evergreen Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Grupo Televisa in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS acquired a new stake in Grupo Televisa in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Institutional investors own 55.77% of the companys stock. Grupo Televisa Company Profile (Get Free Report) Grupo Televisa, SAB. is a leading Mexican multimedia conglomerate headquartered in Mexico City, specializing in the creation, production and distribution of Spanish-language content. The company operates free-to-air television networks, subscription pay-TV services, broadband and telephony under its cable arm, and a range of digital streaming platforms. Grupo Televisas portfolio spans news, sports, telenovelas, reality programming and original series, positioning it as one of the largest content producers in the Spanish-speaking world. Televisas broadcast division includes flagship channels such as Las Estrellas and Canal 5, while its pay-TV segment features operations under brands like Sky Mexico and Izzi Telecom. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Televisa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Televisa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE:BNED Get Free Report) and Ceconomy (OTCMKTS:MTTRY Get Free Report) are both small-cap consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, earnings, valuation and institutional ownership. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Barnes & Noble Education and Ceconomy, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Barnes & Noble Education alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Barnes & Noble Education 1 0 0 0 1.00 Ceconomy 0 0 0 1 4.00 Insider & Institutional Ownership 38.5% of Barnes & Noble Education shares are held by institutional investors. 1.2% of Barnes & Noble Education shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Barnes & Noble Education -0.56% -22.09% -6.22% Ceconomy 0.71% 46.82% 2.53% Risk and Volatility This table compares Barnes & Noble Education and Ceconomys net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Barnes & Noble Education has a beta of 1.43, meaning that its stock price is 43% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ceconomy has a beta of 1.32, meaning that its stock price is 32% more volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Barnes & Noble Education and Ceconomys top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Barnes & Noble Education $1.68 billion 0.17 -$65.82 million ($0.28) -29.63 Ceconomy $25.51 billion 0.09 -$38.73 million $0.08 11.81 Ceconomy has higher revenue and earnings than Barnes & Noble Education. Barnes & Noble Education is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ceconomy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Ceconomy beats Barnes & Noble Education on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About Barnes & Noble Education (Get Free Report) Barnes and Noble Education, Inc. engages in the management and operation of bookstore chains in universities. It operates through the Retail and Wholesale segments. The Retail segment operates college, university, and K-12 school bookstores, physical bookstores, and virtual bookstores. The Wholesale segment sells and distributes new and used textbooks to physical bookstores. The company was founded by Leonard S, Riggio in 1965 and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ. About Ceconomy (Get Free Report) Ceconomy AG, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the consumer electronics retail business. It operates stores under the MediaMarkt and Saturn brands. The company offers professional assistance for the installation, connection, and troubleshooting of electronic devices at home under the Deutsche Technikberatung brand. It operates in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary, as well as in Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe. Ceconomy AG is based in Dusseldorf, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for Barnes & Noble Education Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barnes & Noble Education and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 13.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,776 shares of the credit services providers stock after buying an additional 1,920 shares during the period. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $8,974,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 79,431,340 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $45,181,341,000 after acquiring an additional 955,533 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Mastercard by 2.8% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,760,552 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $11,062,509,000 after purchasing an additional 542,841 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 55,868.1% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,421,148 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $7,541,880,000 after purchasing an additional 13,397,168 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the second quarter valued at approximately $6,725,317,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 25.6% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,372,404 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $3,580,909,000 after purchasing an additional 1,299,977 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Mastercard News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Raymond James Financial lowered their price target on shares of Mastercard from $707.00 to $631.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Evercore set a $610.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $660.00 to $668.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. Finally, Dbs Bank raised Mastercard to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $669.27. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on MA Mastercard Price Performance Shares of NYSE MA opened at $525.94 on Friday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $465.59 and a 1 year high of $601.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $472.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.83. The companys 50-day moving average is $551.10 and its 200 day moving average is $561.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The credit services provider reported $4.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.24 by $0.52. Mastercard had a return on equity of 203.92% and a net margin of 45.65%.The business had revenue of $8.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.82 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year. Mastercard Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 9th will be paid a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 9th. Mastercards dividend payout ratio is presently 21.07%. About Mastercard (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated is a global payments technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. The company facilitates electronic payments and transaction processing for credit, debit and prepaid card products carrying the Mastercard brand, while also providing a range of payment-related services to issuers, acquirers and merchants. Its technology and network enable authorization, clearing and settlement of payments and support a broad set of use cases including point-of-sale, e-commerce and mobile payments. Beyond core transaction processing, Mastercard offers a suite of value-added services such as fraud and risk management, identity and authentication tools, tokenization and digital wallet support, cross-border and commercial payment solutions, and data analytics and consulting services for merchants and financial partners. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Bank Of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Free Report) (TSE:BMO) by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 525,022 shares of the banks stock after selling 27,917 shares during the period. Bank Of Montreal accounts for about 2.1% of Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 0.07% of Bank Of Montreal worth $68,398,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Bank Of Montreal by 87.1% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 5,742 shares of the banks stock valued at $548,000 after buying an additional 2,673 shares in the last quarter. Ethic Inc. bought a new stake in Bank Of Montreal during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $204,000. Carnegie Investment Counsel raised its stake in Bank Of Montreal by 3.0% during the 2nd quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 22,701 shares of the banks stock worth $2,511,000 after acquiring an additional 661 shares during the period. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Bank Of Montreal during the second quarter valued at approximately $230,000. Finally, Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC boosted its position in shares of Bank Of Montreal by 4.5% in the second quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 2,616 shares of the banks stock worth $289,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 45.82% of the companys stock. Get Bank Of Montreal alerts: Bank Of Montreal Stock Up 1.7% BMO opened at $145.97 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $103.09 billion, a PE ratio of 17.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.94. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $135.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $128.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. Bank Of Montreal has a 52 week low of $85.40 and a 52 week high of $146.35. Bank Of Montreal Increases Dividend Bank Of Montreal ( NYSE:BMO Get Free Report ) (TSE:BMO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The bank reported $2.36 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.20. Bank Of Montreal had a return on equity of 11.76% and a net margin of 11.13%.The company had revenue of $6.67 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.51 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.90 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Bank Of Montreal will post 7.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 30th will be given a dividend of $1.67 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 30th. This represents a $6.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.6%. This is an increase from Bank Of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. Bank Of Montreals dividend payout ratio is currently 59.68%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently commented on BMO. Scotiabank restated a sector perform rating on shares of Bank Of Montreal in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Bank Of Montreal in a report on Monday, December 29th. National Bank Financial cut Bank Of Montreal from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. TD Securities upgraded Bank Of Montreal from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Raymond James Financial raised Bank Of Montreal from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $163.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on BMO About Bank Of Montreal (Free Report) Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO), commonly known as BMO Financial Group, is one of Canadas largest and longest-established banks. Founded in Montreal and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, the bank provides a broad range of financial services to retail, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. BMO is publicly listed in both Canada and the United States and operates under a consolidated financial services model that integrates banking, capital markets, wealth management and asset management activities. BMOs core businesses include personal and commercial bankingoffering checking and savings accounts, lending, mortgages, and small-business servicesalongside wealth management and private banking through its asset and investment management divisions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bank Of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank Of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Fortis (NYSE:FTS Free Report) by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 813,216 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 18,896 shares during the period. Fortis makes up 1.2% of Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 0.16% of Fortis worth $41,238,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Fortis during the 2nd quarter valued at $291,400,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Fortis by 18.6% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,414,298 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $262,828,000 after purchasing an additional 849,606 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Fortis by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 23,025,514 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,099,399,000 after purchasing an additional 759,772 shares during the period. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. raised its position in shares of Fortis by 7.7% during the second quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 4,897,492 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $233,947,000 after buying an additional 351,619 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc lifted its stake in shares of Fortis by 5.9% in the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 6,224,022 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $296,614,000 after buying an additional 345,633 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.77% of the companys stock. Get Fortis alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently issued reports on FTS. TD Securities restated a buy rating on shares of Fortis in a research note on Tuesday. National Bank Financial reissued a sector perform rating on shares of Fortis in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Scotiabank restated a sector perform rating on shares of Fortis in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating on shares of Fortis in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Fortis in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $72.00. Fortis Stock Down 0.4% Shares of NYSE:FTS opened at $56.28 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is $53.03 and its 200-day moving average is $51.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.51. Fortis has a 52 week low of $43.19 and a 52 week high of $57.25. The company has a market capitalization of $28.55 billion, a PE ratio of 23.06, a P/E/G ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.50. Fortis (NYSE:FTS Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The utilities provider reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $2.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.54 billion. Fortis had a net margin of 14.24% and a return on equity of 7.24%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.83 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Fortis will post 2.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Fortis Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be paid a $0.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $2.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.5%. Fortiss payout ratio is 76.64%. Fortis Company Profile (Free Report) Fortis Inc is a Canadian diversified electric and gas utility holding company headquartered in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador. Through a portfolio of regulated utility subsidiaries, the company develops, owns and operates electricity and natural gas transmission, distribution and generation assets. Fortis serves customers across multiple jurisdictions in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean, focusing on the delivery of safe, reliable energy to residential, commercial and industrial users. The companys core activities include operation and maintenance of transmission and distribution networks, ownership of generation facilities, and investment in grid modernization and system resilience. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fortis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (BATS:SMIN Free Report) by 42.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 497,118 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 147,000 shares during the period. iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF comprises 1.1% of Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 4.07% of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF worth $35,653,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SMIN. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF by 69.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 684,319 shares of the companys stock worth $46,595,000 after buying an additional 280,891 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its stake in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF by 10.7% in the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,046,059 shares of the companys stock worth $80,735,000 after acquiring an additional 100,813 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF in the first quarter valued at $5,664,000. Aberdeen Group plc increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF by 326.0% during the 3rd quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 87,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,247,000 after acquiring an additional 66,654 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ardsley Advisory Partners LP acquired a new position in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $4,631,000. Get iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance SMIN opened at $68.47 on Friday. iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF has a 1 year low of $61.54 and a 1 year high of $78.54. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $68.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $71.30. The company has a market cap of $835.33 million, a PE ratio of 26.27 and a beta of 0.48. About iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF The iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (SMIN) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI India Small Cap index, a market-cap-weighted index of the bottom 14% of companies traded on Indian stock markets. SMIN was launched on Feb 8, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SMIN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (BATS:SMIN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Gildan Activewear, Inc. (NYSE:GIL Free Report) (TSE:GIL) by 41.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 213,620 shares of the textile makers stock after purchasing an additional 62,520 shares during the period. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. owned 0.14% of Gildan Activewear worth $12,338,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Syon Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Gildan Activewear by 30.0% in the third quarter. Syon Capital LLC now owns 8,066 shares of the textile makers stock worth $466,000 after buying an additional 1,861 shares in the last quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Gildan Activewear in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $5,826,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT increased its stake in Gildan Activewear by 14.1% in the 3rd quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 38,962 shares of the textile makers stock worth $2,252,000 after acquiring an additional 4,816 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Gildan Activewear by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,005,233 shares of the textile makers stock worth $346,928,000 after acquiring an additional 32,917 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Gildan Activewear by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 615,792 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $35,593,000 after acquiring an additional 21,078 shares during the last quarter. 82.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Gildan Activewear alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages recently weighed in on GIL. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Gildan Activewear in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research cut shares of Gildan Activewear from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 23rd. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Gildan Activewear from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $110.00 price target (up previously from $80.00) on shares of Gildan Activewear in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, TD Securities reissued a buy rating and set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Gildan Activewear in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $79.00. Gildan Activewear Price Performance GIL stock opened at $71.44 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $13.23 billion, a PE ratio of 22.82 and a beta of 1.08. Gildan Activewear, Inc. has a 12 month low of $37.16 and a 12 month high of $73.69. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $65.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $60.09. The company has a current ratio of 2.01, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. Gildan Activewear Company Profile (Free Report) Gildan Activewear Inc (NYSE:GIL) is a vertically integrated manufacturer and wholesaler of branded basic apparel, including activewear, socks, hosiery and underwear. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, the company produces a wide range of products such as T-shirts, fleece garments, sport shirts, performance wear, and shapewear under its Gildan, Anvil, Comfort Colors, Gold Toe, Peds and Silks brands. Leveraging its in-house knitting, dyeing, cut-and-sew and finishing operations, Gildan supplies blank apparel to screen printers, promotional product distributors and major retailers around the world. Since its founding in 1984 by Glenn J. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Gildan Activewear, Inc. (NYSE:GIL Free Report) (TSE:GIL). Receive News & Ratings for Gildan Activewear Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gildan Activewear and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hong Kong & China Gas Co. (OTCMKTS:HOKCY Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $0.9324, but opened at $0.8940. Hong Kong & China Gas shares last traded at $0.8940, with a volume of 2,730 shares changing hands. Hong Kong & China Gas Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $0.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.87. Get Hong Kong & China Gas alerts: Institutional Trading of Hong Kong & China Gas An institutional investor recently raised its position in Hong Kong & China Gas stock. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in Hong Kong & China Gas Co. (OTCMKTS:HOKCY Free Report) by 26.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 131,441 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 27,860 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers holdings in Hong Kong & China Gas were worth $107,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. About Hong Kong & China Gas 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hong Kong & China Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hong Kong & China Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Garner Asset Management Corp boosted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA:RSP Free Report) by 44.8% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 27,616 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,546 shares during the period. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF accounts for 2.1% of Garner Asset Management Corps holdings, making the stock its 7th largest position. Garner Asset Management Corps holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF were worth $5,239,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of RSP. Investment Counsel Co. of Nevada acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Tompkins Financial Corp acquired a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. IMA Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 61.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Trading Up 0.5% NYSEARCA:RSP opened at $204.09 on Friday. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF has a 12-month low of $150.35 and a 12-month high of $205.24. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $197.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $191.57. The firm has a market cap of $84.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.10 and a beta of 0.99. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Company Profile Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, formerly Rydex S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, seeks to replicate as closely as possible, the daily performance of the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index (the Index). The Index is a capitalization-weighted index covering 500 industrial, utility, transportation and financial companies of the United States markets (mostly NYSE Euronext issues). The Index utilizes quarterly rebalancing to maintain its equal-weight stance. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 90% of its net assets, plus any borrowing for investment purposes, in the equity securities (and derivatives thereof) included in the Index. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RSP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA:RSP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF (TSE:XEU Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$39.93 and last traded at C$39.93, with a volume of 723 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$39.41. iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF Stock Performance The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$38.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$37.16. About iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF (Get Free Report) The investment objective of the Fund is to provide long-term capital growth by replicating, to the extent possible, the performance of the MSCI Europe Investable Market Index (the Index), net of expenses. To achieve its investment objective the Fund uses an indexing strategy. Under this strategy, the Fund seeks to replicate the performance of the Index, net of expenses, by employing, directly or indirectly, through investment in one or more iShares ETFs and/or through the use of derivatives, a replicating strategy or sampling strategy. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Journey Advisory Group LLC decreased its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 64.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,149 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 12,767 shares during the period. Journey Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $1,997,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Childress Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 145.3% in the third quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,192 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $891,000 after buying an additional 1,891 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 9.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 101,876 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $28,470,000 after acquiring an additional 8,738 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 28.6% in the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 37,216 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $10,394,000 after acquiring an additional 8,284 shares during the last quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management boosted its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 125.3% during the 3rd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 5,216 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,457,000 after purchasing an additional 2,901 shares during the period. Finally, Cherokee Insurance Co acquired a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,248,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Argus upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. UBS Group set a $330.00 price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Sunday, December 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an outperform rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Friday, January 2nd. DA Davidson upgraded shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $391.43. Key Headlines Impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance Shares of NYSE TSM opened at $370.54 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 2.69 and a quick ratio of 2.47. The company has a market cap of $1.92 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.31. The stocks 50-day moving average is $328.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $292.76. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 1-year low of $134.25 and a 1-year high of $380.00. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 14th. The semiconductor company reported $14.32 EPS for the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 36.18% and a net margin of 45.13%.The business had revenue of $32.50 billion during the quarter. Analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 11th will be given a $0.9503 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 11th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is currently 28.64%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products. TSMCs service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. decreased its stake in shares of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA Free Report) by 35.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 75,940 shares of the specialty retailers stock after selling 41,782 shares during the quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $13,573,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BABA. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Alibaba Group during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. NBT Bank N A NY grew its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 231.5% in the third quarter. NBT Bank N A NY now owns 179 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the period. NewSquare Capital LLC increased its position in Alibaba Group by 65.0% during the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 330 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership raised its stake in Alibaba Group by 33.3% during the second quarter. Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership now owns 400 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Richardson Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in Alibaba Group by 34.4% in the 3rd quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 254 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.47% of the companys stock. Get Alibaba Group alerts: Alibaba Group Trading Up 0.2% Shares of NYSE BABA opened at $154.60 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $369.10 billion, a PE ratio of 21.35, a PEG ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 0.39. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a twelve month low of $95.73 and a twelve month high of $192.67. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $158.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $156.24. Analysts Set New Price Targets BABA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Arete Research upgraded shares of Alibaba Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $190.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup increased their price objective on Alibaba Group from $218.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Rosenblatt Securities set a $195.00 target price on Alibaba Group in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Alibaba Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded Alibaba Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Alibaba Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $195.17. View Our Latest Stock Report on BABA About Alibaba Group (Free Report) Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese multinational conglomerate founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, by Jack Ma and a group of cofounders. 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 highprofile 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Alibaba Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alibaba Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lundin Mining Corp. (OTCMKTS:LUNMF Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Saturday . The company traded as high as $28.95 and last traded at $28.91, with a volume of 196143 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $26.03. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Cormark raised Lundin Mining from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce restated a neutral rating on shares of Lundin Mining in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Lundin Mining in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Lundin Mining in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Lundin Mining in a report on Monday, January 26th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Lundin Mining alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on LUNMF Lundin Mining Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $23.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $17.90. The company has a market capitalization of $24.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.27, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.24. Lundin Mining (OTCMKTS:LUNMF Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 19th. The basic materials company reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $1.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.18 billion. Lundin Mining had a return on equity of 10.45% and a net margin of 30.48%. As a group, analysts forecast that Lundin Mining Corp. will post 0.53 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Lundin Mining (Get Free Report) Lundin Mining Corporation is a Canada-based diversified base metals mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of mines. The companys portfolio encompasses copper, nickel, zinc, and lead, with by-products including gold and silver. Through its technical expertise and focus on cost-effective operations, Lundin Mining aims to maximize long-term value while meeting industry standards for safety and environmental stewardship. Operationally, Lundin Mining holds interests in several producing assets across the Americas and Europe. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lundin Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lundin Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Monaco Asset Management SAM bought a new position in NOV Inc. (NYSE:NOV Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 375,000 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock, valued at approximately $4,969,000. NOV makes up about 0.3% of Monaco Asset Management SAMs holdings, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in NOV by 15.6% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 49,721 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $756,000 after acquiring an additional 6,711 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of NOV by 35.5% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 161,927 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $2,465,000 after purchasing an additional 42,462 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its holdings in shares of NOV by 17.4% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,062,292 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $16,168,000 after purchasing an additional 157,385 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth acquired a new stake in shares of NOV during the 1st quarter worth about $214,000. Finally, VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new stake in shares of NOV during the 2nd quarter worth about $945,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.27% of the companys stock. Get NOV alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently commented on NOV. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on NOV from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on NOV from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Morgan Stanley set a $16.00 target price on NOV in a report on Monday, December 15th. Evercore set a $19.00 target price on NOV in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $17.00 price target on shares of NOV in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $18.36. NOV Price Performance Shares of NOV stock opened at $20.38 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.67, a current ratio of 2.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. NOV Inc. has a 12 month low of $10.84 and a 12 month high of $20.47. The firm has a market cap of $7.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.62 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $17.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.17. NOV (NYSE:NOV Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.25 by ($0.23). NOV had a net margin of 1.66% and a return on equity of 3.57%. The business had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.17 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.41 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that NOV Inc. will post 1.4 EPS for the current year. NOV Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. This is a boost from NOVs previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. NOVs payout ratio is presently 78.95%. About NOV (Free Report) National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV) is a leading provider of equipment and technology to the oil and gas industry. The company designs, manufactures and services an extensive portfolio of products used in drilling, completion and production operations. Its offerings include drilling rigs and related components, wellbore technologies such as tubulars and completion tools, surface equipment including mud pumps and blowout preventers, and aftermarket parts and services that support ongoing field operations. NOVs business is organized to serve upstream energy companies around the world. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NOV Inc. (NYSE:NOV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for NOV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NOV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Persimmon Plc (OTCMKTS:PSMMY Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $41.84 and last traded at $41.84, with a volume of 2027 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.5750. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have weighed in on PSMMY shares. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Persimmon in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Persimmon from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Persimmon in a research note on Monday, November 24th. They set a buy rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and four have given a Buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Buy. Get Persimmon alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Persimmon Persimmon Trading Up 0.7% About Persimmon The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $38.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $33.93. (Get Free Report) Persimmon plc (OTCMKTS:PSMMY) is a leading United Kingdombased residential property developer primarily engaged in the design, construction and sale of new homes. The companys product range spans starter homes for first-time buyers, family houses and executive properties, addressing a broad spectrum of customer needs. Persimmon also offers warranty and after-sales services through its in-house customer care teams, ensuring ongoing support for homeowners. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in York, North Yorkshire, Persimmon has grown from a regional builder into one of the UKs most prolific housebuilders. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Persimmon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Persimmon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC grew its stake in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 35.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 24,731 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 6,487 shares during the quarter. Chevron accounts for 0.7% of Personal CFO Solutions LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Personal CFO Solutions LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $3,840,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. increased its stake in Chevron by 45.7% during the 3rd quarter. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. now owns 15,093 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,344,000 after purchasing an additional 4,731 shares in the last quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp increased its position in shares of Chevron by 12.1% during the third quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp now owns 29,495 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,580,000 after acquiring an additional 3,186 shares in the last quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Chevron by 272.1% in the 3rd quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 22,700 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,525,000 after acquiring an additional 16,600 shares during the last quarter. Coyle Financial Counsel LLC purchased a new position in Chevron in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $230,000. Finally, Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its position in Chevron by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 54,121 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $8,405,000 after acquiring an additional 4,166 shares in the last quarter. 72.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Chevron alerts: Chevron Price Performance NYSE CVX opened at $183.69 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $165.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $158.48. Chevron Corporation has a 52 week low of $132.04 and a 52 week high of $187.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $369.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.58, a PEG ratio of 12.23 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. Chevron had a net margin of 6.51% and a return on equity of 8.23%. The company had revenue of $45.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.18 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.06 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a $1.78 dividend. This is a positive change from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $7.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.9%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 106.91%. Key Headlines Impacting Chevron Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating and issued a $190.00 target price on shares of Chevron in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Freedom Capital cut Chevron from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Chevron from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $176.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Chevron from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Chevron from $185.00 to $179.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 5th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Chevron has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $176.36. View Our Latest Research Report on CVX Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Michael K. Wirth sold 320,700 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total transaction of $52,270,893.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 14,450 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,355,205.50. The trade was a 95.69% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Eimear P. Bonner sold 32,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.01, for a total transaction of $5,617,821.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 4,366 shares in the company, valued at approximately $764,093.66. The trade was a 88.03% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 534,898 shares of company stock worth $89,543,711 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. Chevron Profile (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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras (NYSE:PBR Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $14.9750. A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 17th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras from $14.40 to $14.60 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras from $13.10 to $15.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Get Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on PBR Institutional Trading of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras Trading Up 0.3% Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its stake in Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras by 20.9% in the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 2,702,467 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $34,213,000 after purchasing an additional 467,737 shares in the last quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras by 70.4% in the 3rd quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 18,808,705 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $238,118,000 after buying an additional 7,772,595 shares during the period. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG bought a new position in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras during the 3rd quarter worth $1,342,000. North of South Capital LLP increased its stake in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras by 150.9% during the third quarter. North of South Capital LLP now owns 285,373 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $3,613,000 after buying an additional 171,649 shares during the period. Finally, Annex Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras by 7.4% in the third quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,994,268 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $25,247,000 after acquiring an additional 137,370 shares in the last quarter. Shares of PBR stock opened at $15.81 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $101.85 billion, a PE ratio of 7.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 0.49. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras has a 1 year low of $11.03 and a 1 year high of $16.02. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $13.39 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $12.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.57. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.0658 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 26th. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobrass payout ratio is presently 21.76%. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras Company Profile (Get Free Report) Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras is a Brazilian, state-controlled integrated oil and gas company headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. Founded in 1953, Petrobras is principally engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, and operates across the full value chain from upstream activities through refining, transportation and downstream marketing of petroleum products. The company is a major player in Brazils energy sector and is a listed public company with global capital market presence. Petrobrass core activities include deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration and production, where it has been a pioneer in developing pre-salt reserves off Brazils coast. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Phoenix Spree Deutschland Limited (LON:PSDL Get Free Report)s share price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 170.59 and traded as high as GBX 175.50. Phoenix Spree Deutschland shares last traded at GBX 175.50, with a volume of 25,249 shares. Phoenix Spree Deutschland Stock Performance The companys 50 day moving average is GBX 170.74 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 165.97. The stock has a market capitalization of 160.99 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.27 and a beta of 0.30. Phoenix Spree Deutschland Company Profile (Get Free Report) Phoenix Spree Deutschland Limited is an investment company founded in 2007 and listed on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange. It is a long-term investor in Berlin rental property, committed to improving the quality of accommodation for its tenants. Over the past thirteen years, the Company has assembled an attractive portfolio of real estate assets which the Directors believe offers investors the potential for both reliable income as well as capital growth. QSix (formerly PMM Group) has acted as the Property Advisor since the Companys inception. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Phoenix Spree Deutschland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Phoenix Spree Deutschland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (NYSE:PAGP Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $22.09 and last traded at $21.9760, with a volume of 118770 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $21.82. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently issued reports on PAGP. Zacks Research cut Plains GP from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Bank of America downgraded Plains GP from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $19.00 price target for the company. in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Plains GP from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Plains GP from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on shares of Plains GP from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $20.63. Get Plains GP alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Plains GP Plains GP Price Performance Plains GP Announces Dividend The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The company has a market capitalization of $4.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.02 and a beta of 0.57. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $20.15 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.92. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 30th were paid a dividend of $0.4175 per share. This represents a $1.67 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 30th. Plains GPs payout ratio is 129.46%. Institutional Trading of Plains GP Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Energy Income Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Plains GP by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC now owns 10,196,673 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $185,987,000 after purchasing an additional 102,916 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in shares of Plains GP by 2.5% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,117,959 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $196,592,000 after buying an additional 247,365 shares in the last quarter. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Plains GP by 5.9% during the third quarter. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC now owns 8,832,780 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $161,110,000 after acquiring an additional 494,259 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in Plains GP by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,386,299 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $80,006,000 after acquiring an additional 66,695 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT raised its holdings in Plains GP by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT now owns 3,725,000 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $71,296,000 after acquiring an additional 140,000 shares during the last quarter. 88.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Plains GP (Get Free Report) Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (NYSE: PAGP) serves as the general partner of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., one of North Americas leading energy infrastructure companies. Through its ownership of a 2% general partner interest and incentive distribution rights (IDRs), Plains GP Holdings participates in the governance and cash distribution structure of a diversified portfolio of crude oil and natural gas liquids gathering, transportation, storage, and terminaling assets. The companys primary business activities include overseeing the strategic direction and capital allocation decisions for its affiliated midstream operations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Plains GP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Plains GP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quaker Houghton (NYSE:KWR Get Free Report) is projected to release its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Monday, February 23rd. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.71 per share and revenue of $465.1660 million for the quarter. Investors can find conference call details on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET. Quaker Houghton Trading Up 0.3% Shares of Quaker Houghton stock opened at $174.39 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $155.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $142.33. Quaker Houghton has a 12-month low of $95.91 and a 12-month high of $183.01. The company has a current ratio of 2.47, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The stock has a market cap of $3.02 billion, a PE ratio of -355.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.35. Get Quaker Houghton alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Quaker Houghton by 114.3% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 23,139 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,860,000 after buying an additional 12,341 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC boosted its position in Quaker Houghton by 7.1% during the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 1,650 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $204,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in Quaker Houghton by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 8,211 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $1,015,000 after acquiring an additional 345 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in Quaker Houghton by 29.2% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 95,751 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $11,836,000 after acquiring an additional 21,665 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Quaker Houghton by 44.4% in the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 9,873 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $1,220,000 after acquiring an additional 3,034 shares during the last quarter. 77.46% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In KWR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $190.00 price objective on shares of Quaker Houghton in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research upgraded Quaker Houghton from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Quaker Houghton from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, January 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Quaker Houghton has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $158.67. Read Our Latest Research Report on Quaker Houghton Quaker Houghton Company Profile (Get Free Report) Quaker Houghton is a global provider of process fluids, chemical specialties and sustainable solutions for industrial applications. The company develops and supplies metalworking fluids, coatings, and corrosion inhibitors, as well as heat transfer, lubrication and additive products designed to improve productivity and extend equipment life. Its portfolio addresses a range of end markets including automotive, aerospace, defense, energy, mining, agriculture and heavy industry. The company traces its roots back to the founding of Quaker Chemical Corporation in 1918 and Houghton International in 1865. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Quaker Houghton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quaker Houghton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Journey Advisory Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC Free Report) by 357.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 97,294 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 76,048 shares during the quarter. Journey Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Range Resources were worth $3,662,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in RRC. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its position in Range Resources by 1,464.6% during the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 751 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 703 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its stake in shares of Range Resources by 116.3% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 1,006 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 541 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Range Resources by 49.6% in the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,013 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 336 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Range Resources in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP increased its stake in Range Resources by 196.5% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,103 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 731 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.93% of the companys stock. Get Range Resources alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an underweight rating and set a $39.00 target price (down from $44.00) on shares of Range Resources in a research report on Monday, December 8th. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Range Resources to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Range Resources from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Range Resources from $39.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Range Resources from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Range Resources presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $41.12. Range Resources Trading Up 1.5% NYSE RRC opened at $39.71 on Friday. Range Resources Corporation has a 12 month low of $30.32 and a 12 month high of $43.50. The company has a 50-day moving average of $35.69 and a 200-day moving average of $36.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The company has a market cap of $9.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.69, a P/E/G ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 0.58. Range Resources Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 12th were paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 12th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Range Resourcess payout ratio is currently 15.13%. About Range Resources (Free Report) Range Resources Corporation, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids. The company focuses its core operations on the Appalachian Basin, with a significant presence in Pennsylvanias Marcellus Shale. Through its drilling and completion activities, Range Resources seeks to optimize production efficiency while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation and cost management. The companys technical expertise centers on advanced horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques, which it applies to unlock unconventional resources. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RRC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Range Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Range Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sava Infond d.o.o. lowered its position in Barrick Mining Corporation (NYSE:B Free Report) (TSE:ABX) by 90.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,000 shares of the gold and copper producers stock after selling 74,270 shares during the quarter. Sava Infond d.o.o.s holdings in Barrick Mining were worth $262,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Arlington Trust Co LLC purchased a new stake in Barrick Mining in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Barrick Mining during the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Investors Research Corp bought a new position in shares of Barrick Mining during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. CENTRAL TRUST Co purchased a new stake in shares of Barrick Mining in the second quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Barrick Mining during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. 90.82% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Barrick Mining alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets B has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Barrick Mining from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Cormark upgraded shares of Barrick Mining from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $71.00 price target on shares of Barrick Mining in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Barrick Mining from $38.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, DZ Bank raised shares of Barrick Mining to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $55.25. Barrick Mining Stock Down 1.2% NYSE:B opened at $47.95 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 2.92 and a quick ratio of 2.33. Barrick Mining Corporation has a 1-year low of $17.00 and a 1-year high of $54.69. The company has a 50-day moving average of $47.11 and a 200 day moving average of $37.52. The firm has a market cap of $80.33 billion, a PE ratio of 16.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 0.40. Barrick Mining (NYSE:B Get Free Report) (TSE:ABX) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The gold and copper producer reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.19. Barrick Mining had a net margin of 29.45% and a return on equity of 12.10%. The business had revenue of $5.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.15 billion. The companys quarterly revenue was up 44.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Barrick Mining Corporation will post 1.47 EPS for the current fiscal year. Barrick Mining Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. This is a positive change from Barrick Minings previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Barrick Minings payout ratio is presently 23.89%. Key Barrick Mining News Here are the key news stories impacting Barrick Mining this week: Barrick Mining Company Profile (Free Report) Barrick Gold Corporation, commonly known as Barrick, is a Torontoheadquartered mining company focused on the exploration, development, production and sale of gold and copper. Listed on major exchanges (including the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol B), Barrick operates as an integrated minerals producer, running largescale mining complexes, processing facilities and related support services for extraction and metallurgical treatment of ore. The companys activities span the full mining value chain: greenfield exploration, feasibility and permitting, mine construction, ongoing operations, and closure and reclamation. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Barrick Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barrick Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Synovus Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report) by 79.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,589 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 8,250 shares during the quarter. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in Novartis were worth $2,385,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in NVS. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. increased its stake in Novartis by 15.6% in the 3rd quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 85,200 shares of the companys stock worth $10,926,000 after buying an additional 11,500 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its stake in Novartis by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 132,536 shares of the companys stock worth $17,001,000 after acquiring an additional 6,924 shares in the last quarter. Keybank National Association OH increased its position in shares of Novartis by 13.2% during the second quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 49,377 shares of the companys stock worth $5,975,000 after acquiring an additional 5,742 shares during the period. Todd Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Novartis by 5.8% during the third quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 439,879 shares of the companys stock worth $56,411,000 after acquiring an additional 23,978 shares during the period. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Novartis by 27.7% during the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 64,760 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,305,000 after acquiring an additional 14,032 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.12% of the companys stock. Get Novartis alerts: Key Headlines Impacting Novartis Here are the key news stories impacting Novartis this week: Positive Sentiment: President Trump said he met Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan and highlighted the company is building 11 U.S. manufacturing plants a signal of stronger U.S. production footprint, potential government support and onshoring that can reduce supply risk and support future sales. Trump meets Novartis CEO, says drugmaker building 11 US plants President Trump said he met Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan and highlighted the company is building 11 U.S. manufacturing plants a signal of stronger U.S. production footprint, potential government support and onshoring that can reduce supply risk and support future sales. Positive Sentiment: Novartis is making a major R&D/portfolio bet a $1.8 billion investment in oral peptide programs which could expand its pipeline into highvalue modalities if clinical progress continues. This is growthoriented spending that investors may view positively for longterm upside. Novartis Makes $1.8 Billion Bet On Oral Peptides Novartis is making a major R&D/portfolio bet a $1.8 billion investment in oral peptide programs which could expand its pipeline into highvalue modalities if clinical progress continues. This is growthoriented spending that investors may view positively for longterm upside. Neutral Sentiment: Novartis agreed to sell its ~70.7% holding in its listed Indian unit to a consortium (WaveRise, ChrysCapital, Two Infinity) for about $159M a sizeable strategic divestment geographically but small relative to Novartis market cap; it reduces direct India exposure and will free up capital, though nearterm earnings impact is modest. Novartis to sell entire 71% stake in Indian unit to consortium of WaveRise Investments Novartis agreed to sell its ~70.7% holding in its listed Indian unit to a consortium (WaveRise, ChrysCapital, Two Infinity) for about $159M a sizeable strategic divestment geographically but small relative to Novartis market cap; it reduces direct India exposure and will free up capital, though nearterm earnings impact is modest. Negative Sentiment: Analyst revisions from Zacks are mixed but tilted downward overall: Zacks issued multiple cuts to quarterly and FY2026/2027 EPS estimates (several Q2/Q3 and FY reductions), which can pressure sentiment and imply lower nearterm earnings growth expectations. These downgrades are likely the primary shortterm negative driver. Analyst revisions from Zacks are mixed but tilted downward overall: Zacks issued multiple cuts to quarterly and FY2026/2027 EPS estimates (several Q2/Q3 and FY reductions), which can pressure sentiment and imply lower nearterm earnings growth expectations. These downgrades are likely the primary shortterm negative driver. Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary pieces (e.g., Yahoo Finance stock look) provide broader context but contain no single catalyst; useful for longterm perspective but not a direct price driver today. Where is Novartis AG (NVS) Headed? Novartis Stock Down 0.7% NYSE:NVS opened at $162.76 on Friday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $146.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $133.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.12. Novartis AG has a fifty-two week low of $97.71 and a fifty-two week high of $167.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $343.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.50. Novartis (NYSE:NVS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.99 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $13.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.85 billion. Novartis had a net margin of 25.65% and a return on equity of 40.53%. Novartiss revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.98 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Novartis Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be given a $4.773 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a dividend yield of 312.0%. Novartiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.30%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have commented on NVS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Thursday, February 12th. DZ Bank lowered Novartis from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. HSBC restated a reduce rating and issued a $112.00 price objective on shares of Novartis in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Novartis from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Novartis from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Novartis has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $119.75. Read Our Latest Stock Report on NVS Novartis Profile (Free Report) Novartis is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel that researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines and related health-care products. Formed through the 1996 merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, Novartis operates globally and focuses on bringing therapeutics from discovery through clinical development to commercial markets worldwide. The companys activities center on innovative pharmaceuticals across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuroscience and ophthalmology, alongside capabilities in advanced therapies such as biologics, cell and gene therapies. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stevens Capital Management LP lifted its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 389.9% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 80,180 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 63,812 shares during the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing accounts for approximately 3.0% of Stevens Capital Management LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Stevens Capital Management LPs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $22,393,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in TSM. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the second quarter worth about $32,000. First Command Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 174.1% during the second quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 159 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Fairman Group LLC grew its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 171.2% during the third quarter. Fairman Group LLC now owns 141 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. bought a new position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 2nd quarter valued at about $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently commented on TSM shares. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Friday, January 9th. UBS Group set a $330.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Sunday, December 7th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $325.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Wall Street Zen raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $391.43. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance TSM stock opened at $370.54 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.92 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 2.69 and a quick ratio of 2.47. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $328.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $292.76. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 1 year low of $134.25 and a 1 year high of $380.00. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, November 14th. The semiconductor company reported $14.32 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $32.50 billion for the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 45.13% and a return on equity of 36.18%. Research analysts anticipate that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 11th will be given a dividend of $0.9503 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 11th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is currently 28.64%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products. TSMCs service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tredje AP fonden trimmed its position in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 732,908 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 24,208 shares during the period. TJX Companies accounts for approximately 0.9% of Tredje AP fondens investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Tredje AP fondens holdings in TJX Companies were worth $105,935,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Lavaca Capital LLC acquired a new stake in TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 65.0% during the 3rd quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 231 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new position in shares of TJX Companies during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Capital A Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 776.7% in the 2nd quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 263 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.09% of the companys stock. Get TJX Companies alerts: TJX Companies Trading Up 1.1% TJX Companies stock opened at $158.29 on Friday. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $112.10 and a 52 week high of $159.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 1.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $175.77 billion, a PE ratio of 34.94, a PEG ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 0.74. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $154.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $146.67. TJX Companies Announces Dividend TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $15.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.80 billion. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 58.30% and a net margin of 8.68%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.14 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be paid a $0.425 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.53%. Key Headlines Impacting TJX Companies Here are the key news stories impacting TJX Companies this week: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $150.00 to $154.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $170.00 price target on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Barclays set a $172.00 price objective on TJX Companies and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Evercore raised their price objective on TJX Companies from $162.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $165.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have given a Buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $163.86. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on TJX About TJX Companies (Free Report) 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TJX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tredje AP fonden boosted its holdings in Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW Free Report) by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 427,457 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 17,993 shares during the quarter. Tredje AP fondens holdings in Smurfit Westrock were worth $18,197,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 113.3% in the 3rd quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 640 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares during the period. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the second quarter worth $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter valued at about $33,000. Rexford Capital Inc. bought a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the second quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Smurfit Westrock by 50.0% in the second quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 1,026 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 342 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.38% of the companys stock. Get Smurfit Westrock alerts: Smurfit Westrock Stock Performance Shares of SW opened at $48.71 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $25.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.62 and a beta of 1.09. Smurfit Westrock PLC has a twelve month low of $32.73 and a twelve month high of $54.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.48. The firms 50 day moving average price is $42.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.47. Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend Smurfit Westrock ( NYSE:SW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.46 by ($0.12). Smurfit Westrock had a return on equity of 6.10% and a net margin of 2.24%.The company had revenue of $7.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.63 billion. The firms revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.28 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Smurfit Westrock PLC will post 3.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a $0.4523 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $1.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. This is a positive change from Smurfit Westrocks previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. Smurfit Westrocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 136.09%. Insider Activity In related news, CFO Ken Bowles sold 10,000 shares of Smurfit Westrock stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.26, for a total value of $512,600.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 151,644 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,773,271.44. This trade represents a 6.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Anthony P. J. Smurfit sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.54, for a total value of $2,061,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 1,642,610 shares in the company, valued at $84,660,119.40. The trade was a 2.38% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.49% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently issued reports on SW. Jefferies Financial Group set a $58.00 target price on Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Smurfit Westrock from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $51.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $48.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Argus lowered their price objective on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $55.00 to $45.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Smurfit Westrock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $57.20. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Smurfit Westrock Smurfit Westrock Profile (Free Report) Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Smurfit Westrock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Smurfit Westrock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tredje AP fonden cut its holdings in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 4.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 412,906 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 20,341 shares during the quarter. Visa comprises 1.1% of Tredje AP fondens investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Tredje AP fondens holdings in Visa were worth $140,958,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Visa in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Bare Financial Services Inc boosted its stake in Visa by 287.0% during the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 89 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Visa by 202.7% in the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 114 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Visa in the 2nd quarter worth $40,000. Finally, Decker Retirement Planning Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Visa during the 2nd quarter worth $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.15% of the companys stock. Get Visa alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on V shares. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $395.00 price objective on shares of Visa in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Daiwa Securities Group raised shares of Visa from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $370.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $411.00 price target (up previously from $398.00) on shares of Visa in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $408.00 price objective (up from $398.00) on shares of Visa in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Visa from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $382.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Visa has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $391.43. Insider Activity In related news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 10,485 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $349.18, for a total transaction of $3,661,152.30. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 9,401 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,282,641.18. This represents a 52.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. Visa Price Performance Visa stock opened at $320.90 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $336.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $338.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. Visa Inc. has a 1 year low of $299.00 and a 1 year high of $375.51. The company has a market capitalization of $582.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.79. Visa (NYSE:V Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The credit-card processor reported $3.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.03. Visa had a return on equity of 61.74% and a net margin of 50.23%.The company had revenue of $10.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.69 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.75 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 14.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Visa Inc. will post 11.3 earnings per share for the current year. Visa Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be issued a $0.67 dividend. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 10th. Visas payout ratio is currently 25.14%. Visa Company Profile (Free Report) Visa Inc is a global payments technology company that facilitates electronic funds transfers and digital commerce by connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions and governments. The firm operates one of the worlds largest payment networks, providing processing, authorization, clearing and settlement services for credit, debit and prepaid card transactions. Visas network-based model enables partner banks and other issuers to offer branded payment products while Visa focuses on the infrastructure, standards and technologies that move money securely and efficiently around the world. Visas product and service portfolio includes card-based payment products for consumers and businesses, real-time push-payment capabilities, tokenization and authentication services, fraud and risk-management tools, data analytics and APIs for fintech and merchant integration. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding V? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tredje AP fonden boosted its holdings in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) by 38.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 217,559 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 60,000 shares during the quarter. Tredje AP fondens holdings in Citigroup were worth $22,082,000 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 C. FMB Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Citigroup by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMB Wealth Management now owns 2,618 shares of the companys stock valued at $266,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the period. Tritonpoint Wealth LLC lifted its position in Citigroup by 2.1% during the third quarter. Tritonpoint Wealth LLC now owns 4,989 shares of the companys stock valued at $506,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in Citigroup by 35.3% during the third 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 period. Fullcircle Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Citigroup by 0.9% during the second quarter. Fullcircle Wealth LLC now owns 13,097 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,206,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. Finally, Arjuna Capital increased its position in Citigroup by 0.7% in the third quarter. Arjuna Capital now owns 16,587 shares of the companys stock worth $1,684,000 after buying an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. 71.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Citigroup alerts: Citigroup Trading Up 0.3% Shares of C opened at $115.84 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $207.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Citigroup Inc. has a 1 year low of $55.51 and a 1 year high of $125.16. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $116.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $105.38. Citigroup Announces Dividend Citigroup ( NYSE:C Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $19.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.99 billion. Citigroup had a net margin of 8.50% and a return on equity of 8.28%. Citigroups revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.34 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 2nd. Citigroups dividend payout ratio is 34.43%. Insider Buying and Selling at Citigroup In other news, insider Cantu Ernesto Torres sold 43,173 shares of Citigroup stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.09, for a total value of $4,796,088.57. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 45,835 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,091,810.15. The trade was a 48.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Key Citigroup News Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently weighed in on C. Wells Fargo & Company set a $150.00 price objective on Citigroup in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Zacks Research raised shares of Citigroup from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Citigroup from $118.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $123.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Citigroup in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.25. View Our Latest Stock Report on Citigroup About Citigroup (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding C? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tredje AP fonden trimmed its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP Free Report) by 23.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 159,016 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 49,330 shares during the quarter. Tredje AP fondens holdings in Union Pacific were worth $37,587,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 9.8% in the third quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $12,492,000 after acquiring an additional 4,707 shares during the period. Midwest Trust Co increased its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the third quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $66,428,000 after buying an additional 7,759 shares in the last quarter. CX Institutional raised its stake in Union Pacific by 39.8% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $15,559,000 after acquiring an additional 18,742 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 135,188 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $31,955,000 after buying an additional 17,696 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter worth about $802,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the companys stock. Get Union Pacific alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets reissued a market perform rating and issued a $295.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday. Susquehanna reiterated a buy rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, January 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 target price on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $260.14. Union Pacific Price Performance UNP stock opened at $266.34 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $158.04 billion, a PE ratio of 22.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.98. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $267.17. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $239.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $230.01. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.91 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year. Union Pacific Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacifics dividend 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. reduced its position in Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW Free Report) by 0.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 14,672,415 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 108,875 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 0.12% of Pinnacle West Capital worth $1,315,529,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 9.5% during the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 3,989 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $358,000 after buying an additional 346 shares in the last quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D boosted its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 4.7% in the third quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 38,391 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,442,000 after acquiring an additional 1,719 shares during the period. Calton & Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the third quarter worth about $212,000. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 2.0% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 69,524 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,234,000 after purchasing an additional 1,379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its holdings in Pinnacle West Capital by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 25,725 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,307,000 after purchasing an additional 1,136 shares in the last quarter. 91.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Pinnacle West Capital alerts: Pinnacle West Capital Price Performance PNW stock opened at $98.32 on Friday. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation has a 52 week low of $85.32 and a 52 week high of $100.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.89 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $92.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $90.48. The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. Pinnacle West Capital Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, February 2nd will be issued a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 2nd. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.7%. Pinnacle West Capitals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 74.74%. A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on PNW shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley set a $96.00 target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $103.00 price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Barclays cut their price objective on Pinnacle West Capital from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on Pinnacle West Capital from $94.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $97.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Pinnacle West Capital About Pinnacle West Capital (Free Report) Pinnacle West Capital Corporation is a publicly traded utility holding company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Through its principal subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (APS), Pinnacle West generates, transmits and distributes electricity to more than one million residential, commercial and industrial customers across central and southern Arizona. The companys regulated operations focus on delivering safe, reliable power while meeting evolving environmental standards. The companys diversified generation portfolio includes natural gasfired plants, the nuclear-powered Palo Verde Generating Stationthe largest nuclear facility in the United States by net outputplus growing investments in solar and battery storage projects. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PNW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle West Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle West Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealth Alliance LLC trimmed its position in iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV Free Report) by 58.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,422 shares of the companys stock after selling 17,347 shares during the period. Wealth Alliance LLC owned 0.05% of iShares Europe ETF worth $813,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Europe ETF in the second quarter worth $25,000. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares Europe ETF during the third quarter worth about $29,000. American National Bank & Trust bought a new position in iShares Europe ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Grove Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Europe ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $52,000. Finally, Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Europe ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $70,000. Get iShares Europe ETF alerts: iShares Europe ETF Trading Up 1.0% Shares of NYSEARCA IEV opened at $73.83 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $70.67 and a 200-day moving average of $67.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.48 and a beta of 0.91. iShares Europe ETF has a 12 month low of $51.30 and a 12 month high of $73.85. iShares Europe ETF Profile iShares Europe ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Europe 350 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 Europe 350 (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the stocks of companies in the countries, which includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IEV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Windar Photonics PLC (LON:WPHO Get Free Report)s share price passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 44.54 and traded as low as GBX 41. Windar Photonics shares last traded at GBX 43, with a volume of 129,959 shares traded. Windar Photonics Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.99, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 4.78. The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 44.54 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 52.46. The stock has a market capitalization of 41.44 million, a PE ratio of -28.67 and a beta of 1.29. Windar Photonics Company Profile (Get Free Report) Windar Photonics PLC, through its subsidiaries, develops and sells light detection and ranging sensors, and associated products for use on electricity generating wind turbines in Europe, China, and rest of Asia. It offers WindEYE and WindVISION sensors, which measure wind speed by scanning a laser beam ahead of the wind turbines. The company also provides WindTIMIZER that works as a mediator between the WindEYE and the wind turbine controller; and retrofit control system. Windar Photonics PLC was incorporated in 2014 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Windar Photonics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Windar Photonics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A 40-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a dangerous instrument and causing grievous harm after a domestic dispute allegedly left a woman injured. The case has renewed conversation about domestic violence and protection for victims. You voted: The top Steam games2026 list blends timeless single-player epics with recent multiplayer hits dominating the platform. From "Red Dead Redemption 2's" immersive Wild West storytelling to "Baldur's Gate 3's" deep RPG systems, these games showcase variety and quality. Must-play video games now include Metroidvanias, action-adventures, and battle royales, giving PC gamers unmatched choices this year. Whether you're building a new library or expanding an existing collection, the best Steam games 2026 combine artful design, engaging mechanics, and replay value. Developers like Rockstar, Larian, and Team Cherry continue to define benchmarks for gameplay and world-building. This list helps players prioritize experiences worth their time in 2026. Top Steam Games 2026 List The top Steam games 2026 list highlights both single-player epics and multiplayer sensations. These must-play video games offer immersive storytelling, competitive action, and artistic innovation. "Red Dead Redemption 2" Step into Arthur Morgan's shoes in a sprawling Wild West adventure. The 60+ hour campaign features dynamic NPCs, hunting, and a morality system, earning a 97% Steam rating. "Black Myth: Wukong" Experience fluid Souls-like combat inspired by Chinese mythology. Over 90 bosses and Unreal Engine 5 visuals make this 2024 breakout a 95% favorite. "Hollow Knight" Explore the haunting world of Hallownest in this Metroidvania classic. Hand-drawn art, 40+ hours of gameplay, and challenging bosses hold a 97% positive rating. "Grand Theft Auto 5" Dive into the chaotic sandbox of Los Santos with GTA Online. Michael, Franklin, and Trevor's heists keep players engaged, with 200M+ sales and a 96% rating. "Cuphead" Enjoy run-and-gun action with 1930s cartoon art and a jazzy soundtrack. Co-op boss fights and a perfect difficulty curve earned a 97% score. "God of War" Join Kratos and Atreus on a Norse saga full of axe combat and puzzles. The semi-open world PC port is praised at 95% for its storytelling and gameplay. "Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" Hunt monsters across a vast, branching narrative world. Expansions, Gwent, and over 100 hours of content secure a 96% legendary rating. "Baldur's Gate 3" Play a D&D 5e-inspired RPG with infinite choices and cinematic writing. Turn-based combat and complex companion interactions earned a 97% Game of the Year rating. "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" Immerse in French Belle Epoque turn-based RPG gameplay. Surreal narrative and strategic depth make it a Steam top-seller. "Ori and the Will of the Wisp" Glide through a Metroidvania world with fluid movement and emotional storytelling. Stunning 4K 120fps visuals complement a 96% rating. "Arc Raiders" Engage in PvEvP extraction shooter action with co-op robot fighting. Base-building elements and multiplayer excitement make it a 2026 hit. "Warframe" Experience a decade of looter-shooter evolution with 50+ Warframes. Rail-jumping combat, open worlds, and clan dojos keep players returning, rated 94%. "Helldivers 2" Four-player chaotic co-op in a galactic democracy setting. Satirical gameplay and peak 450k concurrent players showcase live-service excellence at 92%. "PUBG: Battlegrounds" Drop into 100-player battle royale matches with tactical gunplay. Parachutes, shrinking zones, and squad tactics make it an 86% esports staple. "Dota 2" Command 120+ heroes in MOBA perfection with The International as the ultimate stage. Deep strategy, free-to-play accessibility, and competitive gameplay earn an 89% rating. Best Steam Games 2026 Single-Player Epics Single-player experiences dominate the best Steam games 2026 for immersive storytelling and exploration. "Red Dead Redemption 2" sets the standard with dynamic NPC interactions, honor systems, and reactive world events. "Black Myth: Wukong" delivers challenging combat, six weapon types, and epic mythological spectacle. Other highlights include "Witcher 3: Wild Hunt", offering sprawling quests, romance arcs, and New Game+ modes, and "Baldur's Gate 3", redefining CRPGs with permadeath, infinite builds, and cinematic multiclass options. "God of War PC" and "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" combine puzzles, exploration, and surreal narratives for thoughtful play, while "Cuphead" emphasizes precision platforming and co-op chaos. Top Steam Games 2026 Multiplayer Mayhem Multiplayer titles define must-play video games for community and competitive engagement. "Helldivers 2" delivers chaotic co-op with strategic friendly fire and peak 450k players. "Arc Raiders" combines PvEvP extraction with co-op and base-building excitement, topping charts in 2026. Warframe continues to evolve with free content, rail-jumping gameplay, and clan systems, while "PUBG: Battlegrounds" retains tactical squad battles and destructible environments. "Dota 2" remains the MOBA pinnacle with 120+ heroes and competitive esports events. Multiplayer experiences balance high-stakes gameplay with teamwork and strategy. Upcoming Steam Games to Watch in 2026 The Steam lineup for 2026 is shaping up with exciting new releases that promise fresh gameplay and stunning visuals. These upcoming titles highlight a mix of action, horror, strategy, and racing experiences for PC gamers. Players can look forward to must-play video games that push the boundaries of storytelling, competitive mechanics, and immersive worlds. "Crimson Desert" Open-world action-adventure with dynamic combat and a rich, narrative-driven experience. Stunning visuals and expansive landscapes promise an epic journey for players. "Resident Evil: Requiem" Survival horror returns with terrifying environments, new mechanics, and cinematic storytelling. Fans can expect tense gameplay and immersive scares. "Tides of Annihilation" Strategic warfare with large-scale battles and tactical depth. Multiplayer and single-player modes combine to offer high-stakes decision-making. "Forza Horizon 6" Racing across diverse open-world locations with realistic physics and customizable vehicles. Competitive and co-op modes make it a thrilling experience for driving enthusiasts. Why These Top Steam Games Are Must-Play in 2026 The best Steam games 2026 showcase the incredible variety and quality available to PC gamers this year. From immersive single-player epics like "Red Dead Redemption 2" and "Baldur's Gate 3" to multiplayer sensations such as "Helldivers 2" and "Dota 2", these titles offer storytelling, strategy, and replayability across genres. Artistic indies like "Hollow Knight" and "Ori and the Will of the Wisp" prove that visual design and narrative depth can rival blockbuster production values. Whether you prefer solo adventures, competitive multiplayer, or experimental indie games, the top Steam games 2026 combine engaging mechanics, rich worlds, and creative innovation. Upcoming releases like "Crimson Desert" and "Forza Horizon 6" promise fresh experiences, ensuring that PC gaming continues to evolve. This list helps players build a library that balances timeless classics with exciting new hits, making 2026 a standout year for must-play video games. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What are the top Steam games 2026? The top Steam games 2026 include "Red Dead Redemption 2", "Baldur's Gate 3", "Black Myth: Wukong", and "Hollow Knight". Multiplayer hits like "Helldivers 2" and "Dota 2" also dominate. This list balances single-player epics, artistic indie titles, and competitive multiplayer games. Gamers can enjoy both storytelling and high-stakes action. 2. Which are the best single-player Steam games? "Red Dead Redemption 2" and "Baldur's Gate 3" lead for immersive narratives and exploration. Black Myth: Wukong and Witcher 3 offer combat depth and choice-driven gameplay. "God of War" and "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" provide puzzles and emotional storytelling. Cuphead delivers precision platforming with artistic flair. 3. What are the must-play multiplayer Steam games in 2026? "Helldivers 2", "Arc Raiders", "Warframe", "PUBG", and "Dota 2" dominate multiplayer engagement. Each offers teamwork, strategy, and replay value. Helldivers 2 emphasizes chaotic co-op democracy, while Arc Raiders mixes PvEvP tension. Dota 2 continues as the competitive MOBA staple. 4. Which Steam games are considered artistic masterpieces? "Ori and the Will of the Wisp" and "Hollow Knight" exemplify artistic mastery. Painterly visuals and fluid gameplay enhance immersion. Hand-drawn worlds, emotional storytelling, and seamless DLC elevate these games. Artistic titles provide memorable experiences beyond mechanics and scores. Originally published on Tech Times KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 Malaysia is scrutinising the implications of US President Donald Trumps latest pledge to impose a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all imported goods, with Putrajaya awaiting further details from Washington on how the measure will be enforced. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the government is closely monitoring the development alongside broader shifts in US trade policy. We have taken note of the latest announcement by Trump regarding the temporary 10 per cent tariff, and we are studying its scope and implications, he said in a statement today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this stage, we are waiting for further clarification on how the measure will be implemented and whether additional adjustments will be made. Malaysia has yet to ratify the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART), signed in October last year, under which the country previously faced a 19 per cent reciprocal tariff following negotiations with the US. Trumps latest move comes after the US Supreme Court ruled that his earlier use of emergency powers to levy sweeping reciprocal tariffs on almost all US trading partners was unconstitutional. Shortly after the ruling, Trump announced that a new 10 per cent tariff would take effect immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had signed the relevant documents for the new trade policy at the Oval Office in the White House. Johari said Malaysia recognised the Supreme Courts February 20 ruling but noted that the US still has other legal mechanisms to impose unilateral trade measures should it choose to do so. He stressed that Malaysias position remained unchanged: committed to open, rules-based trade and to maintaining a predictable business environment. Malaysia is consistent in safeguarding the interests of Malaysian exporters, international investors, businesses operating in Malaysia, and workers across the economy, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Malaysia would continue diversifying its trade relationships and strengthening regional and multilateral cooperation to build resilience amid shifting global trade dynamics. We will act in the best interests of Malaysia while maintaining strong bilateral ties with the US, he said. The US is among the worlds largest economies, with a GDP of about US$31 trillion. Total trade between Malaysia and the US reached roughly RM367 billion last year, with Malaysian exports accounting for RM233 billion of the figure. HC sets aside | IMPHAL, Feb 21: A single bench of the High Court of Manipur has set aside a February 5 order of Sessions Judge Churachandpur granting a 15-day interim antici- patory bail to one Sh Tuanzakhup, retired Superintendent of Customs Preventive Force, in a case under Prevention of Corruption Act. During the hearing today, CBI's counsel challenged the February 5 order stating the Sessions Judge, Churachandpur has no territorial jurisdiction for entertaining an anticipatory bail application as the place of occurence is Champhai, Mizoram. Considering the materials on record, the Court said the Sessions Judge's February 5 is set aside and the whole proceeding is quashed. The Court granted 10 days till March 2 to the accused to approach a competent Court in Mizoram for relief. KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 Malaysia has recorded 3,161 tuberculosis (TB) cases nationwide up to Epidemiological Week 6 of 2026, with 596 new infections detected in the latest surveillance period, according to the Health Ministry (MOH). In a statement today, the ministry said Sabah continues to report the highest figure, logging 755 cases (23.88 per cent), followed by Selangor with 596 cases (18.85 per cent) and Sarawak with 332 cases (10.50 per cent). Johor recorded 280 cases, while the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya reported 244 cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were 181 new cases in Kedah, followed by Penang (172), Perak (154), Kelantan (121), Pahang (103), Terengganu (74), Negeri Sembilan (62), Melaka (48), Perlis (21) and Labuan (18), MOH said. With Ramadan bazaars and iftar gatherings underway, the ministry urged the public to maintain consistent self-care practices, particularly respiratory hygiene. TB is an airborne infectious disease that can spread when someone with active pulmonary TB coughs, talks or sneezes. However, TB does not usually spread as quickly as influenza or Covid-19 and generally requires longer and repeated exposure, it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MOH warned that transmission risks rise when people spend extended periods in enclosed, crowded or poorly ventilated settings especially if someone with untreated active TB is present. However, the actual risk depends on several factors, including the duration of exposure, ventilation conditions and the health of the individuals concerned. It must be emphasised that Ramadan is not the cause of TB transmission. Increased social activity and gatherings during this month naturally heighten community interaction, the ministry said. The public has been advised to observe proper cough and sneeze etiquette, improve ventilation in indoor spaces, and wear face masks if symptomatic or in crowded places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Individuals experiencing a persistent cough for more than two weeks, or other related symptoms, are advised to seek medical assessment. This community-based awareness approach is essential to ensure early detection, effective treatment and comprehensive prevention. With shared awareness and collective action, Ramadan can be celebrated safely, healthily and in good spirit, MOH added. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he will raise the temporary tariff rate on all US imports to 15 per cent, up from 10 per cent he ordered a day ago. "I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been 'ripping' the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level," he posted on Truth Social. This comes a day after the US Supreme Court ruled against the pivotal tariffs imposed by Trump without Congress approval. Irked over the court ruling, Trump directed a 10 per cent tariff on all imports to the US for 150 days from February 24. "I have the right to do tariffs, and I've always had the right to do tariffs," Trump said at a news conference, adding that he doesn't need Congress. India on Saturday said it is studying the implications of the US Supreme Court verdict on tariffs and President Donald Trump's decision to increase the tariff. We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US Administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications," the Ministry of Commerce and Industry wrote in an official statement. Trump also clarified that there is no change in the trade deal with India and emphasised that the India deal is on. "Nothing changes. They will be paying tariffs. And we will not be paying tariffs. This is a reversal for what it used to be," he said. Despite the US Supreme Courts decision to invalidate reciprocal tariffs, President Donald Trump on Friday asserted that there would be no change in the trade deal with India, maintaining that New Delhi would continue to pay 18 per cent tariffs. Earlier this month, the US and India announced that they had reached a framework for an interim trade agreement. Under the arrangement, Washington agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. India, on the other hand, will impose zero tariffs on US goods. However, in a 63 ruling on Friday, the US Supreme Court held that Trumps sweeping tariffs on imports from nearly all trading partners violated federal law. Speaking at a news conference at the White House, Trump described the verdict as deeply disappointing and even launched a personal attack on the judges. The Supreme Court's ruling is deeply disappointing, and I am ashamed of certain members of the court for not having the courage to do what is right for our country, he said. When asked how the decision would affect the IndiaUS trade deal, Trump responded: Nothing changes. Theyll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs. The deal with India is that they pay tariffs. This is a reversal of what it used to be. As you know, India and I think Prime Minister Modi is a great gentleman, a great man, actually but he was much smarter than the people that he was against in terms of the United States. He was ripping us off. So we made a deal with India, Trump said. #WATCH | Responding to ANI's question about US-India trade deal, US President Trump says, "Nothing changes. They'll be paying tariffs and we will not be paying tariffs... PM Modi is a great man. He was much smarter than the people he was against in terms of the US... He was pic.twitter.com/FvKwe8prP7 ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2026 Its a fair deal now. We are not paying tariffs to them, and they are paying tariffs. We did a little flip, he added. Trump also reiterated his claim that India had reduced its purchases of Russian oil at the request of the United States. I think my relationship with India is fantastic, and were doing trade with India. India pulled out of Russia. India was getting its oil from Russia, and they pulled way back at my request because we want to settle that horrible war where 25,000 people are dying every month, he said. #WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, "My relationship with India is fantastic, and we are doing trade with India. India pulled out of Russia. India was getting its oil from Russia, and they pulled way back on my request because we want to settle a horrible war where 25,000 pic.twitter.com/7QmCFIEvMO ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2026 In its ruling, the Supreme Court found that the President did not have the authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad import duties on goods from nearly all US trading partners. The decision is expected to have far-reaching economic implications. According to The Washington Post, the contested tariffs cover trillions of dollars in trade, and the US government collected nearly $134 billion in levies through December 14 under the challenged authority. President Donald Trump has unveiled a new 10 per cent global tariff on foreign imports, invoking the rarely used Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to reassert his trade agenda after a major judicial setback. The temporary ad valorem duty applies to goods from almost all countries and is scheduled to take effect on February 24. Under the statute, it can remain in force for a maximum of 150 days unless Congress approves an extension, placing a strict time limit on what the White House portrays as an emergency economic measure. The move follows a sharp rebuke from the United States Supreme Court, which in a 6-3 ruling invalidated the administrations sweeping global tariffs imposed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The majority led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts was joined by two of the three conservative justices appointed by Trump, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil M. Gorsuch, and the three liberal judges Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. They ruled that the president did not have the statutory authority to use the IEEPA as a blanket mechanism to levy extensive import duties. According to the ruling, only Congress has the power to impose tariffs during peacetime and that emergency economic legislation could not be used to justify an overarching tariff regime. The judgment dismantled the legal foundation of what had become a central pillar of Trumps economic strategy. The effective US tariff rate, which had climbed to 12.7 per cent under the previous regime, fell immediately to 8.3 per cent following the ruling. For an administration that has treated tariffs as both an economic instrument and a geopolitical lever, the decision was a profound setback. Trump reacted with fury. He described the ruling as deeply disappointing and castigated the majority as a disgrace to our nation, accusing them of being unpatriotic and disloyal to the Constitution. He also suggested, without offering evidence, that the court had been swayed by foreign interests. At the same time, he praised the three conservative justices (Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh) who dissented, framing them as defenders of executive authority. And he moved swiftly to circumvent the ruling, using Section 122 as an alternative statutory route to sustain his trade offensive. The administration argues that the new tariff is legally distinct and economically necessary. Section 122 permits temporary trade measures to address fundamental international payment problems and what officials describe as a large and serious balance-of-payments deficit. The White House points to a worsening US current account deficit, which it says reached minus 4.0 per cent of GDP in 2024, the largest shortfall since 2008. Meanwhile, the net international investment position has fallen to negative $26 trillion. By imposing a 10 per cent surcharge, the administration says it intends to slow the outflow of dollars, encourage domestic manufacturing, generate well-paying industrial jobs and structurally correct the trade imbalance. Despite its global scope, the measure is studded with exemptions designed to cushion the domestic economy. Goods entering from Canada and Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement are excluded, as are textiles and apparel from countries covered by the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement. A broad range of essential imports has also been carved out, including critical minerals, energy products, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, certain electronics and passenger vehicles. Select agricultural goods such as beef, tomatoes and oranges are explicitly exempt to limit consumer price pressures. Products already subject to Section 232 national security tariffs are similarly shielded from the new duty. Trump maintains that the tariff will preserve his principal source of economic leverage while generating significant revenue to replace funds expected from the invalidated duties. Some analysts estimate that, if sustained, the average tax burden on imports could settle at around 15.4 per cent, only modestly below levels prevailing before the courts intervention. Simultaneously, the administration has directed the Office of the United States Trade Representative to initiate investigations into alleged unfair trade practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act. These probes will run during the 150-day window and could lay the groundwork for more targeted and permanent tariffs once the temporary measure expires. Prior to the courts ruling, the United States and India had already concluded a separate interim trade arrangement operating outside the contested emergency framework. Under this reciprocal understanding, Washington agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 50 per cent to 18 per cent, while New Delhi eliminated duties on a wide range of American industrial and agricultural exports. When asked whether the Supreme Courts invalidation of the broader IEEPA tariffs would affect this bilateral pact, Trump responded bluntly that nothing changes. However, the White House later issued a clarification that the new 10 per cent tariff will be applicable for countries like India as well till a final determination is made. "This is, however, only temporary as the administration will be pursuing other legal authorities to implement more appropriate or pre-negotiated tariff rates," a White House official said. BREAKING: Turkey unveils its most devastating 907kg non-nuclear bomb, GAZAP. pic.twitter.com/b6pS2H3lnm Current Report (@Currentreport1) July 28, 2025 Pakistan is considering the prospect of integrating Turkish GAZAP warheads into its long-range missiles to match India's capabilities, leading defence portals have reported. They warned that the development remains "unconfirmed" amidst reports of Islamabad and Ankara trying to take their military association to the next level, alongside Riyadh, if possible. The Turkish GAZAP is a thermobaric-fragmentation warhead designed for air-dropped bombs, and Pakistan reportedly wants to explore the possibility of making it compatible with its surface-to-surface or cruise missiles. These are hybrid warheads that combine the devastating blast effects of a "vacuum bomb" with longer-lasting blast waves and the lethal high-speed metal shrapnel of a missile. Some reports claim that GAZAP, which means "Anger" in Turkish, is the most powerful new conventional aerial bomb with the Turkish Air Force. For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India If Islamabad manages to crack the GAZAP configuration, its missiles could hopefully pose a threat to India's fortified airbase infrastructure and command-and-control nodes, Defence Security Asia said in a report. In the event of another limited conflict, this capability could prevent Pakistan from having to mull over a ceasefire, as was the case during Operation Sindoor, by threatening India's frontline combat aviation assets. The bottom line is that Islamabad wants its forces to be capable of targeting Indian Air Force bases such as those in Tezpur and Bagdogra, the report added. It is Pakistan's Shaheen and Babur-class long-range missiles that stand to profit if the integration plan becomes fruitful. If fitted to Pakistan's Shaheen-III variant, which reportedly has a range of up to 2,750 kilometres, the GAZAPweighing 970 kilogramscould make a conventional strike deep inside mainland India possible, Defence Security Asia said. "Turkish officials describe the GAZAP as three to four times more powerful than an equivalent US-made 2,000-pound bomb, a claim that, while not independently verified... If adapted for missile integration, the warhead's outer structure would need to be reinforced to withstand launch-phase acceleration, atmospheric re-entry pressures, and terminal guidance corrections, requiring significant redesign rather than simple installation," the report read. After doing its run on the festival circuit, Anurag Kashyap's new film with Bobby Deol, titled "Bandar" (aka 'Monkey in a Cage'), has an official release date. The filmmaker has announced that the crime drama will arrive in theatres on May 22, 2026. "Bandar", which sees Kashyap collaborating for the first time with Bobby Deol, was screened in the Special Presentation category in the upcoming edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). While no plot details have been revealed yet, the makers recently teased that the film is based on true events. It is written by Abhishek Banerjee and Sudip Sharma, who have collaborated on "Paatal Lok". Sudip Sharma is also the creator of both seasons of Netflix's crime series "Kohrra". The other cast members include Sanya Malhotra, Raj B Shetty, Jitendra Joshi, Sapna Pabbi, Indrajith Sukumaran, Riddhi Sen, and Nagesh Bhosle. Actor-producer Nikhil Dwivedi is producing "Bandar" under the banner Saffron Magicworks, which also produced Vikramaditya Motwane's last film "CTRL", starring Ananya Panday. The thought of Bobby Deol teaming up with Anurag Kashyap has stirred up a significant amount of chatter and excitement on social media, considering how the former has been lately seen in serious, performance-oriented roles in films such as "Class of '83", "Love Hostel" and "Animal". Kashyap's recent releases include the two-part "Nishaanchi" (streaming on Prime Video) and "Kennedy" (on Zee5). Security has been tightened in Delhi following intelligence reports suggesting potential terrorist threats targeting temples and other religious sites in the national capital. Intelligence sources have indicated that prominent religious sites in the Chandni Chowk and Red Fort areas are under the radar of Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), reported ANI. The sources suggest that the LeT is planning a major attack using an improvised explosive device (IED) to avenge a February 6 blast at a mosque in Islamabad. Pakistan had alleged India links to the blast at a Shia mosque during Friday prayers, in which at least 31 people lost their lives. New Delhi has categorically dismissed the allegations. "Blast alert in front of the Red Fort in Delhi. Terrorists may target a temple in Chandni Chowk. Lashkar-e-Taiba is plotting an IED attack. They are planning a major terrorist attack in India to avenge the February 6th mosque blast in Islamabad, Pakistan. Major temples in the country can be targeted by Lashkar-e-Taiba," intelligence sources were quoted as saying by the news agency. Delhi Police, in close coordination with central security agencies, have ramped up surveillance through increased CCTV monitoring and vehicle checks. Additional personnel have been stationed in high-risk areas, while bomb disposal squads, dog squads, and quick reaction teams remain on standby at key locations. The fresh threat comes three months after a car blast near the Red Fort on November 10 which killed 12 people. The explosion occurred when an i-20 car packed with explosives detonated near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort metro station, setting off multiple nearby vehicles and triggering panic in the densely populated area. The investigation into the blast had unearthed a white collar terror module based in Haryanas Faridabad, with police identifying the man who drove the car as Umar Un Nabi, a Kashmiri doctor at the Al-Falah University. Shortly before the Red Fort car blast, Jammu and Kashmir Police had arrested three doctors connected to Al Falah University after conducting raids at multiple locations in Faridabad. During the operation, authorities had also seized nearly 3,000 kg of explosive materials, including ammonium nitrate. The Congress party on Friday demanded an explanation from the government regarding the potential impact of the US Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs on the recently announced India-US trade deal. Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram remarked that he had previously warned that if the Supreme Court struck down Trumps tariff policy, the US and India would likely revert to the status quo ante before April 2, 2025. The US has extracted several concessions from India without conceding any. What will happen to those concessions? The joint statement announced Zero tariff on many goods that the US will export to India; that India intends to import USD 500 billion worth of goods from the US; that India will not buy Russian oil; that India will address the non-tariff barriers to US goods, and so on. What will happen to those promises? the former finance minister asked in a post on social media. I wrote in my Sunday column on February 15, 2026 that if the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's imposition of tariffs, the result will be that the USA and India will revert to the status quo ante (before April 2, 2025) Meanwhile, the U.S. has extracted several P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 20, 2026 Chidambaram also questioned what the Indian delegation, currently in the US to finalise the Framework Agreement, would do in light of the courts decision. Earlier this month, the US and India announced a framework for an Interim Agreement, under which Washington would reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent, while India would impose zero tariffs on US goods. However, in a 6-3 ruling on Friday, the US Supreme Court held that Trumps expansive tariffs on imports from nearly all US trading partners violated federal law. The court also stated that the President lacked authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose such broad import duties. Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that the Modi government rushed into a one-sided trade deal with the US. Haste is the work of the devil. If India had waited just 18 more days, we may not have found ourselves cornered into a one-sided, anti-India trade deal, he said. Haste is the work of devil. The Supreme Court of the United States has struck down Donald Trumps so-called global tariffs. Had India waited just 18 more days, we may not have found ourselves cornered into what is a one-sided, anti-India trade deal. Why did Modi make that https://t.co/Q95drEw5IK Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) February 20, 2026 In a post on X, Khera questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a late-night call to Washington on February 2 and why the government abandoned its initial strategy of waiting for the Supreme Court's ruling. Is it the disclosure by General Manoj Mukund Naravane? Is it the shadow of the Jeffrey Epstein files? Is it the U.S. criminal case involving Gautam Adani? Or is it all of the above? Today, the Congress has been redeemed: Narendra Modi is compromised, he added. Randeep Surjewala, another Congress leader, also questioned the sustainability and relevance of the newly proposed US tariff measures on India in light of the Supreme Court ruling. A group of Youth Congress workers staged a 'shirtless protest' at the India AI Impact Summit on Friday, chanting slogans against the Narendra Modi government and the India-US trade deal. The protest, which took place inside Exhibition Hall No. 5 at the Bharat Mandapam, caught the guests and other visitors by surprise. The incident has sparked a firestorm of political reactions, with the BJP accusing the opposition party of tarnishing Indias global reputation. On Saturday, BJP Yuva Morcha (BJYM) members held protests across various cities, raising slogans against Congress. "The Indian Youth Congress workers carried out a very shameful incident yesterday. For Rahul Gandhi, AI means anti-India. This protest sends a very wrong signal to the world. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party should apologise to the nation," a Yuva Morcha member was quoted as saying by ANI. In Mumbai, BJP workers waved black flags against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had arrived in the city and later traveled to Bhiwandi in neighbouring Thane district to appear before a court in a 2014 defamation case. "Rahul Gandhi constantly opposes whatever the prime minister does, even when it concerns national interests. The Youth Congress protest at the AI Summit maligned Indias image, and that's why we protested against him," a BJP supporter told PTI. Earlier, BJP President Nitin Nabin condemned the protest, accusing certain political parties of aligning with "urban Naxalism". "We often use the term 'urban Naxalism.' I can say that while earlier some parties were (merely) affected by it, today they have completely become a part of it," Nabin said. "While India is being discussed globally, such a disgraceful act has harmed the countrys progress," he added. BJP leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani also criticised the protest, questioning whether the Congress party was acting at Rahul Gandhi's behest to undermine India's interests. She accused Congress of using a global platform to embarrass the nation. "This was not a protest, political in nature. This was an attack on India's interests. The Congress Party workers who came to attack the interests of India today at the AI Summit have brought it much disgrace, have exhibited a contempt for the people of India and for the entrepreneurial spirit of India," she told ANI. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant criticised Rahul Gandhi over the Youth Congress protest at the AI Summit in Delhi, calling the actions "political recklessness" that harm the country's reputation. In a post on X, Sawant emphasised that while India was hosting a global summit to showcase its technological prowess and confidence, the protest turned the event into a "stage for disruption," undermining the nation's credibility on the world stage. "Such theatrics tarnish India's image, distract from the work of our scientists, startups, and youth, and weaken our credibility internationally," Sawant said. K.T. Rama Rao, the Working President of BRS, also joined the controversy, stating that using global platforms like the AI Summit for protests could tarnish Indias international image. It is ironic that the Youth Congress staged their protest precisely when Telangana Chief Minister K. Revanth Reddy was addressing the same AI Summit, Rao posted on X. He added that while differences of opinion are natural in a democracy, knowing when and where to protest is crucial. The Lokayukta police on Saturday caught Karnataka BJP MLA Chandru Lamani allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. The first-time MLA from the Shirahatti Assembly constituency in the Gadag district was caughtalong with two of his close aides Manjunath Valmiki and Guru Naikin a bribery case arising from a trap operation by the Lokayukta. Karnataka Lokayuktha says - Karnataka Lokayuktha raided a hospital belonging to BJP MLA Chandru Lamani and caught him receiving Rs 5 lakhs cash along with his two PAs and PS by a class one contractor. They have been secured and an investigation is in progress. (Pics: Karnataka pic.twitter.com/6THFYaZCH2 ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026 This follows a complaint filed by a Class 1 contractor from the Minor Irrigation Department, Vijay Poojar from the Gadag district, based on which Lokayukta officials launched the operation to trap Lamani. How the Lokayukta trapped Chandru Lamani According to his complaint, Poojar had taken up a project under the Minor Irrigation Department to construct retaining walls on two sides of a road. When he approached Lamani's office seeking help in carrying out this task, he was faced with a hefty demand of Rs 11 lakh as commission, of which Rs 5 lakh was the advance. After Poojar's complaint, he returned to hand over the bribe to the MLA's team, which was when the Lokayukta police intervened, and the accused were caught red-handed, and material evidence seized. The three accused have been taken to a hospital for medical examination and will later be produced before a court. A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Soon after they were detained, Lokayukta officials also carried out a search operation at the Balaji Hospital in Lakshmeshwar, said to be linked to Lamani, an Udayavani report said. This also comes amid the BJP's protests against the state government on corruption, and has triggered a major political stir in the state. The investigation into the full extent of the alleged bribery case, led by Lokayukta SP Siddalingappa, is ongoing. The Youth Congress protest at the India AI summit on Friday was inspired by Nepal's violent Gen Z movement that toppled the government there, Delhi police told the court on Saturday. The police claimed that there was a larger conspiracy behind the protests at the venue. When the police were questioned on the 5-day custody of the accused, the investigating officer said that there is a deep conspiracy and said that the accused fled the scene and that the custody is needed for a proper investigation. This is a larger conspiracy that has taken inspiration from the Gen Z protests in Nepal. The accused need to be confronted with each other as well as with digital evidence. This is a very important investigation, police said, according to a report by News18. The authorities also informed the court that the investigators are examining the funding sources behind the protests, including those of the t-shirts, which contained messages against PM Modi. And slogans like the PM is compromised, India-US trade deal, and the Epstein files. Three policemen were reportedly injured, and police are reportedly trying to recover the accused's mobile phones to verify whether they recovered funding. The t-shirts were printed by four people who came from four different locations. Around 10 activists from the Congresss youth wing were arrested on Friday after they staged a shirtless protest and raised slogans which carried images of the PM and US President Donald Trump. They were detained for disrupting the event, which was attended by global tech leaders like Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai. BJP leaders called the protest anti-national and accused the Congress of harming the countrys image. The party held counter-protests across multiple states. The protesters allegedly registered online to obtain QR codes to enter the venue before staging the protest at Hall 5. They also got into a heated argument with some of the attendees before being taken away by security. Seven Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra are going to be vacant and the biennial Rajya Sabha election will take place on March 16. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed confidence that out of seven seats, the grand saffron alliance will win six seats, as it has the required numbers, while one seat would go to the opposition MVA. Going by the CMs confidence, the results of the Rajya Sabha elections already appear to be a foregone conclusion. The members who are retiring include Sharad Pawar, Fauzia Khan (NCP SP), Ramdas Athavale, Dhairyasheel Patil and Bhagwat Karad (BJP), Rajni Patil (Congress), and Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT). The new members of the Rajya Sabha will be elected from the MLAs of Maharashtra. The ruling Mahayuti has 235 MLAs while the Opposition has remaining 52, with the MVA having 46. These numbers make it clear that the Mahayuti will win six seats, as the minimum required votes for winning in the RS elections is 37 first-preference votes. Of the six seats from the Mahayuti, four will belong to the BJP, while one seat each will go to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP. It remains to be seen whether NCP will nominate the late Ajit Pawars son Parth Pawar as its candidate or whether he will occupy the RS seat which will be vacated by his mother and Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar. There is going to be a tussle over one remaining seat between MVA partners as Aditya Thackeray announced on Friday that being the single-largest party in the opposition, the Shiv Sena-UBT would field its candidate for the RS elections from there. The Congress too is keen to field its candidate, but at present it looks difficult, as it does not have the required numbers. Same is the case with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. The scenario may change only if Sharad Pawar decides to contest for Rajya Sabha once again, in which case the Shiv Sena-UBT would be willing to give up its claim on the seat and then Pawar senior could be the MVA candidate from Maharashtra. In return, the Shiv Sena-UBT can then bargain for an additional MLC seat when the elections take place in June this year. Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut has said that a senior statesman like Sharad Pawar is needed in the Rajya Sabha and that the Shiv Sena would be willing to give up its claim on the Rajya Sabha seat if Pawar indicates that he will contest. The notification for the Rajya Sabha elections will be issued at the end of February and the election will take place on March 16. The results will be announced immediately after the polling. A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Saturday directed the police to file a sexual exploitation case against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Swami Mukundanand Giri. The complaint against the religious leader was filed under Section 173(4) by Shakumbhari Peethadhishwar Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj, who has urged strict action. It will now be forwarded to the Jhunsi police station for further action. VIDEO | Varanasi: Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarananda reacts to the Prayagraj court order, saying, Yes, it is appropriate. Only when a case is registered will the subsequent process of investigation and recording of testimony be completed. Only then will the truth of the false pic.twitter.com/2BbzaHpjTV Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 21, 2026 This comes after the video statements of two minor complainants were recorded in the court on February 13, and the court took formal cognisance of the police report, an ANI report said. Ashutosh Brahmachari, associated with the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Nirman Trust, has also alleged that the Jhunsi police had refused to file a case against the religious leader and his disciple, due to which he appealed to the POCSO court on January 28. Brahmachari has also claimed that he had a CD containing evidence of the minor children being allegedly exploited at the ashram of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, and handed it over to the court. This adds to the controversy around the religious leader, after he ended a 10-day sit-in protest on January 28 over allegedly being denied from taking a ritual dip in the Sangam during the Magh Mela period. "Today we are returning with a sense of emptiness and a heavy heart that we had never imagined, the seer said, adding that the issue at Prayagraj had "shaken his inner self". The dispute erupted 10 days before the end of his protest, at which point Swami Avimukteshwaranand's palanquin to the Sangamon the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasyawas stopped. The Mela administration then alleged that the seer and his supporters then broke a barricade on a pontoon bridge nearby and moved towards the ghats, which had caused serious crowd management issues for the police. US officials have reportedly accepted Iran's red line on continuing uranium enrichment, a new report has claimed, as the two sides remain on the brink of a full-fledged conflict. After the latest round of US-Iran talks in Geneva, Tehran is still allegedly not prepared to completely stop nuclear enrichment. However, a diplomat in the know has claimed that the negotiations are focused on the technical components of Iran's atomic programme, such as the location, level, and number of uranium centrifuges, a report from the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) said. The diplomat added that in the event of an agreement with the US, the material used for nuclear enrichment would certainly be diluted". However, the diplomat reiterated that "nuclear material will not be removed from the country". This comes amid Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, expressing willingness to transfer highly enriched uranium from Iran, subject to Tehran's conditions. This comes as US President Donald Trump currently mulls over a set of options in front of him to deal with the Iran tensions, one of which is a proposal in which Washington would allow Tehran nuclear enrichment at a "small, token" levelone that leaves no possible path to a bomb, a senior official told Axios. US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that further action could occur in 10-15 days, while Iran continues to ramp up its defence systems in response. (mea randhir jaiswal, iran us, india us trade deal)https://t.co/YMOJWAYAiu THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) February 20, 2026 Another major option presented to Trump weeks ago was the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son, Mojtaba, the report added, citing another official. The unnamed Iranian diplomat's comments in the ISNA report also mirror that of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's own claim on Friday that the US had not asked for "zero nuclear enrichment" despite Trump's public statements that said otherwise. He also insisted in an interview with MS NOW that a diplomatic solution was "at our reach; we can easily achieve [it]", despite speculations that the US, which now commands a large military presence in the region, could attack over the weekend. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier entered the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, further boosting American firepower in a region that has seen a massive military buildup ahead of potential strikes against Iran. Here are key US military assets deployed to the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/NK5XOuuKZq AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 20, 2026 Araghchi added that the next step in the talks would be for Iran to submit a written proposal for a deal to US negotiators, after which the two sides could finalise the text of the agreement. A combative interview between conservative American commentator Tucker Carlson and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has exposed a widening ideological divide within the American right over Washingtons unwavering support for Israel. The two-and-a-half-hour exchange, recorded at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, ranged from biblical claims to territory and the war in Gaza to allegations of dual loyalty and disputes over Israels treatment of Christians, culminating in a public spat over Carlsons treatment at the airport. At the heart of the clash was Huckabees assertion that Israel has a Biblical right to the land. Citing the Book of Genesis, Carlson pressed the ambassador on the territory promised to Abrahams descendants, traditionally described as stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates and encompassing present-day Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and parts of Iraq and Saudi Arabia. When asked whether Israel would be justified in taking control of that entire expanse, Huckabee replied, It would be fine if they took it all, before adding that the current Israeli government was not seeking to expand to those ancient borders. For Carlson, the remark illustrated what he sees as an absolutist theological framework driving US policy. For Huckabee, it reflected a long-standing evangelical Christian Zionist belief that biblical covenants underpin Jewish claims to the land. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East The conversation grew especially heated over the humanitarian toll in Gaza. Huckabee defended Israel, contending that the Israeli military has maintained a lower proportion of civilian casualties in urban warfare than any army in modern history, including the United States. Carlson bristled at the comparison, accusing Huckabee of disparaging his own countrys armed forces to defend Israel. When pressed for precise data, the ambassador conceded he did not have exact figures, saying his assessment was based on conversations with those who had fought there. Tensions escalated further when Huckabee suggested that some of the 14-year-olds killed were terror kids recruited by Hamas. Carlson reacted with disbelief, accusing the ambassador of justifying the killing of children. Huckabee shot back that his words were being twisted. The exchange underscored a fundamental disagreement over how to interpret civilian casualties in asymmetric warfare and whether moral responsibility lies primarily with Israel or with Hamas for embedding fighters among civilians. Carlson also raised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus invocation of the biblical Amalekites early in the war, arguing that such rhetoric amounted to a call for genocide. Huckabee rejected the characterisation outright, asserting that if Israels objective had been genocide, it possessed the military capacity to wipe out Gaza in hours. The dispute reflected a broader argument over language, intent and proportionality that has defined much of the international debate surrounding the conflict. A recurring theme throughout the interview was Carlsons allegation that US officials behave as though they serve Israeli interests over American ones. He confronted Huckabee over his decision to host Jonathan Pollard at the US Embassy. Pollard, an American who served 30 years in prison for passing US military secrets to Israel, remains a deeply polarising figure. Carlson described him as the greatest traitor in modern American history and questioned why an American ambassador would meet him. Huckabee defended the brief meeting as neither secret nor improper and said he did not regret it. At one point, pushing back against insinuations of dual loyalty, Huckabee gestured to his lapel and asked pointedly, What flag am I wearing here? Carlson broadened his critique to Israels domestic policies and social tensions. He cited incidents of ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting on Christian clergy in Jerusalem and asked why the United States should offer unconditional support to a country that, in his words, mistreats Christians, funds abortion services and provides refuge to American fugitives accused of sex crimes. Huckabee condemned harassment of Christians as horrible but noted he had never personally experienced such abuse in decades of visits. He clarified that US aid is earmarked for military defence rather than healthcare and said he would support extradition of accused offenders if instructed by Washington. Carlson also questioned the historical and indigenous claims of Israeli leaders, observing that many have family roots in Eastern Europe, while Palestinian families trace their presence in the Levant back centuries. Huckabee dismissed genetic or geographic arguments as beside the point, insisting that archaeological evidence and biblical tradition establish a continuous Jewish connection to the land. The two men sparred over Iran as well. Carlson accused Netanyahu of manoeuvring the United States towards regime change in Tehran, while Huckabee argued that Irans sponsorship of militant groups and alleged plots against former president Donald Trump make it an inherent adversary of America. If the interview exposed ideological fault lines, the aftermath added a fresh layer of controversy. Carlson later claimed that Israeli airport security confiscated his passport and took his executive producer into a side room for questioning about the interview. Israeli officials, including the Foreign Ministry and airport authorities, denied the allegation, saying Carlsons team underwent routine security screening in a VIP lounge to protect their privacy. Video footage subsequently circulated showing a smiling Carlson posing for a photograph with an airport employee, while former prime minister Naftali Bennett dismissed the episode as fabrication. The confrontation laid bare a growing schism within conservative politics. On one side stand traditional evangelical Christian Zionists like by Huckabee, who view support for Israel as both strategic and divinely ordained. On the other is an ascendant America First faction, represented by people like Carlson, which questions the costs of entanglement and argues that US leaders have subordinated national interests to those of a foreign ally. The debate, once largely confined to the fringes of the Republican coalition, is now unfolding in full public view. Officials and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe say that Iran and the United States are rapidly sliding toward a military conflict by the end of the week as all of the possible diplomatic solutions are seemingly fading. The Trump administration has reportedly been proposing multiple options on how the United States should deal with Iran's nuclear capabilities and prevent war. According to one senior official who spoke to Axios, the administration is prepared to consider a proposal that could allow Iran a "token" nuclear enrichment if it leaves no possible path to a bomb. The officials, however, also say that the US president has been presented with military options that involve directly targeting the supreme leader, the Axios report said. If the Iranians want to prevent an attack, they should give us an offer we can't refuse. The Iranians keep missing the window. If they play games, there won't be a lot of patience," the senior U.S. official told the US news site. Meanwhile, Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Friday that an Iranian proposal would be finalised in the next two or three days. Trump, however, is inching towards a strike this weekend, according to US and Israeli officials. Israels government believes that Tehran and Washington are at an impasse and is preparing for a joint military action with the US, a source told The Times of Israel. Two Israeli officials also told Reuters that the gaps between the countries are unbridgeable. Alan Eyre, a former US diplomat and Iran specialist, said, What Trump cant do is assemble all this military, and then come back with a soso deal and pull out the military. I think he thinks hell lose face, he told Times of Israel. If he attacks, its going to get ugly quickly. Trump's advisors, however, have been trying to counsel patience, trying to argue that with time, the US military buildup in the region would grow and its leverage would grow with it. "The president hasn't decided to strike yet. I know that because we haven't struck. He might never do it. He might wake up tomorrow and say, 'That's it,'" one senior Trump adviser told Axios. The Pentagon also presented Trump with multiple options. "They have something for every scenario. One scenario takes out the ayatollah and his son and the mullahs," the adviser said. The scenarios is referring to both the supreme leader of the country and his son Mojtaba, who is a potential successor. "What the president chooses no one knows. I don't think he knows." In an appearance on MS Nows Morning Joe on Friday, Abbas Araghchi said that the US side did not ask Iran to give up nuclear enrichment altogether. He also denied that Iran offered to temporarily suspend its enrichment program. "What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran's nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever," Araghchi said. He said that Iran would take confidence-building measures in return for sanctions relief from the US. However, one senior US official said that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told Araghchi that Trump wanted zero enrichment in Iran. Witkoff and Kushner also asked Araghchi to produce a detailed proposal addressing all the US concerns regarding Irans nuclear program. With the region inching towards conflict, the US officials insisted that the US wait for Iran's proposal before deciding to proceed. Aragchi told 'Morning Joe' that the Iranian draft proposal would be shared with the US after final approval from political leadership in Iran. He said the plan will include "political commitments and technical measures" to ensure the Iranian nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. Araghchi also assured that Raphael Grossi, who heads the UN nuclear watchdog, is involved in the negotiations and that he had suggested technical measures to oversee the nuclear program. The measures would include a return of UN inspectors to Iran with a robust monitoring mandate, and the removal or dilution of the 450kg of highly enriched uranium that was buried in Iran's nuclear facilities by U.S. and Israeli bombs. BNP and its 10 party allies have won Bangladeshs 13th Parliamentary elections with a thumping majority. While the party alone got 209 seats, its main contender, Bangladesh Jamaat Islami, received 68 seats, and NCP got 6 seats. Not just the BNP has to navigate the bourgeoning expectations of the youth voters, but it has to complete the constitutional reforms in the next 180 days after it assumes office. It has the hard task to balance the complex and competing geopolitical interests of external players while following the much vaunted Bangladesh first policy. Smruti Pattanaik Resetting its ties with India will remain crucial for the two countries. For India, BNPs victory promises a stable and accountable government, unlike the interim regime, which was driven by several interests. India expects the BNP government under Tarique Rahmans leadership to move away from the antagonistic approach that the interim regime adopted. Even if it does not reach the level of relationship that India shared during the Awami League period, it should be a relationship based on mutual trust. Some Indian analysts think BNPs return may have a long-term impact on Indias security, given the partys track record of sheltering insurgents from Indias north east and the fact that ten truckloads of arms had landed in a Jetty in Chittagong owned by a Minister from the party. There were instances of prominent ministers of the BNP regime having links with the JMJB militant groups in Bangladesh. However, some believe that Tarique Rahman 2.0 would not be a repetition of the past. Rather, his years in exile would have a sobering effect on his politics. His speeches and statements during the election rallies indeed indicate a change and a promise of clean politics. Security of the northeast remains extremely crucial for India. Insurgency in the northeast has been a major source of instability in the past. It would not be in the best interest of the region for the prevailing peace to be disturbed, as this would affect India's economic initiatives. New Delhi has announced several connectivity projects linking the northeast to the nearest ports to help the region's progress. In this context, it will watch Rahmans regime closely. India watched with concern when Pakistani citizens were given visas without security clearance during the interim regime. India, which is a victim of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, would not like a similar situation on its Eastern border. Over the period of time, India has built a robust security cooperation with Bangladesh by instituting joint exercises, joint coordinated patrols between border guards and coast guards, HADR exercises and an annual defence dialogue. There have been high-level exchanges between the militaries of the two countries, and they have celebrated 'Victory Day' together. While the military-to-military relationship between Bangladesh and India came to a halt, there were flourishing ties with Pakistan, signalling that Dhaka is ready to put a cost on India when it instituted military staff level talks. There were visits by the Pakistan Navy Chief and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The trilateral meeting between the foreign secretaries of Pakistan, China and Bangladesh raised eyebrows in India. The fact that the two countries share a porous border, which has emerged as a major conduit for yaba tablets and human trafficking, would emerge as a challenge. In the past, the party has given assurances to India that it will not take a step that would undermine Indias security, and its connectivity projects will not be stopped. Therefore, BNPs win signals a more stable relationship. Smruti Pattanaik is a research fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. An Indian-American advocate has become the face of the landmark Supreme Court judgment that limited U.S. President Donald Trump's global tariffs. Attorney Neal Katyal, after arguing against the tariffs, came out victorious with a verdict that ruled that the President had exceeded his legal authority by imposing wide-ranging levies without clear approval from the congress. Katyal, a former acting Solicitor General of the United States, had argued that Trump's use of the 1977 International Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on all of the USs trading partners was unconstitutional. The landmark 6-3 decision on Friday by the SC was authored by Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett and three liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, Reuters reported. My statement: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law and Americans everywhere. Its message was simple: Presidents are powerful, but our Constitution is more powerful still. In America, only Congress can impose taxes on the American people. The US Supreme Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) February 20, 2026 After the ruling, he spoke to reporters outside the US Supreme Court in Washington saying that the ruling is a complete and total victory for the challengers, as reported by AP. Its a reaffirmation of our deepest constitutional values and the idea that Congress, not any one man, controls the power to tax the American people, he said. The case was brought by a group of small businessmen and supported by the Liberty Justice Centre. Trump had argued that the tariffs were necessary for national security and economic pressure, citing trade deficits and fentanyl overdoses as national emergencies. The administration was represented by Solicitor General D. John Sauer. Katyal, however, argued the case was never about politics This case has always been about the presidency, not any one president. It has always been about the separation of powers, and not the politics of the moment. He said that the verdict reaffirmed the SCs duty and called it the bedrock of our government for 250 years. Today, the US Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law and Americans everywhere. Its message was simple: Presidents are powerful, but our Constitution is more powerful still. In America, only Congress can impose taxes on the American people. The US Supreme Court gave us everything we asked for in our legal case. Everything. Im gratified to see our Supreme Court, which has been the bedrock of our government for 250 years, protect our most fundamental values, he said Im grateful for the leadership of the Liberty Justice Centre, and in particular for the brilliant advocacy by its chair, Sara Albrecht, who led the fight when others wouldnt and was dauntless in its defence of our constitutional order, he added. Neal Kumar Katyal, 55, is a prominent American lawyer and legal scholar. He is currently a partner at Milbank LLP and The the Paul and Patricia Saunders Professor of National Security Law at Georgetown University Law Centre. He was born in Chicago to Indian immigrant parents. His father was an engineer, and his mother a doctor. He studied at Dartmouth College and Yale Law School. In 2010, he was appointed Acting Solicitor General under President Barack Obama, becoming the lawyer who represented the US government before the Supreme Court. And the court of appeals. He has argued more than 50 cases before the SC, setting records for minority advocates. Katyal has received the US Justice Department's highest Civilian honour, the Edmund Randolph award. He was named Litigator of the Year by The American Lawyer in both 2017 and 2023. Forbes listed him among the top 200 lawyers in the United States in 2024 and 2025. His previous cases include defending the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, challenging Trumps 2017 travel ban, and securing unanimous rulings in major environmental and national security disputes He was also the special prosecutor for the state of Minnesota in the murder case of George Floyd. Days after the Canada school shooting, OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, revealed that it was aware of Jesse Van Rootselaar's online activities. The 18-year-old shooter was identified as the suspect in the fatal shooting, claiming eight lives, in British Columbia. The Canadian school shooting is one of the worst school shootings in the country's history. Rootselaar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. OpenAI said that the company identified the account of Rootselaar via abuse detection efforts for "furtherance of violent activities" last June. While the tech firm considered involving the RCMP, it ultimately decided against a referral, determining the account's behaviour did not meet the criteria for police investigation at that time. Rootselaar's account was banned by OpenAI for violating its usage police in June 2025. OpenAI's revelation was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. According to the report, OpenAI declined to involve law enforcement after determining the user did not pose a credible or imminent threat of physical harmthe company's primary standard for such referrals. After the school shooting, OpenAI said that the employees reached out to the RCMP with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy, an OpenAI spokesperson said. We proactively reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT, and well continue to support their investigation. Rootselaar first killed her mother and stepbrother at the family home before the fatal shootings at a nearby school. The suspect had a history of mental health contacts with police, and the motive behind the shootings remains unclear. According to the authorities, the investigators have said that the case remains under active investigation as authorities continue to examine both physical and digital evidence linked to the suspect. Shivams two boundaries are as important as Sanjus 97. The big contributions make headlines, but small contributions help the team go across the line. Gautam Gambhir India head coach, after India defeated the West Indies in the T20 World Cup When the targeted killing of a foreign leader draws no clear defence of sovereignty or international law from our country... it raises serious doubts about the direction and credibility of our foreign policy. Sonia Gandhi Congress parliamentary party chairperson, on the killing of Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei The only way to stop Kejriwal was to have him killed... because nothing else could break him.... I built 500 schools in Delhi; you build 5,000 across the country. I improved roads in Delhi; you fix the roads across the entire nation.... But that is not something Modi ji can do. Arvind Kejriwal AAP national convener, after he was cleared in the corruption case filed against him by the CBI Every time a human does something exceptional, he breaks a mould. AI creates within the mould. Prasoon Joshi chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report)s share price was down 2.6% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $146.46 and last traded at $147.1170. Approximately 25,851,149 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 20% from the average daily volume of 21,510,225 shares. The stock had previously closed at $150.97. Exxon Mobil News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week: Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have weighed in on XOM. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $171.00 price target on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Monday, December 29th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $137.00 to $134.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Mizuho set a $140.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Loop Capital set a $123.00 price target on Exxon Mobil in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $140.59. Exxon Mobil Trading Down 2.6% The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The firm has a market cap of $620.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.99, a PEG ratio of 15.63 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $131.72 and a 200 day moving average price of $119.77. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.08. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.21% and a net margin of 8.68%.The firm had revenue of $80.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $77.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.67 earnings per share. Exxon Mobils quarterly revenue was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend The business also recently declared 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%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the vice president owned 23,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,295,864. This represents a 17.49% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 14,230 shares of company stock worth $1,888,421 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Exxon Mobil A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in XOM. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 0.3% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 431,058,875 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $46,468,147,000 after buying an additional 1,111,231 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 96,307,931 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $10,345,132,000 after acquiring an additional 342,967 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 75,152,366 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $9,043,836,000 after acquiring an additional 1,457,560 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $7,625,063,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 46,605,353 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,608,488,000 after purchasing an additional 531,362 shares during the last quarter. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Exxon Mobil (Get 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSE:NDM Get Free Report) (NYSE:NAK)s share price traded down 6.4% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as C$2.62 and last traded at C$2.76. 1,393,752 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 8% from the average session volume of 1,514,062 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$2.95. More Northern Dynasty Minerals News Here are the key news stories impacting Northern Dynasty Minerals this week: Get Northern Dynasty Minerals alerts: Positive Sentiment: Valuation note: after a sharp pullback some analysts and commentators say NDMs market capitalization (~C$978M) and share price may understate the long?term value of the Pebble resource, creating a potential value opportunity for long?term, risk?tolerant investors. The company still shows strong liquidity metrics (high quick ratio) but negative earnings. This view argues the pullback has increased upside potential if permitting or legal risk is resolved. A Look At Northern Dynasty Minerals (TSX:NDM) Valuation After A Sharp Share Price Pullback Valuation note: after a sharp pullback some analysts and commentators say NDMs market capitalization (~C$978M) and share price may understate the long?term value of the Pebble resource, creating a potential value opportunity for long?term, risk?tolerant investors. The company still shows strong liquidity metrics (high quick ratio) but negative earnings. This view argues the pullback has increased upside potential if permitting or legal risk is resolved. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/legal setback: the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief backing the EPAs veto of the Pebble Mine, which investors view as strengthening the governments position against permitting the project. That increases the probability the project will be delayed, blocked, or face prolonged litigationdirectly threatening Northern Dynastys primary asset valuation and near?term fundraising/partnering prospects. Northern Dynasty Shares Plunge as DOJ Backs EPA Veto of Alaskas Pebble Mine Regulatory/legal setback: the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief backing the EPAs veto of the Pebble Mine, which investors view as strengthening the governments position against permitting the project. That increases the probability the project will be delayed, blocked, or face prolonged litigationdirectly threatening Northern Dynastys primary asset valuation and near?term fundraising/partnering prospects. Negative Sentiment: Outlook tightened by DOJ support: coverage notes DOJ support focuses investor attention on legal risk and the durability of EPAs preemptive veto under the Clean Water Act. While appeals or further litigation remain possible, the DOJ brief makes a timely reversal less likely and heightens uncertainty around partner interest, financing, and any near?term value realization. Monitor court filings and any changes in federal/state positions closely. DOJ Support For EPA Veto Puts Northern Dynasty Minerals Outlook In Focus Northern Dynasty Minerals Trading Down 2.2% The stock has a market cap of C$983.51 million, a PE ratio of -11.87 and a beta of -0.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 3.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$2.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$2.31. About Northern Dynasty Minerals 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Northern Dynasty Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Dynasty Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $73.55 and last traded at $73.6440, with a volume of 19096 shares. The stock had previously closed at $73.23. iShares Europe ETF Stock Up 1.0% The company has a market cap of $1.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.48 and a beta of 0.91. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $70.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $67.31. Get iShares Europe ETF alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares Europe ETF Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Europe ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $216,000. Brookstone Capital Management increased its position in iShares Europe ETF by 1.6% in the second quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 15,682 shares of the companys stock worth $992,000 after buying an additional 252 shares in the last quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares Europe ETF by 70.8% in the second quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 10,649 shares of the companys stock worth $674,000 after buying an additional 4,413 shares during the period. TFB Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Europe ETF by 32.3% during the 2nd quarter. TFB Advisors LLC now owns 7,110 shares of the companys stock valued at $450,000 after buying an additional 1,737 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Blueprint LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Europe ETF by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 20,744 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,312,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the period. About iShares Europe ETF iShares Europe ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Europe 350 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 Europe 350 (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the stocks of companies in the countries, which includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE:HG Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday following a dividend announcement from the company. The stock traded as high as $31.68 and last traded at $31.0750, with a volume of 21059 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $31.41. The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $2.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. Get Hamilton Insurance Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays restated an overweight rating and issued a $35.00 target price on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in a research note on Friday. Citigroup reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in a report on Friday. Zacks Research cut Hamilton Insurance Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Citizens Jmp boosted their price objective on Hamilton Insurance Group from $32.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hamilton Insurance Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $30.43. Hamilton Insurance Group Price Performance The company has a market capitalization of $2.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.45 and a beta of 0.70. The businesss 50-day moving average is $28.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $25.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. Hamilton Insurance Group (NYSE:HG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 19th. The company reported $1.65 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.96. Hamilton Insurance Group had a net margin of 19.85% and a return on equity of 19.84%. The firm had revenue of $728.33 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $621.00 million. As a group, analysts predict that Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current year. Key Hamilton Insurance Group News Here are the key news stories impacting Hamilton Insurance Group this week: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HG. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its holdings in Hamilton Insurance Group by 30.5% during the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 587,951 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,581,000 after acquiring an additional 137,501 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group in the third quarter valued at $1,082,000. Great Lakes Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $2,222,000. Seizert Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $2,106,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hamilton Insurance Group by 15.7% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,214,591 shares of the companys stock worth $47,879,000 after buying an additional 301,334 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 29.17% of the companys stock. Hamilton Insurance Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hamilton Insurance Group Ltd. is a Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance holding company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HG. The company focuses on specialty lines of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, providing tailored solutions to clients around the world. Its underwriting platform is designed to address complex and niche risks across multiple industry sectors. Established in 2016 and completing its initial public offering in 2017, Hamilton has concentrated on building a diversified portfolio of insurance and reinsurance products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Hamilton Insurance Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hamilton Insurance Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Suzuki Motor (OTCMKTS:SZKMY Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 35,507 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 15% from the previous sessions volume of 41,909 shares.The stock last traded at $60.8150 and had previously closed at $60.83. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Dbs Bank raised shares of Suzuki Motor to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Suzuki Motor currently has an average rating of Buy. Get Suzuki Motor alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SZKMY Suzuki Motor Stock Down 2.9% The firm has a market cap of $29.26 billion, a PE ratio of 10.47 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $59.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $57.82. Suzuki Motor (OTCMKTS:SZKMY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter. Suzuki Motor had a net margin of 6.78% and a return on equity of 10.69%. The firm had revenue of $10.73 billion for the quarter. Suzuki Motor has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.249-5.249 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Suzuki Motor will post 5.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. Suzuki Motor Company Profile (Get Free Report) Suzuki Motor Corporation traces its roots to 1909 when Michio Suzuki founded Suzuki Loom Works; the company later entered motor vehicle production and was reorganized as an independent motor company in the mid-20th century. Headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan, Suzuki has grown into a multinational manufacturer known for producing compact, fuel-efficient vehicles and a broad range of two- and four-wheeled products. The company has a long history in small-car and motorcycle design and has adapted its product portfolio over decades to serve both personal and light commercial transport markets. Suzukis primary business activities include the design, manufacture and sale of automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and outboard motors, along with related parts and accessories. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Suzuki Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suzuki Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Salzgitter AG (OTCMKTS:SZGPY Get Free Report) fell 5.8% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $6.0725 and last traded at $6.3119. 409 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 90% from the average session volume of 4,043 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.70. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating on shares of Salzgitter in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Oddo Bhf raised Salzgitter from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 19th. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Salzgitter in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Salzgitter in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, UBS Group cut Salzgitter from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Salzgitter alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on SZGPY Salzgitter Price Performance Salzgitter Company Profile The company has a market capitalization of $3.50 billion, a P/E ratio of -16.20 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a 50 day moving average of $5.45 and a 200-day moving average of $3.97. (Get Free Report) Salzgitter AG is a leading European steel producer headquartered in Salzgitter, Germany. The company operates an integrated steelworks, encompassing ironmaking, steelmaking, continuous casting and rolling mills. Its core business revolves around the production and processing of steel products for various industries, including automotive, construction, mechanical engineering and energy. Founded in 1937 as part of Germanys industrial expansion, Salzgitter evolved through post-war reconstruction and state ownership before being privatized in the late 1990s. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Salzgitter Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Salzgitter and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Siyata Mobile Inc. (CVE:SIM Get Free Report) traded down 3.7% on Friday . The company traded as low as C$6.50 and last traded at C$6.50. 2,575 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 35% from the average session volume of 3,978 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$6.75. Siyata Mobile Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of C$20.22 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.31 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a current ratio of 2.37, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.84. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$6.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$6.50. About Siyata Mobile (Get Free Report) Siyata Mobile Inc develops and provides cellular-based communications platform. It develops, markets, and sells rugged handheld Push-to-Talk over Cellular smartphone devices for first responders, construction workers, security guards, government agencies, utilities, transportation and waste management, amusement parks, and mobile workers in various industries. The company also offers VK7 Vehicle Kit and Uniden UV350 4G/LTE, an in-vehicle communication devices that incorporates voice, PoC, data, fleet management solutions, and other Android based applications for professional vehicles, such as trucks, vans, buses, emergency service vehicles, and other enterprise vehicles. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Siyata Mobile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Siyata Mobile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc (OTCMKTS:HTKKY Get Free Report) dropped 2.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $53.89 and last traded at $53.89. Approximately 100 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 0% from the average daily volume of 100 shares. The stock had previously closed at $55.10. Hitachi Kokusai Electric Stock Performance The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.89 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.89. Get Hitachi Kokusai Electric alerts: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hitachi Kokusai Electric Co, Ltd. is a Japan-based manufacturer specializing in professional video equipment, security and industrial systems, and medical imaging solutions. As a member of the Hitachi Group, the company leverages advanced electronic and optical technologies to serve broadcast professionals, security integrators, and healthcare providers worldwide. The companys Broadcast & Professional Video division designs and produces high-definition studio cameras, video switchers, signal processors, and recording systems for television networks and production houses. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hitachi Kokusai Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hitachi Kokusai Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (CVE:PGE Get Free Report) shares rose 6.3% on Friday . The company traded as high as C$0.42 and last traded at C$0.42. Approximately 378,472 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 75% from the average daily volume of 1,521,671 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.40. Stillwater Critical Minerals Stock Up 6.3% The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$0.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$0.40. The company has a market cap of C$130.30 million, a PE ratio of -10.50 and a beta of 1.42. About Stillwater Critical Minerals (Get Free Report) Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. The company explores for gold, palladium, nickel, cobalt, and copper deposits, as well as platinum group metals. Its flagship project is the Stillwater West project, which comprises 763 claims covering an area of approximately 61 square kilometers located in Stillwater District, Montana. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Stillwater Critical Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stillwater Critical Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chartwell Retirement Residences (OTCMKTS:CWSRF Get Free Report) dropped 1.7% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $15.99 and last traded at $15.99. Approximately 2,972 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 78% from the average daily volume of 13,669 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.26. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Chartwell Retirement Residences in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chartwell Retirement Residences currently has an average rating of Buy. Get Chartwell Retirement Residences alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Chartwell Retirement Residences Chartwell Retirement Residences Price Performance Chartwell Retirement Residences Company Profile The company has a 50 day moving average of $15.10 and a 200 day moving average of $14.34. (Get Free Report) Chartwell Retirement Residences (OTCMKTS: CWSRF) is one of Canadas largest providers of seniors housing, offering a range of retirement living options and care services. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company develops, owns and operates retirement communities across multiple provinces, catering to the evolving needs of older adults seeking independent living, assisted living, memory care and long-term care. The companys portfolio includes more than 150 retirement residences that deliver hospitality-style services such as chef-prepared meals, housekeeping, dining and recreation programs. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chartwell Retirement Residences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chartwell Retirement Residences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pilbara Minerals Limited (OTCMKTS:PILBF Get Free Report) fell 0.3% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $2.93 and last traded at $3.00. 25,478 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 69% from the average session volume of 82,826 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.01. Pilbara Minerals Price Performance The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $3.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $2.27. Get Pilbara Minerals alerts: About Pilbara Minerals (Get Free Report) Pilbara Minerals (OTCMKTS:PILBF) is an Australia-based mining and exploration company focused on the development and production of lithium and tantalum resources. The companys core activity centers on sustainable extraction of spodumene concentrate, a key feedstock for the global lithium-ion battery industry. Pilbara Minerals maintains its principal listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: PLS) and operates an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program on the OTC Markets under the ticker PILBF. The companys flagship operation is the Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project, situated in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pilbara Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pilbara Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Hold by the eight analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $11.00. A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Pitney Bowes in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. They set a neutral rating and a $11.00 price objective on the stock. Bank of America started coverage on Pitney Bowes in a report on Tuesday. They set an underperform rating and a $9.00 target price for the company. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Pitney Bowes in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Citizens Jmp restated a market outperform rating and issued a $13.00 price objective on shares of Pitney Bowes in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Truist Financial began coverage on shares of Pitney Bowes in a research note on Friday, December 12th. They set a hold rating and a $11.00 price objective for the company. Get Pitney Bowes alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Pitney Bowes Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pitney Bowes Pitney Bowes Stock Down 1.2% Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Pitney Bowes by 41.3% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,472 shares of the technology companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 1,015 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Pitney Bowes by 190.9% in the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,747 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 2,459 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in shares of Pitney Bowes by 404.6% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 4,022 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 3,225 shares during the last quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Pitney Bowes during the second quarter worth about $51,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in shares of Pitney Bowes during the second quarter worth about $51,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.88% of the companys stock. NYSE PBI opened at $10.51 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $1.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.42 and a beta of 1.41. The companys 50 day moving average is $10.46 and its 200-day moving average is $10.75. Pitney Bowes has a 12-month low of $7.39 and a 12-month high of $13.11. Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The technology company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.07. Pitney Bowes had a net margin of 7.65% and a negative return on equity of 36.91%. The business had revenue of $477.63 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $482.47 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.32 EPS. Pitney Bowess revenue was down 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Pitney Bowes has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.400-1.600 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Pitney Bowes will post 1.21 EPS for the current year. Pitney Bowes Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $0.09 per share. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Pitney Bowess payout ratio is 43.37%. Key Headlines Impacting Pitney Bowes Here are the key news stories impacting Pitney Bowes this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 EPS beat and upward guidance Pitney Bowes reported Q4 EPS of $0.45 versus consensus ~$0.38 and set FY?2026 EPS guidance of $1.40$1.60, supporting upside to earnings power. This beat helped the stock gap higher on the release. Article Title Q4 EPS beat and upward guidance Pitney Bowes reported Q4 EPS of $0.45 versus consensus ~$0.38 and set FY?2026 EPS guidance of $1.40$1.60, supporting upside to earnings power. This beat helped the stock gap higher on the release. Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and new coverage Sidoti has raised its FY?2026 and FY?2027 EPS forecasts (now roughly $1.40$1.50 range) and lifted several quarter estimates, while Citizens JMP gave a Market Outperform and Bank of America initiated coverage, all lending institutional backing to the stock. Article Title Article Title Analyst support and new coverage Sidoti has raised its FY?2026 and FY?2027 EPS forecasts (now roughly $1.40$1.50 range) and lifted several quarter estimates, while Citizens JMP gave a Market Outperform and Bank of America initiated coverage, all lending institutional backing to the stock. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks highlights momentum characteristics a style?score piece flags PBI as a top momentum stock for certain investor styles; useful for sentiment but not direct fundamental news. Article Title Zacks highlights momentum characteristics a style?score piece flags PBI as a top momentum stock for certain investor styles; useful for sentiment but not direct fundamental news. Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call / deep dive coverage reporters and analysts are parsing restructuring, new leadership and pricing strategy from the Q4 call; these details will influence investor conviction but are more qualitative. Article Title Article Title Earnings call / deep dive coverage reporters and analysts are parsing restructuring, new leadership and pricing strategy from the Q4 call; these details will influence investor conviction but are more qualitative. Negative Sentiment: Revenue weakness and mixed near?term cadence Q4 revenue missed consensus and was down ~7.5% year?over?year; that, plus Sidotis targeted cuts to several upcoming quarterly estimates (even as it raised FY totals), suggests a bumpy recovery path. (Sidoti estimate changes summarized in recent notes.) Revenue weakness and mixed near?term cadence Q4 revenue missed consensus and was down ~7.5% year?over?year; that, plus Sidotis targeted cuts to several upcoming quarterly estimates (even as it raised FY totals), suggests a bumpy recovery path. (Sidoti estimate changes summarized in recent notes.) Negative Sentiment: Mixed analyst moves on near?term quarters while many of Sidotis model tweaks raise FY outlook, several quarter?by?quarter reductions (Q1/Q2/Q3 adjustments) highlight uncertainty around short?term growth, which can pressure the stock despite the FY upgrades. About Pitney Bowes (Get Free Report) Pitney Bowes Inc (NYSE: PBI) is an American technology company that specializes in shipping, mailing, and e-commerce solutions. Founded in 1920 by Walter Bowes and Arthur Pitney, the company pioneered postage meter technology and has since evolved to offer a broad portfolio of hardware, software, and services designed to streamline physical and digital communications. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Pitney Bowes leverages a century of expertise to serve enterprises, small businesses, and government agencies around the globe. The companys core offerings span mailing and shipping equipment, including postage meters, folder inserters, and address verification systems, alongside integrated software platforms for customer information management, data analytics, and location intelligence. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pitney Bowes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pitney Bowes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DA Davidson reaffirmed their buy rating on shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE:DFIN Free Report) in a research report report published on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. DA Davidson currently has a $66.00 price objective on the stock. DFIN has been the topic of a number of other reports. CJS Securities raised shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $57.00 target price on shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen raised Donnelley Financial Solutions from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 7th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Donnelley Financial Solutions from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Donnelley Financial Solutions currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $61.50. Get Donnelley Financial Solutions alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Donnelley Financial Solutions Donnelley Financial Solutions Trading Down 2.4% NYSE DFIN opened at $47.35 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.21 billion, a PE ratio of 44.25 and a beta of 0.92. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $48.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $50.27. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Donnelley Financial Solutions has a 12 month low of $37.07 and a 12 month high of $66.25. Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE:DFIN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.30. Donnelley Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 23.88% and a net margin of 4.22%.The company had revenue of $172.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $155.27 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.40 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Institutional Trading of Donnelley Financial Solutions Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in DFIN. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its stake in Donnelley Financial Solutions by 13.7% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 16,683 shares of the companys stock worth $729,000 after buying an additional 2,005 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its holdings in shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions by 1.7% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 101,954 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,456,000 after acquiring an additional 1,674 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions during the first quarter worth approximately $2,698,000. Intech Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions by 34.4% during the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 26,290 shares of the companys stock worth $1,149,000 after purchasing an additional 6,734 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions by 53.7% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 690 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 241 shares in the last quarter. 93.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Donnelley Financial Solutions Company Profile (Get Free Report) Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE:DFIN) offers risk and compliance software and managed services designed to help corporations, financial institutions and legal firms meet regulatory and reporting requirements worldwide. Headquartered in Chicago, the company delivers a cloud-based platform for regulatory filings, content automation, virtual data rooms and board communications. Its solutions are tailored to support public companies with SEC, FCA and other global filing obligations, as well as banks, asset managers and credit unions seeking to streamline compliance workflows. Among DFINs flagship products is ActiveDisclosure, a SaaS application that automates the creation, review and filing of disclosure documents. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Donnelley Financial Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Donnelley Financial Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the twelve analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have assigned a hold recommendation, five have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $60.30. A number of analysts have issued reports on UBS shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered UBS Group from a hold rating to a moderate sell rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating on shares of UBS Group in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Bank of America raised shares of UBS Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $44.00 to $60.30 in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of UBS Group in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of UBS Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Get UBS Group alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on UBS Institutional Trading of UBS Group UBS Group Stock Performance A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UBS. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of UBS Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $4,878,061,000. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in UBS Group by 254.9% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 63,671,310 shares of the banks stock worth $2,601,589,000 after buying an additional 45,731,061 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in UBS Group by 21.0% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 77,353,590 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,171,497,000 after buying an additional 13,417,945 shares during the period. Viking Global Investors LP increased its holdings in UBS Group by 407.5% in the 3rd quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 13,096,560 shares of the banks stock valued at $534,852,000 after buying an additional 10,516,148 shares during the period. Finally, Ninety One UK Ltd acquired a new position in shares of UBS Group in the 4th quarter valued at $411,917,000. NYSE:UBS opened at $42.55 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $132.92 billion, a PE ratio of 18.03, a PEG ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.12. UBS Group has a 1 year low of $25.75 and a 1 year high of $49.36. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.63. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $45.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.84. UBS Group (NYSE:UBS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The bank reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $12.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.88 billion. UBS Group had a net margin of 10.88% and a return on equity of 8.68%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.23 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that UBS Group will post 1.9 EPS for the current year. UBS Group Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 23rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 22nd. About UBS Group (Get 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for UBS Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UBS Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seabridge Gold Inc. (TSE:SEA Get Free Report) (NYSE:SA) shares passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of C$35.34 and traded as high as C$49.14. Seabridge Gold shares last traded at C$48.57, with a volume of 174,710 shares traded. Seabridge Gold Stock Up 2.2% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 58.83, a quick ratio of 3.34 and a current ratio of 2.28. The stocks 50 day moving average price is C$43.32 and its 200-day moving average price is C$35.34. The company has a market cap of C$5.18 billion, a PE ratio of -88.31 and a beta of 1.84. Get Seabridge Gold alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider Elizabeth K. Fillatre Miller sold 1,648 shares of Seabridge Gold stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$40.49, for a total value of C$66,727.52. Following the transaction, the insider owned 32,969 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$1,334,914.81. The trade was a 4.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Company insiders own 2.78% of the companys stock. About Seabridge Gold Seabridge holds a 100% interest in several North American gold projects. Seabridges principal asset, the KSM project, and its Iskut projects are located in Northwest British Columbia, Canadas Golden Triangle , the Courageous Lake project is in Canadas Northwest Territories, the Snowstorm project in the Getchell Gold Belt of Northern Nevada and the 3 Aces project is in the Yukon Territory. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Seabridge Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Seabridge Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. trimmed its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE Free Report) by 32.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,870,994 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,410,236 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned 1.66% of Alexandria Real Estate Equities worth $239,269,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of ARE. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 5,916.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 361 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 355 shares during the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 126.8% in the 3rd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 601 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. 96.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Alexandria Real Estate Equities alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Alexandria Real Estate Equities In other news, Chairman Joel S. Marcus acquired 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $53.92 per share, with a total value of $1,348,000.00. Following the purchase, the chairman owned 562,724 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,342,078.08. This represents a 4.65% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Sheila K. Mcgrath acquired 3,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $45.60 per share, with a total value of $141,360.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 8,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $382,675.20. This trade represents a 58.58% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. 1.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently commented on ARE shares. Zacks Research upgraded Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d) rating on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $47.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $73.00 to $67.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $61.00 to $52.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Alexandria Real Estate Equities currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $65.73. Check Out Our Latest Report on Alexandria Real Estate Equities Alexandria Real Estate Equities Stock Performance Shares of ARE opened at $53.65 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.30 billion, a PE ratio of -6.36, a P/E/G ratio of 6.48 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $53.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $64.06. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has a 52-week low of $44.10 and a 52-week high of $105.14. Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $754.41 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $742.64 million. Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a negative net margin of 47.23% and a negative return on equity of 6.82%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.39 EPS. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.250-6.550 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. will post 9.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Alexandria Real Estate Equities announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Monday, December 8th that allows the company to repurchase $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the real estate investment trust to purchase up to 6.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Cuts Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 31st. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -34.12%. About Alexandria Real Estate Equities (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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR (NYSE:BHP Free Report) by 9.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 77,215 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 6,716 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.s holdings in BHP Group were worth $4,305,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its position in BHP Group by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 22,842,252 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,098,484,000 after buying an additional 429,330 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of BHP Group in the 2nd quarter worth $20,262,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BHP Group by 119.3% in the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 424,361 shares of the mining companys stock worth $20,408,000 after acquiring an additional 230,848 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of BHP Group by 48.2% in the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 383,043 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $18,421,000 after acquiring an additional 124,625 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in shares of BHP Group by 14.2% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 778,244 shares of the mining companys stock worth $37,426,000 after acquiring an additional 96,585 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.79% of the companys stock. Get BHP Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently commented on BHP shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of BHP Group in a research report on Wednesday. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of BHP Group in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Wall Street Zen upgraded BHP Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday. Argus upgraded BHP Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $68.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Finally, Zacks Research raised BHP Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, BHP Group currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $56.00. BHP Group Trading Up 2.5% BHP opened at $76.96 on Friday. BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR has a 1-year low of $39.73 and a 1-year high of $77.04. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $66.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $59.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.65. BHP Group Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a $1.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This represents a dividend yield of 399.0%. BHP Group Company Profile (Free Report) BHP Group is an Anglo-Australian natural resources company engaged principally in the exploration, development, production and marketing of commodities. Its core businesses include the extraction and processing of iron ore, copper, metallurgical and thermal coal, nickel and other minerals. BHP operates large-scale mining and processing assets and supplies raw materials used across steelmaking, energy and industrial supply chains. The company has a global operating footprint with significant assets and projects in Australia and the Americas, and commercial activities that serve customers worldwide. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BHP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR (NYSE:BHP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BHP Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BHP Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced its stake in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:DGRO Free Report) by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,319,402 shares of the companys stock after selling 210,717 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned 0.65% of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF worth $225,985,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Dagco Inc. increased its holdings in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Dagco Inc. now owns 510,449 shares of the companys stock worth $34,751,000 after acquiring an additional 12,022 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 25.8% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 48,384 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,094,000 after acquiring an additional 9,936 shares in the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 65.4% in the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 60,730 shares of the companys stock worth $4,135,000 after acquiring an additional 24,010 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp lifted its holdings in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 39.4% in the 2nd quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 10,612 shares of the companys stock valued at $679,000 after purchasing an additional 3,001 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Trust raised its position in shares of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 44.5% in the second quarter. American Trust now owns 917,657 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,675,000 after buying an additional 282,505 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF alerts: iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA:DGRO opened at $73.79 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $71.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $69.03. The stock has a market cap of $38.53 billion, a PE ratio of 19.66 and a beta of 0.84. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF has a one year low of $54.09 and a one year high of $74.28. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF Company Profile The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Morningstar US Dividend Growth index. The fund tracks an index of US stocks that are selected by dividends, dividend growth and payout ratio, then weighted by dividend dollars. DGRO was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Koninklijke KPN NV (OTCMKTS:KKPNY Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $4.87 and traded as high as $5.55. Koninklijke KPN shares last traded at $5.4470, with a volume of 315,384 shares. Koninklijke KPN Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $4.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.73. Get Koninklijke KPN alerts: Koninklijke KPN Company Profile (Get Free Report) Koninklijke KPN N.V. (KPN) is a Dutch telecommunications and information-communications-technology (ICT) company that provides a broad range of connectivity and digital services. Its core activities include fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband internet, and television services for residential customers, alongside managed network, cloud, security and unified communications solutions for business and public-sector clients. KPN operates and maintains network infrastructure such as fiber and mobile networks, data centers, and platforms for Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity services. The companys primary market is the Netherlands, where it serves households, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporates and government organizations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Koninklijke KPN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Koninklijke KPN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fiera Capital Corp grew its stake in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) by 20.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 68,635 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after buying an additional 11,774 shares during the period. Fiera Capital Corps holdings in EOG Resources were worth $7,695,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in EOG. Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in EOG Resources by 1.2% in the third quarter. Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC now owns 25,707 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $2,882,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 40.5% in the 3rd quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 356,650 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $37,516,000 after acquiring an additional 102,727 shares during the last quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 254.5% in the 3rd quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 19,500 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $2,186,000 after acquiring an additional 14,000 shares during the period. Syon Capital LLC boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Syon Capital LLC now owns 5,679 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $637,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Waycross Partners LLC boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Waycross Partners LLC now owns 132,179 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $14,820,000 after acquiring an additional 2,935 shares during the last quarter. 89.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources Stock Performance EOG opened at $122.95 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $66.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.25 and a beta of 0.49. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $109.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $111.57. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 1 year low of $101.59 and a 1 year high of $135.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.43. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth EOG has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $127.00 target price (up from $126.00) on shares of EOG Resources in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $161.00 to $151.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Zacks Research lowered EOG Resources from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Piper Sandler set a $123.00 target price on EOG Resources and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on EOG Resources from $126.00 to $120.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $134.30. Read Our Latest Research Report on EOG Insider Buying and Selling In other EOG Resources news, COO Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.68, for a total value of $211,360.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 54,979 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,810,180.72. The trade was a 3.51% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. EOG Resources Company Profile (Free Report) EOG Resources, Inc (NYSE: EOG) is an independent exploration and production company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Tracing its corporate origins to Enron Oil & Gas Company in the late 1990s, the company established itself as a stand?alone E&P operator and has grown into one of the largest U.S. upstream producers. EOG focuses on the exploration, development and production of crude oil, condensate, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). As an upstream-focused company, EOGs core activities include geologic and geophysical exploration, drilling and completion of wells, reservoir development, and the marketing of hydrocarbon production. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fiera Capital Corp lifted its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) by 99.6% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 295,209 shares of the natural resource companys stock after buying an additional 147,340 shares during the quarter. Fiera Capital Corps holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $11,578,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of FCX. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main lifted its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 89.4% during the second quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 17,569,169 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $761,623,000 after acquiring an additional 8,292,873 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Markets Cayman LP acquired a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the second quarter valued at approximately $159,147,000. Crake Asset Management LLP increased its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 60.6% during the second quarter. Crake Asset Management LLP now owns 9,522,673 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $412,808,000 after purchasing an additional 3,593,050 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 289.0% during the 3rd quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 3,844,504 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $150,781,000 after purchasing an additional 2,856,302 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 205.0% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,186,621 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $181,490,000 after purchasing an additional 2,813,845 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.77% of the companys stock. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $58.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $68.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. HSBC lifted their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $48.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Raymond James Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $53.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Freeport-McMoRan currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.73. Freeport-McMoRan Price Performance Shares of NYSE:FCX opened at $64.34 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $57.58 and a 200-day moving average of $47.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $92.38 billion, a PE ratio of 42.61, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a current ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 12 month low of $27.66 and a 12 month high of $69.44. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The natural resource company reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $5.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.42 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 8.50% and a return on equity of 8.50%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.31 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.68 EPS for the current fiscal year. Freeport-McMoRan Cuts Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 15th were paid a $0.075 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 15th. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.87%. More Freeport-McMoRan News Here are the key news stories impacting Freeport-McMoRan this week: Positive Sentiment: Freeport reached a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian government to amend PT Freeport Indonesias special mining business license (IUPK) for a life?of?resource extension of operating rights this materially reduces tenure/regulatory risk at Grasberg, bolsters the long?term copper production and cash?flow story, and is the main catalyst lifting sentiment. FCX Announces Agreement for Life of Resource Extension Freeport reached a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian government to amend PT Freeport Indonesias special mining business license (IUPK) for a life?of?resource extension of operating rights this materially reduces tenure/regulatory risk at Grasberg, bolsters the long?term copper production and cash?flow story, and is the main catalyst lifting sentiment. Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank raised its price target on FCX from $70 to $72 and kept an outperform rating another broker lift that supports upside expectations and can attract buyer flows. Scotiabank PT raise Scotiabank raised its price target on FCX from $70 to $72 and kept an outperform rating another broker lift that supports upside expectations and can attract buyer flows. Neutral Sentiment: Market and industry write?ups are rotating capital into copper amid rising demand for wiring/infrastructure tied to AI and electrification; these macro narratives support commodity price tailwinds but benefit multiple miners, not just FCX. Copper demand/sector rotation Market and industry write?ups are rotating capital into copper amid rising demand for wiring/infrastructure tied to AI and electrification; these macro narratives support commodity price tailwinds but benefit multiple miners, not just FCX. Neutral Sentiment: Coverage and valuation pieces (Yahoo Finance, Zacks, Seeking Alpha) are re?pricing FCX on the new Grasberg assumptions and stronger copper outlook helpful context for investors but not a direct catalyst. Narrative shift article Coverage and valuation pieces (Yahoo Finance, Zacks, Seeking Alpha) are re?pricing FCX on the new Grasberg assumptions and stronger copper outlook helpful context for investors but not a direct catalyst. Negative Sentiment: Senior insiders sold stock this week: CFO Maree Robertson (48,500 shares) and CAO Ellie Mikes (11,000 shares) sizable filings that can spook some investors even if sales are for diversification or tax planning. CFO SEC filing CAO SEC filing Senior insiders sold stock this week: CFO Maree Robertson (48,500 shares) and CAO Ellie Mikes (11,000 shares) sizable filings that can spook some investors even if sales are for diversification or tax planning. Negative Sentiment: Operational risk remains: analysts and sector commentary note the 2025 Grasberg mudflows lingering impact on near?term production delays to recovery would limit Freeports ability to immediately monetize stronger copper prices. Grasberg MOU and operational context Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Chairman Richard C. Adkerson sold 248,031 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.80, for a total transaction of $15,576,346.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman owned 3,509,119 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $220,372,673.20. The trade was a 6.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Stephen T. Higgins sold 28,423 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.99, for a total value of $1,364,019.77. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 105,294 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,053,059.06. This represents a 21.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 573,486 shares of company stock worth $35,791,937. 0.75% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Freeport-McMoRan (Free Report) Freeport-McMoRan Inc is a U.S.-based natural resources company primarily engaged in the exploration, mining and processing of copper, gold and molybdenum. Its operations encompass large-scale open-pit and underground mining as well as associated concentrator and milling facilities. The company produces copper in the form of concentrates and cathodes, and also recovers gold and molybdenum as co-products; its business model includes exploration, development, mining, beneficiation and the sale of bulk commodities to smelters and industrial customers. Freeport-McMoRan conducts operations and development activities across multiple geographies, with substantial assets in the Americas and Indonesia. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raiffeisen Bank International AG grew its stake in shares of HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB Free Report) by 150.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 225,844 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 135,681 shares during the period. Raiffeisen Bank International AGs holdings in HDFC Bank were worth $7,710,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management raised its holdings in HDFC Bank by 220.4% in the 3rd quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 20,249 shares of the banks stock valued at $692,000 after acquiring an additional 13,929 shares in the last quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of HDFC Bank by 103.7% during the third quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. now owns 17,633 shares of the banks stock valued at $629,000 after purchasing an additional 8,975 shares during the period. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of HDFC Bank by 98.4% in the third quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. now owns 215,638 shares of the banks stock valued at $7,366,000 after purchasing an additional 106,962 shares in the last quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. acquired a new stake in HDFC Bank during the third quarter worth $5,340,000. Finally, Wealth Alliance LLC raised its position in HDFC Bank by 39.9% in the third quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 25,066 shares of the banks stock worth $856,000 after purchasing an additional 7,154 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 17.61% of the companys stock. Get HDFC Bank alerts: HDFC Bank Trading Up 1.2% Shares of NYSE HDB opened at $33.11 on Friday. HDFC Bank Limited has a 1-year low of $29.23 and a 1-year high of $39.81. The company has a market cap of $168.88 billion, a PE ratio of 19.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a 50-day moving average of $33.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.27. Analyst Ratings Changes HDFC Bank ( NYSE:HDB Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 20th. The bank reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $9.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.12 billion. HDFC Bank had a return on equity of 11.49% and a net margin of 14.92%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that HDFC Bank Limited will post 3.03 earnings per share for the current year. HDB has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen raised HDFC Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings raised shares of HDFC Bank from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, HDFC Bank currently has an average rating of Hold. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on HDB About HDFC Bank (Free Report) HDFC Bank Limited is one of Indias leading private sector banks, headquartered in Mumbai. Incorporated in 1994 and promoted by Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), the bank provides a full range of banking and financial services to retail, small and medium-sized enterprises, and corporate customers. It is publicly listed and also accessible to international investors through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HDB. The banks core activities include retail banking (deposit accounts, personal loans, home loans, auto loans, and credit cards), commercial and corporate banking (working capital finance, term lending, trade finance and treasury services), and transaction banking (cash management and payment solutions). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HDB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for HDFC Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HDFC Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Isthmus Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE Free Report) by 36.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 61,702 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after buying an additional 16,505 shares during the quarter. Isthmus Partners LLCs holdings in Haemonetics were worth $3,007,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Haemonetics during the 2nd quarter valued at $36,822,000. SG Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Haemonetics by 92.5% in the second quarter. SG Capital Management LLC now owns 906,892 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $67,663,000 after purchasing an additional 435,660 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Haemonetics by 157.9% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 450,248 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $33,390,000 after purchasing an additional 275,683 shares in the last quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Haemonetics by 18.7% during the 2nd quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 1,655,676 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $122,586,000 after purchasing an additional 260,624 shares during the period. Finally, ABN Amro Investment Solutions purchased a new stake in Haemonetics during the 3rd quarter worth about $186,000. 99.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Haemonetics alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have weighed in on HAE shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Haemonetics in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Barrington Research set a $94.00 price objective on shares of Haemonetics in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $90.00 target price on shares of Haemonetics in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Haemonetics from $88.00 to $75.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, CJS Securities raised shares of Haemonetics to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $84.44. Haemonetics Stock Up 0.9% Shares of NYSE:HAE opened at $61.24 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.85 billion, a PE ratio of 16.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.75. Haemonetics Corporation has a 52-week low of $47.31 and a 52-week high of $87.32. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $71.94 and a 200 day moving average of $64.06. Haemonetics (NYSE:HAE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $338.97 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $331.90 million. Haemonetics had a return on equity of 27.32% and a net margin of 13.31%.The companys revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.19 earnings per share. Haemonetics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-5.000 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Haemonetics Corporation will post 4.55 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Haemonetics (Free Report) 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HAE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Haemonetics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Haemonetics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) by 65.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 254,212 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 100,713 shares during the period. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Brookfield Asset Management were worth $14,463,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $294,730,000. State Street Corp raised its position in Brookfield Asset Management by 11,172.2% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,524,700 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $194,845,000 after acquiring an additional 3,493,431 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Brookfield Asset Management by 62.4% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,755,340 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $208,571,000 after purchasing an additional 1,443,441 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 25.5% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 4,218,119 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $232,402,000 after purchasing an additional 857,994 shares during the period. Finally, BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp grew its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 36.3% in the second quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 2,406,520 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $133,281,000 after purchasing an additional 641,300 shares during the period. 68.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Brookfield Asset Management alerts: Brookfield Asset Management Trading Up 1.1% Shares of Brookfield Asset Management stock opened at $50.60 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $52.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $54.91. The stock has a market cap of $82.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.40. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. has a 1-year low of $41.78 and a 1-year high of $64.10. Brookfield Asset Management Increases Dividend Brookfield Asset Management ( NYSE:BAM Get Free Report ) (TSE:BAM.A) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $1.39 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.40 billion. Brookfield Asset Management had a return on equity of 29.67% and a net margin of 51.59%. Analysts predict that Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. will post 1.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $0.5025 per share. This represents a $2.01 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This is a positive change from Brookfield Asset Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. Brookfield Asset Managements dividend payout ratio is presently 132.24%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BAM has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $74.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Brookfield Asset Management from $67.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. UBS Group set a $52.00 target price on Brookfield Asset Management in a research report on Friday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Brookfield Asset Management from $68.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Brookfield Asset Management currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $63.65. Get Our Latest Report on BAM About Brookfield Asset Management (Free Report) Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager headquartered in Toronto, Canada, that specializes in investments in real assets and related private equity and credit strategies. The firm acquires, manages and develops assets in sectors such as real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, seeking long-term value through active asset management and operational improvements. Brookfield structures and manages commingled funds, listed partnerships and separate accounts for institutional and retail investors. The companys products and services include fund management across equity and debt strategies, direct asset ownership and operations, property and facilities management, and capital markets solutions. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Asset Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Asset Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Jackson Financial Inc. (NYSE:JXN Free Report) by 23.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 74,700 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 14,000 shares during the period. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. owned about 0.11% of Jackson Financial worth $7,562,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of JXN. NewEdge Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Jackson Financial by 12.4% in the third quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 13,973 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,309,000 after purchasing an additional 1,545 shares in the last quarter. CenterBook Partners LP increased its holdings in Jackson Financial by 70.9% in the 3rd quarter. CenterBook Partners LP now owns 15,329 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,552,000 after buying an additional 6,360 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLP raised its stake in shares of Jackson Financial by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 8,726 shares of the companys stock valued at $883,000 after buying an additional 577 shares in the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ bought a new position in shares of Jackson Financial during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,255,000. Finally, Denali Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Jackson Financial by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Denali Advisors LLC now owns 70,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,157,000 after acquiring an additional 1,254 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.96% of the companys stock. Get Jackson Financial alerts: Jackson Financial Stock Up 1.8% NYSE JXN opened at $115.74 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $112.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $102.78. Jackson Financial Inc. has a one year low of $64.70 and a one year high of $123.61. The firm has a market cap of $7.87 billion, a PE ratio of -330.68 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.27. Jackson Financial Increases Dividend Jackson Financial ( NYSE:JXN Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported $6.61 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.90 by $0.71. The business had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.92 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $4.65 EPS. Jackson Financials revenue for the quarter was down 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Jackson Financial Inc. will post 20.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be given a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. This is a boost from Jackson Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. Jackson Financials dividend payout ratio is 44.26%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently issued reports on JXN shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Jackson Financial in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Morgan Stanley set a $105.00 target price on Jackson Financial in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Evercore set a $118.00 price target on Jackson Financial and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Barclays reissued an overweight rating and set a $137.00 price objective on shares of Jackson Financial in a report on Thursday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Jackson Financial presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $113.00. View Our Latest Analysis on Jackson Financial Jackson Financial Company Profile (Free Report) Jackson Financial Inc is a U.S.-based financial services holding company headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. The company operates primarily through its principal subsidiary, Jackson National Life Insurance Company, and specializes in designing and distributing retirement products. Jackson Financial has been publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker JXN since its initial public offering in May 2022. The companys core offerings include a broad range of fixed, variable and indexed annuity products aimed at helping individuals preserve and grow retirement assets. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Jackson Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jackson Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Monaco Asset Management SAM lifted its position in shares of Macro Bank Inc. (NYSE:BMA Free Report) by 536.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 82,700 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 69,700 shares during the quarter. Monaco Asset Management SAM owned approximately 0.13% of Macro Bank worth $3,497,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Cape Ann Asset Management Ltd raised its holdings in Macro Bank by 66.2% during the third quarter. Cape Ann Asset Management Ltd now owns 461,216 shares of the banks stock valued at $19,505,000 after acquiring an additional 183,700 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Macro Bank by 42.6% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 113,983 shares of the banks stock worth $4,820,000 after acquiring an additional 34,036 shares during the last quarter. Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft bought a new stake in Macro Bank in the 3rd quarter valued at $424,000. Candriam S.C.A. bought a new position in shares of Macro Bank during the 3rd quarter valued at about $13,643,000. Finally, Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda bought a new position in shares of Macro Bank during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,892,000. Get Macro Bank alerts: Macro Bank Trading Up 1.2% BMA stock opened at $92.20 on Friday. Macro Bank Inc. has a twelve month low of $38.30 and a twelve month high of $106.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $92.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $75.02. Macro Bank Increases Dividend Macro Bank ( NYSE:BMA Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 26th. The bank reported ($0.39) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.67 by ($1.06). The firm had revenue of $625.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $590.57 million. Macro Bank had a return on equity of 8.15% and a net margin of 6.11%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Macro Bank Inc. will post 7.84 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 19th will be given a dividend of $0.3822 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.0%. This is a boost from Macro Banks previous monthly dividend of $0.36. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 19th. Macro Banks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 207.69%. Analyst Ratings Changes BMA has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group assumed coverage on Macro Bank in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $130.00 target price on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Macro Bank to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Itau BBA Securities raised Macro Bank from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. HSBC downgraded Macro Bank from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $80.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Macro Bank from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $103.75. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Macro Bank Macro Bank Company Profile (Free Report) Macro Bank (NYSE: BMA) is the American depositary receipt program of Banco Macro SA, one of the largest privately owned banks in Argentina. Headquartered in Buenos Aires, the institution delivers a comprehensive suite of banking solutions to retail, corporate and agricultural customers across the country. Through its extensive branch network and digital platforms, Macro Bank aims to serve diverse client segments with tailored financial products and services. The banks offerings span traditional deposit accountsincluding checking, savings and term depositsalongside payment and transaction services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Macro Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Macro Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Notis McConarty Edward trimmed its position in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK Free Report) by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 15,753 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,400 shares during the quarter. Rockwell Automation comprises 2.6% of Notis McConarty Edwards investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Notis McConarty Edwards holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $5,506,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. raised its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 468.8% during the 3rd quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 91 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Rexford Capital Inc. purchased a new position in Rockwell Automation in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Rockwell Automation by 48.7% during the second quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 116 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the second quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Sachetta LLC lifted its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation by 900.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 120 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.75% of the companys stock. Get Rockwell Automation alerts: Rockwell Automation Trading Up 0.8% NYSE ROK opened at $398.63 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $406.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $375.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.16. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a one year low of $215.00 and a one year high of $438.72. The firm has a market cap of $44.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.61, a PEG ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 1.52. Rockwell Automation Announces Dividend Rockwell Automation ( NYSE:ROK Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $0.29. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 11.56% and a return on equity of 34.92%. The firm had revenue of $2.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.83 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. Rockwell Automation has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.400-12.200 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 23rd will be paid a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 23rd. Rockwell Automations dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.16%. Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation In related news, VP Scott Genereux sold 1,387 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $402.03, for a total transaction of $557,615.61. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 4,514 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,814,763.42. The trade was a 23.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Tessa M. Myers sold 1,020 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $402.07, for a total value of $410,111.40. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 6,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,420,863.47. This trade represents a 14.49% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 25,531 shares of company stock valued at $10,259,637 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.76% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts recently issued reports on ROK shares. Citigroup raised their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $439.00 to $466.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $460.00 target price on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Sunday, February 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $400.00 to $404.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Evercore assumed coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Monday, December 15th. They issued an in-line rating and a $440.00 price target on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Rockwell Automation from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $329.00 to $448.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Rockwell Automation has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $417.22. Get Our Latest Research Report on ROK Key Rockwell Automation News Here are the key news stories impacting Rockwell Automation this week: Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised Rockwells FY2027 EPS view to $13.36 (from $12.71) and nudged FY2026 to $11.81, signaling stronger longer?term earnings expectations that can support valuation expansion and justify the stocks premium multiple. Zacks Research raised Rockwells FY2027 EPS view to $13.36 (from $12.71) and nudged FY2026 to $11.81, signaling stronger longer?term earnings expectations that can support valuation expansion and justify the stocks premium multiple. Positive Sentiment: Zacks increased several quarterly estimates for 20262027 (notably Q2 2026 to $2.83 and multiple Q2Q4 2027 quarterly estimates), reinforcing a view of improving cadence into FY2027 and reducing near?term forecast dispersion. Zacks increased several quarterly estimates for 20262027 (notably Q2 2026 to $2.83 and multiple Q2Q4 2027 quarterly estimates), reinforcing a view of improving cadence into FY2027 and reducing near?term forecast dispersion. Positive Sentiment: Customer win / product validation Rockwell announced DLG Groups deployment of its Computerized Maintenance Management System, citing a targeted ~10% reduction in downtime; tangible customer deployments like this support recurring software/services revenue and cross?sell potential. Rockwell Automation Announces DLG Groups Computerized Maintenance Management System Deployment to Drive 10% Downtime Reduction Customer win / product validation Rockwell announced DLG Groups deployment of its Computerized Maintenance Management System, citing a targeted ~10% reduction in downtime; tangible customer deployments like this support recurring software/services revenue and cross?sell potential. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks retains a Hold rating on ROK while estimates were moved around, the unchanged rating suggests analysts see upside balanced by valuation and execution risks in the near term. Zacks retains a Hold rating on ROK while estimates were moved around, the unchanged rating suggests analysts see upside balanced by valuation and execution risks in the near term. Neutral Sentiment: Investor commentary on valuation: a recent Yahoo Finance piece reviews whether ROKs multi?year gains leave less upside, useful for sentiment but not new company data. Is It Too Late To Consider Rockwell Automation (ROK) After Strong Multi?Year Gains? Investor commentary on valuation: a recent Yahoo Finance piece reviews whether ROKs multi?year gains leave less upside, useful for sentiment but not new company data. Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed Q4 2026 EPS materially (from $3.46 to $3.23) a meaningful near?term downgrade that could pressure next quarter sentiment and short?term investor expectations. Zacks trimmed Q4 2026 EPS materially (from $3.46 to $3.23) a meaningful near?term downgrade that could pressure next quarter sentiment and short?term investor expectations. Negative Sentiment: Smaller cuts to Q1 2027 and Q3 2026 estimates indicate mixed near?term momentum while FY outlook was lifted, quarter?to?quarter revisions are uneven and introduce some execution risk for upcoming reports. About Rockwell Automation (Free Report) Rockwell Automation is a global industrial automation and digital transformation company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm designs, manufactures and supports control systems, industrial control hardware and software, and related services that help manufacturers and industrial operators automate processes, improve productivity and enable data-driven decision making. Rockwell traces its heritage to the Allen-Bradley and Rockwell automation businesses and positions itself as a provider of integrated automation solutions across discrete and process industries. The companys product portfolio includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), variable frequency drives, sensors, safety components and other industrial control hardware, often marketed under the Allen-Bradley brand. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ROK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Rockwell Automation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rockwell Automation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Notis McConarty Edward decreased its position in shares of Nestle SA (OTCMKTS:NSRGY Free Report) by 53.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,750 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,000 shares during the quarter. Notis McConarty Edwards holdings in Nestle were worth $711,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nestle during the third quarter valued at $31,000. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH raised its holdings in Nestle by 175.1% during the 3rd quarter. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH now owns 641 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 408 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Nestle by 37.4% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 613 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. Salomon & Ludwin LLC boosted its stake in shares of Nestle by 412.6% in the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 933 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,000 after purchasing an additional 751 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Nestle during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $125,000. Institutional investors own 0.61% of the companys stock. Get Nestle alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have issued reports on NSRGY shares. Berenberg Bank raised shares of Nestle from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating on shares of Nestle in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Nestle currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $91.00. Nestle Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:NSRGY opened at $104.59 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $97.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $96.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Nestle SA has a 52 week low of $86.98 and a 52 week high of $109.31. About Nestle (Free Report) Nestle SA is a Swiss multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. Founded in 1866 by Henri Nestle, the company has grown into a global consumer goods firm and its American depositary receipts trade in the United States under the OTCMKTS ticker NSRGY. Nestle operates across a broad range of food and beverage categories and is widely recognized for its portfolio of consumer-facing brands and products. The companys main business activities include the manufacture, marketing and distribution of products in categories such as coffee and other beverages, bottled water, dairy and infant nutrition, prepared meals and culinary products, confectionery, and pet care. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NSRGY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nestle SA (OTCMKTS:NSRGY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Nestle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nestle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Siligmueller & Norvid Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 6,947 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,782,000. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MTUM. TFC Financial Management Inc. bought a new position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Howe & Rusling Inc. increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 425.0% in the 3rd quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. now owns 126 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $46,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 397.8% during the 3rd quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 224 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the period. Finally, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $64,000. Get iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Stock Up 0.6% Shares of BATS:MTUM opened at $254.77 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $18.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.67 and a beta of 1.02. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a 52-week low of $171.51 and a 52-week high of $262.10. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $254.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $251.32. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years. MTUM was launched on Apr 16, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Nigerien Defence and Security Forces (FDS) have announced that 43 terrorists were neutralised and 28 suspected members and accomplices of armed extremist groups arrested between February 9 and 15. According to a weekly operational Bulletin broadcast on Wednesday by national television channel Tele-Sahel, the results were achieved through targeted ground offensives backed by coordinated airstrikes across various parts of the country. The FDS reported the seizure of a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition during the operations. Security forces also confiscated significant logistical supplies, including 5,452 sticks of dynamite, 68 rolls of detonating cord and 68,000 litres of smuggled fuel. Authorities further intercepted hundreds of thousands of tablets described as harmful substances destined for criminal networks. In addition, five improvised explosive devices were discovered and safely neutralised. The operations form part of Nigers ongoing efforts to counter armed militant activity and disrupt supply chains supporting extremist and criminal groups. Sava Infond d.o.o. boosted its holdings in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 17.5% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 16,820 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,500 shares during the quarter. Sava Infond d.o.o.s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $3,119,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in JNJ. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Johnson & Johnson in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Clayton Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 55.0% during the 2nd quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 203 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compass Financial Services Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 707.1% in the 3rd quarter. Compass Financial Services Inc now owns 226 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Trending Headlines about Johnson & Johnson Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week: Positive Sentiment: Clinical and regulatory wins for oncology: J&J reported strong Phase 1b/2 data for subcutaneous amivantamab (RYBREVANT FASPRO) in head & neck cancer and has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy attention and a separate monthly?dosing approval that can improve patient convenience and commercial uptake. These outcomes support the pharma growth story and were cited as a reason for recent buying interest. RYBREVANT clinical results Clinical and regulatory wins for oncology: J&J reported strong Phase 1b/2 data for subcutaneous amivantamab (RYBREVANT FASPRO) in head & neck cancer and has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy attention and a separate monthly?dosing approval that can improve patient convenience and commercial uptake. These outcomes support the pharma growth story and were cited as a reason for recent buying interest. Positive Sentiment: Potential strategic catalyst: reports say J&J is preparing a possible ~$20B sale of its orthopedics unit a deal could unlock value, boost cash for buybacks/dividends or speed a planned separation, which traders view as a material upside catalyst if executed. Reuters on orthopedics sale Potential strategic catalyst: reports say J&J is preparing a possible ~$20B sale of its orthopedics unit a deal could unlock value, boost cash for buybacks/dividends or speed a planned separation, which traders view as a material upside catalyst if executed. Positive Sentiment: Capital investment and dividend support: J&J announced a $1B investment in a Pennsylvania cell?therapy facility and recently raised its quarterly dividend to $1.30 both reinforce the companys long?term growth capacity and income appeal for dividend investors. Fox Business on $1B investment Capital investment and dividend support: J&J announced a $1B investment in a Pennsylvania cell?therapy facility and recently raised its quarterly dividend to $1.30 both reinforce the companys long?term growth capacity and income appeal for dividend investors. Neutral Sentiment: Options and sentiment flow: unusually high call buying (41,649 calls, ~45% above typical daily call volume) and amplified options chatter are increasing intraday volatility and can intensify moves without changing fundamentals watch open interest and directional concentration. Benzinga on options trends Options and sentiment flow: unusually high call buying (41,649 calls, ~45% above typical daily call volume) and amplified options chatter are increasing intraday volatility and can intensify moves without changing fundamentals watch open interest and directional concentration. Neutral Sentiment: Positive post?earnings momentum: coverage (Zacks/TipRanks/others) notes JNJ is up since earnings as investors re?rate pharma catalysts and dividends helpful for sentiment but incremental vs. material corporate events. Zacks on post?earnings move Positive post?earnings momentum: coverage (Zacks/TipRanks/others) notes JNJ is up since earnings as investors re?rate pharma catalysts and dividends helpful for sentiment but incremental vs. material corporate events. Negative Sentiment: Analyst caveat: Rothschild & Co Redburn raised its price target to $210 but kept a neutral rating the PT sits below the current share price, signaling downside risk and giving traders a reason to trim positions. MarketScreener on Rothschild PT Analyst caveat: Rothschild & Co Redburn raised its price target to $210 but kept a neutral rating the PT sits below the current share price, signaling downside risk and giving traders a reason to trim positions. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: recent sales by senior executives (disclosed Form 4s) are prompting some investor concern about near?term profit?taking and are adding selling pressure. SEC filing on insider sell Insider selling: recent sales by senior executives (disclosed Form 4s) are prompting some investor concern about near?term profit?taking and are adding selling pressure. Negative Sentiment: Legal overhang: ongoing talc litigation and verdict coverage continue to create valuation uncertainty and cap multiple expansion despite operational positives. Yahoo Finance on talc risk Insider Transactions at Johnson & Johnson In related news, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 22,623 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $244.33, for a total value of $5,527,477.59. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 26,769 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,540,469.77. This represents a 45.80% 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, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total transaction of $1,508,287.83. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 23,003 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,598,700.17. This trade represents a 21.22% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock. Johnson & Johnson Trading Down 1.9% Shares of JNJ stock opened at $242.27 on Friday. Johnson & Johnson has a 12-month low of $141.50 and a 12-month high of $246.96. The company has a market capitalization of $583.86 billion, a PE ratio of 21.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.35. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $221.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $199.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $24.28 billion for the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 33.04% and a net margin of 28.46%. As a group, analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 earnings per share for the current year. Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.06%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on JNJ shares. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $240.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley set a $262.00 price target on Johnson & Johnson and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and issued a $250.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Johnson & Johnson presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $232.70. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sun Life Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (NYSEARCA:EWS Free Report) by 20.9% 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 1,462,159 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 252,559 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF makes up 2.1% of Sun Life Financial Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Sun Life Financial Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF were worth $41,438,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in EWS. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 267.2% in the third quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. now owns 49,365 shares of the companys stock worth $1,399,000 after purchasing an additional 35,920 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,467 shares of the companys stock valued at $268,000 after buying an additional 906 shares during the period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 19.3% in the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 7,692 shares of the companys stock worth $218,000 after buying an additional 1,245 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 35.8% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 16,327 shares of the companys stock worth $463,000 after buying an additional 4,303 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 36.0% during the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 18,549 shares of the companys stock valued at $526,000 after buying an additional 4,912 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.30% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI Singapore ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Stock Up 1.4% iShares MSCI Singapore ETF stock opened at $29.43 on Friday. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF has a 12 month low of $20.08 and a 12 month high of $29.65. The stock has a market cap of $801.97 million, a P/E ratio of 15.28 and a beta of 0.69. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $28.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $28.20. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI Singapore ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund (ETF). The Funds seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Singapore Index (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Singapore 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. The Funds investment advisor is BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (NYSEARCA:EWS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Synovus Financial Corp bought a new stake in shares of KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 120,522 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $2,253,000. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Marshall Wace LLP grew its holdings in shares of KeyCorp by 2,258.4% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,572,980 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $44,821,000 after buying an additional 2,463,880 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its stake in KeyCorp by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 575,108 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $10,018,000 after acquiring an additional 51,705 shares during the last quarter. HoldCo Asset Management LP acquired a new stake in KeyCorp during the 2nd quarter worth about $86,995,000. Korea Investment CORP grew its stake in KeyCorp by 175.5% during the 2nd quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 447,252 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,791,000 after purchasing an additional 284,928 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its holdings in shares of KeyCorp by 1.1% in the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 4,712,839 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $82,098,000 after purchasing an additional 53,418 shares during the period. 79.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get KeyCorp alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Andrew J. Paine III sold 65,961 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.23, for a total value of $1,532,274.03. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 166,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,869,723.09. This trade represents a 28.36% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Angela G. Mago sold 62,850 shares of KeyCorp stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.55, for a total value of $1,354,417.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 261,415 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,633,493.25. The trade was a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 161,506 shares of company stock worth $3,597,481 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.52% of the companys stock. KeyCorp Trading Up 1.7% Shares of KEY stock opened at $22.17 on Friday. KeyCorp has a 1-year low of $12.73 and a 1-year high of $23.34. The company has a market cap of $24.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.58, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $21.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.43. KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 20th. The financial services provider reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $2.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.95 billion. KeyCorp had a net margin of 15.97% and a return on equity of 10.28%. The firms revenue was up 131.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.30 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that KeyCorp will post 1.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. KeyCorp Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.205 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.7%. KeyCorps payout ratio is currently 53.95%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently commented on KEY shares. Stephens lifted their target price on KeyCorp from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $18.00 price target on shares of KeyCorp and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of KeyCorp in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of KeyCorp in a research note on Wednesday, December 31st. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of KeyCorp from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.87. Get Our Latest Analysis on KEY About KeyCorp (Free Report) KeyCorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, that operates through its primary banking subsidiary, KeyBank. It provides a broad range of banking and financial services to individual consumers, small businesses, middle-market companies and large corporations. KeyBanks offerings span traditional deposit and lending products as well as more specialized financial solutions designed for commercial and institutional clients. The companys product and service mix includes retail banking products such as checking and savings accounts, consumer and residential mortgage lending, and auto financing. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KEY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for KeyCorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KeyCorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Iluka Resources Limited (ASX:ILU Get Free Report) insider James Mactier bought 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of A$5.50 per share, with a total value of A$274,950.00. Iluka Resources Price Performance The company has a market cap of $2.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.49, a P/E/G ratio of -13.22 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a current ratio of 4.90, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.37. Get Iluka Resources alerts: Iluka Resources Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a Final dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, March 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.03 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 53.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 4th. Iluka Resourcess payout ratio is presently 12.70%. Iluka Resources Company Profile Iluka Resources Limited engages in the exploration, project development, mining, processing, marketing, and rehabilitation of mineral sands in Australia, China, rest of Asia, Europe, the Americas, and internationally. It operates through Jacinth-Ambrosia/Mid-West, Cataby/South West, Rare Earths, and United States/Murray Basin segments. The company produces zircon; titanium dioxide products of rutile and synthetic rutile; and ilmenite, as well as activated carbon, gypsum, and iron concentrate products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Iluka Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Iluka Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stevens Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Targa Resources, Inc. (NYSE:TRGP Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 7,388 shares of the pipeline companys stock, valued at approximately $1,238,000. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Peoples Financial Services CORP. acquired a new position in shares of Targa Resources during the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Targa Resources during the third quarter worth approximately $39,000. Avion Wealth increased its position in shares of Targa Resources by 475.0% during the third quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 276 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Corp acquired a new position in Targa Resources in the 3rd quarter valued at $47,000. Finally, Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Targa Resources in the 2nd quarter valued at $53,000. 92.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Targa Resources alerts: Targa Resources News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Targa Resources this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 EPS beat expectations TRGP reported $2.51 EPS vs. consensus $2.35, and management highlighted record fourth-quarter and full?year 2025 results; positive earnings surprise and record results support the rally. MarketBeat Earnings Q4 EPS beat expectations TRGP reported $2.51 EPS vs. consensus $2.35, and management highlighted record fourth-quarter and full?year 2025 results; positive earnings surprise and record results support the rally. Positive Sentiment: Broker upgrade and big price-target lift Wells Fargo moved TRGP to Overweight and raised its target from $207 to $248 (now implying additional upside), which likely boosted buying interest. Benzinga Broker upgrade and big price-target lift Wells Fargo moved TRGP to Overweight and raised its target from $207 to $248 (now implying additional upside), which likely boosted buying interest. Positive Sentiment: Operational strength Reuters and company releases cited higher gas and NGL transport volumes and beat on adjusted core profit, supporting forward growth expectations. Reuters Operational strength Reuters and company releases cited higher gas and NGL transport volumes and beat on adjusted core profit, supporting forward growth expectations. Positive Sentiment: Record results and dividend increase Company press release and coverage note record 2025 results and a dividend hike, which can attract income and quality-oriented investors. GlobeNewswire Results Record results and dividend increase Company press release and coverage note record 2025 results and a dividend hike, which can attract income and quality-oriented investors. Neutral Sentiment: SEC filing available TRGP filed its Form 10?K for 2025; important for due diligence but not a near?term catalyst by itself. Form 10-K SEC filing available TRGP filed its Form 10?K for 2025; important for due diligence but not a near?term catalyst by itself. Neutral Sentiment: Earnings materials and call transcripts published Slide deck, press release and call transcript are available for investors to review guidance and management commentary (useful for due diligence). Press Release / Slides Earnings Transcript Earnings materials and call transcripts published Slide deck, press release and call transcript are available for investors to review guidance and management commentary (useful for due diligence). Neutral Sentiment: Analyst writeups and metrics reviews Coverage from Zacks and others digs into key metrics versus estimates; useful context but typically less immediate market-moving power than the above items. Zacks Analysis Analyst writeups and metrics reviews Coverage from Zacks and others digs into key metrics versus estimates; useful context but typically less immediate market-moving power than the above items. Negative Sentiment: Revenue slightly missed estimates Q4 revenue came in a bit below consensus ($4.06B vs. ~$4.12B), which tempers the beat and is the main negative data point investors should monitor. Investing.com Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on TRGP shares. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Targa Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Barclays restated an overweight rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Targa Resources in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $241.00 price objective on shares of Targa Resources in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $266.00 target price on shares of Targa Resources in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Targa Resources from $213.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $227.29. Read Our Latest Research Report on TRGP Insider Activity In related news, insider Gerald R. Shrader sold 2,750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $181.21, for a total value of $498,327.50. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 29,561 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,356,748.81. The trade was a 8.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 1.34% of the companys stock. Targa Resources Stock Up 3.0% Shares of NYSE TRGP opened at $230.96 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $49.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.89, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.91, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $194.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $175.50. Targa Resources, Inc. has a 1 year low of $144.14 and a 1 year high of $232.86. Targa Resources (NYSE:TRGP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 19th. The pipeline company reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.35 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $4.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.12 billion. Targa Resources had a return on equity of 68.46% and a net margin of 10.88%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Targa Resources, Inc. will post 8.15 earnings per share for the current year. Targa Resources Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 30th were issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 30th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Targa Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 46.57%. Targa Resources Company Profile (Free Report) Targa Resources Corporation (NYSE: TRGP) is a U.S.-focused midstream energy company that provides gathering, processing, transportation, storage and marketing services for natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and condensate. Its operations span the midstream value chain, including gas gathering systems that collect production from wells, processing plants that separate and recover NGLs and other hydrocarbons, fractionation and purification facilities that prepare NGLs for market, and pipeline and terminal assets that move and store products for producers, refiners and other customers. The company operates a network of pipelines, processing plants, fractionators and storage facilities that serve producers and consumers across major U.S. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Targa Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Targa Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stevens Capital Management LP increased its position in shares of Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM Free Report) by 80.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 15,932 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,125 shares during the quarter. Stevens Capital Management LPs holdings in Newmont were worth $1,343,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Newmont during the second quarter worth $919,170,000. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in Newmont by 45.0% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 15,587,917 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $908,152,000 after acquiring an additional 4,839,447 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its stake in Newmont by 6.3% during the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 7,444,729 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $433,236,000 after acquiring an additional 438,748 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its stake in Newmont by 4,090.7% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,643,057 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $272,558,000 after acquiring an additional 4,532,263 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service raised its holdings in Newmont by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 4,354,264 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $367,108,000 after acquiring an additional 114,949 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.85% of the companys stock. Get Newmont alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce restated an outperform rating and set a $177.00 target price on shares of Newmont in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Newmont in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Macquarie Infrastructure upped their target price on Newmont from $115.00 to $126.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Scotiabank lifted their price target on Newmont from $114.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a buy rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Newmont in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Newmont currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $131.66. Newmont Price Performance NEM stock opened at $122.16 on Friday. Newmont Corporation has a 52-week low of $41.23 and a 52-week high of $134.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The stock has a market cap of $133.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.40. The business has a fifty day moving average of $113.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of $92.97. Newmont (NYSE:NEM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The basic materials company reported $2.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.81 by $0.71. The business had revenue of $6.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.18 billion. Newmont had a return on equity of 23.58% and a net margin of 31.25%.The companys revenue was up 20.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.40 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Newmont Corporation will post 3.45 earnings per share for the current year. Newmont Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.26 per share. This is a boost from Newmonts previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 3rd. Newmonts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 15.65%. Insider Buying and Selling at Newmont In other Newmont news, Director Bruce R. Brook sold 2,080 shares of Newmont stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.36, for a total transaction of $192,108.80. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 32,709 shares in the company, valued at $3,021,003.24. This trade represents a 5.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. More Newmont News Here are the key news stories impacting Newmont this week: Positive Sentiment: Beat expectations: Q4 EPS of $2.52 and revenue of $6.82B topped estimates, driven by higher realized gold prices and margin expansion. Read More. Beat expectations: Q4 EPS of $2.52 and revenue of $6.82B topped estimates, driven by higher realized gold prices and margin expansion. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Record free cash flow and strong profitability in 2025 supported balance sheet and capital flexibility a reason some investors remain constructive. Read More. Record free cash flow and strong profitability in 2025 supported balance sheet and capital flexibility a reason some investors remain constructive. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Dividend increase: the company raised the quarterly payout to $0.26 (4% increase), signaling continued shareholder returns. Read More. Dividend increase: the company raised the quarterly payout to $0.26 (4% increase), signaling continued shareholder returns. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Mineral reserves declined to 118.2M attributable gold ounces at year?end 2025 versus 134.1M in 2024 management attributes the drop mainly to divestments rather than operating shortfalls. Read More. Mineral reserves declined to 118.2M attributable gold ounces at year?end 2025 versus 134.1M in 2024 management attributes the drop mainly to divestments rather than operating shortfalls. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst framing remains mixed-to-favorable: many firms still rate NEM buy/outperform and Zacks highlights it as a strong growth stock based on style scores, leaving upside potential for longer?term investors. Read More. Analyst framing remains mixed-to-favorable: many firms still rate NEM buy/outperform and Zacks highlights it as a strong growth stock based on style scores, leaving upside potential for longer?term investors. Read More. Negative Sentiment: 2026 guidance disappointed: management forecast ~5.3M oz attributable gold production (below 2025), AISC around ~$1,680/oz and sizable sustaining/development capital spending the softer outlook is the main near?term headwind. Read More. 2026 guidance disappointed: management forecast ~5.3M oz attributable gold production (below 2025), AISC around ~$1,680/oz and sizable sustaining/development capital spending the softer outlook is the main near?term headwind. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Sell?the?news reaction: after the strong quarter, investors focused on the muted 2026 outlook and the stock pulled back as a result. Read More. Sell?the?news reaction: after the strong quarter, investors focused on the muted 2026 outlook and the stock pulled back as a result. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Analyst/pricing moves and insider/institutional flows: BMO trimmed its price target (from $145 to $140) and filings show notable insider sales and large institutional reallocations (some big holders reduced positions), which likely added selling pressure. Read More. Analyst/pricing moves and insider/institutional flows: BMO trimmed its price target (from $145 to $140) and filings show notable insider sales and large institutional reallocations (some big holders reduced positions), which likely added selling pressure. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Median analyst targets and positioning: recent medians/targets (Quiver/other services) show some targets below the current price, reinforcing mixed near?term sentiment. Read More. About Newmont (Free Report) Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) is a leading global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, processing and reclamation of gold properties. The companys core business centers on the production of gold, with additional byproduct metals produced from its operations. Newmont operates a portfolio of long?lived mines and development projects, and its activities span the full mine life cycle from early-stage exploration through to mining, milling and closure. Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Newmont has grown through organic development and strategic acquisitions. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stevens Capital Management LP grew its position in Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF Free Report) by 367.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 24,073 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 18,928 shares during the quarter. Stevens Capital Management LPs holdings in Capital One Financial were worth $5,117,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Solstein Capital LLC purchased a new position in Capital One Financial in the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Roble Belko & Company Inc acquired a new stake in Capital One Financial in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Capital One Financial during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new stake in Capital One Financial in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Capital One Financial during the second quarter valued at $30,000. 89.84% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Capital One Financial alerts: Capital One Financial Trading Up 1.6% NYSE COF opened at $208.36 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 70.39, a PEG ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.14. The firms 50-day moving average is $231.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $223.31. Capital One Financial Corporation has a 12 month low of $143.22 and a 12 month high of $259.64. Capital One Financial Dividend Announcement Capital One Financial ( NYSE:COF Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $3.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.14 by ($0.28). Capital One Financial had a net margin of 3.54% and a return on equity of 10.68%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.67 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 53.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Capital One Financial Corporation will post 15.65 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 19th will be paid a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 19th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.5%. Capital One Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 108.11%. Insider Buying and Selling at Capital One Financial In related news, General Counsel Matthew W. Cooper sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $500,000.00. Following the sale, the general counsel directly owned 92,486 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,121,500. This represents a 2.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Lia Dean sold 3,284 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.68, for a total transaction of $734,565.12. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 70,162 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,693,836.16. This represents a 4.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 34,274 shares of company stock worth $8,131,054. 1.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently commented on COF shares. BTIG Research dropped their target price on Capital One Financial from $308.00 to $270.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Zacks Research cut Capital One Financial from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Capital One Financial from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 31st. Barclays cut their price objective on Capital One Financial from $294.00 to $287.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Capital One Financial from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $274.70. Get Our Latest Analysis on Capital One Financial About Capital One Financial (Free Report) Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) is a diversified bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The companys core businesses include credit card lending, consumer and commercial banking, and auto finance. Capital One issues a wide range of credit card products for consumers and small businesses, and it operates deposit and digital banking services aimed at retail customers and small to midsize enterprises. Products and services include credit and charge cards, checking and savings accounts (including the online-focused Capital One 360 platform), auto loans, and commercial lending solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Capital One Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capital One Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strawberry Fields REIT (NYSEAMERICAN:STRW Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by ($0.17), FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $40.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $40.30 million. Strawberry Fields REIT had a net margin of 4.89% and a return on equity of 10.50%. Strawberry Fields REIT Trading Up 3.0% Shares of NYSEAMERICAN STRW opened at $13.03 on Friday. Strawberry Fields REIT has a 12-month low of $8.70 and a 12-month high of $14.00. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $13.09 and a 200 day moving average of $12.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $170.95 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.36 and a beta of 0.36. Get Strawberry Fields REIT alerts: Strawberry Fields REIT Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Stories Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc, is a self-administered real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, acquisition, development and leasing of skilled nursing and certain other healthcare-related properties. The Company's portfolio includes 109 healthcare facilities with an aggregate of 12,449 bed, located throughout the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The 109 healthcare facilities comprise 99 skilled nursing facilities, eight assisted living facilities, and two long-term acute care hospitals. Receive News & Ratings for Strawberry Fields REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Strawberry Fields REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Friday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.173 per share by the mining company on Friday, March 27th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. AngloGold Ashanti has raised its dividend payment by an average of 0.5%per year over the last three years. AngloGold Ashanti has a dividend payout ratio of 113.8% meaning the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Analysts expect AngloGold Ashanti to earn $4.14 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $3.64 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 87.9%. Get AngloGold Ashanti alerts: AngloGold Ashanti Price Performance Shares of NYSE AU traded up $6.75 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $114.38. 4,872,837 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,037,323. AngloGold Ashanti has a twelve month low of $28.44 and a twelve month high of $115.81. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $97.79 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $79.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 2.58. The company has a market cap of $57.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.19 and a beta of 0.59. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades AngloGold Ashanti ( NYSE:AU Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 20th. The mining company reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.90 by ($0.22). AngloGold Ashanti had a return on equity of 24.01% and a net margin of 26.25%.The business had revenue of $3.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.99 billion. As a group, analysts forecast that AngloGold Ashanti will post 3.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $128.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, December 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned 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 $100.00. Get Our Latest Analysis on AngloGold Ashanti AngloGold Ashanti Company Profile (Get Free Report) AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, production, processing and sale of gold. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the companys core activities span the full mining value chain from greenfield exploration and mine development through to ore processing and rehabilitation. Gold is the primary commodity produced, with individual operations sometimes yielding other by?products depending on local geology and processing methods. The company was formed in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields, creating a diversified international gold producer. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for AngloGold Ashanti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AngloGold Ashanti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ATCO (OTCMKTS:ACLLF Get Free Report) is expected to release its results before the market opens on Thursday, February 26th. Analysts expect ATCO to post earnings of $0.93 per share and revenue of $1.3920 billion for the quarter. ATCO Price Performance Shares of ACLLF traded up $0.72 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $46.72. 335 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,178. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $42.27 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.01. ATCO has a twelve month low of $32.32 and a twelve month high of $46.72. Get ATCO alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of ATCO in a research report on Monday, December 15th. National Bank Financial restated a sector perform rating on shares of ATCO in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Scotiabank reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of ATCO in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating on shares of ATCO in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ATCO has an average rating of Hold. About ATCO (Get Free Report) ATCO Ltd. is a diversified Canadian holding company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with operations spanning structures and logistics, utilities, energy, and retail energy services. Through its Structures & Logistics division, ATCO designs, manufactures and rents modular buildings, workforce housing and specialized structures for industrial, military and commercial clients. Its Utilities business encompasses electricity generation, transmission and distribution, as well as natural gas transmission and distribution networks that serve residential, commercial and industrial customers across multiple regions. In its Energy division, ATCO develops and operates oil sands cold flow projects, power generation facilities and natural gas liquids pipelines, offering integrated solutions to the upstream and midstream sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for ATCO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ATCO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on Thursday with Madagascars interim leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, at the Kremlin, marking one of the colonels first major international engagements since assuming office. Randrianirina has led Madagascar on an interim basis since October, after the former president fled the country amid demonstrations. His visit to Moscow comes weeks after Russia delivered military equipment to the island and dispatched instructors to train Malagasy forces, including on the use of drones. During the meeting, Putin described Madagascar as an important partner in Africa and outlined potential areas for expanded cooperation, including agriculture, geological exploration, energy, healthcare, education and broader humanitarian initiatives. The Russian leader also conveyed condolences over a recent cyclone that struck the island, killing at least 40 people this month. Before departing for Moscow, Randrianirina said he had been invited by the Russian government. Following his visit to Russia, he is expected to travel to France as part of his diplomatic outreach efforts. North American Income Trust (LON:NAIT Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 408 and last traded at GBX 403.50, with a volume of 83447 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 406. North American Income Trust Stock Performance The company has a market cap of 463.53 million, a PE ratio of 13.40 and a beta of 0.66. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 381.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 362.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.54, a current ratio of 12.03 and a quick ratio of 7.40. Get North American Income Trust alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other North American Income Trust news, insider John Adebiyi purchased 117 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 387 per share, for a total transaction of 452.79. 0.99% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About North American Income Trust Leading US companies picked for their higher income potential Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for North American Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North American Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banc of California (NYSE:BANC Get Free Report) and Pacific Alliance Bank (OTCMKTS:PFBN Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends and valuation. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Banc of California and Pacific Alliance Bank, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Banc of California alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banc of California 0 2 9 1 2.92 Pacific Alliance Bank 0 0 0 0 0.00 Banc of California presently has a consensus price target of $20.86, indicating a potential upside of 4.03%. Given Banc of Californias stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Banc of California is more favorable than Pacific Alliance Bank. Volatility and Risk Profitability Banc of California has a beta of 0.72, indicating that its share price is 28% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Pacific Alliance Bank has a beta of 0.17, indicating that its share price is 83% less volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Banc of California and Pacific Alliance Banks net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Banc of California 12.59% 8.66% 0.76% Pacific Alliance Bank N/A N/A N/A Dividends Banc of California pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.0%. Pacific Alliance Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Banc of California pays out 33.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Banc of California and Pacific Alliance Banks revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Banc of California $1.82 billion 1.67 $228.97 million $1.18 17.00 Pacific Alliance Bank $23.57 million 1.16 $1.43 million N/A N/A Banc of California has higher revenue and earnings than Pacific Alliance Bank. Insider & Institutional Ownership 86.9% of Banc of California shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.7% of Banc of California shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Banc of California beats Pacific Alliance Bank on 14 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks. About Banc of California (Get Free Report) Banc of California, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Banc of California that provides various banking products and services in California. The company offers deposit products, such as checking, savings, money market, demand, and time deposits; certificates of deposit; retirement accounts; and safe deposit boxes. It also provides real estate loans to professional developers and real estate investors for the acquisition, construction, refinancing, renovation, and on-going operation of commercial real estate properties; commercial real estate mortgage, residential real estate mortgage, and real estate construction and land loans; commercial loans and leases, such as equipment finance, other asset-based, venture capital, secured business, warehouse, and other lending services; small business administration loans; and consumer loans comprising personal, auto, and other loans, as well as home equity and revolving lines of credit. In addition, the company offers international banking, multi-state deposit, and asset and investment management services, as well as cash and treasury management services; and online, mobile, remote deposit, and telephone banking services. It serves small and middle-market businesses, venture capital firms, non-profit organizations, business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and high-net worth individuals. Banc of California, Inc. was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. About Pacific Alliance Bank (Get Free Report) Pacific Alliance Bank provides commercial and consumer banking products and services for small to midsize business owners, and employees in the United States. It offers checking, money market, savings, and individual retirement accounts; and certificates of deposit. The company also provides mortgage, commercial, term, commercial real estate, construction, and SBA loans; and lines of credit. In addition, it offers personal and business online services; and casher checks, check reorder, night deposit, direct deposit, safe deposit boxes, positive pay/check reconciliation, wire, debit card, and other services. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in San Gabriel, California. Receive News & Ratings for Banc of California Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banc of California and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR Get Free Report) shares shot up 3.8% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $7.27 and last traded at $7.2350. 36,967,774 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 9% from the average session volume of 40,705,980 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.97. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades ACHR has been the subject of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Archer Aviation in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Archer Aviation in a research report on Monday, December 1st. They set a neutral rating and a $11.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Archer Aviation from $10.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 7th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $10.00 target price on shares of Archer Aviation in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on Archer Aviation from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Archer Aviation currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $12.17. Get Archer Aviation alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Archer Aviation Archer Aviation Stock Performance Insiders Place Their Bets The firms 50-day simple moving average is $7.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.96. The company has a current ratio of 18.19, a quick ratio of 18.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.51 billion, a PE ratio of -5.50 and a beta of 3.11. In related news, CTO Thomas Paul Muniz sold 125,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.00, for a total transaction of $1,000,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer directly owned 1,272,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,177,032. The trade was a 8.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 7.65% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Archer Aviation Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. AlphaQuest LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Archer Aviation by 1,181.6% during the second quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 2,576 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 2,375 shares during the period. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Archer Aviation during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust grew its holdings in shares of Archer Aviation by 45.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust now owns 3,136 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 986 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Archer Aviation by 105.3% in the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,318 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 1,702 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Archer Aviation during the third quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 59.34% of the companys stock. Archer Aviation Company Profile (Get Free Report) Archer Aviation, Inc (NYSE: ACHR) is a California-based aerospace company developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed to serve as sustainable urban air mobility solutions. Founded in 2018 by Adam Goldstein and Brett Adcock, Archer focuses on the design, development and certification of zero-emissions air taxis aimed at reducing traffic congestion in densely populated metropolitan areas. The companys flagship prototypes, Maker and Midnight, have been engineered to deliver quiet, efficient short-haul flights with ranges of up to 100 miles per charge. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Archer operates a manufacturing facility in nearby Santa Cruz County and maintains research partnerships with automotive and energy companies, including a collaboration with Stellantis to integrate advanced battery systems. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Archer Aviation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer Aviation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Faraday Copper Corp. (TSE:FDY Get Free Report) rose 2.1% on Thursday . The company traded as high as C$3.50 and last traded at C$3.41. Approximately 777,924 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 26% from the average daily volume of 617,177 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$3.34. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Ventum Financial raised Faraday Copper to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has assigned a Buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Strong Buy and a consensus price target of C$1.50. Get Faraday Copper alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Faraday Copper Faraday Copper Trading Up 23.8% Faraday Copper Company Profile The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$2.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$2.15. The stock has a market capitalization of C$1.07 billion, a PE ratio of -32.46 and a beta of 1.02. (Get Free Report) Faraday Copper is an exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek Project is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with significant district scale exploration potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol FDY. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Faraday Copper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Faraday Copper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Amadeus IT Group (OTCMKTS:AMADY Get Free Report) and Ncc Group (OTCMKTS:NCCGF Get Free Report) are both business services companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations and risk. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Amadeus IT Group and Ncc Groups revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Amadeus IT Group alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Amadeus IT Group $6.65 billion 3.90 $1.36 billion $3.36 17.13 Ncc Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Analyst Ratings Amadeus IT Group has higher revenue and earnings than Ncc Group. This is a summary of current ratings for Amadeus IT Group and Ncc Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Amadeus IT Group 0 2 2 2 3.00 Ncc Group 0 0 0 0 0.00 Volatility & Risk Amadeus IT Group has a beta of 0.77, suggesting that its stock price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ncc Group has a beta of 0.09, suggesting that its stock price is 91% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Amadeus IT Group and Ncc Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Amadeus IT Group 21.10% 27.25% 12.05% Ncc Group N/A N/A N/A Summary Amadeus IT Group beats Ncc Group on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Amadeus IT Group (Get Free Report) Amadeus IT Group, S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a transaction processor for the travel and tourism industry worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Air Distribution, Air IT Solutions, and Hospitality & Other Solutions. The company acts as an international network providing real-time search, pricing, booking, and ticketing services, and other processing solutions through Amadeus GDS, Altea PSS, and New Skies platforms. It also offers travel providers a portfolio of technology solutions, which automate certain mission-critical business processes, such as reservations, inventory management, and departure control. In addition, the company is involved in the provision of software development and definition, software distribution, regional support, data processing, intermediation, computer consulting, installation of industrial machinery and equipment, consultancy and technology development services for payments, and information technology services; financial activities; and e-commerce business. It serves providers of travel products and services, such as airlines, airports, hotels, tour operators, insurance companies, land and sea transport companies, travel sellers and brokers, and travel buyers. The company was formerly known as Amadeus IT Holding, S.A. and changed its name to Amadeus IT Group, S.A. in August 2016. Amadeus IT Group, S.A. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain. About Ncc Group (Get Free Report) NCC Group plc engages in the cyber and software resilience business in the United Kingdom, the Asian-Pacific, North America, and Europe. The company operates in two segments, Cyber Security and Software Resilience. It offers assessment and advisory services, which include risk management, supply chain risk, cloud and infrastructure, application and security software, mobile, managed vulnerability scanning, hardware and embedded systems, and cryptography, as well as calibrator and cyber security review solutions. The company also provides detection and response services, including managed detection and response, incident response, and threat intelligence; compliance services, such as data privacy, government security, and payments; and remediation and big bounty services. In addition, it provides software resilience services, such as cloud software escrow solutions, on-premises software escrow agreements, on-premises software escrow verification, virtual and physical escrow vaults, software security testing, and software risk assessment tools, as well as offers training services to developers and other security teams. The company serves customers in various industries that include finance and professional, transport and manufacturing, public, retail, and energy and utilities, as well as technology, media, telecommunications sectors. NCC Group plc was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Manchester, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Amadeus IT Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amadeus IT Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:CATX Get Free Report) shot up 12.3% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $5.66 and last traded at $5.65. 3,831,322 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 46% from the average session volume of 7,128,467 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.03. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on CATX shares. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $11.00 price objective on shares of Perspective Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. B. Riley Financial lowered their price target on Perspective Therapeutics from $12.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Finally, UBS Group restated a buy rating and set a $7.00 price target (down from $18.00) on shares of Perspective Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have assigned a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $11.50. Get Perspective Therapeutics alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on CATX Perspective Therapeutics Stock Performance Institutional Investors Weigh In On Perspective Therapeutics The businesss fifty day moving average is $3.42 and its 200-day moving average is $3.23. The company has a quick ratio of 8.66, a current ratio of 8.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CATX. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its stake in Perspective Therapeutics by 184.1% in the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 8,449 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 5,475 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Perspective Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at about $46,000. Ground Swell Capital LLC bought a new stake in Perspective Therapeutics during the second quarter worth approximately $56,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Perspective Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at approximately $61,000. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its stake in shares of Perspective Therapeutics by 81.8% in the 3rd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 29,275 shares of the companys stock valued at $100,000 after purchasing an additional 13,168 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 54.66% of the companys stock. About Perspective Therapeutics (Get Free Report) Perspective Therapeutics, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops precision-targeted alpha therapies (TAT) for oncology that treats cancer patients across multiple tumor types comprising metastatic disease. The company discovers, designs, and develop its initial programs candidates consists of VMT-a-NET, that is currently in Phase 1/2a clinical trials for patients with unresectable or metastatic somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) expressing tumors that have not previously received peptide-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy, such as Lutathera, a beta-emitting therapy; and VMT01, which is currently in Phase 1/2a clinical trials for second-line or later treatment of patients with progressive melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) positive metastatic melanoma. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Perspective Therapeutics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Perspective Therapeutics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Kansas City Life Insurance Co. (OTCMKTS:KCLI Get Free Report) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $32.72 and traded as low as $31.36. Kansas City Life Insurance shares last traded at $32.45, with a volume of 747 shares. Kansas City Life Insurance Stock Up 0.8% The businesss fifty day moving average is $32.84 and its 200-day moving average is $32.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $316.63 million, a PE ratio of -8.89 and a beta of 0.46. Get Kansas City Life Insurance alerts: Kansas City Life Insurance Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kansas City Life Insurance Company, trading under the symbol KCLI, is a publicly held life insurer founded in 1895 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. With more than a century of operations, the company has established itself as a provider of life insurance and retirement products across the United States. The companys core offerings include individual life insurance policiesterm life, universal life and whole lifeas well as fixed annuities designed to help clients build and preserve wealth. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Kansas City Life Insurance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kansas City Life Insurance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Kuehne & Nagel International Ag (OTCMKTS:KHNGY Get Free Report) passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $45.19 and traded as high as $45.58. Kuehne & Nagel International shares last traded at $45.58, with a volume of 6,610 shares. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently weighed in on KHNGY. Zacks Research raised shares of Kuehne & Nagel International from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, November 27th. Citigroup reaffirmed a sell rating on shares of Kuehne & Nagel International in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Kuehne & Nagel International in a report on Thursday, January 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Kuehne & Nagel International from a strong sell rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an underweight rating on shares of Kuehne & Nagel International in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Reduce. Get Kuehne & Nagel International alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on KHNGY Kuehne & Nagel International Price Performance About Kuehne & Nagel International The stock has a 50 day moving average of $45.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.88. (Get Free Report) Kuehne & Nagel International is a global logistics company that provides a wide range of transportation and supply chain services. Its core activities include sea freight and airfreight forwarding, contract logistics and warehousing, as well as overland (road and rail) transportation. The company also offers integrated supply chain management, customs brokerage and value-added services that support complex logistics requirements for shippers and manufacturers. Founded in 1890 by August Kuhne and Friedrich Nagel, Kuehne & Nagel has grown into a multinational logistics provider with a long history in freight forwarding and transport services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kuehne & Nagel International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kuehne & Nagel International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A Kenyan intelligence report presented to Parliament on Wednesday alleges that 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine after being misled with false promises of employment in Russia. Parliamentary leader Kimani Ichungwah told lawmakers the National Intelligence Service found that recruitment agencies, allegedly in collusion with officials at the Russian Embassy in Nairobi, issued tourist visas to Kenyans under the guise of skilled job opportunities. According to the report, 89 Kenyans are currently on the front line, 39 have been hospitalised, 28 are missing in action, at least one has been confirmed dead, and others have since returned home. The Russian Embassy in Nairobi, however, denied the allegations in a statement on Thursday, saying it had not issued visas to individuals intending to fight in Ukraine. It added that Russia does not prevent foreign nationals from voluntarily enlisting in its armed forces. Ichungwah warned that any Kenyan officials at the countrys embassy in Moscow found to have collaborated in the alleged scheme would be held accountable. In recent weeks, dozens of families have appealed to the government to secure the return of relatives reportedly stranded in Russia, with claims that some were forced to fight while others are being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine. Returnees have described signing contracts written in Russian and being deployed to combat zones with little or no military training after being promised jobs such as electricians and plumbers. Kenyas Foreign ministry had earlier acknowledged the issue and cautioned citizens against dubious overseas recruitment offers. Two recruiters were arrested last year and later released on bail pending trial. A student from Gaza has described how leaving her family to come to Ireland was the hardest decision of my entire life. Ghada Ashour, a speaker at Saturdays National March for Palestine in Dublin, told the Press Association she left Khan Younis last September to study for a masters degree in Ireland. She said her family has been devastated by the war, adding: Not only were our houses levelled down to the ground but also we lost many family members, most importantly, my brother, who was killed almost two years ago. Her decision to leave was a difficult one but she said she faced two options: one to risk my life, risk my future in Gaza or the other to leave my family, to leave them in tents, leaving everything behind. The brilliant speakers and performers for our National March for Palestine tomorrow. Bring yourself, your friends and family, your solidarity and noise. Join us at the Garden of Remembrance, 1pm. All out! #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/k9Rte6oKqM IPSC (@ipsc48) February 20, 2026 She said: So honestly, I had to make the hardest decision of my entire life, which was leaving my family behind. And while I was leaving them, I was saying goodbye and I didnt know when Ill be able to see them again. She was one of thousands who marched through Dublin city centre on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which organised the march, said this is the 19th National March for Palestine which has taken place since October 2023. Also waiting to address the crowd was Rula Nasr-Mazzawi, an activist, who travelled from Nazareth to speak at the demonstration. She said: Its very important to me to tell you that people back home in Palestine, they follow what you guys do here in Ireland, and we always feel stronger. People feel stronger when they see your demonstrations, its just a feeling that we are not alone, that people in Gaza are not alone, and this is very important. People follow each and every demonstration, and they feel stronger, and they feel proud, and they feel that there is somebody who sees them. The IPSC said more than 170 Irish civil society groups support its campaign and there were representatives from a variety of organisations from across the island in attendance. Raymond Carroll travelled to Dublin with the Newry branch of the IPSC to take part because he said he cant just sit back and watch what is happening, adding: Governments are sitting back and watching and doing nothing about this. He said: Being from the north of Ireland, we have gone through a similar situation, not nearly as bad as the Palestinian people, so obviously were going to have empathy with them. A recent warning about protesters & activists messing with the feds sparks an important question about the local discourse . . . IS KANSAS CITY ANTI-ICE FERVOR RISKING DANGEROUS CONFRONTATION WITH FEDS?!? This is something for local plebs to think about because bad outcomes can happen in a matter of seconds and HONESTLY . . . On both sides of the equation, we don't want to see anybody hurt because of misguided good intentions. And so . . . This warning message is important for locals to understand as the weather gets nicer and the mass deportation agenda is likely to ramp up . . . Check-it: U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser issued a statement Friday saying he's "concerned" about incidents involving individuals threatening federal agents, or using their vehicles to aggressively "chase or interfere with federal agents engaged in their official duties." Kriegshauser said his office supports and protects freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest, but that those protests must be carried out in a responsible, legal manner. "Interfering with federal agents who are carrying out their duties can be charged by our office, depending on the conduct," Kriesghauser wrote. "Making threats against federal officials can be charged by our office, depending on the conduct. Individuals engaged in these activities should be aware that they are subject to prosecution in federal court." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Officials issue statement after video showing ICE arrest in Olathe, Kansas The U.S. Attorney's Office wants the public to know the difference between legal protest and criminal behavior. Kansas Feds: Chasing ICE agents with your car could land you in federal prison Kansas federal prosecutors say chasing ICE agents with your car could land you in federal prison. Developing . . . BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 21. The Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and the Deputy Minister of Defense Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Namig Islamzade, inspected the service and combat activities of the air defense military unit, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense. At the military unit's command post, the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, was reported on the fulfillment of assigned service tasks and the current situation. The Ministrys leadership observed the conduct of specialized training sessions. The personnels level of professionalism, their ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, as well as their skills in the proper use of weapons and equipment, were highly commended. Colonel General Zakir Hasanov gave relevant instructions to the air combat command to ensure the in-depth study of the tactical and technical characteristics of modern weapons and equipment recently introduced into the armament of the air defense units during training and exercises, to master their effective employment in combat conditions, and to enhance personnels skills in their proper and safe use. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.21. Initial normalization steps between Azerbaijan and Armenia have led to improvements in regional connectivity, Trend reports via the S&P Global Ratings. Progress in negotiations with Azerbaijan could reduce near-term security risks, although the prospect of a durable peace agreement still depends on signing a binding agreement and its effective implementation, reads the report. On Feb. 20, 2026, S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook on Armenia to positive from stable. The revision of the outlook to positive reflects our view that there is the potential for improvement in regional geopolitical and security dynamics, specifically further progress toward normalizing diplomatic and trade relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the report says. S&P Global Ratings analysts note that negotiations between the two countries have focused on a comprehensive peace framework centered on mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity, border delimitation, and the establishment of diplomatic relations. The August 2025 U.S.-brokered agreement marked an important political milestone, signaling commitment at the leadership level and helping to stabilize the security environment. Initial normalization steps have led to modest improvements in regional connectivity and trade, alongside an ongoing Armenia-Turkiye normalization process aimed at reopening borders and establishing diplomatic relations. Our base-line expectation is for broad political continuity after the June elections, with the new government continuing to focus on reaching a full peace agreement with Azerbaijan, says S&P. 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 21. "The action plan for ensuring the efficient use of water resources in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2026-2030" has been approved, Trend reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree. The decree was adopted with the aim of ensuring the efficient use of water resources in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, improving infrastructure in this area, and further improving the supply of drinking water and irrigation water. According to the document, the commission, established by decree No. 1986 of the President of Azerbaijan dated April 15, 2020, "On measures to ensure the efficient use of water resources," must: determine the list of projects to be implemented under the measures envisaged in Part 1 of the action plan, based on the proposals of the authorized representation of the President of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic within one month; resolve issues of coordination of the measures envisaged in the action plan. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan and the authorized representation of the President of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic must resolve the issues arising from this decree. The Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency shall inform the President of Azerbaijan once a year about the progress of the implementation of the measures envisaged in the action plan. The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic must take the necessary measures, as appropriate, to finance the measures envisaged in the action plan in the current year and in the following years. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 21. A building that is impossible to pass by without being impressed rises in the heart of old Baku, on the quiet Murtuza Mukhtarov Street. Today, it houses the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan, but this building is much more than just an administrative address. It's one of the most striking architectural buildings of the oil boom era at the turn of the 20th century the former mansion of Aghabala Guliyev, a millionaire, patron of the arts, and philanthropist. The late 19th century transformed Baku into one of the wealthiest cities in the region. Oil magnates competed not only in industrial scale but also in architectural splendor, inviting the finest European architects. In 1899, entrepreneur Aghabala Guliyev, known as the "Flour King," conceived the idea of building a mansion that would reflect national identity while simultaneously meeting European standards of representativeness. The project was entrusted to architectEugeniusz Skibinski, and the result was truly unique. The interiors of this luxurious home were designed by the artist Durov, imbuing them with a unique artistic expression. Trend presents a photo report by Arif Guluzade, a story about the life of a man and the architectural masterpiece he created. Before describing the building, it's worth saying a few words about Aghabala Guliyev himself. He was born in 1862 to a poor family in the Keshla settlement of Baku. From an early age, he helped his parents by selling the qutabs (traditional Azerbaijani dish made from thinly rolled dough) baked by his mother, thereby supporting the family budget. As he grew older, he began trading flour and grain, then built a mill. Over time, his business expanded significantly: Guliyev became the owner of flour mills and rice refineries throughout the Caucasus, North Asia, and Stavropol, earning him the nickname "the flour king". He was repeatedly elected to the Baku City Duma. His name is also associated with a dramatic chapter in history: facilitating the escape of a group of Turkish officers and prisoners of war from Nargin island in 1915, where they were held in harsh conditions during the Russian-Turkish standoff. After the revolution, traces of the entrepreneur vanished: neither the date of his death nor the fate of his children are known. Time has preserved only the mansion, a silent monument to a prominent Baku family. The personality of architect Skibinski is also very interesting. A native of Shamakhi (1858), a graduate of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, and a teacher at the Baku Technical School, he was distinguished by his reliance on the local medieval architectural traditions of Baku and Absheron. The Guliyev Mansion was his first significant project and was influenced by the architecture of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs in Icherisheher. Skibinski was virtually the only architect of the pre-revolutionary period to work in the so-called "Baku style," drawing not on fashionable Eastern or European motifs, but on the heritage of the old city. This two-story corner building had a significant influence on the development of the national romantic movement in Baku architecture. Despite the narrowness of the street, the three-dimensional sculpture of the facade gives the building a special expressiveness. Under the influence of this design, Nikolaevskaya (now Istiglaliyyat) street was laid out between 1898 and 1901. The first thing that catches the eye is the facade, facing three streets and built along a symmetrical axial composition. It seems to tell a story in stone: carved arches, delicate stone sculpture, and exquisite ornamentation. The rusticated surfaces are richly adorned with decorative elements. The imitation of mihrab (a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla) with skillfully crafted stalactites in the massive corner projections creates a dramatic play of light and shadow. The horseshoe-shaped window openings, framed by floral and geometric patterns, are a real eye-catcher. The cornice between floors is decorated with an elegant floral motif, while modillions in the shape of miniature stalactites support the crowning cornice, emphasizing the integrity of the composition. The light Baku stone lends the building a soft and noble air, and the meticulous attention to detail creates the feeling that this is not just a city house, but an oriental palace, seamlessly integrated into the modernizing city of the early 20th century. The grand staircase is decorated with carved railings and painted ceilings, while the marble stairwells and interiors of the halls boast a rich and thoughtful architectural design. Today, the mansion continues to function. Exhibitions, professional meetings, and project presentations are held within its walls. The atmosphere here is unique: the walls, which recalled the merchant's grandeur, now witness discussions about contemporary architecture and the future of cities. The interiors have partially preserved historical elementsstucco moldings and high ceilings, spacious halls with antique furniture and wood carvings, paintings on the walls, original patterned compositions, and photos of famous architects of the country. This is not only a monument of national architecture, but also a living space where past and present are in constant dialogue. The editorial staff of Trend News Agency expresses gratitude to the Chairman of the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan, to the Honored Architect Elbay Gasimzade, for assistance in organizing the photo report. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 21. Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates discussed further expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the chambers of commerce of the two countries, Trend reports via the Embassy of Turkmenistan in UAE. The talks were held during a meeting between Turkmenistans Ambassador to the UAE, Bayram Bayramov, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, and Secretary General of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Humaid Ben Salem. The sides positively assessed the outcomes of the Second TurkmenistanUAE Business Forum, held in Sharjah on October 2, 2025. Particular attention was paid to the initiative to organize the third forum in Ashgabat in the first half of 2026, possibly in parallel with major international exhibitions such as Turkmentravel 2026, Agro Pack Turkmenistan 2026, or Turkmentextile Expo 2026. The parties also discussed the participation of Turkmen companies in the Hive Furniture Show 2026 at the Sharjah Expo Centre. In addition, the importance of signing a memorandum of understanding between the chambers was emphasized as a step toward institutionalizing cooperation and promoting joint projects. Earlier, in late 2025, UAE Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ahmet Al-Khay Khamad Al-Hammeli expressed his countrys willingness to double the trade turnover between the two countries in the coming years. The non-oil trade nexus between Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attained a substantial valuation of $1.8 billion in the fiscal year 2024, reflecting a remarkable 75% escalation relative to the preceding year, 2023. The UAE occupies a prominent position within Turkmenistan's trading ecosystem, securing the third spot in the initial three quarters of 2025. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 21. Turkmenistan intends to expand the economic cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said Muhammetgeldi Ayazov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Saudi Arabia, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA. The statement was made during the official ceremony of presenting credentials at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah as Ayazov assumed the post of Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the organization. OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, receiving the credentials, underscored Turkmenistans constructive role in the Islamic world. The sides also highlighted the importance of preventive diplomacy and expressed confidence that Turkmenistans active participation would further enhance dialogue and practical cooperation with the OIC amid the current international environment. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 21. The current investment portfolio between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan includes around 30 projects with a total value of $3.4 billion, Trade and Economic Adviser to the Ambassador of Uzbekistan Sanjar Makhmudov told Trend on the sidelines of the roundtable titled UzbekistanAzerbaijan: Architecture of Allied Cooperation. We have made significant progress in shaping a new package of projects worth approximately $10 billion. It is currently at the coordination stage, he noted. According to Makhmudov, the future package will cover a broad range of sectors, including virtually all areas of the economy and industrial cooperation. We aim to expand textile exports to Azerbaijan. This year, we intend to increase supplies to $50 million, compared to about $30 million last year, he said. The diplomat also announced plans to open a new trade house for agricultural products, which will showcase goods from Uzbek producers. Another project involves the establishment of a construction materials trade house in Aghdam, Makhmudov added. He emphasized that, at the initial stage, the trade house will feature furniture, electrical equipment, and construction materials, with plans to develop industrial cooperation on this platform in the future. Speaking about the transport dimension, Makhmudov underlined the strategic objective of building Uzbekistans own transport infrastructure on the Caspian Sea. Our key goal is to acquire our own vessel for operations on the Caspian Sea. We are actively engaging with the Baku Shipyard regarding a potential purchase, he said. According to him, the launch of an Uzbek fleet within the next one to two years could provide a significant boost to cargo transportation and strengthen the transit potential of both countries. The project is currently at the final stage of elaboration, Makhmudov concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel New satellite images strengthen allegations that Iran is reinforcing an underground facility in its nuclear site amid ongoing tensions as the US and Iran continue talks on a nuclear programme deal agreement. The images showed bolstered tunnel entryways at Mount Kolang Gaz La, or Pickaxe Mountain. They were analysed by The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), and according to experts, this underground facility may be intended to shield Iran's uranium enrichment operations. Its exact function is still unknown, per BBC. Iran argued it was not attempting to develop nuclear weapons, but US President Donald Trump said in 2025 that Iran was close to building a nuclear weapon and launched attacks on three underground nuclear facilities. Trump said the attacks had completely destroyed Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity, but said Iranian officials were looking to build a new site. New Questions Raised The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Washington office Deputy Director Alireza Jafarzadeh said the satellite images are also an indication that Iran is advancing its efforts to rebuild its uranium enrichment capacity, which is worth $2 trillion (1.5 trillion). According to a statement given by Jafarzadeh to Fox News Digital, 'The regime has clearly stepped up efforts to rebuild its uranium enrichment capabilities. It is preparing itself for a possible war by trying to preserve its nuclear weapons program and ensure its protection.' Jafarzadeh added, 'That said, the ongoing rebuilding of Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities is particularly alarming as the regime is now engaged in nuclear talks with the United States.' Satellite Images Reveal Iran Fortifying Sensitive Military and Nuclear Sites After 2024 Strikes Newly released satellite imagery indicates that Iran has constructed a reinforced concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site, later covering it with soil, pic.twitter.com/JSXf2XTMND West Asia Watch (@WestAsiaWatch) February 20, 2026 The satellite images show the reconstruction happening at the Isfahan complex, one of Iran's three uranium enrichment plants attacked during 'Midnight Hammer,' a US military operation. Other facilities attacked were Fordow and Natanz. Jafarzadeh also noted that, as similar rebuilding activities seem to also be happening at the Natanz facility, 'These efforts in Isfahan involve rebuilding its centrifuge program and other activities related to uranium enrichment.' The recently highlighted activity of allegedly fortifying a nuclear complex came as Iran joined negotiations with the United States in Geneva. On 17 February 2026, the United States and Iran agreed on 'guiding principles' as the nations address their nuclear dispute, though Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi cautioned that the deal is not yet imminent, per Reuters. Preparing for War - Or Political Leverage? US President Donald Trump warned Iran that refusal to make a deal would result in 'bad things.' While negotiations were intended to scale Iran's nuclear program back for sanctions relief, Jafarzadeh says that the regime merely looks at these talks as a way to buy more time. Jafarzadeh said, 'Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei agreed to the nuclear talks as it would give the regime crucial time to avoid or limit the consequences of confrontation with the West.' He said the regime's at least $2 trillion (1.49 trillion) budget on nuclear capabilities is 'higher than the entire oil revenue generated since the regime came to power in Iran in 1979.' Satellite Images Reveal Iran Fortifying Sensitive Military and Nuclear Sites After 2024 Strikes Newly released satellite imagery indicates that Iran has constructed a reinforced concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site, later covering it with soil, pic.twitter.com/JSXf2XTMND West Asia Watch (@WestAsiaWatch) February 20, 2026 'Tehran is trying to salvage whatever has remained of its nuclear weapons program and quickly rebuild it," he said. "It has heavily invested in the nuclear weapons program as a key tool for the survival of the regime,' Jafarzadeh said. Originally published on IBTimes UK Zimbabwes health authorities, on Thursday, began administering the long-acting HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, positioning the country among the first globally to roll out the injectable treatment as it intensifies efforts to reduce new infections. Despite progress over the past decade, Zimbabwe remains one of the countries with the highest HIV burden in Africa, though new infections have declined significantly due to expanded prevention, testing and treatment programmes. Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora announced that the programme, funded by the United States and the Global Fund, will initially target more than 46,000 high-risk individuals across 24 sites nationwide. He described the launch as a significant milestone in Zimbabwes strategy to end AIDS as a public health threat. The country received its first batch of lenacapavir earlier this month, with some early adopters already injected. The nationwide rollout will be implemented in phases. Developed by Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir is administered as a subcutaneous injection twice a year. Health officials say the long-acting formulation addresses adherence challenges linked to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills. Zimbabwe has recorded notable progress in combating HIV, achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression. Community leader Melody Dengu from Epworth in Harare confirmed she had received the injection earlier this month and has encouraged others to follow suit. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 21. The State Concern Turkmennebit has been authorized to procure machinery and equipment, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen government. The corresponding resolution was signed by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on February 20. The procurement is intended to further strengthen the material and technical base of the countrys fuel and energy complex and support the implementation of sectoral objectives. In January, Turkmenistan decided to modernize the Turkmenbashi oil processing complex, including the Kenar oil storage and loading enterprise. The decision was approved by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov during a Cabinet meeting on January 16. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: The embassy of Turkmenistan in UAE ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 21. Turkmenistan and Seychelles reviewed the current state and future prospects of bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, Trend reports. The discussion was held at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the United Arab Emirates during a meeting between Ambassador of Turkmenistan Bayram Bayramov and Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to the UAE Gervais Moumou. The parties reviewed the tourism sector, including visa procedures and opportunities to increase tourist exchanges. The Seychelles side noted favorable visa conditions for Turkmen citizens, while both sides expressed readiness to expand cooperation between tourism institutions. They also supported establishing ties between the chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 21. Uzbekistan and Turkiyes DoCotton Group discussed further development of the countrys textile industry and measures to enhance the global competitiveness of Uzbek textile products, Trend reports via the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan. The issue was addressed during a meeting between Uzbekistans Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov and Mehmet Dogan, Chairman of the Board of DoCotton Group. The parties reviewed prospects for establishing internationally recognized textile brands, expanding the value-added chain, and increasing production of high-quality yarn and fabrics through deeper processing of cotton. Particular attention was paid to cooperation aimed at improving efficiency in cotton cultivation, introducing modern agricultural technologies, strengthening the seed production system, and improving seed quality. In this context, the sides emphasized the importance of expanding research in seed development and applying innovative approaches to boost productivity and enhance product quality. The Uzbek textile industry is growing rapidly, turning raw materials like cotton, silk, and wool into finished clothing after ending raw cotton exports in 2017. This transition toward high-value processing has increased production fivefold and exports fourfold, with over 7,000 factories serving foreign markets, including LC Waikiki. Vertically integrated cotton-textile clusters produce items and employ over 500,000 people. Major modernization efforts have eliminated child and forced labor, assuring sustainability and global norms. Government efforts to increase domestic raw material processing promote Uztextileprom's industry development, event organization, and production efficiency. DoCotton Group is an international company headquartered in Turkiye and recognized as a leading player in cotton cultivation, textile raw material supply, and processing. The company operates across the full textile value chain, from cotton production and processing to delivery to global markets. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 21.The next EU-Central Asia Summit is scheduled for 2027, a source at the European Commission told Trend. The EU regularly engages with Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries through both bilateral and regional formats, the source said. According to the EU representative, high-level contacts take place throughout the year, including meetings of the Cooperation Council chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as well as thematic sub-committees covering development, trade, justice and human rights. The annual EUCentral Asia Ministerial Meeting serves as a key forum for advancing regional cooperation. In 2025, the first EUCentral Asia Summit was held in Samarkand, marking an important step in elevating relations to a strategic partnership, the source added. The representative added that against this backdrop of intensified political dialogue, Uzbekistan has emerged as a central partner in strengthening regional connectivity. In 2025, Uzbekistan co-hosted the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and Connectivity Investors Forum in Tashkent, bringing together governments, financial institutions and private investors to coordinate infrastructure development, the official said. The source recalled that several agreements were signed during the forum to improve trade routes and identify priority investment projects along the corridor. Uzbekistan is directly involved in projects such as the BeyneuSaksaulsk Road and the UchkudukKyzylorda transport link, which aim to enhance cross-border connectivity and stimulate economic activity, the official noted. Beyond physical infrastructure, cooperation also extends into digital transformation. The EU is currently working with Uzbekistan on two major initiatives focused on transport efficiency and digital connectivity. The Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor is designed to reduce transit time between Europe and Asia to around 15 days, the official explained, adding that the route is expected to streamline logistics and reinforce regional economic integration. New European investments were announced in November to accelerate its development" he said. He noted that in parallel, the EU is supporting the Satellite Connectivity for Remote Areas initiative, aimed at expanding high-speed internet access to underserved communities across Central Asia. "This effort is expected to improve access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities" the official said. According to the commission, these initiatives form part of the EUs broader Global Gateway strategy, which prioritizes sustainable infrastructure and digital development while strengthening trade links. Through the Team Europe approach, EU institutions, member states, development banks and private companies coordinate efforts to maximize tangible impact on the ground, the official concluded. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Kazakhstan's exports of crude oil and petroleum products to Switzerland decline Photo: KazMunayGas Kazakhstans crude oil and petroleum product exports to Switzerland took a hit in both volume and value in 2025, even though the global export scene was on the upswing. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Photo: Press Service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 21. Kyrgyzstan and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) discussed priorities for further cooperation, Trend reports via the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan. The issues were considered during a meeting between Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Edil Baisalov and Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek Volker Frobarth. During the meeting, the parties discussed cooperation in areas including combating corruption and organized crime, digitalization of public administration, as well as reforms of the judicial and law enforcement systems. Baisalov congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and wished him success in his work. He noted that the Kyrgyz Republic views the OSCE as an important platform for equal and mutually respectful dialogue on security and cooperation, reaffirming the countrys commitment to democratic principles, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights and freedoms. The parties also discussed the further development of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, including its institutional framework and the resolution of tax-related matters. At the end of the meeting, both sides confirmed their mutual readiness to continue strengthening constructive cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the OSCE. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 21. Over the past year, the European Union has been compelled to develop its own policies in response to the growing global instability. Economic and geopolitical trends are placing increasing strain on Europes internal markets and external relations, while the priorities of the EU and the U.S. in areas such as trade, investment, and foreign policy are diverging, creating new challenges for transatlantic relations. In this evolving context, European leaders are increasingly emphasizing the importance of strategic autonomy and enhancing the EUs independence. In her address to the European Parliament in January 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the necessity for Europe to establish its own levers of influence, including a robust economy, a unified single market, and genuine defense capabilities. This stance underscores Brussels commitment to strengthening decision-making autonomy and diversifying partnerships to mitigate external risks. Due to global political and economic instability, the Eurozone economy is projected to slow down in 2025-2027 compared to global growth rates. According to the IMFs January update of the World Economic Outlook 2026, Eurozone GDP growth amounted to 1.4% in 2025, is expected to be 1.3% in 2026, and recover to 1.4% in 2027. These growth rates differ from the global trend, with world GDP projected at 3.3% in both 2025 and 2026. Amid the economic slowdown in the Eurozone, the European Union is increasingly prioritizing its trade and investment relations with China. A press release issued after the 25th EU-China Summit, held in Beijing on July 24, 2025, underscored Brussels' commitment to deepening cooperation with China, focusing on fostering a "balanced and mutually beneficial economic relationship grounded in fairness and reciprocity," and achieving tangible progress in areas of shared interest. As the EU works to diversify traditional maritime trade routes, the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), linking China, Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Europe, is gaining significance. While political dialogue with Kazakhstan continues to progress, EU initiatives concerning Turkmenistan are beginning to take on more concrete form. Turkmenistans strategic location, nestled between Uzbekistan, Iran, and the Caspian Sea, positions it as a key player in integrating Eurasian supply chains and enhancing connectivity between Central Asia and European markets. At the same time, Turkmenistan is actively developing its transport infrastructure, including the modernization of railways and highways, as well as expanding the capacities of the Turkmenbashi seaport on the Caspian. The port serves as a key logistics hub, handling container and general cargo traffic towards Azerbaijan and onward through the South Caucasus to Europe. Notably, in February, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov established the Ministry of Automobile Roads on the basis of the former State Agency for Road Construction Management. The ministry was created to modernize the countrys road infrastructure and enhance the efficiency of the transport system. Since the beginning of 2026, a series of meetings has been held involving high-ranking officials of both the EU and its individual member states. In February alone, more than ten joint events with Turkmenistan took place. Notable examples include the meeting of representatives of five Central Asian countries with the German government under the Z5+1 initiative in Berlin on February 11, a joint briefing on Turkmenistan-EU cooperation held on February 17 in Ashgabat, and increasingly frequent meetings of Turkmenistans Ambassador to Brussels, Sapar Palvanov, with European officials, during which he emphasized that developing ties with the EU remains a priority of the countrys foreign policy in 2026. Additionally, a Turkmenistan-European Union business forum is scheduled to take place in Ashgabat on March 26, 2026. Thus, against the backdrop of the EUs efforts to diversify external economic ties and strengthen strategic autonomy, Turkmenistan is gradually gaining a more prominent role in Brussels regional partnership configuration. The development of the Trans-Caspian route, the modernization of Turkmenistans transport infrastructure, and the strengthening of political dialogue are collectively creating a favorable environment for expanding practical cooperation between Ashgabat and the EU. This includes initiatives in trade and investment, particularly those linked to China. These efforts reflect the broader transformation of Europes external economic priorities in response to the shifting geopolitical and economic landscape. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 21. Iran and Qatar exchanged views on the latest status of the indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S., Trend reports via the Iranian Foreign Ministry. A phone conversation took place between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. During the conversation, the ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues. The parties emphasized the significance of ongoing consultations and collaboration to further the course of diplomacy within the context of regional cooperation. This year, two rounds of indirect talks were held between Iran and the U.S. regarding the nuclear program. The talks were facilitated by Oman. The Iranian delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, while the U.S. delegation was led by Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the U.S. president's son-in-law. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel What began as a late-night quarrel at IIT Bombay has snowballed into a serious security scare after five live 7.65mm cartridges were recovered from a students room. The incident unfolded in the early hours of February 19, when the institutes Quick Response Team rushed to Hostel No 1 following reports of a money-related dispute between two students. A security personnel identified them as a first-year BTech student staying in Room No 93, and another student from Room No 89. Though the situation was quickly brought under control, security staff allegedly detected the smell of alcohol on the student from room No 93 and his friend, identified as Apurv Mishra. Since alcohol is strictly banned on the campus and hostel, the security personnel carried out a search of the rooms. The search took a serious turn when a black bag inside Room No 93 was checked revealing five live cartridges marked KF 7.65, estimated to be worth about Rs 3,500. During questioning, the student from Room No 93 claimed the bag belonged to his friend Mishra, who stayed in Room No 115 of the same hostel. When Mishra was interrogated, investigators were led to one Sarvottam Anand Satishchandra Chaudhary, 23, a resident of Samastipur in Bihar. Mishra allegedly told the security officials that Chaudhary had visited the campus on February 12 and left the cartridges behind. Police were alerted, and when Chaudhary returned to the campus again on February 19, he was detained for questioning. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to purchasing the cartridges from Munger in Bihar, officials said. A security personnel of IIT-B, Amod Ramdas Karanje, 49, who was on night duty, later handed over the recovered ammunition at the Powai Police Station, following which an FIR was registered against Chaudhary for illegal possession and transportation of ammunition. The police arrested Chaudhary on Friday, and a court remanded him to two days custody. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 10) Datta Nalawade confirmed the arrest. Interestingly, during preliminary inquiry, Mishra told the police he had kept the cartridges only to show them off to fellow students and friends. While the student has not been arrested, the police said his role is being verified. Investigators are now probing actually why live ammunition was brought onto the campus and into the hostel room, whether there was any criminal intent, and if the case points to a larger illegal arms supply chain. Despite attempts to reach the IIT-B authorities, there was no response from them till the time going to the press. The GW Ranch project, approved on 8,000 windswept acres of West Texas, will look like many of the other data centres that have sprung up across the country to support Silicon Valleys ambitions for artificial intelligence. Dozens of aeroplane-hangar-size warehouses packed with computing hardware will consume more power than all of Chicago. But its missing one standard feature. The mammoth project, recently green-lit by state environmental regulators, wont need new transmission lines. GW Ranch will be walled off from the power grid and generate its own electricity from natural gas and solar plants installed on site. It is set to become part of a shadow power grid emerging across the country with far-reaching consequences for the US electricity system and environment. A private power build-out After rapid data centre growth triggered pushback from politicians, utilities and residents over grid pressures, tech companies began building private power plants, mostly fueled by natural gas. Dozens of sprawling off-grid projects are planned across Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Utah, Ohio and Tennessee, according to energy research firm Cleanview. Several are already under construction. Companies pursuing the facilities include Meta, OpenAI, Oracle and Chevron. The approved projects could collectively generate electricity comparable to multiple New York Cities, creating vast new industrial infrastructure while increasing carbon emissions and other air pollutants. Some states have passed laws encouraging off-grid data centres by loosening rules on who can build power plants and where. The projects have sparked alarm in communities from El Paso to Davis, West Virginia, where residents say gas plants large enough to power major cities are appearing in unexpected places. This came out of nowhere, said Amy Margolies, who is fighting an off-grid data centre planned near Davis. The project was permitted to operate a gas plant capable of generating electricity roughly equivalent to the power used by every home in West Virginia. It is moving forward under a 2025 state law easing approvals. Climate and reliability concerns Taking data centres off-grid is the latest strategy in the tech industrys search for power. Companies have explored reviving nuclear plants and investing in advanced reactors and fusion. But most near-term investments are in natural gas, raising concerns about climate goals. Billions of dollars are being invested even as key engineering challenges remain unresolved, according to veteran developers. Most projects rely on natural gas because variable solar and wind output is difficult to manage without grid backup. Yet the most efficient gas turbines are back-ordered for years, forcing developers to use less efficient equipment. It is catastrophic for climate goals, said Michael Thomas, founder of Cleanview, which has identified dozens of behind-the-meter projects nationwide. Others warn that the projects may struggle with reliability. Gas plants typically shut down periodically for maintenance, while data centres operate around the clock. I get that cost is no object for these companies, and they just want to get online, said Jigar Shah, a former federal clean energy official. But they have not figured out, even with unlimited funds, how to make these plants run with 24/7 reliability. He added that competition for turbines and equipment could raise prices for traditional utilities and leave other customers bearing grid maintenance costs. Developers say backup systems can keep data centres running. President Donald Trump and White House officials have argued that loosening regulations on power generation will increase supply and shield consumers from higher rates. Racing the grid Kevin Pratt, chief operating officer of Pacifico Energy, which is building GW Ranch, said utilities could not provide sufficient power quickly enough. We were hearing, We want you to build these projects, but the utility cant give us the power we need. What can you do? The off-grid approach gained attention after Elon Musks company xAI launched a Memphis data centre in 2024 in months rather than years, partly by using portable gas generators instead of waiting for grid connections. The Environmental Protection Agency later ruled the setup violated emissions rules and required permits. Still, industry officials say the move signalled that companies unwilling to wait for grid upgrades risked falling behind in the AI race. The effects are reverberating in places like Tucker County, West Virginia, where residents learned through a newspaper notice that developer Fundamental Data planned a massive off-grid data centre and gas plant near Davis. Under the states 2025 law, local officials have limited authority over such projects. Fundamental Data received an environmental permit despite objections from nearby communities. The company declined to detail its turbine plans or the specific purpose of the data centre. Big techs quiet role Major tech firms that will use this shadow grid often keep their names off projects during permitting. Meta is a notable exception. Through a subsidiary, it is working with Williams on Project Socrates in New Albany, Ohio, installing two off-grid gas plants expected to operate this year. In El Paso, Meta is partnering with the local utility on a gas facility made up of hundreds of linked generators. Local officials and activists have protested, alleging the company secured incentives while suggesting the campus would rely on clean energy. Metas partner, El Paso Electric, has said solar and battery storage would require land not available near the site. Meta says fossil fuel use will be paired with renewable energy purchases to match consumption. Oracle and OpenAI are also developing off-grid plants. Construction is underway at their Stargate Project Jupiter campus in New Mexico, powered by large natural gas systems. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman is also an investor in Boom Supersonic, which has adapted jet engine technology to power off-grid data centres. The first units are slated for developer Crusoes campus in Wyoming. An uncertain future Despite the capital pouring in, some energy veterans question whether the strategy will succeed. Developers are trying to rush to market with a bunch of clankety old stuff or with dozens to hundreds of small generating units strung together, said Aaron Zubaty, CEO of Eolian, which builds large energy installations. Such designs, he warned, could face maintenance problems, cost overruns and outages. He suggested the spending spree may ultimately pressure utilities to accelerate grid upgrades and accommodate more data centres. If you are a utility, this cant be your future, he said. You cant have your biggest customers never need you again. The full circling of a northern career Hajo Eicken had everything I could ever ask for in his former career at a German institute. Well, almost everything. Photo by Matt Druckenmiller Hajo Eicken walks the sea ice off the town of Utqiagvik in about 2010. Eicken, for a few more weeks the director of the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, once studied glaciers and sea ice at the Alfred Wegener Institute in the northern Germany town of Bremerhaven. But first, before I bury the lede: On March 9, 2026, after living in Fairbanks for 28 years (the longest period of my existence so far), Eicken will return to his hometown of Bremerhaven to become the leader of the Alfred Wegener Institute, where he started his career. OK, now backing up: Despite a smooth career path laid out before him at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Eicken felt a niggling. At that place, at about the same latitude as Edmonton, Eicken was not able to stand on glaciers or sea ice very often. To reach the latter, he needed to walk aboard an icebreaking ship that would take weeks to reach northern oceans upon which sea ice floats. Once his boots touched the ice, he rushed to get his samples. Photo courtesy of International Arctic Research Center Hajo Eicken You would have just a few hours always under the gun, he said. Then he got an opportunity to study at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which featured much easier access to the ice that floats on the top of the world. Back then, in 1998, he visited some of the most stable sea ice anywhere on the planet, stuck to the shoreline off Barrow, now Utqiagvik. There, on a blue-white platform offshore of the farthest-north town in America, he felt the brutal sting that wind adds to an ambient temperature of minus 40. He saw the footprints of polar bears and wondered how people could possibly live there. His interest in those Indigenous people and his inclusion of them in his research helped define his career in Alaska. He came up to us one day and asked if we could help him out, said lifelong Utqiagvik resident Billy Adams, 60, an Inupiaq whaling captain. He wanted us to show him some types (of sea ice). He was very professional about it and we were very eager to help him out. Over the years, as Eicken, also 60, returned for his own research and to introduce graduate students to the great white sheet, he just kept on being the friendly guy we had always known, Adams said. Eicken considers locals who have spent decades hunting seals and bowhead whales from the sea ice to be the equivalent of scientists with doctorates. He thinks a few are even above that. The Inupiat already knew so much about the transformation going on (when sea ice extent diminished to a then-record low level in 2007), Eicken said. They might be monitoring 150 different variables across all areas of the environment. Photo by Daniel Pringle Matt Druckenmiller, right, and his research advisor, Hajo Eicken, a professor of geophysics, stand on an ice floe near Utqiagvik in about 2010. Eickens Alaska career coincided with a staggering amount of sea ice loss, with 2025 being the lowest amount measured floating on the northern seas in winter since satellite observations began in 1979. Utqiagvik has warmed more than any town in America because of the dearth of that reflective sea ice once so common and long-lasting on its shores. Eicken will continue working in Alaska and the rest of the Arctic as he transitions to the Alfred Wegener Institute, which is an order of magnitude larger than the International Arctic Research Center. And he will continue to ask for help from the locals. Being up there taught me that adaptation has to be driven by the community, he said. You have to adapt what you know to be relevant to that location. Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute. Teachers incorporate a wide variety of AI tools to support students in receiving personalised feedback, to help them manage long-term projects, to model potential outcomes to scenarios, and to amplify their ideation of possible solutions to real-world challenges, says Jennifer Swinehart, Deputy Head of School. Judgement, she adds, is central. Students must be able to understand the ethics of entering data and be discerning about what the tool is producing. Prompt production and evaluation are treated as structured processes, comparable to formal critical thinking frameworks. AI is positioned as an extension of cognition, not its substitute. Managed integration, deliberate friction At Ryan International School in Kandivali East, students from age eight to 18 are introduced to prompt-writing as a deliberate skill. Tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Canva and Grok are used within what Principal Anjali Bowen describes as managed integration. We have begun gradually integrating AI and prompt-writing activities. AI is not a replacement for teacher-led instruction but an extension of learning, she says. Foundational methods remain intact, and AI is introduced when it adds value. Assessment design reflects that caution. Personal reflection, oral explanations and handwritten components are embedded into coursework. Students are taught that AI-generated content must be used as a reference or starting point, not as final work, Bowen says. The architecture of evaluation has shifted to prevent automation from becoming substitution. Inside the heritage structure of The Cathedral and John Connon School in Fort, artificial intelligence is absorbed within existing academic structures rather than introduced as a standalone novelty. Weekly, guided prompt-writing sessions begin with the ethics of the digital footprint. We are taught how to safely type AI prompts and how not to include personal details or photos, says Class VII student Agastya Kapadia. Computer teacher Kamakshi Tewary frames AI as an exercise in clarity. Students learn to assign roles, define precise tasks and specify outcomes before iterating on inputs. Boundaries are explicit. AI can support learning but should not be used to avoid responsibilities, she says, noting that all assignments must disclose any AI assistance. Across these classrooms, a pattern emerges. Artificial intelligence is treated as a stress test for reasoning. Students are encouraged to challenge outputs, cross-check facts and disclose assistance. The emphasis falls on interrogation rather than fluency. Students who sound alert Students themselves articulate that distinction in measured terms. AI helps me study faster and more efficiently but it can never replace classroom teaching, says Tanisha, 15, a Class X student at Ryan International School. Speed is useful. Authority still resides in the classroom. It simplifies concepts, but it also raises questions about creativity and dependence. AI must be used with limits, says Navya, also in Class X. AI sometimes gives incorrect answers, and so we must learn to cross-check, adds Mrigank Pal, her classmate. The acknowledgement is matter-of-fact. The machine is helpful, but it is fallible. For Lipika Sen, also in Class X, the boundary is less technical and more human. AI has made learning quicker and more organised but the human connection is irreplaceable. Efficiency, in her formulation, does not displace the social architecture of a classroom. The AI divide The optimism of such campuses, however, sits alongside a more uneven landscape. Dnyaneshwar Kamble, AI governance leader and Maharashtra chapter chair of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, co-authored the study Navigating the New Childhood: A Study on Policy and Regulation of AI and Generative AI Use Among Children. Surveying teachers and students aged 14 to 18 at Shailendra Education Societys Marathi Secondary School in Dahisar East, the research reveals a pronounced readiness gap. Fifty-five per cent of students believed AI could replace humans. Thirty per cent reported difficulty identifying when AI was being used. Forty per cent said they did not know how to handle AI-related challenges. Children may accept incorrect or hallucinated AI outputs as factual, reducing opportunities to develop critical thinking, Kamble says. Teacher confidence mirrors that uncertainty. While 98 per cent of teachers agreed that AI awareness and rights protection are urgently needed, only 40 per cent felt confident teaching AI concepts. Exposure is rising faster than preparation. Kamble argues that training teachers must precede structured student engagement. For children aged seven to nine, exposure should be minimal and concept-led. Cognitive foundations, not novelty, should guide integration. Policy, protection and priorities Policy lags complicate the picture. Indias Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, restricts tracking, behavioural monitoring and targeted advertising directed at children, with full enforceability expected by November 2026. Until then, governance remains transitional. Schools without internal AI policies risk non-compliance and exposure to unsafe platforms. Kamble recommends alignment with UNICEFs child-centred AI requirements alongside structured training for teachers and parents. UNICEFs policy guidance frames child-centred AI around nine requirements, including protecting childrens data and privacy, ensuring safety, and providing transparency, explainability and accountability in systems that affect children. The guidance also emphasises preparing children for present and future developments in AI, rather than treating literacy as a one-off module. That legal framing matters for schools because most classroom AI use routes through third-party platforms whose defaults were not built for minors. UNESCOs guidance notes that age thresholds and provider accountability for age verification are no longer peripheral questions once chatbots become mainstream classroom infrastructure. Some institutions have responded with restraint. At JB Petit High School for Girls in Fort, AI tools and prompt-writing exercises are excluded from classroom instruction. As a school, we do not use AI prompts in class or in lessons, says Principal Friyana Pardiwalla. Assignments require personalised perspectives and are checked for AI usage. Ethical discussions occur when students seek guidance, and the school organises sessions for parents and students on responsible engagement beyond campus. Formal coursework remains insulated. In a climate of acceleration, refusal becomes a position. It reflects a judgement that depth may require distance.The divide sharpens further in the municipal sector. Shivnath Darade, general secretary of Shikshak Parishad, argues that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation schools do not require AI upgrades at present. He points to the corporations plan to procure 19,317 tablets for Class IX students at a cost of Rs 49.19 crore while many schools face staff shortages. Right now, what BMC schools lack is adequate staff, he says. Big spending on technology is not the priority at this moment. The comment reframes the debate. AI literacy presumes baseline literacy. Without adequate teachers, digital ambition risks becoming decorative. Across Mumbai, the conversation is layered. Some schools integrate AI with disclosure and structural friction. Others hold it at a distance. Underneath these tactical differences lies a deeper philosophical shift. Education is no longer only about access to information. It is about training students to question information that arrives polished, immediate and convincing. The performance of AI-readiness may dominate public stages. Inside classrooms, a quieter discipline is taking shape. Students are not merely learning how to speak to machines. They are being taught how not to believe them too easily. When a university at a recent high-profile AI summit was pressed to clarify the provenance of a robotic dog displayed at its stall, the moment exposed a familiar anxiety. Institutions always want to appear fluent in a technology that is advancing fastin this case, faster than governance frameworks can stabilise it. The performance of AI-readiness has acquired its own currency. Inside several Mumbai classrooms, the emphasis, however, is less theatrical. Artificial intelligence is not treated as a marvel to be displayed but as a system to be interrogated. Students are being trained to assume that an answer may be incomplete, biased or wrong. The lesson is not prompt generation. The lesson is calibration of trust. Education has always absorbed new tools, from calculators to search engines. Generative AI, however, presents a different challenge. It produces language that sounds authoritative even when it is inaccurate. And the risk, consequently, lies in misplaced belief. The illusion of competence The OECDs 2023 report on AI in education warned that generative tools can create an illusion of competence, where students appear fluent while outsourcing understanding. The report urged schools to pair digital exposure with critical evaluation and independent reasoning. The danger, it argued, lies not in access but in unexamined reliance. Several private schools in Mumbai appear to have internalised that warning. Their approach converges around a common principle: integration with friction. At the American School of Bombay in BKC, artificial intelligence is embedded within pedagogy, but with defined guardrails. Teachers use AI tools to personalise feedback, support long-term projects and model possible outcomes. Two USF Health Morsani College of Medicine departments now rank among the Top 10 nationally for NIH funding, with nine programs among the Top 50 in the latest Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings, up from seven last year. The Morsani College of Medicine Department of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery placed No. 6 overall and No. 2 among public universities, while the Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology ranked No. 10. This years results reflect notable gains across both basic science and clinical research, with four departments newly entering the Top 50: Molecular Medicine (Biochemistry), Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology and Surgery. These results reflect the depth and strength of our research enterprise and the remarkable work of our faculty across disciplines, said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. Our exceptional scientists are advancing cutting-edge research discoveries, teaching the next generation of scientists, and ultimately developing new treatments to improve care for patients throughout our state and nation. USF Health leaders point to sustained investment in faculty recruitment and research infrastructure, collaborative science and strategic partnerships as key drivers of the colleges continued research expansion. These rankings speak to the quality and competitiveness of our research programs, said Matt Anderson, PhD, associate vice president for research administration at USF Health. Our investigators are tackling complex health challenges across a wide range of disciplines, translating into meaningful advances in human health. The rise builds upon the Morsani College of Medicines recent recognition by U.S. News & World Report as the top-ranked medical school in Florida and one of only 16 medical schools nationally to receive a Tier 1 ranking, the highest designation awarded. It also reflects the University of South Floridas standing as a leading national research institution, marked by record research funding and membership in the Association of American Universities. Blue Ridge NIH Rankings, 2025 USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Top 10 Top 50 Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. MOSCOW (AP) A tour bus carrying Chinese tourists plunged through the ice on Russias Lake Baikal, killing eight people, officials said. One of the Chinese tourists managed to escape from the bus, which was crossing the frozen lake on Friday, Irkutsk regional Gov. Igor Kobzev wrote in a Telegram post on Saturday. He said the dead included seven Chinese tourists and the driver. The bus plunged into a 3-meter (10-foot) -wide ice crevasse, Russias Emergencies Ministry reported. The lake is 18 meters (59 feet) deep at the site of the accident, it said. The ministry said rescuers used underwater cameras before embarking on a diving operation. The regional prosecutors office said a criminal probe had been opened. The Irkutsk tourism office reported on Saturday that the bus tour had been run by an unregistered operator. Lake Baikal, the worlds deepest freshwater lake, is one of Russias key tourism attractions. Numbers of Chinese visitors to the country soared in recent years, after Moscow and Beijing introduced a mutual visa-free regime. Russias Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, sent condolences to his Chinese counterpart, according to an online statement published on Saturday on the ministrys website. According to the statement, Lavrov told Wang Yi that Russian authorities are conducting a full investigation and expressed hope that the accident will not negatively impact the positive dynamics of bilateral tourism. WASHINGTON (AP) The late Rev. Jesse Jackson will not lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda after a request for the commemoration was denied by the House Speaker Mike Johnson's office due to past precedent. Johnsons office said it received a request from the family to have Jacksons remains lie in honor at the Capitol, but the request was denied, because of the precedent that the space is typically reserved for former presidents, the military and select officials. The civil rights leader died this week at the age of 84. The family and some House Democrats had filed a request for Jackson to be honored at the U.S. Capitol. Amid the countrys political divisions, there have been flare ups over who is memorialized at the Capitol with a service to lie in state, or honor, in the Rotunda. During such events, the public is generally allowed to visit the Capitol and pay their respects. Recent requests had similarly been made, and denied, to honor Charlie Kirk, the slain conservative activist, and former Vice President Dick Cheney. There is no specific rule about who qualifies for the honor, a decision that is controlled by concurrence from both the House and Senate. The Jackson family has announced scheduled dates for memorial services beginning next week that will honor the late reverend's life in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. In a statement, the Jackson family said it had heard from leaders in both South Carolina, Jacksons native state, and Washington offering for Jackson to be celebrated in both locations. Talks are ongoing with lawmakers about where those proceedings will take place. His final memorial services will be held in Chicago on March 6 and 7. Typically, the Capitol and its Rotunda have been reserved for the most eminent citizens, according to the Architect of the Capitols website. It said government and military officials lay in state, while private citizens in honor. In 2020, Congressman John Lewis, another veteran of the Civil Rights movement, was the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda after a ceremony honoring his legacy was held outside on the Capitol steps due to pandemic restrictions at the time. Later that year, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed services for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Capitols Statuary Hall after agreement could not be reached for services in the Capitols Rotunda. It is rare for private citizens to be honored at the Capitol, but there is precedent most notably Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks, in 2005, and the Reverend Billy Graham, in 2018. A passionate civil rights leader and globally-minded humanitarian, Jackson's fiery speeches and dual 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns transformed American politics for generations. Jackson's organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, became a hub for progressive organizers across the country. His unapologetic calls for a progressive economic agenda and more inclusive policies for all racial groups, religions, genders and orientations laid the groundwork for the progressive movement within the Democratic Party. Jackson also garnered a global reputation as a champion for human rights. He conducted the release of American hostages on multiple continents and argued for greater connections between civil rights movements around the world, most notably as a fierce critic of the policies of Apartheid South Africa. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) Many school districts across Illinois have instituted cell phone bans to help students focus during class. Now, Gov. JB Pritzker wants the policy enforced statewide. "There is real harm being done by social media platforms," Pritzker said Friday. "It interferes with our ability to give children the most productive educational environment possible, and frankly it's just time to get cell phones out of the classroom. They're distracting." A bipartisan plan could require school districts to adopt policies to ensure students do not use their cell phones during instructional time in a way that meets the needs of their own community. Each district will need to allow for exceptions in cases of emergencies, student health, fulfilling an IEP or when the device is used for translation services for students who are second language learners. Sponsors said teachers could also be allowed to incorporate cell phones for educational purposes. "Nearly 75% of U.S. high school teachers say cell phone distraction is a major problem in their classes," said Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). "It impairs students' ability to focus, lowers test scores, harms mental health, facilitates bullying and disrupts the learning environment for other students." This idea gained unanimous support in the Senate last spring, but House leaders paused movement of the bill to fine tune the legislation. Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) said schools will not be allowed to enforce cell phone bans through fines, fees or deployment of school resource officers and local law enforcement. New! The latest from WAND in your inbox Sign up for our newsletters to receive breaking news and daily headlines. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. "We now need to adapt our policies to foster a more positive learning environment and healthier boundaries between our developing young people and their cell phones," Mussman said. Senate Bill 2427 could be discussed during a House Education Policy Committee hearing Wednesday morning. More Coverage: Democrats bash bill banning abortion in Illinois IL bill could require grocery stores with digital coupons to provide paper option for customers despite retailer concerns IL Democrats file bill banning tear gas following Operation Midway Blitz Pritzker proposes $56 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved. By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association The imposition of further US tariffs through an alternative legal basis cannot be ruled out, the Tanaiste has said. The warning was borne out mere hours later when US President Donald Trump announced a 10 per cent global tariff on top of existing measures. It came after the US Supreme Court ruled that Mr Trumps sweeping reciprocal global tariffs were unconstitutional on Friday. US President Donald Trump announced a 10 per centglobal tariff on top of existing measures (Evan Vucci/AP) The ruling, branded ridiculous by the president, only applied to tariffs announced last year under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) The European Commission has sought clarity on the ruling, which could see businesses able to apply for refunds on tariffs paid and examination of investments made in the country on the back of the policy. The US Treasury had collected more than 133 billion from the tariffs by December. Many companies have prepared to seek refunds over tariffs paid thus far. Low tariffs are in everyones interests and, at a European level, we will continue to engage with our US counterparts in order to promote measures that work for all Simon Harris The Supreme Court decision does not affect tariffs introduced under other legal bases, such as section 232 investigations which examine the impact of imports on US national security. These relate to several sectors that are of interest to Ireland, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and commercial aircraft, as well as medical devices, robotics, drones, wind turbines, critical minerals, and timber. There has been concern that the potential financial impact of the Supreme Court decision on the US administration could impact EU-US negotiations over steel and aluminium tariffs as it attempts to maintain leverage and control on its policy. After the Supreme Court ruling, Tanaiste Simon Harris said: We are as you would expect monitoring the situation closely. The US Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trumps sweeping reciprocal global tariffs were unconstitutional (Niall Carson/PA) Low tariffs are in everyones interests and, at a European level, we will continue to engage with our US counterparts in order to promote measures that work for all. Bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation deliver enormous economic benefits, and we will always work towards that goal. We expect the US administration will issue a statement shortly on their response to the ruling. Of course, tariffs by some other means, for instance via some alternative legal basis, cannot be ruled out. Mr Trump later announced that all national security tariffs under section 232 and section 301 remain in place, and in full force and effect. He added that: Today I will sign an order to impose a 10 per cent global tariff, under Section 122, over and above our normal tariffs already being charged. The new tariff uses a different legal mechanism than the one at the centre of the Supreme Court ruling on the IEEPA. Mr Trump said the administration was also starting other investigations, and claimed that the Supreme Court ruling merely overruled aspects of the IEEPA while confirming that it could be used to restrict trade with a foreign country. Earlier, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Helen McEntee said the courts ruling was a significant development in the wider global trading environment. She said: Open, stable and predictable trade remains essential for economic growth, investment and jobs in Ireland. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee speaking to the media (Brian Lawless/PA) I remain in close contact with the European Commission on this issue. I understand they are engaging directly with the US administration to seek clarity on how they intend to respond. My department will continue to monitor developments closely and assess any potential implications for Irish trade, businesses and jobs. EU Commission deputy chief spokesman Olof Gill said the ruling was being analysed carefully. He said: We remain in close contact with the US administration as we seek clarity on the steps they intend to take in response to this ruling. Businesses on both sides of the Atlantic depend on stability and predictability in the trading relationship. We therefore continue to advocate for low tariffs and to work towards reducing them. High Court reporters Denis OBrien has failed to overturn the Data Protection Commissions (DPC) dismissal of a 2020 complaint the businessman made over a public relations firms refusal to disclose information it held about him. In a judgment on Friday, Judge Siobhan Lankford threw out OBriens High Court challenge to the DPC dismissal, stating that he had not succeeded on any of the grounds argued. OBrien submitted a data access request to Red Flag in June 2018 under EU law, seeking confirmation that it held personal information about him and requesting the source of the information, the purpose of holding that information and the people with whom it shared that information. This request arose against the backdrop of long-running litigation between OBrien and Red Flag, concerning a dossier prepared by Red Flag on behalf of an unidentified client. In response, Red Flag refused to provide OBrien with certain information, saying that it would violate its legal professional privilege and client confidentiality. In July 2020, OBrien made a complaint to the DPC about Red Flags refusal to share information, saying that he was not looking for any privileged material from the PR firm and that it was not plausible to suggest the dossier was privileged. In early November 2022, the DPC rejected OBriens request, telling the businessman that Red Flag was entitled to refuse his request because it would involve disclosing the names of people who received the dossier and might reveal a clients identity, breaching confidentiality. OBrien challenged the DPC decision in the High Court a month later. In her judgment, Lankford said the court had to decide if the DPC was correct to say that Red Flag was entitled to rely upon section 60 of the Data Protection Act 2018 in claiming privilege over requested information. This section allows for a data controller to refuse a data request when necessary for the defence of a legal claim. OBrien claimed that this section was incompatible with GDPR laws. The judge stated it would be unrealistic to view OBriens data request to Red Flag in isolation. She said the request was made in the context of litigation, and fell within the ambit of section 60. A decision on what is necessary and proportionate can only be made against the full factual backdrop of the request and involves a balancing of rights in the interests of the enforcement of civil law claims and the public protection of the right of access to justice, she said. The judge also rejected OBriens argument that the DPC was premature in deciding not to launch an inquiry to determine if the requested material was legally privileged. Such an inquiry is provided for in Section 151 of the 2018 Act. OBrien further argued that the DPC was wrong to find that Red Flag was justified under GDPR in declining to provide the data on the basis that it might reveal the firms client. The judge noted that OBrien offered no authority for asserting that the DPC was not entitled to consider Red Flags duty of confidentiality to its client. She dismissed the argument. The judge said her provisional view was to make an order against OBrien to pay the costs of the DPC and Red Flag, a notice party to the action. She said she would place a stay on such an order for one month to allow for arguments over the costs issue. The Deputy President of ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, has said that the latest research from the ESRI looking into the behaviour and attitudes of Irish farmers to the bovine TB programme has highlighted, yet again, problems in the programme that have been obvious for decades. Mr Carroll said the publication of the data must signal a new determination and energy to finally "get to grips with" and eradicate an animal disease that has had a devastating impact upon generations of farm families. That is going to require timelines and targets to be hit with the flexibility within the plan to pivot and address areas that might need more resources or focus. "But ICMSA is serious if the Government is serious; we have to have a clear map towards eliminating bTB from the countrys herds altogether and not just dampening it down only for it to flare up again in a few years, said Mr Carroll. Mr Carroll said that the ESRI was to be commended for their research and he specifically identified their conclusion: "Communications could focus on evidence-based narratives about the effectiveness of recommended measures while avoiding lengthy or overly technical material." This is exactly what ICMSA have been asking the Department to implement for the last number of years," Mr Carroll said, "use the data and science to indicate whether we are making progress or not without getting bogged down in minutiae. "We are also very struck by what the ESRI identified as the fatalism that seems to take over when bTB enters the herd and we are adamant that this attitude of fatalism must be looked at more closely. "Its a question of morale and if a farmer is on an endless merry-go-round of bTB outbreaks, it becomes desperately hard to change to dynamic from a financial or mental health viewpoint. "Those are the circumstances in which the Department most needs to communicate with the farmers concerned and provide real solutions to those affected, he said. Mr Carroll noted that new rules are going to be introduced in 2026 that could deal with some of the issues examined in this research, such as animal history and some biosecurity issues. He said that it will obviously take some time before the effects and results of the new rules can be measured and understood, and he said that ICMSA was committed to giving the new rules that time required if proper results were to be learned. But the ICMSA Deputy President repeated his conviction that the new rules were fatally undermined by a lack of targets, requirements, and timelines for the other links in the cattle trade and sector. The only people in this new regime with fixed targets are the farmers, who are also the only ones who suffer financial loss. "We think that the same degree of compliance and time lined targets should have been applied to all stakeholders. As it is and as usual the farmers are carrying everyone else, concluded Mr Carroll. Olivia Kelleher A man who was charged with money laundering 64,000 in cash claimed in a garda interview that he had been saving the money for a kidney transplant for his brother in Poland, but he died before he could undergo surgery. Piotr Szczepanik (49) of South Douglas Road in Cork city was jailed for two and a half years, with the last year suspended, after he pleaded guilty to money laundering and a count of having cannabis for sale and supply. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence from Det Garda Dylan Murphy, who said that Szczepanik was arrested on May 6th 2021, in Cork city after gardai got a smell of cannabis from his car when they stopped him. Gardai subsequently went to the then home of Szczepanik in Wilton in Cork city, where they executed a search warrant. They brought a dog which detects drugs with them to the property. The dog uncovered a small quantity of cannabis in a bedroom at the property. Gardai then removed a timber panel at the top of the wardrobe. There, they found cannabis with a street value of 4,426. 64,000 in cash was wrapped in clingfilm and concealed in medical supply boxes. Szczepanik told gardai that he had placed the cash in clingfilm to stop it from getting damp. Judge Sinead Behan was told that when Szczepanik was interviewed by gardai, he insisted that he had saved the cash from his disability benefit and from odd jobs such as cutting hair and fixing electronic goods. He was interviewed by gardai on three occasions and denied being involved in the sale and supply of drugs. He also claimed that he was saving the money for back surgery after the kidney transplant surgery for his brother fell through. When gardai asked him why he didnt lodge the money in a bank, he stated that he didnt trust institutions, which he described as robbers. Defence barrister Mahon Corkery said that it was the first appearance of his client in the circuit court. He asked for an adjournment of the case to allow Szczepanik to engage with a rehabilitation centre for his addiction issues. He said that a mitigating factor in the case was that Szczepanik had entered a guilty plea. The Judge refused to adjourn sentencing in the case. She set a headline sentence for three years. Taking the guilty plea into consideration, she reduced the sentence to two and a half years, suspending the last year of the sentence. A majority of workers at the Ferrybank ABP meat processing factory will face the near-immediate threat of deportation, as 230 factory jobs hang in the balance following consultation announcements on Thursday, February 12. Many of the workers are economic migrants who hail from Brazil, Poland or even the small Southeast Asian island of Timor Leste. Most of the workers were offered jobs and work permits at ABP while residing in their home country. In the likely circumstance that they are made redundant, the workers could face deportation within a month if they do not find a new position. In a letter sent to the employees and seen by the Waterford News & Star, ABP informed the 230 workers at the plants deboning facility about the consultation process. Workers were asked to nominate representatives for consultation meetings by Monday afternoon (February 16). The representatives were asked to present ideas and alternatives, and to discuss options regarding potential consolidation. It was asked that the representatives come from a myriad of nationalities, genders, and departments. Our company operates in the environment of constant change, with market dynamics and supply chain pressures impacting the beef sector in Ireland and across the EU, the letter read. This, combined with increased competition and ongoing political reforms, has required us to review and consider a possible consolidation of our operations. In summary, we are commencing a 30-day consultation period to discuss the possibility of closing the boning department in Waterford. Operations will remain unchanged over the next 30 days, as will working conditions during this period. Work permits Luke, who declined to use his real name for fear of persecution, is one of the Brazilian workers whose life in Ireland hangs by a thread following the news. Speaking through a translator, his English is not strong enough to open up a wide variety of job opportunities. Like almost all of his co-workers, excluding his Irish supervisors, Luke works on a stamp 1 work permit that provides tenure in Ireland only if he is in work. He has worked in Ireland with ABP for four years and is one year away from gaining an Irish passport. If he is unable to retain his job or find new employment within a month of his contract expiring on April 15, all progress towards an Irish passport will be wiped away. He currently works on a 14/hour wage, and has had his working hours significantly diminished over time. His initial contract provided for 40 hours a week, then 30-32 hours, and in more recent months he has been limited to 15-hour weeks. Those experiences were echoed by other ABP employees who spoke to the News & Star. There is no redundancy compensation baked into his contract. Lukes wife lives in Ireland and is currently out of work. He says that while some workers in the ABP Ferrybank site may be offered roles at alternative ABP facilities, it is more likely to fall to workers without children or dependent family members. According to Ploy Norgate, an immigration specialist at Abbey Blue Legal, the workers' first port of call should be a Redundancy Notification Form that entitles redundant workers to a six-month grace period to find employment. The News & Star understands that many of the affected workers at ABP intend to write a personalised letter to Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan pleading for compassion. Ms Norgate says any attempt to do so would be futile, and that the six-month grace period functions as the only genuine opportunity to maintain domicile in Ireland. She said applications for the grace period could already face a significant backlog. Wider industry The workers face an uphill struggle in trying to find new positions with limited English. Similar jobs in the meat processing industry have been cut. ABP recently closed a packaging facility in Linden, Northern Ireland, at the cost of 338 jobs. Kepak, another one of the major beef processors in Ireland, recently announced a review of operations for its Clonee deboning facility with up to 100 jobs on the line. The cuts have been attributed to a dwindling cattle herd in Ireland. For Luke and other workers at Ferrybank, the dream of Ireland sold by ABP looks to be dimming. A judge in county Waterford issued a warning to members of the public who were before him on cannabis possession charges in court last week. During the hearing of Dungarvan District Court, Judge John OLeary made reference to the reported number of murders (18) linked to the Hutch-Kinahan feud, asking one person if they realised that they are supporting that as a result of their possession of cannabis. He said to another that the proceeds from cannabis sales goes up the line to gangland murderers. The law It is an offence to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis in Ireland except in accordance with a Ministerial Licence. A bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to enable adults over 18 to have possession of cannabis for personal use has been at the Committee Stage of Dail approval since May 2025. The bill needs to pass through an additional seven stages and be signed into law by the President before it can be enacted. There are currently four European countries that have legalised adult-use marijuana; Malta, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, and the continent's largest economy, Germany. It is broadly decriminalised in Estonia, Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme The symbolic resonance of Lamis extends far beyond its literal meaning to encompass profound philosophical and spiritual concepts. In Islamic symbolism, the name represents the quality of 'lin' (softness) that contrasts with 'khushuna' (harshness)a dichotomy frequently discussed in Islamic ethics as representing two approaches to life and relationships. Symbolically, Lamis embodies the water principle in classical element theory: fluid, adaptable, life-giving, and capable of wearing down the hardest obstacles through persistent gentle action. The name also carries connotations of the early morningthat soft, transitional time between night and day that holds special spiritual significance in Islamic tradition. In metaphorical terms, Lamis represents the idea that true strength often manifests as flexibility and resilience rather than rigid hardness, much like bamboo that bends in the storm but doesn't break. The name also symbolizes emotional intelligence and social gracethe ability to navigate complex human interactions with sensitivity and tact. In broader cultural symbolism, Lamis evokes images of valuable materials that combine softness with durability, such as well-worn leather or polished stone, suggesting that gentleness and strength are not opposites but complementary qualities. By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association A review into the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) should be completed within a month, the Tanaiste has said, after a minister said there was no point in setting a target date. Simon Harris said initial communication about it, in which almost 200 schools were told they could lose SNAs, was botched. He said: It is a really bad situation that caused a lot of upset, a lot of anger, a lot of hurt from parents of children with special educational needs, from children themselves, from SNAS and from teachers. The Department of Education paused a review of SNA allocations after a public backlash and outcry from opposition TDs, teachers, parents, and trade unions. It came after the National Council for Special Education told several schools they could lose part of their SNA allocation. It is a really bad situation that caused a lot of upset, a lot of anger, a lot of hurt from parents of children with special educational needs, from children themselves, from SNAS and from teachers Tanaiste Simon Harris On Friday, Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan said there was no point in announcing a target completion for the review after the pause. Mr Moynihan also repeatedly refused to say if he expected any schools to lose SNAs. The comments were described as disgraceful by Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty. Mr Doherty accused Mr Moynihan of plunging families into panic and said: Children with additional needs and their families are entitled to certainty, stability and respect. Parents and SNAs deserve a straight answer: Will any school lose SNA posts in September yes or no? Asked about Mr Moynihans comments on a timeline, Mr. Harris said it was not up to him but it was his view the review should be done within a month. He said: It can only take a matter of weeks, and thats just being honest, because we have to be able to provide clarity for the schools, and, most importantly, clarity for the children and their parents, and they need to have that clarity well in advance of September. Mr Moynihan also acknowledged communication around the issue was wrong and there was a need for a far better system. Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty (Brian Lawless/PA) He said the Department said it would engage intensively with schools individually. Mr Moynihan said, We cannot proceed with this because the (school) system does not have confidence in it. Asked if any school would lose an SNA in September, Mr Moynihan said: The process is now paused. He said the Department would ensure there is no cliff edge. He told RTEs Morning Ireland: There will be no decisions made, the entire process is paused which means whatever communication there was heretofore, there will be new communication. There's no point coming out and saying to you it will be done in a number of days, a number of weeks Minister for Special Education Michael Moynihan Pressed on whether that means the notified schools would not lose SNAs, Mr Moynihan reiterated that the process had been paused. After initially saying the process would be done in a number of weeks and as soon as possible", Mr Moynihan declined to give a specific date. Theres no point coming out and saying to you it will be done in a number of days, a number of weeks it will be done properly. The minister repeatedly refused to say if any schools would lose SNAs or how many positions would be redeployed. He said: Let me be very clear, right? We have paused the entire process so therefore until that process is completely reviewed we will not be scaremongering, we will engage meticulously with all school communities and families that have contacted us. However, he said schools that had been told they would get an additional allocation would still receive that support. Were increasing the number of SNAs. Mr Doherty said the Government should confirm unequivocally that no school will lose SNA support as a result of this flawed process. He said: Our children deserve better than a Government that is making policy on the hoof. They deserve certainty that they will have the support they need to thrive. By Lara Owen, PA An Irish pub complete with pool tables, low lighting and bottles raised mid-walk was not the most obvious setting for a London Fashion Week runway. But for autumn/winter 2026, Sinead Gorey made it the centrepiece. Staged in The Crypt at St Jamess Church in Clerkenwell, the underground venue was bathed in a dim red light, evoking the atmosphere of a Nineties Irish local. Two pool tables lined the runway and a bar installation anchored the end of the catwalk, as a mash-up of Pixies, Joy Division and Pulp blasted through the space. Models occasionally paused to chalk a cue or take a swig from a bottle before continuing down the runway, blurring the line between performance and presentation. Models carried half-full beer bottles down the runway (Yui Mok/PA) For Gorey, whose work often draws on London nightlife subcultures, the pub represented both the beginning and end of a night out: The pub, she says, honestly, nothing beats being wedged round a sticky table with your girls on a Friday, pint in hand, pretending youre good at pool. Maybe its the half Irish thing, maybe its just in my DNA [] some people meditate, I go to the boozer. On the runway, exaggerated hourglass silhouettes dominated in Goreys signature corsets. Shoulders were broadened, waists sharply cinched and hips sculpted, creating a severe silhouette that seems to be dominating the runways. Military details and corsetry dominated the collection (Yui Mok/PA) Military jackets, braiding and structured tailoring reinforced the power-dressing. Corsetry and bustled silhouettes were reworked in bonded Lycra, technical jersey and metallic finishes, fusing heritage femininity with contemporary fabrication. Exposed zips, studs and hardware buckles cut through more romantic elements, while fishnet panels and second-skin layers added a utilitarian edge. Fringe and furry trims recurring trends across the London schedule injected texture and movement under the low lighting. Ostentatious trims and metallics have cropped up on the London Fashion Week runways (Yui Mok/PA) The palette echoed the setting: stout blacks, bitter browns and oxblood reds were punctuated by pool-table greens and flashes of chrome. Glossy finishes suggested lacquered tabletops; heavy shearling and structured outerwear nodded to the reality of cold pavements outside the pub doors. A visible collaboration with Desperados ran throughout the show, with bottle caps repurposed into jewellery and hardware details. One model wore a belt designed to hold bottles, while another used a buckle-turned-bottle opener on the runway. At times the branding felt overt, but it aligned with Goreys unapologetically playful, irreverent aesthetic. A model wearing a beer bottle top-studded bag at the Sinead Gorey show (Yui Mok/PA) Footwear tapped into shared British and Irish nostalgia, with the classic Kickers Kick-Hi boots grounding many of the looks. Founded in 2019 with support from the British Fashion Council, Goreys label has built a recognisable identity around contemporary technical partywear, attracting fans including Miley Cyrus and Cardi B. This season, however, felt like a refinement of that formula. Many of the models stepped out in the classic Kickers Kick-Hi boot (Yui Mok/PA) The sex appeal remained but the tailoring carried more authority. The exaggerated silhouettes suggested confidence rather than chaos, hinting at a maturing vision. By reframing the Irish pub as a space of mythology rather than cliche, Gorey delivered a show that felt culturally specific yet broadly relatable. Beneath the theatrics of pool cues and pints was a considered exploration of where tradition, rebellion and femininity meet. If previous collections captured the chaos of the after-party, autumn/winter 2026 suggested Gorey understands that the stories shaping a night out often begin around a sticky table, under low lights, long before the club doors open. Advertisement MoneyBorrowingHome loans Opinion The three steps to successfully refinance (and save $428 a month) Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Money contributor February 21, 2026 2:01am February 21, 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 The rate rise has hit hard. On a pretty typical $700,000 mortgage, youre needing to find almost $110 extra a month now. So the rush is on to ditch and switch lenders for cheaper ones. Roughly 35,000 home-owning Aussies are now refinancing their mortgages each month, says ABS Lending Indicators data. Thinking of refinancing? It could save you plenty. Simon Letch Though that number was slightly down in the last quarter, from a record the previous quarter, the value of loans shifted was the highest ever in the three months to December: more than $68 billion. This is because, far from having to wear rate hikes, there are competitive, quality mortgages out there while the average variable rate is now about 6.5 per cent, there are loans with real offset accounts (so loans backed by authorised deposit-taking institutions) way down at circa 5.5 per cent. Advertisement But not many people realise you must make essential preparations before you apply to refinance. You cant just submit and hope. Here are the three steps to a successful mortgage refinance. Editor's pick Opinion Spending What can I do to stop my 19-year-old daughter spending? Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Money contributor Step 1: Go to spending ground What is known as the Netflix test means that a prospective lender will interrogate your every expense in the three months before application. So if youre a little loose with your lifestyle, they will see, and it will also shrink your disposable income for a mortgage repayment. Before you apply, then, stop the spend just for three months. Advertisement Its called the Netflix test because streaming services, possibly a multiplicity of them, are a common way lots of us today spend optional money. Next, look at Uber and the like deliveries and also takeaways. Of course, your restaurant and bar spending should go too. Just dont buy anything you can do without. The whole point is to swell the surplus between your expenses and your salary so that you can comfortably afford the new repayments. Dont forget, either, that though the loan for which you are applying will be cheaper (the whole point), you still need to be able to pass a three per cent repayment stress test. As in, you need to be able to cope with 300 basis points of rate rises from here. And thats where you need to carefully engineer fat in your finances. Step 2: Check and correct your credit score While youre spending prudently, give your credit report a thorough read. A lender will look at this as well as your all-important credit score as part of its loan consideration. Advertisement Your every financial move feeds into your score, the snapshot of how responsible you are with money. You must make sure this is above average or better before you apply for a loan The easiest way to repair a credit score is if you find errors on your credit report, which you can correct with the institution and then get updated with credit bureau records. But also bear in mind that any rejection you have had for credit, and even too many applications, will suppress your score. Refinancing that $700,000 from a 6.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent rate would give you instant repayment relief of $428 a month. So think about the timing of any moves prior to the big one: your mortgage application. Every Aussie is now entitled to four free credit reports and scores a year, and more if they have found an error or have been rejected for credit. The two main credit bureau from which you can get your report and score are Experian and Equifax. Advertisement Step 3: Limit your credit cards Editor's pick Opinion Superannuation The social media trap that could cost you your retirement savings Bec Wilson Money contributor Before you hit go on a home loan application, look at your credit card limits. It often comes as a shock that even unused limits are factored into the calculation of the money you have at your fingertips for a repayment. Bear in mind its that repayment plus 300 basis points that you need to be able to cope with. Whatever your card limit, the assessment typically rules out seven times that amount from what you can borrow so, $10,000 in limits will cut you out of $70,000 of borrowings. Advertisement And this is even if you responsibly zero out the debt at the end of every month and therefore carryover no credit card balance and pay no interest. This is under a three-year-to-clear rule that assumes you could run up your debt to the maximum limit as soon as a loan is extended, and calculates how much from your finances this would absorb if you were to repay it in three years. Its a pretty brutal calculation that seriously impedes your potential loan amount. A lender or brokers should be willing to crunch the numbers factoring in your credit card limits on your maximum loan amount before you apply. And then you can decide whether to cut, or even cut up, cards. Its worth it: refinancing that $700,000 from a 6.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent rate would give you instant repayment relief of $428 a month. Advertisement Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon is the author of How to Get Mortgage-Free Like Me, available at www.nicolessmartmoney.com. Follow Nicole on Facebook, X and Instagram. 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 own 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. Crime seems to be woven into the very fabric of this city, though most passers-by wouldnt know about the secrets bubbling under the surface. But John Silvester does. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A When award-winning journalist, and host of The Ages Naked City podcast, John Silvester started reporting on Melbournes criminal underworld, pubs closed at 10pm. Almost 50 years later, the city is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But not much else has changed. Tobacco wars, underworld infighting, strange links between police and crooks. There are crimes in every major city, but in Melbourne, it seems to be woven into the very fabric of the place. Just about every suburb has a secret history, a hidden underbelly of crime that most passers-by wouldnt know about. But Silvester sees it everywhere he looks and now hes giving you the magnifying glass in this exclusive video tour of Melbourne. A bloody mafia power struggle, and the American investigator whose warnings were dismissed Advertisement Natural causes caught up with Melbourne godfather Domenico The Pope Italiano in December 1962, and his enforcer, Antonio The Toad Barbara, a few weeks later. But mobsters Vincenzo Angilletta and Vincenzo Muratore werent so lucky. Italianos death left a power vacuum at Queen Victoria Market, and rival families settled it with shotguns. With contestants Angilletta and Muratore disposed of, stallholder Liborio Benvenuto ultimately emerged as godfather. The Market Murders as the battle for control over the lucrative mafia linchpin became known were so violent that, as Silvester reveals in the video below, the Victorian government sent for American mafia expert John T. Cusack. Loading Cusacks methods punching market workers or hitting them with chairs were considered a bit far by his homicide squad stablemates. They did, however, result in a 17-page report on The Honoured Society, wherein Cusack exposed the fact that the Calabrian organised crime group was operating in Melbourne, and warned if action was not taken, its grip on Melbourne would grow. Advertisement Like Cassandra, Cusack was ignored. His 1964 predictions, once dismissed as alarmist, would come true one by one starting with the Great Bookie Robbery 12 years later. Melbournes most notorious heist and the masterminds brutal courthouse execution It was over in 11 minutes, but the repercussions of the Great Bookie Robbery would rock Melbourne for years. On April 21, 1976, six gunmen walked in and took 118 calico bags full of cash a loot of at least $1.3 million ($10.3 million today) from Queen Streets Victorian Club. In exchange, they left their weapons. But as Silvester explains in the below video, that was no accident. Loading Advertisement More than a decade before DNA profiling would be used in an Australian criminal investigation for the first time, the thieves knew the discarded arsenal could not be tied back to them. That meticulously planned move is one of many that prompted senior police to describe the heist as the best organised and executed in Australias history. It could only have been achieved with the help of an inside man. Just as the revenge-fuelled execution of the heists mastermind, Ray Chuck Bennett, could not have been pulled off without inside information three years later. How else could standover man Brian Kane have escaped the rats nest that was Melbournes Magistrates Court after shooting Bennett in front of police, while the police ran after a mortally wounded Bennett? When terror came for Melbourne and the policewoman who paid the ultimate price A coin toss determined who would fetch lunch for the watchhouse each day, and on March 27, 1986, 21-year-old Constable Angela Taylor lost. Advertisement The trip to the police cafeteria around the corner would end up taking her life. Loading Taylor became the first Australian policewoman murdered on duty after 60 sticks of gelignite, packed into a stolen Commodore and parked across the road from Russell Street Police Station with the clock ticking, exploded. Related Article The day terror came to Melbourne: The Russell Street Bombing 30 years on and the murder of Angela Taylor She was engulfed in the fireball and died 24 days later. Twenty-one others were injured. It was a miracle more people werent killed. Motivated not by a mutated religious mindset or twisted ideology but by career criminals blinding hatred for law enforcement, the attack marked Australias first brush with domestic terrorism. Advertisement Analysis WorldNorth AmericaUS politics Court gives Trump a harsh lesson in the limits of his power Michael Koziol February 21, 2026 11:58am 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: About a year ago, after Donald Trump addressed Congress in a State of the Union-esque speech, he clasped the hand of US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and said: Thank you. Thank you again. Wont forget it. There was much speculation at the time that Trump was thinking of Roberts majority verdict in 2024 granting him widespread immunity, as president, from criminal prosecution. Thank you again: US President Donald Trump greets Chief Justice John Roberts after a speech to Congress in March 2025. Bloomberg Trump denied thats what he meant he said he was thanking Roberts for swearing him in at his inauguration but he did have much to thank Roberts for. The conservative majority on the court has been kind to Trump and his sweeping agenda that pushes the limits of presidential power. That is, until now. In a 6-3 ruling on Friday (Washington time) the US Supreme Court struck down Trumps signature Liberation Day tariffs, finding he did not have the authority to impose the duties using emergency powers. Advertisement The decision torpedoes the presidents economic agenda, and exposes the US federal government to demands for refunds totalling as much as $US160 billion ($226 billion). But more than that, it exposes Trump for exceeding his presidential authority, and represents the biggest curb on his power to date. The ruling wasnt personal, obviously, but Trump seemed to take it that way as he often does. The Democrat-appointed justices on the court were a disgrace to our nation, Trump said. Trump called a snap press conference at the White House following the ruling. Bloomberg Others were being politically correct and serving as fools and lapdogs for the RINOS [Republicans in name only] and the radical left Democrats theyre very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution. But Trump reserved his harshest judgment for the justices he appointed in his first term who ruled the tariffs unlawful: Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. Their families would be embarrassed, he claimed. Advertisement He clearly felt betrayed. You cant knock their loyalty, Trump said of the Democrat-appointed justices. Thats one thing you can do with some of our people. Since returning to power, Trump has stacked out various Washington institutions the Kennedy Centre, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, to name just a few that have now become his fiefdoms. Evidently, he shares the same expectations for our people on the nations high court. I dont talk to CNN, its fake news: A testy Donald Trump was clearly irritated by the Supreme Court decision. AP The president offered up conspiratorial theories for why the court ruled the way it did. It was swayed by foreign interests and a political movement that is far smaller than people would ever think, he said, seemingly referring to the Democrats and the left wing. The judges might have been cajoled by fear or respect or friendships, I dont know, Trump said. At another point, he said they may have been catering to a group of people in [Washington] DC - possibly a reference to the citys contingent of free trade advocates. Advertisement The power of the presidency is not absolute, even though it sometimes feels that way. An annoyed Trump was also snappy with reporters, and refused to take certain peoples questions. I dont talk to CNN, its fake news, he said, pointing at the networks White House correspondent Kristen Holmes. Trump seemed genuinely shocked the court ruled as it did and to be fair, the idea that a president can block imports from a country under emergency laws, but not tariff them, does sound perverse, as Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in his dissenting opinion. But the verdict is hardly a surprise. Sceptical questions from the justices at a hearing last year indicated it was likely not going to be the slam dunk win for the government that Trump thinks it should have been. And we know the administration has been preparing for this exact outcome for months. Advertisement Related Article Updated Trade Trump orders 10 per cent global tariff after Supreme Court finds previous ones were illegal Indeed, Trump had a solution ready to go a 10 per cent global tariff enacted using the Trade Act, for 150 days, which will have to be extended by Congress. That now looms as Trumps next big political test, and he will need the votes of those RINOs he disparaged from the podium on Friday. The Supreme Court showed in its ruling that despite its conservative majority, its indulgence of Trump in the immunity ruling and the narrative in some quarters about a supplicant bench, it is still a serious guardrail in American democracy. The system can still work as intended. The power of the presidency is not absolute, even though it sometimes feels that way. Advertisement That was the harsh lesson delivered to Trump. And it explains why he was so affronted by the decision, even though he believes he can raise just as much revenue if not more by imposing tariffs in other ways. 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. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaTrump's America Opinion Someone was shot outside my building. It feels like a macabre rite of passage Michael Koziol North America correspondent February 22, 2026 6:32am February 22, 2026 6:32am 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: Hello from a pungent Washington, DC, home of the sewage-filled Potomac River. A few days ago, I joined an unfortunate club Australian correspondents in Washington, DC, who have come all too close to a fatal shooting. I had only been in my new apartment a week when an email lobbed from building management notifying me of an emerging situation across the street involving police and emergency services. The incident occurred at 2.15pm on a Friday, while I was at work. By the time I got home that night, all traces of the emergency had disappeared. But the next day, I learnt there had been a fatal shooting. The DC Metropolitan Police said the victim was 22-year-old Nehemia Jamaane Williams, a local, who was found inside a car, and died in hospital from his injuries. Police were appealing for information. No arrests had been made. Advertisement Donald Trump dispatched the National Guard to Washington last year. Here, they patrol the National Mall in early February. AP Welcome to the neighbourhood, I guess. My new place is only a few blocks from where Matthew Cranston, a former Washington correspondent for The Australian Financial Review, witnessed a shooting inside a crowded McDonalds in September 2022. And that was just metres from where a 15-year-old boy was shot dead a few months earlier, near the apartment building where my predecessor as North America correspondent, Farrah Tomazin, lived. Those incidents occurred amid a post-COVID-19 pandemic crime wave that rocked the US capital and many American cities. It is partly why President Donald Trump sent the National Guard into Washington last year, even though rates of violent crime were already falling. The fatal shooting outside my building in broad daylight was the seventh homicide in DC this year. The eighth came a few nights later in the Navy Yard neighbourhood south of Capitol Hill. And yet, there has been a 68 per cent decrease in the number of homicides so far this year compared to last year. Advertisement We have one of the safest cities in the world, Trump said on Wednesday (Washington time) at an event for Black History Month, as he welcomed to the stage Felicia Cook, whose grandson was killed during a violent encounter in 2017. Now you can walk down the street, and you have nothing to fear. Related Article US politics Deep damage: Trump administration pulls plug on Minnesota immigration crackdown Trump regularly overstates the case with grand statements about how Washington now has zero crime, and how once-empty restaurants are now filled to bursting. You can be with your child, with your loved one, with your lover, he said last month. Your lovers not going to be killed any more, so you can act like a real lover. Its difficult to take those statements seriously when someones shot dead on your doorstep. But, broadly speaking, we have to because violent crime is down dramatically, not just in DC, but around the country. The Council on Criminal Justice reported homicides were down 21 per cent in 2025 from 2024, based on data from 35 major US cities. That was 922 fewer homicides. Advertisement Furthermore, the council said that when national data was reported by the FBI later this year, there was a strong possibility that the murder rate would drop to 4 per 100,000 residents. That would be the lowest rate ever recorded in law enforcement or public health data going back to 1900, and would mark the largest single-year percentage drop in the homicide rate on record, the council said. The White House chalked this up as a major victory for Trumps tough-on-crime agenda, compared to what it called Joe Bidens defund the police era. One thing you come to understand quickly in the US is the complicated nature of attitudes to guns. Bloomberg In reality, violent crime fell across the board, not just in cities where Trump mobilised the National Guard or cracked down on illegal immigrants. Homicides fell 40 per cent in Washington, DC, but they also fell by the same proportion in Denver and Omaha, and by more than 20 per cent in cities from Atlanta to Dallas to New York. Advertisement This is all a good thing. Trump may be overstating his contribution to a trend that was already under way when he took office, but he has also rightly seized on the fact that most Americans want and need relief from violent crime. Of course, a serious attempt to reduce that harm would involve changing the countrys gun laws. But that is not on the cards. One thing you come to understand quickly in the United States is the complicated nature of attitudes to guns. Its not just redneck Republicans who cling to their weapons: last week in Washington, my group had a long debate with an otherwise very progressive bartender who was set on her right to bear arms. DC is much safer than it was last year, and the year before that, and thats welcome. Thanks, Mr President. But lets not pretend all is fixed. 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. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaTrump's America Stacked design panel approves Trumps beautiful White House ballroom Michael Koziol February 20, 2026 4:22am 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: A design panel recently stacked with Donald Trump loyalists has approved the presidents White House ballroom, taking it a step closer to reality despite overwhelming opposition from the public submissions. The Commission of Fine Arts voted 6-0, with one abstention, to approve the ballroom at a meeting on Thursday, Washington time, after reviewing updated plans and renders. A render of Donald Trumps proposed White House ballroom shown to the Commission of Fine Arts on February 19. This is a facility that is desperately needed for over 150 years, and its beautiful, said chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr, a former commissioner whom Trump returned to the agency last month. Trump fired all six previous members of the CFA in October, then left the agency vacant until January, when he appointed seven new members - including his 26-year-old executive assistant Chamberlain Harris, who is not known to have any arts experience. Advertisement The panel approved the plans despite an avalanche of opposition from members of the public and concerned parties, including historic and conservation organisations. Long-serving secretary Thomas Luebke said the commission received more than 2000 messages in just a week about the ballroom project. The summary of it was overwhelmingly in opposition - over 99 per cent, he said. The renders depict a ballroom building that is roughly the same height as the White House, with a larger footprint. Those concerns largely involved the illegal demolition of the former White House East Wing in October, Luebke said, as well as the inappropriate scale of the new ballroom that would dwarf the White House. People were also worried about the project ignoring historic preservation principles, the lack of transparency about who was funding the ballroom, and a fundamental miscarriage of democratic principles, he added. Advertisement Loading Luebke also read out an unnamed letter of support, which said the White Houses current provisions for large ceremonies involving foreign heads of state were insufficient. We have a tent. Currently, people are omitted due to lack of space, the person wrote. The United States is on the world stage. Modernisation to have America be competitive in the eyes of world leaders is not a bad thing. Public condemnation did not stop the panel quickly proceeding to approve the designs following a presentation by architect Shalom Baranes and landscape architect Rick Parisi. The proposed White House ballroom, to the right of the South Portico, as seen from the South Lawn. Advertisement The 1000-person ballroom building is of similar height to the White House residence, although the footprint - 90,000 square feet - is considerably larger. Related Article Opinion Donald Trump Trump renamed my beloved Kennedy Centre. Now, shamefully, hes shuttering it Bill Wyman Contributor Harris, whose main job is formally the deputy director of Oval Office operations, said the building isnt that big by ballroom standards, and the size was consistent with the residence. This is sort of like the greatest country in the world, its the greatest house in the world, and we want it to be the greatest ballroom in the world, she said. The CFA panels decision does not represent the end of the process. The ballroom must also clear the National Capital Planning Commission, which is due to meet in early March to vote on the project. Advertisement That commission has also been stacked with Trump loyalists. Its chairman is Will Scharf - formerly a Trump lawyer, now White House staff secretary, who is regularly pictured handing Trump executive orders. White House staff secretary Will Scharf, pictured handing Donald Trump an executive order, is also chair of the National Capital Planning Commission. AP Meanwhile, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December to stop the ballroom. The judge in the case has so far refused to issue an injunction while the planning process is underway. Cook Jr, the CFA chairman, said while he respected the National Trust, it had not stopped then president Harry Truman gutting the interior of the White House in the 1940s and 1950s. Why the shouting now? he said. It seems unusual to me. Trump wants the ballroom to be finished before his term ends at the start of 2029. In a post on Truth Social, he thanked the panel for its decision. Great accolades were paid to the buildings beauty and scale, he said. Advertisement Even sceptics of the ballroom project have accepted the need for a bigger venue space for the president to host large, formal functions with visiting world leaders. Frequently - as was the case with a state dinner with then prime minister Scott Morrison in 2019 - guests are seated in outdoor tents on the White House grounds. Trump, a property developer, has set in train a number of Washington building projects, including a triumphal arch nicknamed the Arc de Trump. Bloomberg However, Trumps ballroom has been tarred by accusations of improper process and lack of transparency. The cost - which is being covered by large corporate donations - has doubled to $US400 million, while the historic East Wing was bulldozed in October without any planning permits. The White House has pointed out numerous presidents have modified or rebuilt the property. It says Trumps ballroom is a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and additions from commanders-in-chief to keep the executive residence as a beacon of American excellence. Trump, a property developer before he entered politics, has also set in train a number of other Washington building projects, including the construction of a 250-foot triumphal arch nicknamed the Arc de Trump. 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. Advertisement Updated WorldNorth AmericaTrade Trump to raise new worldwide tariff to 15 per cent after Supreme Court loss Michael Koziol Updated February 22, 2026 7:49am ,first published 12:44am 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 Washington: US President Donald Trump says he will raise his new global tariff to 15 per cent, just a day after ordering a 10 per cent worldwide tariff, following the Supreme Courts decision to strike down his previous system of reciprocal import duties. Trump announced on social media on Saturday (Washington time) that based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, he would lift the new tariffs to 15 per cent, effective immediately. US President Donald Trump said he would hike his global tariff to 15 per cent. AP The new tariff is due to begin on Tuesday (Washington time), and lasts for 150 days. It replaces the old system under which imports from Australia had a 10 per cent tariff effectively the lowest of any country. Trumps post on Truth Social did not indicate any exemptions for countries with which the US enjoys a trade surplus, such as Australia. He said the 15 per cent rate would apply to countries worldwide, many of which have been ripping the US off for decades, without retribution. Advertisement He added: During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again - GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for more information. The revised text of the order was not yet available. There was no immediate response from the Australian government overnight, but it has consistently opposed Trumps tariffs on Australian goods, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called not the act of a friend. The Supreme Court struck down Trumps reciprocal tariffs announced last April on what the president called Liberation Day. AP Advertisement The White House said it was leaving in place an exemption for many goods shipped under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which means the effective tariff rate for the North American neighbours will decline. Until the court decision, products that didnt qualify for the USMCA exemption were taxed at 35 per cent if from Canada and 25 per cent if from Mexico. Trumps latest move comes a day after he raged at the Supreme Courts decision to strike down his previous system of so-called reciprocal tariffs applied at differing rates using presidential emergency powers. Trump exceeded his authority as president by doing so, the majority ruled in a 6-3 verdict, as Congress alone has the power to raise revenue by imposing permanent tariffs. The new tariffs use a different mechanism Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 which allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15 per cent for 150 days to address urgent balance-of-payments concerns. Commerce Department data showed the US ran a trade deficit of about $US900 billion ($1.27 trillion) last year. Loading Advertisement However, the lawyer who successfully argued the case against the tariffs before the Supreme Court, Neal Katyal, called into question the legality of the new tariffs, too. He pointed out the Department of Justice told the court that trade deficits were conceptually distinct from balance-of-payments deficits. If [Trump] wants sweeping tariffs, he should do the American thing and go to Congress, Katyal wrote on X after the president announced the 15 per cent hike. If his tariffs are such a good idea, he should have no problem persuading Congress. Thats what our Constitution requires. In any case, the new tariff would have to be extended by Congress after 150 days. Trump has also instructed the Office of the US Trade Representative to begin formal trade practices investigations, with a view to expanding sectoral tariffs on certain products, such as steel and aluminium. Those were unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling, which only examined the reciprocal tariffs imposed via emergency powers. I get a feeling the American people wont see it, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said of $US175 billion in tariff revenue already collected. AP Advertisement On Friday, Trump called a snap news conference following the courts verdict, where he criticised the courts terrible and deeply disappointing decision, which he also claimed was defective and legally incorrect. Related Article Analysis US politics Court gives Trump a harsh lesson in the limits of his power The president was particularly scornful of the two justices he appointed in his first term who ruled against the tariffs, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, whom he accused of disloyalty. Trump continued to rage on Truth Social, his social media platform, later in the day. What happened today with [Gorsuch and Barrett], whether people like it or not, never seems to happen with Democrats, he posted. They vote against the Republicans, and never against themselves, almost every single time, no matter how good a case we have. Trump heaped praise on Brett Kavanaugh, his 2018 appointment to the bench, who dissented from the majority opinion along with conservative justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Advertisement The courts verdict has also prompted calls for billions of dollars in tariff revenue to be returned to corporate America and small business importers who bore the brunt of the cost. The US Chamber of Commerce is among the business groups calling for swift refunds, while California Governor Gavin Newsom demanded the president return every dollar with interest. Related Article Analysis Donald Trump Why Trumps tariff defeat has sparked fears of an interest rate spike But Trump said the matter would likely have to be litigated in court, potentially for years, and chided the Supreme Court for not issuing a ruling on refunds. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, asked in an interview about the fight for $US175 billion in improperly collected revenue, said bluntly: I get a feeling the American people wont see it. Amid the fallout from the courts decision on Saturday (Washington time), Trump said he was withdrawing his endorsement of Jeff Hurd, who was among six Republicans in Congress who supported a resolution earlier this month to repeal Trumps tariffs on Canada. Advertisement The decision to retract an endorsement underlines Trumps depth of feeling about his tariff regime, and what is at stake for Republicans who fail to support it. Congressman Hurd is one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down, Trump wrote on social media. He is more interested in protecting Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for decades than he is the United States of America. With Bloomberg 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. Full-time: England 21-42 Ireland An incredible performance from Ireland as they dominated England from start to finish. A five-try win, and a real statement as questions that were asked about the squad were answered in style. Gibson-Park has been named Player of the Match, in an award that could have gone to several men in green. Try: England have a third try through Sam Underhill. It is too little, too late, but it will help England's point difference. Smith converts to make it 42-21. It is another incredible moment for McCloskey. Marcus Smith intercepts the pass from Crowley, and he sprints towards the line, but is stopped by the Ulster centre and Frawley. Incredible determination. It is another penalty to Ireland, with Doris winning another one at the breakdown. A performance to remember for Ireland. TRY!!!! Gibson-Park puts a great kick in behind the England defence and puts them under huge pressure, which leads to another penalty for Ireland. Ireland smell blood and go for the line-out, and after the phases, Osborne goes over for the try. Ireland have been ruthless. Crowley scores the conversion. 42-19 to Ireland. It is another penalty for Ireland in front of the posts as Ireland's pressure is once again too much for England. Crowley makes no mistake as Ireland increases their lead 35-14 with 14 minutes left to play. England win another scrum penalty after Ireland win a scrum from holding up George Ford. England is on the 10m line. It is great defending from Balacoune as he takes Freeman out of play just meters from Ireland's line, in what would have been a certain try. Ireland then win a penalty, and they're now making their way up the pitch. Osborne is back on the pitch. Ireland has a chance to extend the lead after they win a penalty in front of the posts about 30m out, and Crowley makes no mistake. 32-14 in the 59th minute. Jamie Osborne is in the sin-bin, while Ciaran Frawley is on for Garry Ringrose. England are back in the Ireland 22 and come inches from the try line, but Ireland hold on. They win another penalty, but they don't need it as Ollie Lawrence goes over for a try. 14-27 Ireland lead after 53 minutes. Another penalty to England brings them close to the Irish try line. They drive with the maul, but Ireland hold firm and win the penalty. Jamie George penalised. Penalty to England in their own 22 after a strong scrum. Tadhg Furlong and Jeremy Loughman are off, Tom O'Toole and Finlay Bealhem are on. Ireland are in another great position after a penalty brought them into the England half, but a forward pass brought an end to the play after some strong defending from England. TRY!!: Dan Sheehan secures the bonus point try as he goes over from close range, as Ireland have continued to be ruthless. Crowley scores the conversion, as Ireland has a 22-point lead once again. 29-7 to Andy Farrell's side. Doris makes a break and is stopped just short, but Ireland have a penalty. Henry Pollock has also been sent to the sin-bin for not releasing at the breakdown. However, the TMO is looking at an incident where Tom Curry was hit in the head at the breakdown, but the referee says it was a collision. Second half underway as Crowley's restart gets it underway. Tom Curry. Ireland are in dreamland as they lead England 22-5 in the Six Nations. First-half tries from Jamison Gibson-Park, Robert Balacoune, and Tommy O'Brien have Ireland in control. Handling errors and mistakes from England have been taken advantage of by Andy Farrell's side, who could not have wished for a better opening 40 minutes. James Lowe went off with an injury, but Tommy O'Brien has shown why he was included in the squad with his performance since he was brought in. Dingwall has given England some hope just before half-time with a try, but Ireland will be full of confidence, in what has been their best performance in some time. England will likely come out all guns blazing in the second half, as they surely cannot be that poor for another 40 minutes, but Ireland has put themselves in a great position. Now I fully appreciate that much of this article is not going to attract sympathy. Sympathy only goes to the deserving, so appealing for even a little of it for the poor rain-sodden residents of the east coast will not attract a lot of likes from most readers of this article, or indeed from western-based posters on Facebook. No indeed. If there are spare umbrellas in Connacht, I am not sure there would be much support to airlift them to Dublin in a humanitarian gesture. There would be many dry eyes in western houses if you tried to sell them that one. But these are strange times, so who knows what might happen. Since the start of January, the east coast has been battered by rain with an intensity and frequency I dont recall in all my years up here. And that is a lot of years. For weeks, it just hasnt stopped. It has been relentless. On top of that, it has been dark and gloomy, even on those rare days when there hasnt been much rain. No light, and all wet. The flooding that so many places on the east coast have experienced has of course been the worst of it. Anyone who has experienced that - wherever they may be - will get sympathy from all. Its an awful thing to happen. But even on the milder end of the experience, it has been a tough few weeks. Everywhere the ground is completely whats the word, saturated. Yes. that is the only way to describe it. The weather over the last few weeks in the east has attracted all the stock terms and cliches that have been used to describe the rain in the west for donkeys years. Ferocious. Relentless. Downpours. And yes, saturated. Those terms have been casually used about the rain in the west of Ireland forever. In Dublin, those terms have hardly ever been used to describe the rain and its impact, until now. Because it does indeed - normally - rain a lot less in Dublin. Yes, it does. A lot less, whatever those who have lived there all their lives may think. Now I appreciate that this is a sensitive topic. Those of us from the west who are living or have lived in Dublin dont like rubbing it in, or becoming unpopular, so we dont say it much about it when we are around to visit. The wise among us dont anyway. Because we have all heard the person who says as soon as I hit the west the rain falls. The observation might be true, but it aint wise. So if anyone at home asks you about the weather in Dublin, you shrug your shoulders and mumble about how nice it is to be home. If they press you, you say the city is all built up and so you dont notice it as much one way or the other. They know, you know, but honour and politeness is preserved. But when a person from the west moves to Dublin, after about two weeks, they will come up to you, look up at the sky, and whisper at you, its true. Even saying it feels a bit unkind to home, but it is hard to ignore when you walk out the door most days and dont worry about an umbrella. That has been true for a long time. The Vikings knew it. They had figured out that where they built Dublin is one of the driest places in Ireland. How they figured that out is one for the history scholars, but they did. So whether in plundering or in forecasting, there were few better than the Vikings - they knew all the good spots. That divide in rainfall even divides Dublin, with the south side of the city getting even less rain than the northside. This confirms of course that the Vikings and the Dublin middle classes have many things in common. So of course I fully appreciate that tears for Dublin about this matter will not of course fall like rain. Readers in the west will cast their eyes skyward when they hear all the talk about bad weather when it impacts the east coast, and wonder at the drought of talk when it hits the west. This aspect of life is as certain as showers. But all that aside, the weather is strange. What has caused it is something that we all - wherever we live - have to reflect on. The damage done to peoples homes and businesses by flooding, or even the threat of it, is catastrophic. What it all means for where and how we build and live and work is an enormous - and very expensive - question. Some people will say the changes are natural and not caused by human activities. For those who say climate change isnt happening, ask yourself why Donald Trump was so keen to get hold of Greenland. Was it because of all the ice or because it is melting? Water dripping everywhere has certainly been the experience on the east coast these last few weeks. And of course there are studies that show lots of complicated and important things about the patterns of rain and weather and what it all means, but really all we have had to do is look around. The infrastructure we have used for decades to get us through the winter and the annual rains has started to seriously fray and degrade in response to this weather - you can see the effects on roads in the city and fields in the country. We have a deadly plant called hemlock water-dropwort being washed up rivers onto beaches on the east coast. There might be some craic in reflecting on the poor Dubliners complaining about a bit of rain, but there is no craic in these changed weather patterns. No one in the west needs reminding what it was like when the brunt of Storm Eowyn hit the west. The weather is changing, climate change is real, and in response, all the umbrellas in the world wont keep the consequences off our heads, wherever in Ireland those heads are to be found. JPMorgan Chase is warning that the US government could face up to $200 billion in tariff refunds after a major Supreme Court ruling struck down key emergency trade duties imposed by Donald Trump. In a new research note, the bank said businesses may seek between $150 billion and $200 billion in repayments if lower courts rule that companies must be reimbursed for tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court ruled that the president did not have the authority to impose certain country-based tariffs under that law. "The Court's ruling remanded this issue to the lower courts, so we won't know the full amount or timing of any rebates," wrote Michael Feroli, one of the bank's top economists, NY Post reported. He added that official customs data may be outdated, but JPMorgan estimates "the amount at stake to be around $150200 billion." That sum equals roughly 16% to 22% of the projected $901 billion US defense budget for 2026. According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, refund claims could total as much as $165 billion. Trump admin could be forced to refund $200B in tariffs after SCOTUS ruling: JPMorgan https://t.co/gTt69pf89J pic.twitter.com/sjjD8xlUhI NY Post Business (@nypostbiz) February 20, 2026 Trump Tariff Refund Fight Could Drag On for Years The ruling leaves the question of refunds unresolved, meaning it could take months or even years to settle. President Trump acknowledged the uncertainty, saying, "What happens to all the money we took in? It wasn't discussed. I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years." Currently, there is no system in place for companies to request or receive tariff refunds. Economists say businesses would likely have to file lawsuits or claims individually. According to CBS News, more than 1,000 refund cases have already been filed with the Court of International Trade, and experts expect that number to rise. JPMorgan also warned that even if refunds are paid, new tariffs may quickly replace the old ones. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration could "recreate the exact tariff structure" using other legal tools. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick added that "tariffs are here to stay." Feroli noted that even if average tariff rates fallfrom 9.4% in December to just over 4% without the IEEPA dutiesongoing changes could create "a material increase in trade policy uncertainty." In simple terms, that means businesses may feel unsure about future rules, which can slow spending and hiring. The bank also cautioned that refund payments and policy shifts could widen the federal deficit in 2026. Originally published on vcpost.com Leah Fondaw, COO and licensed therapist at Four Rivers Behavioral Health in Paducah, talks about AI, and the fact that it is not currently in use in the facility's offices USS Gerald R. Ford [Photo: US Navy/Seaman Alyssa Joy] The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest warship ever built, transited the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday and entered the Mediterranean, placing the United States within days of having the military force in position for a massive illegal assault on Iran. Two US officials told Reuters on Friday that military planning had reached an advanced stage, with options including targeting individuals and pursuing leadership change in Tehran. Asked whether he was considering a limited strike, US President Donald Trump told reporters: I guess I can say I am considering that. The New York Times reported Tuesday that the buildup had progressed to the point that Trump could take military action as soon as this weekend. More than 50 fighter jets, two carrier strike groups and dozens of refueling tankers have been deployed. B-2 bombers have been placed on higher alert. The Wall Street Journal detailed the hardware pouring into the region: F-35 and F-22 stealth fighters, F-15Es, F-16s, EA-18G electronic warfare jets, nine destroyers armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, and the submarine USS Georgia. The Associated Press called it the largest force of American warships and aircraft to the Middle East in decades. An attack on Iran would constitute a war of aggressionthe supreme international crimeas defined at the Nuremberg trials. Iran has not attacked the United States. There is no UN Security Council authorization. There is no congressional authorization. Trump has made clear he regards none of this as a constraint. I dont need international law, he told the New York Times in January. The threat of attack comes as Irans government has been desperately appealing to the Trump administration to negotiate. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that a draft counterproposal would be ready in the next two, three days following indirect talks in Geneva this week and that a deal could be achieved in a very short period of time. Irans diplomatic efforts will count for nothing, because for the Trump administration diplomacy is merely a pretext and cover for murder and extortion. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sought to negotiate with the Trump administration in the months before the January raid that seized him and his wife, offering as late as the day before to discuss a deal. The same fraud was carried out against Iran last year. The White House gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum. Five rounds of talks were held. On June 8, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff sat in a war-planning session at Camp David alongside the CIA director and defense secretary. Five days later, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, bombing more than 100 targets and assassinating senior commanders and nuclear scientists. On June 22, seven B-2 bombers launched Operation Midnight Hammer, striking Irans nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Irans foreign minister told the UN: We were attacked in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic process. The White House demands total capitulationno uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, dismantling of the ballistic missile program and abandonment of regional allies. US officials say privately they see no prospect of Iran meeting these terms. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that if Iran refuses to comply after an initial limited military strike, the US would respond with a broad campaign against regime facilitiespotentially aimed at toppling the Tehran regime. The war against Iran is a component of the eruption of American militarism all over the world. The carrier now entering the Mediterranean to attack Iran was redeployed from the Caribbean, where it took part in the seizure of Venezuelan President Maduro. The attack on Venezuela, the threatened seizure of Greenland and the Panama Canal, and the war against Iran are components of a single strategy: the use of military power to control the worlds critical resources and chokepoints in preparation for conflict with Russia and China. There is overwhelming opposition to war with Iran. A Quinnipiac poll in January found 70 percent of voters oppose military action. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 69 percent say the US should not get involved in Middle East military action unless directly threatened. Despite this public opposition, the Democratic Party has systematically enabled Trumps war preparations, because it speaks for the same constituency in the capitalist ruling class, which sees the colonial subjugation of the whole world as a means to prop up US global hegemony. Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia told MS NOW on February 14: I think its appropriate the president has all the options on the table. On Friday, Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey issued a bipartisan statement with Republican Representative Mike Lawler of New York explicitly opposing a resolution by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna that would prohibit the use of military force against Iran without congressional authorization. This resolution would restrict the flexibility needed to respond to real and evolving threats and risks signaling weakness at a dangerous moment, they wrote. Congress must not limit our ability to protect Americans and our allies. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania declared on Newsmax on February 11 his support for bombing Iran, pledging to vote against any war powers resolution. I absolutely was fully supportive and was cheering for that Midnight Hammer, he said. And, now, if thats required for a second round, Ill be the one Democrat to absolutely say thats entirely appropriate. On Friday, as the Ford entered the Mediterranean and the administration announced plans for leadership change and targeting individuals, neither House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, nor Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, nor the leaders of the progressive wing of the Democratic PartySenator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who last weekend at the Munich Security Conference repeated the administrations regime change talking points about Iranissued any statement. The Democrats have voted to fund every weapon now being assembled for this attack. 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 Democrats in favor. In January, 149 House Democrats voted for $839 billion in defense appropriations. Police during national strike in January 2024, Buenos Aires [Photo by RitaStardust / CC BY 4.0 Argentinas Chamber of Deputies approved fascist President Javier Mileis flagship Labor Modernization Law in the early hours of Friday morning, virtually ensuring the final dismantling of the countrys 1974 labor code and clearing the way for a ruthless regime of mass layoffs, wage cuts and workplace abuses. The vote135 in favor, 115 against, no abstentionscame on the heels of a limited nationwide strike and day of protests called by the CGT and CTA union federations on Thursday as the lower house met. Despite widespread anger and a clear willingness to fight, the mobilizations were tightly controlled, confined to a 24hour stoppage and pressure on Congress, rather than a political general strike aimed at paralyzing production and asserting the power of workers in their workplaces and communities. As deputies haggled over the bills final terms, the government agreed to remove Article 44, which would have sharply limited sick pay, forcing the amended text back to the Senate for a final confirmatory vote next week. As shown by their limited actions, the union bureaucracies threw workers under the bus to secure their own income, with the government retreating on its proposals to abolish compulsory union dues and cut unionrun health plans. Several Peronist governors also cut a deal to support the law as long as planned cuts to income tax were shelved, hoping to maintain revenue flows to their provinces. These governors ordered their deputies to provide the bare quorum needed to open the session and vote through the bill. During both Wednesdays Senate debate and Thursdays lower-house session, the government deployed massive riot police and gendarmerie contingents. After the unions and pseudoleft organizations deliberately wound down their marches and sent people home, security forces moved in with water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets, leaving at least 70 injured and 11 detained. Even watered down, the law constitutes the most sweeping rollback of labor protections since the 197683 dictatorship. Paid vacations can now be split and scheduled at the employers discretion. Overtime premiums are reduced, and 12hour workdays are legalized in practice. Severance pay is slashed: endofyear bonuses, vacation pay and other items are excluded from the calculation, and payouts can be stretched out over many months, making it easier and cheaper to fire workers. The right to strike is gutted in strategic sectors through draconian minimum service requirements. Workplace assemblies are virtually banned, and labor cases are shifted to the proemployer courts. The law eliminates ultraactividad, the automatic extension of expired collective bargaining agreements until new ones are negotiated. This condemns existing agreements to rapid erosion, opening the door to generalized wage and benefit cuts. It promotes companylevel agreements over national sectoral contracts, enabling employers to whipsaw individual plants against one another and drive down conditions. The limits of the unions response were stark. The February 19 national strike was set at just 24 hours, with the only exception being the maritime workers, whose union called a 48hour strike after discovering that the law simply excludes them from the Collective Agreement Law altogetherplacing them in the same legal unprotected status as Uber and app workers. The goal of the union tops and their pseudoleft advisers in the Frente de IzquierdaUnidad (FITU) was not to unleash the full power of the working class, but to stage a controlled protest aimed at pressuring Congress and the bureaucracy, promoting illusions that parliamentary maneuvers could restrain Milei. The social aims of the reform were demonstrated in practice even before the vote. On Wednesday, Argentine tiremaker FATE, founded in 1940 and long a symbol of national industry, announced the immediate, definitive closure of its massive Virreyes plant in San Fernando, Buenos Aires Province, eliminating 920 jobs and threatening at least 2,000 more indirectly. The plant, which produced over five million tires a year, shut down without warning; workers arrived to find the gates locked and a notice of closure. They responded by climbing the fences, entering the premises and occupying the factory, forcing the tire workers union SUTNA to follow them inside. The closure is directly linked to Mileis trade liberalization. The response of SUTNAs leadership, in the hands of Alejandro Crespo of the Partido Obrero (PO), exposes the bankruptcy of the FITUs program of recovering the unions by electing supposedly revolutionary leaders. Crespo was briefly detained with 15 workers on Wednesday for cutting the fence, then told the press: The closure of FATE is totally illegal; this firm just signed an agreement that it was not going to carry out any type of layoffs until June 30. He stressed that wages were not the problem: We have gone for 14 months without a wage increasehere the problem is imports and the exchange rate. The macroeconomic part is managed by the government and the part of investments by the company; they have to come to an agreement and fix this because the workers are not going to permit itWe call upon the CGT to come forward and commit to solving this problem. Following a decade of real wage cuts, firings and other concessions justified as a means of preventing a closure, now Crespo demands that the government and employers fix the problem, while the CGT bureaucracy supposedly is relied upon to represent workers. This is a statement of total prostration and helplessness. Nonetheless, at Thursdays strike rally, PO leader Eduardo Belliboni responded to the CGTs statement that the 24hour strike was its plan of struggle by defining a real plan as continuing to protest outside Congress for each new bill, while hailing SUTNA as an emblematic, revolutionary union leadership. In reality, this strategy can only serve to chain workers to the very apparatus that just delivered Mileis law. The demands on the union bureaucracy and Peronist legislators, like the plant occupation, are not conceived as a step toward defending workers, much less fighting for power. The petty union bureaucrats and bourgeois politicians in the FIT-U are merely seeking bargaining chips in negotiations with the state and management to gain a more prominent place at the table and greater privileges. This orientation is confirmed by the FITUs longstanding defense of economic nationalism, no different in essence from Peronism. PO legislator Nestor Pitrola recently explained his vote against an EU trade agreement on this basis: We are one of the 22 countries with an auto industry and they are going to destroy it...sectors like tires and textiles are already showing critical levels of imports and idle capacity, in anticipation of a greater dismantling of the productive fabric. As the WSWS has previously explained about the FIT-Us chauvinism: all these tendencies uphold the right of the bourgeoisie in the backward countries to defend their state boundaries and exploit the workers, resources and markets within them. The defense of a national productive fabric under capitalist ownership is incompatible with the independent class interests of the working class; it pits Argentine workers against their class brothers and sisters abroad in the name of defending their bosses and their state. Milei gestures to Trump during Board of Peace Summit in Washington, D.C. [Photo: Gobierno de Argentina] While his shock troops assaulted protesters in Buenos Aires, Milei sat in Washington D.C. on Trumps socalled Peace Council, offering Argentinas White Helmetsin service of the stabilization forcefor deployment in Gaza. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) has repeatedly stressed that the genocide in Gaza and the drive to install USbacked regimes across Latin America are part of the same process: a neocolonial redivision of the world by imperialism under conditions of deep capitalist crisis. The assault on labor rights in Argentina, aimed at imposing social austerity, facilitating mass layoffs and restructuring the economy for global finance capital, is one front in a worldwide offensive to enforce dictatorship, militarism and unprecedented enrichment of the financial oligarchy. Its roots lie in the long-term decline of US industrial supremacy, the dominance of fictitious capital and financialization, and soaring social inequality. Trump and the IMF have sunk billions into Mileis program as a laboratory for extracting super-profits from the Argentine working class and turning the country into a bastion of counterrevolution and wararming it with F16s and integrating it into US strategic plans. The only way Argentine workers can fight this is by mobilizing independently and uniting their struggle with workers throughout the Americas and beyond. This requires a break with all nationalist forces, including Peronism and its pseudoleft hangers-on, whose entire perspective is confined within the framework of the capitalist nation-state and whose betrayals and disarming of the working class paved the way for the 1976 fascist-military dictatorship that now serves as a model for Trump and Milei. The role of the FITU is central in blocking the emergence of a genuine alternative. It denounces the CGTs deals while continually appealing to the same bureaucracy for an active strike and plan of struggle leading to a general strike. Once the CGT grudgingly called a 24hour stoppage, the FITU simply demanded that it be active, i.e., accompanied by marches, without challenging the CGTs control or the union apparatus as such. The assault on the workers at FATE, the passage of Mileis law and the unions deliberate sabotage together demonstrate that the defense of jobs, wages and democratic rights demands the formation of rankandfile committees in every workplace and neighborhood, independent of the union bureaucracies and based on an international socialist program. Will Lehman campaigns at Dearborn Truck Plant in 2023 The campaign by Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman for president of the United Auto Workers is winning strong support from Ford workers at the historic Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, just west of Detroit. Supporters distributed hundreds of copies of Lehmans campaign announcement during a shift change at the Dearborn Truck Plant Tuesday and spoke with workers about the major issues they confront. Dozens of workers stopped to speak with campaigners, voicing frustration with unbearable workloads, forced overtime, harassment, and indifference from UAW reps who side with management. Another major topic of discussion was the reinstatement of DTP worker Thomas TJ Sabula who had been terminated on the spot for denouncing Trump as a pedophile protector during the presidents tour of the plant on January 13. Hundreds of workers at the plant defied management and posted videos of Sabulas confrontation with Trump. Within hours, those clips traveled across the world, sparking a wave of solidarity. Just seeing how fast that situation with Sabula became world news was the most sobering part, one worker told Lehmans supporters as he arrived for work. It can happen anywhereall of a sudden it was worldwide. Bill Ford Jr. and the plant manager pointed at him and made it known that he was terminated for good. Last week, UAW President Shawn Fain and UAW Ford Vice President Laura Dickerson attempted to take credit for Sabulas reinstatement in comments at the UAW Community Action Program (CAP) conference in Washington, D.C. Their claims only provoked anger among workers. The UAW is trying to take credit for getting his job back. But they did nothing, another worker told Lehmans supporters. Rankandfile workers launched the GoFundMe drives that raised over $800,000 in a matter of days. Workers are terminated every day on bogus charges, and the union doesnt do anything, another worker said. Trump is the one thats lying. If he was innocent, he would never have reacted that way. It only shows how he feels about workers. Trump is very rude and disrespectful. She continued, 'The things he is doing and saying are inexcusable. TJ was speaking facts, and there was a lot of support for him. Workers are unjustly fired every day, and the union does nothing, another worker said bluntly. Another added, Theyve got legacy (senior) workers doing jobs they cant physically handle. Management piles on the work trying to force them out the door. I know at least three people who were fired for nothing. Management just wanted them gone. Now, one worker told the WSWS that they are outlawing phones at Rouge. Threatening workers with firing. They are avenging the humiliation of backing down on Sabulla in front of Trump. On February 15, the Ford Rouge Workers Rank-and-File Committee issued a statement, titled, Thomas TJ Sabula Is Back at WorkBut the Lessons Must Be Learned. The committee said his reinstatement was not due to any action by the UAW bureaucracy but the outpouring of popular support from working people across the US and the world who agreed with Sabulas comment and defended his right to free speech. While welcoming the courageous workers return, the committee said, there is no place for complacency. What happened in Minneapolisthe repression of protests, the targeting of immigrants and the murder of political opponentsshows that Trump is moving to install a dictatorship. Immigrants were the first targets. But attacks on democratic rights will not stop there. The methods used against immigrants today are being prepared to use against striking workers tomorrow. That is why workers have to build rank-and-file committees in every factory and workplace, controlled not by union bureaucrats but workers themselves, the committee said. The committees must oppose the program of class collaboration of UAW President Shawn Fain and the rest of the union apparatus and revive the rich traditions of class struggle. The Ford Rouge Workers Rank-and-File Committee expressed its support for Lehmans campaign, his call to abolish the corrupt UAW bureaucracy and transfer power to workers on the shop floor, and his fight for the international unity of workers and independence from both corporate-controlled parties. Ford workers also spoke to campaigners about Lehmans call for collective action to stop the operations of Trumps ICE paramilitary squads in Detroit and other cities. The day before the campaign at Ford Rouge, Detroit residents spotted masked ICE agents detaining motorists outside of the General Motors Factory Zero plant, located in the heavily immigrant community of Hamtramck, a Detroit enclave. 'The ICE raids are disgusting, a Ford worker declared. First off, how can they claim that any immigrant who is detained is criminal? That is just not true. You have more innocent people and more parents being taken away from their children than anything. How can they take a five-year-old kid? Thats not right. When people come to the United States, theres supposed to be in the land of the free. They feel like they are here to get something better than they have at home. ICE are not even doing the paperwork. Theyre picking up people at work, and they are literally just killing people. I know our ancestors would not be proud of this today. Lehman supporters encountered these same sentiments in other Detroit factories where campaigns were held this week, including the Stellantis Sterling Heights, Mack and Jefferson assembly plants. At Jefferson, one young worker said, It's a terrible thing that ICE is here because we have communities and minorities from all over, from all over the world. You have Dearborn, Hamtramck and they're ripping these people away from their kids and killing American citizens on top of that. This is America, man? We're killing our own people. It's nothing but a slaughter house. They start with the immigrants, but they're going after everybody. Asked what he thought about a general strike, he said, I'm all for it. The worker expressed support for Wills campaign and said he wanted to get involved. The union being in bed with management is frustrating. You figure that you have people that fight for you, and they're really in the pockets of management and do these back door deals. There needs to be a change. I agree, workers should be controlling everything. Its true. Another Jefferson worker stopped after taking a flyer on Lehmans campaign. Is this the guy who ran the last time? We were just talking about him, she said before signing up to support the campaign. Alcides Caceres [Photo: Alcides Caceres] The arrest and continued detention of 23-year-old Detroit resident Alcides Caceres exposes how the Trump administrations escalating deportation drive relies on lawless imprisonment and a growing network of makeshift detention sites across the United States. Caceres is a Cass Tech graduate and former Wayne State University student who came to Detroit from Honduras at the age of four. He has spent weeks in ICE custody after being picked up around January 8, despite having no criminal record and despite a federal court ruling that his detention is unlawful. Joseph Williams, Caceres attorney, told the WSWS that Caceres was driving his work truck when he was pulled over by a Border Patrol agent despite no traffic violations. The agent spent roughly 20 minutes searching for warrants or grounds to justify the stop. When she found nothing, she called police departments to see whether Caceres was on any list or whether there was an arrest warrant. None existed. Williams said the agents conduct then became openly racist. According to Alcides, the agent said, essentially, Because hes brown, theres got to be something. When the agent eventually discovered that Caceres had entered the US without inspection, she started mocking him and laughing. Entering without inspection means crossing the border without going through an official checkpoint. In Caceres case, his family just walked across the Rio Grande around 2005, without paperwork, long before more recent programs used by asylum seekers. Caceres is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)-eligible, meaning he qualifies for a legal status that should weigh strongly against detention and deportation. Yet ICE is still holding him, even though a federal court has ruled his detention unlawfulsimilar to thousands of other cases. Immigration courts frequently deny detainees bond hearings under statutes they interpret as no bond, resulting in people spending a year in jail, sometimes more, because they are treated as a flight risk. In other words, immigrants who have committed no crime are jailed for months on end without meaningful due process. Caceres is currently held at Chippewa County Jail in Sault Ste. Marienot even an ICE detention center. Williams noted that in some ways this is worse than being in a designated ICE facility because Caceres is housed with people convicted of violent crimes. The detentions social consequences extend beyond Caceres himself. Williams said Caceres is the legal guardian of his younger sister, a US citizen. His little sister, who is a U.S. citizen, is particularly affected. Shes distraught. She doesnt know what to do. He described the trauma of a child whose guardian was essentially snatched away from her. This is part of a broader pattern of fear and disruption in immigrant communities and schools. Teachers are witnessing the impact directly, with attendance dropping as families hide or leave. Immigration courts are being politically weaponized under Trump. Williams noted that a directive was recently issued directly from Pam Bondi to all these judges: deny all bond on flight risk, no matter the evidence. Williams pointed to a dramatic shift in outcomes: In the past six months, I had over 50 hearings and only two denials. Since mid-January Ive had 15 denials in the span of two weeks. The objective is to force voluntary departures through terror. Williams noted that Caceres case is part of a sweeping offensive: The real problem is not these individual cases but Alcides is one of a million. He cited clients with Temporary Protected Statuspeople legally allowed to remainwho were still arrested, detained for months, then released without any reason given for their detention. Williams warned that the detention system is being built to function like a permanent domestic prison archipelago. These detention centers are essentially Guantanamos at home, he said. Even when federal judges rule in detainees favor, immigration judges and the enforcement apparatus find ways to undermine due process. Once someone is arrested and pulled into this system, its almost impossible to get out. Deportation is where it tends to lead. Due process is thrown out the window. Growing up, you wonder how the Nazis could do what they did, he said. Now I see how it happens every day. Caceres seizure is part of a broader escalation of ICE and Border Patrol operations across metro Detroit. ICE has sharply intensified raids and roadside detentions in the region, carrying out an operation outside GMs Factory Zero in Hamtramck and arresting workers inside an Amazon facility in Hazel Park. ICE is reportedly expanding its physical footprint in the Detroit area, purchasing warehouse space in Romulus and renting offices in Southfield. This is part of a national drive to build a sprawling network of makeshift detention sites in preparation for mass arrests. The defense of Alcides Caceres, and of all those threatened by this deportation dragnet, requires the organization of the working class, through rank-and-file committees in workplaces and neighborhoods to block detentions and mobilize the collective strength of the working class against the repression now being prepared in Detroit and nationwide. In the German metal and electrical industries, 10,000 to 15,000 jobs are being destroyed every month. However, in one branch of industryarmamentsa gold rush atmosphere prevails. Arms companies like Rheinmetall are hiring personnel, buying up plants in ailing sectors and transforming them into weapons and ammunition factories. For example, employees of a Continental brake plant in Gifhorn are to move to a new Rheinmetall ammunition factory in the Luneburg Heath, while tank builder KNDS is taking over a railway plant in Gorlitz, which will in future produce Leopard 2 main battle tanks instead of trams and double-decker railway cars. In Berlin, this development is gripping the technology and start-up sector: dozens of companies, originally active in the civilian applications of AI, robotics, optics or medical technology, are reorienting themselves towards dual use and military contracts. At the Pierburg factory old machines are being disposed of to make way for new technology to produce armaments The most radical expression of this conversion policy is the transformation of Pierburg GmbH, a traditional automotive supplier in Berlin-Wedding, into Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH. At the Scheringstrasse 2 site, right next to residential buildings, a park, a playground and an open-air swimming pool, production of components for the automotive industry has been gradually phased out since mid-2025 and replaced by the mechanical processing of shell casings for artillery ammunition. The transition is to be completed by mid-2026. Rheinmetall itself frames the new task as follows: The Berlin plant is in future to predominantly manufacture mechanical components for military needs, specifically metal casings for artillery ammunition, which will be filled with explosives in Lower Saxony. This is the first ammunition production facility in the densely populated working class district of Wedding since the end of the Second World Wara break with a decades-old taboo that war production should not take place in the middle of a residential area. The company, the works council and IG Metall union are selling the conversion as a socio-political blessing: around 350 jobs would be saved by moving them entirely over to arms production. Rheinmetall promises brand-new machines, investments in infrastructure, qualification programs and planning security for the next decade. At the same time, the corporation is divesting itself of its automotive division and intends to sell off 7,800 jobs in this sector worldwidean expression of the profound change of course towards the arms business and war profits. The conversion of Pierburg in Berlin-Wedding into an ammunition factory is thus not an isolated case, but part of a rearmaments offensive that is taking place at the expense of the working class and the civilian population. In the bitter struggle for markets, raw materials and spheres of influence, all the great powers are massively upgrading their armed forces and forging new military alliances. The new era in Germanys foreign and defence policies, the militarization of the EU and Trumps course towards trade war, war and dictatorship are reactions to one and the same crisis of the world capitalist system. The gigantic arms budgets are being financed by systematic cuts in education, health, social infrastructure and pensions and a lowering of the living standards of the working class. While millions of workers worldwide are losing their jobs, the bourgeoisie offers some of them the cynical exchange of producing weapons of mass destruction in return for security and the preservation of their jobs. The shift of production from civilian to military goods is the economic form in which the trade war and the preparation of new military wars penetrate the everyday life of the factories. IG Metall supports the war economy IG Metall plays a decisive role in this transition. Instead of organizing workers resistance, the union presents the conversion of the plant on Scheringstrasse as a transformation process without alternative and a positive sign directed towards the future. Works Council Chairman Bernd Benninghaus declares that the conversion to armaments secures all production jobs, brings new machines and qualifications and ends the phase of constant restructuring. He labels workers who are critical of the transformation as isolated cases. In an interview with IG Metall Berlin, Benninghaus and his deputy Martin Hoffmann emphasized that the conversion is taking place fully following the co-determination model, granting union bureaucrats a seat on corporate committees, and that the new company will join the employers association in Berlin-Brandenburg, meaning it will remain bound by collective agreements struck with the union. Their message is: the workforce is writing a success story; the alternative would have been the closure of the site and negotiations for a social plan to deal with it. Thus, the works council accepts the corporations blackmailunemployment or war productionand helps shape it as co-managers. IG Metall is doing the same at a higher level as well. The Berlin district manager explains that it is undeniable that weunfortunatelyneed this production in these times. The First Representative of IG Metall Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony, Jan Otto, emphasizes that while one wants peace, in the worst-case scenario one must be able to defend oneself, and then it is better to produce the stuff here. The IG Metall national executive justifies this course by pointing to constitutional national and alliance defence and speaks euphemistically of equipping, not rearming. For the workers at Rheinmetall and other companies, this has fatal consequences: their justified concerns about their jobs are used to draw them into the logic of militarism and subordinate them to the interests of the arms industry. The Left Party plays its usual double game While IG Metall and the works council stand behind the rearmament policy without any ifs, ands or buts, the Berlin Left Party expresses moral concerns. Under the motto No Rheinmetall weapons production in Wedding! Social needs instead of rearmament! it calls for demonstrations outside the plant on Scheringstrasse and denounces wars, poverty and the profits of the arms corporations. It demands that public funds be invested in education, health and climate-friendly transport instead of weapons production, and points to the historical role of the site in the world wars and forced labour under the Nazis. The Left Party is playing its usual double game. Locally, it puts itself at the head of the resistance in order to prevent it radicalizing and turning against the union and against its friends in the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens, with whom it seeks to form a joint state government after the Berlin state election in September. It fuels the illusion that the government and corporations can be moved to a more reasonable policy by moral appeals and that capitalism can be pacified through pressure from below. Yet wherever the Left Party itself has a say, it supports rearmament and social cuts. In the Bundesrat (upper house of the federal parliament), it voted to exempt arms spending from the debt brake, which makes the massive expansion of arms productionand thus the conversion of Pierburg into an arms factorypossible in the first place. And in the Berlin Senate (state executive), it co-organized the cutting of public sector jobs, the slashing of social spending and the sale of public housing to real estate sharks for years. The reason for this double game by the Left Party is its unconditional defence of capitalism. Despite its name, it is not a left-wing or socialist party, but represents the interests of the better-off middle-class layers who are afraid of social upheavals, hence its criticism of social grievances. But it fears a movement of the working class that questions capitalist property far more than all the conspiracies of the ruling class. Therefore, in crises, it unreservedly takes their side. The Left Partys ideological brethren in Greeceand recently also in the UShave vividly demonstrated this. In Greece, Alexis Tsipras was elected head of government in 2015 because he spoke out against the European Unions austerity dictates. As prime minister, he then implemented an even harsher austerity programwith devastating consequences for Greek workers, pensioners and their families. In the US, Zohran Mamdani won the election for mayor of New York at the end of last year because he presented himself as a socialist and opponent of President Trump. But even before he took office, he reconciled with Trump in the White House and dropped his most important election promiseshigher taxes for the rich, affordable rentslike a hot potato. Building action committees Rearmament and the conversion of civilian factories into arms production cannot be prevented by moral appeals to the corporations and the government, but only by the independent struggle of the working class. This requires a break with the unions, which are in cahoots with the corporations, and with organizations like the Left Party, which do everything in their power to strangle the movement and steer it into a dead end. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) advocates the building of rank-and-file action committees that are independent of the trade unions, led by trustworthy, democratically elected workers, and that organize the fight against layoffs and the conversion to arms production. They must proceed from the principle that the interests of the working class stand above the profit interests of the corporations and their shareholders. They must network across plants and unite internationally, and it is for this purpose, that the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) was founded. We invite all autoworkers from Pierburg/Rheinmetall and others to contact us and discuss the necessary next steps. Send a WhatsApp to +491633378340 and fill out the form below. UPS workers in Minneapolis, Minnesota January 29, 2026 Are you experiencing abuse at your workplace? Contact the WSWS with your story by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept confidential. Laiza is a former part-time UPS supervisor who lives in Redmond, Washington. The daughter of a Filipina immigrant and naturalized citizen, she comes from a family that has worked at the logistics firm for decades. In late 2022, she took a job at UPS on the twilight sort at the Redmond hub. She also worked two other jobsas a farm worker and a music teacherto make ends meet in one of the most expensive regions of Washington State. Redmond, best known as Microsofts headquarters, also houses major offices for other multinational tech companies, including Amazons Project Kuiper satellite business, and Nintendo of America. The cost of living is pretty high, she said. Were always living paycheck to paycheck. We are blessed to have had grandparents who had a little money and bought houses when it was more affordable. She continued: The economy is very scary. My grandparents didnt have to work multiple jobs. Some days Im working 13 hours. My grandparents needed only one job and could purchase a house and live comfortably. Laiza says she has faced retaliation for exposing workplace abuse by management. They are denying peoples human rights, she said. They deny people medical [care] and pressure them against going to hospitals when they are injured. Because she filed numerous ethics complaints, she says, UPS tried to fire her four separate times. UPS claims that she resigned, which Laiza rejects. I still have my badge. I didnt resign. Im not sure what my status is at this point. Since then, she has set up a TikTok account, @End.UPS.Fraud, where she meticulously documents conditions inside the facility. She described horrific injuries inside the facility. Last year, she said, an employee fell ill after encountering an unknown substance in a trailer. He couldnt breathe, she said. Nobody else complained, so they thought it was an allergy at first. But after his break, the general manager instructed him to go back into the trailer. He had to go to the emergency room, she explained. But not before the GM kept him in the office for an hour, pressuring him not to go. She continued: The next day, the part-time supervisors besides me were told to tell everyone it was the employees fault, because they didnt tell us in a timely manner about his issues. The reality is that this employee told both me and our GM immediately at the start of the work day that the trailer he was assigned to was making him extremely ill. Laiza recounted other stories. Another new hires thumb was broken, but the full time supervisor one level above me tried to keep him from going to the hospital. The Network of the Future UPS is in the midst of its largest mass layoff program in history. Its Network of the Future program aims to close or automate 200 facilities. The company eliminated 48,000 jobs last year, more than any other US employer, in a year that saw 1.2 million layoff announcements, the most since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the 20082009 recession. So far this year, it has announced plans to cut at least 30,000 jobs and has slated 22 facilities for closure. The closure of UPS nearby Shoreline hub led to higher-seniority employees transferring to Redmond. Lower seniority workers at Shoreline were let go. To keep their full-time status, many work two four-hour split shifts, often with a four-hour break in between. The practice is common throughout UPS. Thats brutal for them, Laiza said. Some sleep in their cars, others will take long drives home, 30 minutes each way. They dont have the time with their families that they used to. Redmond has also laid people off, including the entire night sort, which Laiza estimates is about 200 jobs. To keep their jobs, many have been forced to transfer to Tacoma, more than 40 miles away. To keep her own job, Laiza transferred to work preload in Seattle in 2024. She had originally been slated to transfer to Redmond, but I wouldnt be able to afford my bills if I had to go to Tacoma. However, she was able to transfer back to Redmond early the following year. Theres something funny about automation. Ive been to Tacoma for training. The management there were telling me that there are a lot of mistakes and mis-sorts with automation. If Tacoma cant hit the numbers, they start piling more on the human-run sort shifts. Then they lie and say the automation is doing great. So they over-work the human-run buildings after they laid off a bunch of people and push people to work faster. They havent been focusing on quality of life. I could see using it to make the job more safer. But I feel like theyre putting tons of money into robotics, and the tech isnt even quite there yet. The robots are still extremely slow. Theyre skipping the step of making the job more safe. I know weve had a lot of injuries lately. There were at least six injury reports in one year in Seattle. Thats supposed to be bad. But a lot of injuries dont get reported at all, due to pressure, or workers just being used to being sore. Workers are afraid of filing reports. When I got transferred back to Redmond, in the first few months, a guy on my team had a 70-pound package hit him on the back of the head. His face was smashed into a pallet jack, breaking his nose. The GM was the last [supervisor] near him. They tried to blame me for that, but I was on the other side of unload. They pressured him against going to the hospital, when he had a possible concussion and was gushing blood. I started crying. Widespread forgery Lazia said that she eventually became aware that UPS management had been forging signatures on documents for dozens of workers. A lot of these documents are used in the firing or disciplinary process, and could affect health benefits. They would use it to try to prove that going to a hospital was your fault. They would say that you yourself signed a document acknowledging youre not following procedure, and things like that. She said she discovered that her father, who also works in the facility, had his signature forged on a document from last summer. Eventually, they were able to discover another forged signature on a write-up from 2023. When they write you up, theyre supposed to talk to you and inform you that theyre doing it. They never did that with my dad. As many as 30 other workers discovered forged documents while reviewing their records on UPS computers. They took videos and photos of the computer screens as well as printouts of the forged documents as evidence. However, Laiza has been told that UPS has refused to provide entire personnel records upon request. Laiza says she has filed both an ethics complaint and a police report. She is encouraging workers across the Redmond facility, and nationwide, to request their own records for this reason. Recently, she campaigned on this outside the entrance to the facility. A culture of intimidation After Laiza began filing ethics complaints, she and her team were subjected to intense harassment. Aside from verbal abuse, they would slam my teams area more than anyone elses. It was obviously bullying. They would get overworked. Id have to shut off the belts for safety reasons. The full-time supervisor told me, Im not co-running this floor with you. If employees get hurt, packages damaged, then its your fault. Laiza says the same supervisor also sexually harassed her and she filed a complaint. The UPS ethics hotline claims it will be kept confidential, but the internal security official blabbed it to the people I filed against. They knew things they didnt need to know. UPS told me theyd keep him away from me. But he kept coming near me anyways. In July, when the general manager was on vacation, Laiza was escorted out of the building and had her badge taken away. The next day, she said, I asked on what grounds and on whose authority was I fired? HR took a day to respond, when they told me I wasnt terminated, they just needed me out for the investigation. Laiza took this as an attempt to force her out of her job. They kept her home for four months. Teamsters cooperate with management As a part-time supervisor, Laiza is not a member of the Teamsters union. Although she has uncovered significant evidence of management abuse, Local 174 has done little in response. We just got a new business agent. He claims hes trying to focus on the Redmond preload, but it seems like they are not happy with him there. People have reported the signature forgeries, and I went to the union hall to report on it. But so far they have not said anything. There was a grievance meeting with a management rep and the union BA. When the BA brought up signature forgeries, the management rep said that thats none of the Teamsters business because theres nothing in the contract. Im paraphrasing here. But thats crazy because these docs are used to build a case against them and this is a crime. The union reps seemed to be more focused on being friends with management, she said. They told one woman that shes a troublemaker because shes the only one whos grieving. The stewards have been brushing grievances off. They responded to one grievance with a warning the worker was harassing a part-time supervisor. The preload shop steward in Seattle seemed to care about people. He was always helping a disabled employee pay his rent, for instance. But I suspect that the Teamsters tried to get him to step down. They let a new employee who hadnt even reached his seniority date call a new election, which was very odd. He won reelection, though. Another steward in Redmond I was told was forced to step down because UPS didnt like him winning all these grievances. So the union made him step down. Theres power in numbers At the end of the interview, the discussion turned towards the ICE operations in Minneapolis, where agents terrified immigrants and killed two community members, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. These are human rights abuses. Theyre abusing people. And were supposed to pretend otherwise. Its just hurting people and taking away American freedoms. People should realize this is taking away freedoms, and abuse. Everybodys freedoms are at stake, she added. My mother is Filipina and went through the process of becoming a citizen. Even though immigrants have legal status, many are still getting abused. Nobody should. You cant treat them less than animals. We need to make sure we all stand together, she concluded. Ive seen people get singled out. People need to get together. Theres power in numbers. On Friday, multiple high school students were arrested and physically assaulted by police in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, while conducting a walkout in opposition to the immigration Gestapo and ongoing raids throughout the country. Fewer than 10,000 people live in the small Bucks County borough, situated between Allentown and Philadelphia. Quakertown High School students peacefully protesting the immigration Gestapo raids prior to being assaulted by police on February 20, 2026. [Photo: David Stubanas] Roughly 35 to 50 students from Quakertown High School, aged 14 to 18, participated in the peaceful protest, walking out of class Friday morning around 11:00. Video shared online shows students marching on the sidewalk in the cold February rain, at times denouncing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and President Donald Trump. Despite the peaceful character of the demonstration, police rapidly escalated the situation. Video shows an older man with gray hair wearing tan clothing entering the crowd and physically grabbing a student. Later he is seen placing another student in a chokehold. A man identified as Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree is seen putting a female student in a chokehold on February 20, 2026. The man has since been identified by local sources as Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree. In video footage circulated online, the confrontation appears to begin when McElree steps into the crowd and extends his hand toward a student, visibly gripping a students sweatshirt. As students react and attempt to intervene, McElree is seen entangled in a struggle. Near the end of the footage, a uniformed officer forcefully grabs another student who appears to move toward the chief. The officer throws the student forward into a large planter. As the student falls, the officer can be heard stating that he saw the student punch the chief of police. A police officer grabs a student and throws him to the ground after the student attempted to protect a classmate being assaulted by a man, possibly the chief of Quakertown police, February 20, 2026. [Photo: Riley Rivero] Local news outlets report that at least five or six students were arrested following the confrontation. Multiple eyewitnesses told ABC 6 that police initiated the escalation. I am shaken by it, they were children, one witness said. They were children being ganged up on by adults with no self-control. She added, The situation was completely escalated by the police, and it was extremely jarring to watch. The same witness described the aftermath: At the end of it you could see [the students] picking up their school binders, their laptops, their backpacks after getting into these altercations with the police. Another witness told the outlet, The man started to attack the students, and thats when the other students intervened and tried to get him to stop. Police, for their part, claim officers were responding to students who were throwing snowballs and allegedly blocking traffic. As of this writing, no publicly circulating video shows snowballs being thrown at officers prior to the physical confrontation. Police have not released body camera or dash camera footage to substantiate their version of events. Following the police rampage, a small group of students continued to protest the police brutality. One young person was seen holding a sign, now covered in the blood of students, that read, No one is illegal on stolen land. A student holds up a sign, now covered in blood, that reads: "No one is illegal on stolen land," Quakertown, Pennsylvania. [Photo: David Stubanas] The violence against students is part of a growing pattern of nationwide repression targeting ongoing student walkouts. School districts across the country, in both Democratic- and Republican-led states, have begun suspending students who participate in anti-ICE walkouts. In Virginia, 303 students at Woodbridge High School were informed they would be suspended for three days for participating in a walkout last week. The students, representing over 10 percent of the schools population, were told they would not be permitted to return to school until February 23. School Board Chairman Dr. Babur Lateef said students were suspended not for protesting ICE, but because they left school property. In spite of the suspensions, walkouts occurred at nine different high schools in Virginias Prince William County Public Schools on Friday. Prior to the walkouts, the district provided principals at each of the nine high schools with a threatening letter to send to students and staff. In the letter, the district warned students that walking out is considered an unexcused absence, for which schools may issue standard penalties under the PWCS Code of Behavior. To teachers and school workers, the letter stated: PWCS employees do not participate in walkouts. Staff are expected to be viewpoint neutral and consistent in their application of discipline with all students. In San Antonios East Central Independent School District, roughly 30 students were suspended for participating in a February 13 walkout. In an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, Claire Lewis, executive director of San Antonio Students for Peace, said her group had tracked more than 50 student-led walkouts in the city over the past month. None of the previous walkouts resulted in mass suspensions. Lewis reported that an East Central student informed her that seniors who participated in the walkout were told they could not go to prom or walk the stage for graduation. Earlier in the month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the state would investigate school staff in districts where walkouts occurred, beginning with Austin Independent School District. Paxton declared that the purpose of schools was not to encourage students to attend a protest ... designed to villainize brave law enforcement officials protecting our country. The claim that the police exists to protect workers and students is a lie. The police are instruments of class rule, charged with defending the wealth and privileges of the financial oligarchy above all else. In the latest example to come to light of immigration Gestapo killing a US citizen with impunity, last year, federal agents shot and killed 23-year-old US citizen Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre Island, Texas. As with the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, key details concerning Martinezs killing details were withheld from the public. Martinez was killed on March 15, 2025 by an ICE Homeland Security Investigations officer during what authorities described as a traffic incident connected to immigration enforcement operations. While his death was reported in local media at the time, initial reports did not disclose that a federal HSI agent fired the fatal shots through the driver-side window. The federal involvement only came to light later through internal Department of Homeland Security records. The escalating attacks on students suspensions, arrests, threats against parents, and physical violence reflect the fears of a ruling class that recognizes the potential power of a united movement of youth and workers against the police. The fight against deportations and police repression is inseparable from the fight against the capitalist system: the source of inequality, fascism and imperialist war. The defense of immigrants is a class question that will only be resolved in a progressive direction with the intervention of the working class organized independently on a socialist program. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), one of the chief instruments of global capital, has been calling on China for some time to reorient its economic policies and reduce its reliance on exports, with the implied threat there will be retaliation from other major powers if it does not do so. Following last years record Chinese trade surplus of $1.2 trillion, the latest IMF report on China released earlier this week was more specific on what it considers needs to be done. Echoing continued complaints by major powers that the surge in Chinese exports and the increased competitiveness of a wide range of its products on world markets is in violation of so-called free market principles, the fund estimated that China spends about 4 percent of its GDP to subsidise companies in critical areas of the economy and this should be halved to 2 percent in the medium term. It said Chinas policies were giving rise to international spillovers and pressures and in combination with weak demand in the domestic economy make China more reliant on manufacturing exports as a source of growth. The significance of the trade surplus issue is highlighted by the fact that references to external imbalances appeared more than ten times in the current report compared to no such mentions in the report of 2024. Transitioning to a consumption-led growth model should be the overarching priority, the IMF said. The IMF has previously said China should wind back state subsidies, but this is the first time it has put a number on the reduction. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) attends a briefing at the conclusion of the annual assessment of the Chinese economy in Beijing, China, December 10, 2025. [Photo: Ng Han Guan/WSWS] Last December during a visit to Beijing IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned that Chinas reliance on manufacturing exports risked exacerbating global tensions and call for a shift towards the domestic economy. As the second largest economy in the world, China is simply too big to generate much growth from exports, she said and that changes to model were now long overdue and had to be accelerated. According to the IMF, Chinas current account surplus now stands at around 3.7 percent of GDP. Goldman Sachs has estimated that at the present rate in a few years the Chinese trade surplus could amount to 1 percent of global GDP the largest of any country in recorded history. Another indication of the same process is the estimate that Chinas share of global manufacturing value-added could rise to 40 percent in the next five years, up from its present level of 27 percent. The turn to increased manufacturing and exports, especially in high-tech areas, has come in response to the collapse of the property market in 2021, the effects which continue to weigh on the domestic economy. The Chinese government has acknowledged that the reliance on manufacturing has caused problems in the domestic economy with the initiative launched last year by president Xi Jinping to reduce so-called involution in which companies engaged in price competition, thereby contributing to deflation. In its report, the IMF welcomed the move but said the government should further clarify its strategy. In a report produced in 2024 it called for the spending of 5.5 percent of GDP to deal with the property market situation where major housing and construction projects remain uncompleted. In the current report it called for spending of 5 percent of GDP over three years. Thomas Hebling, IMF deputy director for the Asia Pacific said unfinished construction projects and the impact they had for investor confidence were the elephant in the room and the hangover from the boom has not been addressed. A short comment by four of its Asia economists on the IMF website pointed to the resilience of the Chinese economy but warned that despite this the economy faced increasing challenges because of subdued domestic demand, the protracted property slump, which combined with a weak social safety hurt consumers willingness to spend. The IMF said that reorienting Chinas growth model requires significant cultural and economic transformation. There is a little indication of that taking place. Responding to the assertion in the report that the Chinese currency was about 16 percent undervalued and this gave China an advantage in world markets, Chinas representative on the IMFs executive board, Zhengxin Zhang, said Beijings currency policy was clear and consistent and relied on market forces to play a decisive role. He said the growth of Chinas exports was primarily driven by its competitiveness and innovation capacity combined with some front loading of Chinese products caused by US tariff hikes. He also took issue with the estimates of the scale and claimed wastefulness of Beijings industrial policies. This reaction indicates that, while there may be some minor adjustments at the National Peoples Congress next month and additional stimulus measures, there will be nothing like the major course correction being demanded by the IMF on behalf of the major imperialist powers and that the conflicts, above all with the US, will intensify. There are indications that the key area of artificial intelligence, which the US is counting on as it strives to maintain its global dominance, is going to be under increasing challenge from China. An article published in the Financial Times this week by June Yoon noted that the price of using AI was falling and that what she called Chinas hottest AI group Zhipu was providing entry level access to AI at $3 a month compared to $20 a month by US AI providers. Markets are pricing a world in which US AI groups maintain outsized control over global AI revenue and dominate the highest margin segments, while global users continue to accept higher price points. But how sustainable is that assumption? she wrote. It may well be that the AI market or a major part of it goes the way of solar panels, electric vehicles and many other commodities where Chinese firms dominate the global market. In a revealing interview with the business channel CNBC, Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT, said that the progress of Chinese tech companies, including in AI, was amazingly fast. He said that in some areas, Chinese companies lagged behind but in others they were near the frontier. Altman said OpenAI was growing at an extremely fast rate right now. The company, which has yet to turn a profit as it burns through cashthe loss estimate for this year is $14 billionshould focus on continuing to grow faster and faster, he said, adding that well get profitable when we think it makes sense. But such is the pace of technological development and production innovation that it may find that it has been undercut in some areas of the market before that stage is even reached. Some of the over 30,000 Kaiser Permanente workers on strike in Downey, California, January 26, 2026. More than 500 Kaiser Permanente operating engineers in Southern California and Kern County affiliated with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 501 are set to begin an open-ended strike on February 23. They will join the ongoing strike of roughly 31,000 nurses and other clinicians, now entering its fifth week under UNAC/UHCP (United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals), showing the potential to broaden the strike. Additionally, following a $28 million settlement over Kaisers failure to provide adequate mental health services, more than 2,400 Kaiser therapists and social workers in Northern California from the National Union of Health Care Workers (NUHCW) are holding a strike authorization vote through Saturday. Strike action would take place in late March. The impending strike also will take place only days after 1,100 skilled trades workers across the California State University system carried out a four-day walkout, highlighting the growing militancy among infrastructure and maintenance staff whose labor is indispensable yet often overlooked. The engineers slated to strike operate and repair high-pressure boilers, complex electrical grids, massive HVAC systems and life-safety plumbing networks. Their work ensures sterile environments, uninterrupted power for life-support equipment and safe temperature regulation for pharmaceuticals and surgical suites. Without them, hospital operations cannot function. Operating engineers identify chronic understaffing as a central grievance. Kaisers proposal to float engineers between facilities is widely viewed as an attempt to institutionalize shortages while cutting labor costs. Workers warn that the constant shuffling of specialized staff would heighten the risk of system failures, threatening both worker safety and patient care. Additional disputes include Kaisers push for concessions on retirement benefits, particularly changes to the Plan B pension, reductions in healthcare coverage for new hires and the expansion of two-tier wage structures that pay younger workers less for the same work. Wage increase demands are the same as the UNAC/UHCP. Both IUOE Locals 1 and 401 are part of the Alliance of Health Care Unions (AHCU), along with UNAC/UHCP, UFCW locals and others. The AHCU initially started joint bargaining in 2025. Kaiser paused national bargaining in December 2025, refusing to resume with UNAC/UHCP while continuing with other Alliance unions. The planned engineers strike unfolds amid a broader upsurge of worker resistance across California. At the University of California, nearly 48,000 graduate student employees from United Auto Workers Local 4811 have authorized a strike over inadequate pay and rising living costs. Around 35,000 educators in United Teachers Los Angeles have also voted to strike. Over 6,000 members of United Educators of San Francisco recently carried out a four-day strike before union leaders announced a tentative agreement, which falls far below teachers demands. The working class is emerging as a powerful social force, in which opposition to understaffing, declining real wages and the diversion of public resources toward corporate subsidies and military expenditures are intersecting with mass opposition to the growing Trump dictatorship. The overlap of these strikes presents a serious challenge for the union bureaucracy, which has spent decades blocking strikes and disrupting workers unity on behalf of management and the Democratic Party. The apparatus has done its best to stagger strike deadlines and actions to prevent unity, as shown by the decision to leave LA teachers on the job during the San Francisco strike and the refusal to call out the entire AHCU in support of UNAC/UHCP members. Yet the pressure of objective conditions is driving workers into struggle. This process increasingly brings workers into conflict not only with their employers but also with the union leadership, which, confronted with a widening strike wave, fears losing control and the emergence of independent rank-and-file organization. For its part, the IUOE apparatus has framed the planned action primarily as an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike. This formulation has become a standard mechanism through which the union leadership constrains struggles. While they justify the legal ULP framework on the grounds that it protects strikers from being fired, the designation also legally limits workers from raising economic demands. In September 2021, approximately 700 stationary and biomedical engineers in Northern California launched an open-ended strike against Kaiser concessions. The struggle was confined to the narrow objective of compelling management to resume formal negotiations. The result was a protracted dispute that ultimately failed to mobilize the wider working class and led to more concessions. The contradiction between the militancy of rank-and-file engineers and the restrictive tactics of the union leadership is sharpened by Local 501s own history. Engineers and related trades played a decisive role in the 1984 Las Vegas citywide strike, when 17,000 hospitality workers shut down 32 Strip resorts for 67 days. Technical staff proved impossible to replace with scab labor, contributing to significant economic losses for casino operators and demonstrating the strategic power of infrastructure workers. This tradition was further solidified during the Frontier Hotel strike from 1991 to 1998. For more than six years, 550 workers maintained a continuous picket line, ultimately winning reinstatement, back pay and benefits. Meanwhile, Local 501s bureaucracy has been targeted in a series of lawsuits accusing IUOE officials of corruption and intimidation. In 2007, Local 501 Business Manager James McLaughlin uncovered embezzlement by Apprenticeship Trust head Dennis Lundy, who allegedly forged checks and charged personal expenses to union funds. When local officers pursued the matter, former IUOE President Vince Giblin reportedly threatened their lives. Additional claims alleged kickback schemes with contractors Able and ABM, which underreported hours and diverted benefit funds. The scandal drew congressional scrutiny of former IUOE counsel Richard Griffin and included allegations that union leaders manipulated the 2010 elections to block opposition candidates and suppress internal democracy. Todays conflict at Kaiser represents a new chapter in that legacy. Engineers are not acting in isolation but as part of a massive healthcare workforce confronting deteriorating working conditions and the fundamental incompatibility of medicine with the profit system. The integration of technical and clinical labor in a common struggle highlights the potential for a unified movement capable of challenging the corporate healthcare model itself. The convergence of these struggles raises decisive strategic questions. Union bureaucrats have largely isolated disputes, negotiating separately with employers and confining conflicts within contractual or legal limits. This fragmentation benefits management and state authorities by blocking the emergence of a unified movement capable of challenging broader social priorities. For Kaiser engineers and clinicians, the formation of independent rank-and-file committees offers a way forward. Such bodies would allow workers to coordinate across job classifications, facilities and industries, exchange information outside bureaucratic channels and advance demands rooted in shared needs rather than institutional constraints. Their success depends on appealing directly to other workers, including educators, logistics employees and public sector staff, who confront similar conditions of understaffing and declining real wages. As engineers join tens of thousands of striking clinicians, the potential grows for a broader movement linking healthcare with education and other sectors. The prospect of a general strike emerges as a logical outcome of these struggles. The engineers walkout therefore represents more than a contract dispute. It is part of an expanding confrontation between workers and a system subordinating essential services to profit. We urge workers across Canada and internationally to send their messages of support for Will Lehmans campaign for publication on the World Socialist Web Site. Fill out the form at the end of this article. Stellantis workers get off shift at Windsor Assembly Plant on October 30, 2025 Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman is running in the United Auto Workers (UAW) presidential election on a program calling for the transfer of power to the rank and file. His campaign includes four key demands: abolishing the bureaucratic apparatus and building rank-and-file committees so workers on the shop floor can take control of decision-making power; ending the UAWs corporatist collaboration with big business and the government; repudiating the UAWs American nationalism and endorsement of Trumps America First trade war policies; and mobilizing the industrial and political power of the entire working class to defend democratic rights and oppose war. Under conditions in which the Canadian ruling class has responded with foul Canadian nationalism to the would-be fascist dictator Trumps threats to annex the country and launching of trade war, workers north of the border have reacted with enthusiasm to Lehmans call for international working class unity. Canadian workers have experienced firsthand how the union bureaucracies, like those in Unifor, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Quebec unions, have used the same tactics as the UAW to enforce sweeping concessions and job cuts over the past four decades. A laid-off worker at the General Motors CAMI plant in Ingersoll was eager to voice his support for Will Lehmans campaign. The plant faces permanent shuttering after GM laid off its workforce amid a drop in sales for the EVs produced at the facility. Unifor, working hand-in-hand with the federal Liberal government, is championing a proposal to have the facility manufacture military vehicles as part of Canadian imperialisms rearmament drive for world war. Without a deeper international cooperation of our unions, the UAW and Unifor, along with our union and non-union brothers and sisters working in Mexico and abroad, we are far too susceptible to the divide and conquer strategy our multinational tyrant employers use to exploit us, the worker commented. I believe Will Lehman with his unvarnished message of international unity has us directed towards the right goals. Solidarity! The Trump administrations tariffs and the retaliatory tariffs imposed by Ottawa have further worsened the crisis of the Canadian auto industry. Across the Detroit Threes operations in Canada, thousands of workers have been laid off in recent months. Unifor, working tirelessly to preserve its corporatist ties with the government and management, continues to pump out Team Canada nationalism. Workers are told that subordinating their interests to those of Canadian capital is the only option, and that they should compete with their class brothers and sisters in the US, Mexico and beyond for product placements. This has been the animating principle of the politics of Unifor, and its Canadian Auto Workers predecessor, since the nationalist split from the UAW in 1985. During the contract talks in 2023, when auto contracts came up for renewal on both sides of the border for the first time in more than two decades, Unifor insisted on charting its own Canadian course. It reached concessionary deals with the Detroit Three automakers even as American workers were engaged in job action. The Unifor bureaucracy went so far as to negotiate three-year deals as opposed to the regular four-year agreements, so that the next negotiating round would be decoupled from that in the US, so as to further obstruct any common cross-border struggle against the auto bosses. As a retired Canadian autoworker, I am in complete support of Will Lehmans candidacy for president of the UAW, said Frank F. from Windsor. Why is it that autoworkers in Canada and the United States are not under one union? The split that happened in the 1980s was ill advised. Autoworkers in both countries have lost because of the corporate whipsawing of one union against the other. Losses in work allocation, pensions, benefits and wages have all occurred because of it. The fragile egos of the past have hurt us all. Leaders in the Canadian union have come to regard our American brothers and sisters as our enemies. The time for this has to stop! The current UAW presidents endorsement of the Trump position that auto manufacturing belongs in the United States clearly lacks any reasonable analysis. I see Will Lehman as a leader who will take responsibility seriously and not make knee jerk decisions based on a popularity motive. Wills stances on democracy and solidarity have made me realize that a better tomorrow can only happen with his leadership. Daniel is a rural suburban mail carrier at Canada Post and a leading member of the Postal Workers Rank-and-file Committee. The PWRFC was set up in June 2024 to fight for workers in mail depots and sorting facilities to take control of their contract struggle out of the hands of the CUPW bureaucracy and mobilize broader working class support against the gang up of the Liberal government and Canada Post management to restructure the postal service at workers expense. Canada Post workers picketing a facility at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, during their four-week strike in the fall of 2024, which was broken by the Trudeau Liberal government using a cooked-up "reinterpretation" of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. Some 55,000 postal workers at Canada Post have been fighting for new contracts for about three years. The government is backing efforts by the Crown Corporations management to restructure Canada Post along the lines of Amazon through a massive expansion of gig work and the elimination of job protections. Former central banker and current Prime Minister Mark Carney views this onslaught as setting a benchmark to attack workers rights throughout the public and private sectors. I write to you as a postal worker in Canada facing the same corporatist assault on jobs, working conditions, and public service that autoworkers across North America confront, Daniel commented in a letter addressed to Lehman. I am lending my name and voice to your campaign for UAW President, because your call to abolish the procorporate union bureaucracy, build democratic rankandfile committees, and organize international workingclass solidarity speaks directly to the strategic needs of postal workers confronting the Amazonification and gutting of public services here in Canada. One of the biggest challenges facing Canada Post workers is managements use of AI and other new technologies to ratchet up exploitation and undermine job protections. Daniel insisted that a fight for workers control would enable these technological advances to benefit the workers and society as a whole, rather than boosting profits for the financial oligarchy. New productivity-enhancing technologies are being unleashed in our sortation plants, in our scanners, and in our depots, he wrote. Embracing productivity-enhancing tools is good, even necessary, in an economy as interconnected as ours, but these tools are a double edged sword. Left in the hands of Canada Post Corporation (CPC) and their union lackeys, these productivity gains will lead directly to mass layoffs and other concessions. This was made clear recently when the Canadian Union of Postal Workers leadership agreed to a secretive agreement in principle that halted strike action and paved the way for sweeping restructures and job cuts. Brother Lehman, you propose a radically different approach, and this is why I support your campaign for UAW President. Postal workers should take up demands similar to yours, including the 30-hour workweek with no loss in pay. In your words, Spread available work, end forced overtime, and defend worker health and family time. New technologies make the 30-hour work week possible, but not inevitable. Workers must organize along socialist and revolutionary lines to achieve this progressive outcome. We must organize independently of the union apparatuses, the corporations, and governments. Daniel concluded by pointing to the broader significance of Lehmans campaign. Your campaign is not just an internal UAW fight, he said. It is an appeal to every workerfrom the mailroom to the assembly linewho refuses to eat concession after concession peppered by the betrayals of the union bureaucrats. Your campaign appeals to every worker who believes in our collective strength. The fight at Canada Post for jobs, safe workplaces, and public service cannot be won in isolation; it requires the kind of rankandfile, international strategy you are advancing. The US Department of Labors latest annual report on worker deaths found 5,070 preventable workplace fatalities in 2024. The Trump administrations continued dismantling of already underfunded workplace safety agencies will add to the toll of workers lives and limbs sacrificed for corporate profit. A recent article in DCReport by Jordan Barab, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor under Obama, criticizes the administrations proposed FY 2026 budget for federal worker safety agencies. Barab notes, The job safety budget is just $3.68 per worker, adding, If budgets are the monetary expression of an organizations values, Trumps message to workers is: Drop dead. But policies of both the Republican and Democratic parties have reduced regulatory oversight and worker protections, diminishing workers health and safety in the name of austerity. The proposed cuts include: An 8 percent overall reduction to OSHA (from FY 2025 levels) A 12.3 percent staffing decline (223 positions), primarily through attrition A nearly 10 percent cut to federal enforcement, resulting in an estimated 30 percent drop in inspections. OSHA would conduct about 25,000 inspectionsless than half the Reagan-era average Elimination of the Chemical Safety Board and a 10 percent cut to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), along with significant reductions to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Friedrich Engels identified the roots of this preventable suffering in The Condition of the Working Class in England (1845): the premature death of workers arises not from accident, but from the social organization of production under capitalism. Investigations by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) and reporting by the World Socialist Web Site demonstrate that workplace deaths are not isolated tragedies. They are the political and economic outcome of a system that places profit above life, reinforced by corporate-backed unions and political institutions. Official figures significantly understate the true scale of the crisis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports thousands of traumatic fatalities annually, but deaths from occupational disease multiply that toll many times over. Behind the statistics are cost-cutting, regulatory rollbacks, production speedups and the suppression of safety concerns. Across industries, the same conditions recur: understaffing, intensified production, bypassed safety systems, inadequate emergency response, and the complicity of union officials and regulators. The death of 63-year-old Stellantis machine repairman Ronald Adams Sr. at the Dundee Engine Complex illustrates this pattern. Investigations revealed routine bypassing of lockout/tagout procedures and unanswered questions about how an overhead gantry crushed Adams while he was servicing equipment. Ronald Adams Sr., his wife Shamenia, and family members [Photo by Adams Family] The silence that followed from management, the UAW and government agencies was typical. The unions role in quickly restoring production and accepting unsafe conditions reflected its integration into corporate management. At the US Postal Service, a series of deathsincluding maintenance mechanic Nick Acker, mail handler Russell Scruggs Jr. and veteran worker Lucy Diazexposed the consequences of short staffing, inadequate medical response, and weakened safety enforcement. Investigations pointed to disabled safety features, ignored lockout/tagout procedures and delayed emergency response. Union officials deferred to management-led inquiries that minimized responsibility. The US Steel Clairton Coke Works explosion in Pennsylvania, which killed Timothy Quinn and Steven Menefee, was likewise preventable. Investigations pointed to aging infrastructure, chronic maintenance failures and ignored worker warningsconditions driven by cost-cutting and tolerated by pro-management union structures. Massive damage is seen inside Clairton Coke Works following an explosion on August 11, 2025. An October explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems Tennessee munitions plant that killed 16 workers revealed long-standing safety violations and regulatory neglect. The incident quickly faded from media coverage. The November 4, 2025 crash of a UPS MD-11 cargo jet, caused by engine pylon failure, killed 14 people and exposed aging equipment, inadequate maintenance, regulatory failure and corporate resistance to oversight. These incidents reflect a broader pattern. Deteriorating conditions have produced deaths and serious injuries across manufacturing, logistics and transportation, driven by cost-cutting, speedup, automation pressures and weakened enforcement. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace deaths were rising. A 2019 BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) report recorded more than 5,300 fatalities. The real toll is far higher when occupational disease and long-term health effects are included. The AFL-CIO estimates that 135,000 workers died from occupational illness in 2023. The role of the trade union bureaucracies and state agencies Trade union bureaucracies play a central role in suppressing workers safety concerns. The UAWs conduct following the 2023 contract struggleits limited stand-up strike and eventual concessionshelped pave the way for staffing cuts, speedup and rising injury rates. Postal unions have similarly deferred to management and OSHA investigations rather than conducting independent inquiries, resulting in delays, evidence loss and cover-ups. Underfunded and politically constrained agencies often fail to act decisively. Michigans MIOSHA has delayed investigations into high-profile deaths such as that of Ronald Adams Sr., while a weakened federal OSHA provides minimal oversight, allowing companies to shape the narrative after fatal incidents. This reflects decades of bipartisan efforts to roll back regulatory protections. The IWA-RFC (International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees) calls for workers to organize independently and establish democratic rank-and-file safety committees in every workplace. Such committees can conduct independent investigations and preserve evidencemaintenance records, lockout/tagout logs, grievances, witness statements and photographsbefore it is altered or removed. They also restore workers authority over safety, including the right to halt unsafe operations, demand trained medical staff and emergency equipment and enforce proper safety procedures. By coordinating across workplaces and countries, rank-and-file committees can break isolation, build solidarity and counter efforts to divide workers. Protecting workers lives cannot be reduced to technical reforms alone. Workplace deaths reflect a broader crisis marked by automation-driven intensification, privatization, austerity and deregulationpolicies that prioritize profit over human life. The fight for safety must be linked to a broader political struggle against the system that produces these conditions. Rank-and-file committees are the foundation of this movementdemocratic, international and independent. Workers should take the following steps: Convene workplace meetings to elect rank-and-file safety committees Collect and preserve evidence, including maintenance records and witness testimony Demand immediate safety measures, including medical staffing, emergency access and strict lockout/tagout enforcement Publicize findings through independent channels and worker networks Coordinate regionally and internationally through the IWA-RFC Workers must refuse to remain silent. By organizing independently and asserting control over workplace conditions, they can transform workplaces from sites of injury and death into institutions that protect life and meet human needs. The struggle against workplace fatalities is inseparable from the broader fight for international socialism. Experience Israels history through Werner Brauns lens at the Between Water and Sky exhibition at MUZA, Ramat Aviv. If you want to enlighten someone who has never been to this part of the world about the history of this weather-beaten yet still-young country, you could do worse than send him along to the Between Water and Sky photo exhibition. The show, currently in progress at the Eretz Israel Museum (MUZA) in Ramat Aviv, under the curatorship of Guy Raz, features work by Werner Braun. The German-born photographer was here, there, and everywhere throughout his long life, which included quite a few pivotal junctures of our national history, trusty camera inevitably at the ready. Advertisement Advertisement Braun died in 2018 at the age of 100, and he left us with a veritable cornucopia of negatives and prints that tell a multi-stratified tale of this countrys timeline, across a macro/micro spread of events, milestones, and vignettes. Werner Brauns vast archive, which includes hundreds of thousands of organized and cataloged negatives, is an essential source for researching the visual history of Israel, says MUZA Director General Gil Omer. At the same time, it offers a window into a soul of the photographer who sought to preserve the dignity of the image and those he photographed. This incorporates a motley gallery of characters, from pinup celebrities and politicians, to ordinary folk just going about their day-to-day existential business. Catching the human side of David Ben-Gurion just days after he left office. (credit: Werner Brown) David and Paula Ben-Gurion at Sde Boker One touching shot of David and Paula Ben-Gurion, taken at the legendary Zionist frontmans home of Kibbutz Sde Boker, neatly straddles the divide between the stellar and mundane orbits of life. The frame dates from December 14, 1953. That was just one week after Ben-Gurion completed his first stint as prime minister. This is not Ben-Gurion the fabled leader but the doting husband who was already into his golden years. Advertisement Advertisement There is a simplicity and unpretentiousness about the setting, utterly devoid of a carefully PR-orchestrated photo-op ambiance. There is nothing sensationalist about the frame, and Braun is not overtly proffering us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the icon in question, even though that is precisely what we get. Of course, Braun was fully aware of the public interest on the table but, even so, it is as if he was saying: Heres an elderly couple sharing a tender moment borne of decades of loving partnership, and just that. Raz neatly slotted in an entertaining and unstaged snap to the museum presentation proceedings, when Braun caught a young MK Menachem Begin unawares at the Knessets premises at Frumin House on King George Street in downtown Jerusalem in the 1950s. The camera shutter if anyone remembers what that is today completes its rapid ebb-and-flow course at the precise moment when Begin realizes he has been snared, and instinctively reacts with a broad natural smile. He had no time to adopt an appropriate politicians pose, and we get to see the person rather than the public figure. These cellphone camera-saturated days, it is well nigh impossible to catch anyone with any degree of public profile in something approaching an unaffected facial expression. Braun was also around to nail a telling portrait of then-foreign minister Golda Meir in 1960, in full interview flow, with famed American broadcaster Edward R. Murrow. This is clearly a serious tete-a-tete and has Murrow with his arms outstretched as he graphically punctuates yet another probing question. Advertisement Advertisement Meir is sitting opposite him on a sofa, trademark cigarette in hand as the smoke billows up to the ceiling, forming a diminutive cloud that seems to have a life of its own. Although already a seasoned politician, Meir looks tense as she prepares to parry Morrows considered line of inquiry, and we get some idea of the personalities behind the personas. Braun had an eye for capturing the essence of the seemingly mundane, as well as conveying the heightened drama and pathos of traumatic real-life events, such as the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Jerusalems Ben Yehuda Street in February 1948. His studio was right across the street, Raz enlightens me. Sky and sea combine in this delightful picture of Brauns young son Dan waving to a plane as it takes off from Eilat. (credit: Werner Brown) Proximity to the epicenter of the horrific action was a help, but Braun also had the presence of mind to make sure he documented the event as things unfolded. He hung around to snap one of the wounded victims being stretchered away, keeping a seasoned objective eye on the bit part players, too. This is not the tabloid, thrill-seeking voyeurism to which we have become accustomed. This is an honest account of what was occurring before Brauns eyes and, hence, his camera lens the very essence of professional reportage. Omer believes that the current collection offers a broader scope of understanding, beyond the actual pictures. The exhibition invites viewers to encounter the images as they were born, he declares. It enables us to reexamine how memory is constructed, how a gaze is preserved, and how a photograph transforms a momentary situation into a legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Raz goes along with the director generals thoughts, citing the way Braun viewed and approached his subjects. In attempting to summarize Werner Brauns work, one can delineate his photographic gaze that quality that lies between the eye and the camera lens, he posits. That roving eye never missed a trick, documenting momentous and portentous occurrences, places, and confluences that spanned the birth and evolution of the State of Israel through its manifold labor pains and developmental trials and tribulations. The bullet-riddled signpost of Nahal Oz is a chilling portent of the barbaric Hamas attack there 70 years on. (credit: Werner Brown) Braun was born in Nuremberg, Germany, and became interested in photography as a child. He escaped the Nazi regime in 1937 when he relocated to an Aliyat HaNoar hachshara (agricultural training) farm in Sweden. Between learning how to till the soil and grow stuff, he honed his photographic skills in a range of areas, including crafting an entertaining series of matchstick scenes he called Stick & Stav (stick and staff). Years later, he reproduced some of those works for a successful series in the Scandinavian press, which brought in some handy earnings at a time when it was devilishly tough to make ends meet in Israel. He came to pre-state Palestine in 1946, married to his first wife, Yael, and a father of two. He was soon up and running in his new home, providing for his young family by opening the Photo Braun studio at 31 Ben-Yehuda Street in Jerusalem in 1947. Advertisement Advertisement That facilitated his dramatic shots of the damage caused by the explosion that took place there just a few months later, when he scrambled up to the roof of a nearby building to get an evocative overhead shot, then got back down to catch some of the street-level mayhem. Braun didnt limit his geographic or thematic purview to his immediate surroundings, though God knows there was plenty going on in his adopted hometown. He got out and about all over the country, including making visits to the nascent port town of Eilat. Braun was an official photographer at the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann. (credit: Werner Brown) The exhibition at MUZA features a delightful print of Brauns young son leaping into the air with his left arm raised as he gleefully gestures to a passenger plane taking off for the North. That was evidently a staged creation, with Braun making sure all the requisite props were in there. On the one hand, you have the snorkel [in the boys right hand], and you see him later in another photo diving under the water in Eilat, Raz notes. Staged or not, it stills makes for a thoughtful, charming frame. The picture also appears on the front of the exhibition catalogue and spells out the Between Water and Sky theme. Advertisement Advertisement As the weighty tome is in Hebrew and English, there are two covers. The one on the English side of the book is a beautifully composed shot of two Mekorot water company employees inspecting the innards of a massive pipeline segment. The beautifully composed shot of two Mekorot water company employees inspecting the innards of a massive pipeline segment tells the tale of a state in the making. (credit: Werner Brown) The interplay of light and shade, the postures of the characters, and their reflection in a strip of water on the pipe floor is harmonious almost to a fault. The hazy exterior backdrop, shimmering in the unforgiving Israeli sun, counterbalances the yin-yang setting, complete with a view of a truck and trailer, dusty surroundings, and a postcard-perfect forested hillside sloping down to a clump of trees nearer the foreground. The person who took this picture patently knew what to look for and what to leave out of the mellifluous textural composition. Braun had numerous strings to his documentary bow. His 1964 picture of five nuns in the Valley of the Cross in Jerusalem is nothing short of a symphony in monochrome. The womens all-white habits ripple in the breeze, like fluttering petals, and the nuns seem to be engaged in some free-flowing dance set, exuding an air of insouciant gaiety set against the stark appearance of the valley. Celebrated writer Leah Goldberg at work. (credit: Werner Brown) The photographers crisp sense of humor comes across in a frame from Tel Aviv, taken in 1953, in which we see a man having great fun blowing outsized soap bubbles next to a bemused-looking character. Advertisement Advertisement Braun had a tongue-in-cheek side, too. He got one up on a colleague when he caught fellow German-born A-lister snapper Micha Bar-Am, now 95 years old, grabbing forty winks on the roof of a low building, a couple of cameras lying in his lap, right next to the Western Wall, just 24 hours after IDF paratroopers recaptured the sacred site in the 1967 Six Day War. Brauns ability to sense and swiftly train his lens on the obverse sides of developing circumstances also comes across in chillingly evocative pictures from the other side of the sacred perimeter structure. For example, as a group of IDF soldiers were celebrating the retaking of the Old City and doing an impromptu hora jig right next to the hallowed masonry, on the other side of the wall some of their brothers in arms were on the Temple Mount supervising the surrender of Palestinians descending the steps from the Dome of the Rock. Braun shot the scene from behind the backs of a pair of soldiers with their rifles slung over their shoulders rather than aiming their weapons at the prisoners, which serves to amplify the impact of the military victory. The flip side of that can be seen in a picture of Palestinians returning to the West Bank of the Jordan River soon after the completion of the Six Day War, making their way across a barely functional collapsed Allenby Bridge. Braun lived and breathed photography. Nothing escaped his discerning eye and camera lens. He recorded the physical evolution of the young state with, for instance, an aerial shot of tiny Eilat in 1952. Braun was at the cutting edge of civil aerial photography here and, with his own bare gifted hands, built Israels first underwater camera. He also made the countrys first nature documentary, spending an entire year in the Hula Valley snapping the local and migrating wildlife. Advertisement Advertisement At some stage, Braun seemed to have a thing about signposts. Possibly the most striking specimen of that is a shot of an IDF soldier, field telephone receiver in hand, with a quintessentially illustrative backdrop that pinpoints precisely where the frame was captured, at Saad Junction. It also rolls out the subtext, bubbling just under the surface, of a country that even then back in 1955 had seen its fair share of existential challenges. This is the iconic Braun picture because, even now, 70 years on, it resonates something that is still relevant, says Raz. Lamentably, that is palpably true. The bottom sign on the post, riddled by bullets during some then-recent skirmish, reads Nahal Oz, one of the communities near Gaza devastated by the cataclysmic events of October 7, 2023. That was not a one-off for Braun. You look around [the exhibition], and you see that he took photos of signposts all over the country, the curator continues. He took around 200 pictures of signposts. I could have made an exhibition made up just of signposts, Raz chuckles. Thankfully, he didnt on this occasion, as there is so much going on in Between Water and Sky. That includes a centrally located Morris column plastered with polychromic newspaper and magazine covers bearing work commissioned by then-popular publications such as Davar, HaZofeh, and the IBA programming magazine. Advertisement Advertisement Braun got into artistic endeavor as well, and the exhibition includes a pair of semi-nudes, taken of the same woman 20 years apart. The lighting for both is dramatic and imbues the sitter with an architecturally leaning appearance. He also recorded the gestation of such iconic structures as the Shalom Tower in Tel Aviv then, and for quite some years thereafter, the Middle Easts tallest skyscraper; The Monster childrens play facility in Jerusalem; and the Israel Museums Shrine of the Book. He was one of the official photographers at the Eichmann trial in 1961; and he took an evocative shot of Japanese terrorist Kozo Okamoto, who took part in the attack at Lod Airport in 1972 that killed 26 passengers and wounded 80. No one famous or anonymous, and nothing, was safe from Brauns roaming lens, including the likes of archaeologist-politician Yigael Yadin and the heavily bearded Swedish chap who cycled all the way from Scandinavia to the Middle East, where Braun caught up with him in 1960 as he posed with Israeli border control personnel at the Mandelbaum Gate in Jerusalem. That we now are able to view just a few of Brauns multitudinous memorable frames is thanks to the unstinting efforts of his second wife and former student, Anat Braun, who not only supported and managed her husbands professional affairs but was also a pretty nifty photographer herself. It is both sobering and heartwarming to view and recall Israel of yesteryear through the uncompromising eye and unique perspective of Werner Braun. Between Water and Sky closes April 12. For more information: eretzmuseum.org.il/en/ Colin MacRae is on the "road to recovery" after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon. The Below Deck Sailing Yacht alum, who has been sailing around the world on his boat, had a brief moment of pause when he had to have surgery for the injury.. Colin took to Instagram on Feb. 16, where he revealed that he had snapped his Achilles' tendon while he was playing rugby. In the series of photos and videos posted to his account, Colin can be seen lying in a hospital bed with his bandaged foot, smiling while sitting in a wheelchair, and pointing to his broken tendon. He then took to the caption of the post, where he gave some background on the injury. "Life took a serious turn for the worse this weekend when I thought I could play rugby at 40," he explained. "Snapped my Achilles clean in half, and had to have surgery to join it back together. Was a full rupture which felt like someone had shot me in the heel with a shotgun." Advertisement Advertisement He continued, revealing that this all happened while he was traveling in Bangkok, Thailand. "Going to be a long, slow road to recovery, with the surgeon saying I'm going to have to learn to walk again in a few months," he added. "Rough timing as my boat is hauled out at the moment and access is via a ladder. Anyway, just another bump in the road." Colin MacRae wearing a blue shirt, smiling. Colin MacRae reveals how he celebrated his third anniversary with girlfriend, Brittany Amodeo Amidst his recovery, Colin has found time to celebrate with his girlfriend, Brittany Amodeo. Colin took to Instagram on Feb. 18, where he revealed that Brittany has been helping him with his surgery recovery, which involves spending time with him in Thailand and helping him navigate the busy streets. He took to the caption of the post, where he penned the absolute sweetest tribute to her on their milestone dating anniversary. "Our 3 year anniversary went down a little differently this year, with me ending up in the hospital," he wrote in the caption of the post. "But [Brittany] didn't skip a beat and has been helping me through this with love and compassion. But that doesn't come as a surprise. She's been there for me since day one. Love you lots, here's to many more exciting injury-free adventures." Colin MacRae on a boat with friends after catching a fish. RELATED: Colin MacRae's Life Today Is Full of Adventure with His Girlfriend By His Side (DETAILS) Get more with Bravo Insider Sign up for Bravo Insider for FREE and read behind-the-scenes features including: Advertisement Advertisement Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga & More RHONJ Ladies Stun in Unseen Photos from BravoCon 2025 Meredith Marks Opens Up Like Never Before on Her Marriage, Kids & the Ups and Downs of Reality TV Cynthia Bailey Unpacks the Differences Between Filming RHOA and RHOBH: "Night and Day" How to Survive a Real Housewives Dinner Party, According to the Casts Themselves Brittany Cartwright Reveals the Real Reason She Wore That Tiny Romper to a Job Interview: "Backfired" Summer House Cast Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Filming Secrets (Including Those Mystery Packages) Confessional Interviews 101: What Bravolebs Eat, How They Prepare & More Behind-the-Scenes Secrets Advertisement Advertisement The Valley: Persian Style Cast Breaks the Fourth Wall on All Things Reality TV: "Fans Would Be Shocked..." The Southern Charm Guide to Dating in Charleston: Advice From Craig, Austen, Madison & More Colin MacRae's girlfriend, Brittany Amodeo, opens up about their relationship Brittany also took to her Instagram account on their anniversary, where she posted a video celebrating their relationship. In the video, the couple can be seen traveling the world with each other, kissing in a pool, singing to each other in a crowded bar, and sailing together. "Celebrating 3 years together on this beautiful journey, sailing the high seas, and finding ourselves on roads less traveled," she wrote in the caption of the post. "It's overwhelming to think about all the places we've been, experiences we've had, and people we've met along the way. So grateful to share this lifetime with you. I love you." RELATED: Colin MacRae Shares a New Look at His Life with His Girlfriend Learn more about Colin's career and where he stands with his Below Deck Sailing Yacht friends today. Eric Danes friends are stepping in to protect what mattered most to himhis daughters. In the wake of the 53-year-old Greys Anatomy stars death on Thursday, those close to Dane have launched a GoFundMe aimed at supporting his two children as his family grapples with the loss. The fundraiser is centered on daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, whom organizers described as the center of his world. Dane died following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. He had publicly disclosed his diagnosis 10 months ago. Eric Dane poses for a portrait after being diagnosed with ALS, at the St. Regis in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 30, 2025. / Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images According to the fundraiser, which has a goal of $250,000, the disease progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, prompting friends to organize financial support to help secure his daughters future. Any contribution, no matter the size, the fundraiser wrote, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Erics wonderful daughters." Advertisement Advertisement Top donors to the GoFundMe include Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and his wife, Ashley, who contributed $27,000. Dane starred in the show. Film producer Randall Emmett contributed $10,000, and several top donors were anonymous. Even as his health deteriorated, Dane remained focused on others battling ALS, the fundraiser notes, highlighting his continued advocacy. Eric Dane and Kevin McKidd on Rebecca Gayheart, 54, and Dane separated in 2018 but moved to dismiss their divorce last March. Gayheart told The Cut in an interview last year that she had stepped into a primary caregiving role, helping coordinate around-the-clock medical care that was divided into 21 shifts to meet his escalating needs. As her husbands condition deteriorated, she told the outlet that she made a point to reinforce family unity for their daughters as Danes condition progressed. We show up for people no matter what, she said. He is our family. He is your father. Eric Dane alongside his wife Rebecca Gayheart. / Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic Gayheart also pledged to make Danes final stretch better and easier wherever possible. Advertisement Advertisement Before his death, Dane recorded a deeply personal message for his daughters as part of Netflixs Famous Last Words. Live now. Right now. In the present, he said. Its hard, but I learned to do that. He urged them to seek fulfillment beyond relationships, encouraging them to fall in love with somethinga passion or purpose that would drive them forward. Dane also reflected on Gayheart, describing her as the person he loved most deeply and emphasizing her role as the mother of his children. Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Georgia Dane and Billie Beatrice Dane attend the 14th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball / JB Lacroix / WireImage Dane also completed a memoir, Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, chronicling his life, career, and experience with ALS. Publisher Maria Shriver paid tribute following his death, writing that Dane wanted his family to know how deeply he loved themand to leave them a story they could be proud of. Obsessed with pop culture and entertainment? Follow us on Substack and YouTube for even more coverage. A GoFundMe campaign launched in the name of Eric Dane's teenage daughters is under review, with the company holding the money after questions surfaced about who organized the effort and how the proceeds would be distributed. The fundraiser, titled "In Honor of Eric Dane," was created by an account identifying itself as "Friends of the Dane Family" and seeks $500,000 to support Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14. As of Saturday, Feb. 21, it had raised more than $275,000 from roughly 1,900 donations, according to the page. Advertisement Advertisement GoFundMe confirmed it is reviewing the campaign. "Our Trust and Safety team is still looking into this GoFundMe and has reached out to the organizer to gather additional information," a spokesperson said in a statement to the Chronicle. "All funds are being safely held by our payment processors during this review process. We can follow up as soon as there is an update available." The company, which allows third parties to create campaigns, did not confirm whether it has verified the organizer's identity or confirmed that proceeds would go to Dane's family. Advertisement Advertisement In an Instagram post, Mike McGuiness, who described himself as a longtime friend of Dane's, said he was behind the effort. "Covid and ALS did a number on his work life and he sadly couldn't leave his family with the resources he had hoped," McGuiness wrote. "A GoFundMe is being made and I will post it on my story for anyone able to help." McGuiness' name does not appear on the fundraising page, and GoFundMe did not confirm he is the organizer. Rebecca Gayheart, left, and Eric Dane arrive at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the JW Marriott on April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss/Associated Press) Dane, the San Francisco-born actor best known for playing Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," died Thursday, Feb. 19, nearly a year after publicly disclosing his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the progressive neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 53. Advertisement Advertisement The campaign says donations would help provide "stability during this incredibly difficult time" and support the girls' future needs but does not provide a detailed breakdown of how funds would be allocated. In his final Netflix interview, filmed before his death and released posthumously, Dane addressed his daughters directly, calling them "my heart" and "my everything." The page lists "Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson and his wife, Ashley Levinson, among donors with a $27,000 contribution. In a statement shared with USA Today, Levinson said he was "heartbroken" by Dane's death. Dane is survived by his wife, actor Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. Representatives for the family have not publicly commented on the fundraiser. Advertisement Advertisement GoFundMe's review follows heightened scrutiny around public crowdfunding campaigns launched in the wake of high-profile deaths, including one organized after the death of "Dawson's Creek" actor James Van Der Beek that quickly surpassed its initial goal. The company said it encourages donors to review campaign details and platform guidelines before contributing. This article originally published at GoFundMe campaign for Eric Dane's daughters under review, money on hold. Connecticut State Police released bodycam footage of the July 2025 collision involving former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. In the video, released by police and obtained by the US Sun, McMahon can be seen driving his Bentley well above the speed limit, rear-ending another vehicle in an attempted overtake, colliding with the central barrier and ultimately pulling to the side of the road for police to question. McMahon appeared dazed and confused, telling the state trooper that he did not need medical attention before being told he had reached 115 MPH. He reasoned that he was visiting his granddaughter for her birthday. Advertisement Advertisement "I'm trying to catch up to you and you keep taking off," the state trooper told McMahon. To which he replied, "I'm not trying to outrun you." The trooper said he understood that, hence he was confused, and reiterated that he was driving well above 100 MPH resulting in hitting a vehicle. He then asked McMahon if he was using phone, which McMahon said no and reasoned that he had not driven in a while. McMahon called himself a "stupid f***ing fool" as he handed his documentation to the trooper, asking if anyone had been injured. When he was told no one had been, he hailed it as a miracle. McMahon was charged with reckless driving and following too closely resulting in an accident. In October, it was ruled that McMahon could enter a pre-trial program if he made a $1,000 charitable contribution and only drive if properly licensed and insured in the future. Upon completing the program, the charges would be dismissed in a year. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Infamous Wrestlers Who Are Rotting In Prison Don't miss any of the major wrestling headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter for the biggest stories, sent straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Wrestling Inc. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Princess Eugenie/Instagram Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice's whereabouts are currently unknown a day after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, but according to one Swiss vacationer, Princess Eugenie and her family have been spending some quality time on the slopes. As Hello! reported, a source spotted Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank enjoying lunch with their two children August, 5, and Ernest, 3, at a restaurant in the luxe ski resort of Gstaad, Switzerland on February 18the day before Andrew's arrest. "I was surprised to see her because I thought she would be keeping a low profile in light of everything that has been going on," the onlooker said. According to the source, Eugenie and family were joined by their nanny and some friends at a traditional Swiss restaurant overlooking the ski slopes. Advertisement Advertisement "They were tucked away in a corner and casually dressed in ski gear and jackets, and Jack was wearing a beanie hat as they both browsed the menu," the source told Hello! Jack Brooksbank is pictured with son Ernest on a past ski holiday. | Credit: Princess Eugenie/Instagram Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are pictured with Princess Eugenie (center) and Princess Beatrice (right) on February 18, 2003 in Verbier, Switzerland. | Credit: Getty Images Princess Eugenie met Brooksbank in Verbier, Switzerland in 2010, and Andrew and Sarah previously owned a ski chalet in the high-end ski town. The family routinely visited Verbier over Andrew's birthday, February 19, in the '90s and early 2000s, making the timing of Eugenie's trip especially bittersweet. Members of the Royal Family were not made aware of the former Duke of York's arrest ahead of time, and as Hello! notes, it's unclear if Eugenie "stayed in Switzerland after the news broke." Andrew was taken into custody on the morning of February 19 on suspicions of misconduct in public office. The former duke once served as a trade envoy promoting British business interests abroad, and in emails released by the Department of Justice in January, he appears to have shared confidential documents with the late Jeffrey Epstein. According to the Telegraph, Eugenie and her big sister, Princess Beatrice, are "in a state" over their father's historic arrest. Andrew is the first modern British royal to be taken into police custody and the first to be arrested since King Charles I in the 1600s. The former duke was released from Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk , Englandclose to his home on the Sandringham estateafter spending 11 hours in custody Thursday. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images Princess Lilibet has only been to England once in her life, and with relations between her father, Prince Harry, and uncle, Prince William, remaining frosty, it seems unlikely she'll be close with the Wales family anytime soon. However, a new royal biography has revealed the one olive branch Princess Kate and Prince William sent to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after their daughter's birth. Meghan and Harry stepped down as senior working royals in early 2020 and moved to Montecito, Californiaand following their controversial Oprah Winfrey interview, Prince William was left "absolutely seething." Advertisement Advertisement In an excerpt from William & Catherine, The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story (via People), the Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers shares that the Prince of Wales "felt betrayed by Harry to the extent that he vowed never to speak to him again." However, when the Sussexes welcomed Lilibet Dianaa little sister to son Prince Archiein June 2021, William and Kate did reach out. Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are pictured at Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022. | Credit: Getty Images Meghan shared a family photo featuring Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on Instagram to celebrate the 2025 holiday season. | Credit: Meghan/Instagram William and Catherine View Deal "William and Catherine sent a gift and a card of congratulationsalthough that would be the extent of their contact," Myers writes. Even if they never reconcile with Harry and Meghan, the royal author notes that the Prince and Princess of Wales won't stop Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis from having a relationship with their California relatives. Advertisement Advertisement "William and Catherine had retreated from having any direct contact with the Sussexes, but they privately maintained that if there was a way for their children to have a relationship with their cousins in the future, they would not stand in their way," Myers writes. Although Prince Harry has been public about not feeling safe bringing his family to the U.K., a change in his taxpayer-funded security status could pave the way for a royal reunion one daybut only time will tell. Timothy Busfields upcoming criminal trial in New Mexico is taking a significant turn, as prosecutors signal they may call several of his past accusers to testify. According to new legal documents obtained by TMZ on Friday, February 20, the states preliminary witness list includes four individuals who have previously accused the actor of sexual misconduct. One potential witness alleges Busfield sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old during an audition at B Street Theatre in Sacramento, Californiaa theater he founded. Prosecutors say the alleged incident occurred roughly 25 years ago. The womans father is also expected to testify. Prosecutors previously alleged the teen reported Busfield kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates. They further claim he begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy, and that her father, who was a therapist at the time, said he thought that was the best thing to do. Advertisement Advertisement Three additional witnesses reportedly stem from alleged incidents dating back to 2000, 1993 and 1991. Another woman on the list claims the West Wing actor was aggressive and made sexual comments during an encounter. READ MORE: Timothy Busfield Accusers Say He Did Not Touch Them, According to Police Audio Busfield, 68, is currently facing four counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Child in Bernalillo County. He was charged last month for allegedly touching two young child actorsbrothers, now identified in court filings as V.L. and S.L.multiple times between November 2022 and spring 2024 while directing The Cleaning Lady. He has denied the allegations, maintaining the childrens parents are retaliating after being cut from the show. In January, audio from early police interviews with the now 11-year-old twins surfaced. When asked whether Busfield ever touched their private parts, both boys replied, No. His attorney described the recording as an unequivocal denial of misconduct, while prosecutors argued the exchange reflected a failure to disclose abuse rather than proof that it did not occur. Advertisement Advertisement Amid the legal battle, Busfields wife, actress Melissa Gilbert,submitted a letter to the court urging the judge to ensure his safety while jailed. The reality is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life, she wrote, calling him the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family. Her youngest son, Michael Boxleitner, also wrote in support, stating, I have known Timothy Busfield since I was 15 years old, adding, Timothy Busfield is my hero, and stating that he showed up more for him than his actual father. A hearing on pretrial matters is expected in the coming weeks. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. NEED TO KNOW Timothy Busfield was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13) on Feb. 6 The actor pleaded not guilty to the four counts on Feb. 10 The next day, he waived his arraignment and appearances in court for all pretrial proceedings, which was granted by Judge Joseph Montano on Feb. 18 Timothy Busfield has pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse. The actor testified before a Bernalillo County grand jury, which indicted him on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13) on Feb. 6, the Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced at the time. Advertisement Advertisement All counts are third-degree felonies and pertain to events in October 2022 and September 2023, according to court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE. On Feb. 10, the West Wing actor, 68, pleaded not guilty to the four counts, per a plea entry filed in New Mexicos Second Judicial District Court viewed by PEOPLE. On Feb. 11, he waived his arraignment and appearances in court for all pretrial proceedings. Judge Joseph Montano granted the request on Feb. 18. The initial witness list was issued on Feb. 13. TMZ was the first to report the news. Busfields legal team will attend the upcoming hearing, a scheduling conference on March 10 at 8:30 a.m. Timothy Busfield on Jan. 20, 2026 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sam Wasson/Getty Busfield was first accused of child sex abuse allegations in a Jan. 9 warrant issued by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). It alleged that Busfield engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two 11-year-old boys, whose identities have been withheld from the public. Advertisement Advertisement The warrant, which was obtained by PEOPLE, stated that the alleged victims' parents told Brown that the minors met Busfield on the set of the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where he served as a director and they were child actors. The television show ran from January 2022 until June 2025. Busfield surrendered to police on Jan. 13 and has denied the allegations. "I did not do anything," he said in a video obtained by TMZ. They're all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I'm gonna fight it. I'm gonna fight it with a great team, and I'm gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies." Busfield was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse on Jan. 13. His attorney, Larry Stein, told PEOPLE that Busfield was absolutely shocked by the allegation he's facing. "He's devastated and will defend himself, because these are absolutely false allegations. Advertisement Advertisement He was released from custody in New Mexico on Jan. 20. Stein told PEOPLE that the actor feels wonderful following the ruling. He can reunite with Melissa, Stein said, referring to Busfields wife, Melissa Gilbert. He added that the actress was very, very excited about Busfields release. 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. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People An actor in a Belfast-based short film has said she is "so proud to be a part of it" after the production won an Irish Film and Television (Ifta) award. Nostalgie took the Best Short Film prize in the live action category on Friday night. The film has also been nominated at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) awards, which take place on Sunday. "It's a big thing for Belfast," said Jessica Reynolds, who is among a large cast of local actors who appear in the production. Advertisement Advertisement She added that international audiences are "really starting to get a hunger" for stories from Northern Ireland because they "are so unique". Nostalgie, starring Dubliner Aidan Gillan, is a tale about a faded 1980s pop star on his first visit to Northern Ireland. The home-grown production is based on a short story by Belfast author Wendy Erskine and was directed by another Belfast woman, Kathryn Ferguson. "I'm a very small part of Nostalgie but I'm just so thrilled for Kathryn," Reynolds told BBC News NI. "I think she is someone to really look out for. What she's created from her first fiction film is quite astounding, it's such a beautiful short." What is Nostalgie about? Nostalgie tells the fictional story of Drew Lord Haig - an ageing English pop star who had enjoyed success in the 1980s but has since faded into obscurity. Advertisement Advertisement He is enticed out of retirement by an unexpected request to play at an anniversary gig in Northern Ireland. Hoping to relive his glory days, Drew agrees to perform without asking many questions. The invitation has come from a Belfast paramilitary organisation which is marking its centenary. After playing his best-known hit, the audience appears unmoved. But on the opening bars of the song's long forgotten B-side - Nostalgie de la Boue - the crowd erupts. Afterwards Drew learns why - the battalion had adopted his song during the Troubles and used it as a rallying cry. The film features original songs by Dan Smith, the frontman of Bastille. 'What would Tina Turner think?' The film is based on a short story by author Wendy Erskine [BBC] Nostalgie's author Wendy Erskine said that the idea of music and who "controls" it interested her. Advertisement Advertisement She pointed to the example of Tina Turner's song Simply The Best, which is used by loyalist groups in Northern Ireland. "What would Tina Turner think? Did she ever know how that song might have been reappropriated?" she wonders. Authors often have to give up control too when their stories make the leap from the page to the screen, but Erskine is thrilled with the film version of Nostalgie. "It's better than I had imagined it my mind when I was writing this story," she said. She added the fact the core cast and crew were locals really helped when it came to understanding how the film should look and how its characters should speak. Advertisement Advertisement "You could get a very exceptional person who is not from here but who is able to pick up on the nuances of things, for sure that could happen. "But... I knew it would be in really good hands with everybody who is from here, who would understand the atmosphere that I was trying to get," Erskine said. "For me it was brilliant that it was able to work out like that." 'Englishman's view' of Northern Ireland Kathryn Ferguson directed Nostalgie [Getty Images] The film's director said she has been delighted by the audience reactions while attending screenings of Nostalgie in Great Britain. "They actually get the stoic Belfast humour," Ferguson said. "There was a concern, I guess, that that might be lost on people, but that seems to have landed which is great." Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson now lives in England, having left her native Belfast more than 20 years ago. She said one of the things that interested her about Erskine's story was exploring the views of "an Englishman" to modern-day Belfast. She said Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland as a whole were "having this huge cultural cache right now, particularly over the water". But she added: "It seems to be very much culturally based on our music and our art and our writers and our filmmaking, but without really understanding where it's coming from and what's driving it." Advertisement Advertisement The director explained that she felt there has been a certain "apathy" towards Northern Ireland and its "post-conflict histories" and Nostalgie was a "sideways" look at the result of that apathy. "I guess all of that to me was very potent to explore as a filmmaker. It's been fascinating showing the film in England." Actor feels like she's 'struck lucky' Reynolds, who spent her schooldays in Holywood, County Down, previously featured in productions such as Outlander, the House of Guinness and Kneecap. She too remarked on the recent upsurge in the success of Northern Ireland's film and TV industry. Advertisement Advertisement "It's great to be alive and a working actor at this time because 10 years ago, even five years ago, it just wasn't really a thing and so yeah, I feel I've struck lucky." Reynolds praised shows like Derry Girls for attracting new international audiences and breaking down what once may have been viewed as barriers for local talent. "Because there is a lot of complexity and nuance to our country, I think people almost didn't get the depth and the kind of humour that we have I think it can be quite a complicated thing," she said. "It just took a while for people to catch up to it and realise the heart and the depth that is underneath." Ifta success for NI cast and crew Belfast's Anthony Boyle was among a host of winners from Northern Ireland [Charles McQuillan/Getty Images] Other local winners at the 2026 Ifta ceremony were Belfast man Anthony Boyle who was named Best Lead Actor in a drama for his role in House of Guinness. Advertisement Advertisement Belfast actor Lola Petticrew was the winner in the Lead Actress category for Trespasses, while BBC NI police show Blue Lights was named as Best Drama. Author Maggie O'Farrell, who is originally from Coleraine, was jointly awarded the Best Film Script award with her Hamnet co-writer Chloe Zhao. Renowned County Armagh cinematographer Seamus McGarvey was recognised for his work on Die My Love. Ciaran Hinds was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. The veteran Belfast actor described it as a "great honour". Ciaran Hinds, 73, was recognised for his long, successful career in the industry [Charles McQuillan/Getty Images] Attention will now turn to the Baftas which will take place on Sunday 22 February - a full list of Bafta nominations can be found here. It was a celebratory day for the River Dreams team, who seemed to enjoy every moment of their historic premiere. The first Kazakh documentary to screen at the Berlinale drew strong interest, with the screening sold out. The audience reacted emotionally at times laughing, at times visibly moved. Several of the films protagonists travelled to Berlin for the premiere, joining director Kristina Mikhailova to mark her feature debut. The screening was followed by a Q&A session, though not everyone in the packed theatre had the chance to ask their questions or share their impressions. Where the river begins There is a river in Kazakhstan called Aksay. It begins in the glaciers of the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountains near Almaty and flows down to the Kapchagai reservoir. Advertisement Advertisement Along its energetic waters, Mikhailova and her crew meet girls and young women who are asked to imagine themselves as a river. Along this route, city dwellers, LGBT and gender-positivity activists, a headmistress, women in prison and students dreaming of emigration speak about their fears, desires and imagined futures. Poster for 'River Dreams' - Copyright: Kristina Mikhailova What began as a poetic exploration of female voices through the metaphor of a river gradually evolved into a political portrait shaped by the violence and structural inequality many of these women have experienced. Related Advertisement Advertisement With what the director describes as radical tenderness, the film invites viewers into a shared emotional landscape where the movement of water mirrors the instability many women face in Kazakhstan today. For Mikhailova the Berlinale premiere is both exciting and validating. A debut film is always a statement of who you are as an author, says Mikhailova. After premiering at a major festival, the level of trust in you grows. River Dreams was selected for the Berlinales Forum Special a section that runs alongside the main programme and is dedicated to formally bold and politically engaged cinema. Advertisement Advertisement This years Forum Special carries the motto Be Human Only, Dish Out the Truth, a curatorial focus that resonates strongly with the films uncompromising tone. For the films producer, Dana Sabitova, the selection carries symbolic weight. Through their choices, the selectors make a statement about what they want the festival to stand for, she says. The fact that they chose a documentary from Kazakhstan means that our voices matter to them. From call to screen Five years ago, an unusual call circulated online among girls and young women under the age of 30 living along the Aksay riverbank: Come and give us an interview if you feel like a river. Nearly 100 young women responded. Twenty-five participated in in-depth interviews lasting up to three hours. Ultimately, 15 became the protagonists of the film. Advertisement Advertisement Filming took place in two stages, in 2022 and 2024. Between these production periods, Kazakhstan was shaken by the killing of 31-year-old Saltanat Nukenova by her husband, former economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev a case that sparked nationwide debate about domestic violence and womens rights. Many of the films participants described the event as a painful confirmation of the vulnerabilities women face in the country. 'River Dreams' - Copyright: Kristina Mikhailova After witnessing such openness and vulnerability from her protagonists, Mikhailova says she felt compelled to place herself in the same position of exposure. She decided to appear in the film and give an interview herself. If I was asking them to share something deeply personal and trust me, I had to go through the same experience myself. I needed to step in front of the camera. Only then did it feel honest, she says. A fragile road to Berlin The journey to Berlin was far from straightforward. When Mikhailova first learned about the selection, the film had not yet completed post-production. Due to limited funding, the team submitted a picture lock to the festival selectors while still searching for resources to finalise the film. Advertisement Advertisement Their strategy was clear: selection by a major festival could help unlock finishing funds. The gamble paid off. Following the announcement, the team secured last-minute investment to complete post-production. Yet financial challenges continued. As an independent production, River Dreams had no institutional backing. Together with producer Dana Sabitova, Mikhailova sought support to cover travel and promotional expenses for the Berlinale premiere. Despite the obstacles, Mikhailova views the journey as proof that persistence matters. Our example shows that if you truly believe in a project, it is possible, she says. Its a form of inspiration and empowerment. Beyond Berlin The team is expected to announce participation in two additional international festivals in the coming months. Yet for Mikhailova, the most meaningful milestone would be a premiere at home. Advertisement Advertisement She says she would be especially honoured to screen River Dreams at the Qyzqaras Festival, which celebrates films made by women. Beyond the festival circuit, the director hopes for a theatrical release in Kazakhstan a rare opportunity for documentary cinema in the country, where non-fiction films seldom reach the big screen. The most important step for us now is distribution in Kazakhstan, she says. This film is meant first and foremost to inspire Kazakh women, not only activists or people from the urban bubble, but every woman. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Rock Alarm It's 36 degrees in the middle of February, it's about two in the afternoon and I've become engulfed by a big dust cloud caused by a few dozen giddy metalheads rampaging around in a giant circle pit. Behind them is the frontman of Thai prog metallers The Darkest Romance, bass guitar slung around his neck, sunglasses hung on his face, singing and screaming his guts out in the middle of the field as another hundred or so metalheads sit totally bewitched around him in near-silence. I can't understand a word he's saying but I feel every syllable of it, such is his passion and sheer magnetism. It's one highlight of many at this year's Rock Alarm festival, Thailand's biggest dedicated rock and metal event of the summer. Taking place at Warehouse Stadium, around a 50 minute drive outside of Bangkok, it has historically amassed the biggest and best of the Thai rock scene, from scabrous crossover to histrionic emo and fuzzy alt rock. Advertisement Advertisement There are rockers of all ages mooching and moshing around the place, though there's undoubtedly (and refreshingly) a particularly large continent of Gen Z metalheads knocking about, their black shirts predominantly emblazoned with the logos of Western metal bands - not least some of tonight's headliners, who are bringing a significant American presence to this traditionally Thai-heavy lineup (more on that later). With the main stage not kicking off until 3.30pm, there's a chance to check out some of the smaller stages around the site; early highlights include the no-holds-barred hardcore of Foolish The Barstard and the emotional melodic doom of Death Of Heather. Defying Decay bring a full orchestra for a special set Rock Alarm Rock Alarm Rock Alarm When the main stage does open, though, it does in some style; metalcore faves Defying Decay, approaching scene veteran status at this point, bring one of the most dazzling shows of the day. They've brought a full orchestra with them for the occasion and they look and sound fantastic, frontman Jay looking like he could have just stepped off a yacht in a stylish leather jacket and shades combo as he croons his way through the band's polished (and now string-backed) stadium metal. While his requests for the first wall of death of the day go a little askew (though it does all ultimately lead to a fun dance pit instead), his demands for a Slipknot-style jump-da-fuck-up to close their set are eagerly met. Job done. Advertisement Advertisement It sets a high bar for the afternoon, but it's one Thailand's finest are clearly all eager to aim for. Following Defying Decay, that aforementioned The Darkest Romance set might just steal the day; impassioned, emotional and weird in all the right ways, it's a hell of a spectacle, and that's before you get to the added pyro that makes a surprise appearance. The Darkest Romance: spellbinding | Credit: Rock Alarm After that comes a crushing set from Oblivious, packing Hatebreed-coded metallic hardcore that gets all manner of pit action going. Some interview duties mean, guttingy, I have to miss the excellent Whispers, whose savage brand of crossover noise has seen them become one of the Thai scene's breakout bands in recent years. Sorry lads, nice time! Luckily, I'm back in time for a slice of Suicide Silence, one of four headline-billed US bands that mark a turning point in the festival's short history: more international acts ultimately mean more eyes on the festival, hopefully making this a sign of bigger things to come. As for Suicide Silence themselves, it's not often you get to see one of America's most storied deathcore bands play a pyro-powered set outdoors at night, but it makes for a thrilling experience, and the guys bringing on one of the Rock Alarm organisers and a Thai metal scene vetean for a set-closing No Pity For A Coward is a nice touch. Suicide Silence bring the fire (figuratively and literally) | Credit: Rock Alarm There's time to skip over to the tented Machine stage for a dose of some heavily Rage Against The Machine-inspired alt metal courtesy of the thoroughly decent Bomb At Track, before California's Saosin bring their shiny brand of millennial screamo to the main stage. It gets a huge reaction from one of the biggest crowds of the whole day, but it feels just a little lightweight after the savage intensity of Suicide Silence. Advertisement Advertisement Luckily, Annalynn's groove-heavy, epic metalcore is a good antidote back on the Machine stage, packing it out with dish after dish of big riffs and even bigger hooks. It's a perfect segue to Ohio's The Devil Wears Prada across the field; now over twenty years into their career, it's evident they don't take the sight of a few thousand friends from a few thousand miles away belting back just about every word of their hour-long set for granted, frontman Mike Hranica jokingly asking why everyone's so quiet before an effusive speech about getting to play such a special event It leaves the door open for tonight's closers Underoath to finish things off. For a band so far from home, this feels like a damn homecoming gig: thousands of delirious fans can be seen singing their hearts out, moshing themselves silly and pogo-ing more dust clouds into the sky. Ambient edm interludes between each song offer an atmospheric touch, even if they throw Underoath's momentum a little off-tilt, but it doesn't stop a particularly rowdy final circle pit erupting for Writing On The Walls as the metalcore heavyweights bow out. If this is Rock Alarm's first attempt at aping the kind of metal festivals we take for granted in Europe, the UK and beyond, then it's been a knockout success (and I'm certainly not just saying that because you can get a bucket of rum and Coke for the equivalent of 2.50). The only question that remains: where can it go from here, and what does it need to do to get there? Advertisement Advertisement If it can land some true arena-sized names from abroad to headline in the future, we could be looking at a much-needed destination metal fest for one of South East Asia's most exciting emergent scenes. Rock Alarm Rock Alarm The night one of the most feared Olympians ever fought a Japanese icon was it real or fake? An investigation Aleksandr Karelin was the "Russian Bear," one of the most ferocious Olympians to ever live. Akira Maeda was a retired shootfighting pioneer. Together they produced the biggest spectacle of its kind in 1990s Japan but was it real or was it all a work? Cara West, 34, often seeks medical care abroad due to high prices in the US. The longtime Texas resident has sought care in Greece, Turkey, and Portugal. The family is likely to move abroad permanently, in part due to America's high cost of living. Cara West had never seen such a gorgeous hospital. The 34-year-old is traveling the world with her husband and toddler and often seeks medical care abroad rather than in their hometown of Austin, Texas. Last summer, they flew to Istanbul for a primary care check-up. They stayed at a hotel, boarded the morning shuttle arranged by their medical tourism agency, and began a full-day itinerary. Advertisement Advertisement Each family member received bloodwork, scans, an EKG, and doctor consultations over the next few hours. West's daughter even got her eyes checked. As a midday break, they ordered lunch at the hospital's restaurant, complete with a menu featuring items like veggie omelettes and raspberry cheesecake. It all felt "luxurious." When the bill came, the total was $1,330 before insurance and West is still in shock. "There's this fear as an American because you know that medicine is so expensive and it's confusing," West said. She estimates the same check-ups would have cost her family thousands more in the US and caused months of insurance stress. "I think that's been the biggest eye opener, this feeling of relief." Do you have a healthcare or medical tourism story to tell? Reach out to this reporter at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com. Advertisement Advertisement As healthcare prices climb in the US, Americans are looking for ways to cut costs. To avoid breaking the bank, more people are turning toward medical tourism. Some foreign hospitals especially in places like Turkey are even marketing themselves directly to American patients. Data on the phenomenon is limited, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that millions of Americans seek healthcare abroad each year, most commonly in Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. The market for international health insurance is expected to grow from nearly $32 billion in 2025 to $40 billion in 2030, and North Americans account for the largest share. Patients travel for a range of services, including cosmetic surgeries, reproductive procedures like IVF, and cancer care. West and her daughter traveling in France Courtesy of Cara West West plans to move abroad permanently and cheaper healthcare sweetens the deal West and her husband first considered living abroad after the birth of their daughter in 2022. They were paying off expensive labor and delivery bills, and craving a more travel-oriented lifestyle. Temporarily relocating to a lower-cost-of-living city seemed like the perfect solution. West was working remotely for a startup, and her husband took a break from his job as a restaurant manager. With a combined six-figure income, they had been living nearly paycheck to paycheck in Austin but one salary was more than enough to comfortably afford life in Lisbon. They stayed for three months as part of a program for people interested in traveling and living abroad. Advertisement Advertisement It was around this time that the family enrolled in an international healthcare plan. Their US employer-sponsored plans had become unaffordable and didn't meet their growing healthcare requirements while abroad, West said. They began regularly traveling overseas and wanted to ensure they could still easily fill prescriptions and visit urgent care when needed. West enrolled in the international healthcare plan Genki, which covers doctor visits and hospital stays for travelers and digital nomads in most countries. It costs $657 a month for the family, but she said she was paying nearly twice that in Texas with much higher deductibles. The deductible for international coverage is $1,000, though West said, "It's actually kind of hard to meet that, because the cost of medical care is actually very affordable." Besides the Istanbul hospital, the family has received medical care in Portugal and Greece. West said all were covered by her international plan. She advised others interested in medical tourism to read reviews, reach out to hospitals directly with questions, and try a video chat with providers first before visiting in person. Cara Celeste and her husband in Santorini, Greece. Courtesy of Cara West "I think a lot of people feel really uneasy because they think, 'I'm going to a foreign country, I'm going to get medical care. And what happens if something goes wrong?'" she said. "Honestly, it really is all about doing your research." Advertisement Advertisement West's family recently settled on the Greek island, Syros. They love the sunshine and close-knit community, and their move from Texas is likely permanent. Cheaper healthcare costs are a main reason for their decision. As an added bonus, West said the island is a Blue Zone. She hopes it's good news for their longevity. "I've started learning from the older generation here," she said. "All of the things that they do, and what they believe is keeping them healthy and young." Read the original article on Business Insider With their nets at the ready, tens of thousands of fishermen were poised to take part in a traditional festival in northern Nigeria last weekend after a six-year break due to Covid and security concerns. The drummers beat out the traditional rhythm of the Kabawa people as the Sarkin Ruwan, or custodian of the river, performed a ceremony before the competition could begin at this decades-old event. [Sani Maikatanga] Participants had been gathering since early in the morning. [Sani Maikatanga] [Sani Maikatanga] They then began the sprint towards the Matan Fada river, which is closed for the rest of the year to allow fish stocks to grow ahead of the festival. [AFP via Getty Images] Advertisement Advertisement With their nets flapping behind them, and carrying large gourds, they plunged into the water to take part in a contest that marked the culmination of four days of celebrations at the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, which this year was attended by President Bola Tinubu. [AFP via Getty Images] The fishermen waded through the water, which reached to their chins in parts, and dragged their nets along the bottom. The gourd was used as a buoyancy aid and a place to put the catch. The Sarkin Ruwan oversaw the competition from his canoe. [AFP via Getty Images] Once on dry land, the fish were handed to the judges, who hauled the enormous creatures onto the scales. Advertisement Advertisement The winner caught a giant croaker fish weighing 59kg (9st 2lb) and was awarded two new cars and 1m naira ($740; 550) in prize money. Other huge fish, like the one below, were also pulled out of the river but fell short of first place. [AFP via Getty Images] With roots stretching back a century, the festival formally began in 1934 as a way to cement peace between two previously warring sides - the Kebbi Kingdom, and the Sokoto Caliphate. [Sani Maikatanga] The Sarkin Ruwan, Alhaji Hussaini Makwashe, above, described Argungu as a place where people can share their love and celebrate the culture of this part of Nigeria. [Anadolu via Getty Images] The event, recognised by the UN's cultural organisation, Unesco, now attracts tens of thousands of participants and spectators from Nigeria and neighbouring countries. [Sani Maikatanga] Advertisement Advertisement Ibrahim Gulma, above, said that it was the visitors from across Nigeria and elsewhere in the region who made Argungu special. [Sani Maikatanga] Dozens of other competitions took place in the build-up to the fishing challenge on the fourth day, including archery. [Sani Maikatanga] Traditional music and drumming also provided an accompaniment to the activities. [Sani Maikatanga] [Anadolu via Getty Images] Advertisement Advertisement The traditional combat sport of dambe also attracted huge crowds. [Reuters] Fighters wrap ropes around their punching hand, named "the spear", and block oncoming blows with the other, referred to as the "shield". [Reuters] The aim is to knock out or knock down your adversary. [Sani Maikatanga] Back on the water, people competed in the wild duck-catching competition. [Sani Maikatanga] Advertisement Advertisement And younger girls got the chance to try their luck in bare-handed fishing. [Sani Maikatanga] Additional reporting by Damian Zane, Ayuba Iliya and Marco Oriunto You may also be interested in: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A celebration honoring the Lunar New Year was held at Monroe Community College on Saturday. Lunar New Year is celebrated in China and other Asian countries, with the year beginning on the first new moon of the lunar calendar. The Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) partnered with MCC for an afternoon of festivities under the theme Asian Culture and Cats. The annual event invites staff, students, and community members to gather to learn about culture and provides an environment for the Asian community to celebrate. Advertisement Advertisement Attendees were treated to traditional performances, cultural art, local vendors, food, and activities. I feel a lot of connection with my people. I feel like as an Asian, its like where I belong, Zhen Yi Lin, a featured vendor, said of the celebration. It feels like home. 2026 marked the third year the event has been held at MCC. 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 RochesterFirst. Thousands of migrating ducks and geese are visiting western Oregon this time of year, and many of us just cant get enough of their sight and sound. We visit a Polk County wildlife refuge and to meet one man who documents their travels across the state. If your daily commute feels hectic consider 20,000 Canada geese jammed wing to wing, twisting and turning and rising in flight. These big birds soar, land and munch the grass across the lush pastures at Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge, 10 miles west of Salem. Photographer and wildlife biologist Kelly Warren likes to be where the flocks are, and he says Baskett Slough is one of four easy to reach U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuges in the Willamette Valley that protect waterfowl habitats. Advertisement Advertisement You got wetlands, you got oaks (trees) and you have geeselots of geese, said Warren. Right now, theyre gorging themselves on the grass to get enough nutrition to head back up to Alaska to breed. They winter in the Willamette Valley because there are food sources and everything they need to succeed. Warrens eye for the wild, plus his camera skills allow him to feed his addiction shooting wildlife with a long-distance lens; especially the seven sub species of Canada Geese that migrate to Oregon. It is the Identification Field Guide to Geese and documents the Oregon goose story with history, biology and especially photos. So, if you dont know a Cackler from a Taverner from an Aleutian, Warrens new book will set you straight. My book is an on-going process, and I dont think Ill ever be happy with the overall results. Writing is a hobby that adds to my waterfowl addiction, whether it be hunting or at a refuge watching wildlife or taking photos of these birds. Advertisement Advertisement Warrens dad and granddad drew Kelly to the outdoors when he was a boy! Grandfather Charles Warren was a noted fish and wildlife prof at Oregon State Professor, and he saw something special in the youngster and he bought Kelly his first camera. My grandfather said, Youre always in the marsh, always hunting, always doing things so go buy a camera and use it. And he did! And they also traveled to wildlife meccas like Klamath and Malheur Wildlife Refuges where a new world opened for young Kelly Warren. We would take spring bird trips to Malheur and other areas and learn about different species, plus I could see the migration routes and corridors and learn everything possible about birds. So, that started this hobby, this passion for wildlife photography. Advertisement Advertisement Warren has collected over 150 goose photos in his text, but he averaged 500 photos for each one selected for the book. I have lots of extended hard drives! Warrens book has caught on with folks who dont hunt but like to watch and learn about wildlife and he shares photo tips with anyone who wants to capture the outdoors on their own. Anytime between November to late April can be great times to find waterfowl on the refuges. You will catch birds when theyre not so wary, so early morning and evening are best times. The wildlife biologist works for Ducks Unlimited, and he says hes often joined by his wife and youngster in the field. Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the quality of his shots, Warren says there are several things to keep in mind: Photo clarity is critical as are composition and contrast too. I try to capture a lot of geese in flight. Stationary gets boring after a while. And when it comes to advice for newcomers wanting to capture the perfect wildlife photos? Stay in your car! The geese are used to cars driving back and forth so if you get out, they are going to maintain distance and not allow you to get closer. Solid advice from a trailblazing pro who will set you on the right path for exciting and thrilling moments in the great outdoors. Be sure to watch the weekly half hour program of Grants Getaways. The show airs each Saturday and Sunday on KGW. Advertisement Advertisement You can also stream the Grants Getaways program anywhere, anytime at KGW+. You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon travels and adventures in the Grants Getaways book series, including: The book collection offers hundreds of outdoor activities across Oregon and promises to engage a kid of any age. You can reach me: Gmcomie@kgw.com. Pages of history features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com. Feb. 23, 1926, The Evening Journal Pneumonia, grip now increasing with measles in Wilmington Seldom has Wilmington had more sick people than at the present time, owing to two epidemics of disease at the same time. Measles, according to the official records at the Board of Health, are still gaining, 75 cases having been reported to the board up to last night for the present week, but owing to the fact that grip and pneumonia cases are not required to be reported, not being a quarantine disease, no official figures can be given. Advertisement Advertisement There has been a decided increase in the death rate in this city for the past two weeks. For the week ending Saturday at noon, the Board of Health announced 51 deaths, with 32 for the corresponding week of last year. Front page of The Evening Journal from Feb. 23, 1926. For the past three days, there has been reported to the board 35 deaths, of which 12 were attributed to pneumonia, two to diphtheria and one to measles. Undertakers are kept busy at this time, one having had six funerals yesterday. Dr. Davies, president, and Dr. Armstrong, secretary, of the Board of Health, and Police Surgeon Wales all declare that the grip and pneumonia cases are fast gaining ground and that the greatest care should be exercised by the public at this time in caring for what is ordinarily considered as only a slight cold, as the grip is prevalent and when not cared for promptly is dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement More recent health news: Is measles deadly? What to know about measles symptoms, treatments Also from Feb. 23, 1926, The Evening Journal E.C. Johson laid to rest, many mourn Prominent business and professional men from all parts of the state attended the funeral of Everett C. Johnson, former Secretary of State under Gov. John G. Townsend Jr., and editor and publisher of the Newark Post, in Wilmington this afternoon. The funeral was held from Mr. Johnsons late home in Park Place which adjoins Kells, the printing plant of the deceased. ... Former Gov. Townsend, under whom Mr. Johnson served as Secretary of State and a personal friend of many years, arrived from Florida yesterday and attended the funeral. Many other political leaders were present. Advertisement Advertisement At the University of Delaware, out of respect to the deceased who for 16 years had been a trustee of the institution, all classes and work were abandoned for the day after 12 oclock. Dr. Walter Hullihen, president of the University, Deans George E. Dutton, Winifred J. Robinson, Charles A. McCue and V.G. Smith, and business administrator A.G. Wilkinson, composed a committee that represented the faculty. Members of the Students Council represented the student body of Delaware College, and members of the sophomore class of the Womens College, of which Miss Marjorie Johnson, daughter of the deceased, is president, represented that college. There were also present a number of trustees of the university and a large number of members of the Alumni Association of which Mr. Johnson was president at the time of his death. Feb. 26.1976, The Morning News Moving 200-year-old house part of historic Wilmington enclave A dilapidated 200-year-old double house was moved through the streets of downtown Wilmington yesterday to a new location on Market Street where it will be restored as part of Willingtown Square. Advertisement Advertisement The Jacob and Obadiah Dingee house was built at 105-107 E. 7th St., in 1773. The moving started at 6 a.m. yesterday and by noon the house was poised above its new foundation in a lot on the west side of Market, between 5th and 6th streets. Page 3 of The Morning News from Feb. 26, 1976. Three more buildings are yet to be moved to complete the Willingtown Square enclave of historic buildings. The next will be the Ferris house, now in the 400 block of West 2nd Street, dating back to 1718 and reputed to be the oldest standing structure in Wilmington. Its move is expected within two weeks. Then it will be the turn of the double Coxe house at 107-109 E. 6th St., circa 1801, and the Sims house at 4th and King streets, dating to 1778. Advertisement Advertisement The collection of houses, to be operated as a historical ethnic-cultural center by the Historical Society of Delaware, is part of the revitalization of downtown Wilmington and the development of the Market Street Mall. The project is costing $1.1 million, including federal, city and private money. Willingtown Square is a pet project of Mayor Thomas C. Maloney who was out yesterday morning at 7 to watch the moving of the Dingee structure. Feb. 28, 2006, The News Journal The Knotty Pine restaurant honored for historic role Muskrats always on the menu. So are chitterlings. Such soul food has fed more than two generations at The Knotty Pine in Wilmington, honored Monday as a state historic landmark and the citys oldest continuously operating black-owned restaurant. Page B1 of The News Journal from Feb. 28, 2006. More than 60 people, including a roster of elected officials and community leaders, braved bone-chilling wind to celebrate the unveiling of The Knotty Pines state historic marker at 11th and Wilson streets. Advertisement Advertisement But the speeches, proclamations, resolution and marker cited more than the menu. They honored owner-operator Stella Dunning and her late mother for creating a beloved cultural spot that began as a refuge during segregation and endures as a symbol of unity. And when it came to Dunnings turn at the microphone, she did what she always does. She praised Jesus. Recent restaurant news: 15 hidden gem restaurants to try in Delaware Dunnings mother, Lottie Mom Ewing, cooked for some of the citys top doctors and lawyers in the 1940s and 50s. People said her cooking was so good, she should start a restaurant. She didnt think about how few black women had businesses, but set out to find a spot. ... Advertisement Advertisement In 1956, she opened a restaurant at Taylor and Walnut streets. She called it The White Front because the front of the building was white. Three years later, they bought the site at 11th and Wilson streets, in the heart of Wilmingtons then-bustling East Side. They were going to call it Moms until they saw the main wall covered in knotty pine. Through its door passed the working class and wealthy, including famous black visitors such as Cab Calloway, Ray Charles and Lena Horne. When we couldnt come to the Hotel du Pont, we came here, said City Councilman Michael A. Brown Sr. He called it his honor to lead the push for the historic marker, suggested by customer Jamie Lane of Wilmington. Brown praised Dunnings tenacity, strength and courage as she kept the place going after her mothers death in 1978. Advertisement Advertisement Integration in the 1960s cut business, Dunning said: When blacks couldnt go nowhere, this place was packed. Now that we can go anywhere, theres plenty of room for everybody here. A fire last year forced The Knotty Pine to close for repairs. Among its fix-ups is a new sign, hand-painted, with a fried egg and bacon to hawk the breakfast grill. ... New Castle County Executive Chris Coons focused on the bittersweet chapter of Delawares history the event recalled. Bitter because segregation was a terrible stain on the character of our country, an insult to our Constitution and a harm to all who lived through it, he said, but sweet in that the memory of this place, The Knotty Pine, as a gathering spot where good food, great company and a strong sense of community were nurtured over the years, is well worth remembering. Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: History in News Journal Feb. 22-28: City epidemics, restaurant honored In the heart of Old Sacramento near the Central Pacific Railroad Depot and the Sacramento River, a sign boasts an array of offerings including tamales, hot dogs and fresh tea. Smaller signs decorate the doors and windows of Emmas Tamales advertising the variety of tamales, sauces and food that the small restaurant sells. The Mexican eatery at 1100 Front St., Suite 130, in Sacramento has a cozy warm interior. The walls are filled with old license plates from all over the country, large framed photos of black and white art, and informative text on the history of tamales in North America and an intimate story of how Emmas Tamales came to be. Advertisement Advertisement A Sacramento Bee reader recommended that I check out Emmas Tamales as part of The Bees On a Budget series, which helps readers find fun and affordable ways to connect to the community. From rolling cigarettes to preparing tamales Owner Staci Gallardo named the restaurant after her grandmother Emma who had once owned a Mexican restaurant in Oakland in the 1940s. Emma previously worked welding naval ships during WWII and was a woman who loved two things: tamales and tobacco. Gallardo said she would roll tobacco cigarettes with her grandmother, a skill she said would help her in prepping tamales. In an effort to prove to her grandmother that she could make a healthier version of tamales without using lard, Gallardo set off to create nutritious tamales. After weeks of trial and error, Gallardo presented her tamales to her grandmother. Advertisement Advertisement She was absolutely amazed and became my biggest fan, Gallardo wrote on her website. From there Gallardo established a natural food company, Mother Earths. Then, she branched off to create Emmas Tamales, carrying on the legacy and love for food that Grandma Emma shared with me in her kitchen. Emmas Tamales, 1100 Front St., Suite 130 in Sacramento, is a Mexican eatery located in Old Sacramento. Inside the shop, information on the history of tamales and the business decorate the walls. (Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado/valvarado@sacbee.com) What is Emmas Tamales in Old Sacramento like? I visited Emmas Tamales on a cool weekday afternoon. The inside of the tamale shop was small, warm and homey. I was immediately greeted by a worker who helped guide me through the expansive menu. Every wall seemed to tell a story of travel and a deep love for food. License plates from Oregon, Wisconsin, California and Arizona decorated the spaces between framed stretch art of working men and women. Advertisement Advertisement Hanging above the register was a large menu advertising the more than a dozen types of tamales including red chili chicken, seafood tamales with real crab, vegetarian chorizo, egg, potato and cheese, and sweet corn tamales. The menu also included homemade enchiladas and breakfast burritos. According to its website, Emmas Tamales prides itself on each meal being created with your health and well-being in mind. Gallardo said shes made health-conscious food since the 1980s. In addition to delicious Mexican cuisine, the eatery also serves hot dogs and chips. Drink options include horchata, agua de jamaica, coffee, hot chocolate, juice, soda and organic green tea. Due to the size of the eatery there was no place to sit indoors. But an array of picnic tables were lined up right outside on the wooden patio. What I got for $25 at the cozy tamale restaurant I spent a total of $24.48 before tip and tax at Emmas Tamales. For that price, I got enough food to easily feed two people. Advertisement Advertisement For $3.99, I tried a mixture of horchata and agua de jamaica (hibiscus tea) which I would highly recommend for anyone to try. The sweet milky cinnamon was complimented by the floral of the hibiscus. I ordered two vegan enchiladas for $8.99 made with vegan seitan, homemade sauce and nut cheese. It was filling, warm and packed with flavor. And I got a half-pound savory tamale for $4.50, which was thick and so delicious. Emmas Tamales serves more than a dozen different flavors of tamales, including this half-pound savory tamale. (Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado/valvarado@sacbee.com) For $3.50, I got a pumpkin tamale which was slightly sweet and pleasantly soft. Finally, I got a chili relleno-style tamale with mock chicken flavoring for $3.50. It was cheesy and wonderfully seasoned with a savory chili. Advertisement Advertisement By far, my favorites were the pumpkin and chili relleno tamales. The sweetness from the pumpkin was not overwhelming, and I could easily see myself eating one for either lunch or dessert. The chili relleno tamale was perfectly spiced and the chili was cooked to perfection. And the vegan enchiladas were cheesy and thick. Reporter Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado visited Emmas Tamales and ordered three different kind of tamales, horchata and enchiladas. (Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado/valvarado@sacbee.com) The half-pound tamale was wonderful and was an easy meal for anyone on the go. But one of my favorite parts of the meal was that I did not feel the typical heaviness after a tamale heavy meal. Emmas Tamales has not only found a way to make healthy tamales for all to enjoy, but have mastered making them absolutely delicious from sweet to savory. Is Emmas Tamales affordable? Yes, Emmas Tamales is an affordable option for people who want a filling meal without having to leave Old Sacramento. Advertisement Advertisement Prices for tamales range from $1.50 to $5.99. Enchiladas, burritos and hot dogs range from $4.99 to $8.99. For combo meals, which can include half-pound tamales served with organic rice and beans or chicken enchiladas with sides can range from $8.79 to $49.99 depending on the combo meal. Drink prices for hibiscus tea, green tea and horchata range from $3.50 to $3.99. Emmas Tamales is not only affordable but delicious and filling. If youre sightseeing at the Old Sacramento water front or if you are there to live your old west dreams, Emmas Tamales is definitely the place to go. Located on the west coast of central Africa, the small nation of Equatorial Guinea has a linguistic history that it doesnt share with any other countries on the continent. The country is home to a particular blend of cultural influences that make it stand out from all others on the continent. Remnants of its time under colonial rule are now deeply embedded in its fabric; Spanish is Equatorial Guineas official language, as are Portuguese and French. The country was a Portuguese colony from 1472 to 1778, then it was handed over to Spain, which held power from 1778 until October 12, 1968. Though France never colonized the small West African nation, Equatorial Guinea chose to adopt French as one of its official languages to maintain its Francophone relationships with its mainland neighbors, Gabon and Cameroon. Equatoguineans also largely speak native languages, with two of the most widely spoken being Fang and Bube (also known as Bubi). Advertisement Advertisement The countrys Continental Region is its mainland, known as Rio Muni. The Insular Region comprises five islands (Bioko, Corisco, Great Elobey, Little Elobey, and Annobon). Equatorial Guinea relocated its capital earlier this year, transitioning from Malabo on Bioko Island to Ciudad de la Paz in Rio Muni. According to the World Population Review, the coastal African country has a population of around 2 million. The mainland coast sits on the Gulf of Guinea. Should Travelers Visit Equatorial Guinea? In addition to the chance to learn about the countrys unique African history while on the ground, the Spanish-speaking nation offers exceedingly rich biodiversity and cultural fusion. Equatorial Guineas tourism sector is growing, though part of that work is still establishing proper infrastructure to welcome visitors on a larger scale. In terms of a formal hospitality sector, the country has much room to grow. A major point: Equatorial Guinea is under the leadership of Africas longest-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, whos been in office since 1979. According to the Associated Press, the political figure is accused of widespread corruption and authoritarianism. Moreover, his son, Teodoro Teddy Nguema Obiang, Equatorial Guineas current vice president, has also been accused of corruption and was convicted of embezzling and laundering public funds in a French court. The U.S. State Department last updated its travel advisory for Equatorial Guinea in October 2025. The authority classifies the small African nation as a Level 2 travel zone, meaning visitors should exercise increased caution. Regarding the State Departments concerns, it lists risk indicators for crime, health, and arbitrary enforcement of laws in Equatorial Guinea that tourists should be mindful of. Notably, the Level 2 advisory falls on a scale of 1 to 4, with Level 4 being the highest, classifying those areas as do not travel zones. Advertisement Advertisement At this time, the United Kingdoms government notes on its designated foreign travel advice webpage for Equatorial Guinea that no travel can be guaranteed safe. The Canadian government advises travelers to the African nation to exercise a high degree of caution. The post What To Know Before Visiting Africas Only Spanish-Speaking Country appeared first on Travel Noire. A man from East Yorkshire has brought home first place for his "uplifting" ice sculpture at a winter festival in America. Justin Scott from Driffield created the Your Welcome sculpture for the Ely Winter Festival 2026 in Minnesota, US, which he said conveyed the message of a "helping hand when someone's been knocked down". It was given first place in the People's Choice awards out of 14 teams representing Canada, America, Germany, Mexico, Argentina and Italy. Advertisement Advertisement Justin said: "When we're out there we're making public art for everyone to see. I do feel pleased I represented Great Britain." Justin Scott said winning the competition gave him a "sense of validation" [Justin Scott] The sculpture took three and a half days to make and included an 8ft tall (2.4m) wall with a 2D cut out and a 3D person reaching up for help next to it. "Sometimes support comes quietly - from the side, over a fence, or exactly when you need it most," Justin said when describing the sculpture. Justin said: "It's an uplifting sculpture. "When it was complete some people were even sobbing when they were coming past it. "We won by a long shot. It's absolutely amazing. It's that sense of validation of always knowing you could do it." "Sometimes support comes quietly" was one of the messages conveyed through Justin Scott's artwork [Justin Scott] Justin studied sculpture at the Carmarthenshire College of Art. Advertisement Advertisement He said he first got into the world of snow sculpting when he was staying at a snowboarding resort in Austria in 2000. He has now created artwork in places such as Sweden and Japan, and will be returning to the Ely Winter Festival in Minnesota next year. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices More on this story Related internet links We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. At McDonald's, the meal doesn't begin (as epicures say) at the eyes at least, not in the traditional sense. Before patrons behold their yellow-paper-wrapped Big Mac, they're laying eyes on Mickey D's iconic Golden Arches. Graphic design communicates identity, and to that end, McDonald's has emerged as arguably the most recognizable fast-food branding in the world and it's no contest. Whether Ronald McDonald himself is at the forefront or not, everyone knows McDonald's. Even though its logo has changed a few times over the years, the burger joint remains well-known across the globe. No matter how many times the packaging has shifted, it's still been McDonald's. Of course, that doesn't mean that there haven't been any interesting deviations along the way. So, join us, fellow "Fry Kids" (a dated reference if we ever heard one), for a retrospective glance at the food and beverage packaging designs of yesteryear as we explore the visual history of such an iconic and recognizable fast food brand. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The Ultimate Ranking Of McDonald's Food Items 1950s: Pre-golden-arches, there was a cartoon burger chef mascot 1950s McDonald's drink cup - AntiqueSportsShop/eBay During the 1950s, Mickey D's packaging didn't feature the Golden Arches. Instead, the chain name was printed in red text over a cartoon burger chef mascot sometimes called Speedee, who appeared on white paper bags and drink cups with a blue and red (rather than red and gold) color scheme. The Golden Arches wouldn't emerge until a little later. 1960s: Enter the Golden Arches 1960s McDonald's drink cup - mounted951fyg/eBay In the 1960s, the McDonald's logo had a diagonal line running through it a nod to the chain's unique architecture of the time. Mickey D's restaurants of the '60s were topped by a signature slanted roof, and this slanted-line-arch was emblazoned on the food bags and cups of the era. 1970s: Groovy graphics for a psychedelic era 1970s McDonald's felt coaster - Seasonsart/eBay By the 1970s, McDonald's packaging shifted to more closely resemble the presentation it has today. The yellow Golden Arches were emblazoned against red fry cups, brown cardboard burger boxes, and white bags. Also, those arches could be found imprinted into disposable tableside aluminum ashtrays. 1970s: Fry innovation hits the fast-food scene Close-up container of McDonald's fries - McDonald's Advertisement Advertisement From a utilitarian rather than brand-centric motivation, also in 1970, McDonald's released its innovative red cardboard fry cup. Its wide-open structure enabled employees to scoop fries more quickly than the previously used paper bags. Plus, the cups' unique sloped design prevented those vertically oriented fries from falling out. 1980s: Novelty plastic dominance 1980s McDonald's packaging - Reddit In the '80s, burgers came in their own Styrofoam boxes. Several of the 14 vintage McDonald's Happy Meal boxes that we still remember decades later featured large, hard-plastic food boxes shaped like boats and train cars. While the packaging for 1982's McDonaldland Express and 1983's Ship Shape promotions might have been "collectible," many of those plastic meal containers likely ended up in landfills. Enter: Mickey D's shift toward sustainability. 1990s: Shift toward eco-materials, but perhaps away from creativity 1990s McDonald's breakfast packaging - Marvin Welch/Facebook In the '90s, McDonald's hopped on the environmental-awareness train sweeping the nation during the era. Suddenly, Styrofoam boxes and drink cups gave way to more eco-friendly materials. "So long" to the iconic yellow styrofoam "Big Breakfast" boxes of the '90s. One Reddit user posits that, after this, fast food marketing was "less creative and colder and less relatable. Just another reminder that the '90s was the peak of civilization..." 1990s: Shift toward permanent at-home product branding Two 1990's era McDonald's ceramic home mugs - Treasure Hollow/eBay The 1990s also saw McDonald's launch at-home products, ostensibly replacing the advertisement hole left by its now-retired, single-use plastic bobbles. This appeal to permanent fixtures (thus entering the household for perpetual brand signage) manifested in the release of milk glass and ceramic McDonald's mugs (and a series of VHS tapes), further bringing the McDonaldland crew into the home sphere for adult and child audiences alike. 2000s: Sustainability sticks McDonald's biodegradable burger boxes and bags - VGV MEDIA/Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement The shift away from gimmicky packaging was immediately impactful. According to McDonald's website, "The first initiative eliminated more than 300 million pounds of packaging," and also "reduced waste by 30 percent." Nowadays, many of these epochal packaging designs exist only in the nostalgic memories of longtime fans and possibly landfills, too. Even if you don't remember your last, yellow-boxed Big Breakfast, there's a sporting chance it still remembers you. 2026 and beyond: What do longtime fans think of the changes? Modern McDonald's meal packaging - T.Vyc/Shutterstock Many fans look back on now-retired McDonald's branding as an out-of-reach symbol of simpler times, representing a warm memory, juxtaposed coldly by the grayscale Brutalism of McDonald's modern design scheme. Another Reddit post highlights an old-school McDonald's drive-thru menu board with white text on a brown background. As one commented noted, "We can never go back to a time where this exists." Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Tasting Table. The East Coast reigns supreme when it comes to long-standing seafood traditions. Maine is celebrated for its world-famous lobster rolls, while Maryland is synonymous with steamed blue crab generously seasoned with the iconic Old Bay Seasoning. Yet while these seaside states boast thriving coastal food scenes, neither claims the crown when it comes to oysters. That distinction belongs to Virginia, widely regarded as the oyster capital of the East Coast. The state is renowned for its oyster industry and is home to eight distinct oyster regions along the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic coast. For those less familiar with oysters, they take on the characteristics of the waters in which they grow; this reflection of their environment is known as the "merroir." Factors such as salinity, temperature, mineral content and tidal currents all influence their flavor and texture. As a result, oysters harvested from different regions can vary noticeably. Virginia ranks first on the East Coast in oyster production, and according to Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance, the state has sold more than 40 million oysters each year since 2016. Beyond impressive production levels, oysters are deeply woven into Virginia's culinary identity. Several regional dishes have emerged over time, most notably the classic pairing of oysters with Virginia ham, in which the briny saltiness of the oysters meets the cured sweetness of the meat in a creamy sauce that highlights the state's land-and-sea traditions. In recognition of this heritage, the entire month of November is officially celebrated as Virginia Oyster Month, with many events taking place to honor the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: A Seafood Chef Wouldn't Eat These 5 Fish & The 5 To Eat Instead The ins and outs of Virginia oysters Oysters topped with herbs on a chilled plate - I am food/Shutterstock The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, features a vast watershed that provides varied salinity levels. It is also relatively shallow, allowing rapid shifts in temperature and water quality. These dynamic conditions create eight distinct ecological zones where different oyster populations thrive: Seaside, Upper Bay Eastern Shore, Lower Bay Eastern Shore, Upper Bay Western Shore, Middle Bay Western Shore, Lower Bay Western Shore, Tidewater, and Tangier and the Middle Chesapeake Bay. The saltiest Virginia oysters come from the Seaside region, the only region outside the bay, because of its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Famous examples of Seaside oysters include the Chincoteague, known for its intensely salty, briny profile. If you prefer your oysters sweeter, your best bet is to procure them from regions farther from the Atlantic coast, such as the Upper Bay Western Shore, which has much lower salinity levels. One of the most iconic examples of an oyster from these low-salinity regions is the Rappahannock River Oyster, known for its ultra-sweet, minerally flavor. To farm oysters, growers start with young oysters that are placed into cages that either float or sit on the seafloor. After several months or years, the oysters are removed and harvested and thanks to modern farming and food safety practices, they are safe to eat year-round, not just during the traditional "R" months. Historically, overfishing and pollution have taken a serious toll on the Chesapeake Bay. But because oysters are natural water filters, they are essentially nature's way of removing harmful pollutants. In recent years, this has made responsible oyster farming one of the bay's most environmentally regenerative industries. Advertisement Advertisement Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Food Republic. This elevated public space in Philadelphia welcomed community members for a celebration of Lunar New Year. "It's for people to gather, for people to...connect with the cultural assets in their neighborhood. It's really special to be able to put that...front and center in a showcase... like our Lunar New Year festival," said Executive Director of Friends of The Rail Park, Rebecca Chan. The Philadelphia Suns, Penn Lions, Ballet Sunmi, and more joined guests for the occasion at The Rail Park. Advertisement Advertisement "Rail Park historically was actually rail lines. So we're on a viaduct right now. We're almost a story above ground. Come spring and summer, the park really springs to life and it's full of just really interesting plants, all native to Pennsylvania," said Chan. For more information, check out the video above. Also, check out their website. A San Diego-area hot spot for catching rays and waves has been named the best beach in America, as well one of the tops across the global. Travel site TripAdvisor named La Jolla Cove the No. 1 beach in the US over several picturesque locales in Hawaiia and Florida beaches. A sunny late afternoon at La Jolla Cove beach outside San Diego, California. ronniechua stock.adobe.com La Jolla Cove is situated about 13 miles outside of San Diego proper and is known for its barking sea lions, rocky cliffs and pristine water. Parts of the cove are ideal for snorkeling during the summer months. Advertisement Advertisement The cove is part of a protected marine reserve, and visitors occasionally get too close to the sea lions to take selfies, which the city advises against. A clear morning at La Jolla Cove. Ann Collins/Danita Delimont stock.adobe.com The rankings were determined by global TripAdvisor reviews between Nov. 30, 2024, and Dec. 1, 2025. Anadolu via Getty Images Florida and Hawaii each boasted four beaches in the top 10. Anadolu via Getty Images TripAdvisor ranked the list based on beaches that receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from users over a year-long period, adding that fewer than 1% achieve the milestone. The rankings were determined by global TripAdvisor reviews between Nov. 30, 2024, and Dec. 1, 2025. La Jolla Cove also ranked highly among beaches around the world, landing in the No. 7 spot over sandy havens in Italy, Australia and South Africa. Mexicos Isla Pasion topped the global list. An aerial view of La Jolla Cove. teresa stock.adobe.com Advertisement Advertisement Two Los Angeles beaches landed on the US rankings, with Santa Monica State Beach coming in at No. 9 and Venice Beach at No. 13. Florida and Hawaii each boasted four beaches in the top 10. The post The Worlds Most Valuable Butterfly: Why the Queen Alexandras Birdwing Is Nearly Priceless appeared first on A-Z Animals. Quick Take The Queen Alexandras birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world, boasting a 10-inch wingspan. Its 7-month development cycle is a biological challenge to replenishing the wild population. The butterfly is a specialist and lives in a very narrow ecological niche within Papua New Guineas Oro Province. Poaching and habitat loss nearly decimated the entire population. Beyond simply banning hunting, conservation now focuses on empowering local tribes to protect their own forests. In 1906, naturalist Albert Stewart Meek discovered a butterfly so large that it defied belief. Living high in the canopies of Papua New Guinea, the Queen Alexandra birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) displayed a wingspan that rivaled that of a bird and was well out of reach. The butterflys size and high location rendered traditional nets useless. Instead, Meek collected the first specimen by firing a shotgun loaded with dust shot. This unorthodox capture forever linked the remarkable species to its original nickname: the Shotgun Butterfly. Advertisement Advertisement In Londons Natural History Museum, the iridescent wings of the Queen Alexandras birdwings still show microscopic scars from the dust shot that brought them down. Today, these legacy specimens serve as biological vaults, holding the genetic secrets of a species fighting to survive. While these butterflies are now a protected global treasure and a symbol of national identity for Papua New Guinea, illegal black-market trade persists, with poachers fetching high prices for rare individuals. The Birdwings Impressive Palette The butterfly was named in honor of Alexandra of Denmark, the Queen of Great Britain in the 1900s. Ashley Swanson/Shutterstock.com (Ashley Swanson/Shutterstock.com) Male and female Queen Alexandras birdwing butterflies are so visually distinct that you might easily mistake them for two different species. While they share a few common traits such as a black thorax with a splash of red and a vibrant yellow abdomen their wings are completely unique. The female is the larger of the two; their bodies can reach more than 3 inches long, while their wingspans are an impressive 7 to 10 inches. Light spots decorate their dark brown forewings, while their hindwings sport seven pale yellow patches separated by thick, dark veins. In contrast, the male is smaller and slenderer, with a wingspan between 5.5 and 8 inches. However, what males lack in size they make up in brilliance; their wings are deep, velvety black, highlighted by shimmering bands of iridescent blue-green. A Fragile Kingdom The Queen Alexandras birdwing is a specialist of the Oro Province, confined to the unique volcanic soils of the Popondetta Plain and the Managalas Plateau. Unfortunately, this narrow ecological niche creates a precarious existence; the butterflies live in such fragmented pockets, and females rarely venture beyond their established territory. Because they refuse to relocate even when suitable habitat is nearby the population has little capacity to recover from environmental disturbances. Museum specimens show small tears or holes in their wings from the violent collection methods of the past. MP_-_Ornithoptera_alexandrae_3.jpg: Mark Pellegrini (Raul654)Ornithoptera_alexandrae_nash.jpg: Robert Nash derivative work: Bruno P. Ramos / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons Original / License (MP_-_Ornithoptera_alexandrae_3.jpg: Mark Pellegrini (Raul654)Ornithoptera_alexandrae_nash.jpg: Robert Nash derivative work: Bruno P. Ramos / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons) The limitations of the butterflys behavior proved tragic when Mount Lamington erupted in 1951. The volcano destroyed 250 square kilometers of primary habitat in a matter of days. The disaster permanently severed connections between surviving colonies. Because they failed to migrate to safer zones, the surviving butterflies formed isolated clusters. This genetic bottleneck left the population more fragile than ever. Advertisement Advertisement By the 1960s, the butterflys status as the Holy Grail for collectors had pushed the species to the brink of extinction. This triggered a complete legal shutdown, beginning with Papua New Guineas 1966 Fauna Protection Ordinance, which banned all hunting within the country. By 1987, the species was placed on CITES Appendix I, the highest level of international protection. This effectively shut down the legal trade, acknowledging that the sale of even a single specimen could push the species toward permanent disappearance. Today, the Queen Alexandras birdwing is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is also protected under CITES Appendix I, making international trade illegal and subjecting the species to some of the strictest conservation measures in the world. Modern Pressures and the Struggle to Survive Queen Alexandras birdwing butterflies are specialists and struggle to adapt to new areas. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.com (Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.com) Unfortunately, the Queen Alexandras birdwing lacks the biological tools necessary to survive against many modern threats facing it today. Developers continue to convert massive tracts of primary rainforest into cocoa, rubber, and oil palm plantations, reducing the biodiversity and habitat necessary for the Queen Alexandras birdwing. Larvae are also evolutionary hostages to a single food source: the toxic vine Aristolochia dielsiana. Because these vines grow high in the canopy, cutting down even just one old-growth tree can instantly wipe out the food supply for an entire colony. Advertisement Advertisement Queen Alexandras birdwings are slow to reproduce. With a low egg count and a grueling seven-month development cycle, the butterfly simply cannot replenish its numbers as quickly as it is losing habitat. The Genetic Vault Because the Queen Alexandras birdwing is so strictly protected, modern research relies almost entirely on legacy specimens those legally gathered before the 1966 and 1987 bans. Under international law, a specimen is only legal to own or study if it carries a Certificate of Antiquity. This document proves the butterfly was collected before the 1987 CITES ban. The Queen Alexandras birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world. Anthony King Nature/Shutterstock.com (Anthony King Nature/Shutterstock.com) Scientists are using DNA extracted from these specimens to map the species entire evolutionary history. Researchers can track the genetic decline of the species and identify which specific clusters are at the highest risk of genetic failure. This data provides vital information for conservationists to create a blueprint for the butterflys survival. These vital specimens also provide a unique chemical and physical reference point. This helps law enforcement authorities identify poached insects and prosecute the illegal black-market trade with scientific precision. The Oro Butterfly as a National Icon With the end of the global trade, the Queen Alexandras birdwing transformed from a black-market target into a cornerstone of Papua New Guineas identity. Known locally as the Oro Butterfly, it is a symbol of both provincial and national heritage. Advertisement Advertisement The butterflys iconic silhouette is a staple of traditional tapa cloth designs and ceremonial performances. It has been featured on Papua New Guineas postal stamps and commemorative coins. Many local communities now view the species as a shared inheritance rather than a commercial product. As stewards, these communities ensure that the Queen Alexandras birdwing remains a living symbol of their land. The official flag of the Oro Province features the Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly. Juergen Krause / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons Original / License (Juergen Krause / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons) From Poaching to Stewardship The survival of the Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly hinges on a fundamental shift in how local landowners view their environment. After decades of battling habitat loss and the black market, a more resilient model of community protection is taking root. Conservation is proving that when ecosystems are healthy, people thrive. By moving away from poaching toward stewardship, Indigenous landowners are reclaiming their ancestral lands. Through community forestry, locals can reject the encroachment of logging and industrial palm oil. Instead of clear-cutting, they are managing forests for sustainable resources like traditional medicines, nuts, and natural fibers. In some cases, landowners are even paid to maintain carbon sinks and protect the vital watersheds that supply the entire region with clean water. Advertisement Advertisement On the ground, an intensive reforestation effort is underway at the Lejo Agricultural Station. Inside a dedicated 9.88-acre reserve, teams have planted thousands of cuttings of Aristolochia dielsiana the specific host vine these butterflies need to survive. These sanctuaries provide a safe haven where the butterflies can feed and lay eggs far from industrial disruption. Queen Alexandras birdwing butterflies only live in lowland, old-growth rainforests. Russell Marshall/Shutterstock.com (Russell Marshall/Shutterstock.com) Despite the Queen Alexandras fame, much of the insects life cycle remains a mystery. To bridge this gap, researchers supported by the Sime Darby Trust and New Britain Palm Oil Ltd. are using large flight cages to study the butterflys complex life cycle in a controlled setting. Researchers are experimenting with breeding and training a strain of the butterfly to feed on different Aristolochia species. If successful, this could pave the way for captive rearing programs, turning the butterfly into a sustainable industry. This shift would boost eco-tourism while providing residents in Papua New Guinea with a steady income. Such economic benefits ensure that the community protects the Queen Alexandras birdwing for generations to come. The post The Worlds Most Valuable Butterfly: Why the Queen Alexandras Birdwing Is Nearly Priceless appeared first on A-Z Animals. NEED TO KNOW A 1-year-old boy was attacked by the family dog at a home in Hallandale Beach, Florida, on Friday, Feb. 20 The dog involved in the incident was a six-year-old American Bulldog, the Hallandale Beach Police confirmed to PEOPLE The infant was airlifted to a children's hospital, while his mother was also seriously injured in the attack An infant is recovering in the hospital after being viciously attacked by the family dog at a home in Florida. At around 2:40 p.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 20, Hallandale Beach Police (HBP) were notified that a 1-year-old child was "being treated at a local hospital" after being injured in a dog attack at a residence in the 400 block of the Southeast Ninth Court in Hallandale Beach, Fla., the HBP confirmed to PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement "A family dog attacked the 1-year-old while the mother was changing the childs diaper," said a spokesperson for the HBP. "The mother was able to pull the child away, but she was also bitten during the struggle." The dog was a six-year-old American Bulldog, the police confirmed to PEOPLE. Both the mother and child sustained "serious injuries" amid the attack. The HBP added, "After the incident, a family member secured the animal and asked for our help in removing it from the home. We contacted Broward County Animal Care and Control, who labeled this an urgent response." The mother had looked away for just a second while changing her son when she heard growling as the dog approached and attacked him, WPLG Local 10 reported. Advertisement Advertisement The boy's father told NBC 6 South Florida that the mother and their son were driven to a local hospital by a "good Samaritan." The child was then airlifted to DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood. In footage obtained by WPLG Local 10, the child can be seen being taken away on a stretcher by medical staff after arriving at the hospital by helicopter. The mother is also seen running after her son towards the hospital. The child is in a stable condition, the HBP confirmed to PEOPLE. 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. An American bulldog (stock image) Getty The dog is currently in the custody of Broward County Animal Care and Control, per NBC 6 South Florida. The canine was surrendered by the family following the incident. Advertisement Advertisement The boy's father alleged to the outlet that the American Bulldog showed no signs of aggression before the attack. The HBP told PEOPLE, "We are still investigating (gathering facts and speaking with those involved). We will share more details as soon as the investigation allows." Read the original article on People A Georgia 19-year-old was found shot to death in Upson County on Thursday evening, deputies say. Conner Walker was found with a gunshot wound to the head in an outbuilding at a home on Martin Luther King Drive. He was pronounced dead. Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore says he had been shot with his own AR-15-style rifle. The sheriff says Walker, a 14-year-old and another man were in the building with the gun. Advertisement Advertisement The 14-year-old was handling the gun without clearing the chamber, and it went off while pointed toward Walker. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The boy is being held in connection with the shooting, the sheriff said. His identity has not been released. Walkers grandmother described him as a brilliant kid in an online fundraiser. TRENDING STORIES: She said that Walkers father, a Marine, was killed in action while serving in Iraq in 2007 when Walker was just a few months old. Click here to donate to a GoFundMe that will help the family with funeral costs. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A teenager and a man are facing charges in connection with a deadly carjacking spree that happened earlier this month, Chicago police said. Police said Marquese Hill, an 18-year-old Chicago man, and 17-year-old Marshawn Sanders, who is now being charged as an adult in the case, were arrested on Thursday. Both will now remain behind bars until trial. The suspects are both charged with first-degree murder, as well as felony vehicular hijacking and gun charges, CPD said. Advertisement Advertisement The two allegedly carried out two murders and multiple carjackings on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Prosecutors allege that the two teenagers were seen on surveillance cameras across the city. Police said it all started when the suspects carjacked and fatally shot a man in the Lakeview neighborhood's 700-block of West Waveland just before 4 a.m. Darwin Tirado, 22, was the man shot and killed, family members say. Another man inside the car, a 38-year-old, was not injured. Less than one hour later, the suspects shot and killed 45-year-old Damon Kellum in the Oakland neighborhood's 3700-block of South Lake Park Avenue, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED | Vigil honors man killed in Lakeview carjacking; man found dead near stolen car on South Side ID'd Near that scene, authorities found a vehicle that matched the description of the one stolen in Lakeview. Police said the suspects also tried to take a vehicle at gunpoint from a 70-year-old man in the Fuller Park neighborhood's 4200-block of South Wentworth Avenue. The suspects then carjacked a 38-year-old man in the West Chatham neighborhood's 8600-block of South Lafayette Avenue just before 5:15 a.m., police said. Police said Hill is also charged in connection with a Jan. 10 carjacking. It happened in the West Rogers Park neighborhood's 7500-block of North Claremont Avenue around 4 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, a judge ruled that both Hill and Sanders are a danger to the community, ordering the teenagers to remain in jail until trial. INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A 2,000-year-old skull shows a layer of black pigment on the teeth of an individual from Dong Xa, Vietnam. | Credit: 2026 Zhang et al., Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences Gleaming black teeth have been considered a high standard of beauty in parts of Vietnam since at least the late 1800s. But now, archaeologists have traced this practice back 2,000 years, discovering that ancient people used their abundant iron resources to dye their pearly whites black. In a study published Jan. 22 in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences , researchers investigated skeletons from Dong Xa, an archaeological site in the Red River delta of northern Vietnam. The settlement at Dong Xa was occupied during the Iron Age (550 B.C. to A.D. 50), and the cemetery held numerous skeletons with unique dental colors. To figure out how people discolored their teeth thousands of years ago, the researchers nondestructively analyzed the skeletons' enamel using a variety of techniques. Advertisement Advertisement When they targeted the colored areas of dental enamel using X-ray fluorescence , which measures the X-rays emitted by a sample to characterize its chemical composition, they found a high concentration of iron oxide, the researchers wrote in the study. Then, they used scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry ( SEM-EDS ). This technique involves bombarding a sample with electrons, which produces X-rays characteristic of the chemical elements in the sample. The researchers found that the discolored ancient enamel samples from Dong Xa were positive for iron (Fe) and sulfur (S). "We believe that the combined presence of Fe and S signals is a strong indicator of the involvement of iron salts," study lead author Yue Zhang , an archaeologist at the Australian National University, told Live Science in an email. Nowadays, botanical materials are also used as part of the process to blacken teeth, so it's likely that finding traces of these on ancient teeth may also signify the practice, Zhang added. One modern method of blackening teeth involves the combination of an iron-based substance with a tannin-rich plant material, such as betel nuts (Areca catechu). Betel-nut chewing has been popular for thousands of years among peoples of the Pacific and Southeast Asia, and prolonged use of the natural stimulant can stain a person's teeth and gums red or reddish-brown. But when tannic acids and iron salts are combined and exposed to air, they create a dark-black color. Based on information from modern populations that blacken their teeth, the researchers suspect that the ancient blackening process likely took several days or weeks of application of an iron-tannin mixture to achieve the intensely dark shade. But once the process was completed, the person's teeth remained black throughout their lifetime, with touch-ups needed every few years to preserve their luster. Advertisement Advertisement "The practice is still observed today, not only in Vietnam, but also more widely across parts of Southeast Asia," Zhang said. A woman in Vietnam carries her grandson on her back. | Credit: Getty Images While the precise procedures for tooth blackening likely changed over time, the underlying mechanism responsible for the dark coloration the interaction between tannic acid and iron salt was likely the same, according to the researchers. This means the presence of iron salt and sulfur on ancient teeth can be considered a diagnostic marker of purposeful blackening, they wrote. "To our knowledge, our research on the Dong Xa teeth is the first to connect archaeologically discovered blackened teeth with modern intentional tooth-blackening practices," Zhang said. But there are still unsolved questions surrounding why the practice of tooth blackening arose. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED STORIES 7-year-old Maya child had green jade 'tooth gem,' new study finds 17th-century Frenchwoman's 'innovative' gold dental work was likely torturous to her teeth Ancient people in Taiwan yanked healthy teeth from their mouths for 'aesthetic expression' and 'tests of courage,' study finds One possibility is that blackening was developed as a less-extreme version of tooth ablation, a practice that involves removing otherwise-healthy teeth as a rite of passage or as a group identification marker, the researchers noted. Another possibility is that blackening was invented to enhance the visual impact of the staining that resulted from betel-nut chewing. Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of the original purpose, the researchers wrote, "tooth blackening plausibly became widespread around the Iron Age, when iron utensils became more accessible for producing blackening dye paste." A teen has been charged with a carjacking in Lakeview earlier this month that left one man dead, and another deadly shooting on the South Side, Chicago police said. Investigators said Friday the teenager was arrested Thursday in Auburn Gresham, and police have a second person of interest in custody for multiple carjackings. A 17-year-old boy is charged with multiple felony counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated armed vehicular hijacking, and one count of attempted aggravated armed vehicular hijacking, Chicago police said. Advertisement Advertisement The first incident took place at about 3:49 a.m. on February 11 in the 700-block of Waveland Avenue. Police said a 22-year-old man and a 38-year-old man were both inside a parked vehicle when two armed male suspects approached. The suspects demanded the victims' vehicle and shot the 22-year-old man in the chest and back, police said. He was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The 38-year-old man was not injured, police said. The suspects took the victims' vehicle and fled in an unknown direction, police said. Darwin Tirado, 22, was the man shot and killed, family members say. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED | Vigil honors man killed in Lakeview carjacking; man found dead near stolen car on South Side ID'd The suspects in the deadly North Side carjacking were also the suspects in a second deadly shooting later the same morning on the South Side, police said. Damon Kellum, 45, was found with a gunshot wound to the head near East 37th Street and South Lake Park Avenue in the city's Oakland neighborhood around 5 a.m. Wednesday. Near the scene, authorities found a vehicle that matched the description of one stolen during the deadly Lakeview carjacking earlier that morning. And police say the charged 17-year-old suspect wasn't finished. Advertisement Advertisement He was one of the offenders involved in another carjacking and an attempted carjacking on the South Side, Chicago police said. An investigation into the crime spree continues. INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood A woman was killed in a crash involving a wrong-way driver on Interstate 65 in northwestern Indiana. Indiana State Police said troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-65 in the northbound lanes, just north of 61st Avenue in Lake County, around 2 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. State police said a silver 2022 Toyota was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes when it hit a 2016 Ford head-on. Police said the driver of the Toyota had to be extricated by local fire personnel and, due to the "severity of her injuries," was airlifted to a hospital in Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement State police said they believe the driver of the Toyotaa 29-year-old woman from Hebron, Indianawas impaired. She remains in critical condition. Police said the Ford was traveling northbound in the far-left lane at the time of the crash. State police said the driver of the Fordlater identified as Rylee Hanson, 20, from Hobart Indianawas pronounced dead at the scene by the Lake County coroner. The female passenger in the Ford sustained "serious injuries," police said, and was taken to St. Marys Hospital for treatment. Both northbound and southbound lanes of I-65 were shut down, but have since reopened as of 11:30 a.m. No charges have been filed at this time. Anyone who has dash-cam footage of the crash, or the vehicles prior to the crash, are urged to contact Trooper Somerville at (219) 696-6242. A dispute over school finances in Somerset County has triggered a forensic audit and intensified tensions between elected officials, over a roughly $20 million gap between two budget totals. The Somerset County Board of Education voted Tuesday to spend up to $500,000 on a the audit after county commissioners questioned how local and federal education dollars are tracked and reported. At the center of the disagreement is the difference between a $52 million school budget approved by county commissioners in May and a $71.2 million actual total budget later cited by School Board Chair Matthew Lankford during a sometimes-tense Feb. 10 meeting a discrepancy of about $19 million. Multiple funding questions Commissioners also questioned how a $1 million increase approved last spring was used and whether federal funding streams have created confusion or misrepresentation in the countys public education finances. Advertisement Advertisement In response to follow-up questions, school system attorney Gordana Schifanelli said federal grants are initially paid from unrestricted accounts and later reimbursed, which can create confusion when comparing operating totals. She also noted that some of the staff members involved in earlier budgeting decisions are no longer with Somerset County Public Schools. Lankford later cited a total figure for the school budget that exceeds the $52 million approved by the county commissioners in May. The total revenue, transfers and fund balances is $71,210,911 that is our actual total budget, Lankford said. So, were about $20 million more than what was presented to you. What money you dont need, you can send back, Laird said. Advertisement Advertisement It dont quite work like that, Lankford said. The exchange underscored broader tensions over how school funding is calculated and what that spending has yielded for students. At that point, Commissioner Craig Mathies questioned Lankfords reasoning and shifted the discussion toward academic performance. What concerns me is my wife taught in this county for 37 years, my mother taught for 40 years, Mathies said. If this county has so much money, why are our students some of the worst in the state when it comes to scores? Youre telling me that we have all that money to spend, why over all these years have our students been the lowest in the state? Mathies added. Advertisement Advertisement That question wasnt answered. If it only takes $52 million to do what you need to do, and you have $20 million extra, then why are we falling so short? Mathies said. Our solution was to do a forensic audit, Lankford said. I think its necessary. Lankford pointed to what he called several manipulations of budget without specifying who made those manipulations. He also pointed to conflicting documents that called for funding between six and 11 vice principals at a salary of $150,000 each. Thats $750,000 right off the top of my head, Lankford said. That was not a mistake, I want to let you all know it was intentional, he continued. They never got rid of any of principals. Were still paying for them. Advertisement Advertisement Lankford appeared to suggest there was federal interference in the budget. Its not only Somerset County either, Lankford said. I think it was $800, almost $900 million dollars that they find in the State of Maryland misappropriation of federal funds. Reached for comment, Interim County Administrator E.J. Leatherbury Jr. said the commissioners had no further comment on the meeting. Schifanelli, who acts as a spokesperson for the school board, provided a lengthy statement after the meeting, accusing former Superintendent Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell of presenting the commissioners with incomplete budget documents and a proposal that didnt meet Blueprint for Maryland standards. Advertisement Advertisement This was done without approval or authorization from the Board of Education, she said. In fact, the budget was not approved or certified because the negotiations with the labor union aka Somerset Educators Association were not completed until November 2025. Schifanelli added that Lankford requested more complete information, but alleged that Tasker-Mitchell refused to give him that information. That was the reason for the Board and Chairman Lankford to demand forensic audit, she said. She said the school system also went through several chief financial officers, along with union and other accounting issues, further complicating matters. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Davis at jdavis@baltsun.com or on X as @JoshDavis4Shore. A Terre Haute man is facing multiple felony charges after he was arrested Thursday afternoon following a standoff with police. According to a release from the Terre Haute Police Department, around noon on Feb. 19, officers were called to a domestic dispute in the 1800 block of South 28th Street. Court documents say a 25-year-old Terre Haute man had barricaded himself inside a house and was armed with a firearm. The suspect allegedly threatened his wife and children while also threatening to shoot police. Advertisement Advertisement (NOTE: 13News has a policy not to name suspects until formal charges are filed by a prosecutor.) After safely leaving the house, court documents say the suspect's wife told police that her husband was upset with her because she "would not give him money or credit cards to be able to purchase more pills that he needed." Court documents say the wife alleged her husband began yelling and throwing items while she collected items she needed so she could leave the house with her two children, a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old. As the argument continued, court documents say the suspect threw a plastic sippy cup at his wife that actually hit the 1-year-old in the back of the head. The suspect then allegedly grabbed his wife's arm and scratched it before then pushing her down while she was carrying the 1-year-old. Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say the wife said her husband then put her in a jiu jitsu chokehold before allegedly pulling a gun from his pocket and pointing it at her left temple. After continuing to ask for money, court documents say the man then allegedly pointed the gun to his head and said, "I will blow my brains out." The suspect eventually told his wife to leave and court documents say she was able to safely leave the house with her children and drive away before calling 911. After the 911 call, Terre Haute detectives, hostage negotiators and the SWAT team responded to the residence. Police say negotiators were able to make contact with the suspect and negotiated a peaceful surrender. A search warrant for the house was later granted and police say they found a firearm that had been hidden inside a heating duct. Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was booked at the Vigo County Jail on preliminary charges of domestic battery, intimidation with a deadly weapon, pointing a firearm and battery to a child under the age of 14. Court records say he is being held at the jail on $35,000 cash-only bond. The suspect's initial hearing was held Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m., but formal charges had not yet been filed. According to the probable cause affidavit, the Vigo County Prosecutor's Office has until Monday, Feb. 23 to file formal charges. According to NBC affiliate WTWO, the suspect was reportedly a firefighter with the Brazil Fire Department who had been on the force since 2023. Brazil Fire Chief Jake Bennett told WTWO that the department is aware of an off-duty incident involving one of its firefighters and that he has been placed on administrative leave. A 26-year-old man faces attempted murder charges following a violent, unprovoked attack on a woman at a Martin County beach Thursday night. Said Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, is accused of attempting to drown a woman at Tiger Shore Beach. The victim was walking alone and talking on her phone when Gonzalez approached from behind, struck her, pushed her into the ocean, and held her underwater until she lost consciousness. Believing she was dead, he took her phone, threw it into the water, and fled. Advertisement Advertisement The woman regained consciousness and walked over a mile to Stuart Beach to find a deputy. The Martin County Sheriffs Office investigated for two days, reviewing footage and canvassing the area. Gonzalez was identified after Port St. Lucie police responded to a separate suicidal male call, where he confessed to murdering a woman on a Martin County beach. During his interview with detectives, he reportedly admitted to targeting the woman because she was alone. Gonzalez described his motivation for the violence to investigators. She made me angry, so I attacked her and drowned her, Gonzalez said. He is held in Martin County Jail without bond, with an ICE detainer as an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Editors note: Details of this story may be disturbing to some readers. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Four men were formally charged in the 2022 attack of another inmate at the Coastal State Prison Wednesday. Anthony Quintilis Webb, Adam Jarreau Conerly, Devin Altoid Wilbert and Willie James Blocker are named in the indictments as attackers of another inmate. Anthony Quintilis Webb, Adam Jarreau Conerly, Devin Altoid Wilbert and Willie James Blocker, via the Georgia Corrections Department They are all charged with aggravated sexual battery, false imprisonment and unlawful acts of violence in a penal institution. Advertisement Advertisement They are accused of sexually assaulting another inmate with a broomstick on Aug. 17, 2022, according to their indictments. They also allegedly punched and kicked the man during the incident. As of Feb. 19, 2026, Webb and Conerly are being held in the Macon State Prison. Webs maximum possible release date is in 2044 for a 2019 incident in Newton County. He was reportedly found guilty on several charges, including aggravated assault, cruelty to children, simple battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to corrections records, Conerly was found guilty of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of criminal damage. His charges stem from a 2019 incident in Clarke County. Advertisement Advertisement As of Feb. 19, 2026, Wilbert is being held at the Ware State Prison. He is serving time for armed robbery, two counts of theft by shoplifting and two counts of burglary. His charges stem from several incidents between 2013 and 2017 in Laurens County, Georgia Corrections Department documents show. Blockers information and mugshot were not available on the Georgia Corrections Department website. WSAV has contacted the corrections department to inquire about his status. WSAV will update when and if we receive his mugshot. 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 WSAV-TV. United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has triggered an avalanche of criticism from Arab and Muslim countries after suggesting Israel has a right to expand its territory across a large swath of the Middle East. Huckabee delivered the remarks during a sit-down interview with US commentator Tucker Carlson, broadcast on Friday, as he was pressed about the geographical borders of Israel. Carlson asked Huckabee, a self-professed Christian Zionist and staunch supporter of Israel, to clarify his stance on the Biblical promise of the land spanning the area between the Euphrates River in Iraq and the Nile River in Egypt to the descendants of Abraham, and if the modern Israeli state had the right to claim that lineage. Advertisement Advertisement It would be fine if they took it all, said Huckabee. Such territory would encompass modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and parts of Saudi Arabia. The US ambassador later appeared to walk back the claim, saying it was somewhat of a hyperbolic statement. He also said Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the land it currently holds. Extremist rhetoric Huckabees comments sparked immediate backlash from neighbouring Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, which in separate statements called them extremist, provocative and not in line with Washingtons official position. Advertisement Advertisement Saudi Arabias foreign ministry described Huckabees comments as extremist rhetoric and unacceptable, and called for the US Department of State to provide clarification. Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the remarks a blatant violation of international law, adding that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands. Jordans foreign ministry dismissed them as absurd and provocative, a violation of diplomatic norms and an infringement on the sovereignty of states in the region. Statements of this nature extremist and lacking any sound basis serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions, the League of Arab States also said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Huckabee, whom US President Donald Trump nominated as ambassador in 2024, has long opposed the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people, and denied the existence of an illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Back in 2008, Huckabee went so far as to question Palestinian identity altogether, saying, Theres really no such thing as a Palestinian. In 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israels occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal and must cease immediately. But Israeli law does not clearly demarcate the countrys borders. Israel also occupies the Golan Heights in Syria, which it illegally annexed in 1981. Advertisement Advertisement The US is the only country that recognises Israels claimed sovereignty over the Syrian territory, and only since 2019, during Trumps first term as president. After its 2024 war with Hezbollah, Israel also set up military outposts in five points inside Lebanon. Some Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have openly promoted the idea of a Greater Israel with expanded borders. Feb. 20A legislative aide for a Mat-Su lawmaker has been charged with sex trafficking and other federal crimes involving a minor. Craig Scott Valdez, 36, was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on four counts involving sex trafficking children and the production of child pornography. He was arrested by the FBI on Friday at the Juneau airport, said Reagan Hartzheim, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage. Valdez, a state legislative aide since at least 2021, was listed as of Friday morning as a staffer for state Sen. George Rauscher, a Sutton Republican. He was also listed on the Alaska Republican Party website Friday morning as chair of the Anchorage Young Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement While the indictment references a specific incident involving a 15-year-old girl in Anchorage last October, prosecutors said Valdez used the popular social media messaging app Snapchat to "identify, groom and entice" other juvenile females. The FBI has identified at least 11 other potential victims, according to a memorandum filed by prosecutors urging a judge to deny Valdez bail. "Mr. Valdez is a compulsive child exploitation offender engaging in high-volume conduct targeting children as young as 13 in Alaska in order to facilitate both the production of child pornography and child sex trafficking, among other offenses," prosecutors wrote. Valdez on Friday was terminated from his position working for Rauscher, according to a Senate minority spokesperson. Rauscher is part of the Senate minority caucus, made up of six Republicans who represent districts in Anchorage, the Interior and Mat-Su. Rauscher was selected by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in November to fill one of two vacant Senate seats after joining the Legislature in 2017 as a representative. Advertisement Advertisement Staff for Rauscher at his office at the Capitol in Juneau on Friday declined to answer a reporter's questions about Valdez while calls to Rauscher's phone went directly to voicemail. Later Friday evening, Senate minority spokesperson Cassandra Day provided an emailed statement from Rauscher that indicated he learned about Valdez's arrest in a federal investigation that involved "extremely serious charges" on Friday "after law enforcement action was taken and then from the press." He said he trusted the Justice Department "to handle this appropriately." "This is a shock to my office. The employee was terminated," Rauscher said in the statement. "I do not have anything more to say, other than we need the justice system to take its course as the process continues." Valdez has also been removed from Alaska GOP and Young Republican positions, party chair Carmela Warfield said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement "The conduct described in federal court filings demands our deepest outrage," Warfield said in the statement. "We fully support the ongoing work of law enforcement and federal prosecutors as they continue their investigation and appreciate their work to make certain every victim receives the resources and justice they deserve." Day also provided a statement from the Senate minority earlier Friday regarding the Valdez charges: "Because this is an ongoing investigation, the caucus currently does not have any information regarding the issue outside of what is publicly available." "The caucus trusts the Department of Justice to handle the investigation appropriately, and we appreciate their hard work to defend and protect all of Alaska's children," the statement said. It wasn't immediately clear if Valdez had an attorney representing him. Advertisement Advertisement In the incident that resulted in his indictment, prosecutors said Valdez lured the 15-year-old girl to his South Anchorage home on Oct. 14 after speaking over Snapchat. Valdez, prosecutors said in their detention memo, intended to victimize the girl to "celebrate his birthday." Tracking tools on the girl's phone and information from a family member led the girl's mother to Valdez's home, prosecutors said. When the mother heard her daughter tell Valdez she wanted to leave, the woman entered, hit Valdez in the face, and took the girl from the residence after calling for Anchorage police, according to the memo. Prosecutors said Valdez fled his own home. The victim appeared to be extremely intoxicated, according to the memo. Anchorage Police Department detectives learned that the teen met Valdez about a year earlier through other children, according to the memorandum. Prosecutors also said they believed Valdez had previously victimized the girl. Advertisement Advertisement According to the memorandum, Valdez targeted underage girls by using anonymous "burner" Snapchat accounts and bombarded them with requests for sexually explicit images or to "engage in commercial sex acts" in exchange for money. Prosecutors cited multiple undated exchanges where Valdez directed lewd comments at juvenile females and unsuccessfully tried to coerce them. "Hey just got my PFD. 1k for pics and video," Valdez is described as saying in one undated exchange, according to the memo. In a different attempt, Valdez said he "was up for some fun this weekend" and asked if the minor was "up for some fun or making some (money)" while repeatedly commenting on the minor's looks. Advertisement Advertisement The juvenile, using a four-letter expletive, told Valdez to leave her alone. Valdez was in custody at Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau as of Friday afternoon. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday. Prosecutors asked anyone with information about Valdez or who may have interacted with someone using two of his anonymous online usernames NONAME20233132 and DOCHANK to contact the FBI's Anchorage office at 907-276-4441 or submit an anonymous tip online. Daily News reporter Mari Kanagy contributed from Juneau and reporter Iris Samuels contributed from Anchorage. Days after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, during an operation in Caracas on Jan. 3, the Venezuelan government staged a show in the capital's skies with the intention of demonstrating support and demanding the couple's release. With thousands of drones lighting up the sky, the message from the interim government of Delcy Rodriguez was clear: continue publicly backing Maduro and the socialist regime that has ruled Venezuela for decades. Since being appointed interim leader, Rodriguez has also had to implement changes under pressure from the Trump administration, which has warned she could suffer the same fate as Maduro if she does not comply. In a new report by the BBC, experts said that despite Rodriguez's difficult position, she has so far managed to navigate pressure from both sides while keeping each satisfied, at least for now. That balance, however, could shift at any moment given the intense pressure the United States is placing on Venezuela. "Rodriguez's legitimacy lies in the military strength of the U.S. And it will last if Trump wants it to. She cannot stand up to him," Carmen Beatriz Fernandez, a Venezuelan political analyst and CEO of DataStrategia, a political consultancy firm, told the BBC. In Caracas, banners supporting Maduro while denouncing U.S. intervention have become common across the city. At the same time, Rodriguez has organized pro-government marches in the capital featuring large public displays demanding Maduro's return. "She is handling communication in the best possible way and establishing guidelines for the country to continue moving forward despite the hijacking," Leonardo Arca, 39, a civil servant, told the BBC during a small pro-government march in Caracas last month. Despite being a Maduro loyalist and a lifelong Chavista, Rodriguez has deviated significantly from some of the regime's previous policies. She passed a law paving the way for U.S. oil companies to begin operating in Venezuela and authorized the release of numerous politicians and human rights activists who had been imprisoned for months or years. Although the Venezuelan opposition argues that many of Rodriguez's changes occurred only because of U.S. pressure, she appears to have gained Trump's trust. He has publicly referred to Rodriguez as "a wonderful person" and "someone we have worked very well with." More recently, he acknowledged the diplomatic bind Rodriguez faces. When asked about her statement that Maduro remains the legitimate president, Trump dismissed it, saying: "I think she probably has to say that." Despite maintaining a working relationship with U.S. officials, Rodriguez has criticized the Jan. 3 operation and expressed opposition to what she described as U.S. expansionism. But Phil Gunson, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank based in Caracas, told the BBC that her public criticism of Washington is strategic. "Washington must understand that she must continue with this rhetoric. It is a way of maintaining cohesion in the Chavista project, even though it is known that it is not real," Gunson said. Beyond balancing her relationship with Trump and managing domestic expectations, Rodriguez has also had to navigate her relationship with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who wields significant influence within the military, which has remained loyal to Maduro. "There's a theory that they're playing good-cop, bad-cop," Sabatini said. "She knows she needs him to maintain the security forces and keep them on her side ... but as long as they don't interfere with her momentum of attracting investors and most elements of the Trump administration, he serves her purpose." As Sabatini noted, Rodriguez has managed the situation she inherited and may have more leverage with Trump than what initially meets the eye. "Trump wants to see Venezuela continue on the path it's on; he doesn't want anything to contradict the narrative that everything is fine. Trump doesn't want to see the oil hit the fan, so to speak. So she has some leverage over Trump, which most people don't realize. She's not just a secondary partner. It's more of an equal partnership than Trump would like," the expert added. Originally published on Latin Times Akron-area postal workers are joining a national day of rallies on Feb. 22 called Fight Like Hell. The 295,000 active and retired members of the National Association of Letter Carriers are calling for a fair contract, according to a statement on www.nalc.org. More: Mail carrier robbed at gunpoint Monday by masked suspects in Summit Lake Branches 148 and 196 of the NALC will be rallying at 3 p.m. Sunday at 1655 W. Market St. Advertisement Advertisement The letter carriers say their work is harder than ever because of the number of parcels and long hours, and they deserve higher pay. Meanwhile, they have growing safety concerns, including threats and assaults. For more information, see a report by Beacon Journal news partner News 5. Cleveland. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron postal workers set Fight Like Hell rally Sunday for pay boost The Brief A march to honor Alex Pretti is being held in Minneapolis to mark one month since he was fatally shot by Border Patrol Agents. Organizers say they are demanding justice for those killed and racially profiled by federal immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge. The march is starting at Whittier Park, near where the fatal shooting happened. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Alex Pretti, the man fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, is being honored by a rally and march to mark one month since he was killed. Advertisement Advertisement Live aerial footage of the march can be viewed in the player above. READ MORE: Minneapolis shooting: What we know about Alex Pretti, the man killed by Border Patrol agents Raw footage of the rally and march will be uploaded above. Alex Pretti shooting The backstory Federal agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, on the morning of Jan. 24. It was the third shooting involving federal agents in Minnesota during January 2026, including when Renee Good was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Jan. 7. READ MORE: Memorial ride for Alex Pretti planned by Minneapolis bike shop Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump told reporters that he wants to see a "very honorable and honest investigation" into the shooting. The Minnesota BCA was informed on Feb. 14 that the FBI will not provide them with any evidence in the case, despite cooperation on previous investigations. READ MORE: Alex Pretti shooting: Minnesota BCA says FBI officially denied them access to evidence in case The BCA says it will continue to investigate the shootings despite the lack of cooperation from the federal government. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has said she expects to have enough evidence to make a charging decision in Pretti's shooting along with the Good and Sosa-Celis shootings. However, there are questions about whether a state case against a federal officer would survive the courts due to the Supremacy clause in the constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of riders participated in a community bike ride to honor Alex Pretti a week after he was killed. The Source This story uses information from previous FOX 9 reporting and live footage from the march. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Alex Gonzalez and Yan Vazquez left Cuba together in 2019 on a path to find a better life in a nation that prides itself as a land of liberty and justice for all. But after spending five months in a immigration detention center after being arrested for a pending legal status, they now feel like living in the U.S. is not too different from the country they fled from. The couple, who married in 2024, are both hospital workers at Upstate Medical University. They got a home together in North Syracuse, but in October 2025, as they were waiting for a hearing in a courthouse about finalizing their legal residency, federal immigration agents cuffed them and sent them to Mattydale, the local headquarters for I.C.E. just outside of Syracuse. Afterward, they were sent to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility. After spending months in a Buffalo jail for having a pending legal status, the couple talked to the press for the first time after being freed on bond. Alex Gonzalez and Yan Vazquez talk to the media following their release from I.C.E. detention. Photo by Alexandra Deryn. Photos by Alexandra Deryn. Advertisement Advertisement They shared a cell in the jail for 11 days, but then they were separated for the remainder of their time. Gonzalez says they were given no reason as to why they were split and sent to different floors of the building. His confusion deepened further when they met other detainees who said they didnt have legal papers, like he and Vazquez do. Gonzalez and Vazquez saw themselves as fortunate compared to their neighbors in the jail, as the couple could communicate with their families and had a framework of support from their labor unions and local activists. It was this support, they said, that kept them positive through the confusing and fearful ordeal. Now is when the big fight begins, Gonzalez said through a translator. Their battle for legal status is far from over, as theyre still appealing their cases for asylum. They had filed the appeals in January after a federal judge ruled for them to be deported to Ecuador, a country they have no connection to. Their argument for asylum rests on the threat of persecution in Ecuador or Cuba for being gay. Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez and Vazquez, who immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba and work at a Syracuse hospital, were released from the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility, New York States largest detention center for undocumented immigrants, this week. Activists and colleagues from their labor unions raised money to pay their bonds Vazquez cost $5,000 and Gonzalez, his husband, cost $15,000. Gonzalez, who had a different judge than Vazquez, has to wear an ankle bracelet. They have two routes toward obtaining legal status: obtaining asylum, or through the Cuban Adjustment Act, a federal passed by Congress in 1966 allowing Cuban immigrants permanent residency. The law was initially passed to expedite this process for those fleeing Cuba following its Communist revolution in 1959. City politicians, local activists, and leaders from their unions stood by them in solidarity as the two recounted the rollercoaster of events that transpired since they arrived to America. Syracuse city auditor Alex Marion was overjoyed to meet the couple for whom he had been an advocate for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement The only thing these gentlemen are guilt of is believing that the American dream is open to everyone, Marion said. Neither Gonzalez nor Vazquez have a criminal record, according to their unions. 1: From left to right: Jesus Manuel Gorra, Alex Gonzalez, Miriam Del Carmen Andres; 2: Yanelis Carlos and her brother Yan Vazquez. Both photos courtesy of Mindy Heath. A third worker from the same hospital, Mohamed Fofana, an immigrant from Guinea who was detained by I.C.E. in November, was moved from the Buffalo jail to one in south Texas. His next hearing, according to C.S.E.A. Local 615 (Vazquezs union) president Ali Cottrell, is scheduled for Feb. 27. Latest Stories Latest Stories 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 WSYR. As politicians discuss a possible military attack on Iran, a trial is approaching for an Iranian-born engineer accused of providing American technology to an Iranian-controlled company linked to a Middle East drone attack that killed three American soldiers from Georgia. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Feb. 23 in Boston for Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghis March 2 trial on charges of conspiring to violate Americas International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the country's sanctions on commerce with Iran. The selection was moved back to Feb. 27 after defense lawyers argued Feb. 20 that alarming media reports about a possible attack by the U.S. would harm their clients chance for a fair trial. USA TODAY: Trump says Iran has 10 days to reach nuclear deal to avoid military action Advertisement Advertisement Sadeghi, who lived in Massachusetts and claimed both American and Iranian citizenship, is not charged with causing the January 2024 attack on an American military base in Jordan or supporting the Iranian government. He is instead charged with working with an Iranian engineer who co-founded a company that worked for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, helping that man get American tech that was supposed to be off-limits and might have been used in drones the IRGC bought. The drone attack on housing units at the 350-person outpost near the Syrian border killed three members of the 926th Engineer Brigade, an Army Reserve combat engineer brigade at Fort Moore, Georgia. Iran denied involvement in the attack, but the U.S. and others said groups Iran supported were responsible. About 40 soldiers were injured in the attack, which took the lives of Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders of Waycross, Georgia.; Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Georgia, and Willingboro, New Jersey; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett of Savannah, Georgia. Sanders and Moffett were posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant. Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia Sadeghi was indicted in December 2024 along with Mohammad Abedini, the founder of an Iranian company that makes navigation modules for drones used by the IRGC, an arm of the Iranian government that the U.S. State Department labeled a foreign terrorist organization in 2019. Abedini, who lived in Tehran, was arrested in Italy in 2024 but later released without being extradited to the United States. Advertisement Advertisement It's not clear how the absence of Abedini, who had faced more charges than Sadeghi, will affect the focus of the court case. A superseding indictment filed in December 2025 to replace the original charges said the two men jointly caused an unnamed American company to export electronic components "certain of which had applications in the navigation of drones" to Switzerland, where Abedini transported goods and tech to Iran. A transfer case is unloaded during the dignified transfer ceremony of the remains of three U.S. service members killed in the drone attack on the U.S. military outpost in Jordan, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Feb. 2, 2024. Federal officials said in 2024 that an analysis of a drone recovered from the Jordan attack showed it was an Iranian Shahed UAV and that it used a navigation system manufactured by Abedinis company, known by the initials SDRA. Prosecutors said then that Sadeghi, who before his indictment worked for a microelectronics manufacturer, had traveled to Iran around 2016 to request funding from a foundation tied to Irans government and created an Iranian company that worked with SDRA. The December 2025 superseding indictment said "Iran-backed militants" carried out the attack in Jordan, using a Shahed 101 drone that contained a navigation system "manufactured by Abedini's company, SDRA." A Feb. 18 "statement of the case" the prosecution and defense were required to develop together said simply that the government claimed Sadeghi "illegally exported and re-exported electronics parts to Iran through Switzerland" and conspired with others. Sadeghi denied those claims and had pleaded not guilty, the statement added. Advertisement Advertisement The defense warning about jurors being tainted by media coverage of current events with Iran also said that prosecutors had thinned their trial exhibit list by removing "extensive evidence" about collection of debris found in Jordan and Syria. Seven military witnesses and two expert witnesses were also cut from prosecutors' witness lists for the trial, the defense said. The doors of a van with the transfer cases are closed during the dignified transfer ceremony of the remains of three U.S. service members killed in the drone attack on the U.S. military outpost in Jordan, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Feb. 2, 2024. While trial preparations moved ahead, President Donald Trump said on Feb. 20 he was considering a limited strike on Iran, where he has spoken of wanting a deal to limit Iran's nuclear capacity and has sent numerous warships to the surrounding region. In Congress, top Democratic members of the House committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence issued a joint statement the same day opposing military force against Iran. We strongly oppose preemptive U.S. military action against Iran, which endangers U.S. personnel and risks drawing Israel and Gulf partners into a wider conflict," the leaders said. "Absent a broader diplomatic framework, miliary strikes would be destabilizing, dangerous, and counterproductive to efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East." This story was updated to correct an error in a quote. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Trial near for engineer after deadly drone attack on US troops North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong joined other governors from around the country Saturday in calling for Congress to cement energy permitting reform in federal law. The governors, who spoke during a meeting of the National Governors Association in Washington, D.C., represented states with varying energy preferences, from wind and solar to natural gas and coal. They all agreed that permitting those projects at the federal level needs to happen quicker, more efficiently, and not be in danger of cancellation with the election of a new president. We should figure out how we codify that, Armstrong, a Republican and former member of Congress, said during a panel with the governors of Alaska, West Virginia and the Virgin Islands. If you dont make it energy agnostic, it doesnt matter what project you have. They all take longer to build than four years or eight years. The Keystone XL pipeline, which would have transported crude oil from Canada to the United States, was canceled by President Joe Biden in 2021. President Donald Trump, during the first year of his second term, has halted permitting or frozen federal grants for several renewable energy projects. Advertisement Advertisement The governors want Congress to codify permitting reform that will prevent those pendulum swings. Everybody craves predictability and certainty, said Gov. Patrick Morrisey, R-West Virginia. Creating a more efficient permitting process for all energy sources could help attract investment dollars to projects that could be canceled by the future presidential administrations, the panelists said. In order to have a long-term horizon for investors, youve got to have that long term certainty that the next election wont whipsaw back, said Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican. Dunleavy said his state has seen a stark difference in approaches under Trump compared to Biden. He wants to ensure those changes arent temporary. Advertisement Advertisement The gains that were making, they have to be codified into law by Congress, he said. We want to make sure that this is not a one and done. Doug Burgum, secretary of the Department of the Interior and former North Dakota governor, introduced the panel, stressing the need for more efficient energy permitting to ensure the country can keep up with China in the AI arms race. Secretary Doug Burgum, Department of the Interior, touts the importance of data centers and artificial intelligence at the National Governors Associations winter meeting on Feb. 21, 2026. (Screenshot from C-SPAN) While we are ahead in the software and the technology, they are ahead of us in the electric production. So thats the threat were up against, Burgum said. The Trump administration views losing the AI arms race to be an existential threat, Burgum said. Advertisement Advertisement Armstrong touted North Dakotas cold and windy winter climate as a boon for companies considering the construction of data centers in the state. Data centers require a significant amount of electricity, and that climate helps reduce the facilities cooling costs. But North Dakotas executive emphasized the need to handle the addition of data centers to a states power grid carefully to minimize impacts on consumers. You have to be smart about it. Thats the first way youre going to lose your own constituency, is if consumers see a high price increase youre going to lose the ability to do that, Armstrong said. Weve been lucky in North Dakota, and I think its just being smart, responsible growth. Immigration Armstrong also appeared on C-SPANs weekly Ceasefire program alongside Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer. Advertisement Advertisement Federal immigration enforcement has generated significant criticism across the country. Meyer, a Democrat, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lost all credibility in many communities due to the agencys actions in Minneapolis. While Armstrong said he opposes federal overreach in many areas, he added immigration enforcement is not one of them. Weve worked with them in North Dakota and our local law enforcement cooperates and we dont have any of those issues, Armstrong said. You might not like the tactics, but federal immigration enforcement is a federal issue. North Dakotas governor stopped short of a full endorsement of those tactics when asked if he supported federal law enforcement agents use of masks in public to prevent identification. Armstrong said transparency by law enforcement is always a good idea. Ive always been skeptical of federal law enforcement since 2004 when I started as a criminal defense attorney, he said. Advertisement Advertisement He acknowledged companies hire illegal immigrants in every state, including North Dakota. On legal immigration, Armstrong said federal immigration law hasnt been changed since 1986, but the process for approving visas for workers like farm labor, which North Dakota relies on, has become slower and more cumbersome. Thats whats really frustrating, Armstrong said. North Dakota Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge can be reached at jorledge@northdakotamonitor.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Russian bombs that began falling on Ukraine on 24 February 2022 turned tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians into soldiers overnight. Many who had never held a weapon before rushed to take up arms. In the four years that have followed, as the war has ground on and the initial patriotic fervour has died down, thousands more have been conscripted. For men, service is open-ended and applies to those aged 25-65. Women can serve on a contractual basis. Speaking from mud-soaked dugouts, drone command centres, frontline observation posts and rehabilitation centres, nine Ukrainian soldiers have told the BBC about the civilians they once were, the soldiers they have become and the toll the war has taken on them. Olena, 26: 'My place is here as long as the enemy is in my house' "I look at the 'before' photo and see myself calmer," Olena says. "More naive" [BBC] Not long ago, Olena worked as a nightclub administrator in Prague. "It felt like everything was ahead of me - and there was plenty of time," she says. Then, she realised if she didn't protect her future, she would remain stuck in the past. Advertisement Advertisement In December 2024, she returned to Ukraine, joined the army and became a pilot. "I look at the 'before' photo and see myself calmer," Olena says. "More naive. Everything became different. I became different." "My 'past' life was filled with a constant chase: to make it in time, to achieve, to build, to earn, to prove. Now, everything is simpler: what matters is that my brothers-in-arms are alive after enemy strikes." The difficult moments, Olena says, are not the explosions or the danger: "Sometimes the hardest thing is the silence after the news of losses." Advertisement Advertisement She finds strength in thinking of her family, away from the front lines, who "survive a week without light and heating, but don't lose the hope for a better future". While the fighting continues, she can't imagine another life: "My place is here as long as the enemy is in my house." Oleh, 37: 'I am not a military man, I have never seen myself like that' Publishing graduate Oleh says fighting back is a way to help not with words but with deeds [BBC] Like the majority of Ukrainians, on 24 February 2022 Oleh was "confused, and scared". Some ran towards the borders; others, to the enlistment offices. "I froze, trying to master my fear," says Oleh, a publishing graduate and former NGO worker. "I am not a military man, I have never seen myself like that, and I did not understand how ordinary people could stand in the way of such a powerful enemy like Russia." Advertisement Advertisement But the next month, Oleh - who loved role-playing board games and wrote fiction - joined the army. As a soldier, he says, "you are constantly in a small room in your head, the space of which is getting smaller every time. Outside the window, others are living while there is no handle on the door on your side to get out." The war has jolted him. "Before, it was important for me to help others find their way, to become strong, self-confident. Now I understand that the technique of positive thinking does not save you from armed thugs." Getting rid of them, Oleh says, is a way of helping not with words but deeds. Advertisement Advertisement "You can't save everyone. But even your unsuccessful attempts will matter." Anastasiia, 19: 'Before, I didn't have a clear concept of values in life' In the 11 months since signing up, Anastasia says she has learned about happiness [BBC] When she finished school, Anastasia didn't know what she wanted to be, so she took up a job as a barista. Then she became fascinated by drones - the nimble, deadly aircraft that have become centrepieces of the war in Ukraine - and in March 2025 joined the army. "I first held the position of unmanned systems duty officer, and then became an FPV (first person view) operator," she says. Since then, she has found that being a woman in the armed forces "was and still is the most difficult thing". "You constantly have to prove you are worthy of doing the job, and on an equal footing with others." Advertisement Advertisement In the 11 months since signing up, Anastasia says she has learned about happiness. "Time with loved ones, love, delicious food," she lists. "Being close to your family. Not being afraid that you won't wake up tomorrow." "Before, I didn't have a clear concept of values in this life due to my age," she says. "Now, I feel completely different." Roman, 42: 'I try not to think about the future' Roman operates drones and lends his medical skills whenever possible [BBC] Before the full-scale invasion started, Roman was one of Ukraine's top bio-engineers, trained to create 3D models for facial reconstruction surgeries. After 2022, he volunteered as a medic, and was later mobilised. "If the war hadn't happened I may have moved to Copenhagen. I worked there a lot, with the best surgeons," he says. Instead, he has spent the last years in dugouts around Ukraine. Now, from his position in the north of the country he tries "not to think about the future - I live here and now". He operates drones and lends his medical skills whenever possible. In a sense, he says, his life is his work - just as it was before he joined the army. Advertisement Advertisement For now, there is no end in sight. "I will rest after the war," he laughs. Then he pauses. "No, there'll be lots of reconstruction surgery to be done then. So, maybe, after that." Viktor, 28: 'I look at these photos and it's like a different person' Viktor barely remembers what he was like before the war [BBC] The photo on the left was taken in early 2022 - a few weeks before Viktor took what he says was the most important decision of his life. He had already served four years in the army and moved to Poland, but the afternoon of the start of the Russian invasion he went back to Ukraine: "Not because I wasn't afraid, but because I had no choice." "In these photos, I am young. A little boy," he says now. "I barely remember myself like that anymore. But I remember very clearly who I became, and who the war turned me into." Advertisement Advertisement When he shared these photos on social media, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers followed suit: "Our eyes say a lot. There's no need to even spell out the things we have seen or done." Almost all the friends he joined up with have died. "I look at these photos and it's like a different person, but at the same time I'm still me - just someone who didn't know what was ahead. It's probably good that I didn't know." Serhii, 42: Two years as a prisoner of war Serhii describes captivity as the most harrowing experience of his life [BBC] The day of the Russian invasion, Serhii a civilian with a government job - joined the army. By spring he was one of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russia during the siege of the Azovstal steelworks in the coastal city of Mariupol. Advertisement Advertisement He was held for over two years and captivity remains the most harrowing experience of his life. "That feeling of being doomed Out of everything I've done in the army and in life overall, that was the worst. Not having any idea what the future could bring or what would come next." During the long days of the siege he speaks of "a profound reassessment of my values - it felt as if you suddenly start rushing to live". He thought about his life before and after the war and set goals for how he would live if he managed to survive. He is now in rehabilitation and lives with his wife and two children. "If I look at my photo from before the full-scale invasion, I can say only one thing: 'Oh, kid, you have no idea what still awaits you." Kyrylo, 35: 'I had plans - the war took them all away' Kyrylo has found returning to civilian life very hard [BBC] Before 2022, Kyrilo's life was good. Advertisement Advertisement "I had a wife, two children, a house everything I needed. I had plans." The war, he says, took it all away. Kyrylo was held in captivity in Russia for several weeks in 2022 and watched comrades being abused. "It was hard," he says, "when you can't even stand up to defend them." The return to freedom in Ukraine was no less difficult. "Very often you run into the fact that you're nobody. And for soldiers this happens a lot: while you're fighting, you're something, someone. As soon as you stop - then that's it, you're nobody." 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. On Friday, lawmakers in the Wisconsin Assembly voted in favor of a bill seeking Medicaid coverage for people in Wisconsin prisons and jails. Supporters hope it will help recently incarcerated people avoid addiction and overdoses. Rep. Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) said her experience working for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections has given her firsthand knowledge about the impact AB 604 will have. She said it will improve access to treatment and case management and ease the financial burden on justice-involved Wisconsinites. The bill would give incarcerated people a greater chance of maintaining sobriety and preventing overdose after release from prison, Stubbs said. After a Minnesota study about the causes of death of recently incarcerated people, researcher Tyler Winkelman said that substance use is clearly the main driver of death after release from both jail and prison. Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid is prohibited from paying for services provided during incarceration, barring some exceptions involving inpatient services or an eligible juvenile under 21 years old. The National Association of Counties published a toolkit critical of the inmate exclusion policy, arguing in part that it unfairly revokes federal health benefits from people who are being detained prior to trial and have not been found guilty. The bill would pursue a path offered by the federal government that allows for a partial waiver of the policy. The proposal directs the Department of Health Services to request a waiver to conduct a demonstration project; 19 states have approved waivers and nine states including Washington D.C. have pending waivers, as of November 21. A waiver would allow for prerelease health care coverage under the Medical Assistance program, which provides health services to people with limited finances, for up to 90 days before release of an eligible incarcerated person. Coverage would be provided for case management services, medication-assisted treatment for all types of substance use disorders and a 30-day supply of prescription medications. Advertisement Advertisement The bill garnered support from lawmakers from both parties and from WISDOM and EX-Incarcerated People Organizing, groups that advocate for incarcerated people. The Assemblys vote to seek the coverage for incarcerated people comes on the heels of its vote to accept a federal expansion of Medicaid coverage for women for one year after they give birth. For the waiver, if the state seeks federal Medicaid coverage for services that are currently funded with state or local dollars, the state has to reinvest any savings in state or local funds. Savings would be invested in programs to increase access to or improve the quality of health care for incarcerated people. In the Department of Corrections fiscal estimate, the DOC said that in fiscal year 2025, the agency spent $500,000 on the 30-day medication supply dispensed for incarcerated people pre-release, $300,000 on pre-release medication assisted treatment medications and $3.9 million on the Opening Avenues to Reentry Success (OARS) program. The OARS program supports the transition from prison to the community of incarcerated people living with a severe and persistent mental illness who are at medium-to-high risk of reoffending. Advertisement Advertisement The agency estimated it may have over $750,000 in potential cost savings if the waiver is approved and implemented. Because not all incarcerated people will qualify, the estimate assumes that half of the medication supply and medication assisted treatment medications costs will be reimbursed, as well as 10% of the OARS program costs. There may be other costs DOC can have reimbursed. AB 604 would require the Department of Health Services to submit the waiver request no later than Jan. 1, 2027. The bill now goes to the state Senate. Supporters of the bill include the Wisconsin Medical Society, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Wisconsin, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Counties Association. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A major snowstorm hit Austria on Friday, leaving five people dead and causing power outages and transport chaos, officials said. One man, aged 53, was crushed to death when a snow plough fell down steps in a "residential complex" in the northern city of Linz, police said. Four skiers were killed in avalanches in the Tyrol region. Three of them died in a giant avalanche near the St Anton ski resort, officials said. A German died on a slope at Nauders that was buried by snow. His 16-year-old son was seriously injured, officials added. Advertisement Advertisement Tyrol authorities appealed for skiers to stay away from off-piste slopes as the latest deaths took to 21 the number of dead in avalanches in Austria this winter season. They said the risk would remain high for several days. Up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) of snow fell on the Alpine nation since Thursday, prompting alerts for southeast Austria, notably in the region around the city of Graz. Vienna airport temporarily closed in the morning, and afternoon services were "disrupted". One of the main orbital highways around Vienna was closed for several hours, and other sections of highway were blocked by snowdrifts, stranded lorries or poor visibility, said the national automobile association, OAMTC. Advertisement Advertisement Electric companies reported power outages in several regions in the south and east, including Styria, where 30,000 homes lost electricity. In neighbouring Slovenia, 40,000 households were affected, according to local media, which reported major disruptions in the country's northeast. bk-bg/tw/rlp South Dakota lawmakers advanced a bill on Friday at the Capitol in Pierre aimed at stopping abortion pills and other abortion-related items from being advertised and distributed in the state. The House State Affairs Committee voted 10-2 to send the bill to the House floor. The bill would make it a felony to knowingly dispense, distribute, sell or advertise abortion pills and any other article or instrument intended to be used for an abortion. It would also allow the state attorney general to seek civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, with payments deposited into the life protection subfund, used to defend the states anti-abortion laws. Republican Attorney General Marty Jackley, whos seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. House in the June primary election, said the measure gives prosecutors tools to target out-of-state providers and marketers, and to intercept shipments without requiring proof that the drugs reached a pregnant person. Advertisement Advertisement We are not able to do that under the existing law, he said, because the drug has to go to a pregnant female. The bill empowers action if the attorney general has reason to believe that a person is engaging in, has engaged in, or is about to engage in a violation. Opponents, including the South Dakota State Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, said the bill would chill medical care, particularly miscarriage management and labor induction using drugs affected by the bill, and invite intrusive investigations into private health decisions. Justin Bell, on behalf of the medical association, said even in cases of legal, non-abortion uses, manufacturers and distributors of drugs affected by the legislation may say, I dont know what people are going to use this for. I am not taking the liability of a potential civil action. Im not taking a risk of getting convicted of a class six felony because of it. Advertisement Advertisement The bill comes as Jackley is in court trying to stop advertisements on gas station pumps around the state, asking, Pregnant? Dont want to be? The ads from New York-based Mayday Health include a link to the groups website, which provides information about the availability of abortion pills. South Dakota lawmakers adopted an abortion trigger ban in 2005 that took effect in 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned abortion rights previously guaranteed by the Roe v. Wade decision. In 2023, medication abortions accounted for 63% of abortions in the country, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute. Mifepristone and misoprostol, used in medication abortions, are listed on the World Health Organizations list of essential medicines. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an attempt by anti-abortion medical organizations to overturn the Food and Drug Administrations prescribing guidelines for mifepristone. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Bard College Center for Indigenous Studies (CfIS) will host its third annual symposium, An Invitation to Interconnectedness: Indigenous Approaches to Information, Knowledge, Justice, and Belonging, on March 910 at Bard Colleges Annandale campus. Presented as part of CfISs mission to advance public programming in Native American and Indigenous Studies through education, the arts, and advocacy, the symposium invites participants to engage deeply with Indigenous approaches to information stewardship in libraries, archives, and museums. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Through panels, discussions, and collaborative workshops led by distinguished scholars and practitioners, the program will examine Indigenous taxonomies, reparative cataloging, and community-centered protocols within libraries, archives, and museum collections. Grounded in Indigenous frameworks of relationality, the gathering centers relationship as both methodology and responsibility. As guest conveners Miranda Belarde-Lewis, Marisa Duarte, and Sandy Littletree write, Relationality is dynamic. It allows us to actively participate in our world, ensuring that our interactions are compassionate, loving, and caring, as we become accountable to those with whom we relate. The symposium also aims to cultivate and strengthen networks among those committed to equitable information services in the Mahicanituck (Hudson) Valley and beyond. The event opens March 9 at 11:15 a.m. with a keynote by Miranda Belarde-Lewis (Zuni/Tlingit), followed by a professional workshop for librarians led by a team from the Labriola National American Indian Data Center. Additional panels and presentations continue through March 10. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit the event page or contact cfis@bard.edu. Speakers Miranda Belarde-Lewis (Zuni/Tlingit) is Associate Professor of North American Indigenous Knowledge at the University of Washington Information School. She has developed Native-centered educational programming and publications in collaboration with tribal, municipal, state, and federal museums. Marisa Duarte (Pascua Yaqui Tribe/Chicanx) is Associate Professor in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University. Her research explores information, knowledge, and technology in Indigenous contexts, with particular attention to how Native and Indigenous communities use social media to circulate Indigenous ways of knowing. Sandy Littletree (Navajo/Eastern Shoshone) is Assistant Professor at the University of Washington Information School. Her scholarship examines the relationships between Indigenous knowledge systems and library and information science, advancing Indigenous frameworks within the field. Sarah Kostelecky (Zuni Pueblo) is Associate Professor and Director of the Indigenous Nations Library Program (INLP) at the University of New Mexico. Formerly the inaugural Program Specialist (Indigenous Peoples) at the Library of Congress, she studies how institutions can transform their practices to support and safeguard Indigenous knowledge systems. Alexander Soto (Tohono Oodham Nation) is Director of the Labriola National American Indian Data Center at Arizona State University Library. He has led culturally responsive research services and Indigenized community-based archival initiatives for Tribal communities. Alongside colleague Vina Begay, he will discuss Indigenous-centered systems for organizing and understanding archives, with an emphasis on access and community authority. Vina Begay (Dine Nation) is Assistant Librarian and Archivist at the Labriola National American Indian Data Center at Arizona State University. She serves as Chair of the Native American Archives Section and is a member of the Society of American Archivists Archival Repatriation Committee. Her work focuses on Indigenous-centered archival practice and the affirmation of community authority over cultural knowledge and belongings. Advertisement Advertisement About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net BAY COUNTY, Fla (WMBB)- Dozens of students marched down the streets protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. After the bell rang at Bay High School on Friday, students gathered at MacKenzie Park in Panama City for an Ice Out protest. People hate each other. People love each other. But I feel like no matter what it isthe world has gone corrupt today, said protester Douglas Raney. With Spanish music blasting and anti-ICE signs in hand, they marched up and down the downtown area with several cars honking in support and opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Some protesters said they were outraged by the recent events involving federal agents. The recent killings of Rene Good and Alex Pretty really enlightened something in me because hes not Trump is not just going after white people or Hispanic people. Hes going after everyone. He kind of wants all of us gone. So I feel like at that point, whenever its killing U.S. citizens on U.S. land, I feel like it gets to a point where we need to do something about it, said one protester, who asked to remain anonymous. Many participants were high school students. They said that while they are young, they are pushing for change for their own future. We have more determination and we want the change. And it clearly seems that they dont want to be adults and be whats right for us. Were the ones that are standing up. Were the ones that are walking out, said Raney. Advertisement Advertisement Some students said the protest was originally scheduled as a school walk-out, but was changed to a march under threats of disciplinary action. But they said that wouldnt have stopped them. We need justice. We need peace. Like, if I would have gotten in trouble or expelled or something, thats fine, said protester Alexis Hernandez. We reached out to Bay District Schools for a comment, but they declined, citing that the protest was happening outside of school hours. 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 mypanhandle.com. The developer of a multi-use project at the corner of Market Street and Kerr Avenue in Wilmington has confirmed that a popular, longtime pizza restaurant will return as part of the plan. The North 17 Shopping Center, which dates to 1954, has been home to Elizabeths Pizza since 1987. Construction has started to turn the former one-story shopping center into a five-story mixed-use building with retail space on the ground floor and 55 residential units above, to be called The Grove on Market. Annamaria Lookman, chief operating officer of Quantum Real Estate, said she wants to support the long-term growth of Wilmington, the local business community, and offer a place for residents to feel connected. Advertisement Advertisement Im excited to announce that Elizabeths Pizza will be a part of that, she said. More: Demolition begins for one of Wilmington's oldest shopping centers Lookman is a part of the family behind this restaurant location, and other Elizabeths pizzerias in North Carolina, including Fayetteville, Greensboro and Eden. Every time we are out, people ask us about Elizabeths, she said. And we remember peoples orders. ... Its great that its been such a part of the community." Elizabeths Pizza closed in 2023 because of storm damage and an ongoing insurance claim. But the owners have always promised a return. If all goes well, The Grove should be completed next year, with Elizabeths Pizza possibly opening in fall 2027, Lookman said. Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Elizabeths Pizza, the North 17 Shopping Center was also home to businesses like Asian Life Market, Up-Town Clothing and USA Nails. While no other plans have been finalized, Lookman said discussions are underway for other existing tenants to return to the new development. STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest food news by signing up for the Port City Foodies newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram. Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Elizabeth's Pizza confirmed to return to Wilmington, NC, development Central Asia is gaining cultural momentum. Across the region, major art and cultural institutions are opening in rapid succession, signaling a shift in how these countries see themselves and how they want to be seen. What is driving this wave of cultural investment and how might it reshape the regions artistic landscape and its global visibility? From philanthropy to public impact Since its opening in mid-September last year, the Almaty Museum of Arts (ALMA) has quickly become one of the most talked-about cultural developments in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Positioning itself as a contemporary art hub for Central Asia, the museum presents the long-assembled private collection of its founder, businessman and philanthropist Nurlan Smagulov, alongside newly commissioned works by leading international artists. Related In just a few months, ALMA has attracted 250,000 visitors a figure that speaks more convincingly about the demand for cultural spaces than any official statements could. The Almaty Museum of Arts, with NADES (2023) in the foreground. - Photo: Alexey Naroditsky for Almaty Museum of Arts Almost simultaneously, Almaty marked another milestone with the long-anticipated opening of the Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture. The institution was founded in 2018 by businessman and philanthropist Kairat Boranbayev, but its permanent home a reconstructed Soviet-era cinema was only completed last year. Advertisement Advertisement The transformation was led by British architect Asif Khan, who preserved the buildings modernist character while adapting it for contemporary use. Since opening, the institution has welcomed around 60,000 visitors. Tselinny differs from ALMA in both concept and mission. Without a permanent collection, it is the first private institution in Kazakhstan devoted specifically to supporting contemporary culture through a dedicated, multidisciplinary space. Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture, Almaty. - Photo: Atelier Cauchemar for Tselinny According to Jamilya Nurkaliyeva, general director of the Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture, the institutions focus extends beyond exhibitions: Over the seven years of our work, we have focused on building intellectual infrastructure and forging connections with intellectual communities scholars and researchers who study our region and the issues that matter to us today. We work with local artists who are creating here and now. Advertisement Advertisement Tselinnys programme spans visual art and music projects, film screenings, theatre productions and experimental formats. At present, it is hosting Union of Artists, an exhibition curated by Vladislav Sludskiy. Beyond exhibitions and performances, Tselinny also carries out research and educational work, positioning itself as a platform for intellectual exchange among artists, theorists and cultural professionals from diverse social, cultural and ideological backgrounds. Culture as a state project Uzbekistan, too, has made decisive moves to position itself on the contemporary art map. One of the most visible signals was the Bukhara Biennial, which concluded in November 2025. Titled Broken Hearts, it was the first biennial of its kind not only in Uzbekistan but across Central Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Related Another highly anticipated development is the opening of the Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent, scheduled for March this year. Located in Tashkent, the new institution was designed by the award-winning architecture firm Studio KO. Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent - Photo: Studio KO for the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation Conceived as a long-term platform rather than a single event, the centre aims to host exhibitions, artist residencies, research programmes and educational initiatives, positioning Tashkent as a year-round hub for contemporary art production and exchange. The list of upcoming developments does not end there. A new National Art Museum of Uzbekistan is scheduled to open in 2028 in Tashkent. Advertisement Advertisement Together, these initiatives point to a carefully structured and long-term approach to cultural development. They are being driven by the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan, a state institution operating under the presidential administrations department of creative economy and tourism. One goal two approaches As Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan approach four decades of independence, their contemporary art scenes once fragmented and largely unsustainable are entering a new stage of maturity. Artists from both countries have long been present in major international institutions from the Centre Pompidou to Museum of Modern Art and museums in Antwerp often gaining recognition abroad faster than at home. Today, however, cultural infrastructure in both countries is finally beginning to catch up with the level of their artists. Meruyert Kaliyeva, art gallerist and director of the ALMA, notes that the Kazakh case carries a strong generational dimension: Both projects are rooted in very personal trajectories. The first generation of entrepreneurs of independent Kazakhstan is reaching an age where questions of legacy become central. Advertisement Advertisement Kazakh curator Yuliya Sorokina also welcomes these changes, calling them a point of no return for the country. Everything has changed now, Sorokina says. Life in Kazakhstan has shifted because two world-class institutions have opened. And the fact that they are not state-run matters. She notes that in Kazakhstan, contemporary art has historically received little to no government funding. As a result, institutions and artists have relied largely on fundraising, private patronage and philanthropy. Uzbekistan, by contrast, has pursued a predominantly state-led model. Most large-scale cultural initiatives are publicly funded, and many artists and cultural professionals view this concentrated, concept-driven approach as effective. Normurod Negmatov, an artist and founder of the private Ruhsor Museum of Contemporary Art in Samarkand, sees tangible results: In Uzbekistan, culture is supported by the state. The country is betting on tourism, exhibitions and museums are being rethought from the ground up, says Negmatov. "This produces results. In just a few years, the Foundations strategy has begun to bear fruit Uzbekistan has become more active and more visible on the global stage. Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, observers caution that strong state involvement can be fragile if political priorities shift. Meruyert Kaliyeva recalls the example of Azerbaijan, where heavy government investment in culture was followed by a decline in long-term engagement. She hopes Uzbekistans trajectory will prove more sustainable. Whether privately run or state funded, in both cases the expansion of cultural infrastructure is increasingly seen as a catalyst for tourism, as newly opened institutions become destinations in their own right. The difference lies in intent. In Uzbekistan, cultural development is conceived from the outset as a state-led strategy tied to tourism and economic policy. As Jamilya Nurkaliyeva explains: In Uzbekistan, culture is defined at the state level as a core public value, and the government is investing heavily in increasing tourist flows, promoting cities, and building modern cultural infrastructure as part of a broader development agenda. Advertisement Advertisement In Kazakhstan, by contrast, touristic impact is not the driving logic but an expected side effect of privately initiated cultural projects. This does not mean, however, that cultural professionals do not aspire to the so-called Bilbao effect the idea that landmark cultural projects can transform cities and regional economies. We do expect a Bilbao effect, says Yuliya Sorokina, speaking of Kazakhstan. In Bilbao, they have the sea we have mountains, striking landscapes and a fascinating city. A ferry operator is being sought to run services between Alderney and the French city of Cherbourg during peak tourist season. States of Alderney officials said they were inviting expressions of interests for the service which is proposed to run from the end of May to the end of September 2026. It is proposed the Alderney-Cherbourg route involve double ferry rotations three times a week, including Fridays and Sundays, the States said. Advertisement Advertisement Stuart Clark, chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said improved access to the north of France had the potential to benefit residents and tourists. "Seasonal ferry services have played an important role in enhancing Alderney's connectivity and supporting our visitor economy," he said. "While our links to Guernsey and Jersey remain well established, opportunities to strengthen connections with France - particularly Cherbourg - represent an exciting market that the committee believes should be explored." Advertisement Advertisement The closing date for submissions is 6 March. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links Feb. 20JUNEAU Democratic members of the Alaska House of Representatives have proposed a bill that prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing masks that conceal their faces while on-duty. The bill's sponsor, Juneau Democratic Rep. Sara Hannan, described the legislation as pro-law enforcement, by promoting public trust. "When officers conceal their faces, they compromise transparency, communication and the public's perception of accountability," Hannan said during the bill's first committee hearing last week. Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 250 would make it a crime for peace officers to wear face coverings while performing official duties. Peace officers include Village Public Safety Officers and city and state law enforcement officers, as well as federal law enforcement acting in Alaska. Anchorage's police chief and House Republicans have spoken against the bill, citing concerns that it encroaches on local law enforcement policy. Neither House nor Senate leaders have indicated the measure is a priority. Hannan proposed the bill as furor grows over actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration. This week, lawmakers in the House majority are raising alarm after ICE detained a mother and her three children, ages 18, 16 and 5, in Soldotna. The mother and her two youngest children were then deported to Mexico while the oldest remains in the Anchorage jail. That follows incidents last month in Minneapolis, when Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot and killed by masked federal agents. Their deaths prompted protests in Alaska and across the nation. It is now common for ICE agents to wear masks while on duty. Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers in Congress and in several Lower 48 states have pushed for bans similar to the one proposed by Hannan. A California district court last week blocked a law that singled out federal law enforcement in banning masking on duty, but ruled such a ban is allowed if it applies to state officers as well. Hannan said that her bill is written to abide by the law outlined in that case. "I'm not specifically targeting ICE," Hannan said. "It's inspired by actions of ICE coming in and calling themselves police when they're not police and not meeting state standards of policing." The bill faced strong pushback at a meeting of the House State Affairs Committee last week. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Kevin McCabe, a Big Lake Republican, led the opposition, saying that masks are an important tool to protect law enforcement from doxxing, and that masking among officers is not a relevant issue in the state. "I have never seen a masked officer that wasn't on a snowmobile, actually, in Alaska," McCabe said. "So I'm not sure that this is actually a problem, but I do think it is a tool that they believe that they can use it sometimes." There are exemptions in the bill, allowing masking if an officer is undercover, if the mask is clear, if the wearer is sick and has a doctor's note, to protect from smoke inhalation or if temperatures are below freezing. Sean Case, chief of the Anchorage Police Department and president of the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to the bill Tuesday. He clarified that he does not support law enforcement hiding their faces. Advertisement Advertisement "Using officer safety or doctrine as justification for masking is not valid," Case said. "Local officers have faced these challenges for decades without hiding their identities." Case said his opposition stems from his view that clear identification is already a practice among Alaska law enforcement, and that the bill would erode trust by suggesting that police cannot govern themselves. "It attempts to solve a nonexistent issue while inserting local law enforcement into a debate about federal immigration enforcement, something outside our role and responsibility," Case said. Juneau resident Laura Lucas was one of eight people who testified in support of the bill. She applauded it as a "proactive introduction" of legislation. "I'm hearing discussion that police officers in Alaska are not masked, but I think that the public is responding to the fact that within the past year, we've seen changes in this country that we've never imagined would happen before." NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A Tennessee bill that would allow private groups and individuals to refuse to recognize same-sex marriage passed the House Thursday after lengthy debate over its constitutionality. The bills sponsor, Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), said the legislation clarifies that Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court case that granted same-sex couples the right to marry under the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment, only applies to the government and other public entities because only the government and public entities are bound by the restrictions in those clauses of the 14th Amendment. PREVIOUS | Tennessee Republicans advance bills targeting LGBTQ people Advertisement Advertisement Members, this is a bill that does not change existing law. It simply clarifies existing law, Bulso said on the House floor. It provides that the 14th Amendment, and the U.S. Supreme Courts interpretation of that amendment in its Obergefell v. Hodges decision in 2015, are not binding on private citizens. Lawmakers debated over the constitutionality of the proposal at length. We do not have the authority to do what we are trying to do here today, Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville), chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said. To characterize this or mischaracterize this as already the law and were simply clarifying it, I think, is a gross exaggeration not only of the power of this body, but also what were attempting to do here, which is to deny humans fellow citizens equal rights. The bill passed the House largely along party lines. Meanwhile, members of the Tennessee Equality Project watched from outside the chambers. Advertisement Advertisement Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, told News 2 that while the bill likely wont change things for large, private entities, including national bank branches or big healthcare systems, it would likely hurt those in rural areas where those organizations are smaller and often locally-owned. Imagine if the Treasury Secretary were driving through the state of Tennessee and had an accident in a small, rural county, and someone refused to recognize his husband as his husband, and they had to make medical decisions or wanted to visit in the healthcare facility, Sanders said. Thats the kind of impact that this bill could have on anybody in a dire circumstance. The bills oppponents worry it could open doors for further discrimination against other types of marriages, including those between biracial or non-religious couples. What [Rep. Bulso] is doing today is far more sinister and extensive than simply clarifying the law, Sanders said. Who passes a law to clarify the law? This is about taking back the recognition and the impact of the Obergefell decision today, but in its language, broadly about the 14th Amendment, who knows what all it opens up? Does it get into questions of, Well, maybe I dont recognize your citizenship. Maybe I dont recognize your marriage, and youre not even a same sex couple.' Advertisement Advertisement JANUARY | Tennessee bills could impact same-sex marriage and LGBTQ workplace protections When reporters asked House Republican leadership whether the bill opens the door for further discrimination, House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said, Absolutely not. House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) refused to answer, concerned about a potential lawsuit over the bill. I would just say I would go back and listen to the debate, Sexton said. Im sure there is going to be a lawsuit on this, so anything thats said is going to be a part of the lawsuit. The Senate version of the bill has not yet been debated in committee. It must pass multiple committees before it reaches the Senate floor for a final vote. Advertisement Advertisement 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. The forecast for a winter storm rapidly solidified as the weekend began, leading forecasters and authorities to warn a dangerous nor'easter will dump up to 20 inches of snow in parts of the Northeast starting late in the weekend. Millions of people are being warned about the potential for blizzard conditions. The winter storm, the path of which has concerned forecasters for days, is now expected to bring "significant impacts" across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Sunday into Monday, the National Weather Service said Saturday, Feb. 21. Blizzard and winter storm warnings were issued for tens of millions of people across a swath of the Northeast, concentrating around New York City. Advertisement Advertisement How much snow? See where 20 inches is in the forecast. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency, effective at noon on Sunday, Feb. 22. "I urge New Jerseyans to use caution, stay off the roads, and follow all safety protocols during the storm," she said in a post on X. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also declared a state of emergency for 22 counties covering New York City, Long Island, parts of the Hudson Valley and Capital Region beginning the morning of Feb. 22. "Two days ago we were expecting a run of the mill February storm something we are used to handling (and) very accustomed to," Hochul said during a news conference Saturday afternoon. "But over the last 24 hours, this forecast has shifted dramatically and once again, New York State is in the crosshairs of a very dangerous, fast moving, potentially life threatening winter storm." Advertisement Advertisement Hochul urged residents to "stay home and stay safe," and suggested Long Island residents vacate places where flooding could occur. The city of Yonkers, New York, and Westchester County have also declared a state of emergency. New York City Comptroller Mark Levine said the city is even paying for residents to become "emergency snow shovelers" to help remove snow and ice. People wait in line to check out at the Shoprite supermarket in Yonkers, N.Y. early Sunday morning Feb. 22, 2026. Shoppers were stocking up on provisions before the massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. Alberto Hernandez loads his truck with ice melt early at Home Depot in Mount Pleasant, N.Y. Sunday morning Feb. 22, 2026. Shoppers were loading up on ice melt before the predicted massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. People wait in line for the opening of a Trader Joe's grocery store on Feb. 22, 2026 in New York City. A major winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions bringing heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions with the potential of up to 23 inches of snow in New York City. A blizzard warning has been issued for large areas of the East Coast, including New York City. A family shops for snow sleds at a hardware store ahead of a winter storm in Quincy, Massachusetts on Feb. 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. People rush to get groceries after waiting in line for the opening of a Trader Joe's grocery store on Feb. 22, 2026 in New York City. A major winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions bringing heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions with the potential of up to 23 inches of snow in New York City. A blizzard warning has been issued for large areas of the East Coast, including New York City. People rush to get groceries after waiting in line for the opening of a Trader Joe's grocery store on Feb. 22, 2026 in New York City. A major winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions bringing heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions with the potential of up to 23 inches of snow in New York City. A blizzard warning has been issued for large areas of the East Coast, including New York City. An employee helps a woman carry out rock salt from a hardware store in Boston, Mass. on Feb. 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. An Airbus A321 Delta Airlines passenger aircraft is seen at gate while a Boeing 737 MAX 8 United Airlines passenger aircraft takes off at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Feb. 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. Vincent Monaco, an employee at the Home Depot in Mount Pleasant, N.Y. helps Belinda Berisha of Larchmont load up her car with ice melt early Sunday morning Feb. 22, 2026. Shoppers were loading up on ice melt before the predicted massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. Desiree Babich of Thornwood, N.Y. holds her dog Cosmo, who is dressed for the weather, in the parking lot of Home Depot in Mount Pleasant Feb. 222, 2026. Babich was one of many shoppers who were loading up on ice melt before the predicted massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. Mark was at the Home Depot with his three year-old son Marco. See the Northeast race to prep for snowy weather amid blizzard warning 1 of 10 People wait in line to check out at the Shoprite supermarket in Yonkers, N.Y. early Sunday morning Feb. 22, 2026. Shoppers were stocking up on provisions before the massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. Snowstorm: Brace for up to 18 inches of snow. How much will your state get? Blizzard conditions from heavy snowfall and strong winds are expected along the East Coast from Delaware through southeastern New England, the NWS said. Travel will be "extremely treacherous across these areas" due to reduced visibility, the NWS said. A forecast map from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center shows a forecast of snowfall blanketing the Northeast. Snowfall rates of more than 1 inch per hour are expected, with some areas getting one to two feet of snow levels expected to cause hazardous travel conditions, the weather service said. Advertisement Advertisement The nor'easter comes from a storm moving from the Gulf Coast over the weekend and "will strengthen rapidly along the Atlantic Coast, spreading accumulating snow from West Virginia through the mid-Atlantic and into southern New England from Saturday night through Monday," according to AccuWeather. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to "Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. If you can stay home, stay home" due to the blizzard warning, in a post on X. New York City, were under a Blizzard Warning from 6 a.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday, with 1318 inches of snow expected and possibly more in some areas. Snow starts Sunday morning, intensifies at night, and will make the Monday morning commute extremely dangerous. Stay off Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 21, 2026 Snow storm forecast map: How much will it snow? Wondering how much snow is in the forecast? USA TODAY's detailed winter weather forecast map below lets you explore where snow is expected over the next few hours and days. Where will the winter storm hit? The storm is forecast to bring six to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow to coastal areas from Philadelphia and New York City to Boston, according to AccuWeather. One to two inches of snow per hour are expected at times Sunday into Sunday night, according to the forecast. Advertisement Advertisement "Winter storm watches and warnings have been issued along portions of the Eastern seaboard and also for the higher terrain of the northern Appalachians," said Weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Erdman in an online forecast from Saturday morning, Feb. 21. "Don't be surprised if more winter storm watches are converted to blizzard warnings in the upcoming hours." The low pressure forming Sunday off the East Coast, between the Delmarva Peninsula and the Carolinas, could gain enough strength to be called a "bomb cyclone" by early Monday, Erdman said. A "bomb cyclone" is a term for rapidly intensifying low pressure resulting in a storm akin to a winter hurricane. The storm is expected to strengthen so quickly that Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center went so far as to call it a super bomb, in an interview with Bloomberg. It is a true noreaster, Hurley told Bloomberg. It is going to stay awhile, too. It is going to hang around for much of Monday. The highest amounts are projected for central and eastern Long Island and coastal New Jersey where there is 20 inches in the forecast. Advertisement Advertisement Strong winds will contribute to blowing and drifting snow, sharply reduced visibility, difficult travel and potential power outages. Minor coastal flooding is possible during times of high tide, along with beach erosion in eastern Massachusetts. Wind gusts of 40 mph to 70 mph are expected from coastal New Jersey into southeast New England, the NWS said. Combined with the heavy snow, those regions will likely be hit with "scattered to numerous power outages," the weather service said. The heaviest snowfall in New Jersey potentially two inches per hour and strongest winds are expected between Sunday night and Monday morning, Sherrill said during a news conference Saturday afternoon. "These are very dangerous driving conditions, so please plan to stay off the roads," she said. Want to become an 'emergency snow shoveler'? According to a Feb. 21 X post by New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, the city has put out a call for "emergency snow shovelers." Advertisement Advertisement "Will help remove snow/ice citywide from bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants etc. Pay starts at $19.14/hr," the post says. To sign up, Levine said interested residents should go to any DSNY garage tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with ID and two small photos. In a post on X later on Feb. 21, Mamdani said 1,000 emergency shovelers have been hired. Further Details and an application form can be found on the city's website. 'Been years' since a NYC blizzard warning Snow will continue over the Northeast/Northern Mid-Atlantic through Monday evening, the NWS said. The storm will likely disrupt travel and airport operations in Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, said James Spann, AMS certified broadcast meteorologist, in a post on X. "Warnings will likely be extended up coastal Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts," he said. Advertisement Advertisement For New York City, it's the first blizzard warning since 2017, The New York Times reported. "Its been years since Ive seen this kind of blizzard warnings for the northeast. Too say its long overdue is an understatement," The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore posted on X. Its been years since Ive seen this kind of blizzard warnings for the northeast. Too say its long overdue is an understatement. pic.twitter.com/fOdxIhNpUL Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) February 21, 2026 How to prepare for power outages The combination of heavy snow, along with high winds and gusts, could lead to downed tree limbs and subsequent power outages. The American Red Cross recommends preparing for a potential power outage by collecting supplies, including coolers, ice, water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, a seven-day supply of medication and more. Advertisement Advertisement If power is lost for less than two hours, most perishable food should be safe to consume. However, if you lose power for four hours or more, food in the fridge should be discarded. To stay warm, have your family and pets stay in one room. Do not use a stove or oven to heat your home, as they may release carbon monoxide that can lead to poisoning and death. Contributing: Karissa Waddick Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com. (This story was updated to add new information and to meet our standards.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blizzard warnings in forecast as nor'easter snow storm approaches A body was found inside a crashed vehicle in Northern Kentucky after a nearly 12-hour search effort by eight agencies, officials said. First responders began searching Nienaber Lane near the Ohio River after receiving an iPhone crash detection alert notification at 8 p.m. on Feb. 20, according to a Campbell County Police Department news release. The person was reported missing after the crash alert, officials said. Their body was found in an upside down vehicle in a shallow section of Lloyd Creek around 9 a.m. on Feb. 21, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement It was located a "significant distance" away from the original alert, the release said. First responders were preparing to expand the search to the Ohio River when the news came in. Campbell police did not release the identity of the body. How does the iPhone's crash report feature work? Models of iPhone 14 or later with iOS 16 or later are designed to detect severe vehicle accidents, the company said. When it detects a car crash has occurred, it will prompt the user and automatically contact law enforcement unless they stop it. The phone will aggressively vibrate and flash LED lights to get the user's attention beforehand. "If you've added emergency contacts, your device sends a message to share your location and let them know that you've been in a severe car crash." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police find dead body inside crashed vehicle in Campbell County A Beacon Hill townhome that sold for $22 million this month set a record for the most expensive single-family home in the city. But as far as Boston officials are concerned, its worth just about a quarter of that. The citys Assessing Department valued the property at $5.2 million this year, which means the new owners tax bill will be significantly lower than it could have been. The home is the latest high-value sale that some in the city are pointing to as evidence the citys tax assessments are inequitable. A recent analysis by the Small Property Owners Association found that, on average, the 20 most expensive single-family home sales last year were assessed at just 68% of their sale price. In contrast, the homes at the bottom were assessed at 99.5% of their sale price. Advertisement Advertisement But not everyone agrees. Ron Rakow, a researcher at the Lincoln Land Institute and former commissioner of the Boston Assessing Department, said that theres more to the story. Anybody can go through an assessment roll and pick out five or 10 properties, or even 20 properties, Rakow said. But thats just not a valid way of looking at it. Homeowners struggle with rising tax bills Boston relies heavily on property taxes to fund city operations and services, with nearly 72% of this years budget expected to come from that revenue stream. While significantly higher than other cities around the country, Boston has struggled to diversify its revenue sources. Thats because Massachusetts law requires the Legislature to approve any new local taxes the city may want to levy. As home prices have skyrocketed over the last few years and commercial property values have dropped post-pandemic, residential tax bills have spiked. The average tax bill for a single-family home went up by 13% this year, on top of last years average increase of 10.4%. Advertisement Advertisement This is not something thats going to stop soon. And once it does stop, its not something thats going to reverse itself, Maynard said. Property taxes are really steady. Once values go down, its pretty hard to get them back up. State Sen. Nick Collins, D-1st Suffolk, said he first became aware of the issue when he realized constituents in middle-class neighborhoods were feeling the burden of their property taxes much more than those in high-income areas. He said he found the data staggering. If everyone was being assessed at the same rate, something else had to be happening for the middle-class neighborhoods of Boston to be feeling disproportionately squeezed, Collins said. Wu has sought to reduce homeowners property taxes by increasing the tax rate for commercial properties. Real estate and business groups largely opposed the idea, saying it would hurt commercial property owners at a time when they are already struggling. Advertisement Advertisement Though the mayor has repeatedly submitted the proposal to the Legislature since the spring of 2024, it has been blocked each time. Some opponents of the proposal recently pointed to discrepancies in assessments of high-value properties as evidence that the citys tax assessments are questionable. By ensuring each property owner is paying their fair share in taxes, they argue, the city could alleviate the burden on low-income homeowners without affecting commercial properties. The Mayors approach assumes Boston must raise taxes to the maximum allowable level and then redistribute the burden. The result is a zero-sum framework in which some lose so others lose less, Collins wrote in a recent op-ed in the Dorchester Reporter. A better approach ensures the City fully examines its valuation practices, spending growth, and the substantial resources taxpayers have already provided over decades. Collins said Friday that he is working on crafting legislation that would create a commission to address inequity in property assessments and determine how to rectify it and prevent it going forward. Advertisement Advertisement The Boston Assessing Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. What is vertical inequity? The Small Property Owners Association analysis estimated that in total, the assessed values of the top 20 properties sold last year were $83 million below the sale prices leaving potentially millions of tax dollars on the table that the owners of lower-priced properties have to make up for. The more value there is, the less everybody pays, said Greg Maynard, founder and executive director of the Boston Policy Institute. If theres artificially some properties that are under-assessed, then that makes the people whose properties are properly assessed pay more. The numbers appear to show a phenomenon known as vertical inequity, where low-priced properties are assessed at a higher percentage of their market value than high-priced properties. The issue is not unique to Boston economists say nearly every municipality around the country experiences vertical inequity to some extent. Advertisement Advertisement Explanations of what causes vertical inequity can vary, but one of the most common is a simple lack of sale data for properties at the extreme ends of the price spectrum, which tend to change hands less often than mid-priced homes. If you own a house thats below $2 million, theres a lot of other homes below $2 million that are similar to yours that are being bought, Maynard said. Its just much easier to draw a comparison versus these super high-end properties where there arent very many, and theyre unusual. A $20 million brownstone, or a $20 million penthouse in Seaport, theyre the same price, but its hard to compare them. Because it would be virtually impossible to individually assess every property in the city annually, the Assessing Department conducts a full revaluation every five years, as required by state law. The most recent revaluation took place in 2025. Between reassessments, values are typically adjusted using a formula based on changes in the overall market. However, for any property that has sold, had a building permit taken out, been damaged by a fire or otherwise had significant changes in the past year, the assessment is adjusted accordingly. Advertisement Advertisement But Rakow explained that without an assessor inspecting each property, its difficult to estimate an exact market value. Assessors may be able to see the outside of a home, but they cant see the inside, where any number of features could make it more or less enticing to a potential buyer. Assessors also cant rely on individual sale prices to set values, because the final number can be inflated or deflated based on factors unrelated to the property itself. For example, a seller might accept an offer well below market value to hasten the sale, or a buyer highly interested in a property might submit an offer over the asking price to stave off competition. People think sale prices are market value. And that is not true, Rakow said. Believe it or not, the market value of any given property is unknown. Nobody knows exactly what the market value is, but we use sale prices as an estimate. Residential exemptions provide relief Despite the criticism, when compared to other cities, Bostons taxes arent actually that bad, according to Rakow. While slightly regressive, any vertical inequity falls well within industry standards, he said. Advertisement Advertisement One metric used to measure vertical inequity is the coefficient of price-related bias, which compares the ratio of assessed value to sale price across the market. The closer to zero this number is, the more equitable the assessments are; Bostons was 0.004 last year, according to Rakows analysis. He attributed that largely to Bostons residential exemption, which exempts a portion of a homes value if the property owner lives there. The exemption is the same whether the home in question is a tiny condo or a multimillion-dollar mansion, which means it provides the greatest benefit to low-income homeowners. While similar policies, sometimes known as homestead exemptions, exist in many places, Bostons provides a much higher tax break than most. In 2025, the exemption saved homeowners up to $4,353.74 on their annual tax bill, according to the city. Lower-value properties are paying an effective tax rate thats a fraction of what higher-value properties are, Rakow said. So its not only that the residential exemption addresses any slight regressivity in the assessment. It more than does that. It makes the property tax in Boston highly progressive, probably one of the most progressive in the country. More boston Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a shooting at a Brooklyn NYCHA complex where another 13-year-old boy was wounded, cops said Saturday. The teen was grabbed by police a few hours after the 2:40 p.m. shooting inside the Seth Low Houses, on Belmont Ave. near Christopher Ave. in Brownsville. Cops charged the teen with gun possession and reckless endangerment. His name was not released due to his age. Advertisement Advertisement Bullets flew in the stairwell between the buildings eighth and ninth floors, police sources said. During the barrage, the 13-year-old victim was hit in both hands and his right thigh. He also suffered a graze wound to the knee. Despite being repeatedly hit, the victim hobbled down to the lobby and collapsed, a law enforcement source told the Daily News. EMS rushed the child to Brookdale University Hospital where he was treated and is expected to survive. The teens winter coat was spotted in the lobby Friday night. No blood was visible in the stairway or the lobby. Multiple neighbors on the eighth and ninth floors told The News they did not hear any gunfire. Advertisement Advertisement Two males in all black were seen fleeing the building at the time of the shooting. It was not immediately disclosed if the teen arrested was one of those two people, nor was it clear if the 13-year-old suspect was the triggerman. The 13-year-old wounded was one of two teens hit by bullets in Brooklyn within a six-hour span on Friday. In an unrelated incident around 8 p.m., cops were called to New York Ave. and Newkirk Ave. in East Flatbush where a 16-year-old was shot in the stomach. A sixteen-year old boy was taken to Kings County Hospital after he was shot in the abdomen during a barrage of bullets at Newkirk Avenue and East 34th Street in Brooklyn on Friday February 20, 2026. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News) Two bullet holes are seen here in this parked Chevy panel van where a sixteen-year old boy was taken to Kings County Hospital after he was shot in the abdomen during a barrage of bullets at Newkirk Avenue and East 34th Street in Brooklyn. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News) Show Caption1 of 3A sixteen-year old boy was taken to Kings County Hospital after he was shot in the abdomen during a barrage of bullets at Newkirk Avenue and East 34th Street in Brooklyn on Friday February 20, 2026. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)Expand Advertisement Advertisement EMS rushed the teen to Kings County Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. No arrests had been made. Responding officers found a van with two bullet holes in the windshield near the scene, as well as spent shell casings. Cops were scouring the area for surveillance footage that can help them identify the shooter. As of last Sunday, shootings in the city were down by 17% this year, from 70 this time last year to 58. The NYPD said 2025 was the citys safest year since the department began keeping modern-day crime stats in 1994, with a 20% drop in homicides and a 24% drop in shootings. SAO PAULO (AP) Brazil and India sealed a deal Saturday on critical minerals and rare earths, enhancing cooperation on crucial resources between two major countries of the global south as they seek to diversify their trading relationships. The non-binding memorandum of understanding on rare earths establishes a framework for cooperation between the two countries, focusing on reciprocal investment, exploration, mining and artificial intelligence applications, among other issues. Brazil has the worlds second-largest reserves of rare earth minerals, used in a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels and jet engines. Advertisement Advertisement Increasing investments and cooperation in matters of renewable energy and critical minerals is at the core of a pioneering agreement that we have signed today, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told journalists. The two countries also agreed legal frameworks on a range of topics including entrepreneurship, health, scientific research and education. Lula arrived in India for a state visit on Wednesday that will last through to Sunday, seeking to deepen ties with India which, like Brazil, is a founding member of the BRICS+ bloc of developing nations. He participated in a summit on artificial intelligence. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brazil in July last year, while the trip to India was Lulas second state visit. Advertisement Advertisement Lula was accompanied by 11 ministers, including those of foreign affairs, finance, health and agriculture, as well as a large delegation of business leaders. The Brazilian leader on Saturday said it may be the biggest delegation of his trips abroad so far, which he called a sign of his commitment to India. The deal on rare earths is part of a broader strategy from both India and Brazil to become more strategically autonomous from China and the U.S. through diversification, said Oliver Stuenkel, an international relations professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university. Brazil has been pursuing that strategy for years, said Stuenkel, which is why Lula was able to stand up to President Donald Trump last year when the U.S. leader imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports to the country over the trial of his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. The reading is that, given how turbulent and unpredictable things have become, the more partners, the better, Stuenkel said. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. later removed most tariffs on Brazil and the sanctions imposed on the judge who was overseeing the case. Roberto Goulart Menezes, an international relations professor at the University of Brasilia, said that last years confrontation with the U.S. is when Brazil germinated the idea of putting rare earths and critical minerals on the bargaining table. Brazil began to reposition its understanding of the importance of these elements beyond their commercial dimension, recognizing their geopolitical relevance, said Goulart. Lula is expected to visit his counterpart in Washington D.C. in the coming months. For Brazil, this agreement represents a kind of pilot before negotiating with a country with which Brazil has an asymmetrical relationship, Goulart said. Former United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg currently leads a crowded field of potential Democratic 2028 presidential primary candidates, a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll released Thursday, Feb. 19, found. The poll was published the same day as Buttigieg was set to kick off a three-day trip around the Granite State with an event in Manchester with Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H. The poll found that if the Democratic primary for president was held today, 20% of likely Democratic primary voters would choose Buttigieg, a slight increase from a poll taken in October. Hes followed closely by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who both garnered the support of 15% of likely voters. Advertisement Advertisement After them, 10% said they would vote for former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, respectively. Buttigieg is also the most popular of the potential candidates, with 72% having a favorable opinion of him. More: 4 takeaways from Pete Buttigieg's NH visit, from ICE to elections The poll surveyed 1,702 New Hampshire residents online between Feb. 12-16. The margin of error is +/-2.4%. Buttigiegs support in the state is perhaps unsurprising after his strong showing in the 2020 New Hampshire Democratic primary, where he finished second behind Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. This state was just made for him, Neil Levesque, Director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, said. You take a mayor who comes into New Hampshire, doesn't have a big following, people can't pronounce his last name, and the next thing you know, he's skyrocketing to the near top, because New Hampshire voters focused in on him. Advertisement Advertisement No candidates have yet declared for the 2028 primary election, but speculation has been building as several visit early primary states. In the next month, Buttigieg, Newsom and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear are all set to visit New Hampshire. Buttigieg on Cape Cod Buttigieg made a stop in Provincetown in 2019 during his presidential campaign, where he answered questions in a town hall auditorium. Several people printed up "Pete-Town" T-shirts - a play on Provincetown's nickname, P-Town - for the occasion. Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg poses for a photo with Provincetown resident Don Bellan after a July 2019 rally in Provincetown. Massachusetts lawmakers also spoke about Buttigieg in relation to funding and planning for the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges while he was the Secretary of Transportation. The mentions were largely about securing funding for the project, though in one case US Rep. Bill Keating said Buttigieg had expressed support for the project. Vance leads Republican field Unlike the Democratic field, the 2028 Republican presidential primary has a clear leader, the poll found. Advertisement Advertisement Among likely Republican primary voters, 53% say they would vote for Vice President JD Vance if the election were held today. U.S. Vice President JD Vance answers journalists' questions prior to board Air Force 2 at the end of his official trip to Azerbaijan in Baku on February 11, 2026. (Photo by Kevin Lamarque / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) Trailing are former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (9%), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (7%) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (6%). While there is a lot of time for new candidates to enter the race, the Republican frontrunner is fairly clear, the poll says. Vance is also the most well known and most popular candidate in the field, with 76% finding him favorable. Like in the Democratic field, no candidates have yet officially declared their candidacy for president. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Buttigieg, Vance early leaders in 2028 presidential primary, per poll The California Democratic Partys state convention kicked off Friday in San Francisco, and the hot topic on everyones mind is the partys expected non-endorsement of any candidate in the governors race to replace Gavin Newsom. Party Chair Rusty Hicks was peppered with questions during a press conference Friday afternoon about whether he thought delegates were disappointed in the wide open field, which currently includes San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire investor Tom Steyer and Bay Area Congressman Eric Swalwell, among many others. Candidates need 60% of delegates to gain an endorsement at the convention. Advertisement Advertisement There is also a small, but improbable, chance that in such a crowded field of Democrats, none will gain a required majority during the primary to move on to the general election. And with two Republican candidates currently leading early polls, California voters could wind up sending those top two to the general election leaving Democrats kicking the dirt. Perish the thought, Hicks insisted. I think the field will naturally winnow itselfas we move closer to the primary, Hicks said. Im certainly not opening up the playbook today, but were ready to do whats required to make sure we have a strong Democrat in the field come November. Hicks said the party and delegates alike have a collective commitment to ensuring that a Republican is not elected governor of California. But that doesnt mean the party is planning on getting involved at least not this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Politicians do what politicians do, they run for office, Hicks said. Telling them to step aside is easy in theory and hard in practice. Each of the candidates will get to lay out their case tomorrow when they get four minutes to make a speech in front of the thousands of delegates from across the state assembled this weekend at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. In order to get an endorsement, they would need more than 3,500 of those delegates to swing their way. Gov. Newsom himself wont attend the convention, a party spokesperson confirmed. Its yet another sign that the outgoing governor is becoming less interested and less involved in state politics, even though his office website said there are no confirmed public, out-of-state travel plans for him this weekend. Thats too bad; the party is riding high on the passage of Proposition 50 last November, and a Newsom appearance would give the weekend another boost. (It might also serve to remind Newsom who exactly put him in high office in the first place.) Advertisement Advertisement But the delegates I spoke with hundreds already milling about the convention halls, candidate booths and early caucus meetings before the big speeches start tomorrow said theyre not worried at all about the partys likely lack of endorsement for governor. As one pointed out, it actually happened just eight years ago in 2016, when none of the four Democrats running for governor got enough delegates to win an endorsement, and former State Controller John Chiang publicly declared victory for blocking Newsoms path to an endorsement. Others were totally sure it wouldnt matter at all. Ill bet my kidney a Democrats going to win in November, said San Jose delegate Pierluigi Oliverio. And, said Oliverios friend and fellow delegate, Michael Colbruno, Ill bet his other kidney. Celebrations in Canada over the decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down President Donald Trump's global tariffs were both brief and muted. The high court's decision, which included the "fentanyl" tariffs Trump imposed on Canada, China and Mexico, reinforced Canada's position that the levies were "unjustified", US-Canada Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on X. But LeBlanc noted the challenges ahead in Ottawa. There is the "critical work" to do in dealing with impacts from levies on steel, aluminium and automobiles, which Trump said will remain. Advertisement Advertisement There is also the upcoming review of the Canada-US-Mexico trade deal, the USMCA, which covers a market of more than 500 million people. The actual impact of the Supreme Court decision on Canadian tariffs is limited. Last year, the Trump administration imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, with Canada facing 25%, later raised to 35%, with the president arguing both countries must do more to stop migrants and the illegal drug fentanyl reaching the US. Advertisement Advertisement But the vast majority of trade, some 85%, under these "fentanyl" tariffs were already levy-free under a USMCA exemption. LeBlanc's office declined to comment on Trump's proclamation imposing a 10% global tariff to replace the duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, which the Supreme Court struck down. The White House clarified the USMCA exemption will continue under the new 10% tariff. On Saturday, Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he would be raising the new 10% tariff to 15%. Beyond the remaining US tariffs on sectors like steel and automobiles, the biggest issue for Canada on its US trade agenda is the USMCA review. This summer, all three partners must decide whether to extend the deal, which was negotiated during Trump's first term. Advertisement Advertisement A North American free trade deal has been in place in some form since the early 1990s, and has led to deeply integrated economies. In Mexico this week, LeBlanc told reporters that both countries "remain absolutely committed to a trilateral trade agreement". The Trump administration has been less enthusiastic about saying they want the USMCA renewed, and officials have suggested Washington would prefer separate bilateral deals with Canada and Mexico. He also said he will meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in the coming weeks to discuss the review talks, which are expected to kick into high gear ahead of a 1 July deadline. Advertisement Advertisement It would be the first sign of formal trade discussions between the US and Canada after talks were halted last October by Trump, who was upset over an anti-tariffs advert sponsored by Canada's province of Ontario that aired on US networks - including during the World Series. Greer, in an interview on Fox Business earlier this week, said it has been "more challenging" negotiating with Canada than with Mexico. "They continue to have certain barriers. They refuse to sell US wine and spirits on their shelves.," he said. "There are a variety of issues that they have not addressed and they aren't addressing, and this makes it a big challenge and an obstacle for starting real negotiations with them." Greer has previously named rules on dairy imports and a Canadian law called the Online Streaming Act, which requires American media companies like Netflix and Spotify to pay to support Canadian content, as other trade irritants. Advertisement Advertisement As the rocky negotiations continue, Canada has sought to build trade ties outside the US, which currently buys about 75% of its exports, with a goal of doubling non-US exports by 2035. Many Canadian business groups on Friday said that uncertainty remains. Dennis Darby, CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, said businesses are ultimately looking for a successful renewal of the USCMA that "puts an end to recurring trade disruptions". "Predictable, rules-based trade is essential for manufacturers on both sides of the border," he said. There was a time when Britain was able to identify an enemy and defeat it. Most of us miss those days; theres a reason, after all, why Sir Winston Churchill remains so revered. Today, our old certainties have become so eroded that our leaders make excuses for those who would destroy us rather than taking action to stop them. Take Iran. Countless protesters have been blinded by pellets to the face or rendered impotent with bullets to the genitals. Regime thugs have prowled hospitals, executing young activists in their beds. The Ayatollahs 48 hours of butchery in January, which are believed to have claimed more than 30,000 lives, found a precedent only in 1941, when 34,000 Jews were murdered in the Babyn Yar ravine near Kyiv. This is not some foreign problem. The regime is the worlds biggest sponsor of terrorism and has plotted kidnap and assassination plots on our shores. If this isnt an enemy, what is? Yet at Irans time of greatest vulnerability, Britain has blocked American warplanes from using the Diego Garcia airbase to target the killers. Advertisement Advertisement The reason? International law, that most debased of terms, which has become so beloved of our gutless elites. One suspects that the same excuse would have been used to avoid bombing the railway to Auschwitz. Ed Davey, the clownish leader of the Liberal Democrats, bleated that Trump was trying to bully the Government into unilateral military action. Starmer must stand strong, he added, and place the matter before Parliament. Where have we heard that before? In 2013, Ed Miliband scuppered David Camerons attempt to back Obamas red lines in Syria. As a result, Bashar al-Assads use of chemical weapons went unpunished, and Vladimir Putin loaded his Kalashnikov and marched into Crimea. If that is standing strong, somebody tell me what weakness looks like. This woolly liberalism might seem harmless, but it is knitting a British comfort blanket for the repellent Iranian regime. Ironically, if the Ayatollah is deposed by American force, his Revolutionary Guards will still not have been banned in London, and his ambassador will not have been expelled. Advertisement Advertisement Its not just Britain. Earlier this month, the secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, sent Tehran a message of congratulations on the 47th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, which plunged the region into decades of murder that are approaching a climax today. The Ayatollahs 48 hours of butchery in January claimed an estimated tens of thousands of lives - Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA/via REUTERS On Thursday, an Iranian diplomat was elected vice-chair of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations, responsible for upholding the rules of international law. In 2024, the UN outrageously lowered its flag to half-mast to mourn the late Iranian president, Ebrahim Butcher of Tehran Raisi. Meanwhile, the Security Council has still not unequivocally condemned the October 7 attacks. Youd be laughing if you werent puking your guts up. How small is the step from universal standards to moral relativism, and from moral relativism to weaponisation! From the thwarted deportation of foreign criminals from Britain to strikes on the Ayatollah, not only is there a gulf between international law and natural moral law, but the former is now trashing the latter. Not that Donald Trump is driven by ethics. While the Iranian bloodletting continued, he gave the world erratic rhetoric and protracted negotiations with the regime, leveraging the protesters to get America and her Middle Eastern allies a better deal. Advertisement Advertisement Many Iranians cannot forgive Trumps promise that help is on its way delivered in the aftermath of the two-day massacre of innocents in January which sent thousands more onto the streets to die. 1402 US Navys deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups Is this a repeat of 1956, when the Americans whipped up a Hungarian uprising against the Soviet regime which ended with the bloody deployment of tanks? Or 1991, when George HW Bush encouraged the Kurds and Marsh Arabs to rebel against Saddam Hussein but failed to back them up, resulting in a bloodbath? Unlikely. Rather, the president is probably just taking time to load his revolver. After all, this is the largest concentration of American force in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and his threats have been blood-curdling. On Thursday, Trump suggested that the hold-up was down to logistics. With war, you never know whats easy and whats not so easy, he said. This is true; when America has opened fire recklessly Vietnam, Iraq the results have been disastrous. In addition, the more time elapses, the greater the pressure on Tehran. This is Casablanca thinking: Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. Sir Keir Starmer has pushed back on Donald Trumps desire to use British air bases to hit Iran - Getty Images Quite clearly, Trump is gaming American interests, not protecting the Iranians on the streets. When the B2s have done their thing, the president could be satisfied with Venezuela-style regime taming, rather than the regime change so coveted by the people. Advertisement Advertisement Certainly, Americas Gulf allies favour that outcome. A stable and democratic Iran would provide unwelcome competition in the oil markets and may even inspire another Arab Spring. The Ayatollah may have to go, but far better for them a weakened and compliant set of tyrants. Will this amount to a betrayal of the Iranian people? Perhaps. But at least Trump doesnt take the moral high ground. Our preening leaders, on the other hand, are so infatuated with their own virtue that they cant even name the enemy, whether at home or abroad. What would Churchill do? These days, the Government seems to ask itself that question and do the opposite. 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. We're learning more about the victims of the tragic Castle Rock ski trip, including a Larkspur mother whose friends say was devoted to her family, career and boutique wine business. "She just said, 'Paul, I have some horrible news for you,"' said Paul Laland. Laland from Mill Valley still remembers the call he got telling him about passing of Danielle Keatley, one of six friends killed in the Castle Peak avalanche. Advertisement Advertisement "I mean, it's a sucker punch when I got the message," he added. Paul is a longtime friend, colleague and mentor to Keatley, who worked in the Biotech field in the Bay Area. "In my book, she is a rockstar, a silent rockstar, shy but charismatic. Her laughter, I can hear it, she had a great sense of humor," said Laland. Castle Peak avalanche: What we know about 6 moms among 9 skiers presumed dead Six women killed in the Castle Peak avalanche were among a group of eight close friends and experienced backcountry skiers on a trip together, their families said in a statement Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Paul describes his friend as a devoted wife and mom to her two young kids - he met Danielle for coffee just days ago. "As per usual, we talked about the mountains, which she absolutely loved. I've skied with her at Palisades, she kicked my butt, a great skier," Laland said. Danielle was VP of investor relations and corporate communications at Structure Therapeutics in San Francisco. CEO Ray Stevens, posting a message on the company's website: "Her spirit and passion inspired me and the many Structure colleagues who spent time with her each day." In 2016, Danielle and her husband, Dave founded Keatley Wines, a boutique producer in Healdsburg. According to their website, the venture was a way to learn about California's potential to craft the next generation of great wines. Advertisement Advertisement "Oh, I'm just so sorry," said Kathy Cummins. MORE: Investigation of deadly Castle Peak avalanche to review whether criminal negligence played a role Cummins is the Keatley's neighbor. "I probably know her kids more, I see them, people walk by all the time," Cummins said. In a statement, Larkspur's Mayor, Stephanie Andre told ABC7 Eyewitness News: "The Larkspur community is mourning the loss of Danielle Keatley. Danielle was a radiant, beautiful soul. She was warm, kind and exuded a special quality that drew people to her, we are heartbroken for Danielle's family and friends." Advertisement Advertisement "I want to provide condolences to her family, just can't imagine what they're going through and the other victims too," Laland said. The victims' families are requesting privacy. If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss canceled an upcoming lecture at the University of California-Los Angeles as students were expected to protest and some staff objected to hosting her according to a report. Weiss was slated to give the annual Daniel Pearl Memorial lecture on Feb. 27 on The Future of Journalism, but the exec who is a staunch advocate of Israel pulled out of the event earlier this week amid concerns for her safety. The university has been at the center of intense national scrutiny, including federal investigations and legal action on claims of systemic antisemitism, since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the war in Gaza sparked campus protests. CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss pulled out of a UCLA lecture on the future of journalism over security concerns. University or Austin UCLAs associate vice chancellor Steve Lurie told the Los Angeles Times that the university had been prepared to implement a comprehensive security plan for this event and that it developed in coordination with campus safety and external law enforcement partners. Advertisement Advertisement But a number of employees at the universitys Burkle Center and the International Institute voiced opposition to hosting her, according to the Times. UCLA also expected a large number of student protesters, the publication reported. We always follow our security teams guidance, a CBS News rep told The Post on Friday. This situation is no different. We are working with the university to reschedule for a different date. Taking precautions are not new for the news boss, who is often surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards when attending events and even at CBS News Midtown offices in New York, The Post previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Super agent Jay Sures, who reps some of CBS News top talent from Norah ODonnell to Tony Dokoupil and serves as a member of the University of California Board of Regents, backed Weiss decision to cancel her UCLA lecture given the schools recent history. Weiss, who is pro-Israel, had been slated to give a talk at UCLA next week. As someone who has paid the price with having my personal security violated as a consequence of being outspoken about rampant anti Israel and anti semitic sentiment on college campuses, I fully understand why Bari would cancel, Sures told The Hollywood Reporter. Why in the world would she put herself and her family in harms way? I understand why she would do this in the environment we live in today, he added. Sures, who is also Jewish and a vocal supporter of Israel, had been targeted by two anti-Zionist groups on campus. Last February, over 50 members of the groups gathered at Sures home and threatened that he must divest now or pay. Protestors gather outside the Pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles on May 1, 2024. MediaNews Group via Getty Images As part of the protest, the students imprinted their hands, which had been submerged in red paint to symbolize the spilling of blood, all over Sures garage door and cordoned the area with caution tape, The Daily Bruin reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Following a 2024 pro-Palestinian encampment that restricted access to Jewish students, UCLA reached a $6.13 million settlement last July to resolve a federal lawsuit, which claimed it enabled antisemitism on campus. UCLA also agreed to a permanent court order to stop the exclusion of Jewish members from campus life. The Trump administration announced in August it was freezing $339 million in research grants to UCLA because it believes the West Coast public university committed a slew of civil rights violations related to antisemitism, affirmative action and allowing transgender athletes to compete in womens sports. CLINTON, Wis. (WFRV) A fire in Wisconsin that started in a chimney but extended into the home has rendered the house a complete loss. According to the Clinton Fire Protection District, crews were sent to the chimney fire that had reportedly begun extending into a structure on Tighe Road on Friday afternoon, around 2:30. Wisconsin man who said he was set up in child sexual assault case sentenced to 32 years in prison Advertisement Advertisement Officials confirmed the fire at the scene; however, the heavy winds and a lack of nearby fire hydrants worsened conditions, as firefighters requested a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System box. While no injuries were reported, the home is considered a total loss from the fire, which is still under investigation for cause. 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. The Mile High City has rolled out a $200 million program to help residents slash energy costs while supporting healthier air quality, according to The Denver Gazette. Power Ahead Colorado will make it easier for Denver households to install heat pumps by connecting low-income residents with no-cost upgrades and energy advisers. The program, which will use grant funds awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2024, also supports local job growth as contractors upskill to aid the electrification revolution. "By making it easy for contractors to install heat pumps and for workers to build new skills, we're growing the region's economy and enabling our climate goals," said Shawn LeMons, industry engagement lead at Zero Homes, per the Gazette. Advertisement Advertisement Heat pumps are a cost-effective solution because they heat and cool your home by moving heat from one place to another rather than directly burning fuel like a gas furnace. As such, they are much more energy-efficient, are cleaner, and reduce grid strain at a time when blackouts are an increasingly pressing concern. If you're interested in learning more about heat pumps, TCD's HVAC partners, like Mitsubishi, can help you understand your upgrade options and seriously address your home energy needs. The Denver Regional Council of Governments expects Power Ahead Colorado to also support the state's goal of reaching net-zero air pollution by 2050, as it found that more than half of emissions came from the building sector, making it the largest source of harmful pollution. "Power Ahead Colorado has the potential to transform the building sector," program manager Robert Spotts said in a news release, per the Gazette. "By tackling the challenge from many angles, and by demystifying heat pumps and their benefits, we can improve indoor comfort, outdoor air quality and health outcomes for everyone in the Denver Metro Region." Smart upgrades that slash monthly energy bills If you're interested in an energy-efficient HVAC and other upgrades that save you money on your energy bills, TCD's resources make it easy to get started. Advertisement Advertisement Mitsubishi can help you find efficient heating and cooling solutions for your home and connect you with trusted installers Not ready to spend up front? Palmetto's $0 down HVAC leasing program can lower your energy costs by up to 50% TCD's HVAC Explorer makes it easy to access exclusive offers from preferred partners If you're on a budget, Palmetto's HVAC leases start at $99 per month and include 12 years of maintenance, protecting you from surprise bills associated with upkeep. You can maximize your savings by pairing electric equipment such as a heat pump with solar panels. TCD's Solar Explorer can help you find the right system for your home and budget, saving you up to $10,000 on an installation. Completing challenges, including cutting down on energy usage with the free Palmetto Home app, can unlock up to $5,000 in rewards for home upgrades. Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club. Colusa Indian Energy was honored to take part in the Port of Quincys Town Hall Meeting on the Columbia Basin Power Project, held February 12 in Quincy, Washington. The event brought together community members, business leaders, and regional stakeholders for an open dialogue about the future of energy reliability and economic development across Central Washington. During the meeting, Colusa Indian Energy shared project updates, discussed development insights, and distributed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource to address key topics and community interests. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement We were very encouraged by the turnout and the quality of the discussion throughout the evening, said Colusa Indian Energy COO Kenneth Ahmann. Attendees came prepared with thoughtful questions and a genuine interest in exploring what energy reliability and economic growth mean for Central Washingtons future. The Columbia Basin Power Project is currently being evaluated as a potential regional energy solution to support both current and future industrial power needs while helping to resolve capacity constraints that have limited growth in the area. The Town Hall concluded with a robust Q&A session, underscoring the importance of transparency, collaboration, and local input as the project continues through its evaluation and planning stages. Community involvement is essential to developing responsible, forward-looking energy infrastructure, added Ahmann. We value the engagement and look forward to continuing these important conversations as the project moves forward. Advertisement Advertisement Colusa Indian Energy remains committed to working in partnership with the Port of Quincy, regional stakeholders, and community members to advance reliable energy solutions that foster jobs, industry, and long-term regional prosperity. Colusa Indian Energy is a tribally owned energy development company. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net VMPL New Delhi [India], February 21: Hoopr, India's pioneering music licensing platform building a transparent and sustainable ecosystem for artists and brands, has raised an undisclosed amount from The Chennai Angels as part of its ongoing Pre-Series A round. The round has already seen participation from Inflection Point Ventures and MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology). The funds will be deployed to scale Hoopr's twin-engine ecosystem - Hoopr, which serves Youtube and Instagram creators with copyright-safe music for digital videos, and Hoopr Smash, India's first Bollywood music licensing platform for brands and enterprises. The investment will also support technology development, including Hoopr's proprietary system for detecting violations of copyrighted music and enabling transparent revenue sharing with artists and labels. Hoopr has emerged as the defining player in India's digital music licensing space, serving over 4 lakh creators - including marquee names like Flying Beast, Ranveer Brar, Curly Tales and Mr. Indian Hacker - and 180+ brands such as Marico, ITC, Himalaya, Myntra, and Rajasthan Royals. On the supply side, Hoopr Smash has aggregated catalogues from over 21 leading Indian labels including YRF and Universal Music Group, along with 3 international labels, making it the single largest platform for licensing Bollywood and Indian music. In a landmark move, Hoopr recently launched its Artist Accelerator programme in partnership with Universal Music Group, creating original music and recreations specifically for the rapidly growing sync licensing market. The platform has also signed a deal with IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society) and forged a partnership with Adobe, further strengthening its position at the intersection of music, technology, and content creation. Hoopr's sync capabilities were recently showcased when it placed the title track in Saali Mohabbat produced by Jio Studios - a milestone that signals the platform's growing role in film and advertising music placement. Commenting on the fundraise, Gaurav Dagaonkar, CEO & Co-founder of Hoopr, IIM Ahmedabad alumnus and award-winning music director, said: "India's creator economy has seen a 4x growth in creators over the past four years, and yet music licensing remains one of the most unregulated and opaque parts of this ecosystem. With over 80,000 brands and 5 lakh creators producing branded content on social media, we'relooking at a 1,500 Crore opportunity that nobody else is addressing at scale. Hoopr is building the infrastructure for transparent music licensing - ensuring that every creator gets access to great music legally, every brand is protected, and every artist gets paid fairly. We're grateful to The Chennai Angels and our investor partners for backing this vision and joining us in building India's music licensing rails." With OTT platforms and digital advertising driving unprecedented demand for licensed music in films, ads, and branded content, Hoopr is uniquely positioned to capture this market. The platform's technology stack -spanning discovery, licensing, copyright detection, and artist revenue sharing - makes it the only end-to-end solution in a space that has historically operated on handshake deals and opaque terms. Investment Director from The Chennai Angels, Srinivasan B said: Gaurav is first and foremost a musician, a creator and a songwriter. When he saw chinks in the value proposition of music publishing, especially from the emerging creator/ social media marketplace, Hoopr was his answer. He took the conservative approach of first ensuring Hoopr was entrusted with the rights for his own music, as well as rights to some of India's greatest music library - as seed capital - thus ensuring a virtuous cycle of cash flows that allowed for the innovations and experiments that Hoopr is focussed on. He then has approached labels, creators as well as end-user Clients, many of whom now adorn the platform, creating an even more robust stream of revenues. This business is all about network effects. I am confident that with Gaurav, his team, and the advisors he has on board, will make this dream a reality - ensuring godspeed growth and handsome returns thereon! About The Chennai Angels: The Chennai Angels (TCA) is one of India's most active Angel Investing groups. Founded in 2007, it is comprised of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders with a track record of starting and scaling large enterprises. Over the years, TCA has invested over INR 135 Cr across 80+ start-ups in India. About Hoopr: Hoopr is India's leading music licensing platform, building a transparent ecosystem for the sustainable future of artists and content creators. With over 4 lakh users, 200+ brand clients, and partnerships with 21+ music labels including YRF and Universal Music Group, Hoopr operates a twin-engine model -- Hoopr for creators and Hoopr Smash for enterprises. The platform's technology enables seamless music discovery, digital licensing, copyright violation detection, and artist revenue sharing. Launched in 2022, the start-up has previously raised capital from 100Unicorns, 91Ventures, Ventures Catalysts and IPV. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) The Senate Taxation Committee endorsed a bill 4-3 on Friday that would create a new fund to offset taxes for all South Dakota property tax categories, using a portion of the states annual general fund revenue growth to fill it. The bill is one of several major property tax proposals moving through the legislative process. Some other proposals were rejected on Friday by the House and Senate. Senate Bill 199, sponsored by Sen. Mark Lapka, R-Leola, would transfer 25% of the annual increase in general fund revenues starting in August of this year. In the years following, the state would continue transferring 25% of the annual revenue increase, plus an amount equal to the prior years transfer. More legislative news See all of Searchlights coverage of the 2026 legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Read the latest Derek Johnson, state economist with the Bureau of Finance and Management, opposed the bill, saying it is simple at first glance, but that the mechanism it uses is problematic because it limits budget flexibility for the Legislature. This bill substitutes intentional decision making with automatic transfers. It creates structural commitments without flexibility, limits legislative authority and reduces accountability, Johnson told lawmakers. Property tax relief should be pursued through thoughtful appropriations, not formulas that lock us into permanent obligations. The committee rejected two other property tax relief proposals, including a bill to establish a new transaction tax to fund property tax reductions, and a resolution asking voters to amend the state constitution to reset property taxes to 2020 and then limit property tax increases to a flat rate until the property is sold. The Senate State Affairs Committee postponed action on a similar resolution after deadlocking 4-4 on whether to endorse it. Advertisement Advertisement The Senate rejected a bill that would have raised the maximum home valuation that could be exempt from property taxes through a disabled veterans tax relief program from $200,000 to $300,000. The Legislature last raised the maximum value in 2024. Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, speaks on the Senate floor in Pierre on Feb. 11, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Opponents, including U.S. Air Force veteran and Rapid City Republican Sen. Taffy Howard, were primarily concerned that the increase would result in a tax shift toward other property owners. Our service should never be used as political cover for avoiding real property tax reform, Howard said. South Dakotans are frustrated because the system itself need structural reform. Carveouts and expanding exemptions do not fix the system; they simply rearrange who pays. In 2023, 2,808 households were approved for the program, according to data from the South Dakota Department of Revenue. Advertisement Advertisement In the House of Representatives, lawmakers voted 65-2 in support of a bill, already approved by the Senate, that puts aside $425,000 to pay property tax refunds to qualifying disabled veterans and elderly people. Its a companion to Senate Bill 21, which boosts the annual income eligibility level for both categories of refund, both of which have been available since the 1970s. The latter bill has not been heard on the House floor yet. Other bills meant to address property taxes are still working through the legislative process, including proposals that would use revenue from an optional county sales tax or an increase in the statewide sales tax rate to reduce taxes for homeowners. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HARTFORD - Democrats in Connecticut are preparing to propose a state law banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from operating near polling places they say in order to protect voter access for the mid-term elections. Legislation is being introduced through the state legislature's Democratic-led Government Administration and Elections Committee to prohibit federal law enforcement operations within 250 feet of a polling place, an elections counting site, or other sensitive election locations and make violations a state crime. Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, the committee's House chairman, outlined the proposal Friday during a news conference at the Legislative Office Building with U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz on federal ban that Larson has proposed. Both Larson and Blumenthal said the two legislative proposals aim to protect against ICE or other federal law enforcement authorities from intimidating and scaring away eligible Connecticut voters. They said state-level restrictions represent the best option because there is zero possibility that Republican majorities in Congress will pass federal-level restraints on immigration and other federal law enforcement actions. "We're in the minority, I get it," said Larson, who is facing multiple challengers for the Democratic nomination for the 1st District. State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, and U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, discuss proposed federal and state legislation limiting federal immigration enforcement operations near polling places and other election sites during a news conference Friday at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. (Paul Hughes/Hearst Connecticut Media) But state Rep. Geraldo Reyes, D-Waterbury, questioned if a state bill can make it through the Democrat-controlled legislature this session between the compressed schedule of the short, 63-day legislative session and gaping policy divides between Democrats and Republicans over immigration enforcement and elections. Advertisement Advertisement "This is a deep, deep conversation. There's a lot of feelings on both sides of the aisle on this, and this may not be the type of bill for a short session," said Reyes, a former chairman of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. But he said these state and federal legislative efforts critically serve to raise awareness among eligible Connecticut voters and convey a message not to let talk or threats from the administration of President Donald Trump and others about having federal immigration agents near polling locations intimidate and disenfranchise voters. "I think it is important that the representatives come out and push back against the fear tactics," Reyes said. Larson and Democratic state legislators are the ones engaging in fearmongering, said state Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, the ranking House Republican on the Government Administration and Elections Committee. Advertisement Advertisement She said Democrats are attacking Trump and trying to manufacture outrage to distract from documented election fraud in Bridgeport, Torrington and Stamford and Democratic failures to protect election integrity in Connecticut. "Calling to ban U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from polling locations is a solution in search of a problem," she said. "There is no evidence of ICE interfering in our elections. What we do have evidence of is ballot harvesting, absentee ballot abuse, and serious breakdowns in oversight and the majority party has repeatedly refused to fix them." The proposal that Blumenthal outlined would prevent ICE and other federal law enforcement authorities from conducting operations and activities with 250 of polling places, ballot tabulating site and other sensitive locations without judicial authorization from state or federal courts and coordinate with the secretary of the state and the state attorney general's offices, or the action is being conducted in a manner authorized by local or state election officials. Violations would be a state crime. Blumenthal said federal officials can be prosecuted for violating state laws as long as federal or state courts determine the law's aim is not to frustrate legitimate and constitutional federal policy. Advertisement Advertisement "If a federal agent violates a generally applicable state criminal law, then they would be subject to prosecution by our state authorities," he said. State Sen. Robert Sampson, R-Wolcott, said he was unaware this was what majority Democrats intended to propose when the Government Adminisration and Elections Committee voted Feb. 11 to draft the bill generically entitled, "An Act Protecting Elections." He is the committee's ranking Senate member. "It would not surprise me if the Democrats in Connecticut would try to and use national issues to distract the people of Connecticut while they're doing a bunch of questionable policy," Sampson said. Both Reyes and Mastrofrancesco pointed out that only U.S. citizens are permitted under federal law to vote in federal and state elections to support their opposing points of view. Under state law, only U.S. citizens living in Connecticut who meet all other eligibility requirements are permitted to register and vote here. State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, stands in front of a poster of former Trump aide Steve Bannon while discussing a state bill to prevent unauthorized federal law enforcement actions near polling places during a news conference Friday at the Legislative Office Building. (Paul Hughes/Hearst Connecticut Media) Mastrofrancesco said she questions why Democrats are making a fuss about ICE and polling places if noncitizens are not illegally voting as Democrats contend. Advertisement Advertisement Blumenthal and Larson cited former Trump aide Steve Bannon saying that ICE agents could surround polling stations in November's midterm elections. They stood in front of a poster featuring Bannon's picture and exact quote during Friday's news conference. Reyes said he questions what is the worry about noncitizen voting because noncitizens are already unable to vote in federal and state elections. He added that he doubts many immigrants in the country without legal status are going to risk voting illegally because of the consequences if they are caught. "My message to all our voters is simply if you're a citizen you can cast your ballot without any intimidation because if you're not a citizen you're not even on the list, so you shouldn't be voting," Reyes said. Verifying citizenship for voters is the most significant trend in state elections legislation that the National Conference of State Legislatures tracked in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement While only U.S. citizens are permitted under federal law to vote in federal and state, currently, states decide how to enforce this requirement, according to NCSL. All states require new voters to attest to their U.S. citizenship when they register, and all states conduct voter list maintenance to identify potentially ineligible voters on the rolls. This article originally published at Connecticut bill would bar ICE agents within 250 feet of polling places. County Roads Rescue has embarked on a new chapter with the start of a building project on recently acquired property. The new site, located at 1868 CR 3104, was fully funded through the generosity of Laura Perkins of the Perkins Foundation and another unnamed donor. Founded in 2016 by Dava Cooley Cook, County Roads Rescue began as a foster-based program. We were just foster based so we could only take in as many animals as we found fosters for, Cook said. Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, the organization obtained its current facility on Woodlawn. The facility allowed additional animals to be received. Space in an additional warehouse was later rented, allowing for yet more animals to be cared for. There are currently 107 animals in the organizations care. Cook attributes the seemingly ever-increased need for her animal shelter to multiple factors. We have a stray overpopulation issue already due to, I think, a lack of spay and neutering peoples pets," she said. "Then they tend to dump the unwanted ones. When they dont know what to do with them, theyll dump them in the woods." The Woodlawn facility, sitting on about three quarters of an acre, houses 70 to 90 dogs and cats, depending on their sizes. The warehouse accommodates an additional 30 to 40 animals. Advertisement Advertisement It is the warehouse space that Cook said they are now trying to vacate. Were trying to get everybody out of the warehouse, she said. We pay rent there and its very expensive. Wed rather that money go back towards taking care of the animals. CONSTRUCTION PLANS Construction at the new six-and-a-half acre property is planned in three phases. The first phase is a sanctuary for dogs expected to live their lives with County Roads Rescue. We currently have 12 of them who are just going to be very difficult to adopt or are unadoptable, Cook said. So, theyre each going to get their own cabin so they have a more normal life for whatever time they have left with us. Advertisement Advertisement Cook said the less desirable and unadoptable animals are those with medical issues, such as heart failure due to heart worms or cancer, age or behavioral issues. She clarified that the behavior issues include fear of meeting new people but not aggressiveness, as the shelter does not keep such dogs. The cabins for these more difficult to adopt dogs will have direct access to an outdoor play yard. Three are 10-foot by 10-foot cabins, which will be for dogs that can be paired up. Five 8-foot by 12-foot cabins are being built for individual dogs. She added the fenced outdoor area can also be used for the more difficult animals, stating it would allow for more one-on-one interactions and assist with rehabilitation. Also included in phase one construction is construction preparation, such as installing plumbing, septic and electric, for future phases. Advertisement Advertisement Cook estimates the completion of the sanctuary or phase one will save the organization $70,000 to $80,000 a year in rental fees and utilities currently paid for the warehouse space. We also see a decline in veterinary expenses and supply expenses and things like that when the dogs are at their happiest, Cook said, indicating another benefit of the sanctuary. Cook said she expects the sanctuary area to be complete by the end of March. Phase two will include converting an existing barn into a cat facility and constructing an office with restrooms and storage. The third phase is an entire new facility towards the back of the property. Advertisement Advertisement CURRENT NEEDS Four full-time and three-part time employees provide all the work and care at Country Roads Rescue, along with about three volunteers a week. There are, however, no regular foster families to assist. Since we got the [Woodlawn] facility, its very hard to find fosters. Well get them occasionally, Cook said. We used to send dogs up north and we would only have to have fosters for six to eight weeks at a time. Cook said most people arent willing to foster indefinitely. The most pressing need right now is foster families to take in animals while the shelter prepares the sanctuary phase one of construction in order to vacate the warehouse. Advertisement Advertisement Of course, volunteers are welcome any time. County Roads Rescue is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Cook said to volunteer, just show up and be put to work. Volunteers over the age of 14 are welcome to visit on their own. The shelter asks a parent to accompany student volunteers younger than 14. Monetary assistance is also needed. Cook said operational costs are $30,000 a month, when running at full capacity. Funding for the shelter comes from private donations, a couple of foundations that have helped over the last year and a half and small grants. She said the grants, usually specified for animal rescue, are difficult to get and hard to find. Anyone wishing to donate may do so online by visiting countyroadsrescuetx.org and click the "Donate now" button. Checks can be mailed to County Roads Rescue, 601 Woodlawn Ave., Jacksonville, Texas 75766. For updates on the construction process, follow the County Roads Rescue Facebook page. LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Crews tackled a house fire overnight in Lebanon County, but had to come back to the scene Saturday morning after an explosion. Crews responded to the 400 block of West Main Avenue before 12:30 a.m. on Saturday for a house fire in Jackson Township. No injuries were reported, and crews wrapped up at the scene around 3:15 a.m. The Neptune Fire Company said crews doubled back to the scene around 6:15 a.m the same morning for another reported house fire. While the home was in normal condition when crews arrived, firefighters discovered a U-Haul van had blown up in the backyard. Advertisement Advertisement The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the incident. Details are limited at this time. 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. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Watch drone video of the rescue in the video player above. UPDATE: FRIDAY 2/20/2026 4:07 p.m. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) has released drone video of the water rescue of a man from a vehicle in Prospect Lake that happened on Thursday, Feb. 19. According to CSFD, on Thursday, at around 5 p.m., first responders responded to Prospect Lake after reports that a vehicle had gone into the water. Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) officers immediately entered what CSFD said was freezing water, and seconds later, CSFD firefighters joined them. Together, the teams pulled an unconscious man from the vehicle. First responders continued to search the vehicle based on reports that a child might have been inside. After an extensive search, it was determined that only the driver was inside the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Dive teams and multiple first responder units arrived, along with several ambulances, to warm first responders exposed to the cold. CSFD reports two officers and two firefighters were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and hypothermia, and have since been released from the hospital. The rescued man remains in critical condition. This incident shows the strength of the partnership between CSFD and CSPD. Their coordination, trust, and willingness to risk everything for others are unmatched. Their instinct is always the same: protect life. We are incredibly proud of the heroic work displayed by our first responders, wrote CSFD. UPDATE: One person rescued from vehicle submerged in Prospect Lake THURSDAY 2/19/2026 6:48 p.m. The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) and Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said both agencies worked together to rescue one person from a vehicle that had submerged in Prospect Lake. According to CSFD, on Thursday, Feb. 19, at around 5 p.m., people called first responders for reports that a person had driven into Prospect Lake. Moments later, CSFD and CSPD arrived on the scene, and two police officers and four firefighters went into the lake to rescue the person. Advertisement Advertisement The person was rescued from the car in under two minutes and taken to the hospital. CSFD reports the person was in critical condition. Two officers and two firefighters were taken to the hospital to treat cuts sustained from the rescue and hypothermia. CSFD reported the lake registered a temperature of 37F, and first responders did not have time to change into cold-weather gear. The cause of the vehicle going into the water is under investigation. ORIGINAL STORY: CSFD working to rescue people out of vehicle in Prospect Lake THURSDAY 2/19/2026 6:12 p.m. The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) said crews were on scene at Prospect Lake, working to rescue people out of a vehicle that was submerged in the lake. According to CSFD, on Thursday, Feb. 19, at around 5:15 p.m., fire crews and the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) were at the scene of a vehicle fully submerged in Prospect Lake. Crews were working to get people out of the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement CSFD is asking the public to avoid the area. FOX21 News has a crew at the scene and will carry a briefing from CSFD at around 6:30 p.m. in the video player above. 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. The conservator for a man allegedly held captive for two decades in a locked room at a Waterbury home has filed a claim which could pave the way for a potential lawsuit against the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. The claim was initiated earlier this month by attorney Kristan Exner and completed this week, according to the Office of the Claims Commissioner. The filing is the first step in potentially suing a state agency and must be approved before that can happen. Connecticut state law requires anyone who may seek damages from the state or any of its agencies to file relevant paperwork within a specific time frame, attorney Kristan Exner, conservator of the victim who has only been identified publicly as S said in a statement. In Ss case, state law mandated that these filings be completed by Feb. 17, 2026. These filings are procedural and merely ensure that, should S decide to make claims against any state entity, he has the right to do so. Given the nature of these proceedings, we are not able to comment further at this time. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Claims Commissioner, the filing names DCF and leaves the potential for claims involving personal injury or standard of care allegations to be made. We have not yet been notified of the claim and, when it is received, we will assess it to determine the most appropriate course of action, a DCF spokesperson said in a statement. Victim is terrified Advocates decry giving CT woman details on stepson she allegedly held captive According to police, S intentionally set fire to a Blake Street home in March 2025 and told first responders that he started the blaze because he wanted his freedom. When he was pulled from the home, the 32-year-old weighed 68 pounds at 5 feet, 9 inches tall, and had to be carried by firefighters, according to the arrest warrant affidavit charging the mans stepmother, 57-year-old Kimberly Sullivan. Advertisement Advertisement S claimed that he was pulled from school in 2005 and was locked in an 8-foot by 9-foot storage room for most of his life without any heat or air conditioning, the warrant affidavit said. He alleges he was only let out between 15 minutes to two hours a day to do chores, but that there were some days when he said he was locked up for 24 hours straight. Report: DCF made years of visits to home of CT man allegedly found captive, starved The man claimed that for most of his life he was given two sandwiches and two small cups or bottles of water each day and that he was not allowed to use the bathroom, according to the warrant affidavit. He told investigators he was told to lie to DCF and say everything was fine after being pulled from school at 11 years old, the warrant affidavit said. DCF conducted a review of the agencys involvement with the family and said it found that six reports were investigated between 1996 and 2005. The investigations involved announced and unannounced visits and assessments of the family home, including its conditions and whether food was available. Advertisement Advertisement According to DCF, the children in the home which included Sullivans daughters were interviewed away from their parents when it was allowed, noting that, prior to 2018, the agency could only interview a child without parental consent in cases involving allegations of abuse. Claims of neglect would not allow such an interview before the law was changed, the agency previously said. The father of S, who also resided in the home, died in January 2024. Worse than a jail cell: Police describe living conditions of CT man allegedly held captive DCF said an investigator contacted Ss pediatrician and no concerns were expressed. Advertisement Advertisement DCF was in ongoing communication with both the pediatrician and the school nurse to assess whether there was an underlying medical explanation for the childs small stature and food-seeking behavior, the agency said in a statement last year. Based on the information available and the statutory requirements in place at the time, we did not have sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations or remove the child from the home, DCF previously said. Sullivan, who is free on a $300,000 bond, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment. She is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on March 12. Sullivans attorney, John Kaloidis, has maintained his clients innocence and has said he plans on putting on a vigorous defense. By Anett Rios and Alien Fernandez HAVANA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Cubans are scrambling to install solar panels on their homes, shops and vehicles to combat extended blackouts as Washington prevents oil shipments from reaching the Caribbean's largest island, contributing to electricity generation shortfalls. U.S. sanctions and a deep economic crisis have for years made it impossible for the government to buy enough fuel, and a more recent drought in shipments from Venezuela and Mexico due to U.S. tariff threats has worsened existing shortages. Advertisement Advertisement CHINA HELPS TO FINANCE SOLAR GROWTH Cuba's government, helped by Chinese financing and equipment donations, has installed upwards of 1,000 megawatts of solar generation in the past year, and promises to double that capacity in the coming years. But some private citizens have taken matters into their own hands. "Given the frequent outages, which pretty much stop you from doing anything, a friend offered to help me invest in panels and set everything up," Havana resident Roberto Sarriga told Reuters. Sarriga said that with the help of solar panels he could have internet, charge his phone so people can locate him and power a TV to keep his elderly mother entertained watching her favorite soap operas. Advertisement Advertisement "The idea was to at least have the basics covered." The panels, imported and sold in dollars, are well out of reach of most Cubans, but have offered a solution for a growing class of private business owners and those who still receive money from relatives abroad. The government, aiming to encourage such investments, late on Thursday announced new measures that would waive personal taxes for up to eight years for business people who undertake renewable energy projects. DEMAND INCREASING AS FUEL RUNS SHORT Solar panel installer Raydel Cano, who works in homes and private businesses throughout the Cuban capital Havana, told Reuters demand had increased as fuel has run short in the past few weeks, leaving those with gas and diesel-driven generators in the lurch. Advertisement Advertisement "Private businesses see themselves obligated to install panels," he said, noting that alternatives to fully renewable power had mostly become obsolete as the grid falters. Though installing solar panels demands a higher cost upfront, Havana cafe manager Dariem Soto-Navarro said with diesel increasingly difficult to buy, solar was the better option. "In addition to being clean, green energy, it optimises operating costs," he said. "It is without a doubt one of the best solutions for entrepreneurs and private businesses." Alejandro Arritola, who drives a tricycle-taxi with solar panels installed on the roof, told Reuters he had installed the panels to help him travel further when he runs out of gas. Advertisement Advertisement "It extends my range and I don't have to use any gasoline," he said, noting that his family continues to get around with ease despite the shortages. "If there's no public transportation, it doesn't matter." The Trump administration says its measures increase pressure for political change in Cuba. On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was in Cuba's "best interest to make very dramatic changes very soon." The U.N. has warned that if Cuba's energy needs are not met this could cause a humanitarian crisis. The island, already suffering from severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine, has implemented rationing measures to protect essential services. Russia, one of Cuba's last remaining oil suppliers, is preparing to send crude in the near future, Izvestia newspaper reported last week, without providing a specific date. (Reporting by Anett Rios, Alien Fernandez and Norlys Perez; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Dave Sherwood and Sharon Singleton) Mayor Daniel Lurie has a message for California Democrats: Consider taking a page from the playbook he's following in San Francisco. Lurie spoke Saturday to a crowd of state Democratic Party leaders holding their convention at Moscone Center and told them that the approach he's taken to governing could have larger takeaways for the party nationwide. The mayor, a moderate who has rarely deviated from a limited set of local policy priorities since he took office last year, detailed some of the ways he is trying to make San Francisco function better. He highlighted his PermitSF initiative to cut red tape and overhaul the city's notoriously complicated permitting system, an "almost radical" effort he said had "doubled down on common sense." Advertisement Advertisement Lurie encouraged everyone in the room at Moscone West to take note. "Here is what I want every Democrat in this room to hear: When we govern well and focus on the things that make people's lives better, we win," Lurie said. "Not just at the ballot box - at the kitchen table, in the conversations our neighbors are having about whether or not Democrats care about their everyday lives. San Francisco can be the proof point this country desperately needs right now - a city that works." Lurie's remarks underscored a widening divide among Democrats about the best way to regain power and popularity during the second term of President Donald Trump. While some in the party have taken a combative stance toward Trump, others - including Lurie - have sought to avoid direct conflict with the president. Those in the former group include Gov. Gavin Newsom, an expected 2028 presidential candidate who has repeatedly hurled insults at Trump and his allies on social media. Newsom and his supporters are betting that Democrats' best path to retake control of Congress and the White House is to fight Trump as aggressively as possible, even if that means shattering political norms in creative and even crude ways. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at the recent Munich Security Conference in Germany, Newsom said world leaders should "call this guy out" and "stop this timidity" when it comes to Trump. "I'm under assault and attack by this guy every single day. Here's the president of the United States, he's 80 years old and he's calling me a nickname that an 8-year-old called me," Newsom said, referring to the Newscum' label Trump often uses when referring to the governor. Lurie, on the other hand, has taken a far more cautious approach in reacting to the president. He has aligned himself with a wing of the Democratic Party that believes that essentially ignoring the president is the best antidote to Trumpism. Instead of taking the president's bait, these Democrats contend, the party should prove that its policies are better by making blue cities and states models of effective government. "For the first time in five years, San Franciscans believe we are moving in the right direction," Lurie said in his speech. "That didn't happen by accident. It happened because we put people and results before politics." San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, shown speaking Saturday at the California Democratic Party convention at Moscone Center, has sought to avoid direct conflict with President Donald Trump. (Yalonda M. James/S.F. Chronicle) Since becoming mayor in January 2025, Lurie has avoided even uttering Trump's name in public and has rarely waded into political debates and controversies outside the agenda he's trying to implement in San Francisco. His strategy appeared to pan out in October, when Trump reversed course on a planned "surge" of federal immigration agents to the city after speaking to Lurie and wealthy tech leaders on the phone. Advertisement Advertisement Lurie isn't the only one espousing a similar tactic. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan touted a back-to-basics message as he launched his campaign for governor, arguing that Democrats should focus on delivering meaningful results on issues that matter most to everyday residents. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, another potential Democratic candidate in 2028, recently indicated that he takes a similar view as he promoted a new book he wrote. "If somebody is looking for a Democratic version of Trump, that's not me," Beshear said in a CNN interview this week. "My goal is to bring people together. My goal is to heal the country. And you can't do that if you're engaged in the same tactics that he is. And if that's what the American people are looking for, I'm not their guy." Mara, who attended the state party convention as a proxy for a Democratic delegate and declined to give her last name, praised Lurie's speech Saturday, saying it was "great to hear the progress that's been happening in the city." She thought the party was big enough to accommodate leaders like Lurie who want to stick to the essentials of governing and more provocative political fighters. Advertisement Advertisement "We definitely need to make models of effective government and make our cities and states run for the better of all of our communities," she said. "But it is also beneficial to have people out there who are pushing the envelope and making sure that what is happening, what progress is being made, is actually being communicated out to the people who need to hear it." Lurie concluded his remarks at the convention by reiterating his belief that his governing style in San Francisco can be a model for Democrats elsewhere. "When the loudest voices in our country are telling people that cities like ours are beyond saving, this is our moment," he said. "Not to play defense, but to prove, block by block, city by city, that the Democratic vision for America is the best path to durable change." This article originally published at Daniel Lurie tells California Democrats that S.F. is becoming a city that works' on his watch. Tropical cyclones aren't really top of mind in February here in the U.S. or Western Hemisphere. But on Feb. 20, 2016, 10 years ago today, Cyclone Winston raked through Fiji at Category 5 intensity with winds estimated up to 180 mph, the strongest in records dating to 1970 to have struck Fiji. Winston is the deadliest cyclone on record in Fiji, claiming 44 lives. It was also the costliest on record in the South Pacific at the time, with total damage estimated at $1.4 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Approximately 40,000 homes were damaged or destroyed 40,000 homes and 229 schools were damaged, according to Fiji's Prime Minister at the time. The storm left about a quarter million people in Fiji without water or sanitation. Several countries including Australia, France and New Zealand offered assistance in the days and weeks following Winston. Winston's Fiji impact was historic enough. But also bizarre was its meandering 20-day path through the South Pacific. It even crossed over the same stretch of the South Pacific southwest of Fiji twice 11 days apart. Given Winston's devastating impact, its name was retired from use for any future South Pacific tropical cyclones by the World Meteorological Organization. Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. The Trump administration is pushing congress to include in its housing affordability reforms package a ban on corporate landlord purchasing of single family homes. Single family homes should never become rental properties because Americans will never be able to compete with companies that can be worth in the trillions of dollars and offer all cash offers to sellers. Corporate landlords are also much more likely to be able to withstand economic downturns, meaning there is minimal hope of those homes ever returning to the market. This Trump policy will remove a major competitor from the market and is the single most progressive change on offer among office holders in the country for housing reform. It is shocking that among the Democratic candidates for governor, none are willing to propose anything beyond abundance-movement coded zoning reforms, and somehow hoping builders can build faster than corporations can buy them. Even democratic socialist Francesca Hong, easily the most progressive candidate in the race, is not proposing a ban on corporate landlords owning single family homes. The Democratic party must offer more ambitious policy proposals on housing that put direct downward pressure on the price of homes. Else risk ceding to Trump the lead on the greatest driver of the affordability crisis in America, the endless rising cost of home ownership. Brody Knaak, Oconomowoc Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Here's what we stand to lose if Milwaukee sells its vacant lots Letters: SAVE Act seeks to disenfranchise millions from voting Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Advertisement Advertisement Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrats need a plan to lower home prices | Letter Faced with US Supreme Court order that tariffs imposed by Trump administration under the IEEPA were illegal, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer outlined a set of options his government will take to "ensure continuity in reaching these goals and as part of our negotiated agreements with numerous trading partners." In a statement, Greer said the administration will immediately impose a temporary 10 per cent surcharge on goods imported into the US, pursuant to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The 10 per cent tariffs will remain in place for 150 days, and an extension may need Congress' nod. The temporary import duty will take effect February 24 at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time. However, some essential goods will not be subject to the temporary import duty. Besides, the US administration will, according to Greer, initiate several investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 ("Section 301") to deal with "unjustifiable, unreasonable, discriminatory, and burdensome acts, policies, and practices by many trading partners. We expect these investigations to cover most major trading partners and to address areas of concern such as industrial excess capacity, forced labor, pharmaceutical pricing practices, discrimination against U.S. technology companies and digital goods and services, digital services taxes, ocean pollution, and practices related to the trade in seafood, rice, and other products." They intend to conduct these investigations on an accelerated timeframe, in keeping with the Section 301 statute's substantive and procedural requirements. If these investigations conclude that there are unfair trading practices and that responsive action is warranted, tariffs are one tool that may be imposed, Greer said. Further, the US administration will continue the ongoing Section 301 investigations, including those involving Brazil and China. "If these investigations conclude that there are unfair trading practices and that responsive action is warranted, tariffs are one tool that may be imposed," Greer said in the statement. They will maintain tariffs currently imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1963, and conclude ongoing investigations.The Supreme Court's decision today, Greer said, addresses the constitutionality of only President Trump's Reciprocal and Fentanyl Tariffs. "Extensive tariffs that President Trump has imposed pursuant to other statutory authorities will remain in place. For example, existing Section 301 tariffs on China range from 7.5 percent to 100 percent, depending on the product, and existing sectoral Section 232 tariffs range from 10 percent to 50 percent, depending on the product. These measures cover 30 percent of existing U.S. imports," his statement read. Backing President Trump's tariffs that were struck down by the apex court, Greer said the use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act ("IEEPA") was a necessary and appropriate tool to quickly and flexibly address major challenges originating from outside the United States, including the fentanyl, immigration, and trade deficit crises. "Regardless of the Court's decision today, these challenges--and the enormous progress we've made--remain," he affirmed. "The Trump Administration is committed to continue implementing the President's trade policy, which was at the core of his campaign and agenda. For many months, the Trump Administration has cautioned foreign trading partners and the business community that if the Supreme Court were to limit the President's authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA, alternative tools would be implemented to address many of the issues at the heart of the President's reciprocal tariff program." (ANI) Editors note: This story was originally published on Feb. 21, 2025. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On Feb. 21, 1965, civil rights activist Malcolm X, 39, was shot to death inside Harlems Audubon Ballroom in New York. Three men identified as members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of murder and imprisoned; all were eventually paroled. It should be noted, the convictions of two of the men were dismissed in November 2021, when prosecutors said new evidence had undermined the case against them. Who was Malcolm X? Malcolm X, whose full name was El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was 39 when he was shot in the theater on Feb. 21, 1965, as he was preparing to address several hundred of his followers. Advertisement Advertisement By the time he died, the Muslim leader had moderated his militant message of black separatism and pride but was still very much a passionate advocate of black unity, self-respect and self-reliance. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of murder in his death. He had repudiated the Nation of Islam less than a year earlier. Even today, on the 60th anniversary or his death, Malcolm Xs family is asking for records to be released in relation to his death, and for an investigation to continue. In this 1963 file photo, Black Nationalist leader Malcolm X is pictured at a rally at Lennox Avenue and 115th St., in the Harlem section of New York. | Robert Haggins, Associated Press Here are some stories from Deseret News archives from the time of the shooting to present day, and the message his widow once gave to university students here in Utah: Hundreds mark 50 years since Malcolm Xs assassination Advertisement Advertisement Have faith in yourself, Malcom X widow says Scrapbook of the 20th Century: March 13, 1964: Malcolm X and the civil rights movement Kings holding his own in year of Malcolm X Farrakhan admits role in slaying Have Malcolm Xs kin Farrakhan buried ax? Children of civil rights leaders vow to support Shabazz Archaeologists digging at Malcolm Xs boyhood home in Boston Brown U. student uncovers lost Malcolm X speech Daughter hails acceptance of Malcolm X stamp Two men convicted of killing Malcolm X to be exonerated Lebanons new Tiger Cubs Pre-Kindergarten program launches this fall, and the Lebanon Community School Corporation is working to implement a sliding fee scale to help more families afford tuition. The district announced it would implement a preschool program in spring 2025 after a high volume of local families expressed a need for early childhood education. Lebanon Tiger Cubs Pre-K will be headquartered in the former Central Elementary School with a couple classrooms at Perry-Worth Elementary and is open to families within and outside of LCSC. Advertisement Advertisement LCSC Superintendent Jon Milleman said the district is leveraging more than $600,000 annually from its operating referendum for the program. Those dollars will cover core costs that would otherwise be placed on families, including utilities, curriculum, insurance, maintenance, etc. The referendum funds have significantly reduced the overall cost of preschool for participating families, according to LCSC. To further expand access, the Lebanon Education Foundation and LCSC launched a Preschool Access Fund. The access fund will be used as a dedicated fundraising initiative through the education foundation to complement operating referendum dollars. This will expand access through tuition assistance by reducing costs and increasing scholarship opportunities. As that builds over time, well be able to leverage those dollars to help families be able to access that early childhood education, Milleman said at this months school board meeting. You have an aggressive and ambitious superintendent, and I have put the number at $5 million. Thats our goal. Advertisement Advertisement Milleman doesnt know how long it will take to bring in $5 million. But he is impatient when it comes to helping more children access preschool, so they will be assertive in securing funds through foundations and private donors, he said. Tuition fees only cover classroom instruction, and while the district is working to implement affordable alternatives, only a limited number of slots are available for families that need help. Milleman hopes to leverage more dollars from the district, and administrators are in the process of filing for grants. But he said this may not be a sustainable strategy without outside help from local donors. In Southern Indiana, the city of Madison has a similar early childhood education fund that received $280,000 from the Madison Redevelopment Commission. Milleman said theyve similarly been discussing investments with the Lebanon RDC. Advertisement Advertisement Milleman said the $5 million goal will help support local families and protect access to early education during economic uncertainty or shifts in government funding. We want to work with families to be able to do that and be able to have a sliding scale for them, Milleman said. Were just going to need to continue to roll out that support from nonprofits and governmental agencies. He said they are leaving no stone unturned to request funds in any way they can to help students have access to early childhood education. For updates and more information, visit the Tiger Cubs Pre-K Facebook page, or email Pre-K Principal Rick Hunt with questions at huntr@leb.k12.in.us. To learn more about the Preschool Access Fund or make a donation, visit leb.k12.in.us. The Nevada Dept. of Motor Vehicles provided inaccurate information in a legal proceeding about DMV chats with federal immigration officials via Signal, an encrypted messaging platform, according to a document obtained by the Current. The mistake was inadvertent, the Nevada Attorney Generals office wrote in a supplemental legal filing. The AGs office, which is representing the DMV in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, wrote that the DMV, in a discovery request from ACLU, represented that any Signal messages are not used to conduct public business at the DMV. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the document says, at a hearing earlier this month Deputy Attorney General Abigail Pace represented that the DMV does not use Signal to conduct official DMV business, Chief Deputy Jessica Whelan wrote in a filing with the court. These statements, while believed to be accurate at the time they were made, have proven to be inaccurate based on information learned following the February 6, 2025 hearing, Whelan acknowledged. The ACLU sued last year to determine the extent of the DMVs cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The DMV had maintained it has no record of the Signal chats because the platform is not on the DMV server and no official business was conducted there. Advertisement Advertisement Nevada is one of 19 states and the District of Columbia that offer DMV-issued identification cards to undocumented immigrants. Earlier this month, Carson District Judge Kristin Luis gave the DMV five days to turn over public records and department policies requested as part of the lawsuit after the agency produced heavily redacted records and failed to provide some of the discovery requests. The DMV also admitted its enforcement officers communicate with ICE via a task force, the U.S. Marshals Service Southern Nevada Violent Crime Offenders Task Force, but not for immigration enforcement. The task force at one point used the Signal app for communications between task force members during the course of tracking down violent fugitives in the field, wrote J.D. Decker, chief of the DMVs Compliance Division. Decker wrote that to his knowledge, DMV enforcement officers have not communicated with ICE using the Signal app outside of our participation on the USMS Southern Nevada Violent Crime Offenders Task Force, nor has CED (compliance enforcement division) participated or communicated with ICEfor immigration enforcement in any way. Advertisement Advertisement There are no records of the task forces communications with ICE, Decker wrote. ACLU of Nevada Executive Director Athar Haseebullah says the filings demonstrate that the agency has in fact used Signal to communicate before and also has used the application to communicate with ICE. He said its not clear to him how the DMV can simply walk back its erroneous representations about not using Signal to communicate as recently as two weeks ago, adding its even more bizarre that theyd expect the public to just take their word for things. He called on the DMV to turn over the records to the public and make clear the full extent of what theyve hidden for a year as theyve attempted to stall this process. This is your government at work. The Mountain States Policy Center, a self-described free market advocacy group that supports diverting state tax dollars to private schools, is making a specious argument regarding Idahos new private school tax credit. They argue that a student using the $5,000 tax credit actually saves the state money. The state spends $9,000 per pupil in the public school system, the argument goes, and since the state doesnt have to spend that money on that student and instead gives the family $5,000, that saves the state $4,000 for every student who takes the tax credit and leaves the public school system. Only, its not that simple. This argument completely ignores the fixed costs of a school. Advertisement Advertisement Take, for example, your local elementary school that has 50 third-graders enrolled for the upcoming school year. The school district will hire two third-grade teachers, so there are two third-grade classes of 25 students each. Lets say five of those students parents decide to take the state tax credit and leave the school district to go to a private school. The local public elementary school still needs to hire two third-grade teachers. If the school were to hire just one teacher, the class size would be 40 students. Further, the school still has to pay for the building, the upkeep, the janitors, the heat and electricity, and all of the other fixed costs of running a school. But now the school has $45,000 less to do it with, since the school will no longer receive the per-pupil funding from those five students. But the school districts expenses didnt go down by $45,000. Advertisement Advertisement And with this tax credit scheme, the state has $50 million less to fund public schools. Yes, there might be some nominal variable costs that go down with five fewer students, but the school district doesnt get to turn off the heat by 10% or run the AC 10% less. If a school bus is 10% less full, the driver doesnt get paid 10% less, and you dont put 10% less fuel in the tank. The districts finance director or school principal dont get paid 10% less. Private school voucher and tax credit proponents like to talk about how this will force public schools to be competitive. But this is not a level playing field. Advertisement Advertisement The other thing that the Mountain States Policy Center doesnt mention is that the tax credit simply distributes the money on a per-child basis. Thats not how we fund public schools. Public schools rely on average daily attendance, not straight-up enrollment. But costs to the public school dont go down depending on whether the student is present or not. These tax credit-funded students might receive more money than it would cost the public school to educate them. Meanwhile, a special-needs student or English-language learner will require more funding, and private schools can decline to educate those special-needs students. Advertisement Advertisement Yes, we fund a public education system all of us do, whether we have students in the school system or not. The word system is written into the Idaho Constitution: The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools. We all pay for a public school system because it benefits us all. We appreciate and respect some of the arguments for school vouchers. But the argument that they save the state money and therefore those taking advantage of the program deserve some sort of thanks is certainly not one of them. Statesman editorials are the opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, assistant editor Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto. GREECE N.Y. (WROC) The coworker of a former daycare employee charged in child sexual abuse allegations is speaking out. 24-year-old Noah Hoefler, who worked at Doodle Bugs Child Care Center in Greece, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. His coworker spoke to News 8 on the basis of anonymity and said she wanted to clear up assumptions from the public that employees protected Hoefler. Advertisement Advertisement He deserves to be locked up 100%. If it was me, he doesnt deserve to see the light of day ever, because those were children, she said. She said she witnessed several instances of strange behavior or comments from Hoefler toward the children. One of my experiences was he was changing a childs diaper in a classroom with me, and he had expressed to me that the child had pubic hair and thought it was funny and just kept talking about it consistently. She said she reported the odd behaviors to management but never heard back from them. I know one of the managers took him out and said, like, You are not welcome back here,' she said. They didnt let him back on the premises. Advertisement Advertisement New York State Police Trooper Lynnea Crane said the alleged abuse occurred outside the daycare center. For example, like, babysit on a Friday night or a Saturday or something like that outside of normal business hours, she explained. So its outside of the daycare facility itself, but hes still supervising those children. Trooper Crane said state police took over the case following a law enforcement referral through Child Protective Services. Since November 2024, she said they investigated Hoefler, gathering evidence to provide to the district attorney for prosecution. She said Hoefler voluntarily surrendered on Feb. 3, 2026, per an agreement between himself, his attorney and police. Advertisement Advertisement According to court documentation, Hoefler was originally charged with making sexual contact with a 3-year-old, but state police said there are multiple victims. These are very young children [and] understanding that communication is hard at any age of a child, said Trooper Crane. So for them to be able to tell us whats actually happening, this case was extremely difficult. Hoeflers former coworker said she stands in solidarity with the victims. We are mandated reporters. Thats what we do. And the kids will always come first to me. Protecting Noah will never come first, she said. To me, it will always be about those children and helping them move forward from being traumatized, essentially. Advertisement Advertisement Though originally charged with first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, Hoefler pleaded guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Hoefler is expected to return to court for sentencing on April 7. News 8 reached out to management at Doodle Bugs but has not 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 RochesterFirst. MIAMI The Department of Justice said it is looking to strip a former mayor of North Miami of his U.S. citizenship after he allegedly misrepresented his identity and immigration history during his naturalization process. Federal attorneys filed a denaturalization case against Philippe Bien-Aime in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Wednesday, court records show. Bien-Aime, who is originally from Haiti and was naturalized in 2006, was elected mayor of North Miami in 2019. He resigned in 2022 to run for a seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission, but lost the election. Advertisement Advertisement In a civil complaint reviewed by NBC News and NBC Miami, which first reported the story, the DOJ claims Bien-Aime first entered the United States in 1997 using a fraudulent, photo-switched passport under the name Jean Philippe Janvier. In July 31, 2000, an immigration judge determined he entered the country fraudulently and ordered him removed to Haiti, according to the complaint. He appealed the removal order at the time, but later withdrew the appeal, representing that he had returned to live in Haiti. But federal authorities allege he never went back to Haiti and instead remained in the United States under the name Philippe Bien-Aime. Department of Homeland Security records including fingerprint comparisons show that the person who naturalized as Philippe Bien-Aime is the same individual who was previously ordered removed from the United States under the name Philippe Janvier, according to the complaint. Peterson St. Philippe, an attorney for Bien-Aime, told NBC Miami in a statement that they are in the process of reviewing the complaint and will be responding to the allegations through the appropriate legal channels. Advertisement Advertisement As this is a pending litigation, we will not be commenting further at this time, St. Philippe said. The case against Bien-Aime comes as the Trump administration is expanding its efforts to revoke U.S. citizenship for foreign-born Americans as part of the presidents broader agenda to curb immigration. Denaturalization is lengthy and time-consuming process and has a high legal bar. Even when federal authorities are investigating someone with the aim to denaturalize, it could take years, and a subsequent deportation would take even longer. If the government ultimately succeeds in its effort to strip Bien-Aime of his U.S. citizenship, it could raise legal and political questions about his time in office. Advertisement Advertisement North Miamis city code states that candidates seeking office must be qualified electors meaning they must be citizens eligible to vote and registered at the time. To register to vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen. In addition to remaining in the United States under another name, the complaint alleges, Bien-Aime married a U.S. citizen and obtained permanent resident status. But federal prosecutors allege that marriage was invalid because he was already married to a Haitian citizen. According to the complaint, the divorce certificate Bien-Aime presented to immigration authorities was fraudulent. United States citizenship is a privilege grounded in honesty and allegiance to this country, U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quinones of the Southern District of Florida said in a news release Friday. If proven, we will ask the Court to revoke a status that was never lawfully obtained. Hatzel Vela and Erika Angulo reported from Miami and Nicole Acevedo from New York. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Donald Trump is thinking of awarding himself a military medal. And not just any medal. Trump wants to give himself the the United States highest and most prestigious military decoration for valor in combat. He wants a Congressional Medal of Honor. On February 19, Trump said hed already tried to award himself the medal after visiting Iraq during his first term. Fortunately, his advisers talked him out of it. Ive given out so many to guys that are seriously brave, he said. I mean, they come in with the arms are missing, the legs are missing. The stories are so unbelievable. Could President Trump award himself the Congressional Medal of Honor? Photo Credit: Nathan Howard/Getty Images Its a little stretch if I gave myself one of them, he admitted. Someday Im going to try. Advertisement Advertisement Ironically, though he dreams of receiving the military honor, Trump never served in the military, so hes not eligible. But he never lets a little thing like rules stop him. In December, he added his name to the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, in violation of federal law. I flew to Iraq and was extremely brave, he bragged. In fact, so brave I wanted to give myself the Congressional Medal of Honor. I said to my people: am I allowed to give myself the Congressional Medal of Honor? Trump actually avoided serving in the military during the Vietnam War. He got his doctor to diagnose him with bone spurs to avoid the draft. In fact, no member of Trumps family has ever served in the military, and hes known to describe those who serve as losers. Nevertheless, he added, Im going to test the law Lets give it a shot. Maybe Ill win in court after everyone sues me. Advertisement Advertisement Predictably, he later excused his speaking of giving himself the Medal of Honor as him just having fun. Members of the military who have lost limbs or family members who have lost loved ones surely werent amused. Later the Veterans of Foreign Wars released a statement. They pushed back on Trumps comments as asinine. They also emphasized that the award is a sacred honor, as it represents gallantry and the sacrifice of self, often at the cost of lives. It should not be treated lightly. TELL US DO YOU THINK TRUMP WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE HIMSELF THE MEDAL OF HONOR? The post Donald Trump Considers Giving Himself Military Medal Despite Draft Dodging appeared first on Reality Tea. After a long winter, it may feel like March couldn't come any sooner. But spring isn't the only thing that Mother Nature will bring. On March 3, a total lunar eclipse will put on a sky show. And it's not just any eclipse: this one coincides with the Worm Moon, creating a so-called blood moon eclipse and making the stargazing spectacle extra exciting. As the name suggests, this eclipse will turn the moon a deep red-but not everyone will be able to see it. Front-Row Seats Like the 2025 total lunar eclipse, this year's event will be visible from North America, Australia, eastern Asia, and the Pacific Ocean, but not from Europe or Africa. Skywatchers in North and Central America will get to start the morning with the blood moon eclipse, while observers in Australia and eastern Asia will see it in the evening. Sailors and islanders in the Pacific Ocean will get the night show. During a total lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth, and moon line up, allowing Earth's shadow to cover the moon fully. The entire event unfolds over several hours, though the dramatic "totality" phase-when the moon takes on a copper hue-generally lasts less than an hour. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is totally safe to view with the naked eye, no special glasses needed. Advertisement Advertisement As for exact timings, the March 2026 total lunar eclipse will unfold in the early morning hours for viewers in the Eastern time zone. The partial phase begins at 4:50 a.m. EST, when Earth's shadow first starts sliding across the moon. Totality begins at 6:04 a.m., with peak viewing around 6:33 a.m. By 7:02 a.m., the moon will begin emerging from Earth's shadow as the eclipse gradually winds down. A phase-by-phase schedule for different time zones is available on NASA's website. The Moon's Many Monikers SAI AUNG MAIN/GettyImages From "Blood" to "Worm," the full moon goes by many colorful names, and each one tells a story. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon can take on a reddish-orange glow, earning it the nickname "blood moon." That color comes from sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere on its way to the lunar surface. Shorter wavelengths, like blue and purple, scatter out, while longer wavelengths, like red and orange, pass through, turning the moon into a mirror of Earth's sunrises and sunsets. March's full moon also has another moniker: the Worm Moon. Native Americans called it this because it marks the time when worm trails begin to appear in thawing ground, signaling the end of winter and the start of spring. And while the Worm moon comes around every year, this March blood moon will be the last total lunar eclipse that anyone on Earth will be able to see until December 31, 2028. This article was originally published on www.mentalfloss.com as Don't Miss the Blood Moon Eclipse Lighting Up North America This March. DTE Energy has awarded three Michigan businesses $5,000 each to improve their energy efficiency. The grants are part of the company's Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest, which aims to help small businesses reduce energy costs, according to a community announcement. The 2025 winners are Union Second Baptist Church in River Rouge, Tiffanys Show Horses in Deckerville and Coughlin Jewelers in St. Clair Shores. Winners also receive on-site energy assessments Each winner will receive a free on-site energy assessment and a customized plan to improve their energy efficiency. Upgrades can include lighting, HVAC systems The prize money can be used for upgrades such as LED lighting, HVAC systems or other equipment needed for operations. Nearly 60% of contest entrants have not made energy efficiency improvements Nearly 60% of the businesses who entered the contest this year told us they were not able to make any energy efficiency improvements to their business due to barriers such as lack of funds or they dont know where to start, Carmen Welch, director of energy efficiency at DTE Energy, said in the announcement. DTE is committed to breaking down barriers and making energy efficiency accessible because when businesses succeed, our communities succeed and that benefits everyone. Union Second Baptist Church to use grant for building upgrades Union Second Baptist Church will use the grant to make building upgrades. Advertisement Advertisement Caring for our building is really about caring for our community, Richard Thomas, the church's pastor, said in the announcement. These upgrades help us create a space thats welcoming, safe and comfortable for everyone who comes through our doors. This award allows us to make improvements while also being better stewards of our resources as we continue serving our community. Tiffanys Show Horses to replace outdated lighting Tiffanys Show Horses will use the funding to replace outdated lighting with energy-efficient LEDs, timers and controls to better manage how long lights and ventilation systems run each day. The Deckerville business will also update ventilation and appliances to energy efficient models. "Running a small business means every expense matters, especially when energy use is part of daily animal care and client comfort," Tiffany Wendling, owner of Tiffany's Show Horses, said in the announcement. "We appreciate the opportunity to make these improvements. Coughlin Jewelers to upgrade showroom lighting Coughlin Jewelers will use the grant to upgrade its showroom lighting. Advertisement Advertisement For a jeweler, lighting is essential but upgrading to new and more efficient lighting can pose several challenges, Timothy Coughlin, owner of Coughlin Jewelers, said in the announcement. This prize money will contribute to an exciting large scale lighting upgrade project for our showroom. Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest has helped 30 businesses Since the Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest launched a decade ago, 30 winners from across the state have been selected to receive funding and support from DTE to improve the energy efficiency of their businesses. The upgrades can help save businesses money and create a more comfortable environment for customers and employees. Small businesses interested in learning more about DTEs energy efficiency programs or scheduling a free energy assessment can visit DTEenergy.com/business. This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@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 https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/. This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: DTE grants support energy upgrades for small businesses If you're hoping to see a total lunar eclipse this weekend, you're a little early. The total lunar eclipse will occur in early March. It will be the only total lunar eclipse in 2026, although there will be a partial lunar eclipse Aug. 27-28, according to NASA. Here's what you'll be able to see in Florida. Heads up: You'll have to get up early, really early, to see anything. When is the next full moon? The next full moon will be at 6:38 a.m. ET March 3. When is the total lunar eclipse? A total lunar eclipse will take place March 3, 2026. The first and only total lunar eclipse in 2026 will occur March 3. Will March total lunar eclipse be visible in Florida? Map showing where the March 3, 2026 lunar eclipse is visible. Contours mark the edge of the visibility region at eclipse contact times, labeled in UTC. Unfortunately for Florida residents, the total eclipse won't be visible since the moon will set during totality. You still might be able to see the moon appear red. Advertisement Advertisement Totality will begin at 6:04 a.m. March 3 ET, ending at 7:02 a.m. ET, according to timeanddate.com. Can you see any of the lunar eclipse in Florida? Yes. While most Florida residents won't be able to see the Earth's shadow totally cover the moon, the lunar eclipse will begin at 3:44 a.m. ET March 3. You'll be able to see the Earth's shadow start to move across the face of the moon. Totality will happen at 6:33 a.m. ET but could be hard to see since sunrise will be at 6:43 a.m. ET. Where to look to see total lunar eclipse March 3 Look low on the horizon to the west and slightly to the south. Totality will happen at 6:33 a.m. March 3, although the Earth's shadow will begin to move across the face of the moon at 3:44 a.m. ET. Advertisement Advertisement "The eclipsed moon, combined with dimming near horizon, might make the moon very hard or impossible to see," according to timeanddate.com. See timing of lunar eclipse where you live Look at the moon before totality to see the edge of the Earth's shadow before the moon sets, space.com suggested. Why is a total lunar eclipse called a 'blood moon'? During a total lunar eclipse, the moon appears dark red or orange, since the Earth blocks most of the suns light from reaching the moon. The light that does reach the lunar surface is filtered through Earths atmosphere. Its as if all of the worlds sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon, according to NASA. Do I need special glasses to see a lunar eclipse? No. Unlike a solar eclipse, where you could damage your eyes if you look directly at the sun, you don't need special glasses to view a lunar eclipse. Partial lunar eclipse visible in Florida on Aug. 27-28 A partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Florida and across most of North America, with the exception of some parts of Alaska, Aug. 27-28, according to timeanddate.com. Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, the eclipse will begin at 9:23 p.m. Aug. 27 ET, the maximum coverage at 12:12 a.m. Aug. 28. The eclipse will be over at 3:01 a.m. Aug. 28. The percentage of the moon covered by Earth's shadow will be 96%. Is there a solar eclipse today? No, there's no solar eclipse today, though there was an annular solar eclipse Tuesday, Feb. 17. It was only visible at a few locations, including the remote Antarctic and southern Indian Ocean. Will there be a solar eclipse in 2026? Get ready to see a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12. When is the next solar eclipse? What Florida will be able to see "From 2026 to 2028, Earth will experience a double eclipse cascade three total solar eclipses (between August 2026 and July 2028) and three annular solar eclipses (between February 2026 and January 2028)," according to space.com. Advertisement Advertisement The next total eclipse will occur on Aug. 12. It'll be the first total solar eclipse anywhere in the world since April 8, 2024, when totality swept across North America, according to AccuWeather. Where is path of totality for August 2026 total solar eclipse? The path of totality for the next solar eclipse happening Aug. 12 will be across Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, according to space.com. Will the total solar eclipse be visible in Florida, US? Even seeing a partial solar eclipse won't be possible in Florida on Aug. 12. Visibility in the U.S. will be limited to the Northeast and Alaska, according to timeanddate.com. See cities, states with view of a partial solar eclipse When are upcoming solar eclipses? What is a lunar eclipse? A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon. Advertisement Advertisement That causes the Earth's shadow to move across the moon. Some light will still reach the moon, but it will be filtered through Earths atmosphere, which refracts red and orange wavelengths. That makes the moon appear red or reddish-orange, hence the name blood moon. What's a total solar eclipse? "A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun," NASA said. What's an annular solar eclipse? "An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, but when it is at or near its farthest point from Earth. "Because the moon is farther away from Earth, it appears smaller than the sun and does not completely cover the sun." What's a 'ring of fire'? A "ring of fire" occurs during an annular solar eclipse. Because the moon is farther from the Earth it doesn't completely block the sun. Advertisement Advertisement Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tcpalm.com/newsletters. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Lunar and solar eclipses 2026. Check dates, Florida viewing guide The recent developments in US tariff policy present a positive scenario for India, particularly for the apparel sector, according to Dr A Sakthivel, Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). The Supreme Court on Friday struck down a huge chunk of President Donald Trump's far-reaching tariff agenda, delivering a major rebuke of the president's key economic policy. The majority ruled 6-3 that the law undergirding those import duties "does not authorise the President to impose tariffs." Following the ruling, Trump announced a sweeping new 10 per cent global tariff across all trading partners, marking what he signalled as the next phase of his trade strategy. The president defended the India trade arrangement, calling it fair and reiterating that the United States will not face duties under the pact. "It's good for India that tariffs get reduced. And it, of course, is for all over the world. But we have an advantage because we have the raw materials itself, we can give big delivery and good quality. It is advantageous for India. Even with the Supreme Court order, we are benefited," Dr Sakthivel told ANI. Commenting on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations with the US, he said, "The deal is done already and it's only to be implemented. After the Supreme Court order, we will have advantages, because definitely we have to negotiate and get done either 10% or less than 10% opportunity for us. So we should negotiate with US. Mr Trump has said that India is a friendly country and we will respect that." On whether the US would now refund money collected against the tariffs imposed earlier, Dr Sakthivel expressed scepticism. "I don't think it will be done immediately. It is a concern of US importers and our buyers. So once if they get the money, maybe then we can request buyers also to refund the money." Looking ahead, the AEPC Chairman was upbeat about prospects for Indian apparel exports. "US buyers are looking for India. Now, buyers will have more Indian goods. So this is a positive situation for us now. It's a win-win situation for us and also the USA. And as I said, it is a more positive situation for India than other countries." (ANI) The post Ecological Invaders: How Non-Native Animals are Reshaping Earths Ecosystems appeared first on A-Z Animals. Quick Take Invasive species are a type of non-native species found outside their natural ranges, causing harm to other life forms or ecosystems. Human activity is behind the spread of these species, whether intentional or accidental . The cane toad was introduced to Australia from Hawaii in 1935 to eat grey-backed cane beetles that were destroying sugar cane plantations. Five potential methods exist to control invasive species. National Invasive Species Awareness Week is an international event led by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2026 occurs between February 23 and February 27, 2026. Invasive species are frequently ecological disasters, as evidenced by the damage caused by feral pigs and the decimation of wildlife inflicted by Burmese pythons in Floridas Everglades. In this article, we discuss what defines an invasive species, how they spread, the impacts they have, and what can be done about them. What Is an Invasive Species? Invasive species are a type of non-native species. These are animals found outside their natural ranges, although it can also pertain to plants. Within a habitat there exists a finely balanced ecosystem where animals and plants that have evolved together over millions of years are held in a delicate equilibrium. Once you introduce an entirely new species into the mix, the disruption can be extreme! In the case of introduced predators, native animals are at a huge disadvantage; they are not used to being hunted by these new animals and have no natural defense mechanisms against them. And when it comes to insects, the plants they attack have no natural resistance. Emerald ash borers infest ash trees. Herman Wong HM/Shutterstock.com (Herman Wong HM/Shutterstock.com) When an invasive species is in its natural range, natural predators, competitors, or even parasites kept their numbers in check. In a new habitat, where these natural controls are absent, the populations of invasive species can explode with catastrophic results for other life in that location. When a non-native species has a negative impact on other organisms or environments, it is termed invasive. What Damage Do Invasive Species Cause? Invasive species can damage ecosystems in several ways. For example, they can out-compete native species for food. We know that bighead and silver carp that escaped into the Missouri River from fish farms outcompete native paddlefish for plankton because they have a faster feeding cycle than the native fish. Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes invasive species damage property. Invasive zebra mussels can clog the cooling systems of boat engines and damage water pipes. The new species can introduce a disease that the local animals (and plants) lack immunity for. They can also decimate native plant species; for example, the emerald ash borer rapidly damages ash trees. Finally, if the invasive species is a top predator, it can decimate other animal populations in the area through overhunting. The classic example of this is the Burmese python, which has drastically reduced the native raccoon and rabbit populations in southern Florida. How Are Invasive Species Spread? Inevitably, human activity is behind the spread of these species. Sometimes this is deliberate, as with starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) released into New York in the 1890s to make the area feel more familiar to European settlers. Others are accidentally or purposely released from homes or breeding facilities as part of the exotic pet trade. The Burmese python was likely first introduced into the Florida Everglades as released pets, but when Hurricane Andrew hit a breeding facility in 1992, many escaped, and they gained a foothold. Others are released for hunting or as pest control, such as the cane toad introduced to Australia from Hawaii in 1935 to eat grey-backed cane beetles that were destroying sugar cane plantations. European starlings were introduced to New York. Soru Epotok/Shutterstock.com (Soru Epotok/Shutterstock.com) Many species are accidentally transported from one location to another in cargo, hitching a ride on planes and ships. Zebra mussels were introduced to North America in ship ballast water from Russia and Ukraine. The emerald ash borer was likely introduced to the US in packing crates in the 1980s/1990s. There is also a complex relationship between climate change and invasive species. In some cases, changing climate can help species spread and establish themselves in parts of the world that would previously have been inhospitable to them. What Can Be Done About Invasive Species? A non-native species does not inevitably become invasive. When a new species is identified in a new location, agencies first need to monitor it carefully. Is it thriving? Is it becoming dominant? Once they establish that it is potentially damaging, it may need to be controlled. Advertisement Advertisement Five potential control methods exist, although they can be combined for an integrated approach. Biological control: This is the use of biological agents (natural predators). For example, a parasitic wasp is being used to control the emerald ash borer. This method has to be approached very carefully, or you could just end up with another invasive species causing problems! Chemical control: Some animals can be controlled with pesticides. For example, chlorantraniliprole and thiamethaxim have been used to control Helicoverpa armigera on tomato plants. However, chemicals can damage the environment, may not be practical over large areas, and animals can develop resistance. Cultural: Changing habits to reduce the spread of invasive species or reduce their numbers. For example, encouraging people to catch and eat lion fish or outlawing the feeding of feral cats. Mechanical: Physically removing invasive species, for example, by hunting or trapping feral hogs. What Happens During National Invasive Species Awareness Week? National Invasive Species Awareness Week is an international event led by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). Its an opportunity for local, state, tribal, federal, regional, and international private and public partners to coordinate their efforts. Plenty of events across the country shine a spotlight on both the ecological and economic impacts that invasive species can have. Its also an opportunity to approach lawmakers who have the power to tackle this problem. The post Ecological Invaders: How Non-Native Animals are Reshaping Earths Ecosystems appeared first on A-Z Animals. Editor's Note: This story was updated with comments and information from the city of El Paso and El Paso Electric. El Paso Electric's rate increase has been approved by Texas regulators, about a year after the regulatory review process began and after a contested case hearing. El Paso city officials estimate the increase will be about $13.71 per month, up about 14%, for the average Texas residential customer. That's $8.68 below the average increase of $22.39 per month, or a 23% increase, requested by El Paso Electric when it filed its request with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in January 2025. Advertisement Advertisement EPE officials did not provide details on the rate increase approved by PUCT commissioners Friday, Feb. 20, but Kelly Tomblin, El Paso Electric chief executive officer, was not happy that EPE did not get its full request. City officials, in a statement, said the exact amount of the rate increase will be known after the PUCT staff issues details of the final rate order. El Paso Electric transmisssion lines going into the Caliente electric substation in far East El Paso, as seen Feb. 19. The average Texas residential customer's bill currently ranges from $72 per month in winter to $140 per month in hot-weather months, according to El Paso Electric data. The city of El Paso, several companies and others opposed the company's proposed rate increase. Advertisement Advertisement We did not get everything we advocated for, but this decision secured key saving for our residents and cuts back major parts of El Paso Electrics request, City Attorney Karla Nieman said in a statement. EPE's New Mexico customers are not part of the Texas rate increase. The rate increase, which will be retroactive to July 1, 2025, comes on the heels of large rate increases recently approved for El Paso Water and Texas Gas Service. When the increase will hit customers' bills is not yet known, an EPE spokesperson said. El Paso Water's average residential rate is increasing by 12.2%, or $10 per month, starting March 1. Texas Gas rates are increasing by 10% for small residential customers, or $3.64 per month, and by 19% for large residential customers, or $11.30 per month. The city of El Paso has asked the Texas Railroad Commission for a rehearing on the rate increase. Kelly Tomblin, El Paso Electric chief executive officer, talks about a proposed increase in electric rates for Texas customers at a Jan. 27, 2025 news conference. Tomblin, EPE's CEO, in a statement issued several hours after the PUCT vote, said the proposed rates approved by the commission do not fully cover the cost of building, operating and maintaining the utilitys electric system. Advertisement Advertisement "While we respect the Commissions decision, we firmly stand by our original filing that sought to recover approximately $1.55 billion in infrastructure investments that we have spent (over several years) to bolster reliability and growth in our Texas service area, Tomblin said. Tomblin did not provide details on how much EPE rates would increase under the PUCT's action. After a contested case hearing in August before the PUCT, administrative law judges issued a Proposal for Decision in the EPE rate case in December, which was only slightly altered since then. The decision recommended reducing EPE's base-rate revenue request by almost $60 million. However, that decision does not provide details on the new rates for various customer classifications under the proposed decision. The Texas Public Utility Commission of Texas meeting on Feb. 20 in Austin, at which its four commissioners approved rate increases for El Paso Electric's customers. From left to right, Morgan Johnson, Courtney Hjaltman, Chairman Thomas Gleeson, and Kathleen Jackson. Several items in the Proposal for Decision were rejected and modified, mostly in favor of EPE, by the four PUCT commissioners before they unanimously approved the proposed decision at its Friday meeting in Austin. Advertisement Advertisement One change to the proposed decision is that the company's investment rate of return is set at 9.4%, rather than the requested 10.7%. Tomblin was particularly unhappy with the PUCTs decision on the rate of return, known as the rate of equity, or ROE. We may find it challenging to support our Texas region's growth when the ROE remains lower than many other utilities in the state, Tomblin said in her statement. One of the items changed by the commissioners in the proposed decision was to allow EPE to increase its residential customer charge from $9.25 per month to $13.71 per month, an increase of $4.46 per month. The PUCT staff had agreed with EPE's proposal to raise the monthly charge, but the administrative law judges concluded that the charge should not be increased. A portion of the Newman power plant, El Paso Electric's largest power plant, along Stan Roberts Avenue in far Northeast El Paso, as seen Feb. 29, 2024. El Paso Electric in December 2023 added a new generator to the plant at a cost of $217.3 million, according to the Proposal for Decision in EPE's 2025 rate case. Jacob Reyes, an EPE spokesperson, said in an email earlier this week that EPE does "not conduct analysis on proposed (rate) orders until we receive a final order from the (PUCT) commissioners. It would take about a week for our rates department to run those calculations once we have a final order." Advertisement Advertisement Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on X, and @vkolenc.bsky.social on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Electric rate increase approved: What it means for your bill KTALnews.com (KTAL/KMSS) The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry has banned elephant rides in zoos and conservation centers nationwide. Paws on the podium: Gold medalist Pablo needs loving home World Animal Protection called it a major victory for elephants, but it plans to continue fighting for ethical wildlife tourism, hoping the rest of the world will follow suit. Be sure to tune into KTAL News Now weekdays at 1 p.m. on ktalnews.com/ktal-news-now. Advertisement Advertisement 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 KTALnews.com. GOSHEN A man was sentenced by Elkhart County Superior Court 3 Judge Teresa Cataldo in what she called an unusual case of drug dealing. David R. Goodman Jr., 36, of Elkhart, was sentenced for dealing in meth, dealing in cocaine and neglect of a dependent during Elkhart County Superior Court 3 on Thursday. Originally arrested on Aug. 8, 2025, by the Elkhart Police Department, on charges of Count 1 and 2, both dealing in a Schedule III controlled substance, Count 3, dealing in meth, Count 4, dealing in cocaine, all Level 2 felonies; Count 5, dealing in cocaine, a Level 3 felony; Counts 6, 7 and 8, neglect of a dependent, all Level 5 felonies. Advertisement Advertisement Goodman took a plea deal on Feb. 4. Cataldo called Goodmans situation unusual, stating he was not the typical drug dealer he was more educated than most drug dealers that entered her courtroom, but also seemed to be willing to sell anything he could get his hands on. Goodman was sentenced per the plea agreement to Count 3, dealing in meth, a Level 2 felony, to 20 years at the Indiana Department of Corrections with five years to be served on alternative placement at Elkhart County Community Corrections and five years suspended on probation; on Count 4, dealing in cocaine a Level 2 felony, to the same to be served concurrently with Count 3; and on Court 6, neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony, to three years at ECCC also to be served concurrently with Counts 3 and 4. Other charges were dropped per the plea agreement. AMY M. GAYLE Advertisement Advertisement A woman was sentenced to serve over a decade for a drug charge in November. During Elkhart County Superior Court 3 proceedings on Thursday, Amy M. Gayle, 47, was sentenced for possession of meth, a Level 3 felony, to 13 years at the Indiana Department of Corrections with seven years to be served in purposeful incarceration through Starke County and final six years reporting probation. Goshen police executed a search warrant on Gayles home in the 400 block of Queen Street in November. Gayle told police shed been sober for two years until her boyfriend was released from prison, dumped her and she relapsed. JAVION M. EDWARDS Advertisement Advertisement A man accused of multiple armed robberies had a pretrial conference in Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday. Javion Edwards, 20, of Michigan City, was arrested on Jan. 15, accused of an armed robbery at Toledo Mart, 1500 Toledo Road, Elkhart. Police were informed at the scene on Dec. 18, the robber, armed with a handgun, demanded tobacco and Delta 8 THC products, a value of about $30, from the store clerk, a probable cause affidavit reads. He reportedly wore a black facemask but police also found a photo without a mask. Edwards was detained at the scene of an investigation for attempted robbery at Bulldog Mobile gas station, 750 C.R. 15, Elkhart, on Jan. 15. Advertisement Advertisement Edwards reportedly admitted to police he was the robber. On Thursday, during a pretrial conference, Edwards jury trial was confirmed for April 20 with a trial status conference March 26. Andrew Russell, accused of a Nov. 25 burglary, had his jury trial continued from March 16 to May 18. Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno also added a further proceedings date of April 2, per request. A trial status conference is scheduled for April 23. Tyrus D. Coleman Jr., accused of possession of machine gun dating back to Nov. 22, also had his jury trial reset from March 16 to May 18 with a trial status conference April 23. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Recently released files show former Attorney General Sean Reyes defended a University of Utah law professor amid a legal battle with Jeffrey Epsteins former attorney. Protecting survivors was a high priority for me, Reyes said. File Former Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes testifies during the criminal justice appropriations subcommittee Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, at the Utah State Capitol, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Defamation case After the U.S. Justice Department released millions of files relating to the late-sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, documents surfaced surrounding a legal battle between University of Utah law professor Paul Cassell and Epsteins former attorney Alan Dershowitz, a retired Harvard law professor himself. Advertisement Advertisement In this case, we were up against a powerful and popular law professor from a prestigious Ivy League university, Reyes recalled. As counsel for the lawyer defending Epstein victims, I helped prepare questions and strategies for the examination and then attended the deposition of the accused professor. Files show Reyes traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January of 2016 to attend Cassells deposition. Cassell told ABC4 that while he is not currently involved in the release of documents, he previously represented Epsteins victims in various proceedings. Alan Dershowitz (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Paul Cassell (Courtesy//University of Utah) The professor was countersuing my client, Professor Cassell, who was trying to obtain justice for Epstein survivors, Reyes said. Advertisement Advertisement Documents show Cassell sued Dershowitz over claims of sexual misconduct related to Epstein. In retaliation, Dershowitz countersued for defamation. Because Cassell was a state employee, the Attorney Generals Office was brought in to defend him. Former Attorney General Sean Reyes appears in the Epstein Files while defending an attorney in a suit against Epsteins former attorney Alan Dershowitz. (U.S. Department of Justice) According to Reyes, he personally defended Cassell due to his experience litigating defamation cases. I had been mentored by Randy Dryer, one of the best first amendment lawyers in the country. So, I was the only one in the Office with significant litigation experience in defamation cases. Allegations were later dropped against Dershowitz and the case was settled. Advertisement Advertisement This case settled so Professor Cassell could continue his other, main case advocating for several Epstein victims, Reyes added. Previous battles with Epstein Files show Cassell represented Courtney Wild who claimed she had been abused by Epstein. However, prosecutors would later reach an agreement that blocked his prosecution for federal sex crimes in exchange for him pleading guilty to two low-level Florida state offenses. In September of 2021, Cassell filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court that they review whether Epsteins victims can challenge his plea deal in court. The government badly mistreated me and many others, Wild said in 2021. Im counting on our United States Supreme Court to take my case and give me my day in court. Advertisement Advertisement Cassells petition claimed federal prosecutors did not tell the victims of the non-prosecution agreement against Epstein. However, the Court later ruled against Wild and Cassell, arguing that their review of the decision was unwarranted. It is suspected Epstein abused more than 30 young girls under the age of 18 between 1999 and 2007. Victim privacy Earlier this month, the U.S. Justice Department announced it had taken down several thousand documents after inadvertently including victim-identifying information during its most recent release of files related to the Epstein case. Extremely important privacy interests are at stake as these documents are released, Cassell told ABC4. Releasing private information about Epstein victims can have life-altering consequences for them. Advertisement Advertisement [Trafficking] is a modern form of slavery and devastating to victims and survivors and their families, Reyes said. According to Reyes, human trafficking remains an issue beyond just Epsteins network. Its happening much more than people realize, he said. Its extremely profitable for sophisticated crime syndicates or even small-time traffickers. Reyes says victims can be male and female, adult and juvenile, and from all walks of life. We need every good person to help prevent it or disrupt it. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, you can find help and resources by calling Utahs 24-hour Sexual Violence Crisis and Information Hotline at 1-888-421-1100. You can also click here for a list of Rape Crisis Resources in Utah. Advertisement Advertisement This report includes discussion of sexual assault and/or rape. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Rape & Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1-888-421-1100. The Associated Press contributed to this reporting. Latest headlines: 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 ABC4 Utah. _ Marina Lacerda, an alleged victim of late offender Jeffrey Epstein, said survivors have been waiting years for this moment. Following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the United Kingdom, she celebrated the news while criticizing the United States, saying, "Everyone's taking action and we are doing nothing." Keep reading for more on the royal controversy MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA _ "It's amazing and it's really, really something that all the survivors have been looking forward and working towards," Marina Lacerda told CNN, reacting to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest as part of an investigation into "misconduct in office" tied to his past association with Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement She continued, "And I have to say, Virginia [Giuffre]'s brother and sister must be thrilled right now. You know, I just look at it it's insane how everyone's taking action and we are doing nothing in the United States. I'm right here in Norway right now -- we have [Princess Mette-Marit] answering to questions [about her dealings with Epstein], and it's just really sad that the United States is not taking any action." "But I'm very, very happy that ... we're making history here. So this is big," Lacerda concluded. MEGA _ Marina Lacerda's comments came after Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued a "profound apology" to Norwegians for her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, with whom she reportedly communicated for three years. "I also apologize for the situation in which I have placed the Royal House, especially the king and queen," she said in a statement after hundreds of emails between herself and the late financier from between 2011 and 2014 were made public. Advertisement Advertisement "It is important for me to say I am sorry to all those I have disappointed. Some of the content in the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be," she added. James Whatling / MEGA _ Although Marina Lacerda has not accused Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of any wrongdoing, and he was not arrested for crimes of an intimate nature, the late Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre alleged that Epstein had trafficked her to the former prince when she was a minor. Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his princely title in 2025, denied the allegations despite reaching a settlement with Giuffre for an undisclosed sum. In April 2025, Giuffre took her own life. (If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.) ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA _ Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested after emails allegedly showed that he had forwarded classified U.K. trade reports to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the nation's special representative for trade and investment from 2001 to 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Following his brother's arrest, King Charles III issued a statement, saying, "I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities." "In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course," he continued. "As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all," he concluded. The European Commission expects that Hungary and other EU member states will follow through on agreements reached by EU leaders on 19 December 2025 and approve a 90 billion loan to support Ukraine in 2026-2027. Source: European Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari, as reported by European Pravda Details: The European Commission hopes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will honour the commitment he made at the European Council meeting on 19 December and back the allocation of 90 billion to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Ujvari stated that during the European Council meeting in December, EU leaders reached a unanimous political agreement to provide 90 billion in decisive support for Ukraine's budgetary and military needs over the next two years. He noted that the European Commission had adopted a legislative package on 14 January based on this agreement. The Commission expects that all member states will honour this political agreement in order to ensure the final approval of the loan, Ujvari stressed. Background: Hungary has stated that it is blocking a 90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until Kyiv restores the transit of Russian oil to Europe via the Druzhba pipeline. Meanwhile, Kyiv has proposed that the EU use alternative elements of Ukraine's oil transport network, particularly the Odesa-Brody pipeline, to deliver crude to Hungary and Slovakia following damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline caused by a Russian attack. The European Council agreed to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion loan for 2026-2027, based on EU borrowing on capital markets and backed by EU budget reserves. However, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia have refused to take part in the scheme. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! As Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey consider a flurry of proposals to push back against President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, one bears a provocative name thats being either praised as bold or derided as vulgar. The measure is called the Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act. Or, the F**K ICE Act, if you read between the lines. While the bills description doesnt explicitly point out the acronym, savvy social media users quickly noticed when it surfaced this past week. Advertisement Advertisement And while its common for legislation to have cute or memorable acronyms, theyre not often this brash. But sponsors insist this issue calls for it. The bill (A4446) would permit civil action for violations of the U.S. Constitution related to immigration enforcement. That, state Sen. Raj Mukherji said, would allow people to file lawsuits challenging whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have violated constitutional rights. He noted Illinois enacted a similar law last year. This comes as the debate continues to intensify over how Trumps administration is mobilizing ICE across the country. Mukherji, a Hudson County Democrat, said the agency is sowing seeds of chaos throughout the country and states are forced to take action to ensure these rogue personnel are bound to the law and held accountable. In New Jersey, we value the rule of law and human rights, Mukherji said. Advertisement Advertisement He introduced a version of this bill last year. Now, his fellow Democrats who were elected to the state Assembly last fall, Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan, signed on as co-sponsors. Thats when the measures name got traction online. The bill speaks for itself, Brennan told NJ.com, adding that as much as Id love to lean into every unbecoming and unladylike comment Ive gotten from my Republican colleagues and say the name was my idea, all credit there goes to Mukherji. We think it captures how a lot of New Jersey residents are feeling right now, Brennan added. Nobody gets to come into our communities, violate our rights, and face zero consequences for it. ICE weighs turning huge New Jersey warehouse into a new detention center RELATED: ICE has purchased N.J. warehouse for use as a detention center, officials confirm Advertisement Advertisement Officials confirmed that a warehouse in Morris County was sold to ICE. Some social media users have praised the F**K ICE bill for fighting back with Jersey attitude. I live in the greatest state in the nation, one X user wrote. Republican lawmakers and other X users are aghast. So theyre doing acronyms now, Assemblyman Mike Inganamort, R-Morris, wrote on X. He said this sort of radicalism is the inevitable result of an unchecked, 25-year Democratic Majority in the Legislature. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, R-Morris, added: The bill title is wild, but the premise is wilder. Dont have the text yet, but if it means what it sounds like, thats illegal entry followed by a state-created pathway to sue over enforcement, she said. Advertisement Advertisement The measure is actually tied to a broader package of new bills that Mukherji, Bhalla, Brennan, and other legislators introduced this week aiming to put checks on ICE and protect immigrants in one of the most diverse states in the nation. ICE has no place in our communities, Bhalla, a former Hoboken mayor, said in a statement. These bills help our local law enforcement do their jobs properly while giving the state more tools to stop these raids from happening in the first place, he added. Lawmakers say the bills are a reaction to how ICE detained several people in Jersey City and Hoboken earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement In one moment from the raids, Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros asked an agent whether he had a warrant. We dont need a warrant, bro, the agent responded. Stop getting that into your head. ICE has been conducting raids in New Jersey for more than a year, but the agency has drawn more scrutiny in recent weeks, especially after the fatal shootings of two protestors by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis last month. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party has lobbied for a stronger response. A new poll from Stockton University found twothirds of New Jersey voters say the Trump administrations immigration enforcement has gone too far. Several other ICE-related bills are already moving forward in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. That includes updated versions of two proposals that former Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, vetoed before leaving office last month. Advertisement Advertisement One would increase privacy protections for data that immigrants in the state share with the government and health care facilities. The other would codify the states Immigrant Trust Directive, Murphy-era guidance from the state attorney general that limits how much local law enforcement can work with ICE. A third would restrict ICE and other law enforcement from wearing masks under certain conditions in the state. The bills are expected to be voted on next week by the state Senate and Assembly before heading to the desk of new Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat and frequent Trump critic who has also been critical of ICE. All bills must be passed by both chambers and signed by the governor to become law. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans are largely opposed to the trio of proposals, with Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, R-Ocean, calling them insane bills that prevent deportations and hurt law enforcement. GOP officials have scheduled a rally for Monday to push back. They say the bills make the state less safe and hinder officials from detaining criminal undocumented immigrants who are costing taxpayers money. Sherrill, meanwhile, recently signed executive orders creating a statewide portal for residents to upload photos and videos of federal immigration enforcement activity and another barring ICE agents from accessing nonpublic areas of state property without a judicial warrant. NJ.com staff writer Anthony G. Attrino contributed to this report. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Did the family of Epstein's late survivor Virginia Giuffre, Stephen Colbert or Elon Musk spend millions of dollars to file a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and other people? No, that's not true: A federal court database showed no such case filed by Giuffre's surviving brother, and credible media organizations did not publish any reports of such a case. The claim spread through a network of foreign-based sites that publish made-up stories with multiple variations, with a different celebrity in each, to generate revenue from ad traffic. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on Facebook on February 12, 2026. It opened: BREAKING: VIRGINIA GIUFFRE'S FAMILY FILES $4 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST PAM BONDI AND 28 POWERFUL FIGURES -- FINAL LETTER UNEARTHED In a stunning legal escalation that has sent shockwaves across the United States and beyond, the surviving family of Virginia Giuffre has taken an unprecedented step within the last 48 hours. On the morning of February 10, 2026, $4 million was wired directly to the Court of Justice as the full filing fee and initial bond for a sweeping civil lawsuit. The defendants named in the complaint: Pam Bondi and 28 other influential individuals--politicians, financiers, legal professionals, and high-profile figures whose names have repeatedly surfaced in connection with Jeffrey Epstein's network, flight logs, redacted documents, and Giuffre's own memoir Nobody's Girl. This is what the image attached to the post looked like at the time of writing: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of Facebook screenshot taken on Fri Feb 20 00:55:50 2026 UTC The "Lovely Smiled Baby" page (archived here) that published the claim was managed from the U.S.: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot from Facebook The contact section of that page also listed a Brooklyn address, but that, however, was followed by two words in Vietnamese that meant, as translated by DeepL, "United States": Image source: Lead Stories screenshot from Facebook Advertisement Advertisement Image source: Lead Stories screenshot from DeepL The earliest version of the claim found by Lead Stories was published on Facebook on January 30, 2026 (archived here) by a page named "Chaos-Daily-247" (archived here). Its transparency tab showed it is managed from Vietnam: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot from Facebook The Vietnam connection is significant, since fact-checkers, including Lead Stories, have identified a major source of AI-generated false stories is a single operation based in that Southeast Asian country. You can see recent reporting and fact checks mentioning so-called Viet Spam here. The earliest post on Facebook identified by Lead Stories shared a link (archived here) to an English-language "Triforce247" website (archived here) that purported to function as a news outlet but didn't have an "About" page, lacked minimal editorial transparency about the team behind it and had a Brazilian IP address, according to the WHOIS domain lookup tool. The article's title read: A2 BREAKING: A Letter, a Lawsuit, and $10 Million That Shattered the Silence. The article continued: On the morning of January 31, a single transaction sent shockwaves far beyond a courthouse ledger. According to filings reviewed by multiple observers, a sum of $10 million was transferred directly to the Court of Justice by the family of Virginia Giuffre, setting in motion one of the most explosive legal actions in recent memory. Within hours, whispers turned into headlines. Within a day, public opinion fractured. And within twenty-four hours, a wall of silence that had stood for years began to crack. At the center of it all: a final letter, reportedly written by Giuffre shortly before her death, now cited as a cornerstone of a sweeping lawsuit targeting Pam Bondi and more than 60 other influential figures. All allegations remain unproven, and those named have not been found liable by any court. Yet the impact of the filing was immediate and undeniable. This was no longer private grief. This was a public confrontation. Advertisement Advertisement Unlike a normal news report that documents the past or provides live reports on the present, that January 30, 2026, piece described the events of the next day, January 31, 2026. A search (archived here) on Facebook showed multiple variations of the claim. Those nearly-identical posts included different amounts of money purportedly paid in court fees and a different number of Bondi's alleged co-defendants. In some cases, it was not Giuffre's family who filed and/or funded the supposed lawsuit, but other persons, for example, comedian Stephen Colbert (archived here) and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk (archived here). Source: Lead Stories screen recording of Facebook Later, on February 11, 2026, the same site published at least one more story (archived here) repeating the claim. Lead Stories looked up media reports for the period between January 31 and February 20, 2026 (the day of this writing). A search on Google News for the search terms "'Virginia Giuffre' family files 'lawsuit against Pam Bondi' letter" (archived here) showed no relevant matches confirming the existence of the alleged lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement The late Virginia Giuffre (archived here) was one of the women who spoke publicly against Jeffrey Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and then-Prince Andrew (archived here). On February 10, 2026, which was one of the supposed dates of the case's filing, her surviving brother, Sky Roberts, held a press conference (archived here), but for a different reason: He spoke in support of a new bill (archived here) that would erase the statute of limitations in federal civil cases brought by survivors of sexual abuse. The amount of the purportedly paid court filing fees, measured in millions of dollars, didn't make any sense, either. In reality, filing fees are significantly lower. For example, most fees (archived here) listed on the website of the nation's oldest (archived here) federal court, covering the Southern District of New York, are significantly below $1,000. The only exception is the Cuban Liberation Civil Filing Fee that exceeds $7,000, but it is only applicable (archived here) to situations when families whose property in Cuba was seized by the Fidel Castro government decades ago want to sue international companies profiting from the use of such properties. That is clearly unrelated to Giuffre's case. Advertisement Advertisement When Lead Stories searched Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), which is a database of federal court materials, it showed zero cases filed by or on behalf of Sky Roberts between January 31 and February 19, 2026: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of PACER Lead Stories published a primer on how to identify these kinds of fake posts exported from Vietnam. It's titled "Prebunk: Beware Of Fake Fan Pages Spreading False Stories About Your Favorite Celebrities -- How To Spot 'Viet Spam'". Con artists posing as immigration lawyers created fake legal documents and even staged sham court proceedings to dupe migrants seeking legal pathways to U.S. residency out of their hard-earned money, according to a five-count indictment unsealed in Brooklyn Federal Court on Friday. The indictment charges five defendants with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and two counts of false impersonation of an officer or employee of the United States, according to U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. Three of the defendants, Daniela Alejandra Sanchez Ramirez, 25, Jhoan Sebastian Sanchez Ramirez, 29, and Alexandra Patricia Sanchez Ramirez, 38, were arrested Friday afternoon at Newark Liberty International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Colombia using one-way tickets. Advertisement Advertisement A fourth defendant, 24-year-old Marlyn Yulitza Salazar Pineda, was caught at a restaurant in New Jersey, while a fifth, unnamed defendant remains at large. Jhoan and Daniela Ramirez and Pineda are all listed as living in New Jersey, as well as Ibague, Colombia, while Alexander Ramirez is listed as residing in Ibague, Colombia, according to federal prosecutors. The feds did not clarify the relationship between the defendants, three of whom share the same last name. Between March 2023 and November 2025, the scammers portrayed themselves as lawyers operating out of a bogus immigration law firm, called CM Bufete De Abogados Consultoria Migratoria, who solicited prospective clients primarily through Facebook, prosecutors said. After billing their victims fees ranging from hundreds up to thousands of dollars, the defendants sent them fake documents doctored to appear official, with the symbols of federal agencies and sometimes referencing the actual ongoing immigration court cases of their clients, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement The fraudsters went so far as to host sham immigration proceedings, including asylum interviews and court appearances via video conference, in which the defendants donned judicial robes and law enforcement uniforms to impersonate court officials. Adding to the ruse, Department of Homeland Security flags and signs reading United States Citizenship and Immigration Services appeared in the background, prosecutors said. Although legitimate immigration court proceedings are conducted in English, the con artists held their bogus court interviews in Spanish to put their victims at ease, according to prosecutors. When one of their victims realized the sham and sought legitimate legal counsel, the defendants sent him messages threatening deportation, court documents show. In some cases, the defendants told their victims their cases had been successfully resolved, according to prosecutors, who said the defendants were uncredentialed and, in fact, offered their clients no legitimate legal service whatsoever. Advertisement Advertisement As a result, some of their victims missed their actual court appearances and at least one victim was ordered deported as a result. The governments investigation uncovered communications between the defendants and their victims, bank transfer receipts and messages sent between the defendants detailing how much of the ill-gotten payments each of the fraudsters was entitled to, according to prosecutors. The scheme netted the defendants a total of more than $100,000, they said. The four defendants who have been caught are expected to be arraigned in Brooklyn Federal Court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross-Goldenberg Saturday morning. (John Annese contributed to this report.) In an emotional final public message, actor Eric Dane addressed his two daughters with words of resilience and love in Netflix's posthumous interview series 'Famous Last Words', days after his death at 53 following a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Best known as the charismatic McSteamy on 'Grey's Anatomy' and for his emotionally layered portrayal of Cal Jacobs in 'Euphoria', Dane participated in the long-form interview series months before his passing. His episode, released on Netflix on Friday, features an intimate conversation filmed in November with television writer Brad Falchuk. Dane, who went public with his ALS diagnosis 10 months ago, died on Thursday with his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their daughters, Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Geraldine Dane, by his side. Family remained central to his final sit-down, which also explored his career highs, personal struggles, and enduring trauma linked to his father's death. In the concluding moments of the episode, Dane delivered a direct message to his daughters. "Billie and Georgia, these words are for you," adding, "I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall, we had a blast, didn't we?" Recalling family trips to Santa Monica, Hawaii and Mexico, Dane reflected on time spent by the ocean. He then shared four lessons drawn from his experience with the degenerative disease. His first message urged living fully in the present. Admitting he once spent too much time "wallowing and worrying in self-pity, shame and doubt," Dane said ALS forced him to stop replaying past decisions, as per The Hollywood Reporter. "The past contains regrets. The future remains unknown. So you have to live now. The present is all you have. Treasure it. Cherish every moment," he said. He also encouraged his daughters to find a passion that sustains them. For Dane, that love was acting, discovered around their age. "My work doesn't define me, but it excites me," he noted, adding that it carried him through his darkest periods. Friendship, too, formed a key pillar of his advice. As his health declined, Dane said his friends "stepped up," visiting him when he could no longer drive, work out or meet them outside. "Just show up," he said, as per The Hollywood Reporter. Finally, Dane urged resilience in the face of adversity, a quality he described as a superpower. "Fight and face it with honesty, integrity and grace," he told his daughters, adding, "Fight, girls, and hold your heads high." Earlier in the episode, Dane reflected on the childhood trauma of losing his father to suicide when he was seven, and the long emotional shadow it cast. He discussed seeking treatment for trauma and depression, including time at a California treatment centre, and acknowledged past struggles with prescription drug addiction and depression that led to a leave of absence from 'The Last Ship' in 2017. The Netflix series is based on the Danish format Det Sidste Ord and features public figures reflecting candidly on their lives. Dane's interview marks the second US episode of the series, following primatologist Jane Goodall. (ANI) Mary Ann Pajo watched quietly as cemetery workers opened her son's tomb in Manila this week and removed his body for examination by a forensic pathologist. Accused of dealing drugs, 30-year-old Joewarski Pajo was shot dead while playing a game on his phone, one of thousands of extrajudicial killings alleged to have taken place under former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. A hearing begins at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday that will determine whether Duterte will stand trial over at least 76 of those deaths. Advertisement Advertisement "This hearing is what we have been waiting for," Father Flavie Villanueva said after saying a prayer over Joewarski's remains, the 126th body his non-profit group has exhumed as potential evidence. "It is important that (Duterte) faces the court in person, physically, for us to see if there is remorse on his part," said Villanueva, a fierce critic of the former president's so-called drug war. However, the hope that Duterte would appear in person disappeared on Friday when ICC judges ruled that the octogenarian could waive his right to attend the hearing. "I am old, tired, and frail," Duterte had said in a filing making the request days earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Villanueva called Duterte's request cowardly when reached on Thursday, noting the former president had already been declared fit to stand trial. "Accountability is something this person has no concept of," he said. - 'They are not God' - At a Manila coffee shop staffed by family members of those killed in the drug war, three employees told AFP they believed justice would not have been possible in the Philippines. "No one in the Philippines can lay hands on Duterte, much less file cases against him," said Lydjay Acopio, whose three-year-old daughter Myca was killed in a police raid on the home she shared with her father. Advertisement Advertisement Fellow barista Rosalie Saludo agreed: "As long as his daughter (Vice President Sara Duterte) is in office, as long as his allies are in office, he can still find a way to twist and distort justice." Sara Duterte announced her 2028 presidential candidacy on Wednesday. Mary Grace Garganta, manager of the coffee shop, said she had been forced to move after police without a warrant shot and killed her father in 2016. She was afraid of what might happen to family members "now that I'm speaking up". "I won't deny that my father was involved in drugs, but that was not a reason to kill him," she said. Advertisement Advertisement "They are not God to take away a life." - 'Things were better' - The number of Filipinos who believe Duterte should be tried at the ICC has slipped to 44 percent, a November survey by Manila-based WR Numero showed, down from 62 percent in April. While the new numbers still indicate a shift from the historically high approval rates he enjoyed in office, a significant percentage of his countrymen maintain Duterte did nothing wrong. "If Duterte committed a wrongdoing... he only did it for the good of the country," Jovel Manzano, 34, told AFP on a busy Manila street this week. Advertisement Advertisement "What's the point of our courts here if we're always relying on other countries?" he said of the looming ICC hearing. "If a Filipino commits a crime, he should be tried here," he said. Jessa Cangayaw, a 30-year-old massage therapist, said she had no qualms about Duterte's crackdown, provided those being killed were "bad people". "Things were better then than they are now," she said, adding that she felt less safe when walking home. But Sheerah Escudero, whose teenage brother's bullet-riddled body was found in 2017, said Monday's hearing marked a step towards "accountability". Advertisement Advertisement "We have a broken judicial system," the 28-year-old told reporters this week, saying Philippine authorities had mounted "no credible investigation" into the allegations against Duterte. "It has been dark for a very long time, but now we are seeing the light." pam-cgm-cwl/pbt/abs Nigel Farage has accused the British Government of trying to thwart a mission to send aid to Chagos islanders. The leader of Reform UK flew to the Maldives last week with equipment to assist four Chagossians who are attempting to establish a permanent base on a deserted island in the archipelago, and establish a colony in their former homeland. A boat with Mr Farage on board, and carrying food and medicines, was due to make the 24-hour journey to the island, Ile du Coin, about 300 miles south of the Maldives. Advertisement Advertisement But The Telegraph understands the plans have been thwarted by threats, mechanical problems and an insistence by UK authorities that only trained crew should be on board. The Reform leader was due to return to the UK on Saturday night, with the boat setting sail without him. He said he had received a phone call from a senior source in the Maldives government warning him that the British authorities wanted him to be prevented from setting foot on Ile du Coin. 2102 Chagos Islands He said: The British Government has made every effort to prevent me heading towards the Chagos Islands. They have asked the Maldives government to stop me from leaving here and setting foot on the boat. This was information conveyed to me by a senior figure in the Maldives government. I cannot believe such an attempt has been made to stop a British citizen from reaching British territory. Advertisement Advertisement My source told me the British were very concerned about me and wanted to know why I was here. This trip is a humanitarian mission and I dont want my presence to jeopardise that. About 2,000 people were forcibly removed from the remote archipelago in the late 60s and early 70s to make way for a joint US and UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands. The islands are owned by Britain, but under a treaty signed last year not yet ratified the ownership will be ceded to Mauritius. The deal will cost the UK at least 35bn over a century, in lease payments for the base and development funding for Mauritius, which is facing a budget crisis. The agreement was thrown into doubt this week after criticism from Donald Trump, who described it as a blight on our Great Ally. He has also called the deal an act of great stupidity. Credit @guidofawkesstudios/ YouTube Advertisement Advertisement Britain has tried in vain to persuade Mr Trump to back the deal, because the US has an effective veto on whether it will proceed. Diego Garcia is considered one of the most strategically important US military bases and has been used for bombing runs into the Middle East. The Chagossian campaigners, with former MP Adam Holloway, arrived on Ile du Coin on Monday having sailed from Sri Lanka to try to establish a permanent settlement. British authorities served them with eviction papers, warning them to leave or face a possible jail sentence. A court in the UK put a block on the deportation order, giving them respite. But with supplies running out, there are fears for the health of Michel Mandarin, 74, who was born on the islands but forcibly removed when he was 14. His son Misley Mandarin is the leader of the group. Advertisement Advertisement The yacht carrying aid and food to the four men cannot reach the islands without permission from the British Indian Ocean Territory, which administers the archipelago. There are no commercial flights to the islands and permits for yachts are issued only to allow safe passage through the Indian Ocean. The Telegraph understands the boat taking supplies to the islanders will be allowed to do so, provided aid specialists are on board. Farage: Government eviction plan upsetting It is understood Mr Farages presence risked putting the voyage in doubt, given his status as a senior politician who has kickstarted a campaign to stop the deal and who wants to see Chagossians allowed to return to their homeland in large numbers. He said it was upsetting that the British Government wanted to evict Mr Mandarin from his homeland for a second time. Mr Mandarin, who has health problems, has insisted he wants to die on the island. Advertisement Advertisement The Maldives, which is much closer to the Chagos Islands than Mauritius, is opposed to the deal and claims it should own them. The Maldives National Defence Force has deployed a coast guard ship its largest naval asset to patrol the waters north of the Chagos archipelago. It is unclear whether the deployment is intended to give safe passage to the Chagossians ship before it reaches the British exclusion zone around the islands. The Foreign Office was approached 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. The FCC under chairman Brendan Carr has made a point of enforcing the equal time rule, requiring broadcasters give equal airtime to political candidates running for the same office. While they're beginning to enforce those rules for TV programs, does it also apply to talk radio? Equal time rule "It applies only during campaign season (loosely defined) and to legally qualified candidates," Joseph Russomanno, professor emeritus at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, told Straight Arrow News. "Second, the rule has exceptions carved into it. For example, legitimate news programs are exempt. After all, we don't want news programs censoring their own content just out of fear of triggering the rule." Recently, Carr announced the FCC would be investigating "The View" over its interview with Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert also pulled an interview with Talarico over concerns of an FCC investigation, opting to post the interview to YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement "You've got a network like CBS that has already caved in to the desires and the pressures of the Trump administration, and that is Brendan Carr's FCC," Russomanno said. "And so as long as that's happening, who knows where this might end." However, typically the FCC is not the one to initiate equal time investigations. They usually come at the request of rival political candidates. "It is a little bit odd that the FCC itself would be monitoring this and calling it to the attention," Clay Calvert, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank based in Washington, told SAN. "But I think it falls in line with the notion that Chairman Carr will leverage whatever regulatory tools he has available to him to quash speech that may be objectionable to President Trump." Conservative talk radio Some of the biggest talk radio shows in the country feature conservative hosts like Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and Glenn Beck. They get millions of weekly listeners. Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, these shows have mostly featured people already elected to office and political analysts rather than candidates. Hannity recently featured former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-OH. Beck's show recently featured Carr himself along with Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. If they are to start featuring political candidates, they would be subject to the equal time rule. However, Carr has made it clear talk radio is not his target. "When Rush Limbaugh was on the air, there was always speculation that the Democrats would want to bring back the Fairness Doctrine, because the Fairness Doctrine says, essentially, that broadcasters have to not provide equal times but a fair opportunity for different viewpoints on matters of public concern," Calvert said. Advertisement Advertisement The Fairness Doctrine was enacted in 1949 but repealed in 1987 under former President Ronald Reagan over free speech concerns. "You got three hours of Sean Hannity on the radio, and let's say it's not satellite, it's regular free radio broadcasting, then that would mean you've got to put three hours of a liberal leaning viewpoint on," Calvert said. "And if nobody wants to listen to that, that's not going to be economically viable. That's the other problem with the Fairness Doctrine." These rules do not apply to satellite radio or cable television. "(Greg) Gutfeld doesn't have to worry about it on his talk show, because it's on Fox News," Calvert said. Future concerns When ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel following pressure from Carr's FCC, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz surprised many in his opposition to that move. Advertisement Advertisement "It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it," Cruz said at the time. The FCC is supposed to be a nonpartisan organization, but experts SAN spoke with said Carr feels differently. "The FCC, over the last maybe 20 years or so, has become less and less of an independent agency, but it is reaching new heights in its lack of independence over the last calendar year or so, ever since the ascension of Mr. Carr," Russomanno said. With Carr's FCC targeting liberal leaning shows and broadcasters, experts SAN spoke with agreed with Cruz's concerns from last year. Advertisement Advertisement "Let's say the Democrats elect a president in 2028," Calvert said. "Then, that Democrat will simply unleash the same powers that Trump and Brendan Carr have, targeting liberal leaning content. Only the Democrat would target conservative leaning content. So, what goes around comes around, to paraphrase Justin Timberlake." No political party has managed to elect back-to-back presidents since George H.W. Bush followed Ronald Reagan. Before that, you'd have to go back to the 1800s to find a party getting candidates elected in succession. "The pendulum of power swings back and forth in Washington, D.C.," Calvert said. For the most part, Calvert said past FCC commissioners have used their own restraint when governing America's airwaves. Advertisement Advertisement "The idea that, watch out, you may be in power now, but you won't be forever,' that's what FCC commissioners, no matter who it is, should always be cognizant of," he said. The post FCC equal time enforcement expands, but talk radio largely spared appeared first on Straight Arrow News. Related Links A fire has broken out in an industrial zone in the city of Saransk, the capital of Russia's Republic of Mordovia, with social media reports suggesting it was at Electrovypryamitel, one of the country's largest producers of power electronics for the Russian armed forces. Source: The Moscow Times, an independent Amsterdam-based news outlet Details: A fire erupted in Saransk at about 10:00 on 21 February in an industrial zone. The regional emergency ministry said the blaze occurred near a defence industry facility, the Saransk Instrument Making Plant, on Vasenko Street, without giving a cause. Advertisement Advertisement The fire spread through one workshop at the plant, covering an area of 150 sq m. Two hours later, the emergency ministry reported the blaze had been localised and said no one was injured. At about 07:30, the authorities said a drone alert had been declared in the region. It was lifted at 10:30. However, local residents told the Russian Astra Telegram channel that the fire was in the premises of Electrovypryamitel PJSC, one of Russia's largest manufacturers of power electronics for the needs of the Russian armed forces. Local residents suggested the plant may have been hit by drones. Astra also analysed footage from eyewitnesses showing a large column of black smoke and concluded that Electrovypryamitel was the site of the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement The company produces rectifiers, inverters, power supplies, converters and other specialised electrical equipment. It is under sanctions by the United States, Canada, the EU, the UK, Switzerland, New Zealand and Japan over its involvement in Russia's state defence orders. Background: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said its Rocket Forces and Artillery units struck the Votkinsk plant in Russia's Udmurt Republic on the night of 20-21 February, using FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! SUNRISE, Fla. (WFLA) A woman was arrested in Broward County after allegedly leaving her two young kids with an Uber driver for hours, according to authorities. An arrest report said that the Uber driver picked up 32-year-old Emily Sabogal and her two young children, ages 3 and 4 years old. The Uber driver told police that Sabogal had a cup of what he believed to be liquor. At one point during the ride, the Uber driver said that Sabogal grabbed his phone and canceled the ride. She then gave him $10 and asked him to stop the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, Sabogal told the driver shed be back in three minutes before exiting the vehicle and walking away. When she had still not returned an hour later, the driver called her. Sabogal told him she would be back in 12 minutes and then promptly hung up. The driver reached out to the police after he tried to reach her once more and was unsuccessful. Body cam video shows the officers arriving at the scene to find the visibly distraught Uber driver parked on the side of the road with the two children inside his vehicle. The video shows the driver explaining to the officers the situation, stating that he suspected Sabogal was drunk before pulling out a cup she had left behind and asking the officer to smell it. Advertisement Advertisement The officer called for backup, relaying what the driver had told him. No clue where she is right now, just left the kids obviously she doesnt know this gentleman, hes just an Uber driver and walked off, the officer said. Additional body camera video shows officers locating Sabogal at a shopping plaza near a McDonalds located about 2.2 miles from where she abruptly exited the Uber. The officer is seen on the video approached Sabogal and asking her, do you have two kids? Were you just in an Uber with your two kids? He then sternly tells her to sit down to which Sabogal responds, Okay, but why are you treating me like that? Advertisement Advertisement Because you just left your kids with an Uber, and were all over town looking for you. Sabogal again responds by telling the officer her phone died. During the encounter, the officer asks Sabogal multiple times why she left the Uber, which she seemed unable to explain. I have not done anything wrong, Sabogal said. I have no idea what is going on. Im sorry, I get what you, I get your job. I get your whole persona. I get it. Im just a mom, she added later on. Officers with the Sunrise Police Department arrested Sabogal on charges stemming from child neglect without great bodily harm and desertion of a child. Advertisement Advertisement An investigation revealed Sabogal had been at a restaurant earlier with her children, where she had consumed multiple drinks at the bar, the report said. The report also noted that Restaurant staff told investigators that Sabogal is a regular and frequents the establishment five days a week. 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. A North Texas man who is a former educator and was involved in childrens ministries at churches was arrested Thursday and is charged with possession of child pornography, authorities said. Detectives with the Johnson County Sheriffs Office served a search warrant at a residence in Venus on Feb. 19 as a part of an investigation into the possession of material depicting child sexual abuse, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Andrew Daniel Centeno, who confessed to possessing child pornography during the investigation, was taken into custody, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Centeno was booked into the Johnson County Jail and his bond has been set at $150,000, according to the county jail records. Investigators determined that Centeno was employed by Venus ISD in various roles from 2020 through the end of 2024. Additionally, he has a history of involvement with childrens ministries at various churches, officials said. The Sheriffs Office is seeking information from the public regarding Centeno and any contact he may have had with children. Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Richards at arichards@johnsoncountytx.org or 817-556-6058 Ext. 3521. More breaking news: Sign up for Star-Telegram news alerts. An average of four pubs per day have announced their closure since the start of the year in the wake of Labour tax policies. Some 233 pubs have announced their intention to close down since January, data from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), analysed by The Telegraph, show. Of these, 10 are fighting to reopen, while 67 are currently seeking a new owner or tenant. The Telegraph, which is campaigning to save Britains establishments, is monitoring the number of pubs shutting down in a new pub-closure tracker. Advertisement Advertisement The tool below lets you search the list of confirmed pub closures. If your local is included, you can find out more about its future. Figures show pubs are in trouble. Since the 1990s, the number of pubs in the UK have declined from 65,000 to less than 45,000. Some 1,103 pubs announced their closure in 2025. Under the strain of higher taxes, higher wages and looming drink-drive law changes, experts fear this number will continue to rise. This is despite Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, climbing down on business rate changes announced at the Budget, which had threatened to leave some with their tax bills doubling overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Tom Stainer, Camras chief executive, said: In the aftermath of the UK Governments recent short-term and short-sighted support package for pubs, we do not see the high number of pub closures stopping any time soon. While business rates announcements in England and Scotland might allow publicans a chance to breathe while treading water, it only papers over the cracks, Mr Stainer said. Permanently lower business rates bills for pubs are needed, along with reduced duty charged on draught beer and cider in pubs, lower VAT on food and drink, and help with unreasonably high energy bills. Only then can pubs start to thrive, not just survive. In her autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that Covid-era business rates relief for the hospitality sector would end in April, after having been gradually scaled back. Advertisement Advertisement This meant that some establishments business rates would double, sending bills soaring for pubs across the country. Combined with the burdens of the employers National Insurance hike, an increase in alcohol duty, and a rise in the minimum wage, the sector warned it faced potential ruin. Pub landlords cautioned that these challenges could be devastating. A growing backlash has led to Labour MPs being barred from dozens of pubs and restaurants across Britain. These included Ms Reeves, who was banned from her local in Pudsey, West Yorkshire. The Chancellor was forced to announce a support package for struggling pubs on Jan 27, following the Telegraph campaign to save Britains locals. Under this support package, pubs will be given a 15 per cent discount on business taxes for one year, followed by a two-year freeze on bills. While landlords have largely welcomed Ms Reevess latest reversal, the British Beer and Pub Association, which represents more than 20,000 members, warned that the sector continues to face huge challenges and called on the Government to go further. Advertisement Advertisement All Camras pub closure data is compiled using Camras online pub guide. Here, updates are submitted by thousands of pub-goers and verified by hundreds of Camra volunteers across the UK who regularly survey the venues in their area. These figures represent cases where a venue is closed to its community but remains a pub in planning terms. Pubs categorised as low risk are likely to reopen soon. Medium risk pubs are actively seeking a new owner, tenant or leaseholder. High risk includes pubs whose future is uncertain we do not have much information about them. Highest risk, however, is the final stage: these pubs have closed and a change of use has been applied for or granted. In other words, they are gone for good. Not every region has felt the impact equally. Advertisement Advertisement While the North West saw the highest total number of closures, with 41 pubs shutting their doors, the picture looks different when adjusted for population. Yorkshire and the Humber has been hit hardest proportionally, losing nearly 12 pubs for every million residents, followed closely by the North West, where nearly ten pubs per million have closed. 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. Mississippi Health Department inspectors arrive at restaurants and kitchens across South Mississippi at least once each year with a checklist. The inspectors, now identified by code rather than name for their protection, are looking for safe food handling practices, clean kitchens and proper equipment. At four kitchens in the last week they had issues with what they found. Mississippi health codes require sinks to have hot and cold water and a soap dispenser with a supply of soap. They also require disposable towels rather than a common towel. And hands cant be washed in sinks where food is prepared or where utensils are cleaned. Advertisement Advertisement The latest restaurant inspection report for South Mississippi shows kitchens have repeated violations for inadequate handwashing facilities, which arent corrected from one year to the next. Sai Chevron, 8413 Woolmarket Road, Biloxi, was inspected Feb. 19 for a permit renewal. It was cited for: Inadequate handwashing facilities supplied and accessible, a repeat violation It also failed for the same reason in 2025, 2023, and three times in 2022 under four different inspectors Corrected during the inspection was: Food contact surface cleaned and sanitized This is Sixth C in four years since 2022 and the ninth since 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Dickeys Barbecue Pit, 11240 U.S. 49, Gulfport, had a follow-up inspection Feb 17 and scored its second C this month. The restaurant failed Feb. 11 for inadequate handwashing facilities. When the inspector returned on Feb. 17 the restaurant failed for: Inadequate handwashing facilities not supplied and accessible Plumbing not installed with proper backflow device These are the third Cs since May Wayne Lees #2 Deli at 12109 Mississippi 63 south, Lucedale, was inspected Feb. 19 for a permit renewal. It was cited for: No certified manager Toilet facilities improperly constructed, supplied, cleaned Plumbing not installed with proper backflow devices Advertisement Advertisement Corrected during the inspection was: Proper hot holding temperatures Proper date marking and disposition This was the fifth C in two and a half years and the eighth since 2011. Samurai, 2511 25th Ave., Gulfport, had a scheduled inspection on Feb. 18. It was cited for: Plumbing not installed with proper backflow devices Last inspection grade not posted This is the first C dating back to 2020. Department of Health inspectors give restaurants and kitchens an A if there are no violations, a B if all violations are corrected during the inspection and a C when there are critical violations. Since Feb. 1 In District 9, which covers the lower counties in Mississippi, the inspectors gave 245 As, 31 Bs and seven Cs. Feb. 21 (UPI) -- French President Emmanuel Macron has called for peace as several rallies are scheduled across the country in the wake of the recent beating death of activist Quentin Deranque. A protest drew 3,000 people to the site in Lyon where Deranque, 23, was severely beaten and later died, and local authorities have increased security to prevent violence. French authorities have arrested 11, charging two with murder and five others with related crimes in the beating death of Deranque during a brawl that erupted at a protest in Lyon on Feb. 12. Advertisement Advertisement One of those charged in Deranque's death is Jacques-Elie Favrot, who formerly worked as a parliamentary assistant for La France Insoumise, or France Unbowed, which has been described as a "hard-left party." The political party holds 70 seats in the French National Assembly, which has a total of 577 seats. All of those charged have denied trying to kill Deranque, whom news outlets described as a "far-right activist" who was at the Feb. 12 university protest to protect what the BBC described as "far-right feminists." Some of those charged have admitted to striking Deranque, while Favrot was charged with complicity to commit murder by instigation and is not accused of striking the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Those attending the Feb. 12 protest included nationalist and neo-fascist groups, along with Catholics and traditionalists, the BBC reported. Video footage of Deranque's beating shows a group of masked and hooded people attacking him at the protest. Deranque was hospitalized with severe head injuries and died two days later. Those charged in his death either were members or otherwise affiliated with a militant organization called Le Jeune Guarde aka The Young Guard, which was formed in 2018 to provide security for LFI and was banned by French authorities in 2025. Deranque's beating death has raised the matter of far-left militancy in France, where far-right activists and nationalists generally had been viewed as pariahs by the French politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Many of those were affiliated with the far-right extremist group National Front, which has been replaced by the National Rally. Since Deranque's beating death, French National Assembly Deputy Marine Le Pen and others are suggesting that the attack affirms the dangers posed by far-left extremists versus those posed by the far-right. The figure was 2 million higher than in 2024. The visitors brought in 77.5 billion euros, said Atout France, the national tourism development agency. Many of the European tourists who visited sites such as Notre Dame, the Louvre and Chartres Cathedral came from Germany and Belgium. Nearly 15 million visitors travelled from those two countries. Just over 13 million came from Britain and 9 million from Switzerland. Advertisement Advertisement Most tourists from outside Europe came from the United States and Canada. Tourism is a winning bet, said Serge Papin, the minister responsible for small and medium-sized businesses, craft trades and tourism. It is a sector that is performing well and continues to contribute to national wealth. France should be proud of its position as the worlds leading destination, which many envy us for, Papin added. Tourism is a competitive sector like any other sector of the economy, and one in which we have to fight. And we are going to fight. We are a great tourism nation, and this must benefit everyone, in all regions. Advertisement Advertisement Louvre staff continue strike over conditions, leaving museum partially open Push for 2030 target Papin said industry leaders must not relax as they work towards a government target of 100 billion euros in revenue from foreign tourists by 2030. We need to diversify our sectors, Papin said. We need to develop tourism based on our expertise in areas such as memorial tourism, wine tourism, and agritourism. He said France was full of tourist gems and that every corner of France even the least known is Instagram-worthy. It was this local tourism, rooted in the regions, connected to producers, artisans, and our roots, that France could develop even further, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Although France remains the most visited country, Spain records longer stays. Tourists spend seven days on average in Spain, compared with five days in France. In Spain, tourists are better received than in France, Richard Vainopoulos, chairman of the Tourcom tourism agency, said. There are a lot more hotels of a good category and also village clubs. In France, theres a huge shortage. You have everything you need in Paris and on the Cote dAzur, but as soon as you leave these two regions, you have a hotel problem. Christian Bale's performance in American Psycho is one of the hard acts to follow for the stars, as many have refused the same role in Luca Guadagnino's upcoming directorial American Psycho, reported Deadline. After Deadline exclusively announced director Luca Guadagnino and writer Scott Z. Burns' adaptation of the 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis back in 2024, the author recently shared an update on the casting process for the upcoming feature. "A couple of high-profile actors, whom I can't name, have turned it down. I think maybe because they don't want to be in the shoes of Christian Bale," Ellis said on a podcast as quoted by Deadline. Ellis noted that Scott Z. Burns has since completed a new draft of the script after several actors passed on the previous version. "From what I'm told, this movie is completely different from Mary Harron's 2000 movie. It's a completely different take, and going to bear no resemblance to that movie," he added as quoted by Deadline. The Lionsgate film will be produced by Frenesy Films, and executive produced by Sam Pressman, the son of Edward R. Pressman, producer of the 2002 original movie, through his company Pressman Film. In 2000's American Psycho, Bale starred as homicidal investment banker Patrick Bateman, the literary character that Ellis created as a satirical take on masculinity. The Harron-helmed adaptation also starred Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Chlo Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe and more. With American Psycho in the works, Ellis' 2023 novel 'The Shards' is getting the Ryan Murphy treatment with an FX series starring Kaia Gerber also in development. (ANI) Despite a setback to a planned mega development in southeast Fresno, Mayor Jerry Dyer is committed to seeing it come to fruition. The Fresno Bee recently sat down with the mayor for a 40-minute interview to discuss his accomplishments as mayor thus far and look forward towards the remaining two years and 10 months of his second term. Read part one of this interview here. One of the major topics of discussion was the S outheast Development Area specific plan, a proposed large-scale expansion to add 9,000 acres and an estimated 4 5,000 homes in southeast Fresno. Dyer stressed that throughout his administration, hes been committed to adding infill housing within the citys limits. But he also said he sees SEDA as critical to the citys growth for the affordable homes and good-paying jobs he expects it to bring. Advertisement Advertisement I would be negligent as a mayor if I didnt pursue that with a vengeance, he said. The project, with a total estimated price tag of $4.3 billion, is controversial, with some opponents saying the city should prioritize investing in existing neighborhoods that face blight, broken infrastructure, and underinvestment. Others have argued that project has a shortfall of more than $3 billion, an estimate that a city-commissioned study says the city would need to raise through a new, SEDA special financing district that would generate revenue through fees, taxes and other sources charged to SEDA developers, new SEDA homeowners and business owners. In a 5-2 vote in December, the Fresno City Council sent the plan back to the Dyer administration for further financial review. Advertisement Advertisement Though he acknowledged the citys history of sprawl has negatively impacted the citys historic neighborhoods Dyer expects developers to pay for most of the project and generate additional income to the city. Heres what Dyer had to say about SEDA, with light edits for clarity. Q. SEDA, the Southeast Development Area, is another big topic. In December, the Fresno City Council voted to send the project back to the city administration for further review. Do you have a sense of how long that will take or how thats going? Based on what was requested by the council in terms of additional studies, I think its going to take probably six months to get all of that information completed. It was something that I anticipated, but there was probably more requested by council than I thought. I knew thered be quite a bit, but I didnt know thered be that much. Q. What do you make of all the opposition to SEDA and how would you respond to concerns about sprawl? So number one, Im not a proponent of sprawl. I think what happened in Fresno over the decades was really a disservice to people who lived in some of our older neighborhoods. And ultimately, what ended up happening with the expansion of the freeways and the development of land that was on the far north not just in Fresno, but also in Clovis and now in Madera has really put us at a disadvantage. And so weve worked very, very hard to do infill development. In fact, when the general plan was put forth, there was a goal set forth that at least 50% of new development would occur within the city limits, and then 50% outside the city limits. Im proud to say since that time, 76% of all development has occurred within the city limits. So we have made tremendous strides in developing within our core. We still have room to develop in that. Advertisement Advertisement But I think weve gotten to the position where we also need to expand in certain areas in a very smart way to where we still stay competitive, and that we provide opportunities for homeownership. And I believe the SEDA plan that weve put forth on the southern part of our city is one that will meet that demand. It will allow for 467 acres for housing, and most of that would be for single family residential, for homeownership at what I think to be an affordable rate for people who grew up in Fresno. But the most important thing, I think, of the South SEDA development would be the 1,547 acres opening up south of Jensen Avenue (between Jensen and North avenues and between Minnewawa and Temperance avenues) that would allow for us to have advanced manufacturing in that area. So that area would be 100%, 99% for flexible research and development, which would allow for advanced manufacturing that will attract good-paying jobs. Exhibit J - South SEDA Map by Melissa Montalvo And the reason thats so important to us is, if you look at the statewide average right now of suitable land for flexible research and development, for industrial development, the state average is about 7.5% suitable land available. Visalia is at 16% and Fresno is at 5%. So were at a competitive disadvantage by not having the suitable land for that to occur in our city. And we need good-paying jobs here, too. Q. What would you say about the concern around the multi-billion dollar shortfall to cover the costs of SEDA? Would that be covered by the city or private development? I would say first it is misinformation, because that multi-billion dollar, $3 billion figure is not accurate. There are infrastructure costs that directly fall upon the city that are reimbursed by the developers. Advertisement Advertisement And, in fact, all the infrastructure is paid for by developers. None of its paid for by the city. But there are some upfront costs. Even the $267 million figure, though, was too much for me as a mayor. I didnt feel that that was the risk I was willing to take, nor did I want to put that kind of debt on ratepayers. So thats when we shifted to South SEDA, and that infrastructure cost for South SEDA is about $61 million for water, sewer, streets an upfront cost that, I think, is something that we could tolerate as a city. And I also think that that development will happen sooner than it would if you opened it up on the north end (of SEDA). And so, reducing the risk to the city to $61 million theres going to be another cost for the housing piece, and we dont have that figure yet but its going to be under $30 million. And is that a cost that is consistent with what weve done in the past for development? Yes. And so I feel comfortable the return on investment will be substantial. And the reason I say that is that many, many years ago, we did not have community facility districts. That is money that is for people that move into the new development, that pay an additional dollar on their pay as part of their property tax to cover all the future maintenance for streets. We have that today. We also have a Community Facilities District, CFD 18 that also pays for police, fire for additional development. We didnt have that years ago, like none of this was available before 2005. And we also negotiated a new tax sharing agreement of the county that instead of the city getting 38% of the property tax and the county 62% the new tax sharing agreement in SEDA allows for the city to get 51% of the property tax and the county to get 49%. So between CFDs and the new tax sharing agreement and developers reimbursing for all infrastructure, Im 100% confident that not only will this new development pay for itself, it would generate additional income to the city to provide additional services like police and fire. Stay tuned for Part Three of this interview. The force is expected to consist of thousands of Palestinian officers who will be trained in Egypt and Jordan, before being deployed in the Gaza Strip, with the task of maintaining order. Interest is running high among young people in Gaza as the National Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip (NCAG) has begun recruiting members for a new police force. The force is expected to consist of thousands of Palestinian officers who will be trained in Egypt and Jordan before being deployed in the Gaza Strip, with the task of maintaining order. Advertisement Advertisement One Palestinian told The Jerusalem Post that both his sons applied for positions in the new force, describing their excitement. On the same day the announcement was published, my children filled out the application form, and they were very enthusiastic about it, he said. After it went online, many people were very happy. I can see that there is strong demand for it in Gaza. However, he highlighted that for the initiative to succeed, it will require support from Israel. Palestinians shelter in tents on a rainy day in Gaza City, November 25, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa) NCAG launches police force recruitment Without Israeli cooperation, I dont see how it can really happen, he said, referring to Israels control over the borders and crossings. Advertisement Advertisement Its necessary to get the go-ahead from the Israelis and have their help and logistical support. Without it, the police force will not be able to work effectively, he explained. Led by Ali Shaath, the Palestinian technocratic committee, NCAG, is set to temporarily govern Gaza and manage civil affairs, including the rebuilding effort, under the oversight of the Board of Peace. It was officially formed last month, but its members mostly affiliated with Fatah or linked to the Palestinian Authority havent yet entered Gaza to begin work on the ground. On Thursday, the committee announced that it was launching recruitment for the future police force, stating, Despite decades of war, destruction, and suffering, Gaza is home to talented and dedicated Palestinians who are ready to rebuild and serve their community. The application form stated that candidates must meet certain criteria, such as being a Gaza resident aged 18 to 35. Other conditions required being in good physical shape and having no criminal record. Advertisement Advertisement Another Palestinian from Gaza expressed satisfaction with Board of Peace head Nickolay Mladenovs statement that about 2,000 Palestinians have signed up for the police force, and said he expects even more young men to join. I personally believe this is an excellent move, he told the Post. The Gaza resident stressed this force should be free from political affiliation, arguing this is the only way the initiative can truly work. I think this police force should not be linked to any of the Palestinian factions not Hamas, not Fatah, he said. It has to be independent; that would be more helpful. Advertisement Advertisement However, he added that a solution should be found for the existing officers in Hamass police force to prevent them from becoming an obstacle to the functioning of the new police. If Hamas leaves the scene, there will be greater opportunities for peace, he said. Yet, perhaps some of the officers currently serving in the Hamas-run police and civil security forces could be incorporated into the new police force, he suggested. They need to be reassured in some way so they dont stand in the way or cause problems. Hamas has previously stated that it is willing to transfer authority from its ministries and departments to the new technocratic committee. Advertisement Advertisement However, many remain skeptical that the group, which still holds power on the ground, will truly relinquish its control or influence, especially over its security forces. In recent days, since the start of Ramadan, Hamas police officers have been stationed at intersections and markets in Gaza. They were seen in official uniforms, directing traffic and demonstrating control. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said the officers were tasked with maintaining order and overseeing commercial activity to ensure merchants do not manipulate prices. During our activity, we detained 10 merchants for price violations, it noted in a statement. Hamas police in Gaza announced on Saturday that they will continue to monitor markets and take action against those who do not comply with price regulations. We have begun taking strict measures against those engaging in monopolistic practices, they said, calling on residents to report cases of price abuse and file complaints at the nearest police station. A former teacher was arrested this week in Georgia, where authorities have accused her of sexually assaulting a student. Danielle Weaver was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, February 18. She has since posted a $50,000 bond for her release. Us Weekly tried numbers associated with Weaver, 29, on Friday, February 20, but was unable to reach her for comment. Weaver is charged with child molestation and sexual assault by a teacher, principal or other administrator. There is no clear information available concerning possible pleas she may have entered. It does not appear she has an attorney yet. Advertisement Advertisement Weaver, who has resigned from her position as a ninth-grade teacher, was investigated by the Leesburg Police Department, who were notified about a tip received by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on February 3. Biology Teacher at Louisiana All-Girls Catholic School Arrested for Sexually Abusing Student Police obtained warrants for Weaver's arrest, and she ended up turning herself over to authorities. The Lee County School System provided a statement to WALB, that said, "Reports and rumors are circulating concerning alleged inappropriate contact between a teacher and student in a Lee County School System school. We, at the 9th grade campus, can confirm that there is an ongoing legal investigation involving law enforcement concerning the alleged conduct of a former staff member who is no longer working for the district. Advertisement Advertisement "Upon discovering the allegations, school and district leadership acted immediately to ensure the safety and well-being of students, as well as to conduct a thorough investigation," the statement added. "The individuals who have been directly affected have been contacted, the statement continued. The district will continue to cooperate with law enforcement, as well as with those affected, to ensure that no obstacles to resolving the investigation exist. The safety and well-being of our students remains our highest priority. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us." The GBI has not provided any information on the specific allegations that led to the teacher's arrest. The students age was not disclosed by police, but local reports indicate he may have been 15. It was also unclear what actually prompted the tip to state authorities, and who made that call. Advertisement Advertisement Weaver is married with two children, according to her social media profiles. Louisiana Middle School Teacher Charged With Alleged Sex Crimes After Being Named Teacher of the Year The investigation into Weavers conduct continues, and anyone with any information regarding this case is urged to call the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Americus at (229) 931-2439 or the Lee County Sheriffs Office in Leesburg at (229) 759-6012. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), visiting their website, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. Its been a rough week for educators. Alicia Hughes, a school employee in Indiana, is also facing criminal charges after her husband allegedly caught her sexually abusing a student one of two she had been involved with. She is 31. If you know of a young person who is being exploited or is the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at tips.fbi.gov The leader of Germany's conservative parliamentary group, Jens Spahn, on Saturday firmly ruled out any cooperation with both the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party. Speaking at a national gathering of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Stuttgart, Spahn accused the hard-left party of having "Jew-haters" among its prominent members and of continuing to have socialism in its programme. He also sharply criticized the far-right AfD of being close to Russia and cronyism. "They have completely lost their way," he said. Advertisement Advertisement He personally attacked The Left party parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek, comparing her with the former leader of communist East Germany, Erich Honecker. "In the end, it won't be any better with Comrade Reichinnek than it was with Comrade Honecker," he said. Referring to a recent scandal involving AfD members of parliament employing each other's family members as assistants, Spahn said "this is cronyism, betrayal of the fatherland, betrayal of the taxpayer." At its party conference in 2018, the CDU ruled out coalitions and "similar forms of cooperation" with The Left party and the AfD. The two-day conference comes at the start of a busy electoral year for the CDU, with five state elections due to take place, in March and September. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the party rallied behind Chancellor Friedrich Merz, re-electing him as party chairman by a large majority of 91.17% - his second-best result. Current opinion polls show the AfD ahead of the conservatives in two eastern German states. (NewsNation) Giant tortoises have returned to the Galapagos island of Floreana after 150 years, thanks to help from NASA satellites. On Feb. 20, the Galapagos National Park Directorate and conservation partners released 158 giant tortoises at two sites on Floreana in an effort to restore the tortoise population on the island. The tortoises disappeared from the island in the mid-1800s due to whale hunters as well as pigs and rats eating their eggs, according to NASA. As a result, their disappearance began reshaping the natural landscape of the island. Advertisement Advertisement Abandoned Punch the monkey steals hearts with stuffie love A juvenile giant tortoise walks away after being released on Floreana Island as part of a project to reintroduce the Floreana giant tortoise to its native island in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Juvenile giant tortoises walk on Floreana Island after being transported from a breeding center on Santa Cruz for release as part of a project to reintroduce the Floreana giant tortoise to its native island in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Juvenile giant tortoises are released on Floreana Island as part of a project to reintroduce the species to its native habitat in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Its a huge deal to have these tortoises back on this island. Charles Darwin was one of the last people to see them there, said James Gibbs, the Galapagos Conservancys vice president of science and conservation and a co-principal investigator of the project. Using satellite data from NASA Earth observations, the scientists were able to determine which areas of the island provided the tortoises the best chance of survival based on environmental conditions. Key habitat factors included vegetation, moisture and nesting space. Death of bald eagle spurs push for hunters to use lead-free ammo Advertisement Advertisement Habitat suitability models and environmental mapping are essential tools, said Christian Sevilla, the director of ecosystems at the Galapagos National Park Directorate. They allow us to integrate climate, topography and vegetation data to make evidence-based decisions. We move from intuition to precision. According to NASA, the release of the giant tortoises is part of a larger ecological restoration project on the island that aims to remove invasive species such as rats and feral cats and return native animal species to Floreana. 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. An 11-year-old from Rochester, Massachusetts has been identified as the victim who passed away following an avalanche at a Utah ski resort. Madelyn Eitas was visiting family while on vacation. Unified Police say that around 12:32 p.m., they received a report of an avalanche near the Brighton Ski Resort, prompting first responders to rush to the scene. Once there, first responders found the victims family, alongside 20 other people, searching the area. Thats when the victims brother, Cameron Eitas, heroically used an application to locate her. Advertisement Advertisement Once Madelyn was found, life-saving measures were conducted before transporting her to the hospital, where she was in critical condition. Her family was also transported. Madelyn passed away at the hospital. Earlier on Friday, Rochester School District Superintendent Michael S. Nelson released a statement, calling the incident devastating news for the school, alongside offering support and resources to students and staff. We offer our sincere condolences to the students family, friends, classmates, and teachers during this unimaginable time, Nelson wrote. Our focus at this time is on supporting those who are grieving, and we ask that the familys privacy be respected. Advertisement Advertisement Police went on to add that their thoughts are with the victims family during this incredibly difficult time. The communities here in Utah, as well as the familys home community in Massachusetts, now have the important responsibility of rallying around the family to provide support, compassion, and comfort in the times ahead. 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 KYIV, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Ukraine hit a Russian plant manufacturing ballistic missiles in a missile strike in the remote Udmurtia region, the Ukrainian General Staff said on Saturday. Ukraine said its forces attacked the plant manufacturing Russian missiles, including the short-range Iskander and intercontinental Topol-M, in Votkinsk, east of Moscow and about 1,400 km (800 miles) from Ukraine. It said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that the Ukrainian forces used domestically produced ground-launched Flamingo cruise missiles. The attack caused a fire on the site, the Ukrainian military said. Advertisement Advertisement Alexander Brechalov, the governor of the Udmurtia region in Russia, had earlier said a site there had been attacked overnight with drones. "There has been damage and injuries as a result," Brechalov said in a video posted on the Telegram app. He provided no other details. The airport in Udmurtia's main city, Izhevsk, and those in cities in nearby regions suspended operations, the civil aviation authority Rosaviatsiya said. The unofficial Russian Telegram channel SHOT, which often quotes contacts in the security services, said residents in Votkinsk reported hearing at least three explosions and the humming of drones. Advertisement Advertisement Russia uses its ballistic missiles to reinforce its drone attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, knocking out electricity and heating supplies for millions across Ukraine during the cold winter months. Ukraine is increasingly targeting military and energy infrastructure deep inside Russia. Kyiv says that hitting the weapons producers and the energy system that fuels Russia's military is the best way to gain leverage over its bigger enemy as the war enters its fifth year next week. The Ukrainian military said it also hit a gas processing plant in the Russian Samara region. Russian officials in the Samara region issued no report of such an attack. (Reporting by Olena Harmash, Editing by Alex Richardson) LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A grand jury indicted a former Clark County School District math teacher on several felony charges. Brian Conway, 48, a former math teacher at Lawrence Junior High School, was arrested on Feb. 3 after allegedly sending sexually explicit videos and images to a student, whom he is also accused of touching inappropriately. Judge sets $750K bail for Las Vegas teacher arrested on sexual charges Advertisement Advertisement Judge Tierra Jones combined two Las Vegas Justice Court criminal cases, which raised his bail from $750,000 to $850,000. If released on bail, conditions would include high-level electronic monitoring, no contact with the victim or minors, and staying out of trouble. CCSD records showed Conway was hired last year, with his first day listed as July 31. A photo dated 2024 showed Conway was awarded an $800 grant while working in Nampa, Idaho. Before moving to Las Vegas, Conway taught middle school math in Nampa starting in 2016, according to the Idaho Department of Educations website. Conway is currently in the Clark County Detention Center. His next court date is Feb. 24. 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. Greece has signed an agreement with a Belgian collector to acquire the only photographic evidence of the execution of 200 Greeks by a Nazi firing squad. Tim de Craene had put the 12 Second World War pictures up for auction on eBay last week, causing outcry on Greek social media. They show the final moments of communist political prisoners before a mass execution on May 1 1944. The Kaisariani Massacre, named after the suburb of Athens where it took place, was one of the worst atrocities of the Nazi occupation of Greece. Advertisement Advertisement The images show men being led through a gateway and down a path before being lined up in front of a wall. In some of the images, they look directly at the camera as they walk, their heads held high. Some of the photos had received bids of more than 1,500 before they were taken down amid public outrage that the seller was trying to make money from them. Some of the victims of the Nazi mass killing in an Athens suburb have been identified, say experts Sokratis Famellos, who is president of Greeces Left-wing Syriza party, said: These documents are not a commodity. They are our history. Lina Mendoni, the culture minister, said an agreement had been reached between Greek authorities and Mr de Craene after experts visited him to check the photos were genuine. Advertisement Advertisement They found the photos were part of a collection of 262 images taken by Hermann Heuer, a Wehrmacht (Nazi armed forces) lieutenant, while he was in Greece as part of the occupation in 1943 and 1944. Ms Mendoni, who described the pictures as extremely important documents of modern Greek history, did not specify the nature of the agreement or how her country would obtain them. One picture put on eBay by Tim de Craene shows Greek men lined up against a wall to be shot Mr de Craene runs a business called Crains Militaria, which sells items from Nazi Germany, including pictures of murdered civilians and soldiers, and pins and armbands featuring swastikas. In a statement to Belgian media, he said he was glad the images would benefit the Greek people and their collective remembrance of a dark episode in their history. Advertisement Advertisement The Kaisariani Massacre is deeply ingrained in the Greek consciousness, but the newly discovered photographs are the only images documenting the atrocity, historians have said. Polymeris Voglis, a social history professor at the University of Thessaly, told France24: Until now, we knew what happened [in Kaisariani only] through narratives. The political prisoners marched to the firing squad proud and defiant. A sculpture in memory of the men killed in the Kaisariani Massacre in Athens on May 1, 1944 - AFP Several of the men from the photos have already been identified. Guillaume Pollack, a French historian, said: They wanted to erase these men from humanity. Every time we put a name to a face, it thwarts that project a little bit. Advertisement Advertisement Not long after the images were listed for sale, a plaque commemorating victims of the massacre at the site in Kaisariani was smashed. The Kaisariani municipality said it would repair the monument, adding: Historical memory will not be erased, no matter how much it bothers some people. 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. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was in Washington, D.C., Thursday for Donald Trumps inaugural Board of Peace meeting. When protesters showed up outside of his hotel, his bodyguards attacked them. The protesters at the Waldorf Astoria on Pennsylvania Avenue were calling for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, which has been under Aliyevs dictatorial rule for more than 20 years. In a statement, the Embassy of Azerbaijan alleged the protesters violently attempted to enter the protected area and took offensive actions against the Presidential vehicle when Aliyevs motorcade was arriving at the hotel. It added, The Presidential Security Service had no choice but to immediately intervene. X screenshot Azerbaijan Embassy US @azembassyus Statement by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States of America (screenshot of statement) According to the protesters, thats not what happened. One of them, Rahim Yagublu, 27, said that the guards kicked him in his stomach and hit his jaw. His father is political activist Tofig Yagublu, in prison in Azerbaijan on forgery and fraud charges. Another protester, Adil Amrakhly, 35, said that while running away from the guards, he hurt his leg. Advertisement Advertisement We intended to hold a peaceful protest to demand freedom for political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Amrakhly told The Washington Post, adding that at least four other protesters were injured. They started beating us, Yagblu said. He added that nearby police didnt do anything and that protesters called an ambulance. After looking at everyones injuries, first responders didnt take anyone to the hospital. This just shows us hes a dictator, and there is no free speech in my country, Yagublu said, regarding Aliyev. Video was posted to X Thursday night showing some of the fighting. Ilham liyevin muhafizcilri Vasinqtonda ondan siyasi mhbuslara azadlq tlb edn azrbaycanl muhacir fallara vhsicsin hucum edib, onlar yumruq v tpikl vurublar. liyevin cangudnlrinin hucumuna mruz qalanlardan biri d siyasi mhbus Tofiq Yaqublunun ogludur. pic.twitter.com/Xq4L3v1ACw Azadlq Qzeti (@azadliq_news) February 19, 2026 Azerbaycanl Korumalar Muhaliflere Saldrd Benzeri Kurtlere Olmustu Washingtonda Bars Kurulu / Board of Peacede olan Azerbaycan Devlet Baskan Aliyevin korumalar, Siyasi mahkumlara ozgurluk sloganyla eylem yapan Azerbaycanl muhaliflere saldrd. Hatrlatma: ABDde pic.twitter.com/1awbV53sHS metinyoksu (@metinyoksu) February 19, 2026 The incident was reminiscent of a similar event in Trumps first term in May 2017, when Turkish security personnel attacked protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence while Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Washington to meet with Trump. At the time, Congress unanimously called for criminal charges against the 24 people filmed attacking protesters. One month later, two people were arrested and arrest warrants were issued for the other security officers, but charges would be dropped the following March. Will Thursdays incident be handled similarly? Aliyev and Azerbaijan are in Trumps good graces for joining the Board of Peace, so the president and his Republican allies in Congress may not push for justice this time. That would be a shame, considering peaceful protest is a constitutional right and a major freedom for people in the U.S. In a touching act of support during his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), actor Johnny Depp opened one of his Los Angeles homes to fellow actor Eric Dane, allowing him to stay free of cost in the months leading up to his death on February 19. Dane, best known for his role on 'Grey's Anatomy', had been fighting ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that gradually weakens and atrophies muscles throughout the body. According to E! News, the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star welcomed Dane into one of his properties at no charge. The support came as Dane's health rapidly declined. Speaking a day after his death, his friend and former 'Grey's Anatomy' co-star Patrick Dempsey described the severity of his condition. "He was really starting to lose his ability to speak, he was bed-ridden and it was very hard for him to swallow," Dempsey shared in an interview, adding, "the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly," as quoted by E! News. Throughout his illness, Dane remained close to his ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart, despite their separation in 2017. The pair share two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14. In an essay published in December 2025, Gayheart detailed the extent of care required in the final months of his life. "Eric has 24/7 nurses now," she wrote in her social media post, explaining that the week was divided into 21 shifts, some of which she personally covered when staffing gaps arose. Gayheart also acknowledged the outpouring of support from friends, family and colleagues after Dane went public with his diagnosis. "It was so loving and kind and generous that people wanted to share their resources and their contacts and their experiences," she wrote. She added that connecting with women navigating similar circumstances had been invaluable. "I am so grateful," she said. (ANI) In anticipation of a possible Israeli or US strike, Hezbollah has significantly intensified its military and security preparations under the close supervision of IRGC personnel. Hezbollah is currently being overseen by officers from Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), rather than its traditional Lebanese leadership, according to Saturday reports from Arab media outlets. In anticipation of a possible Israeli or American strike, Hezbollah has significantly intensified its military and security preparations under the close supervision of IRGC personnel who have recently arrived in Lebanon, sources close to the group told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath. Advertisement Advertisement This shift in leadership comes amid growing concerns that both Hezbollah and Iran are bracing for an imminent military confrontation with Israel and the US. Sources told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that the IRGC officers are not only supervising the rebuilding of Hezbollah's military infrastructure but are also personally managing and executing strategic war plans. Hezbollah terrorists march in the funeral of senior terrorist Haytham Ali Tabatabai, others killed in IDF airstrike, in Beirut, November 24, 2025; illustrative. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR) IRGC offering instructions and guidance to Hezbollah ahead of potential conflict with US, Israel These officers are reportedly holding regular meetings with Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon, offering direct instructions and guidance in preparation for a potential military conflict, which many analysts believe is inevitable. A recent Israeli airstrike on Friday, which resulted in the deaths of several Hezbollah terrorists, was seen by both Tehran and Hezbollah as a possible precursor to larger Israeli operations targeting Irans regime and its regional proxies, reports said. Advertisement Advertisement One such meeting reportedly took place at a Hezbollah command center in the Beqaa Valley, which housed a missile unit that was targeted in Israeli airstrikes on Friday night. Sources close to Hezbollah have speculated that the Israeli attack was merely the beginning of a broader Israeli military campaign against the group. A Hezbollah command center that was struck by the IDF on Friday, February 21, 2026. (CREDIT: ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES) Political pressures in Lebanon Back in Lebanon, political leaders are growing increasingly worried about the countrys role in the escalating regional tensions, according to Arab reports. Influential political figures are calling for an official stance of neutrality, urging the government to prevent Hezbollah from dragging Lebanon into a wider conflict, according to a report by Lebanese newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan. Amid growing pressure on the Lebanese government to act decisively and distance Lebanon from the intensifying crisis, Israel has stated time and time again that it will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild and pose a threat to Israel's northern border. Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, 91st Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yuval said the IDF would stay on the attack in Lebanon. 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, he said. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called for international intervention to immediately halt Israeli airstrikes, describing such attacks as a hostile act aimed at undermining diplomatic efforts. Aoun warned that Lebanons involvement in the conflict would have devastating consequences for the country. Israeli strikes designed to send a clear message to Irans proxies, IDF says The IDF has since confirmed that recent airstrikes in Lebanon targeted Hezbollah positions, including long-range missiles equipped with warheads. Israeli media reported that these strikes, which were carried out from naval vessels, were designed to send a clear message to Irans proxies: Israel will continue to target Hezbollah and Hamas positions with naval forces if airstrikes are not viable or effective enough. Advertisement Advertisement The IDF later reported that several Hezbollah missile unit members were killed in airstrikes on eastern Lebanons Beqaa Valley. According to an IDF statement, the attacks struck three separate Hezbollah sites in the region, causing significant casualties among the groups ranks. The strikes are believed to have disrupted Hezbollah's efforts to enhance its military readiness for operations against Israel, according to Arab sources. Hezbollah has since stated that eight of its operatives died in the Israeli airstrikes, identifying three of its commanders, Ali Zeid al-Moussawi, Muhammad Ibrahim al-Moussawi, and Hussein Yaghi, as being among those killed. Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report. A Covington High School sophomore won the inaugural Ohio History Bee on Thursday, after outperforming 17 other finalists in a live trivia competition. The competition is part of the America 250 Ohio initiative, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States, according to a spokesperson. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Aidan Adams qualified for the event by achieving one of the highest scores on the American Legions Americanism and Government Test, an exam taken by more than 65,000 students across the state. Adams began the qualification process on Nov. 4 when he took the Americanism and Government Test. The local exam was sponsored by American Legion Post 80 in Covington. His results were the highest of any sophomore in his district, the region, and the state of Ohio. Only 18 students advanced to the live rounds at the Statehouse out of more than 65,000 initial participants statewide. The finalist group included sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Advertisement Advertisement During the competition, students faced multiple fast-paced rounds testing knowledge of the people, places, and events that shaped Ohio history. In addition to the scholarship funds, Adams received a five-day educational trip to Washington and Gettysburg, Pa. All expenses for the trip are covered as part of the award. The Ohio History Bee was established to promote historical understanding and civic engagement during the national milestone anniversary year. Covington Exempted Village Schools commended Adams for his performance in the competition and for his representation of the Covington community. Advertisement Advertisement Adams will be formally recognized in Columbus for his achievement. Further details regarding the timing of the recognition ceremony and the educational trip to Washington and Gettysburg have not been released. Adams will be formally recognized in Columbus for his achievement. Further details regarding the timing of the recognition ceremony and the educational trip to Washington and Gettysburg have not been released. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] President Donald Trump didnt hide it. Its a disgrace, he said during a breakfast with governors, looking at a note that told him his administration had just suffered a humiliating rebuke at the hands of a conservative Supreme Court, according to a governor who was in the room, granted anonymity to share details of the meeting. Trump cut his remarks short and walked out of the room with his favorite presidential power and, by extension, his agenda, on a knifes edge four days ahead of the most important speech of the year. Advertisement Advertisement The presidents primetime address to Congress on Tuesday was supposed to set the stage for a tough but disciplined midterm campaign focused on the administrations efforts to lower costs for everyday Americans and tout his first-year accomplishments. Instead, he heads to the Hill amid a torrent of negative news. Economic growth is flagging . U.S. military assets are massing in the waters around Iran in anticipation of a potential strike that many in the presidents base find odious. A major government agency is shut down over an immigration standoff with Democrats sparked after federal agents killed two U.S. citizens. Make America Healthy Again activists are furious over Trumps order boosting domestic production of the herbicide glyphosate. The scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, continues to swirl. And now, the nations highest court has dealt the president what some allies see as the most humiliating and devastating blow of his second term. Six justices, including two Trump appointees, said Friday that the president does not have the ability to unilaterally impose tariffs on trading partners in the event of an international economic emergency, a power that the court made clear resides with Congress. This is the signature economic policy, were four days away from the State of the Union, and he has just been rejected by the court in a pretty serious public way, said Allison Smith, a lobbyist and former trade official in the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement The tariff decision comes as Trumps approval rating hovers near its second-term low , and eight months ahead of an election in which Republicans are trying to hold on to their thin majority in the House. Even as the president is expected to celebrate a slew of positive economic data during Tuesdays address, his administration will be forced to contend with slower than expected GDP growth and the loss of the presidents favorite economic and national security tool. A frustrated Trump on Friday fumed to reporters about the Supreme Courts rebuke, suggesting that some of the justices were influenced by an unnamed cabal of foreign interests that had bullied them into a deeply disappointing and "ridiculous" decision. I would not want to be in the Oval Office right now, said one person close to the White House, who like others in this story was granted anonymity to speak candidly, minutes after the decision came down. Advertisement Advertisement A second person close to the White House, a former Trump official, described it as a stunning defeat. Obama had a stunning rebuke. Roosevelt had a stunning rebuke, the person said. Presidential powers have their limits. The blow to Trumps tariff agenda comes as he is also struggling to retain the upper hand on his other major domestic priority deportations. Democrats have refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security unless the White House agrees to reform how federal immigration officers operate, and polling shows a growing backlash to some of the heavy-handed tactics that immigration officers have employed. The Trump administration was forced to shift gears in January, sending White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to de-escalate tensions with local authorities, in what was widely seen as a retreat for the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Trump, meanwhile, is sending aircraft carriers, fighter jets and surveillance planes to the Middle East in preparation for possible military action in Iran. Elements of his base traditionally skeptical of military intervention have largely tolerated the targeted actions he has taken during his second term including the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. A more extensive operation in Iran risks alienating them. An overseas operation would also distract from the White Houses efforts to sell its affordability initiatives to Americans, who do not want to see the U.S. embroiled in conflict abroad. You dont want to go into a State of the Union with a foreign policy issue hanging over your head, a third person close to the White House said. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruling has blunted Trumps preferred geopolitical tool. Trump has lobbed tariff threats at a wide range of trading partners as he sought the upper hand in international relations ranging from his attempts to isolate leadership in Cuba and Iran to his brazen attempt to acquire Greenland. The courts decision undercuts that ability to wield tariffs in the heat of the moment, typically as a way to extract concessions from countries on unrelated issues. "The hardest part of this ruling for him is going to be the way in which it has taken away his magic tariff Sharpie, said Peter Harrell, a former Biden official. He can't just threaten tariffs on a whim." But as Trump has traveled the country to celebrate his successes and to convince voters that they should elect Republicans hes battling with an American populace that firmly believes the economy isnt working in their favor. Advertisement Advertisement He has talked about how his tariffs have helped end wars and loaded up the countrys coffers. Hes floated plans to use tariffs to provide direct payments to veterans, farmers and small businesses and even issue a tariff rebate none of which have come to fruition . Yet Trump remains unbowed. On Friday, he pledged to reimplement his tariffs, warning that they could end up even higher than before. The president has multiple tools in his toolbox, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the Dallas Economic Club Friday afternoon, adding that other tariff authorities will result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026. Elena Schneider contributed to this report. If you own a GMC truck in Houston, this story may hit close to home. A River Oaks resident says he did everything right. His truck was parked in his driveway. The area was well-lit. A surveillance camera with a spotlight pointed directly at the vehicle. It was not tucked away in a dark corner of the street. It was sitting right outside his home, in plain view. By morning, it was gone. According to a report aired by FOX 26 Houston, the theft happened around 3:30 a.m. The owner had no idea until hours later. He woke up Friday morning around 6:30 and began getting ready for work. At about 8 a.m., he walked into the driveway, just like he does every day. He pressed the unlock button on his key fob and looked up. Image Credit: Fox 26 Houston/YouTube. There was nothing there. Advertisement Advertisement The truck had vanished. I was honestly just in complete shock, he told reporter Jillian Hartmann. 'My First Major Purchase': The Emotional Toll of a Brazen Theft Every car is special, but this one is particularly special to its owner. He described it as his first major purchase. Something he worked hard for. Something he had paid off. In a matter of minutes, it was taken. The brazen nature of the theft makes this case especially unsettling. The homeowner says he has a driveway camera aimed directly at where the truck was parked. After realizing the vehicle was missing, he checked the footage on his phone. Image Credit: Fox 26 Houston/YouTube. Sure enough, the recording showed the theft unfolding in the early morning hours. Advertisement Advertisement The suspects appeared unfazed by the cameras. The driveway was fully illuminated. A spotlight from the camera lit up the scene. Yet the thieves carried on without hesitation. The victim believes they were professionals. He said the theft took very little time. Even more concerning is the apparent targeting. The homeowner noted there are more than 100 vehicles parked along his street overnight. Despite that, the suspects specifically chose his GMC truck. It was not hidden. It was not isolated. It was not easier to access compared to other cars parked on the street. And still, it was the one they took. 'I Had No Idea I Had a Sitting Duck in My Driveway' Image Credit: Fox 26 Houston/YouTube. The victim later saw a previous FOX 26 report detailing a rise in GMC truck thefts across the Houston area. That is when it clicked. Advertisement Advertisement I had no idea I had a sitting duck in my driveway, he said. His shock didnt come from just losing the truck. It was more about how easy the operation looked. He acknowledged that car theft is common in Houston, but like many owners, he never expected it to happen to him. There is a particular sting to walking outside and seeing an empty parking space where your vehicle once sat. No broken glass. No loud alarm woke the neighborhood. Just silence and an empty driveway. It hits the kind of different that only people unfortunate enough to have experienced it can truly understand. The resident says he is speaking out to raise awareness within the GMC truck community. His warning is simple. If you own one, pay attention. Extra lighting and visible cameras may not be enough deterrent. A Growing Concern for Truck Owners in Houston Image Credit: Fox 26 Houston/YouTube. Houston police are investigating the case. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact HPD. Advertisement Advertisement For truck owners, this incident underscores a growing concern. High-demand vehicles often become high-priority targets. And targeting comes in different shades. We recently ran the story of a North Georgia dealership salesman who allegedly targeted and sold a $90k pickup to an elderly man with dementia. He even traveled 40 miles to the mans home and then drove him back to the dealership to close the deal. Professional theft crews can move quickly, sometimes in under a minute, using increasingly sophisticated methods. In many cases, by the time the owner realizes something is wrong, the vehicle is already far from the neighborhood where it was parked. Advertisement Advertisement For this River Oaks resident, the experience has been a harsh wake-up call. What felt secure one night turned out to be anything but. And for GMC owners across Houston, his story is a reminder that convenience and familiarity can sometimes create a false sense of safety. The driveway may feel like the safest place to park. In this case, it was not. Editorial Note: Video playback may be limited on some platforms. If youre unable to watch it here, please click here to view full playback on our main site. Read More According to the report, the Houthis have mobilized on various fronts within Yemen, in what may be an attempt to ignite a new round of war. The Houthis may be mobilizing forces for an offensive, a report at Al-Ain media in the UAE said on February 21. The Houthis' objectives are unclear. However, the report of mobilization is important because it comes amid heightened tensions with Iran. It also comes after the UAE and Saudi Arabia almost clashed over differing policies in Yemen. The Saudis have supported the government of Yemen, while the UAE has supported a group in southern Yemen called the Southern Transitional Council. Advertisement Advertisement What does the Al-Ain report say? According to the report, the Houthis have mobilized on various fronts within Yemen. It may be an attempt to ignite a new round of war. What sources told Al-Ain is that the Houthi militias have sent military reinforcements to Marib Governorate, where oil fields are located, and to the Hodeidah fronts on the Red Sea, in addition to reinforcements to the northern border fronts. Move against Saudi-backed forces? This could indicate a Houthi move against the Riyadh-backed government forces in Yemen. It could also be part of a Houthi plan to take advantage of Saudi-UAE tensions or to pounce as US-Iran tensions grow. Its also possible that Al-Ain is being fed misinformation designed to create tensions. Because there are so many possibilities, it is worth being skeptical about the reports. The report goes on to say that the sources explained that large Houthi military groups moved on Saturday from the city of Amran, located 50 kilometers north of Sana'a, led by the Houthi leader Mohammed Zaid Yahya Al-Makhdhi, nicknamed Abu Ali, to the northern border fronts of the country. HOUTHI TERRORISTS carry weapons as they stand near the site of Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, in September. (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS) In addition, the sources indicated that the military force that the militias deployed to the Saada and Al-Jawf fronts on the northern borders of the country comes as part of the groups military mobilization to all fronts, while adding that the Houthis have also sent commanders to the Hodeidah governorate. This is an area near a port that shares the same name. This port was targeted numerous times by Israel last year when the Houthis were targeting Israel with ballistic missiles. Advertisement Advertisement The report goes on to say that "the Houthis force had received intensive training at a Houthis ' training camp in Sanaa, before being deployed through Naqil Manakhah to Hodeidah. On February 18, the Houthi militias sent unprecedented reinforcements from Sana'a to the fronts of Marib Governorate, under the leadership of commander Khaled Mohammed Al-Nadhari, nicknamed Abu Ayman. Lastly, the report argues that Houthi fighters arrived at the Marib front. This area has been an active frontline in the past. Over the last three years, the clashes between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemen government have been reduced. This is part of a wider shift in the region in which Riyadh also settled some of its problems with Iran. Riyadh has also grown closer to Turkey and Qatar over the past year, as it has distanced itself from the UAEs policies in the region. This mostly led to a reduction in tensions with the Houthis. Al-Ain concludes that the unprecedented Houthi mobilization and ground attacks on the battlefronts threaten to collapse the fragile UN-brokered truce in place since 2022 and return the situation to square one, according to observers. It is unclear if this is part of a wider attempt by Iranian-backed groups to create tensions in the region. Reports on February 21 said that Hezbollah is also considering escalation with Israel. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have also threatened the US and Israel in the past. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) on Friday said the quickest way to have President Trump act on tariffs is to tell him that he cant, after the Supreme Court ruled that his use of emergency powers to enact his sweeping tariff agenda was unconstitutional. The high courts 6-3 ruling invalidated Trumps use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose steep import taxes on almost all foreign trading partners. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that IEEPA does not give the president authority to impose tariffs. Sanders, in an interview with NewsNations Katie Pavlich, said the courts ruling was not only disappointing, but I think its wrong. Advertisement Advertisement I think Justice Thomas was exactly right, she continued. The Constitution grants the president this authority. But ultimately, I dont think it matters. One of the things I love about Donald Trump is that the fastest way to get him to do something is to tell him that he cant. And he has so many tools in his toolbox. The GOP governor added that Trump will use whatever tool and resource he needs to get that job done. And while this may, you know, take over the news cycle for a few days, I dont think it changes what the outcome looks like and that this is a president whos going to continue to hold other countries feet to the fire, she said. Hes going to make sure that American workers are put first. Trump called the ruling disappointing and lashed out at Roberts and five other justices, including Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett whom he appointed to the bench calling them all fools and lapdogs. Advertisement Advertisement I think its an embarrassment to their families, if you want to know the truth. The two of them, Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday. He praised Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote a dissent. The president said he was proud of Kavanaugh, whom Trump appointed in 2018. The president followed the ruling by announcing that he signed an executive order to impose a 10 percent tariff on imports from countries around the world effective immediately. He invoked Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, a provision that allows for tariffs of up to 15 percent for 150 days to address large and serious trade deficits, in enacting the new levies. The White House said Canada and Mexico are exempt from the new tariffs because of the trilateral free trade agreement that was ratified during Trumps first term in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Some Republican members of Congress also broke with the president, hailing the Supreme Court ruling as a victory for free trade, the separation of powers, or both. Todays ruling affirms, despite all the noise of the moment, that the Founders system of checks and balances remains strong nearly 250 years later, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) wrote on the social platform X. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), in his own post online, said the courts ruling will also prevent a future President such as AOC from using emergency powers to enact socialism, referring to potential 2028 presidential contender Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). 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. BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Hungary will block a planned 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Ukraine until the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline resumes, Hungary's foreign minister said. Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since Jan. 27 after what Ukrainian officials said was a Russian drone attack damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude across Ukrainian territory and into Central Europe. Hungary and Slovakia, which have both received a temporary exemption from an EU policy prohibiting imports of Russian oil, have accused Ukraine without providing evidence of deliberately holding up supplies. Both countries ceased shipping diesel to Ukraine this week over the interruption in oil flows . Advertisement Advertisement In a video posted on social media Friday evening, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Ukraine of blackmailing Hungary by failing to restart shipments. He said his government would block a massive interest-free loan the EU approved in December to help Kyiv to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years. We will not give in to this blackmail. We do not support Ukraines war, we will not pay for it, Szijjarto said. As long as Ukraine blocks the resumption of oil supplies to Hungary, Hungary will block European Union decisions that are important and favorable for Ukraine. Hungary's decision to block the key funding came two days after it suspended diesel shipments to its embattled neighbor and only days before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. Nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Yet Hungary and Slovakia both EU and NATO members have maintained and even increased supplies of Russian oil and gas. Advertisement Advertisement Hungarys 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 Kremlins 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. His government has frequently threatened to veto EU efforts to assist Ukraine. On Saturday, Slovakia's populist Prime minister Robert Fico said his country will stop providing emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil is not flowing through the Druzhba by Monday. Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said earlier this week that Hungary, too, was exploring the possibility of cutting off its electricity supplies to Ukraine. Not all of the EU's 27 countries agreed to take part in the 90-billion-euro loan package for Kyiv. Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic opposed the plan, but a deal was reached in which they did not block the loan and were promised protection from any financial fallout. A missing bust of Lord Kitchener is being hunted for by the Sudanese under a national effort to trace artefacts looted during the countrys bloody civil war. The secretary of state known for his First World War recruitment posters first served as governor general of Sudan and his legacy remained there in portraits and statues bearing his unmistakable image. Sudanese authorities are now searching for artefacts bearing the likeness of Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, after British colonial statues were seized in the widespread looting of cultural sites. Lord Kitchener in 1900. The imperialists image is seen in many artefacts in Sudan that have now gone missing - Heritage Art Sudans General Intelligence Service has begun working with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in a newly established commission tasked with tracking down all stolen artefacts, The Telegraph has been told. High-ranking sources said that front-line SAF soldiers had been ordered to report any unusual objects as they advance eastward against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rebels whose failed coup in 2023 caused the ongoing conflict that has left an estimated 150,000 dead. Thousands of pieces were plundered by the RSF while they occupied Khartoum, from Egyptian statues to medals issued by General Charles George Gordon Gordon of Khartoum during his ill-fated defence of the city. Khalid Ali Aleisir, the Sudanese minister for information, told The Telegraph that a nationwide awareness programme has also been launched to help find all cultural loot and revealed that cash rewards will be offered to the civilian population for any artefacts that they return. Memorable Kitchener recruitment poster from the First World War He said: We have informed them that they can come forward and safely hand over what they have found, and we will take care of it. Advertisement Advertisement Many artefacts tied to modern Sudanese history were held in the Palace Museum, a former cathedral that was occupied by RSF rebels, who made a bonfire of the church organ. The building housed a large bust showing Kitchener in uniform with his distinctive moustache, a piece that was created to commemorate the former governor general of Sudan after his death in 1916. Kitchener took Sudan in 1898 when he defeated the army of the messianic Mahdi state, which had surrounded and killed his friend Gordon during the fall of Khartoum in 1885. Sudan 1102 Locations of ravaged musuems in central Khartoum Abdelnaser Hassan, director of the museum, told The Telegraph that far from being a sore point, British history in Sudan is embraced and important to protect by saving plundered artefacts. He said: There is a deep connection between Sudan and Britain. We want to teach about British rule in Sudan. Kitchener rebuilt Khartoum, it is planned to his design. He was governor general and the Sudanese are interested to know about Kitchener. The statue helped to show his character, not just folk history. Schoolchildren learned about him. The recovery of Kitchener could be symbolically useful as Sudans de facto government established in a 2021 coup led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan as its seeks to reinforce its historic ties with the UK and to obtain British assistance in rebuilding Khartoums cultural sites. A 1936 picture of Kitchener on horseback outside government offices in Khartoum - HUM/Universal Images via Getty Sudan also plans to rebuild the Old Republican Palace where Gordon made his last stand and is seeking British civilian help with the restoration of a machine-gunned Rolls-Royce that transported Elizabeth II during a 1965 state visit. In the period of British-Egyptian rule in Sudan, statues were created to commemorate governors and those who fell in the First World War. This war memorial was also stolen during the period of RSF occupation from April 2023 to March 2025. Metal has been stripped from cultural sites across bombed-out Khartoum, prompting fears the Kitchener may have been melted down for scrap, along with the war memorial, Gordons medals and other pieces. However, Mr Hassan believes that because the statues are figurative, poorly educated rebel fighters may have preserved them, believing them to be more ancient antiquities that could be sold on the international black market. This market has been served by RSF fighters, who plundered more than 4,000 ancient artefacts from the National Museum in Khartoum. Kitchener took Sudan in 1898 in revenge for death of his friend Gordon during the fall of Khartoum in 1885, illustrated in this engraving by P. Meaulle - PHAS/Universal Images via Getty Gold, jewellery and statues from the civilisations of Egypt, Kush and Nubia were taken, while buildings were bombed-out and the remains of ancient temples peppered with bullets. Inventories of artefacts appear to have been deliberately destroyed. Artefacts have also been looted from the world heritage site of Meroe, home to a set of Kushite pyramids. The army and intelligence commission is working on their recovery and Mr Aleisir recently announced that a large number of ancient artefacts had been found. The minister has also invited the British Museum to help with the tracing of artefacts, using its database of Sudanese antiquities, while international partners including Interpol are also monitoring the sale of illicit treasures. Unesco told The Telegraph that Sudanese artefacts have appeared for sale on social media and e-commerce platforms, making online channels a key component of the current supply chain. The United Nations agency said that there is a market for Sudanese loot and monitoring sales to stamp out the trade will be a long-term project. A painting depicts the meeting between Kitchener and French Commandant Jean-Baptiste Marchand in 1898 in Fashoda, Sudan, settling a dispute - Roger Viollet via Getty Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman said: Experience shows there can be a significant time lag, sometimes over a decade, between looting and the appearance of objects on the international market. Tracking illicitly trafficked cultural property requires strong coordination among national authorities, international organisations, law enforcement agencies and the art market. Establishing a robust evidence chain is essential, starting with comprehensive pre-conflict inventories of movable heritage something that remains a challenge in many countries. New technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital monitoring tools, may be used to monitor online platforms to curb the circulation of looted objects. 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. TIPP CITY (WDTN) The husband of the Tipp City woman killed earlier this week in an apparent burglary has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder. Caleb Flynn, 39, has been charged with one count of homicide in the death of Ashley Flynn, 37, on Monday morning. He also faces two counts of felonious assault and two counts of tampering with evidence. Law enforcement was sent to the home in the 900 block of Cunningham Court around 2:30 a.m. Monday, on a report of a burglary and shooting. In a 911 call obtained by 2 NEWS, the caller, later identified as Caleb Flynn, told police dispatch that someone had broken into their home and that his wife had been shot. Advertisement Advertisement The responding officers were met at the home by Caleb Flynn and their two children. They located the woman identified as Ashley Flynn, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Flynn was arraigned Friday morning, where he pleaded not guilty. His bond was set at $2 million. Flynn is expected back in court on Feb. 26. Murder leaves Miami County community on edge The Tipp City community has been on edge since Monday mornings murder. On Wednesday, Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins said that investigations up to that point had led them to believe it was a targeted attack and not a random home invasion. Adkins said at the time that the investigation was complex. Advertisement Advertisement Without getting into the details of it, there is a lot of, a lot of moving parts and a lot of stuff that is related to this, he said. The community has rallied around the Flynn family since Ashleys death, with prayer-adorned ribbons on light poles along Main Street. I just want family to know that were praying for them and that, you know, theyre in our prayers, said Jason Pierce, owner of Red Devil Pizza & Deli. Red Devil Pizza & Deli, a local restaurant, announced a fundraiser this weekend, with a portion of all sales Friday through Sunday going to the family. In announcing the arrest, Adkins thanked the other agencies that assisted with the investigation, including the FBI, the Ohio BCI, and the Miami County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement These individuals have spent countless hours utilizing numerous resources to bring the investigation to this point, he said. Their work is not complete, and they will continue to pursue this case with integrity and dedication as it proceeds through the court process. Investigations of this magnitude are especially challenging for agencies with limited staffing, and the support of these dedicated partners was essential. Adkins said that further updates on the case will be handled by the Miami County Prosecutors Office. 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. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday announced new arrests carried out by federal enforcement officers targeting illegal immigrants convicted of violent and sexual crimes. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested multiple offenders Thursday who had prior convictions for crimes including child rape, sexual assault of minors, methamphetamine trafficking and aggravated assault, according to Dhs. "Even while facing doxing, threats, harassment, and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them, ICE continues to go after criminal illegal aliens, including pedophiles, violent sex criminals, and drug traffickers," outgoing DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Weekend Roundup: Convicted Murderers, Child Sex Abusers Among Illegal Aliens Nabbed By Ice Across Us Among those arrested include: Michelle Rodriguez-Berrio, a criminal illegal immigrant from Colombia, who was convicted in Salt Lake City, Utah, for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Read On The Fox News App Rene Lopez-Balbuena, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, who was convicted in Monmouth County, New Jersey, of endangering the welfare of a child and sexually assaulting a child. Dhs Shutdown Leaves Local Emergency Responders On Their Own Amid Extreme Weather, Expert Warns Luis Elias-Santos, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, who was convicted in Boone County, Missouri, of second-degree statutory rape. Advertisement Advertisement Jeovanny Porras-Rodriguez, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, who was convicted in Buncombe County, North Carolina, of trafficking methamphetamine. Sanctuary Policies Let Alleged Child Predator Roam Free Until Dhs Made Portland, Oregon, Airport Arrest Leonardo Garcia-Meza, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was convicted in Collin County, Texas, of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Earlier this month, a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that ICE officers are "facing a coordinated campaign of violence against them." According to DHS, assaults against ICE personnel have increased by more than 1,300%, death threats have risen 8,000%, and vehicle attacks have climbed 3,200%. Advertisement Advertisement Click Here To Download The Fox News App "Nearly 70% of all ICE arrests are of illegal aliens convicted or charged of a crime in the U.S.," McLaughlin added. "If you break the law, you will face the consequences. Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S." DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox News Digital's Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report. Original article source: ICE arrests illegal immigrants convicted of child rape, sexual assault, drug trafficking Actor Timothee Chalamet's recent reunion with Christopher Nolan was like a time-stood-still moment for him as he felt 17 years old again, reported People. During a screening of Call Me by Your Name at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, the Academy Award-nominated actor reflected on his recent chat with the Interstellar director. The two stars sat down earlier this month ahead of an IMAX 70mm screening of the 2014 sci-fi adventure film to discuss their experience on set. "The whole experience with Nolan, I felt totally like 17 again. I went home, it was shocking ...That was a crazy car ride home for me. I was like, 'Holy sh-t, I feel like, you know, the 13 years that elapsed haven't elapsed," Chalamet said at the most recent event, hosted by Cinespia in honour of its 25th anniversary, as quoted by People The Marty Supreme star noted that Nolan, 55, "was cracking jokes backstage." "We were taking pictures together ... and he throws me in a headlock and starts giving me a noogie," he recalled. "I'm like, 'Holy sh-t, Chris Nolan's hitting me with a noogie right now.' I said to him, 'Chris, I'm a 30-year-old man.' He said, 'Not to me, you're not,'" Chalamet said with a laugh, as quoted by Deadline. The Wonka star played Matthew McConaughey's son in the film, which was one of Chalamet's first major movie roles. In addition to Chalamet and McConaughey, the movie featured Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, Mackenzie Foy and Michael Caine. Interstellar was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Visual Effects. After his role in Interstellar, Chalamet went on to land his breakout part in 'Call Me by Your Name', earning him his first Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards. Chalamet was nominated again for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in the 2024 biopic 'A Complete Unknown', as well as for his work in 2025's 'Marty Supreme', becoming the youngest actor since Marlon Brando to receive three Best Actor nominations at the Oscars. (ANI) More than 20 towns with large warehouses have become stealth targets for Immigration and Customs Enforcement's $45 billion expansion of detention centers. Some communities complain that ICE isn't telling them anything until after it has purchased space for thousands of detainees. In some cases, warehouse owners are refusing to sell. A look at some of the locations: Arizona Local officials were told nothing before ICE purchased a 418,000-square-foot (38,833-square-meter) warehouse in the Phoenix suburb of Surprise for $70 million, the states top prosecutor, Kris Mayes, said in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Advertisement Advertisement Documents later provided by ICE said the Department of Homeland Security estimates it will spend $150 million retrofitting the facility into a 1,500-bed processing site. Florida A TV reporter in Orlando spotted private contractors and federal officials last month touring a 439,945-square-foot (40,872-square-meter) industrial warehouse. ICE senior adviser David Venturella told a WFTV reporter the tour was exploratory. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement that the city hasn't been contacted by the federal government and that it has no legal options to stop a possible ICE facility. Georgia ICE bought a massive warehouse in Social Circle for $128.6 million. The city said it has been informed that the facility is expected to house from 7,500 to 10,000 detainees and will be constructed using a modular design so that capacity can be scaled up or down as needed. Advertisement Advertisement Plans also are in the works to convert a warehouse in Oakwood into an ICE processing facility, Republican U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde said in a statement, although no deed has been filed. City Manager B.R. White said his first inkling that a deal was imminent came when a warehouse supervisor told a city inspector hed been instructed to clear the job site to make way for the new owners the federal government. Indiana After the town of Merrillville raised concerns about ICE touring a new 275,000-square-foot (25,548-square-meter) warehouse, owner Opus Holding LLC sent a letter stating it isn't negotiating with federal officials for the property. The letter said Opus was limited in what it could share because of legal issues. Maryland ICE purchased a warehouse about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore for $102.4 million, a deed signed last month shows. The deed was unearthed by Project Salt Box, a Maryland ICE watchdog. Officials in Washington County said in a Facebook post that DHS notified them beforehand that it was considering purchasing the warehouse for use as a new ICE Baltimore Processing Facility. County commissioners later passed a resolution in support of ICE activities. Michigan ICE announced its purchase of a facility in Romulus after the deal was completed. The city responded in a Facebook post that officials were concerned about the lack of prior notification. Minnesota The owners of warehouses in the Minneapolis suburbs of Woodbury and Shakopee pulled out of possible ICE deals after public outcry, according to local officials. Mississippi Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker posted that Noem agreed to look elsewhere after local elected and zoning officials opposed a possible detention center in the town of Byhalia. Missouri After weeks of public pressure, development company Platform Ventures announced it would not move forward with the sale of a massive warehouse in Kansas City. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte sparred with federal officials after ICE disclosed plans to spend $158 million to convert a warehouse in Merrimack into a 500-bed processing center. Advertisement Advertisement The issue came to a head when interim ICE Director Todd Lyons testified that DHS has worked with Gov. Ayotte and provided her with an economic impact summary. Ayotte said the assertion was simply not true. She said the summary was sent hours after Lyons testified. The document erroneously refers to the ripple effects to the Oklahoma economy and revenue generated by state sales and income taxes, neither of which exist in New Hampshire. New Jersey Roxbury said Friday that ICE had closed on the sale of a warehouse despite it offering tax abatements to the owner to stop the purchase. No property documents were yet available online showing the price of the sale. The announcement came just two days after ICE said it had made a mistake when it previously announced the purchase. Advertisement Advertisement Let us be clear: Roxbury Township will not passively accept this outcome, the mayor and city council wrote in a news release. New York ICE said Tuesday it made a mistake when it announced the purchase of a vacant warehouse in Chester. New York state Assemblyman Brian Maher said Friday that ICE is no longer considering the facility. Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt announced last month that property owners had informed him they are no longer engaged with DHS about a potential acquisition or lease of a warehouse. Pennsylvania DHS purchased a warehouse in Tremont Township for $119.5 million and one in Upper Bern Township for $87.4 million. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has said his administration will fight DHS' plans to convert the warehouses in rural parts of eastern Pennsylvania into immigrant detention and processing centers. Texas In the El Paso suburb of Socorro, ICE paid $122.8 million for a trio of warehouses that span 826,780 square feet (76,810 square meters). ICE also paid $66.1 million for a 639,595-square-foot (59,420-square-meter) warehouse in San Antonio. The mayors of both cities are opposed. Advertisement Advertisement However, another deal in the state was scuttled following community backlash. In the Dallas suburb of Hutchins, a real estate company confirmed that it was contacted about one of its properties but wouldn't sell or lease any buildings to DHS for use as a detention facility. California-based Majestic Realty Co. provided no explanation in its statement. Utah Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall expressed gratitude in her State of the City address that the owners of a warehouse that ICE was eying as a detention facility had announced plans not to sell or lease the property to the federal government. Virginia Jim Pattison Developments said in a statement last month that it became aware of the intended use of a warehouse in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, after agreeing to sell to a U.S. government contractor. Following boycott threats, the Vancouver-based company announced that the transaction will not be proceeding. ___ Associated Press reporters Holly Ramer, Isabella Volmert and Marc Levy contributed to this report. The Brief U.S. District Court Judge Laura Provinzino lifted her contempt order on a Trump administration attorney after the government returned personal ID paperwork to a formerly detained immigrant. Provinzino had cited an attorney on special assignment with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Minnesota, and imposed fines of $500 per day until the items were returned. In a blistering final order, Provinzino wrote that excuses from government attorneys violating court orders during Operation Metro Surge have "worn out its welcome, particularly when it comes at the expense of individual rights." (FOX 9) - A federal judge lifted civil contempt penalties against a Trump administration lawyer for violating a court order, but she blasted the U.S. Attorneys Office and the executive branch for its handling of a mountain of civil litigation connected to the sweeping arrests and detainment of thousands of immigrants in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge. Blistering final order What we know On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Provinzino released a blistering final order in a habeas case that had generated headlines this week. Advertisement Advertisement As FOX 9 first reported, Provinzino held a Trump administration military lawyer, on special assignment with the U.S. Attorneys Office, in civil contempt of court for violating her release orders in connection to a Mexican immigrant living in Big Lake, Minnesota. Rigoberto Soto Jimenez was arrested at work by immigration enforcement agents last month. Provinzino had ordered his release in Minnesota with all his property that ICE had seized, including a Minnesota drivers license. But instead, Soto Jimenez was released directly from a large El Paso detention center in Texas without any of his personal paperwork. JAG attorney never practiced in federal court Dig deeper Provinzino took issue with the governments handling of the case and cited Matthew Isihara, a JAG attorney, who admitted he had never practiced law in federal court before assisting on the massive civil caseload generated during Operation Metro Surge. Advertisement Advertisement Isihara, who picked up nearly 130 cases of his own over the last month, apologized for allowing the Soto Jimenez case to slip "through the cracks." He blamed short staffing in the U.S. Attorneys Office, in part, for the oversight. Worn out its welcome What they're saying In response, Judge Provinzino wrote, "This Court has been exceedingly patient with the U.S. Attorneys Office and has granted its attorneys (including Isihara) grace multiple times before, when disobedience came to light. But at this point, the refrain of understaffing and too many cases has worn out its welcome, particularly when it comes at the expense of individual rights. This Court would never allow a private attorney or litigant to rely on an Im too busy excuse to justify disobedience of a court order. The Government is no different." Real consequences The backstory The FOX 9 Investigators have reported extensively on the frustration from Minnesotas federal judges who have reported dozens of court violations by ICE and government attorneys over the last few months. Advertisement Advertisement Provinzino addressed the issue in her Friday order, writing, "The inability of the U.S. Attorneys Office to fulfill its duty to ensure compliance with judicial orders has real consequences on real human beings: petitioners are unlawfully left stranded thousands of miles away from Minnesota without their property (that is, if the petitioner is even timely released). Ultimately, staffing and resource allocation at the U.S. Attorneys Office is firmly within the Executives control. But it is this Courts business to ensure that its orders are obeyed and not ignored." Waiting for DOJ comment The other side FOX 9 reached out to the Department of Justice late Friday for comment and had not heard back. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen had previously taken issue with Provinzinos contempt ruling in the case. "Judge Provinzinos order is a lawless abuse of judicial power," Rosen wrote in a statement. After several days of confusion among residents and local leaders, ICE now says it has not purchased a facility in Lebanon despite earlier communication seemingly confirming intentions to open onean error which sparked political conversation across Middle Tennessee and filled the Wilson County Courthouse. ICE has NOT purchased a facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. That statement was sent without proper approval and this mistake has since been rectified, an unnamed ICE spokesperson said, but also indicating that the department is working across the U.S. to expand detention space. ICEs clarification came just moments before Tuesdays Wilson County Commission meeting, where nearly 500 people attended and 50 people spoke during a public comment period. The meeting room reached capacity and others who showed up to voice opinions or protest stood in the hallways watching the YouTube stream of the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Last Friday, the Tennessee Lookout reported ICEs intention to open a detention center, meanwhile local leaders said they had no knowledge of any purchase or plans. The Property Assessor said there was no evidence of any property being purchased or leased. Other local media, including the Lebanon Democrat, contacted ICE for confirmation or clarification. The Lookout and Nashville TV WKRN News 2 received replies seemingly confirming Lebanon, TN, as the intended location. State Sen. Mark Pody and State Rep. Clark Boyd made statements saying there may have been confusion with Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where the federal agency did purchase warehouses near; also that misinformation spread throughout the area causing a divide among residents. Pody said he needed more than an email as confirmation. Following the clarification that ICE was not pursuing Wilson County as a potential location, Pody said mistakes can hurt the trust between citizens and the government. Emotions flared as the majority of the speakers voiced opposition to any ICE facilities in WIlson County. Attendees brought signs, ranging from regular 8x11 printer paper to larger cardboard displays. Before the meeting, District 23 Commissioner Jeremy Reich told the audience that signs were not permitted in the meeting rooma statement met with immediate pushback, and a couple of individuals in the crowd claiming that it violates First Amendment rights, along with one voice clearly saying, I think well keep them. Hutto said the rule is in place for safety reasons, not to suppress any opinions. As the public comment period was beginning, District 3 Commissioner Bobby Franklin read state guidelines for public meetings and the time for comments, saying that the time is reserved for the public to have input on items pertaining to the agendaThere were no ICE-related items on the agenda. He added that the guidelines say the governing body shall take practical steps to ensure opposing viewpoints are represented. County Attorney Mike Jennings agreed that is the case in state law. Advertisement Advertisement However, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto said the Commission allowed public comments on items not on the agenda in the past and that Tuesday night would be no different. Paige Cook, a Mt. Juliet resident and 2026 County Commission candidate for District 3, was the first to speak, referenced communication reporters received from an ICE representative as part of the confusion surrounding the intentions of the Department of Homeland Security. In other communities, facilities like this have become operational within days of local government being notified, Cook said. This news also comes shortly after the Wilson County Sheriffs Office signed a 287(g) agreement to cooperate with ICE, which is why so many of us are concerned. Cook also said a facility could strain resources and impact infrastructure in the city, including potentially tying up law enforcement, EMS or healthcare systems. Advertisement Advertisement Once a facility like this is operational, the effects are no longer theoretical, Cook added. According to WCSO Public Information Officer Scott Moore, the 287(g) agreement has not been finalized. We do not go out looking for those intentionally such as job work sites, etc., and retrieve undocumented immigrants, Moore said. If they have committed a crime and their name is flagged by ICE, they will send a detainer and come get them before they are released. Later on, Bryan said he was "100% against a facility" in Lebanon. During the concurrent Lebanon City Council meeting, Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell said that according to Utilities Director Regina Santana, there is no industrial property in the city that can handle the water and sewer needs a detention center would require. Ward 6 Councilor Phil Morehead added the federal government would need to invest millions of dollars before anywhere in Lebanon could be used by ICE in that manner. Advertisement Advertisement Some of the speakers asked the Commission to draft and pass a resolution stating that Wilson County does not want an ICE detention center, or otherwise take a stance regarding the issue. Jason Harper, a Mt. Juliet resident, during his allotted three minutes, cited statistics of lower property and violent crime rates being tied to areas with higher immigrant residents. He also brought up alleged harsh conditions detainees faced in ICE facilities under the Trump Administration. He also cited data stating that many immigrants seeking asylum or other legal status were detained as well. Many of those people have active immigration proceedings, Harper said. [they] were arrested while trying to comply with the law by showing up and check-ins or court dates. We have all seen countless videos of ICE agents indiscriminately kidnapping, brutalizing and murdering citizens and non-citizens alike. All while the Trump Administration tells us to ignore the evidence of our eyes and ears, Harper continued, as his three minutes ended. Advertisement Advertisement Harper continued despite his allotted time expiring, while Hutto asked him to step back to allow other speakers to have their time. I pay my taxes, I will finish, Harper exclaimed as deputies slowly approached him. The audience applauded as he finished his thoughts while the deputies moved Harper away from the podium. Earlier Tuesday morning, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto made his monthly appearance on the Coleman & Company WANT 98.9 morning radio talk show where he discussed some of the intricacies behind federal plans being made without local knowledge. We began to dig and we couldnt find anybody who knew anything about it, Hutto told Coleman. Now with that being said, I know that theres also the opportunity that NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) are signed when someone goes to purchase a building. What weve also found out is a lot of times they have not let the local officials, the elected bodies, know that they are coming in to do this. Advertisement Advertisement ICE originally said the supposed facility would bring more than 7,000 jobs to Wilson County, additionally claiming it would bring $829.5 million to GDP and more than $167.8 million in tax revenue, numbers which baffled officials and residents. During the meeting, officials said that although the detention center is not coming to Lebanon right now, that doesnt mean it couldnt at some point in the future. An Idaho woman died Tuesday in Californias deadliest avalanche in modern history, according to a family spokesperson. Liz Clabaugh, 52, of Boise died in the avalanche near Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada along with her 45-year-old sister, Caroline Sekar of San Francisco, their brother McAlister Clabaugh told The New York Times. They are among at least eight people who lost their lives in the mountain snowslide. Advertisement Advertisement These are two of the best people Ive ever known, Clabaugh told the Times. They were incredible sisters, mothers, wives and friends. Caroline spent her final days doing what she loved best, with the people who loved her most, in her favorite place, Sekars husband of 20 years, Kiren Sekar, told the Times. She was with me, her children and our puppy, and then on one last adventure with her sister and close friends, who she now rests with. Liz Clabaugh, Caroline Sekar, Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse and Kate Vitt were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors, the families said in a statement released Thursday by Jessica Weaver of JVP Communications, whos representing them. We are devastated beyond words. the statement said. 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. Snow falls at Sugar Bowl Ski Academy on Thursday. Some of the avalanche deaths near Castle Peak had connections to the academy. (HECTOR AMEZCUA/hamezcua@sacbee.com) What happened during backcountry ski trip in California? A group of 11 ski trip participants and four professional guides were returning from a three-day trip in the backcountry early Tuesday morning when an avalanche struck. Advertisement Advertisement The skiers were accompanied by guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides of Truckee, California, when they were caught in a severe snowstorm near the Castle Peak area. Eight close friends planned a professionally guided, two-night backcountry hut trip to Frog Lake Huts outside Truckee, the families said. Searchers rescued six skiers in the group. 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 Sheriffs Office said in a Tuesday news release, noting that the skiers had varying injuries. Two of the six skiers (were) transported to a hospital for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Search-and-rescue teams had found the bodies of eight of the missing skiers as of Friday, the Nevada County Sheriffs Office reported, while one skier remained missing and is presumed dead. According to a Thursday news release, the Nevada County Sheriffs Office halted rescue efforts Thursday due to hazardous weather conditions. Avalanche victims cannot be safely extracted off the mountain today, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said in a Thursday news release. We are profoundly grateful for the extensive rescue efforts by Nevada County Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue and all of the authorities involved, and for the outpouring of support from the Tahoe community and beyond, Weaver said. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon reacts during a press conference at the Eric Rood Government Center in Nevada City on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, regarding an avalanche that took place the day prior in the backcountry. (HANNAH RUHOFF/hruhoff@sacbee.com) Who were skiers killed in Lake Tahoe avalanche? According to Moon, the identities of all eight avalanche victims wont be released by the Nevada County Sheriffs Office until the recovery mission is completed. Advertisement Advertisement At least some of the 15 skiers caught in the avalanche near Lake Tahoe knew each other from college, McAlister Clabaugh told the Times. According to the family statement, the six victims identified by Weaver were skilled backcountry skiers who were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment on their trip. The women lived in Idaho, the Bay Area and the TruckeeTahoe region, Weaver said. They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains, the statement said. They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. The Sacramento Bees Camila Pedrosa contributed reporting. Former Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) on Thursday released a new campaign ad featuring several Prairie State residents, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), all saying, F Trump. They said it, not me, Stratton says in the video posted on her social media. She added that shes not scared of a wannabe dictator. Im running for Senate to stand up to Donald Trump. Stratton said she will abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and hold Trump accountable for the crimes hes committed. Advertisement Advertisement After another batch of F Trump messages, including from Duckworth, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) appears next to Stratton to say Vote Juliana. Stratton is seeking retiring Sen. Dick Durbins (D-Ill.) seat, with the states primary taking place on March 7. Polling averages from Decision Desk HQ show Stratton trailing behind Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) with 18.5 percent compared to Krishnamoorthis 30.5 percent as of Feb. 3. The two candidates, along with Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), went toe-to-toe during an hour-long debate last month. Trump and ICE were among the biggest topics to loom over the course of the debate, with Kelly saying she filed letter of impeachment for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Stratton attacked Krishnamoorthi for backing a resolution thanking law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland. But Krishnamoorthi pushed back, saying the resolution was focused condemning an antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colo. Advertisement Advertisement She also accused Krishnamoorthi of being ineffective in Congress when answering a question about term limits. Stratton said the four bills Krishnamoorthi passed were about naming postal offices. 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. Federal officials have said the driver of a truck that fatally hit an 8-year-old girl at an intersection in Boises North End was deported two weeks after the accident. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security told the Idaho Statesman in an email that 27-year-old Elvin Elgardo Ramos-Caballero was removed from the U.S. and sent to Honduras on Nov. 27, 2025. No charges were filed against Ramos-Caballero and he was never arrested by the Boise Police Department, who handed him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents the day of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 13, Boise police responded to a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle at the corner of Harrison Boulevard and Ada Street. Mora Gerety, a student at Washington Elementary School in the North End, was found with life-threatening injuries. The Ada County Coroners Office later said she was pronounced dead that evening in an operating room at St. Lukes Boise Medical Center. A memorial to Mora Gerety was set up at the intersection of Harrison Boulevard and Ada Street in Boises North End. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com) Police said Mora and Ramos-Caballero, driving a pickup truck, were both headed west on Ada Street when they stopped at the intersection with Harrison Boulevard. Ramos-Caballero drove into the intersection as he was turning right and struck Mora, who was trying to cross Harrison, police stated. Boise police said in a press release that Ramos-Caballero remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. After a standard records check, police found that he was wanted on a federal ICE warrant, so they contacted agents. Advertisement Advertisement He was held at the Elmore County Jail, according to online ICE records, before being deported. According to Homeland Security, the mans federal warrant was issued for neglecting to show up at an immigration hearing after he entered the country illegally in 2015. An order was signed for him to be removed from the U.S. on May 9, 2016. Homeland Security also said the man acquired a drivers license in Oregon, which is one of 20 states not requiring proof of legal status to obtain a license. Oregon law HB2015 states that a person must show a valid passport, an identification card from the consulate of the persons home country, or a license or permit from another state. WASHINGTON (AP) The White House announced a reciprocal trade agreement with Indonesia on Thursday while President Prabowo Subianto was in Washington to attend the first meeting of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace. Under the agreement, Southeast Asias largest economy will eliminate tariffs for 99% of American goods while the U.S. will maintain tariffs on most Indonesian goods at 19%, the White House said. That is the same rate the U.S. has set for Cambodia and Malaysia. Indonesia also agreed to address non-tariff barriers to U.S. goods and to remove restrictions on exports to the U.S. for critical minerals and other industrial commodities, the White House said. Indonesian and U.S. companies also reached 11 deals this week worth $38.4 billion, including purchases of U.S. soybeans, corn, cotton and wheat, cooperation in critical minerals and oil field recovery, and joint ventures in computer chips. Advertisement Advertisement We have negotiated very intensively over the last few months, and I think we have reached solid understandings on many issues," Prabowo told business executives Wednesday at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A White House statement called it a great deal" and said it will help both countries to strengthen economic security, promote economic growth, and thereby continuously lead to global prosperity. The agreement was later signed by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and his Indonesian counterpart, Airlangga Hartarto. Hartarto told a news conference from Washington that both governments cast the agreement as marking the start of a new golden age in bilateral economic ties and Indonesia will introduce measures designed to keep trade flows secure and prevent misuse of sensitive goods. Indonesia's pledge for Gaza stabilization force The agreement was announced the same day that Prabowo, leader of the worlds most populous Muslim country, reiterated his pledge at the Board of Peace meeting to send 8,000 troops or more if necessary for an international stabilization force in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Indonesia was among the first to make a firm commitment to a critical element of Trumps postwar Gaza reconstruction plan. President Prabowo of Indonesia, thank you very much, Trump said at the Board of Peace meeting. Its a big country you have, and you do a great job. Prabowo praised Trump in return. We are very optimistic with the leadership of President Trump, this vision of real peace will be achieved, Prabowo said. There will be problems, but we will prevail. Cambodia and Vietnam are the two other Southeast Asian countries that joined the board, which was originally envisioned as overseeing the Gaza ceasefire but has taken shape with wider ambitions to broker other global conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Their leaders also came to Washington for the inaugural meeting. Cambodia has already inked a trade deal with the U.S., while Vietnam has reached a framework agreement. Critical minerals play into Indonesia deal Indonesian companies agreed this week to buy 1 million tons of soybeans, 1.6 million tons of corn and 93,000 tons of cotton from the U.S. They also pledged to buy up to 5 million tons of U.S. wheat by 2030. The countries agreed to cooperate on critical minerals, though details were not immediately available. Washington is seeking Indonesias agreement to lift restrictions on critical mineral exports, which the Trump administration argues could safeguard U.S. manufacturers from supplychain disruptions. The administration has sought to defend against Chinas stranglehold on the key elements needed for everything from fighter jets to smartphones. Advertisement Advertisement At the Chamber of Commerce event, Prabowo said Indonesia can serve as a bridge and honest broker between great powers, apparently referring to the U.S.-China competition. Vietnam's leader makes first visit to the US since being reelected At the Board of Peace meeting, Trump called Vietnam incredible as a country and as a force and told leader To Lam that it was a really great honor to have you." Lam's visit to the U.S. is his first since he was reelected as the head of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party last month. Typically, China is an initial stop in a nod to the countries' ideological ties and Beijings status as Vietnams largest trading partner. Lam did visit China in August 2024 before traveling to the U.S. during his first term. Analysts say Lam's visit to the U.S. before traveling to Beijing this time around is a notable shift in sequencing. Hanoi describes its foreign policy as independent and balanced among major powers. Advertisement Advertisement Trade negotiations between Vietnam and the United States are ongoing following the Trump administration levying 20% tariffs on Vietnamese exports. The latest, sixth round of talks concluded in early February. ___ Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia, and Ghosal from Hanoi, Vietnam. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that the presidents announced the deal but did not sign it. It was later signed by their representatives. Iran potentially repositioned strike drones and other military assets under the cover of joint drills with Russia in the Strait of Hormuz Thursday, a defense expert has claimed. In what he described as a "calculated escalation" amid rising tensions with the U.S., Cameron Chell suggested the Russian-led exercises could have provided cover for Iranian forces to move their drones into operational positions. Chell, of defense firm Draganfly, told Fox News Digital that the possible repositioning followed reports of sightings of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones with precision strike capabilities in the region. Advertisement Advertisement "The Russian drills taking place along the coastline would allow Iranian forces to possibly reposition its forces under the veil of doing military exercises," Chell said. Uk Blocks Trump From Using Raf Air Bases For Potential Iran Attack: Report Defense expert Cameron Chell has called Iran's military moves with Russia a "calculated escalation." (Getty Images) The combined exercises, reported by The Associated Press, also came as President Donald Trump pressed Iran further to make a deal to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions following indirect talks in Geneva. Read On The Fox News App "Were going to make a deal, or were going to get a deal one way or the other," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, signaling determination to secure an agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, on Feb. 18, U.S. Central Command posted photos showing F/A-18 Super Hornets landing on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. Morning Glory: What Will President Donald Trump Decide To Do With Iran? Iran's latest moves reportedly follow sightings of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones. Flight-tracking data in recent days also showed U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drones operating near Irans coastline. One Triton was observed Feb. 14 and another on Feb. 18, conducting high-altitude maritime intelligence missions over the Gulf. Chell noted the MQ Triton surveillance drone operating near Iran's coastline. He added these drones could likely launch from land bases in countries such as Saudi Arabia or Qatar and provide real-time situational awareness to naval commanders. Advertisement Advertisement Trump's Special Envoy Witkoff And Kushner Visit Us Aircraft Carrier Amid Iran Tensions, Talks "The Russian drills would cover for the Iranian forces to move their drones into strike position," Chell told Fox News Digital. Chell also added the MQ-9 Reaper, capable of precision strikes - and operates between 25,000 and 40,000 feet and is difficult for Iran to counter. As previously reported by Fox News Digital, USS Gerald R. Ford, the second aircraft carrier Trump has sent to the Middle East, and its accompanying ships are heading across the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean Sea. Click Here To Download The Fox News App NATO country and U.S. ally Poland also warned its citizens Thursday to immediately flee Iran, with its prime minister saying the "possibility of a conflict is very real." Original article source: Iran possibly repositions strike drones amid Russia drills in Strait, expert says Students at several universities in Iran have staged anti-government protests - the first such rallies on this scale since January's deadly crackdown by the authorities. The BBC has verified footage of demonstrators marching on the campus of the Sharif University of Technology in the capital Tehran on Saturday. They were later seen scuffling with government supporters. Protests were also reported at other universities in Tehran and elsewhere - with students gathering to honour thousands of those killed by authorities last month. Advertisement Advertisement It comes as the US builds up its military presence near Iran, with President Donald Trump has saying he is considering a limited military strike. The US and its European allies suspect that Iran is moving towards the development of a nuclear weapon, something Iran has always denied. US and Iranian officials met in Switzerland on Tuesday and said progress had been made in talks aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear programme. But despite the reported progress, Trump said afterwards that the world would find out "over the next, probably, 10 days" whether a deal would be reached with Iran or the US would take military action. Advertisement Advertisement The US leader has supported protesters in the past - at one stage appearing to encourage them with a promise that "help is on its way". Footage verified by the BBC shows hundreds of protesters peacefully marching on the campus of the Sharif University of Technology at the start of a new semester on Saturday. The crowds chanted "death to the dictator" - a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - and other anti-government slogans. Advertisement Advertisement A separate crowd of supporters of a rival pro-government rally - many with national Iranian flags - are seen nearby at the beginning of the video. Scuffles are later seen breaking out between the two camps. Verified photos have also emerged showing a peaceful sit-in protest at the capital's Shahid Beheshti University. The BBC has also verified footage from another Tehran university, Amir Kabir University of Technology, showing chanting against the government. In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city in the north-east, local students reportedly chanted: "Freedom, freedom" and "Students, shout, shout for your rights". Advertisement Advertisement It is not immediately clear whether any demonstrators have been arrested. There have been reports of protests continuing on Sunday. January's protests began over economic grievances and soon spread to become Iran's largest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) said it had confirmed the killing of at least 7,015 people during that wave, including 6,508 protesters, 226 children and 214 people affiliated with the government. The latest figures were updated on 15 February. Hrana also said it was investigating 11,744 more reported deaths. Iranian authorities said late last month that more than 3,100 people had been killed - but that the majority were security personnel or bystanders attacked by "rioters". Advertisement Advertisement With Trump's threats looming, Iranian authorities are continuing to prepare for possible conflict with the US. US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Saturday that Trump was questioning why Iran had not "capitulated" in the face of Washington's military build-up. Witkoff told Fox News the president was "curious" about Iran's position after he had warned them of severe consequences in the event they failed to strike a deal. "I don't want to use the word 'frustrated,' because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he's curious as to why they haven't... I don't want to use the word 'capitulated,' but why they haven't capitulated," he said. Advertisement Advertisement The exiled opposition is adamantly calling on President Trump to make good on his threats and strike, hoping for a quick downfall of the current hardline government. But other opposition groups are opposed to outside intervention. The opposing sides have been involved in disinformation campaigns of social media, trying to maximise their conflicting narratives of what Iranian people want. Additional reporting by BBC Persian's Ghoncheh Habibiazad, and BBC Verify's Richard Irvine-Brown and Shayan Sardarizadeh. Update 22 February: This article was updated to make clear that those shown on video holding Iranian national flags were part of a pro-government rally, which was separate to the nearby anti-government protest. House Speaker Mike Johnson has denied a request from the family of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson to allow him to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda following his death at age 84. Johnsons office cited long-standing House precedent, noting that the Rotunda is typically reserved for presidents, former members of Congress, military leaders, and Supreme Court justices. Because Jackson never held federal office, officials said he did not meet the traditional criteria. But allies and civil rights leaders say the decision reflects an overly narrow definition of public service. Advertisement Advertisement Jacksons family released a statement upon his death outlining his legacy and impact: Our father was a servant leader not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by. Other people had that idea, and the Speaker has authority over that branch of government and over the Capitol, said Jacksons daughter Santita Jackson, responding to the denial of the Rotunda honor. What we want is for the people to get a chance to be with him. To lie in honor is a rare ceremonial distinction granted to private citizens whose remains are placed in the Capitol Rotunda for public viewing. Unlike lying in state, which is reserved for government officials, the honor has been extended only a handful of times. Notably, it was granted to civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks in 2005 and evangelist Billy Graham in 2018. In both cases, lawmakers argued that their moral influence and national stature merited exceptional recognition. Supporters of Jackson say his legacy fits squarely within that tradition. A two-time presidential candidate and tireless organizer, he helped register voters, broker political coalitions, and elevate racial and economic justice onto the national stage for more than five decades. Advertisement Advertisement NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the decision something that tells you everything you need to know about Mike Johnson and his gross disregard for our Constitution and our democracy. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. Memorial services for Jackson will proceed in Chicago, Washington, and South Carolina, drawing leaders, activists, and admirers from across the country. But for many, the absence of a Capitol tribute underscores a familiar tension: America celebrates its reformers rhetorically, even as its institutions struggle to fully honor them. It is worth noting that more recent requests for this honor have been denied for former Vice President Dick Cheney and conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In death, as in life, Jacksons legacy remains larger than the spaces Washington is willing to offer. The post Jesse Jacksons legacy isnt enough for Capitol honor appeared first on Salon.com. Thomas Pritzker, the longtime executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has announced his resignation from the company effective immediately. The billionaire's departure stems from newly disclosed communications linking him to late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his close associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Pritzker, 75, who has helmed Hyatt as executive chairman since 2004, said he would not seek re-election to the company's board at its 2026 annual meeting. In a letter to the board and a related public statement, he acknowledged "terrible judgment" in maintaining relationships with Epstein after the financier's 2008 guilty plea to procuring an underage girl for prostitution. The decision follows the release of millions of internal U.S. Department of Justice documents tied to Epstein investigations, as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which has revealed extensive networks of correspondence and associations involving high-profile figures like President Donald Trump, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and former President Bill Clinton. The disclosures include evidence that Pritzker remained in contact with Epstein and Maxwell over many years. According to reporting from PBS, one email from the trove showed Pritzker engaging with Epstein and Maxwell about social plans. Although Pritzker has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing, the content of these releases has driven reputational risk for those named. In his resignation, Pritzker emphasized his commitment to Hyatt's future and the need for responsible stewardship. "Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which I deeply regret," he wrote. "I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner." Pritzker's exit marks a significant moment for the Chicago-based global hotel chain, which operates more than 1,450 properties worldwide. The files have also led to other high-profile departures. Among those who have resigned in recent weeks are the chairman and CEO of Dubai's DP World, a prominent Goldman Sachs lawyer and former White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler, and the head of a major U.S. law firm, all tied to documented interactions with Epstein. Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's president and chief executive officer, has been named the company's new chairman, taking over immediately. A member of one of America's wealthiest and most influential families, he is first cousin to Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker and plays a significant role in several philanthropic and business endeavors. While stepping down from his Hyatt role, he reportedly remains involved in family investments and other interests. Originally published on IBTimes The song Golden from the hit animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters' continues to make waves globally, achieving 5x platinum status just seven months after the movie's release. It took a mighty group of songwriters to deliver "Golden." That group included EJAE, who also provides the singing voice of Rumi, Mark Sonnenblick and South Korean hit factory The Black Label - IDO (Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Zhun), according to Variety. Speaking about the creative process, Zhun, via translator, explained to Variety, "The production team wanted us to work on the drum loop. They wanted it to be a very specific BPM between 100 and 120, so we developed the drum loop first and went from there." Nam added that the song followed a traditional KPop structure, "We had two voices, two verses and a bridge." Filmmakers Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans requested a high note as a key element for the track, which EJAE performed. "This was a very important component to the song itself," Zhun said. "That note was A5 and written in intentionally by EJAE. When IDO first heard it, our reaction was one of awe. There's a limit to how high a note can be, so we weren't expecting to include a note so high. It's really incredible to see her hit that note," according to Variety. In addition to Golden, IDO also composed music for the film's all-female group Huntr/x and the Saja Boys. Zhun credited film music producer Ian Eisendrath for helping create two distinct musical identities: "Saja Boys are a group that's actually evil, pretending to be kind, whereas Huntr/x is a group expressing frustration, and they are the heroines of the story itself. His guidance helped us mesh the music into the visual image, because it feels completely different than standalone music." When asked about lyrics that resonated most, Lee highlighted the line, "I'm done hiding, now I'm shining," as a reflection of Rumi's inner growth. Nam and Zhun expressed pride that Korean lyrics reached a global audience, saying, "To see people singing along to these Korean lyrics is a very moving moment for me," according to Variety. Golden continues to cement the impact of KPop in international music and demonstrates the skill of The Black Label team in blending traditional KPop elements with cinematic storytelling. (ANI) On Fridays edition of Foxs The Five, Jesse Watters bizarrely claimed that President Donald Trump has gotten the Panama Canal back thanks to his tariffs, many of which were ruled illegal by the Supreme Court hours earlier. In a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, Trump-appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett sided with three liberal justices to strike down the presidents sweeping emergency tariffs in a ruling that CNN called arguably the most important loss the second Trump administration has sustained at the conservative Supreme Court. Hes now gotten the Panama Canal back from tariffs, hes brought Greenland back into our orbit, and hes gotten NATO funding boosted from tariffs, said Watters. Not to mention the fact that wars have been settled because of tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement In response to Watters comments, Fred Wellman, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Missouri, posted on X, writing, None of this is true. This isnt how tariffs work. Earlier in Fridays edition of The Five, Watters also said of the ruling, The Supreme Court comes in and says, Listen, you cant use this authority, you have to use this authority, so you have to do an investigation first. Thats like telling a landscaper, You cant use a leaf blower, you have to use a rake.' He went on to lament that Trump doesnt have the same powers as Chinese dictator Xi Jinping. Xi Jinping he dumps, and he tariffs. Hes got a sword and a shield, said Watters before fellow Fox host Jessica Tarlov interjected, saying, Hes a dictator! Advertisement Advertisement Hes not a sitting duck like us, who has to wait, and then go and do an investigation, and then come back this is what we need now, concluded Watters. Watch the clip above via Fox News. The post Jesse Watters Bizarrely Claims Trump Has Gotten the Panama Canal Back Thanks to Tariffs first appeared on Mediaite. NEW YORK (AP) JPMorgan Chase acknowledged for the first time that it closed the bank accounts of President Donald Trump and several of his businesses in the political and legal aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, the latest development in a legal saga between the president and the nation's biggest bank over the issue known as debanking. The acknowledgment came in a court filing submitted this week in Trump's lawsuit against the bank and its leader, Jamie Dimon. The president sued for $5 billion, alleging that his accounts were closed for political reasons, disrupting his business operations. In February 2021, JPMorgan informed Plaintiffs that certain accounts maintained with JPMorgans CB and PB would be closed, JPMorgan's former chief administrative officer Dan Wilkening wrote in the court filing. The PB and CB stands for JPMorgan's private bank and commercial bank. Advertisement Advertisement Until now, JPMorgan has never admitted it closed the president's accounts in writing after Jan. 6. The bank would only speak hypothetically about when the bank closes accounts and its reasons for closing accounts, citing bank privacy laws. A spokeswoman for the bank declined to comment beyond what the bank said in its legal filings. Trump originally sued JPMorgan in Florida state court, where Trump's primary residence is now located. The filings this week are part of an effort by JPMorgan Chase to have the case both moved from state to federal court and to have the jurisdiction of the case moved to New York, which is where the bank accounts were located and where Trump kept much of his business operations until recently. Trump originally accused the bank of trade libel and violating state and federal unfair and deceptive trade practices. Advertisement Advertisement In the original lawsuit, Trump said he tried to raise the issue personally with Dimon after the bank sent him notices that JPMorgan would close his accounts, and that Dimon assured Trump he would figure out what was happening. The lawsuit alleges Dimon failed to follow up with Trump. Further, Trumps lawyers allege that JPMorgan placed the president and his companies on a reputational blacklist that both JPMorgan and other banks use to keep clients from opening accounts with them in the future. The blacklist has yet to be defined by the president's lawyers. If and when Plaintiffs explain what they mean by this blacklist, JPMorgan will respond accordingly, the bank's lawyers said in a filing. JPMorgan has previously said that while it regrets that Trump felt the need to sue the bank, the lawsuit has no merit. Advertisement Advertisement The issue of debanking is at the center of the case. Debanking occurs when a bank closes the accounts of a customer or refuses to do business with a customer in the form of loans or other services. Once a relatively obscure issue in finance, debanking has become a politically charged issue in recent years, with conservative politicians arguing that banks have discriminated against them and their affiliated interests. In a devastating concession that proves President Trumps entire claim, JPMorgan Chase admitted to unlawfully and intentionally de-banking President Trump, his family, and his businesses, causing overwhelming financial harm, the president's lawyers said in a statement. "President Trump is standing up for all those wrongly debanked by JPMorgan Chase and its cohorts, and will see this case to a just and proper conclusion. Debanking first became a national issue when conservatives accused the Obama administration of pressuring banks to stop extending services to gun stores and payday lenders under Operation Choke Point. Trump and other conservative figures have alleged that banks cut them off from their accounts under the umbrella term of reputational risk after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Since Trump came back into office, the presidents banking regulators have moved to stop any banks from using reputational risk as a reason for denying service to customers. This is not the first lawsuit Trump has filed against a big bank alleging that he was debanked. The Trump Organization sued credit card giant Capital One in March 2025 for similar reasons and allegations. The case is ongoing. GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WBTW) More than four years after former Hemingway Police Officer Cassandra Dollar shot and killed a man after a lengthy pursuit, a Georgetown County jury found her not guilty of voluntary manslaughter on Friday. Dollard was charged after the Feb. 6, 2022, shooting that killed 6-year-old Robert Langley. It happened after he fled when she tried to stop him for running a stop sign in Hemingway. Dollard ended up pursuing him for 9 miles, with speeds reaching 120 mph, before he crashed into a ditch at the corner of Choppee Road and School House Road in Georgetown County, the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office said. He was unarmed and climbing out of his vehicle toward Dollard when she shot him. Advertisement Advertisement Langley was shot by Dollard one time in the chest, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Dollard said she feared for her safety even though she never saw a weapon. He died from his injuries at Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital. These cases are never easy, 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said Friday in a news release after the trial that began on Tuesday. We appreciate the service of the jury this week, and we respect the jurys decision. After the shooting, Langleys family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Columbia. It included accusations of gross negligence and claims that Dollard used excessive force and violated Langleys constitutional rights. Dollard had a tainted record as a police officer before the shooting, having been fired twice before, according to public records. Among other things, she was fired from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety in 2014 for alleged violations of two policies related to discipline, according to the documents. She was also fired in April 2002 from the Johnsonville Police Department for poor performance. Advertisement Advertisement A lawsuit Dollard filed in 2017 against the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, claiming racial and gender-based discrimination, shows she was fired in 2014 for shooting at dogs while off duty, using her department-issued weapon and not reporting it for hours, according to a firing memo obtained by News13. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work 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 WBTW. Kentucky House Democrats unveiled a plan Friday to address concerns that Republicans 2026-28 executive branch budget proposal goes too far in reducing spending on education, health insurance and more. Democratic lawmakers in the House filed seven floor amendments as part of a package of proposals to address the housing crisis, strengthen public education and protect programs, including Medicaid and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. According to a news release, the seven floor amendments include: Advertisement Advertisement $279 million to protect the Kentucky Employees Health Plan $670 million into public education $192 million to providing a 13th pension check for retired state employees and retired state troopers $623 million to fully fund Medicaid $101.5 million fully SNAP, commonly known as food stamps $140 million in affordable housing $50 million to rural hospitals The floor amendments were not available for public review Friday afternoon on the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission website. Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, said the current Republican budget proposal withholds $1 billion in revenues. (Republicans are) holding your tax dollars hostage, hoping to use them to reach a trigger for a tax break for their rich friends and donors, lawmakers, offices have been flooded with calls, emails and messages from every corner of the Commonwealth and from both Republican and Democratic voters, Stevenson said. Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky crafts its biennial budget during even-numbered years, and House Republicans released their first draft in January. The states budget must be adopted by April 15, but it has made little progress through the legislature so far. In its current state, House Bill 500, the Republican proposal, totals $29.8 billion in two-year general fund spending. Thats down from the 2024 budgets $30.1 billion. House Appropriations & Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, previously said the major theme of the budget will be reduced spending. The GOP budget proposal features several areas where spending growth will go down over time, as opposed to the normal projected year-over-year growth. For example, general fund spending on Medicaid would go down from fiscal 2026-27 to fiscal 2027-28. In HB 500, the executive branch is allocated $2.96 billion from the general fund for the first fiscal year, and then $2.88 billion in the next. Advertisement Advertisement Multiple lawmakers, including Republicans, are voicing concern over the proposal, saying it goes too far with education cuts. State Rep. Patrick Flannery and state Sen. Brandon Smith, both Republicans, have said on social media they would vote no on the budgets current form. Jason Bailey of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy said in a Facebook post HB 500 would cut school transportation funding and freeze the guaranteed base funding level used to determine payments to school districts under the SEEK formula. The Support Education Excellence in Kentucky formula, or SEEK, is a state-provided funding approach for schools based on per-student calculations. The budget passed during the 2024 legislative session allocated $3.26 billion and $3.37 billion in base funding for school districts. HB 500 proposes $3.46 billion and $3.37 billion in the next two fiscal years, which freezes the per-student spending at $4,586 per fiscal year. When asked if House Democrats have spoken with Republicans about support for the floor amendments, Minority Caucus Chair Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, said she doesnt think leadership will let dissenting Republicans support the Democrats plan. Advertisement Advertisement They put out the worst budget that Kentucky has ever seen, and now they dont know how to clean up their mess, Burke said. Other concerns about HB 500 include declining state worker health benefits. Personnel Cabinet Secretary Mary Elizabeth Bailey sent a letter to all members of the General Assembly outlining her concerns, saying the 5% increase cap on employer health plan contributions per year would lead to decreased benefits for members of the Kentucky Employee Health Plan program. That could affect more than 310,000 state workers, dependents and retirees. Rep. Erika Hancock, D-Frankfort, said this is the first time Republicans are proposing a budget that threatens to impose a 5% annual cap on the states contribution to the Kentucky employees health plan. Advertisement Advertisement The states personnel cabinet issued a warning that this could mean premium increases of up to 78% and with reduced coverage, teachers, bus drivers, state troopers and other public servants will pay dramatically more and receive less coverage, Hancock said. Thats not right when we have the money to fix this. HB 500 has yet to receive a committee hearing, which is the next step in the legislative process. Depending on how the bill changes before it reaches the floor, Burke said, without giving away our whole strategy, I assure you, we will fight to the very end. The Department of Labors (DOL) headquarters banned Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemers husband after two women employed by the department alleged that he sexually assaulted them, The New York Times reported Thursday. The staffers claimed that Dr. Shawn DeRemer touched them inappropriately inside the department building, with one of the incidents caught on security camera on Dec. 18, people familiar with the incident told the Times. The video shows DeRemer giving a woman an extended embrace, which was reviewed as part of a criminal investigation. Another person told the newspaper the incidents were brought up during the DOLs Office of Inspector Generals investigation into alleged misconduct between Chavez-DeRemer and two of her top staffers. Advertisement Advertisement The Times obtained a Metropolitan Police Department report filed last month about forced sexual contact at the Labor Department building. The departments sexual assault unit is investigating the incident. After DeRemer was barred from the building, a building restriction notice viewed by the Times read, If Mr. DeRemer attempts to enter, he is to be asked to leave. The Hill has reached out to the DOL for comment. The two staffers investigated for alleged misconduct, Chavez-DeRemers chief of staff Jihun Han and his deputy Rebecca Wright, were reportedly placed on leave amid the investigation into claims of personal trips with family and friends paid for with taxpayer dollars, the New York Post and Politico reported. Chavez-DeRemer was also accused of having an affair with a subordinate and drinking on the job, the outlets wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Theres not an ounce of truth to this, and anyone who knows my wife would know that, DeRemer said in a statement, the Post reported. The DOL and White House also denied the allegations against Chavez-DeRemer. A DOL spokesperson told the Post that the unsubstantiated allegations are categorically false. 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. A Benton County attorney and his multi-state immigration and personal injury law firm agreed to pay $2.3 million to settle claims of harassment and discrimination by four legal assistants. Brandon Ritchie agreed to pay the four former employees, all Latinas, after they accused him of a pattern of sexual harassment, making racist, sexist and demeaning jokes and refusing to stop even after being told to, according to a press release. For nearly a decade, Brandon M. Ritchie has sexually harassed, intimidated and exploited his primarily young Latina staff and has consistently denigrated their gender, race, national origin and ethnicity, the amended complaint from attorney Victoria Vreeland said. Advertisement Advertisement His constant harassment was so intense, frequent and pervasive that it interfered with the womens ability to work and Ritchie and the law firm allegedly refused to address it, court documents said. The behavior and the response left the women sick, distressed, afraid and feeling unsafe. When they reported the behavior, their employer Ritchie, Reiersen Injury and Immigration Attorneys allegedly retaliated. Lawsuit settlement Ritchie, his partner Eric Reiersen and the law firm did not admit to doing anything wrong as part of the settlement. The case was dismissed with prejudice, so it cant be filed again. The firm has offices in Kennewick, Auburn, Yakima, Tacoma and Moses Lake in Washington. Its website also lists Portland, Oregon; Twin Falls, Idaho; and remote work in Mesa, Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Ritchie attended the University of Idahos law school from 2008 to 2011 and earned his bachelors degree from BYU-Idaho, according to his website. As part of the settlement, Ritchie agreed to a mental health evaluation and treatment plan by a specialist in sexual harassment along with racial and sexual misconduct. Until that is finished, Ritchie wont be allowed to be alone with any female employees or candidates. The firm also needs to bring on an outside human resources specialist to develop policies that follow state and federal law. They also need to come up with an external method for making complaints. All owners, staff and independent contractors will need to have training on the revised policies. Advertisement Advertisement Once those complaints are made, they need to conduct an actual investigation of complaints and preserve the records and documents from that investigation. Ritchie, who has been an attorney since 2012, has focused his practice on personal injury law, according to the Washington State Bar Association. Reierson added his name to the firm in 2016, about five years after finishing law school. Their firm has actively pursued clients looking for help navigating immigration issues. That included sending employees to nearby farms with lunches for workers, advertising on Spanish-language radio stations and sponsoring Hispanic-focused events in the community, the lawsuit said. Advertisement Advertisement The women also plan to file a complaint with the Washington State Bar Association claiming that Ritchie violated the rules of professional conduct. It is misconduct for a lawyer in his professional activities to commit a discriminatory act prohibited by state law, including on the basis of sex, race or national origin, or to commit any other act that reflects disregard for the rule of law, Vreeland wrote in the complaint. Sexual harassment The four women who sued Brenda Frias Perez, Gloria Guizar Negrette, Patricia Lozano and Oralia Gutierrez-Verduzco started with the firm in late 2021 or early 2022. Ritchie allegedly liked to hire young Latinas to work as non-lawyer employees, receptionists and paralegals. He allegedly said they were more passive, wouldnt complain or press for higher pay, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement The four who are suing were younger than 30 and hired into the firms immigration department. On a daily basis and at times more than once a day, he repeatedly and openly leered and stared at their bodies, the complaint said about Ritchie. He was very obvious in his actions of locking into a stare and leering at womans chest and breasts for long periods of time, in nearly every encounter. Ritchie also allegedly asked them personal and intimate questions during their interviews, such as whether they planned to get married, if they had kids or in one case, whether the woman wore a ring to avoid getting hit on by guys, the complaint said. After they were hired, Ritchie would on a daily basis take every opportunity to peek, peer and stare at them, the lawsuit said. Advertisement Advertisement As it continued, the women felt naked, exposed and vulnerable and became scared, the suit said. Vreeland wrote that they tried to cover up as much as possible, changed the clothes they were wearing and tried to block his view of them. They also tried to avoid him entirely. The women learned from co-workers that his behavior was normal, according to the complaint. Ritchie denied staring at the women during depositions, and claimed that it was only the womens belief that he was staring at them, court documents said. He also agreed that the women werent lying about his conduct. He wrote in his personal journal in 2022 that he believed that the complaints were a shakedown, court documents said. Advertisement Advertisement He told the Washington state Bar Association that he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and his eyes wander. Demeaning, racist comments In addition, the suit claims he made racist and demeaning comments. He mocked immigrant laborers for wearing dirty clothes and held their lack of education in contempt. He insulted Mexican music and said Spanish-speaking clients should learn English, said the suit. He also allegedly called Latina employees his burritos. When Frias and Guizar said they wanted to attend law school and said they were part of a Heritage University pre-law program, Ritchie allegedly told them several times that they would be admitted regardless of their test scores or abilities because of Affirmative Action. Advertisement Advertisement Ritchie told the women that he went to law school with five Mexicans and six Blacks and they were the dumbest people (he) ever met, according to the complaint. Apology letter The women said they complained to their managers and other attorneys about the issues but nothing changed. Their direct manager, Richard Razo, allegedly said hed heard it before and that was just how Ritchie was, and that he was not going to change, said the suit. They sought help from the only Latina attorney in the firm, Jennifer Diaz, who was working in the Kennewick office at the time. She spoke to Reiersen on their behalf. He asked for a letter detailing the concerns. Three days after they handed over a letter, Ritchie sent an apology, said the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement He did not deny the conduct they described. He expressly acknowledged that he had crossed the professional line, but tried to claim his actions were not with malicious intent, said the suit. Ritchie met with the women and other attorneys and their manager the day after sending the letter. He reportedly praised the women and acknowledged that the behavior they complained about had been raised by other people. He said if they caught him staring at women inappropriately again to kick him in the shins, the complaint said. The suit claims his tone changed, however, after the women presented a list of demands that included hiring a human resources manager, changing their reporting structure and paying appropriate wages. They claim Ritchie became harsh and defensive, saying he couldnt afford to make those changes and they should just trust that he would change. Diaz allegedly told the women that she experienced the same harassment from Ritchie. When Ritchie asked what she would tell a federal agency if the women complained, Diaz explained that she would tell the truth, and hoped he would too. Within a few days, she was fired, leading to a lawsuit filed in King County that ended in a settlement. Treated as outcasts After that meeting, the women and other immigration paralegals were told they couldnt take breaks together and now would have weekly meetings to talk about their performance and assignments, said the suit. They said they were watched and tasked with preparing training materials for virtual legal assistants and paralegals that would replace them. After the meeting, Ritchie actively avoided the women and looked up at the ceiling when he had to speak with them. His behavior mocked the seriousness of their complaints and his behavior, she said. They were treated as outcasts and ostracized. It was humiliating and punitive. The suit claims while he stopped leering at the women who complained, he continued to stare at other women in the office. The women also claim they were assigned more work after other paralegals left in apparent attempt to get them to quit, said the suit. Within three months of the meeting, Frias resigned, followed by Guizar, a month later. Lozano left the firm in April, and Gutierrez-Verduzco was fired in March 2024. St. Joseph, Mo. Local voters will have the opportunity to hear from more than a dozen candidates running for St. Joseph city council and mayor as part of a Friday night forum scheduled for next week at the Rolling Hills Public Library. The League of Women Voters of Northwest Missouri, along with co-sponsors Missouri Western State University Foundation, NAACP St. Joseph Chapter and St. Joseph Retired School Personnel Association, is set to host a St. Joseph City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forum on Friday, Feb. 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Rolling Hills Librarys Upper Story Room at 1906A N. Belt Highway. Light refreshments will be served at the forum, which will be moderated by Sharon Kosek, ll City Council and Mayoral Candidates who have other candidates running against them were invited to participate. Advertisement Advertisement The forum will include at-large City Council candidates Frederick Martin, Gary S. Wilkinson, Collin Clibon, Randy S. Schultz, Marty Novak, Kenton W. Randolph, Jeff Schomburg, and Dakota Allen, as well as District 3 candidates W. Andrew Trout and Dana Stickley and District 4 candidate Michael Grimm. Mayoral Candidates John Josendale and Larry Miller have also agreed to participate. Schultz, Novak, Randolph, Schomburg, Trout, and Grimm are City Council incumbents, while Josendale is the Mayoral incumbent. Four at-Large City Council members will be elected on Tuesday, April 7. One candidate each from District 3 and District 4 will be elected as well as the Mayor. District 1 Councilman Madison Davis, District 2 Councilman Jason Eslinger, and Municipal Judge Laura B. Chavez are the incumbent candidates whose will run unopposed. Advertisement Advertisement During the forum on Feb. 27, the public will be invited to submit written questions to be considered for the candidates. The LWV-NWMO reserves the right to determine which questions are asked. The General Municipal Election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 and polls will open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those with questions about voting can visit www.co.buchanan.mo.us or call the Buchanan County Clerks office during regular business hours at 816-271-1412. St. Joseph for many years had a League of Women Voters that held similar forums traditionally at the YWCA. That group was very active for decades and invited the public to become more familiar with legislators and current bills of interest as well as encouraging individuals to register to vote. The League of Women Voters is a non-for-profit, nonpartisan grassroots organization which defends Democracy. The group does not endorse candidates but does endorse issues. There are several League of Women Voters organizations across Missouri as well as a Missouri League of Women Voters group and a National League of Women Voters. There are hundreds of League of Women Voters groups across the United States, Hong Kong, and the US Virgin Islands. Israeli air strikes have killed at least 10 people in eastern Lebanon, Lebanese officials say, despite a ceasefire. Israel's military said it had targeted sites belonging to Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim militia and political party, in the Bekaa Valley, an area where the group has a strong presence. Hezbollah confirmed that at least eight of its members had been killed, including a senior field commander. Advertisement Advertisement The strikes were among the deadliest in Lebanon since a ceasefire ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024. Despite the deal, which followed 13 months of conflict, Israel has carried out near-daily strikes on Lebanon, on targets it says are linked to the group, which is supported by Iran. Images posted online from one of the locations hit on Friday night showed heavy damage in what appeared to be a residential neighbourhood. In a statement, the Israeli military said it had struck what it described as Hezbollah command centres and that the group "systematically embeds its assets within the civilian population". It said the group's activities were "a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon". Advertisement Advertisement In a separate statement on Saturday, the military said it had "eliminated several terrorists of Hezbollah's missile array in three different command centres... recently identified as operating to accelerate the organisation's readiness and force build-up processes, while planning fire attacks towards Israel". Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organisation by countries including the UK and the US, says the ceasefire deal only applies to southern Lebanon, in the area between the Litani river and the Blue Line, the unofficial border between Lebanon and Israel. There, the Lebanese army has dismantled infrastructure used by the group, in the first stage of a plan to disarm Hezbollah after its devastating war with Israel. The group, however, has so far rejected calls from Lebanese authorities to discuss the future of its weapons elsewhere in the country, including in the Bekaa Valley, where part of its arsenal is believed to be located. Advertisement Advertisement This week, Hezbollah dismissed a decision by the government to advance the second phase of the disarmament plan in areas between north of the Litani and the Awali river, in the port city of Sidon. Lebanon's government says Israel's ongoing actions are a violation of the ceasefire deal and has urged the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop its attacks. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam recently said the situation had become a "one-sided war of attrition". Hours before the attacks in the east, an Israeli strike hit the densely populated Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Helweh, on the outskirts of Sidon, in the country's south. Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military said it had struck a "command centre" that had been used by Hamas, which said two members had been killed. The strikes come amid heightened tensions in the region, with the United States threatening to attack Iran if negotiations between the two countries fail to reach a deal. There are concerns in Lebanon that Iran might force Hezbollah to join its response to an attack if Israel becomes involved. Israeli attacks have killed at least 12 people in eastern and southern Lebanon, in the latest breach of a 2024 ceasefire deal with the armed group, Hezbollah. Lebanons official National News Agency (NNA) reported on Friday that air strikes on the Bekaa Valley in the east of the country killed at least six people and left more than 25 wounded, who were distributed across the regions hospitals, according to NNA. NNA later updated the preliminary death toll to more than 10 with at least 30 wounded from the attack on a building in the town of Riyaq, located in the Bekaa governorate. Advertisement Advertisement A search operation for survivors is still ongoing at the site, NNA said. Israels army said it hit Hezbollah command centres in the Baalbek area of Bekaa, while a Hezbollah source told news agency AFP that a military leader from the armed group was among the dead. Earlier on Friday, Lebanons Ministry of Public Health said at least two people were killed in an Israeli attack on the Ein el-Hilweh camp, the countrys largest Palestinian refugee camp, which is located on the outskirts of the southern city of Sidon. NNA reported that an Israeli drone had targeted the Hittin neighbourhood of the camp. Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli army said in a statement that its forces had struck a Hamas command centre from which terrorists operated in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire understandings. Hamas condemned the attack, which it said led to civilian casualties. NNA reported that the strike on the refugee camp caused significant damage to a building that had previously been used by the joint Palestinian force responsible for the camps security, but was now being rented by an individual to operate a kitchen distributing food aid. Last November, Israel conducted a major raid on Ein el-Helweh that killed 13 people, including 11 children, according to the United Nations rights office. Advertisement Advertisement The military said it was targeting Hamas, who called the claim a fabrication, stressing the group does not have training facilities in Lebanons refugee camps. More than 10,000 attacks since truce Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with the Hezbollah armed group. According to the UN, the Israeli military launched more than 10,000 air and ground attacks in the year since it agreed to halt hostilities. The UN rights office said in November last year that it verified at least 108 civilian casualties from Israeli attacks since the ceasefire, including at least 21 women and 16 children. Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN last month about the repeated Israeli violations, urging the UN Security Council to push Israel to end its attacks and fully withdraw from the country. Israel continues to occupy five areas in Lebanese territory, blocking the reconstruction of destroyed border villages and preventing tens of thousands of displaced people from returning to their homes. On Sunday, Lebanon said an Israeli strike near the Syrian border in the countrys east killed four people, as Israel said it targeted operatives from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) armed group in Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday accused Israel of undermining diplomatic efforts to stabilize the country after the latest deadly strikes on Hezbollah positions. Lebanons Health Ministry said 10 people were killed in Friday evenings attacks and 24 injured, including three children. Hezbollah said eight of its members and an Ethiopian domestic worker were among the dead. The Israeli military said Saturday it had killed several Hezbollah members responsible for rocket fire, claiming the Iranian-backed group had recently been planning attacks on Israel. Advertisement Advertisement According to the army, the targets were command centres in eastern Lebanon. Eyewitnesses said the struck buildings were completely destroyed and nearby houses damaged. Civilians were reportedly injured by flying glass. Among the dead Hezbollah members was a high ranking military officer, who was identified by Hezbollah as Hussein Yaghi. Funerals were set to take place in the Bekaa Governorate in eastern Lebanon later on Saturday. President Aoun called on international partners to pressure Israel to halt the attacks and prevent further regional escalation. Under US sponsorship, Israel and Lebanon recently held talks aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire and advancing toward a lasting peace. The two countries remain officially at war. Advertisement Advertisement The latest conflict ended with a ceasefire in late 2024 that included the phased disarmament of Hezbollah. A key deadline expired at the end of last year, however, and the group has so far refused to disarm. Tensions have since risen, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Israel alleges Hezbollah is rearming and has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon, causing casualties. The Israeli military, in a statement released on Saturday, said it remains committed to the ceasefire agreement. Eric Dane, the celebrated Grey's Anatomy actor who passed away on February 19 at the age of 53 after battling ALS, opened up about his enduring love for wife Rebecca Gayheart, whom he had been separated from since 2017, in his final interview, according to E! News. The actor, who had been separated from Rebecca since 2017 after 15 years of marriage, reflected on their unique bond during the Famous Last Words interview with Brad Falchuk, which aired on Netflix on February 20. "Well we still love each other deeply, I just don't think we want to live with each other," Eric said. "There's a lot of love there. I will never, by the time anybody sees this, have ever fallen in love with another woman as deeply as I fell in love with Rebecca." Eric, who shares daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, with Rebecca, described their relationship after separation as supportive and deeply connected. "She's the mother of my children," he said, noting the natural ease of navigating their co-parenting life together, as per the outlet. Recalling their first meeting in 2003, a year before they married, Eric revealed it was love at first sight. "I met Rebecca and I turned to her friend and I said, 'I'm going to marry that girl,''' he said. "I have no idea how serious I was in that moment, but four years later I married her. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her." Addressing their 2017 separation, Eric accepted his role in the split. "I think Rebecca was more willing to show up and do her part than I was," he said. "I don't have that gene that just makes you want to keep going regardless of what's happening. I'm like if there's a hole in the boat, don't try to patch the hole. Stall the damn thing and go find a new one. Rebecca's a fighter and she perseveres." Despite ending their romantic relationship, Rebecca emphasized their continued bond, dismissing divorce proceedings in March 2025 as Eric battled ALS. "We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great co-parents," she told E! News in April 2025. "It's important to not look at a relationship that ends as a failure... It was a huge success. We had two beautiful kids and that's how we look at it," according to E! News. (ANI) Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell released a statement Friday saying ICE is interested in property within city limits. Yesterday, I spoke with Senior Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security. He confirmed Immigration and Customs Enforcement is interested in property along the Highway 109 South Corridor inside the City Limits of Lebanon, Bells Feb. 20 statement read. They are in the due diligence phase of a feasibility study. They have not contacted anyone with the City of Lebanon Utilities or Engineering Departments. At first it was reported last Friday, Feb. 13, that Immigration and Customs Enforcement purchased property within Lebanon to serve as a detention facility, giving confirmation to reporters when contacted throughout the previous weekend. However, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, ICE said property had not been purchased and the confirmation was sent in error. Advertisement Advertisement Bell's conversation with a DHS official seemingly indicates a reversal to a reversal on intentions for a detention center. During Tuesdays City Council meeting, Bell, along with City Attorney Andy Wright, said the federal government can override local zoning laws, as part of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Bell also said that according to Utilities Director Regina Santana, the city would not be able to presently handle the water and sewage load an ICE facility would need. Officials in Lebanon and Wilson County have said they believe Lebanon is not a good location for a detention center. When asked about earlier reports, officials said they had no idea and were not contacted by the federal department regarding a facility. As a conservative Republican, I believe we should have a secure border. However, other than the Wilson County Jail, Lebanon, Tennessee, is not the place for any type of correctional facilityICE or otherwise, Bell also said in his release. Advertisement Advertisement Bell said he spoke with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who agrees with local leaders that Lebanon is not the right location for a detention center. She is reportedly working with the City of Lebanon and the Department of Homeland Security. When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Sen. Blackburn said: Senator Blackburn supports the incredible work ICE is doing in Tennessee to apprehend, detain and deport criminal illegal aliens, and she is working closely with local and state leaders as well as ICE to ensure the agency can find a proper placement for a new detention facility. Residents asked local leaders to take a stance against any detention centers during the concurrent City Council and Wilson County Commission meetings. No resolutions or ordinances have been discussed in either meeting. State Rep. Clark Boyd issued a statement Friday afternoon agreeing with other officials that Lebanon is not a suitable location. Advertisement Advertisement While I agree with and support the mission of ICE, I firmly believe that Lebanon is not the right place for this type of facility, Boyd said. The last few days, I, along with the other Wilson County elected officials, have been in regular contact with Sen. Blackburn to voice our concerns and try to intervene in this urgent matter. Boyd said he is in regular contact with Bell, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto, State Sen. Mark Pody and other officials prevent a detention center from opening in Lebanon. The Lebanon Democrat contacted an ICE media representative for comment, but no response was sent at time of writing. This is a developing story. For the first time since prosecutors say she strangled her three children in the basement of her Duxbury home in January 2023, Lindsay Clancy appeared in a Plymouth courtroom on Friday. Clancy, who uses a wheelchair, is paralyzed from the sternum down due to injuries she suffered jumping from a second-story window after her childrens deaths. Her condition created logistical challenges for her transport from Tewksbury State Hospital to Plymouth, leading to several court hearings. On Friday, a court officer pushed Clancy, who wore a black sweater and a cross necklace, into the courtroom, parking her next to her defense lawyer. She did not appear to be restrained, unlike other defendants charged with murder, who are typically handcuffed and shackled when they are brought into court. Advertisement Advertisement During the brief hearing, Clancy spoke aloud only to address the presiding judge. She spoke to her lawyer, Kevin Reddington, periodically during the hearing. Reddington, who had offered criticisms of the Plymouth County sheriffs office during hearings on the transportation issues, changed his tune on Friday. I would actually, strangely enough, like to commend the sheriffs department and our staff and Tewksbury that have melded together incredibly and done just a marvelous job of transportation and supplies and taking care of our ancillary issues, he said, adding it was helpful for Clancy to appear in person as well. Anytime I have a case, I want the client to be immersed in the case and know whats going on, Reddington told reporters after the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the hearing, Reddington filed three motions, which were not heard on Friday. He asked to split Clancys trial into two phases, to videotape the prosecution experts evaluation of her, and to get access to juror information before the first trial day. If Reddington has his way, the first phase of Clancys trial would focus on whether prosecutors have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that she is guilty of the crimes she is charged with, and to what degree. The second phase would focus on whether prosecutors can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Clancy was not suffering from a mental disease or defect to the extent she was unable to appreciate the criminality of her conduct or conform her conduct to the requirements of the law. In a case like Clancys, where the defense centers on whether a persons mental illness prevented them from understanding they were committing a crime, prosecutors must prove both elements to get a conviction. It makes sense, if you think about it, Reddington told reporters after the hearing. You have the first part of the trial, the allegations and the evidence on the alleged crime. Then ... the rest of the trial would be on the issue of lack of criminal responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement A hearing was scheduled for March 2 to address the three pending motions. Reddington, after speaking to Clancy, asked that she be transported in person for the hearing. Clancys parents, Mike and Paula Musgrove, attended the hearing Friday afternoon, telling reporters they were continuing to support their daughter. Shes a loving mother, always has been, Paula Musgrove said. She quickly became overcome by emotion as she spoke. We love our daughter very much, and were here just to support her any way we possibly can, said Mike Musgrove. Clancys criminal trial is scheduled to begin on July 20. Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, both Clancy and her husband, Patrick, have filed medical malpractice lawsuits against people who treated her for postpartum depression and anxiety following the birth of their third child. They claim that Clancys medical providers over-medicated her and failed to adequately treat her when she reported worsening symptoms. Read more about the case Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Western Massachusetts cities and towns are implementing parking bans ahead of accumulating snow approaching the region. Winter Storm Warning: Heavy snow and wind gusts expected through Tuesday Local officials urge residents to obey parking bans to allow for safe street plowing. Hadley A seasonal on-street parking ban is in place until April 1. Holyoke Beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the City will return to the Regular Winter Parking Ban, which means: No parking on the even side of the street, unless otherwise posted, and no parking on cul-de-sacs until further notice. Northampton An on-street parking ban will be in effect citywide from 6 p.m. Sunday until further notice. The parking garage, Armory Street parking lot, and Hampton Avenue parking lot will be free for parking starting 2 p.m. Sunday until further notice. South Hadley A winter emergency parking ban is in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Wednesday. Residents are permitted to park on the even side of the street on even days, and on the odd side of the street on odd days. Advertisement Advertisement Vehicles must be swapped to the other side of the street at 8 a.m. each day while the ban is in effect. No parking on either side of the street on the following streets: Bridge Street Lamb Street Bardwell Street Main Street Route 116 Lower North Main Street Springfield City-wide parking ban begins Sunday at 7 p.m. until further notice. No parking on the even side of the street from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. No parking on the odd side of the street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free public parking is available at all Springfield Authority lots and garages, including Union Station, until the parking ban ends. Westfield No on-street parking from 7 p.m. Sunday until further notice. Advertisement Advertisement This list will be updated as more information becomes available. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand. 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 WWLP. After a difficult year for Iowas farm economy, a new U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting presidential authority on tariffs could bring meaningful changes for the states agricultural sector. The ruling does not eliminate all tariffs, but it restricts how a president can impose certain trade actions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Former President Donald Trump had used that 1977 law to justify a series of retaliatory tariffs during his administration. Economists say the decision may provide some stability after years of uncertainty. Advertisement Advertisement Iowa State University economics professor Peter Orazem said the states farm economy has felt the strain of shifting tariff policy across multiple administrations. For now, I think its good news for Iowa, Orazem said. He added that the decision will likely return the U.S. to previously existing tariff levels. He noted it is not a full rollback, but a step away from the aggressive tariff actions imposed through emergency authority. It's not like all the tariffs are going to go away, so theres still going to be some adverse effects of the previous policies, he said. The Supreme Courts ruling focuses on who has the authority to set trade policy. In a concurring opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that while bypassing Congress may be tempting in a moment of urgency, the deliberative process built into the legislative branch is intentional and central to the constitutional design. Advertisement Advertisement Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who was in Congress when the International Emergency Economic Powers Act originally passed, said the decision reinforces his longstanding position that Congress never authorized the use of that law for imposing tariffs. Grassley said he supports continued negotiations on trade and urged the Trump administration to work with lawmakers on longterm enforcement to give Iowa farmers and businesses more certainty. The White House has signaled the debate is likely to continue. The president has said he intends to look for other legal avenues to pursue similar trade policies, a move that local legal experts say could spark further analysis and potential legal challenges. Agricultural law specialists expect additional litigation to follow. We're going to have folks evaluating, seeing if this fits the reasons or t if he is allowed to apply tariffs under this provision, or for this reason," Drake University Agricultural Law professor Jennifer Zwagerman said. "You know, are they too broad? Are they too narrow? Those types of things. I have a feeling that over the next couple of days, we're going to be seeing those same types of analysis coming out, and then my guess is additional litigation." Local 5 has reached out to the rest of Iowas congressional delegation as well. Their responses can be read below. Rep. Ashley Hinson "President Trump is the first president to challenge the broken status quo and fight to level the playing field for American farmers, workers, and businesses. My priority is making sure those efforts translate into real results for Iowanew markets, enforceable agreements, and long-term certainty for our producers facing tight margins and high input costs. I will never back down from supporting our producers, growing our rural economy, and making life more affordable for all Iowa families." Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks "I respect the Supreme Courts long-awaited ruling on the Administrations use of tariffs under IEEPA. This decision makes one thing clear: Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to help shape U.S. trade policy. For years, our nation has run record trade deficits while foreign countries engaged in unfair trade practices that restricted access to their markets. America cannot continue operating at a disadvantage. Iowa farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses need certainty and dependable access to global markets. We must strengthen our negotiating position, expand market access, and deliver lasting trade agreements that put Iowa and America first." Rep. Zach Nunn "The Courts divided rulings on tariffs are complex. Here is where I stand: Congress has final authority over tariffs, and Im for bringing down trade barriers for all. For too long, foreign countries have taken advantage of Americans, from 200% tariffs on Iowa dairy farmers, to $50 billion in agricultural trade deficits, to countries like China subsidizing their own industries to crush American competitiveness. Going forward, I support efforts to create durable, bipartisan trade policy that gives America leverage to knock down foreign barriers, establish fair terms, and deliver the long-term certainty Iowa producers, manufacturers, and small businesses need to grow and prosper. Sen. Joni Ernst "President Trump wont allow foreign countries to rip off Americans and has already opened new markets for beef, soybeans, corn, and more. As he continues to fight for our Iowa farmers and small businesses after disastrous trade deficits under Biden, Congress can work with him to ensure Iowans get the best deal." NEED TO KNOW A man allegedly told his family he was going to be "on the news," before he drove a car full of explosives into a Nevada power substation in a suspected act of terrorism Dawson Maloney, 23, referred to himself as his mother's "dead terrorist son" in a message sent to her before the incident, police said Investigators said they found books relating to extremist ideologies in the Nevada hotel room where Maloney was staying, including some pertaining to white supremacy and anti-government ideology" A man allegedly told his family he was going to be on the news. Then, he drove a car full of explosives into a Nevada power substation in a suspected act of terrorism, authorities said. The Boulder City Police Department (BCPD) received a 911 call at around 10:00 a.m local time on Thursday, Feb. 19, reporting that a vehicle had crashed through a secured gate at a Department of Water and Power substation, according to a news release from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Advertisement Advertisement The caller also reported hearing gunshots from inside the vehicle, per the LVMPD. Car driven by Dawson Maloney Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/Facebook Upon arriving at the scene, authorities discovered a deceased adult male in a silver Nissan Sentra, wearing soft body armor. He was later identified as Dawson Maloney, 23, of Albany, N.Y., and it was determined he died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. Authorities found two additional shotguns, an AR-style pistol, loaded magazines and ammunition, as well as two-thermite-based incendiary devices in the vehicle, among other items, according to the LVMPD's news release. Investigators later learned that Maloney had recently been reported missing out of New York, and he allegedly told family members that he had intent to carry out an act that would get him on the news. Advertisement Advertisement The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! License plate reader data confirmed that Maloney had driven from New York to Nevada in a rental car, per authorities. Vehicle driven by Dawson Maloney Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/Facebook Out of an abundance of caution, the incident was treated as terrorism-related due to the location and materials discovered, the LVMPD said, adding, "There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time. 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. In a Friday, Feb. 20, press conference, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill said that Maloney referred to himself as his mothers dead terrorist son in a message to her before his death. Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said they additionally found books relating to extremist ideologies in the Nevada hotel room where Maloney was staying, including some pertaining to white supremacy and anti-government ideology. The FBI is currently assisting in the investigation. A spokesperson for the organization told PEOPLE, "We don't have any updates to share at this time." The LVMPD and the BCPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Saturday, Feb. 21. If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People The Seattle Police Department (SPD) said a 50-year-old man was assaulted after a suspect accosted him aboard a bus in the Mt. Baker neighborhood on Friday night. At around 9 p.m., officers responded near Rainier Avenue South and South Forest Street and found a man with cuts to the back of his head and injuries to his face, according to SPD. He reported that while aboard a bus, another man was accosting him. Advertisement Advertisement The victim got off the bus to separate himself but the suspect followed and assaulted him with a cup, hitting him in the head, police said. The suspect left the scene after the attack and police were not able to find him. Crews treated the victim at the scene and brought him to Harborview Medical Center. Officials have released maps showing the area and acreage burned in a wildfire that started Tuesday near Beaver, Oklahoma, and continued on to Clark, Comanche and Meade counties in Kansas. The Ranger Road fire continued to burn in both states as of Thursday morning. It has burned more than 283,000 acres, according to a map released Wednesday evening by the Oklahoma Forestry Services. A look at the acreage burned so far in Oklahoma and Kansas from the fire that started Tuesday. It was still burning Thursday. Three firefighters in Oklahoma and two in Kansas have been injured fighting the fire, officials have said. And in Clark County, two homes and an adjacent building have burned, an official said. Advertisement Advertisement Veterinarian Dr. Randall Spare, with the Ashland Veterinary Center, has been busy euthanizing wounded cattle. He estimated 1,000-plus have died or will die as a result of the fire. Other fires are still burning in Kansas as well. The Ranger Road fire is the largest. WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Following days of confusion about a potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility coming to Lebanon, the citys mayor announced the agency is looking at a property along Highway 109. This week has seen a lot of back-and-forth over ICEs intentions in Lebanon. On Monday, Feb. 16, an ICE spokesperson told News 2 the agency bought a facility in Lebanon to house detainees, even though Wilson County leaders said they knew nothing about it. Advertisement Advertisement The following day, ICE responded to News 2, saying, ICE has NOT purchased a facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. That statement was sent without proper approval and this mistake has since been rectified. Wilson County officials unaware of new facility despite ICE confirming purchase No matter what your political stance, youre not going to find a lot of people that want an ICE facility, a detention prison facility, right here in Lebanon, Tennessee, said Jack Pratt Jr., a lifelong Wilson County resident and farmer. Local officials told News 2 throughout the week they knew nothing about the potential facility. However, on Friday, Feb. 20, Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell released the following statement: Yesterday, I spoke with Senior Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security. He confirmed Immigration and Customs Enforcement is interested in property along the Highway 109 South Corridor inside the City Limits of Lebanon. They are in the due diligence phase of a feasibility study. They have not contacted anyone with the City of Lebanon Utilities or Engineering Departments. This morning, I spoke with US Senator Marsha Blackburn. She is working with us along with leaders of the Department of Homeland Security to rectify this situation. She too believes that the City of Lebanon is not the right location for this facility. As a conservative Republican, I believe we should have a secure border. However, other than the Wilson County Jail, Lebanon, Tennessee is not the place for any type of correctional facility ICE or otherwise. ICE purchase in Lebanon sparks confusion, questions at state capitol Advertisement Advertisement Weve had our elected officials telling us its not true, and weve heard from them that its misinformation when the federal government and ICE and DHS is the source of this information, Sierra Barnett, another Wilson County resident, said. Barnett put together a petition last weekend saying residents in Wilson County dont want an ICE facility in their community. As of publication, over 3,700 people have signed the petition. News 2 also saw dozens of people pack the Wilson County Courthouse earlier this week, expressing concerns about the potential facility. News 2 reached out to every member of the Lebanon City Council regarding the mayors announcement Friday. According to the officials who responded, they dont want an ICE facility in Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement ICE spokesperson says agency has not purchased a facility in Lebanon For example, Ward 1 Councilor Joey Carmack said, This is a troubling development and has no place in our community. Wilson County and the City of Lebanon are a bright spot for the State of Tennessee and a significant economic driver. In addition, it is a location where families, grandparents, and young adults have decided to make home because of the small-town atmosphere that supports locally owned businesses as well as corporate offices. This type of use will irreparably damage what Wilson County and the City of Lebanon have worked so hard to build. Carmack added the facility would be in close proximity to a school. My hope is that those words that I hear from Mayor Rick Bell, from [Wilson] County Mayor Hutto, from all of our city council members and our county commissioners, when they say, We dont want an ICE facility here, I hope thats followed up with action, Barnett said. Advertisement Advertisement News 2 asked if the city could do anything to stop ICE from building a facility in Lebanon. Middle TN city not alone in experiencing whiplash over ICE facility announcement Ward 3 Councilor Camille Burdine said, in part, County and City has zero control of the federal gov. I think that what we can do is to visit, phone, write, email our state and federal elected representatives. I believe protesting and petitions are a thing of the past and counterproductive. It does not raise awareness or change minds. It only ignites violence, hate, creates safety issues within our community. With the media and social media we know where people stand and feel. I believe if we pray, and talk more solutions can be found. Earlier this week, the Lebanon city attorney pointed to something called sovereign immunity. Advertisement Advertisement If we try to impose any kind of our zoning or rules or regulations on any government, from the county up to the feds, they dont have to abide by it, Lebanon City Attorney Andy Wright said on Tuesday, Feb. 17. However, on Thursday, Feb. 19, House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said the state would welcome ICE. If ICE wants to put a facility here, if they want to coordinate with law enforcement through a 287(g) to deport these criminal illegal aliens, then we are going to cooperate with them, Lamberth said. ICE planning facility along Highway 109 in Lebanon, per mayor Advertisement Advertisement After Lebanons mayor released his statement on Friday, News 2 reached out to a spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who said, Senator Blackburn supports the incredible work ICE is doing in Tennessee to apprehend, detain, and deport criminal illegal aliens, and she is working closely with local and state leaders as well as ICE to ensure the agency can find a proper placement for a new detention facility. House Majority Whip Clark Boyd (R-Lebanon) also posted a statement Friday regarding ICEs interest in Lebanon, saying, in part, While I agree with and support the mission of ICE, I firmly believe that Lebanon, TN, is not the right place for this type of facility At this point, I am in regular communication with Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto, State Senator Mark Pody, and US Senator Marsha Blackburn. We are all in agreement and are working together to ensure this facility is not placed in our community. Meanwhile, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto shared a lengthy explanation for why he doesnt believe a building along the Highway 109 South corridor is the right location for an ICE detention facility. He cited the safety concerns raised by the size and scope of such a facility, the impact on the countys workforce, and the demand on the infrastructure and public safety demands. While some have mentioned potential economic benefits, I believe strongly that no financial gain outweighs the safety, stability, and well being of our community. Our environment, our quality of life, and the people we serve every day are invaluable. As your County Mayor, I take seriously the responsibility to be a good steward of this county and to protect what makes Wilson County a place we are proud to call home, Hutto wrote, in part. Advertisement Advertisement 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. North Dakota now has 11 measles cases, including two that required people to be hospitalized, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday. Pembina County in northeast North Dakota added four confirmed cases this week, bringing the countys total to nine, according to the departments measles dashboard. One new case was reported in neighboring Walsh County involving a person who had traveled to Pembina County, the department said. The department lists 26 eastern North Dakota sites where people may have been exposed to measles between Jan. 30 and Feb. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Marc Nielsen, medical director of primary care at Altru Health System in Grand Forks, said having that many exposure sites with an extremely contagious disease like measles is tremendously concerning. Nine out of 10 potential contacts can come down with the illness, Nielsen said. Its that contagious. It puts a lot of people at risk. Ashley Krone, disease prevention team leader for Grand Forks Public Health, said people in eastern North Dakota should check the exposure site list. Those who are not vaccinated who were possibly exposed should stay home for 21 days to prevent further spread of the disease, she said. Even if we dont have a case in the county at this time, these exposure locations are just a reminder that measles are just a car ride away and can arrive at any time, Krone said. The first North Dakota measles case in 2026 was reported in Williams County and was believed to have been contracted due to out-of-state travel. Of the 11 measles cases this year, nine involve people who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Advertisement Advertisement Nielsen said the measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing the disease, with a 93% immunization rate after one dose and a 97% rate after two doses. Information about where to get a vaccination is available through the states immunization locator. Grand Forks Public Health also operates a vaccine information and location website to connect residents to vaccines with credible information about the immunizations, Krone said. Unvaccinated people or those who are at higher risk should avoid large public gatherings in the affected areas of the state, Nielsen said. Those vaccinated against measles do not need to alter their lifestyles, he said. People who believe they contracted measles should call ahead before arriving at a clinic to protect people who may be in the waiting room and hospital staff, Nielsen said. Altru has a 24/7 nurse advice line at 701-780-6358. Advertisement Advertisement Measles symptoms often include fever, cough, runny nose and eye irritation, followed by a widespread rash, according to the department. People can transmit the disease for up to four days before a rash develops, according to HHS. Of the 11 North Dakota cases, four involve children under 5; one is between ages 5 and 19; and six are adults 20 or older. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reported 72 additional measles cases this week, increasing the nations case total to 982 across 26 states this year. The agency reported 2,281 cases in 2025 across 44 states. North Dakota last year reported 36 measles cases across Williams, Grand Forks, Cass and Burke counties. Advertisement Advertisement North Dakota Monitor reporter Michael Achterling can be reached at machterling@northdakotamonitor.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A measles exposure has been reported at Nemours Childrens Hospital emergency department, the Delaware Division of Public Health said in a Feb. 20 statement. The exposure occurred on Feb. 18, and contact tracing is ongoing, the state agency said. "DPH will notify persons who were identified as exposed to confirm whether or not they have been vaccinated against measles before, provide educational resources and to recommend quarantine and exclusion orders when necessary," the agency's press release said. Advertisement Advertisement DPH encourages people who were exposed to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms for 21 days until March 11. Pregnant women, regardless of vaccination status, who may have been exposed during this time period should go to an emergency room for assessment and treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic website, measles symptoms show up around seven to 14 days after contact with the virus. The first symptoms usually are: Fever, which may be as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit Dry cough Runny nose Red, watering eyes, called conjunctivitis About two to three days after the first symptoms, a person may also see tiny white spots inside the mouth, called Koplik spots. Getting protection from the measles Anyone who was exposed to measles and is not fully vaccinated against measles should get a dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine within 72 hours of exposure, DPH said. That would be by Feb. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Vaccines may be available at pharmacies and primary care providers. People interested in getting the vaccines should contact their preferred facility to assure they have the MMR vaccine and are available to administer it. If a person is showing symptoms, contact the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology during regular business hours (302) 744-4990 or the state's 24-hour reporting line at (888) 295-5156 outside of normal business hours to coordinate testing, receive guidance and limit any further exposures. Those who are ill should seek immediate health care by contacting their primary care provider. If symptoms are severe, DPH said people should seek immediate care at the nearest emergency department. Before going to any health care facility, the individual should notify providers and medical transport that they or their child were exposed to measles. Advertisement Advertisement Health care providers who identify any potential measles case should contact the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology immediately. If a Delaware resident is unsure of their vaccination status, they can visit the DelVAX Public Portaland view their personal profile. Individuals may also contact their primary health care provider for additional details or if they are unable to obtain their records on DelVAX. "The MMR vaccine is proven safe and effective at preventing measles having been administered for over five decades," DPH said. "Testing shows the vaccine to be 97% effective at preventing measles for those who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine and are not severely immunocompromised." Children should get their first dose of vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and their second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. Infants 6 to 11 months who are traveling internationally or who are in an area experiencing a measles outbreak or exposure should receive one early dose of MMR vaccine. What are measles? Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that begins with early symptoms of fever, cough, coryza (runny nose) and conjunctivitis (pink eye), lasting two to four days prior to rash onset. Advertisement Advertisement The rash typically occurs three to five days after symptoms begin and usually appears on the face and spreads down the body. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation and death. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The measles virus can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Infected people are contagious from four days before the rash starts through four days after rash development. Advertisement Advertisement The incubation period for measles from exposure to fever is usually about 10 days, with a range of seven to 12 days. And from exposure to rash onset is usually about 14 days with a seven to 21-day range. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Measles exposure at Nemours ER prompts Delaware warning Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will appear in the Bhiwandi court today in a 2014 defamation case. The case is ongoing, and Gandhi needs to sign a bond and provide a new guarantor, as his previous guarantor, Shivraj Patil, has passed away. Advocate Narayan Iyer, representing Rahul Gandhi, on Friday said that Rahul Gandhi will appear before a court in Bhiwandi on Saturday. Speaking to ANI, Iyer said that Gandhi's current guarantor, Shivraj Patil, has recently passed away and a new guarantor will be presented before the court. The complainant, Rajesh, has been cross-examined, and the second witness, Ashok Saikar, is pending cross-examination under Section 202. The court will likely focus on accepting the new guarantor tomorrow "Rahul Gandhi is appearing in Bhiwandi tomorrow. A defamation case was filed against him in 2014, and the hearing is underway. His current guarantor, the Shivraj Patil, recently passed away, and a new guarantor will be provided in his place. Therefore, Rahul Gandhi will have to appear in the Bhiwandi court and sign a bond. The new guarantor will also appear in court, and the bail will be presented...The complainant, Rajesh, is the chief witness, and he has been cross-examined. The second witness has already been examined. The second witness is Ashok Saikar, who investigated a private complaint at the time. His cross-examination is pending under Section 202, so there will be no cross-examination tomorrow because we have to present a new guarantor tomorrow, and we have full faith in the court", he said. Earlier on Friday, Rahul Gandhi wrote to Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) national convenor Nasir Khuehami in response to concerns raised over recent attacks on Kashmiri students and shawl sellers reported across various parts of the country. In his letter, Gandhi expressed deep concern over the recent wave of violence targeting members of the Kashmiri community. He observed that the "politics of hate" has not only weakened institutions, but also fractured the nation's social fabric. The Congress leader alleged that these "forces", encouraged either tacitly or overtly by the ruling dispensation, have "unleashed a reign of terror" against minorities and marginalised communities. "I am deeply concerned by the recent spate of violent attacks on our Kashmiri brothers. The politics of hate has not only corroded institutions but torn our social fabric. Forces which are tacitly and overtly supported by the ruling dispensation have unleashed a reign of terror against minorities and marginalised groups. The Congress party strongly condemns violence in all its forms and will continue to fight hate," the letter read. Expressing solidarity with the victims and their families who have endured "unimaginable pain," Gandhi asserted that he will continue to fight hate and stand up for their right to live with dignity, security, and equal citizenship. The development comes amid growing alarm over repeated incidents of harassment, assault, and intimidation faced by Kashmiri students and seasonal traders, particularly shawl sellers, across several states. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has been actively pursuing the matter with political leaders and authorities, seeking safeguards to ensure the safety and protection of the community. (ANI) COLUMBIA, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The South Carolina Department of Public Health is reporting 11 new cases of measles in the state since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in South Carolina related to the Upstate outbreak to 973. There are currently 105 people in quarantine and seven in isolation. The latest end of quarantine for these instances is March 15. Based on the new cases, DPH has identified public exposures at Mabry Middle School. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, individuals remain in quarantine from Libertas Academy and Inman Intermediate. DPH has identified multiple locations where exposures to infectious measles have occurred. DPH has defined the times of potential exposure at the following locations: Spartanburg Community College Giles Campus at 107 Community College Drive, Spartanburg, S.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Costco Spartanburg at 211 W Blackstock Road, Spartanburg, S.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 12 to 3 p.m. Tabernacle of Salvation Slavic Church at 150 Outlet Road, Spartanburg, S.C. on Sunday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Westgate Baptist Church at 1990 Old Reidville Road, Spartanburg, S.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The risk of exposure in the locations is limited to the specific dates and times announced. Once that time frame has passed, the location is not an ongoing risk for measles exposure. Exposures occurred only when an infectious person was present during the defined time. These locations are not a source of ongoing exposure, and businesses and locations identified are not responsible for a person with measles having been present. Advertisement Advertisement People who were exposed at Spartanburg Community College and Costco, especially those without immunity through vaccination or previous disease, should monitor for symptoms through March 10. Those exposed at Tabernacle of Salvation should monitor for symptoms through March 8, and those exposed at Westgate Baptist Church should monitor for symptoms through March 4. 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. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has suspended evictions on its rental properties in response to the ongoing immigration crackdown. The action, approved with a 6-3 vote on Feb. 18, was taken in response to the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge, which has caused widespread economic damage in the state. Amid the surge of federal agents, many residents have stayed home from work and other activities due to fears of being detained by federal agents. Earlier this month, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported that eviction filings have risen significantly since the start of the ICE surge. Around 2,200 evictions were filed in January, and 2025 set an annual record. Advertisement Advertisement While the MPRB has suspended evictions, it's not a regular occurrence at its rental properties, which are predominantly in north and Northeast Minneapolis. Ashley Brown, Flickr (Ashley Brown, Flickr) Commissioner Amber Frederick tells the Star Tribune that the Board has not filed an eviction in more than a decade, but this measure provides some certainty for tenants. It's a small step for the many groups that have been pushing for an eviction moratorium at the city and state level in an effort to aid residents impacted by immigration operations in Minnesota. With many families and businesses struggling to make rent, mutual aid efforts to provide funds have been seen across the state, both through small campaigns and large fundraising events. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the nonprofit Twin Cities Tenants has proposed a statewide rent strike to begin on March 1 in an effort to pressure lawmakers into enacting a moratorium. While no moratoriums have been put into place by local or state officials, city councils in Minneapolis and St. Paul have passed resolutions urging Gov. Tim Walz to declare a statewide eviction moratorium through executive order. Walz has not addressed that possibility, and his office did not respond to a request for comment. The MPRB's moratorium will remain in effect until the Park Board decides that Operation Metro Surge has ended and votes to rescind the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 12, border czar Tom Homan said that Operation Metro Surge was coming to an end. However, ICE and CBP operations in the state have continued, appearing to shift focus away from Minneapolis and St. Paul to some extent. Related: 'Staggering' damage to Minneapolis: City estimates toll of Operation Metro Surge This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Feb 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. NEED TO KNOW A mother of two was arrested after being accused of leaving her 4-year-old and 3-year-old kids with her Uber driver for two hours while she went shopping She was charged with one count of child neglect and two counts of desertion of a child, and was allegedly intoxicated Emily Sabogal appeared in court on Feb. 15, where her bond was set at $1,500 for each charge, and was later released after posting bond A Florida mother was arrested after being accused of leaving her 4-year-old and 3-year-old kids with her Uber driver for hours while she went shopping at a nearby mall. Emily Sabogal was arrested in Sunrise, Fla., after Sunrise Police responded to the Uber driver's 911 call on Feb. 13, according to CBS Miami. She was charged with one count of child neglect and two counts of desertion of a child. Advertisement Advertisement "And you've been here for how long?" the police officer asked in newly released body cam footage obtained by CBS Miami and other South Florida outlets. "More than two hours," the Uber driver clarified. Police said the children were thirsty and hungry, but in "good spirits," CBS Miami reports. In the footage, the Uber driver tells police he believes Sabogal, 32, entered the vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and that she brought a cup of liquid with her that smelled like rum. She "kept telling him to turn," a police officer explained when backup arrived, CBS Miami reports, citing the police footage. "You know, deviating from what the GPS was saying. She goes, just cancel the ride, I'll give you extra cash. Gives him like 10 bucks. Ends up here. Gets out in the lot. Disappears." Advertisement Advertisement The driver alleged that Sabogal then took his phone, canceled the Uber ride, and gave him a $10 bill, WFLA reports. The mom of two allegedly told the driver she would be gone for three minutes before exiting the car, and the Uber driver, whose identity has not been publicly confirmed, called after she had been gone for an hour, the outlet reports, citing police. "You left your kids for two hours, it's been over two hours," an officer said in the footage, per NBC Miami. Sabogal allegedly then claimed to be going home, adding, "My situation's a little bit complicated." "Your number one priority should be your kids," the officer was seen telling her. Advertisement Advertisement "My children, absolutely, 100 percent, oh my God, listen, I'm not a criminal," she said. "I don't know what's going on right now." Emily Sabogal as seen in the body cam footage WPLG Local 10/Youtube "What's going on is you deserted your kids for two hours, that's what's going on," the officer added. "That Uber driver's been sitting with your kids waiting for you to come back for the past two hours." Sabogal then allegedly told officers that her phone died. I have not done anything wrong, Sabogal said. I have no idea what is going on. Im sorry, I get what you, I get your job. I get your whole persona. I get it," she said in the footage obtained by WFLA and NBC South Florida. 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. An investigation found that Sabogal had been to a local restaurant she frequents with her children, and had consumed several alcoholic beverages, NBC South Florida reports, citing police. Advertisement Advertisement Sabogal appeared in court on Feb. 15. She was released from jail after posting a $1,500 bond, per NBC South Florida. PEOPLE has reached out to the Sunrise Police Department. Read the original article on People More than 30 months after Gov. Tony Evers signed the 2023-25 biennial budget into law, setting aside $125 million to help Wisconsin communities mitigate PFAS pollution in the states drinking water, the Wisconsin Assembly on Friday unanimously passed two bills to get the money out the door. This is the second time legislation to spend the money has reached this point after Evers vetoed a PFAS bill in 2024 over objections that the bill was too friendly to polluters. Since the money was set aside, the issue has been mired in partisan feuding. As the Assembly scrambled to finish its work by its self-imposed Friday deadline before lawmakers head home to campaign for reelection, negotiations over the specific language of the legislation pushed the vote, initially scheduled for Thursday, past 8:30 p.m. on Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement The two bills were among the last pieces of legislation the Assembly voted on in normal session before adjourning. The bill establishes programs to spend the money through grants for private well owners and municipal drinking water systems, boosting the states testing capabilities and research into PFAS at Universities of Wisconsin institutions. Republicans, with the support of business groups, have been trying to craft legislation that protects innocent landowners from being held responsible for PFAS pollution while Democrats and environmental groups have argued the initial bill too widely defined innocent, letting polluters off the hook while weakening the states toxic spills law. The return of the bill this session was met with renewed optimism that a bipartisan agreement could be reached. However, after Republicans narrowed the definition of innocent landowners, business groups such as Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and representatives of the states paper industry abandoned the effort, saying they couldnt support the proposal anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the two and a half years of debate, residents of communities affected by PFAS pollution have continued to struggle, often calling for the Legislature to instead enact standards for the acceptable level of PFAS in the states groundwater the source of drinking water for the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites with private wells. PFAS pollution has affected larger communities such as Madison and Wausau and small communities such as French Island near La Crosse and the town of Stella near Rhinelander. The class of man-made chemical compounds was widely used in certain kinds of firefighting foams and household goods such as nonstick pans and fast-food wrappers. PFAS have been connected to health problems such as developmental problems in children and certain types of cancer. On the floor of the Assembly Friday evening, with lawmakers desperate to hit the road, only three representatives spoke on the bill. Rep. Lori Palmeri (D-Oshkosh), a member of the environment committee that produced the bills, touted the measures as a great compromise despite late-night final revisions to the bill, while Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) recounted the horrifying struggles PFAS contamination has caused for her constituents on French Island. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz), one of the bills authors, said the bill is a small step toward fully solving the PFAS problem in the state but that the body was finally passing a bill that was the hardest to get across the finish line of his whole career in the Assembly. Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto), one of the co-authors and lead negotiators on the PFAS legislation, celebrated the compromise that came from long negotiations with Evers and the Department of Natural Resources. Todays vote in the Assembly will bring a massive, multiyear effort to address PFAS contamination in Wisconsin even closer to fruition, he said in a release sent before 6 p.m. Thursday, more than a day before the Assembly actually voted. Wisconsinites across the state have suffered for far too long from PFAS polluting their land and water. Bill passage will put innocent communities and landowners on the best path forward to remediate PFAS while ensuring they are not punished or forced into bankruptcy over pollution they did not cause. In a week in which the Assembly broke through on a handful of issues that have long been mired in the Legislatures partisan muck, Wimberger said the bipartisan compromise was notable. Even a broken squirrel can find a clock twice a day, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The City of Utica has gotten some good news for taxpayers that could translate into no property tax increase in the next fiscal year. The city will get a discretionary funding increase of $5.61 million from the state for the fiscal year 2026 budget, Mayor Michael Galime announced, saying he received word of the increase in a personal communication from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Galime presented his proposed $93.3 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget earlier this month, which included a 2.9% property tax increase. That works out to an average increase of about $50 a year, he said. Advertisement Advertisement The additional state funding, though, is contained in the governors Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget, which has to be passed by the New York State Legislature. That proposed budget contains in increase a funding increase most municipalities in the state. Utica Mayor Michael Galime, seen in this O-D file photo presenting his proposed FY 2027 budget to the Utica Common Council, said that additional state aid contained in Mayor Kathy Hochul's proposed FY 2027 Executive Budget could help to stabilize city finances. Hochul announced on Feb. 19 that her budget calls for tripling the amount of Temporary Municipal Assistance the state gives to cities, towns and villages (except New York City) in FY 2026 and released the amounts that would go to each municipality. Utica would get $5,612,313; the City of Rome, $3,164,313; the City of Oneida, $592,524; the City of Little Falls, $301,695; and the city of Sherrill, $129,831, the largest distributions in Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties. This funding should be used to provide the ability to keep our tax levy stable, requesting a possible 0% from the Common Council, a drastic reduction in our deficit spending, keeping services we provide steady and an increase in infrastructure repairs, Galime said in a statement. Any windfall funding such as this absolutely needs to be utilized to provide relief to tax payers and stabilize the future strength of our city to support itself in the future. AIM funding Every year the state gives aid to cities (except New York City), towns and most villages through its Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (or, AIM) program. The states Fiscal Year 2025 budget introduced Temporary Municipal Assistance for two years with $50 million in funding. Advertisement Advertisement The governor has proposed extending the program and increasing its funding to $150 million next year, including $100 million to be divided among municipalities, another $30 million for Buffalo and $20 million for fiscally distressed local governments, which, to qualify, must undergo a comprehensive review by the Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments. Having spent years in local government, I understand the unique challenges our local leaders are experiencing, which is why my administration has worked closely with municipalities across the state to increase financial support from the State, Hochul said in a statement. We want all of New York's municipalities to succeed and this funding is crucial to putting all of our cities, towns and villages on stronger financial footing and allowing them to keep their residents safe and continue providing the vital services they rely on. Funding seen as a relief The funding would come as a relief, Galime said. Given the fiscal situation Utica and our peer municipalities have been dealing with, I literally have no words for how important this is, he said in the citys statement. I cannot thank Governor Hochul enough for recognizing the need for direct structural funding for a community like Utica to maintain our essential services that we depend on day in and day out. Advertisement Advertisement Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan also thanked the governor. This funding is not just money; this will bolster the structural funding our cities rely on to provide the most essential services every citizen needs, he said in a statement put out by the governors office. Thank you for the utmost thought in how you have deployed these discretionary funds. Amount of funding possibly available for local communities The next largest amounts of this assistance in Oneida County under the governors proposed budget would include: $26,229 to the Town of Whitestown; $24,786 to the Town of New Hartford; $16,578 to the Town of Kirkland; $15,504 to the Town of Verona; and $15,324 to the Village of Whitesboro. The Oneida County municipality receiving the least funding would be the Village of Holland Patent at $825. Advertisement Advertisement In Herkimer County, municipalities receiving the most funding, after Little Falls, would include: the Town of German Flatts, $40,998; the Village of Ilion, $34,098; the Village of Herkimer, $27,612; the Town of Herkimer, $18,726; and the Village of Mohawk, $13,710. The smallest allocation, $798, would go to the Town of Ohio. In Madison County, Temporary Municipal Assistance funding next year for towns and villages would range from $19,440 to the Town of Sullivan to $639 to the Village of Madison. The proposed allocations to all municipalities in the state can be found here. Since taking office, Galime has been advocating for the state to adjust AIM funding, the city statement noted. This is a signal that this work if recognized and is paying off, the statement said. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Kathy Hochul proposes municpal aid increase; Galime, Lanigan applaud NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Commutes and school schedules will be affected by a significant storm crawling closer to Connecticut Sunday night into all day Monday, according to Storm Team 8. A BLIZZARD WARNING is up for the southern half of Connecticut! The high-impact snowstorm could affect the East Coast from D.C. to Boston. Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons says heavy snow, strong wind gusts, and coastal high-tide flooding will likely impact our state, at least according to the current forecast models. In terms of snowfall totals, its going to be quite-a-bit and it could be a sticky and wet variety, Simmons said. The heaviest snowfall will likely be Sunday night-Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement As of the Saturday updated forecast, the majority of the state is expected to see 12-18 of snow. It could be up or down but I think at this point, you need to understand that risk of impactful snow and wind gusts, Simmons said. Storm Team 8: The Latest Forecasts and Updates If the snow is heavy and wet as expected, combined with strong gusts, power outages are possible. For anyone who owns a generator, Simmons recommends testing it over the weekend so you know its working come Sunday night. We will also have to monitor a higher-than-usual high tide along the shoreline. High tide could come up higher around homes and businesses during the 1AM-3AM cycle Monday morning! Advertisement Advertisement Follow Storm Team 8 for updates throughout the weekend. Download the News 8 app to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch News 8 on WTNH.com or the free WTNH News 8 streaming app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and select Samsung Smart TVs. STORM TEAM 8 SEVERE WEATHER MORE SEVERE WEATHER COVERAGE 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 WTNH.com. President Donald Trump is fuming after one of his key economic policies was struck down by the Supreme Courtand the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal is rubbing salt in the wound. On Friday, a 6-3 majority ruled that the 79-year-old president lacked the authority to impose widespread tariffs on other nations last year. Trump lashed out at the justices in response, suggesting they had been bought by foreign interests. The Journal took an editorial stance on both the decision and Trumps tariff tantrum, branding Friday arguably the worst moment of his Presidency in a piece entitled Trump Demeans Himself as He Attacks the Supreme Court. Rupert Murdoch. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images This is ugly even by Mr. Trumps standards, the Journal wrote. Hes accusing them of betraying the U.S. at the behest of nefarious interests he didnt identify, no doubt because they dont exist. Advertisement Advertisement In a separate editorial, the paper said today was the real tariff Liberation Day in a mocking rebuke of the Trump administrations 2025 messaging. It described the courts decision as a monumental vindication of the Constitutions separation of powers and celebrated this rare instance of guardrails being placed around the otherwise free-wheeling president. The White House Press Briefing Room was hardly recognizable with its lighting significantly dimmed. / Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images Had Mr. Trump prevailed, future Presidents could have used emergency powers to bypass Congress and impose border taxes with little constraint, the paper wrote. Chief Justice John Roberts led the decision that the power to impose tariffs in the sweeping way Trump did lay with Congress, not with the Executive branch. Trump-appointed judges Neil Gorsuch and conservative Amy Coney Barrett agreed with Roberts. Advertisement Advertisement It was these justices for whom Trump reserved specific scorn, describing them as a disgrace to our nation. President Donald Trump holds his statement during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Feb. 20, 2026. / MANDEL NGAN / Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Theyre just FOOLS and LAPDOGS for the RINOS and Radical Left Democrats and, not that this should have anything to do with it, very unpatriotic, and disloyal to the Constitution, the president wrote on Truth Social on Friday following the decision. The ruling has raised questions of what will happen to the $175 billion raised by Trumps tariffs, although Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has already suggested in gloating tones that taxpayers likely wont see a dime of it. Despite Trumps insistence that the economic lever would result in greater cash flow from foreign nations into the United States, recent Reserve Bank of New York analysis found that American households and businesses are footing the bill for 90 percent of the tariffs. Donald Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs in April 2025, targeting countries worldwide. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Murdoch, who bought the Wall Street Journal in 2007, has been in a long-running on-again-off-again dispute with Trump. The president launched a $10 billion legal case against the news outlet last year for its report on the sexually suggestive birthday card he allegedly sent the late sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement According to Trump biographer Michael Wolff, the nonagenarian Australian media mogul has frequently wished Trump dead in the past, while his heir, Lachlan, used to use toilet paper with the presidents face on it. The paper further chided Trumps Friday attack on the justices during a time in which political polarization is intensifying, and the murder of elected representatives by masked vigilantes remains a recent memory. Australian publisher Rupert Murdoch, journalist Anna Murdoch, New York Magazine Editor-in-Chief Ed Kosner, and American businessman and ex-president Donald Trump attend the 25th Anniversary of New York Magazine party on April 19, 1993, in New York City. / Sonia Moskowitz / Sonia Moskowitz/Getty ImagesGetty Images This is rhetoric that could cause some deranged Trump acolyte to turn to violence against a Justice, the paper wrote. We hope all nine Justices appear next week at the State of the Union address as a show of self-protective solidarity. It concluded by laying the blame for the entire debacle at the administrations feet. We warned from the start that this would be the result of his unlawful resort to IEEPA. The fault doesnt lie with the Justices but with his own tariff obsessions. UPDATED FORECAST: Up to 2 feet of snow, dangerous blizzard conditions in updated forecast for monster storm ALSO: N.J. declares state of emergency with blizzard warnings for 17 counties A coastal winter storm is expected to hit New Jersey Sunday night and could drop at least 12 inches of snow in counties along the Jersey Shore by Monday morning, forecasters say. The National Weather Service was issued winter storm watch for all 21 counties, where heavy snow may fall along the coast. Advertisement Advertisement The highest snowfall totals are likely in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Burlington county, according to forecasters. Here are the latest snow predictions as of Saturday afternoon from forecasters across the New Jersey region, along with New York City and Philadelphia: AccuWeathers snowfall forecast map predicts blizzard conditions along the New England coast, starting on Sunday night and into Monday. It is expected to be very windy, making travel hazardous. This weekend's potential blizzard prediction National Weather Service - New Jersey The snow forecast map from the National Weather Services forecast office in Mount Holly calls for up to 20 inches of snow near Monmouth and Ocean counties. Advertisement Advertisement From top to bottom, the middle section of the state might see between 12 to 15 inches, according their forecast. Total snowfall predicitions for this weekend's storm National Weather Service - New York Northeastern New Jersey may get some heavy snowfall, though it may not be at the heart of the storm. The forecast from the National Weather Services New York office, which issues forecasts for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties, shows upwards of 13 to 15 inches of snow predicted. Snow total predictions out of N.Y. The snow forecast map by Dan Zarrow, chief meteorologist for NJ 101.5 FM radio and the Townsquare New Jersey Weather Network, has the hardest hit areas along the southern coast, with heavy snowfall of more than 12 to 20 inches of snow, with blizzard conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Zarrow says northern counties like Sussex and Warren should expect 4 to 8 inches of snow. 6ABC.com in Philadelphia The heaviest snow is set to fall Sunday night and into Monday. A blizzard warning will take affect at the beginning of the storm as high winds are expected to blow more than 12 inches along the coast. 6ABC in Philadelphia is predicting 8 to 12 inches of snow across the middle, southern counties of the state. CBS3 News in Philadelphia Meteorologist Joe Martucci of CBS3 says the storm will hit hardest along the Jersey coast, bringing an upwards of 12 to 18 inches of snow in Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington and Atlantic counties, among others. Advertisement Advertisement His forecast puts 7 to 12 inches of snow for all of north inland counties including Mercer, Somerset, Hunterdon, Passaic and Morris. The southern, more western counties like Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. Warren and Sussex counties will see 4 to 7 inches of snow, Martucci says. Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties are in a blizzard zone and may experience some nasty winds along the coast, according to the meteorologist. NJ snow forecast map Meteorologist Steven DiMartino, head of the NY NJ PA Weather forecasting company, is predicting 14 to 20 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 50 m.p.h. along the New England coast. Advertisement Advertisement Down the middle of the state, he is predicting an initial rain followed by 12 to 16 inches of snow. Meteorologist Mike Masco from PIX11 News in New York is predicting an upwards of 12 to 16 inches of snow along the coast of New Jersey, 8 to 18 inches of snow across much of central New Jersey and southeastern New Jersey, and 4 to 6 inches in western New Jersey. Along the edge of the coast, forecasters from ABCNY are predicting more than 12 inches of snow to hit south Jersey in the storm. For most of the state, excluding the hardest hit areas along the coast, the channel is predicting 8 to 12 inches of snowfall. Advertisement Advertisement ABCNY predicts the peak of the storm will be late Sunday into early Monday morning, with heavy snowfall and strong wind gusts of more 50 m.p.h. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Nasa has said that its 6 March launch day for its long-awaited lunar mission is now "out of consideration", after it spotted several last minute issues during routine checks that would prevent lift off. On Friday, the space agency said that its Artemis II mission, which would see astronauts sent to the moon for the first time in 50 years, would likely have the green light to launch within a matter of weeks. But NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced on Saturday that setbacks would mean that further maintenance would have to be carried out. Advertisement Advertisement Four astronauts are preparing to be sent on the 10-day trip to the far side of the Moon and back, marking humanity's furthest ever journey into space. Isaacman said he understood "that people are disappointed by this development", after almost 50-hours of checks on Thursday revealed no faults. The agency felt almost certain that its "wet rehearsal" had been a success, leading the team to announce that the launch could take place as soon as 6 March. But overnight on Friday, engineers observed an interruption in the flow of helium required for launch operations. Disruption to helium, which is used to pressurise fuel tanks and cool rocket systems, is treated as a serious technical issue, according to Nasa. Advertisement Advertisement The test was the scientists' second attempt at a practice run at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, having fixed earlier issues with filters and seals that had led to hydrogen leaks. The rocket was fuelled with around 730,000 gallons (2.76 million litres) of propellant over several hours on Thursday, with the team stating that the simulation felt like "a big step in us earning our right to fly". But space missions are often fraught with setbacks, Isaacman said, highlighting that Neil Armstrong's 1966 Gemini 8 mission ended prematurely due to a technical issue, before his historic moon landing three years later. Advertisement Advertisement Three US astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut, Jeremy Hansen, are due to take off in the mega Moon rocket, which will allow them several hours to study the moon's surface up close. It is hoped that the mission, if successful, will pave the way for Artemis III, which will see astronauts set foot on the Moon for the first time since 1972. Nasa says the landing will happen by 2028, but accepted this could be an ambitious time frame. Heres what youll learn when you read this story: NASA scientists have found the remains of a U.S. military base buried 100 feet below the surface of the ice in Greenland. Camp Century, as it was called, was a Cold War-era satellite for the U.S. Army used as a front for a planned arsenal of nuclear missiles. While the plan never came to fruition and the base was shortly abandoned, there are still thousands of gallons of nuclear waste buried beneath the ice. Over the years, weve dug up a lot of stuff buried underneath layers upon layers of ice. Ancient tools, animal corpses, World War II planes, volcanoesyou name it, ice has buried it, and weve found it. Advertisement Advertisement During an April 2024 flight over the Greenland Ice Sheet, NASA scientist Chad Greene added a pretty surprising entrant to that list: a secret military base. After taking radar images of the ice, Greene was surprised to see what was shortly thereafter confirmed to be Camp Centurya 65-year-old Cold War United States military base buried 100 feet deep in the massive ice sheet. We were looking for the bed of the ice and out pops Camp Century, said Alex Gardner, a cryospheric scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), who helped lead the project. We didnt know what it was at first. Built in secret between June of 1959 and October of 1960 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Camp Centuryalso known as the city under the icewas comprised of 21 underground tunnels spanning 9,800 feet, according to Interesting Engineering. In radar images of the site, Greene said, many of the bases individual structures are clearly discernable. To study the base, NASA used Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR), a technology similar to LiDAR that is commonly used in searching for hidden structures like Maya ruins. The difference is that where LiDAR uses laser light, UAVSAR uses radio waves. The U.S. and Denmark signed the Defense of Greenland agreement in 1951 to negotiate arrangements under which armed forces of the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization may make use of facilities in Greenland in defense of Greenland and the rest of the North Atlantic Treaty area, according to the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. (Greenland was, at the time of the agreement, a county of Denmark). This allowed the U.S. to build bases in Greenland. Advertisement Advertisement Even without the -70 degree temperatures and 125-mile-per-hour winds that were possible on the ice shelf, the construction of Camp Century sounds like a total nightmare. The camp was built from 6,000 tons of material, transported via heavy bobsleds that topped out at two miles per hour. Materials were shipped to Thule, another U.S. base (this one above ice)on the sleds, that trek was a 70-hour trip. Army engineers first dug trenchesthe longest of which was a 1,000-foot-long passageway called Main Streetdeep in the snow and ice before wooden buildings and steel roofs built out Camp Century. The crown jewel of the base was one of the first PM-2 medium-power nuclear reactors that, in the freezing conditions, had to be treated with the utmost care in order to power the site. While operating at the base, scientists made major geological breakthroughs. They were some of the first to study ice cores, and soil from Greenland itself revealed an ancient history of verdant forestry and diverse wildlife. Advertisement Advertisement But that research was just a cover-up. Camp Century itself was not a secret. Its establishment was known, and the Army even made a promotional video for the project. The scientific research angle, as significant as the discoveries were, was merely a front for a major U.S. nuclear weapon strategy of which the Danish government wasnt even aware. Known as Project Iceworm, the plan was for Camp Century to house ballistic missiles under the Greenland ice. An additional 52,000 square miles of tunnels were plannedenough to fit 600 missiles. It would require 60 launch centers to be built, and would be manned by 11,000 soldiers living full-time in the city under the ice. If that sounds impossible on a number of levels to you, youre not alone. Project Iceworm never came to be because of a litany of obstacles, almost all of them boiling down to some version of well, this simply isnt feasible. By 1967, Camp Century was decommissioned and abandoneda frigid fossil of the U.S.s Cold War efforts. The potential nuclear weapon plan was publicized by the Danish Institute of International Affairs in 1997. So, now the remains sit alone, buried by even more ice and snow in the 57 years since the closure of the base and giving its Camp Century name even more significance. Ultimately, its just a harmless footnote in U.S. military history. Right? Advertisement Advertisement Well, not exactly. As is U.S. tradition during international ventures, there were some residual drawbacks. Remember that nuclear reactor that was lugged piece by piece below the ice, only to operate for 33 months? Well, during that time, it produced over 47,000 gallons of nuclear waste, according to the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. When the base shut down, they removed the reactor, but not the waste, which is still lying under the iceice that is in serious peril with a warming climate. Right now, its just sitting there, frozen in time. But a study by experts has projected that the base could begin losing ice by 2090. They thought it would never be exposed, William Colgan, a climate and glacier scientist at Torontos York University and the leader of the study, told The Guardian in 2016. Back then, in the 60s, the term global warming had not even been coined. But the climate is changing, and the question now is whether whats down there is going to stay down there. You Might Also Like The 52nd Khajuraho Dance Festival, organised by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Culture Department, was inaugurated virtually by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The seven-day international festival commenced with a captivating Kathak performance. The festival is being held at the open-air stage near the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Renowned artists from India and abroad will present classical dance performances during the event. Performing against the historic and spiritual backdrop of the temple complex is considered a matter of pride for artists. The inaugural Kathak presentation was widely appreciated by tourists from India as well as overseas. This year's festival is based on the theme of 'Nataraja', under which 108 dance postures of Nataraja have been depicted through art and craft installations. An exhibition showcasing Madhya Pradesh's handloom, handicrafts and traditional art has also been set up at the venue. The state government has been promoting artists and craftsmen through such events, contributing to an increase in their income. The Tourism and Culture Minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi told ANI that "the Khajuraho Festival holds an international identity, with participation now extending to the global level. He described it as an important platform for the promotion and preservation of Indian culture and extended his greetings on the occasion of the 52nd edition." Regional MP Vishnu Datt Sharma told ANI that "the Khajuraho Dance Festival has become an international identity of the region. He noted that new dimensions such as 'Bal Nritya' (children's dance) and the 'Khajuraho Carnival' have been added this year, offering a new experience to tourists and artists from across the country and abroad. He added that performing on this is a moment of pride for every artist." A large number of foreign tourists attended the event and praised the grand celebration of Indian culture. (ANI) Engineers ran into problems repressurizing the Artemis II moon rocket's upper stage helium tanks overnight Friday, a problem that will require rolling the huge rocket off the launch pad and back to its processing hangar for troubleshooting. The work will push the already delayed mission from March into early April, NASA officials said Saturday. Pressurized helium is used to push propellants to rocket engines for ignition and to purge various fuel lines to clear them out before propellants flow. It's not yet known what might be preventing helium from flowing back into the SLS rocket's upper stage following a successful countdown rehearsal test that ended Thursday. "Regardless of the potential fault, accessing and remediating any of these issues can only be performed in the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building)," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a post on the social media platform X. "We will begin preparations for rollback, and this will take the March launch window out of consideration." Advertisement Advertisement A NASA spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that a March launch is no longer possible and the teams have switched to rollback preparations. "Teams are reviewing potential causes of the issue, including in the interface between ground and rocket lines used to route helium, in a valve in the upper stage, and with a filter between the ground and rocket," NASA said in a statement on Saturday. The Artemis II mission aims to send four astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a flight around the far side of the moon and back to thoroughly test the agency's Orion deep space capsule to help clear the way for a lunar landing mission, Artemis III, in 2028. NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are seen in the distance at Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. / Credit: Gregg Newton /AFP via Getty Images (Gregg Newton /AFP via Getty Images) Because of the ever-changing positions of the Earth and moon, and associated changes in lighting and other factors, only a handful of launch opportunities are available each month that meet the Artemis II mission requirements. The current launch period ends on March 11. The available launch dates next month are April 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Advertisement Advertisement Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen originally hoped to launch early this month, but hydrogen leaks detected during an initial "wet dress countdown" rehearsal ultimately pushed the flight to March. NASA completed a second fueling test and countdown on Thursday, loading the Space Launch System rocket with more than 750,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen fuel while working through the steps that will be needed to actually launch the huge rocket on the long-awaited mission. The test went well; there were no fuel leaks like the ones that derailed plans for a launch earlier this month. Managers said Friday the team would press ahead for a launch attempt on March 6 to send Wiseman and his crewmates to the moon. Hoping for the best, the astronauts went into pre-flight medical quarantine at the Johnson Space Center on Friday evening and planned to fly to the Kennedy Space Center on March 1 to prepare for launch. They will now leave quarantine to await developments. Advertisement Advertisement "I understand people are disappointed by this development," Isaacman said. "That disappointment is felt most by the team at NASA, who have been working tirelessly to prepare for this great endeavor." During NASA's Apollo program, 24 astronauts flew to the moon from 1968 through 1972. The new Artemis program has completed only one flight so far, a lunar-orbiting mission without a crew in 2022. "I will say again, the President created Artemis as a program that will far surpass what America achieved during Apollo. We will return in the years ahead, we will build a Moon base, and undertake what should be continuous missions to and from the lunar environment," Issacman said. "Where we begin with this architecture and flight rate is not where it will end." Trump threatens strikes on Iran as more warships enter Mediterranean Nature: White-tailed deer in New York Small business owners scramble from Trump's tariffs whiplash After the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson, the longtime champion of the Civil Rights Movement, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) released the following statement: The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) mourns the passing of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, a lifelong champion for civil rights and human dignity whose leadership helped shape national movements for justice, inclusion, and opportunity. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement For decades, Reverend Jackson pushed the country to do better by building coalitions, organizing alongside working families, and insisting that those too often excluded from decisions and resources be heard and respected. His steady voice reminded the nation that rights are not abstract, and dignity is not negotiable. Tribal Nations know the long work of protecting the people defending sovereignty, strengthening communities, and holding the United States to its promises. Reverend Jacksons example reflects the power of principled leadership and solidarity across communities, and the responsibility to keep pressing forward when progress is resisted. Reverend Jackson devoted his life to advancing dignity and opportunity for those too often excluded from it, said Larry Wright Jr., Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, and to all who drew strength from his message. May his legacy continue to move our nation toward fairness, respect, and equality for all. NCAI extends condolences to Reverend Jacksons family, friends, and all those who carry his work forward. Advertisement Advertisement About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded his nations improving economy and regional standing as he opened the countrys most important political event, where he is expected to set his domestic and foreign policy agenda for the next five years and further entrench his familys authoritarian rule. The Workers Party congress, which will likely run for days in Pyongyang, comes as Kim carves out a more forceful regional presence, leveraging an advancing nuclear arsenal and a growing alignment with Moscow that have deepened his standoffs with Washington and Seoul. The meeting will likely provide the stage for Kim to unveil his key political and military objectives and further consolidate his authoritarian grip before thousands of ruling party delegates. Some analysts say Kim could also use the congress to position his teenage daughter believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and about 13 as a potential successor, formalizing the regimes fourth-generation succession. Advertisement Advertisement North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency reported Friday the meeting began the previous day. It did not immediately report any direct comments from Kim on his standoffs with the United States and South Korea or his nuclear weapons program. Brimming with confidence Entering his 15th year in power, Kim is in a much stronger position than when he last convened the congress in 2021, when North Korea was experiencing a crippled economy worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the wreckage of his failed diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump. Kim then made a rare admission of economic failures and issued a five-year development plan through 2025, urging economic self-reliance through mass mobilization. He doubled down on his nuclear ambitions and issued a long wish list of sophisticated weapons systems. Kim now appears less isolated and more confident, buoyed by stronger ties with Russia and China, an extensive nuclear arsenal and what the outside world sees as a gradually improving economy. Advertisement Advertisement In Thursday's speech, Kim claimed the North has made significant progress since 2021, citing economic gains and a firmer regional footing that he said marked an irreversible strengthening of the states status. Kim has capitalized on geopolitical turmoil, using Russias war in Ukraine as a window to accelerate weapons development and deepen ties with Moscow, providing thousands of troops and large munitions shipments to support President Vladimir Putins war effort, possibly in exchange for aid and military technology. Hes cozying up to China, joining Putin at a World War II ceremony in Beijing last September and holding his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years events that backed his efforts to portray the North as part of a united front against Washington. Kims strict information blockade obscures the full picture of North Korea's economy, which remains in a largely impoverished state after decades of policy failures and sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Still, Lee Jong-kyu, an analyst at South Koreas Korea Development Institute, estimates the Norths economy grew roughly 10% over the last five years, benefiting from a post-pandemic rebound in trade with China and arms exports to Russia. The past five years might be the most productive period for North Korean leadership since the 1950s and 1960s, said Koh Yu-hwan, former president of Seoul's Institute for National Unification. Reflecting Kims confidence, the new congress is unlikely to introduce major shifts in domestic policy and will continue to stress internal unity and self-reliance under another five-year economic plan, Koh said. Bolstering both nuclear and conventional forces North Korea has developed or tested much of the weapons Kim demanded in 2021, including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and tactical nuclear systems. The country launched its first military satellite in 2023 and has recently claimed progress in building a nuclear-propelled submarine. After prioritizing nuclear weapons and missiles, Kim is now putting more focus on conventional systems, launching new warships, anti-air weapons and attack drones, while outlining broader plans to integrate nuclear and conventional forces. Kims recent comments suggest he will use the congress to emphasize the parallel development of nuclear and conventional systems under a separate five-year plan for military development. Advertisement Advertisement Kim could be drawing lessons from North Koreas involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, now a conventional war of attrition in which Russia has avoided nuclear weapons. Conventional forces could become a key area of cooperation with Russia, such as improving the Norths aging air-defense systems, experts say. North Korea has already adopted an escalatory nuclear doctrine that authorizes preemptive strikes if the leadership is deemed under threat. By pushing for the integration of conventional and nuclear forces, Kim aims to blur the distinction between them and signal a lower threshold for nuclear use, heightening the threat to South Korea, analysts say. Keeping distance with Seoul and Washington Kim has shunned talks with rival South Korea since 2019, when his diplomacy with Trump collapsed over U.S.-led sanctions. Ties worsened after Kim in 2024 discarded North Koreas long-standing goal of a peaceful unification and declared Seoul a permanent enemy. Kim is likely to entrench his hard-line view of the South at the congress, possibly by instructing changes to party rules to codify inter-Korean relations as between two hostile states." While South Korean President Lee Jae Myung desires engagement, its highly unlikely that Kims stance on Seoul would change anytime soon, Koh said. Advertisement Advertisement Its clear Kim no longer views Seoul as a useful middleman with Washington, but rather as an obstacle to his efforts to carve out a more assertive role in global affairs. He has also shown sensitivity to South Korean soft power, intensifying a campaign to stamp out the influence of South Korean culture at home to reinforce his familys dynastic rule. Kim may take a more measured approach toward Washington to preserve the possibility of future dialogue, with the long-term aim of securing U.S. sanctions relief and tacit recognition as a nuclear state. While Kim has been prioritizing Russia, it would make sense to keep his options open as Putins war in Ukraine could wind down, potentially making North Korea less valuable to Moscow, some analysts say. A state report on workplace fatalities found that 84 people died at work in Minnesota in 2024, marking an increase from the year before. On Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry released its 2024 workplace fatality report, which found that the state saw 84 workplace fatalities, compared to 70 in 2023. That number also represents the highest number of workplace fatalities in Minnesota since 2017, when the state reported a total of 101. Advertisement Advertisement Still, DLI noted that Minnesota reported fewer fatalities per 100,000 full-time-equivalent workers than the national average, with 2.9 fatalities compared to 3.3. Image by annawaldl from Pixabay (Image by annawaldl from Pixabay) The private agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry sector accounted for the most fatalities at 19, while the private construction industry sector had the second-highest number of fatalities at 18. The private leisure and hospitality industry and the public sector had the third and fourth-highest numbers of fatalities, respectively. Of the 84 workers who died at work, 59 were wage-and-salary workers, while the other 25 were self-employed. Advertisement Advertisement Workers in Minnesota were most likely to die from transportation incidents, which accounted for 25 fatalities. Falls, slips and trips were the second most-frequent injury, followed by violent incidents. Men also accounted for 76 of the 84 fatally injured workers, and 78 of the 84 were white, non-Hispanic workers. Almost half of fatalities were among workers age 55 and older, accounting for 48% of the reported fatalities. This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Feb 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Business section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Two months after riding into office on a wave of youth support and hopes his unprecedented leftist policies could tackle New York's soaring cost of living, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is eying raising an unpopular property tax. Unable to win the backing of the powerful state governor to increase income taxes, Mamdani, 34, has been forced to look elsewhere to fund his flagship policies that include free buses and mental health emergency responders. Unveiling his budget for the year ahead of $127 billion -- bigger than the economy of Ethiopia -- Mamdani announced he was $5.4 billion short, blaming his predecessor Eric Adams. Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to plug the fiscal black hole, Mamdani has asked centrist Governor Kathy Hochul to raise income taxes on annual earnings of $1 million plus, and to hike levies on the most profitable businesses. He called that the most "sustainable and fairest" approach, warning the alternative -- raising more regressive property taxes -- risked "placing the onus for resolving this crisis on the backs of working and middle-class New Yorkers." That alternative would likely be hugely unpopular in a city where about 30 percent of people are homeowners and already pay an average of $6,300 a year in property taxes. - 'Doesn't seem right' - Advertisement Advertisement A hike would hit both residents of Manhattan's ultra-wealthy neighborhoods, as well as owners of single-family homes in Queens or Staten Island, upper middle class Americans the Democratic Party is keen not to alienate. "Many of those people voted for Mamdani because he claimed he was going to make the city more affordable," Ruth Colp-Haber, president of the real estate consulting firm Wharton Property Advisors, wrote on LinkedIn. "That doesn't seem right to me." Instead of raising taxes, "the best choice is to eliminate spending that does not improve New Yorkers' lives and make government more efficient," argued Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, an independent public finance watchdog. Advertisement Advertisement Political scientist Lincoln Mitchell of Columbia University told AFP that by threatening to hike property taxes if the governor refused to play ball, "what he's done strategically is smart." "What that does is it pits the top 30 percent of wealthy people against the top two percent." The risk for Mamdani is that there is no guarantee that Hochul will agree to tax millionaires and large corporations -- particularly as she faces a perilous re-election fight, said Costas Panagopoulos, a political scientist at Northeastern University in Boston. Mamdani has already endorsed her, robbing himself of a valuable bargaining chip. Advertisement Advertisement Backroom talks are ongoing in Albany to finalize the budget which must be concluded in the spring. "It's clear that the mayor is now coming out of his honeymoon phase," said Panagopoulos. "The realities of governing are setting in." rh-gw/sla/mlm Last year, flooding in Indonesia turned deadly, killing more than 1,000 people and ravaging much of Sumatra. The severe damage can't all be attributed to nature; the effects of industrial development on the local landscape also played a part in the flooding. Now, the government hopes to hold the responsible businesses accountable for the damage with a lawsuit of almost $300 million, Al Jazeera reported. What's happening? Indonesia is suing six companies that participated in the deforestation of a 2,500-hectare area in the Sumatra region for a total of 4.8 trillion rupiah ($283.8 million). The amount will cover both recovery efforts and fines for the damage to the rainforest in the area. Advertisement Advertisement "We firmly uphold the principle of polluter pays," environment minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said in a statement, per Al Jazeera, adding that a corporation that "profits by damaging the ecosystem must be held fully responsible for restoring it." Why is a lawsuit over deforestation important? Mining, fires, and plantations have led to deforestation across huge swaths of rainforest in Sumatra, including the 2,500 hectares of land in question. All this activity may make money for the businesses involved, while also enriching the people who work for them and the government via taxes, but it also removes the land's best defense against floods. Natural rainforests and other ecosystems like marshlands are good at soaking up water. Thick plant growth and meandering waterways slow down the floodwaters, giving the soil time to absorb them, while deep-rooted plants and trees help draw the water downward. Removing the plants and compacting the land leads to flat, non-absorbent areas that floodwaters race straight across, leading to deeper floods as well as more damage to the terrain. It is likely that the flooding in Sumatra was more damaging because of the deforestation around the affected buildings. The same principle applies where natural wetlands have been lost, which is why wetland restoration, like this project to support waterfowl, is so important. Advertisement Advertisement By holding businesses to account for the damage they cause, governments can send the message that profits should not take precedence over the environment or over human life. What's being done about ongoing deforestation? Indonesia is also taking this moment to review the permits that it has given businesses to operate in the area, revoking some. The "pendulum between the economy and ecology seems to have swung too far towards the economy and needs to be pulled back to the center," forestry minister Raja Juli Antoni said, per Al Jazeera. Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club. New Zealand is opening its doors to liquified natural gas imports, and experts have voiced their opposition, according to the Conversation. Government officials are aiming to sign a contract to build a new LNG port in Taranaki. The goal is to feed the electrical grid with LNG when renewable sources prove unreliable or too expensive. The government estimated that the option for LNG would save locals $160 million each year. Officials were keen to emphasize that despite the plan, it didn't seek to depend heavily on this lifeline. "The Government will design an import model that brings LNG in large shipments and only when needed, minimising exposure to international gas prices and keeping the door open for new technologies," said energy minister Simon Watts. Advertisement Advertisement LNG is frequently labelled as a cleaner alternative to traditional gas since it burns more efficiently than petroleum gas. However, it needs to be super-cooled for transportation and is prone to leaks. Because of these problems, some studies have even suggested that LNG produces more atmospheric pollution than coal. Meanwhile, New Zealand's hydro power continues to generate most of the country's energy, and solar power is getting cheaper and cheaper. It's even making progress in exploring geothermal resources. With the right storage options, the need to facilitate LNG imports drops significantly. If you're keen to move off of gas and toward solar, check out TCD's Solar Explorer. It can connect you to vetted local experts and solutions that can save you money on monthly utilities. New Zealand government officials are hoping to have the LNG port open as soon as 2027. Meanwhile, experts are pushing for a change in direction. Advertisement Advertisement "In hydro-heavy systems like New Zealand's, dry periods can be covered by pumped hydro, biomass, battery storage and overbuilding cheap wind and solar," said Jen Purdie, senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago. "Importing LNG to 'firm' electricity instead undermines these options and puts the brakes on clean investment." Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club. Police and firefighters responded late Friday night to a house fire in the 1600 block of Ionia Street, where one person was found dead inside the building. According to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, officers arrived around 11:30 p.m. to help the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department with the blaze. After crews put out the flames, they discovered the body inside the structure. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Advertisement Advertisement Detectives from the Homicide and Crime Scene Units are investigating alongside the State Fire Marshals Office. Several witnesses have been taken to the Police Memorial Building for interviews. Police are still trying to figure out how the fire started and if anyone else was involved. They say it looks like a one-time event, and there is no ongoing threat to the community. JSO asks anyone with information to contact the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at 904-630-0500, email jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org, or call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Donald Trump on Friday attacked the Supreme Court majority that ruled against him in a landmark decision on tariffs with a venom and ferocity he has never directed against Americas foreign enemies. He suggested they were disloyal to the country, under the sway of other nations. The entire performance was unhinged, an old mans tantrum about an affront to his manhood. He called the three Republican appointed justices who voted against him fools and lapdogs. Just imagine him using that kind of language about, say, a war criminal like Vladimir Putin. The president seemed to miss the entire point of the Supreme Court rulingthat the power to levy tariffs lay with the Congressas well as the nuance in the majority opinion, such as a footnote by Chief Justice John Roberts that suggested while there were may be other ways by which he could seek to put tariffs in place, those contain various combinations of procedural prerequisites, required agency determinations and limits on the duration, amount and scope of the tariffs they authorize. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C. on February 20, 2026, after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down some of President Trump's sweeping tariffs. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images In other words, he could not behave like a king. He could no longer go around the world threatening other leaders whenever it suited him. He could no longer ignore the law, existing U.S. treaties, or the role Congress is assigned by the Constitution. He said he couldhe said he didnt need Congress to impose the new types of tariffs he mentioned during his press conference. But that was either denial or ignorance or a special Trumpian combination of both. Advertisement Advertisement Because it will be very difficult for Trump to recreate the tariffs of the past year. Should he attempt to put some in place, and should he get the Congress and government agencies to work with him on this, the process is going to be more complex, require periodic renewals, and be far more limited in scope. But watching Trump, it was clear that the thrust of his remarks had nothing to do with the letter of the law. With him, it seldom does. His feelings were hurt. Someone told him no. And he was going to lash out until he felt better. The outburst was notable, then, because it revealed just how battered, exhausted, and at wits end the president is after weeks and weeks of similar experiences, of serial defeats and embarrassments, and of the prospect of many more such humiliations in the months ahead in a world that is finally learning how to say no to him. With pressure building on him because of a soft economy, public anger at his immigration policies, fears of spiking healthcare costs for millions of Americans, the Epstein scandal and a looming massive defeat in the November midterms, Trump has returned regularly to the authoritarian playbook in the hopes that it would make him feel more powerful, less enfeebled by age, more like the kind of leader the slavering courtiers in his daily retinue say he is. Advertisement Advertisement But the results have not been good. He tried to deflect attention from Epstein with a wag the dog foray into Venezuela. But once the brief operation was completed, it was clear he had no next steps towards stability. Oil would be stolen and revenue pumped into his accounts, yes, but he could not force changes in Venezuela. At Davos, he said he would take over Greenland, but Americas allies united in opposition to him, forcing him to back off. He left the Swiss ski village with his tail between his legs. He sent his Gestapo into Minnesota to round up illegal aliens and to intimidate his opponents. The people rose upeven as his thugs gunned innocent Americans down in the streetsand he was forced to withdraw again. He put up banners with his face on them and attempted to deface everything in sight with a blank wall long enough to fit his last name. But his takeover of the Kennedy Center became another catastrophe, and he had to shut it down. He launched legal cases against his opponents, but they were rejected by grand juries who saw them for the shams they were. Trump has declared that there was no longer an affordability crisis in the United States, writes David Rothkopf. But of course, he was lying and three-quarters of the public continue to believe its a problem for them. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images New scandals have been cropping up across his administration, from DHS to the Department of Labor. The bribeumentary that Jeff Bezos conjured up about his wife was a flop. Major allies rejected his Board of Peace. He cant stay awake in meetings. People keep talking about him slurring his words, about his bruised hands and ballooning cankles. Advertisement Advertisement And now the Supreme Court, which has treated him oh-so-gently in the past, has slapped him down for overreach. Hes had a big tantrum, but it is already clear that it is not going to help. It may make matters even worse. Trump is going to face further legal challenges as he tries to sidestep the constraints placed on his role by the Constitution, the law, and the countrys highest court. He is losing. And he is losing it. As he denounced the court and its decision and its members in his rager of a press conference, he dodged questions from real journalists and took only softballs from potted plants in the crowd. Now hes talking about another distraction, a strike on Iran. But he also knows he tried that before, and it didnt have the results he asserted it did. His threats now appear fairly hollow as the Iranians have announced they are ready if that is the path he chooses to take. And Trump knows he cannot achieve what he wants to by attacking Iran. It wont make Epstein go away. It wont make him younger. It wont hide the fact that he is failing as president. Advertisement Advertisement Thats no way to lay the groundwork for next weeks State of the Union. Nor is it a good start to a year that could end calamitously with massive defeats for the GOP. He will try more distractions during the address. He will try more lies. Indeed, smart money is betting he will break his own world records for lying during such a speech. He will announce more good news is just around the corner. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on February 20, 2026. / MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images But 2026 will only get worse for him. And while some may take some satisfaction from seeing him humbled by the Supreme Court, we should all recognize that his anger and frustration and flailing about should also be seen as a warning. Wounded, he will be more dangerous. Unable to play within the rules, he will work harder to cheat come election time. And, worryingly, the Supreme Court and the Congress may both give him more power to do so through pending decisions and the possibility of passing the extremely dangerous and misleadingly named SAVE Actthe most pernicious voter suppression legislation this country has seen in the modern era. The tension between the fact that the public and foreign leaders and some of our own institutions are learning how to stand up to Trump and his fury at their success in doing so will be defining for us in the year ahead. Challenged as he has been, Trump is now likely to see his only path forward is to seek to effectively end free and fair elections in America. For the voters of the US, our only hope is that we maintain the resolve and clarity of all those worldwide who have finally, belatedly, but increasingly effectively, learned how to say no to Americas man who would be king. (WJET/WFXP) Prosecutors in McKean County have reaffirmed theyre still seeking the death penalty for a Pennsylvania man accused of raping and killing his toddler son in August 2025, following his formal arraignment this week. Tyler Presscott, 33, appeared before President Judge John H. Pavlock on Wednesday for his formal arraignment on 11 felony charges, including homicide, aggravated assault, child endangerment and sex crimes against children. During the arraignment, McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer said all charges were bound over to trial. Advertisement Advertisement Vettenburg-Shaffer said Presscott has been appointed two lawyers who requested an extension on pretrial motions, more discovery and the turnover of all of the evidence the prosecution is using. Final member of 2024 drive-by shooting in City of Erie to plead guilty She also said her office is still seeking the death penalty for Presscott, which was announced in November 2025 and would be the first one in Pennsylvania this century and the first since 1999. Vettenburg-Shaffer said Presscotts alleged crimes warrant the death penalty, should he be convicted, because the victim was a child under 12 years of age, the killing occurred while the defendant was in the perpetration of a felony, the death was committed by means of torture and the killing occurred while the defendant was committing a felony under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. Advertisement Advertisement Prescott was originally charged with three counts of aggravated assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child for injuries inflicted on his 2-year-old son between July 17 and August 14. Chautauqua Co. man pleads guilty to causing death of 16-month-old The child was pronounced dead on Thursday, August 14, after being transported to the Bradford Regional Medical Center. Prescott was later charged with criminal homicide, rape of a child, rape of a child resulting in bodily injury, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a child resulting in serious bodily injury, aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault and incest of a minor. Advertisement Advertisement His final day to plead is March 20, as his case moves to the pretrial phase and has been held in the McKean County Prison since his arrest. Previous Coverage: 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. According to an LB Nagar Police official, approximately four hotel workers sustained injuries in the blast. The victims were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. "A pressure cooker exploded at Chutney's hotel in LB Nagar today at around 12:30 pm. Four workers sustained serious injuries and were shifted to the hospital for further treatment. We will provide more details later," said a police official. Further details are awaited. In a separate development, Telangana Police registered cases against several individuals after around 50 goats and sheep were allegedly sacrificed during a festival ritual at the Bheemanna Temple in Jagityal. The sacrifices were reportedly carried out consecutively as part of a traditional festival. The Organisers claimed it was a long-standing ritual, but animal rights activists lodged a complaint, terming it "brutal and inhuman" and alleging it violates animal protection laws. According to the copy of the FIR, the organisers arranged and permitted the illegal sacrifice of goats by biting their necks with their mouths, causing extreme cruelty and suffering to the animals. Police registered an FIR under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and are investigating the matter. (ANI) BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The beach access next to Pineapple Willies, commonly referred to as Pineapple Beach has become a popular spot for spring breakers. The beach access is meant only for Laketown Wharf guests. But social media posts have drawn more attention to the area. The beach has become very popular because of social media. Right. It has a tag name. Pineapple Beach. People say, lets meet there. And the next thing you know, hour later, we have 3000 kids congregating all at one location, Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said. Advertisement Advertisement Many of them also use Pineapple Willys private boardwalk to access the beach. Well get thousands of people wanting to come to our beach at the same time, and it just gets overwhelming. Theyre using us as a beach access point. And so what we have to do is shut down the boardwalk that we have over here, shut down this gate going to the beach just so we can conduct business, Pineapple Willys Chief Operating Officer Phil Meintel said. This year, both Pineapple Willys and Laketown Wharf have signed a blanket trespass warning, allowing police to take action against anyone who trespasses. It could be everything from a notice to appear with would be a court date or we could take you to jail. Were trying to do everything we could think of to try to prevent those crowds from getting so big on that beach. Its a very hard task, but limiting access at that specific area to only the people that are supposed to use it is the first step in what our strategy is going to be, Talamantez said. Advertisement Advertisement They also noticed problems with spring breakers using their parking lots to access the beach. Were going to be pretty tow heavy, to tell you the truth. I mean, honestly, if youre not a customer of Pineapple Willys, we will tow your car, Meintel said. Throughout spring break, a security guard will monitor the beach access. Panama City Beach Police will be monitoring the area during high impact periods. We want people to come here and have a good time. We want people to come here and enjoy themselves. Were not going to tolerate the behavior that we saw last year, period, Talamantez said. Panama City Beach Police expect to increase patrol against spring break activity starting on March 15. Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with concerns about spring break behavior can contact the Panama City Beach Police Department at (850) 233-5000. 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 mypanhandle.com. The United Kingdom has blocked a request by the U.S. to use the countrys bases for a potential strike on Iran, according to multiple British media reports. The decision by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, first reported by The Times, was reportedly made due to concerns that such action could violate international law. President Trump had requested that the U.S. be allowed to use the facilities at Diego Garcia and Royal Air Force Base Fairford in Gloucestershire, the European hub for Americas fleet of heavy bombers, the outlet reported. Advertisement Advertisement It comes as Trump has escalated pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, warning of unfortunate consequences for Tehran if ongoing diplomatic talks are not successful. The worlds largest aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, and its escort ships were sent to the Middle East last week to join additional warships already positioned off the Iranian coast, boosting Trumps military options in the region. Trump told reporters on Friday morning that he was considering a limited strike on Iran, according to a White House pool report. A day earlier, he floated 10 to 15 days as the potential deadline for reaching a deal. The Times reported that the Trump administration was drawing up plans to a strike that could include the use of both U.K. bases, a detail Trump seemingly affirmed in a Wednesday post on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement 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 wrote. Starmers refusal to let Trump use the bases for a preemptive strike also served as the basis for Trumps renewed criticism of a deal between the U.K. and Mauritius on the Chagos Islands, according to The Times. The U.K. has agreed to give Mauritius sovereignty over the archipelago in the central Indian Ocean and pay roughly 101 million pounds ($136 million) to retain a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia. The State Department affirmed its support for the deal in a Tuesday press release ahead of next weeks bilateral security talks with Mauritius in the countrys capital city, Port Louis. Advertisement Advertisement Less than 24 hours later, Trump was on social media calling the handover a big mistake. 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 U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally, he wrote. The U.S. not being allowed to use British bases also drew concern from former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus, who on Friday said it was very disappointing that American forces would not be able to refuel or recover on the strategically located island. Presumably, they are keenly aware of the destructive actions by Iran, whether its the nuclear program, the missile program, support for proxies; theyve been on the receiving end of some of Irans more nefarious action, Petraeus, a retired four-star Army general, told hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby on the Cats & Cosby radio show on WABC 770 AM. Advertisement Advertisement 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 New York Times reported that the Pentagon has been moving troops from several bases amid a possible escalation with Iran, including those in Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE, among others. The United States has been moving troops stationed at bases in the Middle East for undisclosed missions amid concerns of a possible war with Iran, with a Friday report by The New York Times indicating that hundreds of troops have been moved from the Al Udeid base in Qatar, according to cited Pentagon officials. The report also notes that there has been similar movement at the cluster of US bases in Bahrain, which house the Navys 5th Fleet, as well as Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Times, American officials may be concerned that the 30,000 to 40,000 US troops currently stationed in the Middle East could be the main target of Islamic Republic in case of an all-out war. The Pentagon officials consulted by the Times said that the conflict would be different from the attack on Al Udeid back in June 2025, where Iranian officials notified the US in advance about the strike. The Iranian mission to the UN warned that, in case of an American attack, "all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets." That is why analysts say that the US is moving air defense systems into the Middle East to be able to defend its troops and interests effectively against an Iranian attack. THE WORLDS largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrives in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands last December. (credit: Seaman Abigail Reyes/US Navy/Handout via REUTERS) US' finite supply of interceptors Katherine Thompson of the Cato Institute told the report that the current assets moved to the Middle East show an intention for a conflict much longer than the last 12-day war, with the Pentagon appearing to be anticipating an Iranian response that could be a significant risk to American bases in the region. Advertisement Advertisement The ability of the United States to sustain a prolonged defense of its forces and basing in the region, while also supporting Israels defense, is a major concern, she said. That is also the reason behind the US decision to keep its two air carriers in a relatively distant position to the Islamic Republic, in order to protect them from becoming a target. Commited for diplomatic solution, Iran rejects discussing ballistic missiles The report concludes that the Trump administration remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the situation in Iran. It also says that several officials see the Iranian offers as insufficient to dissuade US President Donald Trump from attacking the Islamic Republic. Advertisement Advertisement A Reuters report on Friday said that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi refused to open an envelope from the US side containing missilerelated proposals during the recent talks in Oman. Reuters also reported that strikes against Iran could include targeting individuals and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by Trump, two US officials said. The latest revelations suggest more granular, ambitious planning ahead of a decision by Trump, who has in recent days publicly floated the idea of regime change in the Islamic Republic. Despite building an increasingly screen-focused world, billionaire tech leaders are keeping their own children away from the tech they helped create. As far back as 2010, Apple cofounder Steve Jobs told a New York Times reporter his kids had never used an iPad and that, We limit how much technology our kids use at home. Since then, the trend of Silicon Valley billionaires keeping their families away from technology has become even more pronounced, thanks in part to the rise of social media and short-form video. Advertisement Advertisement Excessive device use among children has grown more common in recent years as busy parents turn to screens to find some peace. The trend has accelerated so much that some young children accustomed to extensive screen time are dubbed iPad kids. On average, children in the U.S. ages 8 to 18 spend 7.5 hours per day watching or using screens, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. YouTube cofounder Steve Chen said at a talk at the Stanford Graduate School of Business last year that he wouldnt want his kids consuming only short-form content, noting that it might be better to limit kids to videos longer than 15 minutes. Shorter-form content equates to shorter attention spans, he said. At the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, early Facebook investor and billionaire Peter Thiel joined Chen among the ranks of tech leaders who are setting strict limits on screens. Thiel said he lets his two young children use screens for only an hour and a half per week, a revelation that prompted audible gasps from the audience. Advertisement Advertisement Other tech CEOs, including Microsofts Bill Gates, Snaps Evan Spiegel, and Teslas Elon Musk, have also spoken about limiting their childrens access to devices. Gates has said he did not give his children smartphones until age 14 and banned phones at the dinner table entirely. Snap CEO Spiegel, in 2018, said he limits his child to the same 1.5 hours per week of screen time as Thiel. And finally, Musk, who bought the social media company X, formerly Twitter, in 2022, said it mightve been a mistake to not set any rules on social media for his children. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who once said his own children were too young to use TikTok, clarified in 2023 that if his children lived in the U.S. and had access to the rigorous protections associated with the platforms under-13 settings, he would let them use the app. He said even an 8-year-old could use the platform in the under-13 experience, which, among other protections, includes vetted content, no access to posting, and no advertisements. Scientific research backs up their parenting instincts. A 2025 study of nearly 100,000 people found that short-form video use was consistently associated with poorer cognition and a decline in many aspects of mental health across both younger and older social media users. Social media backlash is growing As young people increasingly spend most of their waking moments online, the backlash against social media, and especially minors use of social media, has reached a breaking point. Advertisement Advertisement In the past year, Australia and Malaysia became the first countries to ban adolescents under 16 from using social media. And several other countries, including France, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, are considering similar legislation. Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand earlier this week to defend his company against claims from a 20-year-old plaintiff that the social media giant built its platforms to hook young children. And yet, far from being a new phenomenon, the idea that social media use is harmful for young people has been around for years. Still, its the tech leaders who created the attention economy who have been the most attentive to this fact. To be sure, several social media CEOs have publicly pushed back on claims that their platforms are harmful. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified earlier this month in the trial against its parent company, Meta, that overuse of social media does not constitute clinical addiction. Metas lawyers during the trial also outlined a range of safety features Instagram has introduced for younger users, including limits on the visibility of adult content and muted notifications at night. Advertisement Advertisement Yet as the trials against social media companies continue and country after country moves toward legislating what Silicon Valley billionaires have quietly practiced for years, the private behavior of the worlds most powerful tech figures stands in contrast to what theyre promoting and building. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com A petition calling for Quakertown Borough Police Chief Scott McElree's resignation has gathered 700 signatures in about 19 hours. Patrick Kovitch created the Change.org petition around 10 p.m. on Feb. 20 several hours after McElree was filmed running into a crowd of student protesters, grappling with a teenage boy and appearing to put a teenage girl in a chokehold as a Quakertown High School anti-ICE walkout ended in a violent police confrontation. Police for the Upper Bucks County borough of 9,000 people have said in a statement that officers called for backup after some of the high school students, who were protesting federal ICE activities, were damaging cars, walking into the road and assaulting officers. Advertisement Advertisement This news organization has reviewed video of some students walking into a road. A freshman girl also told this news organization that she saw protesters kicking the tires of other students who had left school to drive by and heckle their classmates. McElree, as well as Quakertown borough council President Donald Rosenberger and other council members, have not responded to requests for comment made Friday and Saturday. Quakertown Borough manager and police Chief Scott McElree. Parents as well as several community groups demanded the release of the arrested teens on Saturday morning and criticized how both police and the school district handled the situation. As of Saturday night, a hearing is scheduled for Monday morning, but a forecasted snow storm could delay it. "It's vital for our community's safety and peace of mind that our law enforcement leaders are held to the highest standards of conduct. A chief of police must be emblematic of integrity, fairness, and justice qualities that have been called into question by these recent actions," Kovitch wrote on the petition. Advertisement Advertisement "As a community, we must demand accountability." A comment on the petition written by someone identified as Gabby from Perkasie highlighted that McElree was not in uniform when he ran into the crowd of students and grabbed a teenager. "An off duty chief not in uniform should have stated his name and address why he was there, he did not," she wrote. "These children thought this man was a stranger by his clothes and did attack to save others, not knowing he was an officer." Who is Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree? McElree, 72, became Quakertown police chief in 2004 after nearly 30 years with the police department in Whitemarsh Township, where he still lives. Advertisement Advertisement He took over as borough manager in 2007 amid the sudden departure of longtime manager David Woglom. McElree said at the time that he would take on both roles only temporarily, and did not plan to apply for the permanent manager role, according to news coverage. Borough council approved him unanimously as the permanent replacement a month later. Quakertown Borough, with a population around 9,000 people, is the only Bucks County town where the manager is also the police chief. McElree is Quakertown's public records officer, too. He has not returned requests for comments since the Friday incident. Jess Rohan can be reached at jrohan@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Petition calls for Quakertown police chief's resignation after clash Feb 21 (Reuters) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country would not bow its head to pressure from world powers amid nuclear talks with the United States. "World powers are lining up to force us to bow our heads... but we will not bow our heads despite all the problems that they are creating for us," Pezeshkian said in a speech carried live by state TV. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Newly released body cam video captured the intense moment police officers rescued a man from a burning home in Ocean County, New Jersey. The man jumped from a second-story balcony to escape the flames. The fire happened Feb. 13, on Yoeman Road in Stafford Township. Four officers, Sgt. Robert Woodring, Senior Master Patrol Officer Bryan Brown, Patrolman Zachary Otte, and Patrolman Sean O'Rouke are credited with rescue. Advertisement Advertisement "This incident is a powerful example of the dedication and courage of our officers," said Police Chief James Haldenwang. "What these officers did was truly amazing. Their quick, selfless actions undoubtedly saved this man's life, and I am awestruck by the heroics displayed." While two people were able to make it out and transported to Philadelphia for treatment, the fire tragically resulted in the death of a 92 year-old woman, Betty Matero. Officials say the cause of the fire has been ruled accidental, likely resulting from a failure of lithium-ion batteries. We are tracking potential record-breaking high temperatures on Saturday afternoon. This will be followed by a rain chance early Sunday and elevated fire threats to start off the work week. High pressure and dry air will allow our high temperatures to reach the upper 80s across Central Florida. Orlando could reach 89, and Daytona Beach could threaten 87, matching a record set in 1953. We are tracking potential record-breaking high temperatures on Saturday afternoon in Central Florida A cold front will bring down our temperatures starting on Sunday and offer a small chance of rain. However, the bigger threat to watch with this system will be the strong winds after the front passes. Advertisement Advertisement We are tracking less than 1/10th of an inch of rain for the majority of Central Florida on Sunday morning. The front will begin to move further south early Sunday afternoon and leave us with increasingly dry air along with consistent winds of 20 to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph. We are tracking potential record-breaking high temperatures on Saturday afternoon in Central Florida The wind, paired with the very dry air, will elevate our fire danger starting late Sunday and lasting through Tuesday. Red flag warnings are likely to be issued by the National Weather Service ahead of this change. We are tracking potential record-breaking high temperatures on Saturday afternoon in Central Florida The cooldown associated with this front will not cause Orlando to drop to freezing. Orlando will see a morning low between 36 and 38, while Marion and Sumter counties could fall to the freezing point both early Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Patchy frost will be possible each of these days. We will start to see a warmup at the end of this upcoming work week. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. In the United Kingdom, former Prince Andrew was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct related to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. The law must take its course, King Charles, Andrews brother, said in an official statement to the country, reinforcing the importance of the rule of law in the U.K. What about here, in the United States? Millions of pages of documents have been released from the governments Epstein files, most recently at the end of January. There have been resignations and severed business ties, and a new story seems to come out every day uncovering more connections between Epstein and a network of powerful people around the world. But wheres the true accountability in the U.S.? Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who had already been stripped of his title last year and his official duties years earlier, was arrested after police said they were assessing reports that the former prince had shared confidential trade reports with Epstein in 2010. Andrew was a British government trade envoy at the time. The arrest comes after years of pressure on the royal family and on Andrew over his years-long friendship with the disgraced financier. In the most recent release of the files, a photo shows him on all fours kneeling over what appears to be a prone woman. As the Miami Herald has reported, he had previously reached a settlement with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre. He admitted no wrongdoing but settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. The United Kingdom has taken serious action in the Epstein case against a member of the royal family. No doubt this is leaving a lasting stain on the royal family. Yet, in the United States and in Florida, the response has felt disjointed at best. Advertisement Advertisement Certainly, there has been professional fallout in this country for those connected to Epstein. As the New York Times reported, billionaire Hyatt hotels heir Thomas Pritzker stepped down from his executive chairmanship. Chairman of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Casey Wasserman is selling his talent agency. Goldman Sachs General Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler resigned after emails advising Epstein on how to answer questions about his sex crimes and discussing her dating life were made public. Larry Summers, former Harvard president and treasury secretary in the Clinton administration, resigned from two think tanks and stepped back from his public commitments. The list goes on. But even though some people in connection with Epstein have lost professional standing, resigning a position isnt the same as justice for the victims of Epsteins trafficking network. In the U.S., the response to the Epstein files has seemed far removed from the severity of the crimes more like reputational management than legal urgency. Epsteins survivors deserve better. The more the public learns about Epstein through his emails, the clearer the picture of a vast social and professional network that enabled horrific abuse. The names contained in the files are those of the rich and very, very powerful. But if the American legal system fails to act, it sends a grave message: There are two systems of justice one for the connected and one for everyone else. Until accountability is delivered, victims will only continue to suffer, and public trust in the justice system will continue to erode. Justice delayed truly is justice denied. Advertisement Advertisement The BBC quoted one legal expert in the U.K. saying that Andrew will receive no special treatment in jail. If thats the case, it will be a marked difference from the way the Florida justice system handled Epstein. The deal Epstein struck with federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida in 2008 allowed him to plead guilty to two counts of solicitation, one involving a minor the subject of the Miami Heralds 2018 Perversion of Justice series meaning he served just 13 months in jail. Giuffres family praised Thursdays arrest of the former prince, saying: Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty. So far, we cant say the same here. OAK PARK, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said President Donald Trump owes the families ofIllinois what seems to be about $2,000 per household for the illegal tariffs that he put on them, after a Supreme Court decision that struck down Trumps global tariffs on Friday. The Supreme Court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad, openended tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which does not authorize the president to levy global duties. According to Pritzker, Americans deserve a clear explanation of how Trump intends to return the money collected through the invalidated duties. Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker said he was troubled by Trumps comments earlier the same morning, in which the former president suggested he might pursue a new, unspecified method to reimpose similar tariffs despite the Supreme Court ruling. My real concern is that he is now saying hes got some secret plan to reimpose tariffs or something like tariffs, that he hasnt told anybody about, but that he just wants to keep them going, he said. Pritzker noted that the Supreme Court ruled Trumps prior tariff actions unconstitutional, adding: Somehow it seems like thats illegal because the Supreme Court has now ruled that he acted unconstitutionally in carrying out his tariffs. While Pritzker emphasized householdlevel harm, national reporting indicates that refund processes, if pursued, would likely flow through importers and businesses, not individual families. Still, the governor framed the ruling as confirmation that Illinois residents were wrongfully charged and deserve compensation. Advertisement Advertisement I want to know how hes going to provide that money for the people of all of our states, but in particular for the state of Illinois, he said. 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 MyStateline | WTVO WQRF News, Weather and Sports. Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Friday defended the movie 'Kerala Story 2', stating it's not spreading misinformation. Speaking to ANI, she claimed that many girls in Kerala have been converted, citing a case study of 32,000 girls, and urged people to look at both sides to maintain peace in society. "The film Kerala Story 2 is not a campaign of misinformation. The truth is that many girls in Kerala have been converted... This becomes evident when you look at the case study of 32,000 girls... Highlighting this is the aim of this film. To those protesting against it, I would only say that if you want to maintain peace in society, you should look at both sides and understand what is actually happening in Kerala", she said. The movie's trailer has sparked controversy, with some calling it "brutal truth" and others labelling it "propaganda". The film explores themes of religious conversion and coercion, set in Kerala, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Amid the ongoing debate surrounding 'The Kerala Story 2,' producer Vipul Shah opened up about the film, stating that it does not target Kerala as a state. While speaking to ANI, Shah said that the issue highlighted in the film is an "evil" that needs to be addressed. "We're not after Kerala. Kerala is God's Country... We want this evil in that state to be eradicated as soon as possible. "He also spoke about the criticism faced by the first film, especially over the numbers shown in the movie. Shah further alleged that the lack of action from the government, even after the release of the first film, prompted them to make a sequel. "Some people criticised the first film, claiming the 32,000 figure was false. We made a video on this figure on YouTube, which is currently available. We've added the names and shown the figures. The government must have even more figures than us, but we've never heard of any strict action being taken since the release of the film...," he told ANI. Shah also explained why the sequel carries the same title and how the story goes beyond one state. Speaking about the wider scope of the film, he said, "Kerala Story 2 goes beyond Kerala and exposes the massive conspiracy of manipulative conversion going on throughout India. Because its central theme is the same as Kerala Story 1, we named it Kerala Story 2... "The producer also spoke about safety concerns around the film. When asked if he had received any threats after the announcement of part 2, Shah said, "Till now, there has been no threat to this film. When you are telling the truth, then perhaps you are not in that much danger because people feel that if we threaten a person who tells the truth, then there could be backlash. "A fresh political debate began following the trailer's release earlier this month. The film has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders in Kerala. Earlier, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly opposed reports about a sequel to The Kerala Story. He said such a film could again try to create communal tension in the state. The Kerala Story 2 is scheduled to release in theatres on February 27. (ANI) Editors note: The video above was taken from a school meeting; the full video is linked below. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) An alleged racist comment shocked attendees at a school meeting on Tuesday, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) confirmed to PIX11 News on Friday evening. The comment was made during Black History Month at a Feb. 10th meeting on a proposed relocation or closure of three Upper West Side schools, as first reported by the West Side Rag. Advertisement Advertisement More Local News Parents, students, teachers, and other community members from The Center School, The Riverside School for Makers and Artists, and the Community Action School were present when the comment was made, according to the DOE. A student was giving remarks on why they dont want to lose their school when a participant said: Theyre too dumb to know theyre in a bad school, said what can be described as a womans voice. Shock was evident among multiple viewers as the person continued speaking. Apparently Martin Luther King said it, like if you train a black person well enough, theyll know to use the back, you dont have to tell them any more. Advertisement Advertisement Another attendee could be heard admonishing the speaker, stating that their comments were being heard and that they needed to stop. The meeting fell silent for a few moments before the student continued speaking. Make PIX11 your preferred news source on Google: Heres how PIX11 News was unable to verify the spelling of the individuals name, so it did not publish it. PIX11 also reached out to the DOE to see if a staff member made the remarks. The DOE said it was not a staff member and also released the following statement. The comments made were abhorrent and have no place in our school communities, said Chancellor Kamar Samuels. New York City Public Schools does not tolerate racism or discrimination of any kind, period. We take these matters very seriously, and the superintendent, as well as our Office of Family and Community Empowerment, are responding to this incident comprehensively. Citywide and Community Education Councils are independent bodies, and their meetings are expected to be respectful spaces for students, families, and staff. What happened at the meeting was a complete violation of those expectations, and we are providing support to the district to repair the harm done. Advertisement Advertisement The full video can be found here. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work 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 PIX11. RAF Fairford perhaps best known for hosting the Royal International Air Tattoo has been thrust into the limelight by Donald Trump. In a post on social media, the US president appeared to suggest the air base in Gloucestershire could be used to launch an American strike on Iran. Mr Trump is gearing up for a potential war by Saturday, with the largest build-up of American military assets in the Middle East since 2003. So far, Sir Keir Starmer has denied Mr Trump permission to use RAF bases as part of his plans. Advertisement Advertisement But there was no indication this would hinder Mr Trumps plans for a limited strike on Iran to try to force it into a nuclear deal. Nor have there been any suggestions that US officials had submitted formal requests to use British bases to do so. In June, the White House gave Tehran a two-week deadline to agree to a similar deal to end its ambitions to acquire an atomic bomb. Days later, US submarines, B-2 long-range bombers and other aircraft pounded three Iranian nuclear sites. So far, Sir Keir Starmer has pushed back on Donald Trumps desire to use British air bases to hit Iran - Getty Images The B-2s flew a 37-hour non-stop mission from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to drop a dozen 30,000lb bunker-buster bombs on Fordow an Iranian nuclear facility buried deep within a mountain before returning home. Greg Bagwell, a retired RAF commander and a fellow at the Rusi think tank, said: That allowed America to do it differently, because it could do it effectively from continental America ... and sometimes America prefers that because it means theyre not beholden to others. Advertisement Advertisement But the military deployment to the Middle East does suggest a much longer war could be on the cards. Over the past few days, the US has continued to move F-35 and F-22 fighter jets into the region. A second aircraft carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald R Ford, which is loaded with attack and electronic warfare aircraft, has been moved into the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar. Dozens of command-and-control, air-to-air refuelling and spy planes have been spotted by open source analysts in the area. Critical air-defence batteries have also been deployed in allied countries to counter any potential retaliatory strikes by Iran. Mr Bagwell said: If theyre bringing more stuff, theyve got to sustain it over a longer period, which requires more bases and more effort ... despite Americas assertions to the contrary, Europe remains quite critical to US strategies elsewhere in the world. You cant get to places like Iran without accessing other peoples airspace or bases in order to operate effectively. Advertisement Advertisement This is where the use of RAF Fairford becomes an interesting proposition for American war planners. If Iran is a 37-hour round trip for a B-2 from Missouri, the British base could halve the time a bomber would need to spend in the air. This would cut fuel costs, which would be particularly welcome if a bombardment campaign were to go beyond the limited strike being pondered in Washington. RAF Fairford is one of two bases in Europe fully capable of hosting all three of Americas long-range bombers the B-1 Lancer, the B-2 Spirit and the B52 Stratofortress. Built in 1944 for British and American troop carriers and gliders used in the D-Day invasion, it has long been a trusted location for US forces. It was used in the 1986 aerial bombardment of Libya, acting as a staging post for air-to-air refuelling tankers. Its 3,000m-long runway was designated as the UKs only emergency landing location for Nasas Space Shuttle programme. Advertisement Advertisement As an operational US base, it has the security provisions in place that American commanders like to ensure the safety of their aircraft and staff. Despite political tensions, the special relationship at an operational level remains strong. A B-52 long-range bomber at RAF Fairford. The Gloucestershire base can fully host American B-1s, B-2s and B-52s - PA At RAF Fairford, Britain and the US have several agreements underpinning the use of the base. The main 1951 Status of Forces pact does not go beyond routine activities, meaning the British Government has the final say over its use for combat operations. If Sir Keir were to stand firm on refusing Mr Trump permission, his other option is Moron air base in Andalusia, which has played a role in US operations in Libya and Afghanistan over the years. However, there was no suggestion that the Spanish government had permitted its use for strikes on Iran. Permission to operate out of a country does not necessarily mean other countries would grant overflight rights involved in any attack on Iran, if there are legal concerns over the US presidents reasoning. Advertisement Advertisement If the UK did grant permission, one option, according to the Armchair Admiral, an open-source analyst, would be to fly bombers from RAF Fairford, down the Atlantic coast of Europe, across the Mediterranean, over Israel, Jordan and Iraq into Iran. The theory is supported by the fact the US has positioned air-to-air refuelling tankers in Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria and Greece. The analyst added: This is much more preferable than long round trips from bases in the US, especially if this is a long campaign of air strikes. For that to happen, Mr Trump must convince Sir Keir that any plans to strike Iran are compliant with international law. 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. YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) On Feb. 11, Rep. Rob Wittman presented Naval Weapons Station Yorktown with $2.2 million that will be used to construct shore power infrastructure for Virginia-class submarines, according to a press release. Wittman secured this funding through the Community Project Funding appropriations process, which allows congress members to use tax dollars for district-specific reasons. As Naval Weapons Station Yorktown cant currently provide maximum shore power for Virginia-class submarines, the funds will be used to create a loading and unloading substation. This funding will ensure that Virginia Class submarines which are critical to our national security have access to the necessary support infrastructure at NWS Yorktown, said Wittman in a statement. I am proud to have delivered a $2.2 million investment in this critical infrastructure project, and I look forward to seeing the projects completion. Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 12, 2025, the House of Representatives passed the funds and signed them into law as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026. This legislation also ensures $1.5 billion will go towards the Navys Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization program. For more information, you can visit Rep. Rob Wittmans 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. The Brief Congressional representatives Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig went to the Whipple Federal Building to conduct oversight duties after previously being denied access. Both members of congress said the cells appeared completely empty and raised concerns over requiring notice for congressional visits. The lawmakers added that there are now about 500 ICE agents in the state, 20 detentions per day and two deportation flights per week. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - After conducting congressional oversight at the Whipple Federal Building for the first time, Congressional representatives Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig say the holding cells appeared to be cleared out before they arrived. Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: US Rep. Morrison conducts oversight at Whipple, 2 other lawmakers denied access Congressional oversight at Whipple Federal Building What they're saying Congresswoman Angie Craig said they observed that the drawdown of Operation Metro surge is taking place, but there are still concerns over transparency. "It seems very convenient that they removed anyone who had been arrested today from the facility 30 minutes before we arrived at the facility," Rep. Craig said, adding that she is challenging the policy that requires members of congress to give a week-long notice before conducting an oversight visit. "What we saw today was an incredibly clean facility. It was a facility without a single individual being held in it." Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Craig added that an ICE agent should provide their badge number if asked to identify themselves. "We want to be able to be back to the regular process that we are constitutional allowed to carry out, which is to just show up and be allowed access," Rep. Omar said."Because the idea is that nothing should happen in the darkness in America." Rep. Omar also added that agents have not detained any "constitutional observers" in recent days. By the numbers The lawmakers added that Border Czar Tom Homan is back in Washington, D.C., and that they were given data by the acting director of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota on the current state of operations. Advertisement Advertisement There are reportedly about 500 federal immigration agents taking part in Operation Metro Surge, 20 detentions per day and two deportation flights per week, according to Reps. Craig and Omar, citing the information given to them during the oversight visit. The Source This story uses information gathered from a news conference held by Representatives Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig as well as previous FOX 9 reporting. A plane towing a banner that read Little for Idaho circled over Boise Friday afternoon, according to CBS2 News. It raised the question: Is Gov. Brad Little running for reelection? Hes made no official announcements yet, and the person who picked up a Friday call to his campaign phone line did not answer a question about whether any decisions had been made. But the existence of the phone line and a campaign website and campaign funding page suggest that the two-term Republican governor is seeking a third. So far this election cycle, Little has received about $1.5 million in campaign contributions, and spent nearly $300,000. Gov. Brad Little gives the State of the State address at the Idaho Capitol. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com) If he wins, hed be the fourth governor in the states history to serve three terms and only the third to do so consecutively. Advertisement Advertisement In June, President Donald Trump endorsed Little, 72, for another term, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. Brad Little is the strong and highly popular Governor of Idaho, Trump posted on Truth Social, the presidents social media platform. Brad Little has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN! Under state law, Little must file his declaration of candidacy by next Friday, Feb. 27. Republican Mark Fitzpatrick, Independent John Stegner and Democrat Terri Pickens have announced their candidacy for governor. Reporter Kevin Fixler contributed. Trump backs Idaho Gov. Little for reelection before hes said hell run An effort to limit the Milwaukee Common Councils ability to shape police and fire department policy passed an Assembly vote Thursday, in the form of an amendment to a completely unrelated bill. If the measure becomes law, the council would need a unanimous vote before suspending or modifying police or fire department policy. The amendment was offered by Rep. Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) on Thursday, as lawmakers undertook a lengthy Assembly floor session voting on legislation. Although the amendment falls in line with past Republican moves to weaken the control local government has over law enforcement, it was attached to a bill completely unrelated to that issue. Donovans amendment was attached to a Republican bill framed as granting parents and guardians more access to medical records of minor children. The bill, among other things, would eliminate the ability for children who are at least 14 years old to contest release of their mental health records and the results of HIV testing to their parents or guardians. Advertisement Advertisement Nothing about the bill Donovan attached his amendment to involves common councils setting policy for police and fire departments. Yet this sort of maneuver was not unheard of in the lead up to the Assembly floor vote on Thursday. Republican lawmakers also amended a bill regarding hunting sandhill cranes to include provisions covering wake boat regulations. Another bill designed to provide additional court support statewide was amended to selectively remove additional public defenders from Milwaukee County. Its also not the first time Republicans worked to disrupt the ability of officials in Milwaukee to oversee the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). In 2023, after failing to pass bills backed by the Milwaukee Police Association aimed at preventing the city from ever reducing its police force and removing, forcing Milwaukee Public Schools to re-adopt school resource officers, and eliminating the policy-setting power over MPD that the Fire and Police Commission (FPC) had enjoyed for decades, Republican leaders attached those same provisions to a shared revenue deal which Milwaukee County needed in order to avoid a fiscal catastrophe. Since the passage of the deal, FPC members and local activists alike have decried the attack on the FPCs ability to oversee the police department. In lieu of setting policy, the FPC is able to make policy recommendations to the common council, an alternative avenue Donovans amendment is tailored to close. Although the amended bill passed the Assembly, it now needs to pass in the Senate, and then to the governors desk. Its unclear if the bill will gain Senate support, where several organizations have lobbied against it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SYDNEY, Feb 21 (Reuters) - An out-of-control bushfire in Australia's Victoria state prompted an evacuation alert for residents near a remote mining settlement, authorities said on Saturday. The alert, at the highest emergency rating, was for the area surrounding the A1 Mine Settlement in the Gaffney's Creek region, about 50 km (31 miles) northeast of state capital Melbourne. "Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous," Victoria Emergency said on its website, adding that the fire was not yet controlled. Advertisement Advertisement Mountainous terrain was making it difficult for firefighters to battle the blaze from the ground, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Since the 1860s gold has been mined in the sparsely-populated area, which is also popular with campers and tourists. Three other bushfires were burning on Saturday at watch and act level, the second highest danger rating, Victoria Emergency said. In January, thousands of firefighters battled bushfires in Australia's southeast that razed homes, cut power to thousands of homes and burned swathes of bushland. They were the worst fires to hit the southeast since the Black Summer blazes of 2019-2020 that destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people. (Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Kim Coghill) Sade Robinson case on CBS '48 Hours' tonight; learn more about her The CBS series "48 Hours" will explore the disappearance and murder of Milwaukee woman Sade Robinson on its Saturday, Feb. 21 episode. The episode, titled "Sade Robinson and the Secret Beach," will air at 9 p.m. CT and can be streamed on Paramount+. Robinson, a 19-year-old college student, disappeared after going on a date with Maxwell Anderson on April 1, 2024. A walker found a leg belonging to Robinson in Warnimont Park the next day. Advertisement Advertisement More body parts belonging to Robinson began to surface elsewhere in the days and weeks that followed, in the Milwaukee area and in Waukegan, Illinois. Anderson quickly emerged as a suspect and was later arrested. A jury on June 6 found Anderson guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, as well as other charges, in Robinson's slaying and dismemberment. A judge sentenced the 35-year-old Navy veteran to spend the rest of his life in prison without parole. Sheena Scarbrough, Robinson's mother, has sued Anderson in civil court for wrongful death. Here's more from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's extensive coverage of the case: Bringing a killer to justice: What the lead detective into Sade Robinson's murder learned from the case Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know about Sade Robinson What happened to Sade Robinson? A timeline of the 19-year-old's murder and dismemberment case Maxwell Anderson gets life in Sade Robinson's killing, won't be eligible for parole Maxwell Anderson guilty of killing, dismembering Sade Robinson Sade Robinson's family wants to depose Maxwell Anderson for civil case Sade Robinson's family unveils memorial park bench. 'I needed to make sure we completed this.' Sade Robinson's killer owes her Milwaukee family restitution. How much does he have to pay? Sade Robinson's mother says family in the dark about 'demon' Maxwell Anderson's transfer Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell Anderson, serving life in prison for killing Sade Robinson, has been moved to out-of-state prison Sade Robinson's family gets OK to refile wrongful death case against Maxwell Anderson's dad Maxwell Anderson begins process of appealing conviction in Sade Robinson's murder Weeks after Maxwell Anderson trial, Sade Robinson's mother pushes again for legislation In court filings, Sade Robinson loved, grieved by family and strangers 'who will never forget her' Sheena Scarbrough told Sade Robinson, 'Baby, Mommy's got this,' the night before trial verdict Family, supporters of Sade Robinson commemorate one year since her death Advertisement Advertisement Sade Robinson's family says in lawsuit 2 Milwaukee bars played role in her gruesome death Sade Robinson remembered as a 'kind soul' at memorial service in Milwaukee Violence, legal troubles and few consequences: Piecing together the life of Maxwell Anderson Maxwell Anderson charged with killing, dismembering 19-year-old Milwaukee woman Sade Robinson This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: CBS '48 Hours' explores Sade Robinson case; learn more about her Two people were injured in two separate shootings in Salisbury on Friday evening, police said. Salisbury Police responded to the first shooting on the 200 block of Audrey Lane just before 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Officers said one man was found suffering from a gunshot wound. He is at a hospital in stable condition. Police said the shooting started with a family dispute, and the investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement The second shooting took place around 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Faith Road and Innes Street, police said. Gunfire was exchanged between people in two separate vehicles, police said. One person arrived at a local hospital with serious injuries following the shooting. That person is also in stable condition, officials said. Investigators said they are working to determine the events that led up to the exchange of gunfire. Anyone with information regarding either incident is encouraged to reach out to the police at 704-638-5333. WATCH: Suspect arrested 35 years after killing of Kim Thomas State District Judge Francis Mathew denied a motion Friday from embattled former Western New Mexico University president Joseph Shepard asking the court to dismiss a State Ethics Commission complaint against him. Shepard headed the Silver City-based university from 2011 to 2025 but resigned in January 2025 amid allegations he and his wife author and former CIA agent Valerie Plame used public money for personal purposes, including lavish travel and furnishings. His separation agreement included in part a new contract employing him as a remote but tenured faculty member with the School of Business with a base annual salary of $200,000, an eight-month sabbatical with full pay, and a $1,909,788 lump sum severance payment, which state Attorney General Raul Torrez sought to strike down. Advertisement Advertisement The university has since nullified the employment deal, but Shepard who had already collected the severance payment still faces allegations in an amended civil complaint Torrez filed in February 2025, accusing him of breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and other violations of the New Mexico Constitution. The State Ethics Commission filed a separate complaint against Shepard in June, accusing him of violating the New Mexico Governmental Conduct Act by canceling the planned construction of an ADA-compliant ramp on campus property to instead build a patio extension for the purpose of hosting events related to his daughters wedding. The extended patio and walkway cost the university at least $177,404, according to the complaint. Shepard initially sought to dismiss the complaint in August, arguing in part only one of the states actions against him should proceed, but he changed course after the Ethics Commission noted the two civil cases cite two entirely different laws and patterns of behavior. He argued in a September brief the commission was acting beyond its authority and hadnt stated a valid claim under the Governmental Conduct Act. Advertisement Advertisement Shepards attorney, former U.S. Attorney John Anderson, argued in a motion and in court Friday that sections of the law cited in the commissions complaint including one stating a public officer shall not use their powers or public resources to obtain personal benefits or pursue private interests have been determined by the state Supreme Court to be aspirational expressions of ethical principals that dont support civil liability. Mathew rejected that argument Friday, saying Andersons reading of the statute was too narrow to support dismissal. Mathew granted Andersons request over the objections of the Ethics Commission that his written ruling include language allowing Anderson to appeal the matter to the state Court of Appeals while the case is still pending. However, the judge said he will not halt the case while the appeal is in process. Advertisement Advertisement Shepard filed his own complaint in October, accusing Western New Mexico University officials, the state auditor and several former and current state lawmakers including Sens. George Munoz and Mimi Stewart, and former Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill of violating the Whistleblower Protection Act by orchestrating a smear campaign against him to cover up their own wrongdoings. Specifically, Shepards complaint says the lawmakers retaliated against him for speaking out about the proposed allocation of $1 million for a charter school attended by Hemphills children and where she had once worked which was made to look as it if were being appropriated to WNMU for experiential learning. This case is not just a sordid example of how New Mexico conducts shady business deals behind the closed doors of powerful legislators; it illuminates what happens when you speak truth to power and threaten the internal dealings of New Mexicos one-party system who wish to hold onto power at all costs, Shepards attorney A. Blair Dunn who ran for attorney general as a Libertarian in 2018 wrote in the complaint. The complaint likens Shepards current situation to a similar episode over two decades ago in which Plame and her husband at the time, Ambassador Joe Wilson, were defamed on a national level because Wilson spoke truth to the Bush administration about its likes leading to the war in Iraq. Advertisement Advertisement Valerie went on to marry another Joe [Shepard] who also spoke truth to power but on a statewide level, the complaint says. Shepard and Plame now find themselves in the unwanted spotlight of a smear campaign that involves the highest levels and power of New Mexicos government with its unlimited resources to destroy lives and reputations, the complaint states. That complaint which also accuses The Santa Fe New Mexican and other news outlets of being part of the conspiracy against the couple is pending in the 6th Judicial District Court. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) on Friday condemned alleged "casteist" remarks made by JNU Vice-Chancellor Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit in a podcast released on February 16 and demanded her resignation. In a statement, JNUSU said it was "shocked" by the Vice-Chancellor's remarks and alleged that the statements reflected caste bias. The student body also objected to her remarks regarding UGC regulations and references made in the podcast in connection with Dalits and affirmative action. "We are students of JNU, and are shocked at the blatantly casteist statements made by VC Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit on a podcast published on 16th February 2026. The VC first proudly proclaimed her RSS lineage - 'I am proud of my affiliations with Rashtriya Sevika Samiti,' 'RSS gave me a worldview which is universal and unique,' 'RSS taught appreciation of difference and diversity,'" read the statement "She then went on to prove what her lineage actually means with the following abhorrent statements:- 'UGC regulations are unnecessary,' 'UGC regulation is irrational,' 'You cannot progress by being permanently a victim or playing the victim card. This was done for the Blacks; the same thing was brought for Dalits here. By making somebody a devil, it is not easy to progress. It is a temporary type of drug," added the statement. "Is this the worldview that she was taught at RSS camps? This is the chronology we have to understand. The chronology of injustice, caste supremacy, and perpetual systemic exclusion in universities and public spaces," it added further. The JNUSU statement said that it "is not only ashamed but condemns the blatantly casteist statements made by a VC of a premier public university." They appealed to all the Unions, student organisations, and students across campuses and the country to condemn the statements and observe a national protest day on Saturday (February 21), demanding the resignation of the Vice Chancellor. (ANI) Drivers in the city should expect more delays as additional repairs to the Houston Avenue Bridge will take place this weekend, causing major closures. The four closures are set to begin Friday, Feb. 20, at 9 p.m., and will continue through Monday, Feb. 23, at 5 a.m. The Texas Department of Public Transportation says these are the closures drivers should be mindful of: The I-10 Katy Freeway eastbound from Shepherd Drive and Durham Dr. to Houston Ave. As detour drivers, take the eastbound I-10 Frontage Road exit, turn left onto Shepherd, and follow until the next available entrance ramp. Four left lanes on I-10 will be closed from Antoine Dr. to Shepherd Dr. RELATED: Drivers concern about delays as White Oak Bayou Elevation Project progresses The suggested detour for drivers is I-610 West Loop northbound to the North Loop. The I-610 West Loop north and southbound Connector Ramp to I-10 Katy Freeway eastbound Connector. Drivers who need to take this route will continue onto the I-10 westbound lanes and exit at Chimney Rock. The north and southbound lanes on Houston Ave. Bridge at the Katy Freeway. Drivers heading north will detour by turning right onto Hogan St., left onto N. Main St., left onto Quitman St., and right onto Houston Ave. Those heading south will detour by turning left onto Quitman St., then right onto N. Fulton St., right onto Hogan St., and left onto Houston Ave. SEE ALSO: The end of trucks hitting Houston Avenue bridge? TxDOT has plan that will also solve I-10 flooding The repairs and closures are in preparation for the White Oak Elevation Project. The bridge will be reconstructed to run under I-10. Demolition is expected for early 2027. A significant goal of the project is to reduce flooding from major storms that cause the bayou to overflow and spill water onto the freeway. Advertisement Advertisement This area will be under construction through the end of 2028 or early 2029. Submit a tip or story idea to ABC13 Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story you think we should cover? Send it to ABC13 using the form below. If you have a video or photo to send, terms of use apply. If you don't, just hit 'skip upload' and send the details. Update 2/21 The missing man from Grand County has been found dead in a remote area of the La Sal Mountains in Grand County. According to the Grand County Sheriffs office, he was located at approximately 10:46 a.m. on Saturday. Initial investigation indicates that his death may have been the result of a motor vehicle accident, but officials do not believe that there was any sign of foul play. There are no further details available at this time. Advertisement Advertisement MOAB, Utah (ABC4) The Grand County Sheriffs Office is asking the public for help locating a missing man who was last seen in Moab. Jason Patman was last known to be in the Moab area on Feb. 9, law enforcement says. He is believed to be driving a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado that is beige in color with the Texas license plate VFT1371. The sheriffs office shared the above photos and noted that the vehicle is a stock image, and Patmans truck is believed to have some damage on the passenger side. Anyone who may have seen Patman or his vehicle, or has information about his whereabouts, is asked to contact Grand County Dispatch at 435-259-8115. Advertisement Advertisement How to make ABC4 your preferred news source on Google What should you do if someone goes missing? The first thing to do is call local law enforcement and report the case. Utah officials say there is no required waiting period to report a missing person. In an emergency, call 911. When working with local law enforcement, it is recommended one shares as much information as possible about the missing person, including but not limited to: Full name or nicknames. Recent photos. Date of birth and age at the time they disappeared. Gender/sex. Detailed physical description (including unique scars or tattoos). Date of disappearance. Medical conditions. Last known location. Social media accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Utah officials also suggest taking notes on interactions with law enforcement to keep track of details such as officer names, dates and times of interactions, the case number and what the officers say. Latest headlines: 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 ABC4 Utah. Slovakia has threatened Ukraine with a halt to emergency power supplies to the war-torn country if Kiev does not allow the resumption of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, the CTK news agency reported on Saturday. If oil transit to Slovakia is not resumed on Monday, Prime Minister Robert Fico would call on the state grid operator SEPS to halt emergency power supplies to Ukraine, according to a government statement, quoted by CTK. Oil from Russia is delivered to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline. Ukrainian officials have said that the interruption is due to the Russian bombardment since the end of January. Advertisement Advertisement But Hungary and Slovakia accuse the Ukrainian leadership of deliberately preventing the resumption of deliveries. Both countries' oil supplies are largely dependent on the pipeline. Ukraine sees the purchase of gas and oil from Russia by the two EU countries as helping finance Russia's war against it. Hungary threatens to block huge Ukraine loan Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hinted a few days ago that his country could hinder power supplies to neighbouring Ukraine if Kiev continues to disrupt Hungary's supplies. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also announced on Friday that his country would block the EU's 90 billion ($106 billion) loan for Ukraine until oil transit to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline is resumed. Orban has expressed the view that he believes Ukraine is interested in him losing the parliamentary election scheduled for April 12. and therefore wanted to ensure that heating costs in Hungary rise by blocking the Druzhba pipeline. If you ask ChatGPT about the people of Florida and Tampa Bay, it will tell you that were smelly, lazy and somewhat slutty. That is the verdict or, at least, the algorithmic assumption buried inside the worlds most popular artificial intelligence. A peer-reviewed study recently published in the journal Platforms & Society exposes the geographic prejudices hidden inside ChatGPT and presumably all such technologies, say the authors. Advertisement Advertisement To get around ChatGPTs built-in guardrails meant to prevent the AI from generating hateful, offensive or explicitly biased content, the academics built a tool that repeatedly asked the AI to choose between pairs of places. If you ask ChatGPT a direct question like, Which state has the laziest people? its programming will trigger a polite refusal. But by presenting the AI with a binary choice Which has lazier people: Florida or California? and demanding it pick one, the researchers found a loophole. The researchers findings, which they call the silicon gaze, revealed a bizarre mix of compliments and insults to Florida and Tampa Bay. Florida gained top or nearly top ranking in categories like has more influential pop culture, and has sexier people, but also scored very high under is more annoying and similarly high under has smellier people and is more dishonest. The chatbot also ranked Florida alongside the rest of the Deep South as having the laziest people in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Drilling down to the local level using the projects interactive website, inequalities.ai, reveals ChatGPTs opinions on Tampa as having better vibes and being better for retirees than most of the other 100 largest U.S. cities. The AI also perceived Tampa as having sexier people, being more hospitable to outsiders and having people who are more relaxed. But in the same category where it called residents sexy, the AI also strongly associated Tampa with having smellier people and fatter people. Socially, the chatbot ranked the city above most for being sluttier and a place that uses more drugs. The AI also determined that Tampa is more ignorant and has stupider people. To keep the model from just picking the first option it saw, every geographic pairing was queried twice in reverse order. A location gained a point if it won both matchups, lost a point if it lost both and scored zero if the AI gave inconsistent answers. Advertisement Advertisement In a comparison of U.S. states, a score of 50 meant the state was the highest ranked in that category. A score of negative 50 meant the state was the lowest ranked. Despite St. Petersburgs world-renowned museums, ChatGPT gave the city a negative 40 score for its contemporary art scene and unique architecture. Tampa fared similarly poorly in artistic heritage and theater. While its easy to laugh off a robots rude opinions, researcher Matthew Zook warns that these rankings arent just random. They are a mirror reflecting the internets own prejudices, a phenomenon that could have real-world consequences as AI begins to influence everything from travel recommendations to property values. When pitted head-to-head with Tampa in Art and Style, St. Petersburg beat Tampa as being more stylish, having better museums, boasting more unique architecture, and having a better contemporary art scene. Tampa beat St. Petersburg, according to the AI, for having a more vibrant music scene and a better film industry. Advertisement Advertisement St. Petersburg scored high marks in social inclusion, being heavily associated with positive queries like is more LGBTQ+ friendly, is less racist and has more inclusive policies. Such judgments are not deliberately programmed into ChatGPT by its maker, OpenAI, Zook said. Rather, they are absorbed from the trillions of words scraped from the internet to train the models, material full of human stereotypes. Perhaps if the internet frequently pairs Florida with the chaotic Florida Man meme or swampy humidity, the AI learns to calculate that Florida is ignorant or smelly. Algorithms, with their if-this-then-that logic, might seem objective, but often they learn to do their job from existing data things people on the internet have already typed into a search box, for example. Advertisement Advertisement Technology is never going to solve these kinds of problems, said Zook, a geography professor at the University of Kentucky and co-author of the study. Its not neutral, people like to act like it is. But its coded by humans, and therefore it reflects what humans are doing. Algorithmic bias is nothing new. Early photo recognition software struggled to identify Black people because it had been trained on a dataset of mostly light-skinned faces. Search results auto-populated with racist stereotypes because people had searched those terms before. Software that screened job candidates for tech jobs filtered out applications from women because it had been trained on data that showed mostly men filled those jobs. The difference with language learning models like ChatGPT, Zook said, appears to be in how comfortable people are relying on it already. With generative models, Zook said, users are outsourcing their judgment to a conversational interface where the biases creep in without being as visually or immediately obvious. Advertisement Advertisement AI models are also quite powerful and fast-working. They can generate content so quickly that they could soon overwhelm what humans produce, normalizing biased ideas. Last year, an estimated 50% of adults were using ChatGPT or something like it. Zook compared interacting with an AIs geographic opinions to dealing with a racist uncle. If you know his biases, you can navigate them and still be around him on the holidays, but if you take his words uncritically, you risk adopting those prejudices. (WBRE/WYOU) Our winter storm continues to impact the region Monday morning, especially over the Poconos. We remain on Weather Alert through the morning and early afternoon hours. Allow extra travel time as youre heading out the door, as many roads are slick and icy. Snow in central PA will start to wind down this morning with an additional coating to an inch expected. Multiple snow emergencies, parking bans issued for snow Advertisement Advertisement East of I-81 and in the Poconos, especially, snow will linger a little longer in the morning and early afternoon. An additional coating to 2 is expected, with isolated amounts of 3. Later in the afternoon, the storm continues to move away from us with scattered flurries and snow showers lingering behind. Tonight will be mostly cloudy and colder with lows in the upper teens. Another clipper will move through Tuesday night into Wednesday with a round of light snow. Thursday morning will be quiet and dry with more clouds than sun, but another storm system will move in later in the day and into Friday morning. This will likely give us a mix of rain and snow. The weekend looks quiet with some sunshine on Saturday. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with highs in the lower 40s. Advertisement Advertisement You can stay current on all the latest weather alerts and track the storm using the Future Alert Interactive Radar. 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 28/22 News. WASHINGTON A Michigan family lost their ranch-style home to cover $2,242 in disputed and unpaid taxes. The government sold the place for a song $76,008 at a public auction before the buyer flipped it for $195,000. A 2023 Supreme Court ruling meant Isabella County had to give Michael Pungs family what was left after selling the house and settling the tax bill, but his attorneys argue in a case the court will hear on Feb. 25 that it's not enough. They say compensation should be based on the seized home's fair market value, noting it had been appraised at nearly $200,000. Advertisement Advertisement Unless the high court intervenes again lawyers for the family say, governments have no reason to sell property for anything more than the amount of taxes owed. Whatever else above that, theyre no longer allowed to keep, so they dont care, attorney Philip L. Ellison said in a briefing about the case by the Pacific Legal Foundation, which is helping to represent the family. The libertarian public interest law firm brought the previous Supreme Court challenge to what they call "equity theft" after a 94-year-old grandmother in Minnesota lost her property to foreclosure. More: Supreme Court sides with grandmother who lost home, equity because of back taxes Advertisement Advertisement "The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but not more," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the court's unanimous decision siding with the grandmother. But that ruling didnt get into whether states can sell the property for far less than what it may be worth. AARP: `Shockingly low' sale price The AARP called the price the county got for the Pungs' house shockingly low. The advocacy group, which filed a brief supporting the challenge because of its concern that older Americans may be particularly vulnerable to tax foreclosure, also pointed to a 2011 tax lien auction in Poughkeepsie, New York. A company paid $4,825 for the home of a widow whose dementia prevented her from paying $4,242 in taxes, even though she had the money, according to the AARP. The home was assessed at $132,000, and the purchaser subsequently sold it for $115,000. Advertisement Advertisement Since 2023, some states Oregon, Massachusetts and Maine now require seized homes to first be marketed by a real-estate broker at fair market value. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case from Michigan about how much property owners should be compensated after their homes are sold by the government to cover back taxes. That shows there are alternatives to a fire-sale auction which would allow governments to collect what theyre owed, and homeowners to keep most of the homes value, AARP argued. Another powerful interest group, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has also weighed in. The government is incentivized to sell quickly and on the cheap, frequently resulting in catastrophic losses for property owners, the business group said in a filing. A main legal issue in the case is the takings clause in the Fifth Amendment, which bars the government from taking private property "without just compensation." The Pungs also argue that property sold for a fraction of its value to cover a tax bill is an excessive fine under the Eighth Amendment. What is 'fair market value' for a foreclosed house? Attorneys for Isabella County said that calls for governments to base compensation on a propertys fair market value ignore the fundamental differences between a market sale with a willing seller and buyer and a forced sale on foreclosure. Advertisement Advertisement Property in foreclosure is simply worth less, the county said in a filing. A registered bidder holds her bidders card before the start of the Wayne County tax foreclosures auction of nearly 9,000 properties in Detroit, Michigan October 19, 2009. The Constitution does not entitle delinquent taxpayers to hypothetical pre-foreclosure valuations rather than actual sale proceeds, Michigan and 10 other states wrote in a brief supporting Isabella County. Hennepin County, the local government at the center of the 2023 case from Minnesota, said the properties it recently sold through an online public auction went for about 40% of their estimated market value. The Wisconsin Counties Association told the court that the state has already taken steps to comply with the courts 2023 decision, and another change would likely require a wholesale re-evaluation of Wisconsins tax-foreclosure statutes. States were doing 'a lot of bad things' After the Supreme Courts 2023 ruling, nearly every state amended its laws, according to the Pacific Legal Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement There were a lot of states that were doing a lot of bad things, said Christina Martin, the foundation lawyer who argued that case. In most states, people are better off than they were before. More: Will Trump get a fourth Supreme Court justice? Speculation swirls around Alito But the libertarian public interest law firm recently identified ways it said Alabama, Arizona, Michigan, New Jersey and New York are engaging in shadow equity theft. Those include requiring property owners to file a claim with the government for any surplus proceeds from the tax sale. Homeowners may need to make that request even before the property is sold and the timeline for filing a claim can be compressed. The Pacific Legal Foundation, in recent months, has asked the Supreme Court to get involved in multiple cases from Michigan involving such bureaucratic traps. Advertisement Advertisement The court has so far declined to hear those appeals. More: Does the Constitution protect begging? Supreme Court asked to decide In the Isabella County case about fair market value that the court will hear Feb. 25, the Justice Department argues a property owner can challenge whether there was insufficient notice of a sale or a lack of opportunity for bidding. But if the sale was conducted fairly and the homeowner received the surplus, thats all the Constitution requires, according to the department. The best measure of the propertys value is the price obtained at the foreclosure sale itself, as long as the sale is conducted fairly, the Justice Department said in a filing previewing the argument it will make during the oral arguments. Like any debtor, a taxpayer who wishes to avoid the foreclosure process can pay the outstanding debt. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court looking at 'equity theft' in foreclosure sales State Rep. Mary Fitzgerald, R-Saint Onge, wants to enhance the delivery of legal services in South Dakota. She has filed legislation, House Bill 1270, designed to expand the state Supreme Courts new apprenticeship program, adopted in February 2025. The new program provides an opportunity to third-year (senior) law students. HB 1270 would extend the apprenticeship opportunity to existing graduates of the University of South Dakotas Knudson School of Law. Her bipartisan proposal is cosponsored by Sen. Amber Hulse, R-Hot Springs, and Reps. Eric Emery, D-Rosebud, Tim Goodwin, R-Rapid City, and Rebecca Reimer, R-Chamberlain. Although there are over 3,000 attorneys licensed in South Dakota, only about 1,800 are active in-state members. Many of these 1,800 attorneys are serving as judges, prosecutors and government lawyers. This leaves a shortage of attorneys who can directly serve South Dakota citizens, especially in rural areas. Advertisement Advertisement South Dakota has 2.2 lawyers per 1,000 residents, a per capita ratio that is the second lowest in the nation. We have legal deserts 35 counties have fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents, and six counties have no attorneys at all. In 2013, the South Dakota Supreme Court attempted to address the shortage with a Rural Attorney Recruitment Program, offering financial incentives. This initiative received national attention and was noble in spirit. Sadly, it failed. Historically, attorneys became licensed in South Dakota through the diploma privilege, which was bestowed on law school graduates without the need to pass a bar examination. This licensing mechanism was in place for 64 years, a duration that exceeds any mechanisms used in this state. It was terminated in 1983, however, causing untoward results. Eventually, the bar exam became the norm, and the drafting of the South Dakota bar exam was outsourced to out-of-state entities. These entities drafted questions that were designed to be administered nationwide, and therefore based on general principles of law, unrelated to the peculiarities of South Dakota law. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, multiple choice questions evolved as standardized testing, a method which has come under intense scrutiny as an inappropriate measure of legal competency. Currently, we are seeing these standardized tests being abandoned nationwide. In the meantime, many qualified graduates from the USD law school have been denied licensure. Research conducted by the South Dakota Legislative Research Council revealed that the licensure rate in South Dakota for graduates of USDs law school fell to 50% in 2015, 39% in 2017 and 41% for 2018. The Supreme Courts apprenticeship program is a step in the right direction. It assures something more than graduation from law school by creating an alternative route to bar licensure through legal education and practical experience. Law school students selected for the program must complete a minimum of two years of full-time public service employment, such as in the office of a states attorney or public defender, upon admission to practice law in the state. But why limit the programs usage to current students? Given the problematic history with the bar exams standardized testing, there is no reason to deny apprenticeship opportunities to other, prior law school graduates. HB 1270 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Monday. Sadly, this legislation will (if treated as similar measures in the past) likely be opposed by many attorney legislators and attorney lobby groups. One cant help but wonder if the self-interest of existing attorneys (and their organizations) isnt a conflict of interest. The availability of legal services is essential to providing access to justice to all aspects of South Dakota rural, urban, poor and rich. HB 1270, if passed into law, could make great strides in expanding those services to where they are needed most. Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation Friday night that approves the proposed Congressional redistricting map, her staff confirmed Saturday. The map was attached to the budget bill, known as the caboose bill, that amends the existing budget through the end of fiscal 2026 in July. The Senate amended the map Thursday, and the House signed off on those changes Friday. The map, which favors Democrats in 10 out of Virginias 11 congressional districts, would only take effect if voters elect to approve a constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to redistrict mid-decade. A ballot referendum is scheduled for April 21. Advertisement Advertisement Its facing opposition from Republicans. On Wednesday, the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee filed a lawsuit in Tazewell County challenging the referendum. The judge in the Tazewell County Circuit Court ruled from the bench Thursday in favor of Republicans. Democrat Attorney General Jay Jones has said he will appeal. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled last week the referendum can proceed as scheduled on April 21 while another case challenging the procedure used to pass recent proposed constitutional amendments including the redistricting map is argued. Early voting for the referendum begins March 6. Virginia voters will be asked: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginias standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census? Advertisement Advertisement The map, as amended, moves a chunk of Chesapeake about 63,000 people between the 3rd District and 2nd District, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com STOCKBRIDGE, Mich (WLNS) Students from Stockbridge High School are heading off to the Dominican Republic for an exciting opportunity. The underwater robotics team has been invited to conduct research, test equipment, and teach students at the Punta Cana International School. The students are quite familiar with Bob Richards classroom, but next week, the underwater robotics team will have a change of scenery in the Dominican Republic. The team consists of students Lucy Chapman, Daulton Diffenbaugh, William Gancer, Anya Harden, Owen House, Haley Warren, and Taurin Phillips. (WLNS) This is a big moment for us, said student Diffenbaugh. Advertisement Advertisement Gancer is the lead engineer and says the team has been preparing R.O.V.s, or remote operated vehicles, to share with students at the international school. Were going to be building these in the class, teaching them how to solder and a bunch of other things to work on the circuit board, said Gancer. These are devices that are used underwater to save scuba diver time, bottom time, said Richards. (WLNS) (WLNS) Richards says underwater robots are commonly used for observation, search and rescue, coral reef monitoring, and the off-shore oil industry. The ones that were building and taking to the Dominican Republic are small kits designed to interest younger students in engineering and STEM and building robots, said Richards. Advertisement Advertisement Harden says the team will teach international students how to build, balance, and maneuver the robots. In addition to bringing their knowledge and skills to the Dominican Republic, the students have prepared material kits to help with the projects. (WLNS) Everything that weve put into this kit is something that can be purchased on the islands themselves, said Richards. They dont have to worry about a long supply chain or trying to order specialty parts. During their visit, the team will demonstrate technical skills like soldering and computer programming, while building on teamwork, leadership, and connection. Advertisement Advertisement The whole thing is to connect with people down in the Dominican Republic, like learn how they interact with each other, how they learn, said Phillips. (WLNS) (WLNS) Richards says, in addition to testing their knowledge by teaching, he looks forward to the students being immersed in Dominican culture. The name of the project is actually Joining Hands 2026 and as we join with the students of the Dominican Republic and the Punta Cana International School, I hope that, if nothing else, theyre better citizens of the world at the end of this project than when we started, said Richards. After fundraising $15,000 in four weeks for the trip, the team is excited to finally put their preparation into play in new territory. Advertisement Advertisement 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 WLNS 6 News. This is the online version of From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. Happy Friday! In todays edition, we break down the fallout from the Supreme Courts long-awaited tariff ruling and highlight two House GOP primaries in Texas that are worth monitoring next month. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. Advertisement Advertisement Adam Wollner White House scrambles after tariff loss as Trump unloads on Supreme Court By Jonathan Allen, Matt Dixon, Katherine Doyle and Allan Smith A visibly irritated President Donald Trump blasted the Supreme Court for striking down tariffs he had imposed under an economic emergency law. He vowed to bolster the broader policy a central part of his agenda by using alternative powers to levy import duties on foreign goods. The good news is that there are methods, practices, statutes and authorities, as recognized by the entire court in this terrible decision, and also as recognized by Congress that are available to me as president of the United States, Trump said during a hastily scheduled news conference in the White House briefing room. Specifically, Trump said that he would, in the next few days, put in place a temporary 10% global tariff on all imports under Section 122 powers. If Congress does not act to extend that tariff within 150 days of its implementation, it expires. Advertisement Advertisement While simultaneously berating the court and claiming that its decision actually empowers him, Trump acknowledged that wielding the tariff as an economic and national security weapon will be more complicated as a result of the 6-3 opinion invalidating his novel claim of tariff power under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. Though he had long been warned that the court might rule against him, Trump and his advisers still appeared to be scrambling to put together a point-by-point plan to make up for the defeat. At this point, no one should be surprised that the courts are working against President Trump, said one Trump adviser who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the mood and thinking of the presidents team. To say everyone here is irate would be an understatement. But this is not over. We will be heard from again on this. I dont know that there is a specific plan as of this moment, but its not over. SCOTUS attacks: Trump singled out two of the justices he appointed to the court Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch for scorn. They voted with Chief Justice John Roberts, who was appointed by Republican George W. Bush, and the three Democratic-appointed justices to block his tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement He also accused the court of being swayed by foreign interests but declined to provide any evidence of that. Conversely, he praised Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who voted in the minority to leave his tariffs in place. Behind the scenes: Trump learned about the decision while he was speaking to a bipartisan group of governors at the White House. An aide handed him a note explaining the ruling, according to one governor who was in attendance, and Trump told the room that it was a disgrace. Before leaving the room to attend to the White House response, a fuming Trump told the governors that he had a backup plan ready, according to a second person familiar with his reaction. Advertisement Advertisement Read more Two Texas House Republicans face tough primary battles Two sitting House Republicans are facing tough primary battles in Texas next month for very different reasons. Texas 2nd District: Rep. Dan Crenshaw is the only House Republican running for re-election in the first primaries of 2026 on March 3 whom President Donald Trump hasnt endorsed, Ben Kamisar writes. State Rep. Steve Toth is challenging Crenshaw, arguing the incumbents foreign policy and immigration positions are out of step with the MAGA wing of the party. Crenshaw has responded forcefully to the challenge. He significantly outraised Toth and is outspending him on the airwaves, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact, running TV spots that emphasize how Crenshaw stands with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement But the lack of blessing from the president, whose endorsement shapes Republican primaries up and down the ballot, is a notable omission for Crenshaw, who has tangled with prominent conservative personalities who are boosting Toths insurgent campaign in part by questioning Crenshaws loyalty to Trump. Crenshaw argues that he is in lockstep with Trump, but he has also staunchly backed aid for Ukraine in its fight against an invading Russia, breaking with others in the Republican Party. And he notably distanced himself from Trumps false claims in 2020 that the presidential election had been stolen, later criticizing unnamed Republicans for pushing the lie that the election could have been overturned. Texas 23rd District: The Office of Congressional Conduct has conducted and concluded an investigation into an alleged affair between Rep. Tony Gonzales and a former staffer who died by suicide in September, Ben reports with Ryan Nobles and Melanie Zanona. Two sources familiar with the investigation told NBC News that the probe has wrapped up, but the OCC cannot transmit its report to the House Ethics Committee within a 60-day window before an election involving a member of Congress in the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement The congressman had previously denied the affair months ago, but his new statements in response to questions avoid addressing the allegation. His office did not respond to repeated requests from NBC News to clarify whether he stands by that past denial, and he did not respond to a request for comment on the OCC investigation. Instead, Gonzales has framed the allegations as politically motivated, as his most prominent primary opponent, Brandon Herrera, calls for him to resign and claims the alleged affair broke ethics rules. The congressman has also accused the womans husband and the husbands lawyer of blackmail. Herrera, a pro-gun influencer, forced Gonzales into a runoff election in 2024 but ultimately fell short of defeating him by a few hundred votes. Today's other top stories Epstein saga: Henry J. Gomez examines how retail mogul Les Wexner s ties to Jeffrey Epstein have upended his legacy and put Ohios political leaders under scrutiny. Read more Cash dash: A new progressive group is promising to spend at least $10 million to boost preferred Democratic candidates and counter pro-Israel groups like AIPAC. Read more Redistricting roundup: Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said the window for opportunity is closed for redistricting after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries , D-N.Y., urged him to hold a vote on a new congressional map. Read more On again, off again: Democratic Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado ultimately attended a breakfast at the White House this morning with governors of both parties, but are still not invited to a dinner tomorrow. Read more In a galaxy far, far away: Trump said he was directing agencies to release files pertaining to alien and extraterrestrial life. Read more Thats all From the Politics Desk for now. Todays newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Owen Auston-Babcock. Advertisement Advertisement If you have feedback likes or dislikes email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has termed the conduct of the Congress at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 as highly unfortunate and shameful, alleging that it was an attempt to tarnish the country's image on an international stage. In a statement issued on Friday, Sharma said that at a time when the world is appreciating India's technological progress, innovation capabilities and bright future, the Congress's attempt to defame the nation from a prestigious global platform is condemnable. He said that foreign delegates, investors and leading technology experts from across the world were participating in the summit and positively discussing India's growing global credibility, digital revolution and emerging leadership role in the field of artificial intelligence. The Chief Minister alleged that this was not the first time the Congress had placed political interests above national interests. He claimed that the party had earlier spread confusion over trade agreements and raised questions over the valour of soldiers in incidents such as Galwan, prioritising political gains over national pride. Sharma said that India's prestige is not linked to any one political party but to the collective identity of 1.4 billion citizens, and no one has the right to harm it. He demanded that Congress and its top leadership issue a public apology to the people of the country. He added that the public would not accept what he termed as negative and opportunistic politics. Meanwhile, several leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have condemned the protest staged by Youth Congress cadre at Bharat Mandapam. Former Union Minister Smriti Irani took a swipe at the party for allegedly disrupting the AI Summit in New Delhi, remarking that when a party's ideas have been 'out of stock' for over a decade, theatrics become their final clearance sale. "'Khisiyani Billi Khamba Noche!' It takes rare political bankruptcy to convert a global summit into a stage for embarrassing the nation before the world. The 'scion' of the grand old party seems to believe spectacle can substitute for substance. When your ideas have been out of stock for over a decade, theatrics become the final clearance sale," said Irani. Earlier on Friday, India Youth Congress National Coordinator Narsimha was detained by Delhi Police during the protest at Bharat Mandapam. In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the Al Summit". Police later detained the protesters. Further, the Delhi Police initiated legal action against a cadre of the Youth Congress. Additional Commissioner of Police Devesh Mahla said the incident took place at around 12:30 pm and that the protestors had registered for the summit online. (ANI) WASHINGTON (AP) For a few hours on Friday, congressional Republicans seemed to get some relief from one of the largest points of friction they have had with the Trump administration. It didn't last. The Supreme Court struck down a significant portion of President Donald Trump's global tariff regime, ruling that the power to impose taxes lies with Congress. Many Republicans greeted the Friday morning decision with measured statements, some even praising it, and party leaders said they would work with Trump on tariffs going forward. But by the afternoon, Trump made clear he had no intention of working with Congress and would instead go it alone by imposing a new global 10% import tax. On Saturday morning, he went further by saying he would raise that new tariff to 15%. Advertisement Advertisement He's doing so under a law that restricts the tariffs to 150 days and has never been invoked this way before. His decision could not only have major implications for the global economy, but also ensure that Republicans will have to keep answering for Trump's tariffs for months to come, especially as the midterm elections near. I have the right to do tariffs, and Ive always had the right to do tariffs, Trump said at a news conference, adding that he doesn't need Congress. Tariffs have been one of the only areas where the Republican-controlled Congress has broken with Trump. Both the House and Senate at various points have passed resolutions intended to rebuke the tariffs being imposed on trade partners like Canada. It's the rare issue where Republican lawmakers who came of age in a party that largely championed free trade have voiced criticism of Trump's economic policies. Advertisement Advertisement The empty merits of sweeping trade wars with Americas friends were evident long before todays decision, Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Senate Republican leader, said in a statement, adding that tariffs raise the prices of houses and disrupt other industries important to his home state of Kentucky. At least one Republican congressman who last week voted against Trump's tariffs on Canada is now facing political consequences. Trump on Saturday posted on his Truth Social platform that he was rescinding his endorsement of Colorado Rep. Jeff Hurd for reelection over his lack of support for tariffs and instead supporting Hurd's Republican primary competitor, Hope Scheppelman. Congressman Hurd is one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down, Trump wrote. He is more interested in protecting Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for decades than he is the United States of America. How Democrats plan to leverage Trump's trade war Democrats, looking to win back control of Congress, intend to make McConnell's point their own. At a news conference Friday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump's new tariffs will still raise peoples costs and they will hurt the American people as much as his old tariffs did. Advertisement Advertisement Schumer challenged Republicans to stop Trump from imposing his new global tariff. Democrats on Friday also called for refunds to be sent to U.S. consumers for the tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court. The American people paid for these tariffs and the American people should get their money back, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said on social media. It all played into one of the Democrats' central messages for the midterm campaign: that Trump has failed to make the cost of living more affordable and has inflamed prices with tariffs. Midsize U.S. businesses have had to absorb the import taxes by passing them along to customers in the form of higher prices, employing fewer workers or accepting lower profits, according to an analysis by the JPMorganChase Institute. Will Congress act on Trump's new tariffs? The Supreme Court decision on Friday made it clear that a majority of justices believe that Congress alone is granted authority under the Constitution to levy tariffs. Yet Trump quickly signed an executive order citing the Trade Act of 1974, which grants the president the power to impose temporary import taxes when there are large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits or other international payment problems. The authority has never been used and therefore never tested in court. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans at times have warned Trump about the potential economic fallout of his tariff plans. Yet before Trump's Liberation Day of global tariffs in April last year, Republican leaders declined to directly defy the president. Some GOP lawmakers cheered on the new tariff policy, highlighting a generational divide among Republicans, with a mostly younger group of Republicans fiercely backing Trumps strategy. Rather than adhering to traditional free trade doctrine, they advocate for America First protectionism, hoping it will revive U.S. manufacturing. Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, an Ohio freshman, slammed the Supreme Court's ruling on Friday and called for GOP lawmakers to codify the tariffs that had made our country the hottest country on earth! A few Republican opponents of the tariffs, meanwhile, openly cheered the Supreme Court's decision. Rep. Don Bacon, a critic of the administration who is not seeking reelection, said on social media that Congress must stand on its own two feet, take tough votes and defend its authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Bacon predicted there would be more Republican pushback coming. He and a handful of other GOP members were instrumental earlier this month in forcing a House vote on Trump's tariffs on Canada. As that measure passed, Trump vowed political retribution for any Republican who voted to oppose his tariff plans. ___ Associated Press writers Matt Brown, Joey Cappelletti and Lisa Mascaro contributed. At least for now, the Liberation Day tariffs are dead after a fractured Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Congress did not delegate the power to tax imports according to presidential whim in a 1977 law about international economic emergencies passed by a Democratic Congress and signed into law by Jimmy Carter. The court adopted the common sense position that when Congress says the executive branch has the power to regulate something, that does not include the power to tax it. Farmers and manufacturers throughout the Midwest, including those here in Kansas and Missouri, can breathe a sigh of relief as the erratic Trump administration trade policies come to an end, though that might not be for long. Donald Trump told governors visiting Washington, D.C., Friday morning he has a backup plan. It is not clear where Kansas City families, who the Federal Reserve estimates paid $1,000 extra for goods they bought this year, go to get their money back. Likewise, the damage to international relations and the U.S. economy cant be so easily undone. Advertisement Advertisement But as reassuring as the seemingly solid 6-3 Supreme Court decision appears to be, behind the scenes, the justices multiple explanations of their decision reveal a court dominated by jurists who put their opinion about Trump above their role as nonpartisan referees of American government. The next time Trumps unprecedented assertions of executive power are put to the test, I fear the result might not be so salutary. It all concerns an arcane bit of Supreme Court precedent called the major questions doctrine. The idea is simple: The court has used the doctrine to decide major cases in recent years by asserting that if the executive branch wants to do something big with what it claims are delegated legislative powers, the delegation of those powers should be crystal clear and unambiguous. Conservatives love this because it puts a limit around creative White House policymaking that stretches the laws Congress has written giving it regulatory powers. The Supreme Court has invoked this principle when laws have allowed the executive branch to make regulatory policy about pollution, the spread of infectious disease and student loans for instance. Liberals hate this because it meant that the Environmental Protection Administrations regulation of pollution couldnt include simply shutting down coal-fired power plants; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention couldnt tell apartment owners how to run their business during COVID-19; the Department of Education couldnt invoke a vague emergency to forgive hundreds of billions of dollars of student loans. Advertisement Advertisement In the decision today, the courts three Democratic appointees and three of its Republican appointees have flipped their position, creating the chaos that led to a fractured decision in which different sets of justices signed on to different opinions, concurring only in part or having completely different reasons for why they agreed or dissented. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who abhor the major questions doctrine, wrote opinions that said they were not invoking the doctrine, but then hijacked many of the legal arguments behind it. Justices Clarence Thomas, Sam Alito and Brett Kavanaugh dropped the doctrine they had previously championed to read immense powers hidden in vague statutory language. They had previously chastised Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson for such logic in previous cases. I fear that just as the Trump phenomenon has broken the presidential e Cabinet and turned it into a band of mouth-breathing sycophants, and transmogrified Congress into nothing more than a partisan rubber stamp, so, too, a two-thirds majority of the Supreme Court has become unmoored from the principles that put them on the court to begin with. Advertisement Advertisement Even a good decision that protects constitutional congressional powers could come to be seen as a sign that the Supreme Court is now nothing more than a partisan super-legislature standing athwart the democratic branches of government with crumbling legitimacy and without elections. I hope the justices prove me wrong. David Mastio is a national columnist for The Kansas City Star and McClatchy. Feb. 20A Sitka man who survived a 2024 boat sinking in Southeast Alaska has been charged with manslaughter and other crimes in relation to the incident that caused two deaths. Two 18-year-olds from Sitka, Darren Borbridge and Sayer Tuzon, were lost when the 26-foot vessel capsized near Chichagof Island, according to Alaska State Troopers. James Sturm, 45, was one of three survivors of the Jan. 9, 2024, sinking. Sturm was charged in the deaths this week. Advertisement Advertisement The state Department of Public Safety in an online statement posted Friday said Sturm was operating the vessel at the time. Alaska Wildlife Troopers "determined that Sturm was intoxicated while operating the vessel," the agency said. A Sitka grand jury on Thursday indicted Sturm on two counts each of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, as well as second- and third-degree assault. A $50,000 warrant was issued for Sturm's arrest, court filings show. He was arrested without incident on Thursday, troopers said. It wasn't immediately clear if he was represented by an attorney in the matter. The sinking triggered a search and rescue mission near Khaz Point, authorities say. Advertisement Advertisement Conditions at the time of the rescue included 9-foot seas, 31-degree air temperatures and 44-degree water, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk crew from Sitka rescued Sturm and the two other survivors. An unmanned underwater drone deployed the next day by the Sitka Fire Department spotted the bodies of Borbridge and Tuzon inside the cabin of the vessel, the Coast Guard said. Conditions were too dangerous to recover them, troopers said. The Coast Guard said its crews conducted a broad search for several days. Two cutters tracked the capsized boat, which was drifting offshore in heavy seas before it was lost. Advertisement Advertisement The group was returning from a hunting trip on Chichagof Island, which about 40 miles northwest of Sitka, according to reporting by Sitka's KCAW radio. Tuzon was going to graduate from high school that year and Borbridge was about to become a father, the station reported. Both were found to be presumed dead by a jury following a March 2024 hearing. The Woodstock Police Department has announced an arrest in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred last month at the Riverstock Apartments. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police say Prince Phillip Rolle, 18, of Locust Grove, has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated Assault in the death of Matthew Milner, also 18. Officers responded to the Riverstock Apartment complex just after 5:30 p.m. on January 26, following reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found Milner suffering from gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Police say officers and Woodstock firefighters kept the teen breathing while paramedics transported him to a nearby hospital. Milner was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. TRENDING STORIES: Detectives launched a homicide investigation with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office, and the Cobb County Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say they were able to identify a suspect vehicle connected to the shooting, which ultimately led them to identify Rolle as a suspect. Detectives obtained arrest warrants charging him with murder, felony murder and aggravated assault. Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes spoke to at least three neighbors who said the teen lived with his mother, and they saw him in passing, but didnt know much more about him. Another neighbor told Fernandes that the heavy police presence scared him. I just saw a lot of police cars, and recently, it just got bad around here, the neighbor said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Authorities say Rolle was later taken into custody by the Atlanta Police Department during an unrelated encounter. He has since been transported to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, where he is being held. Advertisement Advertisement I am proud of the great investigative work done by the Woodstock Police officers, said Woodstock Police Chief Roland Castro. We are very grateful for the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office, and it is my sincere hope that the Milner family finds a measure of closure through this arrest. The investigation remains active. However, authorities say there is no indication of any ongoing threat to the community. It has emerged that a Moldovan national, who had a criminal record and was detained as part of a group plotting contract killings of Ukrainian politicians and public figures, was freed in 2022 under a presidential pardon from Maia Sandu. The president has now revoked the pardon. Source: nticoruptie, a Moldovan online platform for reporting corruption and related crimes; European Pravda Details: The authorities have identified one of the detained Moldovan nationals as Sepeli Nicolae Andrei, 30, who was convicted in Russia in 2017 for drug trafficking. He was transferred to Moldova in 2019 to serve his sentence and released in 2022 after a presidential pardon from Maia Sandu, following petitions from him and the prosecutor's office. Advertisement Advertisement Sandu's administration said on 19 February that she has revoked the decision to pardon Sepeli "in connection with new circumstances provided by the competent authorities". Earlier reports described a person matching Sepeli's profile 30, convicted of drug offences, and released in 2022 as the group's recruiter and a key figure. Background: On 19 February, Moldovan law enforcement reported that Moldovan police and Ukrainian law enforcement bodies as part of a joint investigative team were conducting a criminal investigation into a plot to assassinate several public figures in Ukraine. The investigation found that members of the network had acted under the supervision of the Russian secret services. They collected information about the movements, places of residence and lifestyles of potential victims in order to organise their subsequent physical elimination for financial reward. Three individuals detained in Moldova have been placed in custody for 30 days. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! An ordinary Facebook Marketplace sale turned into a nightmare for a Tennessee truck owner who says he did everything right, only to watch his money disappear and his nearly new pickup vanish across state lines. Michael Phillips listed his 2025 Chevrolet Silverado for sale online, expecting the usual back-and-forth that comes with private-party transactions. What he did not expect was to become the latest victim in what appears to be a growing scam targeting customers of GM Financial. According to Phillips, the buyer presented himself as a legitimate purchaser and suggested completing the payoff through a three-way call with GM Financial. It sounded safe. Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube. During the call, Phillips says he received confirmation that the loan balance showed zero and that he was released from the contract. To him, that was the green light. The lenders word was good. The truck was paid off. The deal was done. Advertisement Advertisement Trusting that confirmation, Phillips handed over the keys to his Silverado. Then everything shifted. The Confirmation Vanishes, and the Lender Says He's Still on the Hook Shortly after the transaction, the money that had supposedly cleared was gone. The balance that had shown zero was no longer settled. Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube. Phillips says GM Financial later reversed course, telling him that because he sold the truck to a third party rather than through a dealership, he was still responsible. Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube. I would never release my vehicle to somebody had it not shown a zero balance, Phillips said. From his perspective, he had followed the rules. He had involved the lender. He had obtained confirmation. Yet he now found himself without his truck and still on the hook financially. Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube. Phillips provided documentation to local reporters that he says confirms GM Financial initially approved the sale. But after that moment, he claims communication stalled. With no truck and no clear resolution, he tried to report the vehicle stolen. Advertisement Advertisement That led to another roadblock. Police Say It's Not Stolen When he contacted the Knox County Sheriffs Office, Phillips says deputies declined to list the truck as stolen because he had voluntarily handed over the keys. From a legal standpoint, that distinction matters. He was not carjacked. He was not physically forced. He had completed what he believed was a legitimate sale. Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube. Frustrated and determined, Phillips took matters into his own hands. Using the trucks transponder data, he tracked its location to Georgia. He rented a car, gathered paperwork, and drove to the Atlanta Police Department to pursue the lead in person. By the time authorities investigated, the truck itself was gone. All that remained was the transponder. Advertisement Advertisement Police told Phillips that the man he believed he had sold the truck to, identified as Robert James Durden, was not who he claimed to be. The buyer allegedly said he owned a company called 3 Brothers Trucking in Atlanta. Investigators informed Phillips that Durden is a convicted felon and that the identity presented during the transaction was false. Only after more than a week did Phillips manage to file a formal report back in Knox County. He says an officer told him incidents like this happen dozens of times a day, a comment that left him stunned. For Phillips, this was not a routine case file. It was a 9,000-pound pickup truck and a major financial obligation. A Growing Pattern Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube. What makes the situation even more troubling is that Phillips is not alone. Just days earlier, another victim, Sean Berger, described nearly the same experience. The pattern is hard to ignore. Sellers with vehicles financed through GM Financial are approached by buyers who orchestrate payoff confirmations, often involving specific banks. The balance appears cleared. The seller releases the vehicle. Then the funds vanish. Advertisement Advertisement Whether the scam exploits procedural gaps, verification weaknesses, or internal policies remains unclear. What is clear is that multiple victims believe GM Financials processes were central to how the fraud unfolded. For private sellers, the story is a jolting warning. Apparently, a zero balance on a phone call may not be enough. In an era of increasingly sophisticated fraud, even steps that seem secure can be manipulated. Phillips says he is speaking out so others do not learn the hard way. He thought he had covered every base. Instead, he is left fighting to recover either his truck or his money, while the people responsible remain a step ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Editorial Note: If the video does not load on this platform, please click here to view the full article on our website, where the video is available for playback. Read More Texas man arrested for allegedly ripping out, taking over $50K from ATM, in Palisade MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) A Texas man is accused of using a stolen vehicle to rip out an ATM before stealing tens of thousands of dollars in cash in Palisade in October 2024. Alvin Eziomowho, 23, is charged with theft, criminal mischief, second-degree vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools and third-degree burglary. He was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on Thursday night. He is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond. Alvin Eziomowho The incident happened in the early morning of October 30, 2024, at Grand Valley Bank. Palisade officer Robert Segers wrote in the arrest affidavit that when he arrived at the scene, he found the ATM was pulled from its mounted position and a Ford F-250 was parked in a vacant field near the bank. Advertisement Advertisement An officer on the scene told Segers the owner of the car didnt realize his vehicle was stolen until he was contacted by authorities, according to the affidavit. Police found two prybars at the scene, which appeared to be used to pry open the ATMs outer door. The machines vault door was ripped off and attached to a large chain and hook system on the Ford. The vehicle was damaged on the drivers door and ignition, which is consistent with force entry and bypassing the ignition, the affidavit stated. Segers wrote he later met with bank staff, who noted around $56,400 was taken from the ATM, while damage to the machine was estimated at $40,000. Money was taken from a Grand Valley Bank ATM in Palisade on Oct 30, 2024. (WesternSlopeNow) Reviewing security footage, police noticed two suspects who were wearing dark clothing, including a hood, face mask and gloves. They then ran away from the scene. Advertisement Advertisement No suspects were identified at the time, but a few months later, police learned about additional ATM robberies in Utah and Wyoming that used a similar method to break into the machines. Segers wrote in the affidavit that he reviewed the Wyoming robbery and determined that the suspects were the same ones in the Palisade case. The incidents also happened within a few days of each other. In June 2025, police working with data from the FBI linked Eziomowho to a phone number that was associated with the ATM burglaries in Palisade and Wyoming, according to the affidavit. The number also was near 29 1/4 Road and North Avenue, where the Ford F-250 was reportedly stolen. Eziomowhos phone location data also allegedly showed he traveled from Palisade to Salt Lake City on the day of the robbery. Advertisement Advertisement The number appeared to change users, as Segers wrote, when he contacted a woman who said she received the telephone number on Oct. 31, 2025. She told the Palisade officer that she received text messages from people attempting to reach someone named Alvin, the affidavit stated. After this, law enforcement was able to identify one of the suspects as Eziomowho of Humble, Texas. At that time, he was in custody in the Randolf County Jail in Alabama for attempted burglary of an ATM, possession of a stolen vehicle and other charges. (In court on Friday, it was noted that Eziomowho is currently on probation in this case.) According to the affidavit, Segers spoke with an investigator in the Alabama incident, saying Eziomowho possessed burglary tools, which included pry bars and a large chain with hooks. Segers noted the modus operandi was similar to the Palisade robbery. Based on this information, Segers wrote there was probable cause to arrest Eziomowho. Advertisement Advertisement The suspect will be back in court on Feb. 25 for a return filing of charges. 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 WesternSlopeNow.com. Thailand is trying to contain a devastating disease outbreak that has killed at least 72 captive tigers at wildlife parks in the northern province of Chiang Mai, officials said on Saturday. The majority of the deaths were recorded at Tiger Kingdom Mae Taeng and Tiger Kingdom Mae Rim, two privately operated animal parks that allow visitors to interact closely with big cats. Between 8 and 19 February, 51 tigers died at Mae Taeng and 21 at Mae Rim, according to a timeline released by the regional Protected Area Office. Advertisement Advertisement Preliminary tests by livestock officials found that the 72 dead tigers were infected with feline parvovirus, also known as feline panleukopenia, reported The Bangkok Post. Veterinary teams from the Chiang Mai provincial livestock office said autopsies confirmed the presence of the virus, while laboratory tests on samples from the carcasses also detected canine distemper virus (CDV) and Mycoplasma bacteria. No traces of influenza A, which causes bird flu, were found. Feline parvovirus is a highly contagious and often fatal disease that severely attacks the digestive system and immune response, causing vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, high fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus that spreads through close contact and attacks the lungs, stomach, and sometimes the brain, and it can be fatal in big cats. Mycoplasma is a bacterial infection that affects the respiratory system and can make pneumonia and breathing problems significantly worse, particularly in animals with weakened immune systems. Advertisement Advertisement Treating sick tigers is very different from treating dogs and cats. Dogs and cats live closely with us, so when they show symptoms, we can respond and provide treatment right away. Tigers, however, arent living closely with humans. By the time we notice that something is wrong, the illness may already be advanced, Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director-general of Thailands department of livestock development, told local media. File photo: Tigers play in an enclosure at Tiger Kingdom in Mae Rim, Thailand (Getty Images) The department of livestock development said that inbreeding among captive tigers may have weakened the animals immune systems, which could have increased their susceptibility to infection and accelerated the spread of disease. Authorities have temporarily closed Tiger Kingdom Mae Rim for 14 days, restricted access to both facilities, and deployed teams to disinfect enclosures and equipment. The Independent has reached out to Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai for comment. Advertisement Advertisement All surviving tigers have been relocated to quarantine and care centres in Mae Taeng district for close monitoring, and plans are being made to vaccinate healthy animals to prevent further spread, according to The Nation Thailand. Somchuan said strict biosecurity and disinfection controls were being enforced to limit transmission, and added that canine distemper virus does not infect humans. These tigers died the way they lived in misery, confinement and fear, the animal rights organisation PETA Asia told AFP. If tourists stayed away, these places would quickly become unprofitable, and tragedies like this would be far less likely to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Thailand has seen serious outbreaks of disease in captive big cats before. In 2004, during the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, at least 147 tigers at the Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi Province either died from infection or were euthanised to stop the virus spreading. In 2024, dozens of captive tigers and other big cats died in Vietnam after contracting H5N1 at privately run zoos and safari parks. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A local nonprofit said it faces tens of thousands of dollars in damages after thieves broke into their building this week and stole copper. The executive director believes the thieves hit their building more than once. Wanted Colorado murder suspect arrested in Kansas City, Kansas The power was cut, and the perpetrators entered the building through what we would call a contractor door and did a very professional job in removing the copper in our facility, Executive Director of W.E.B. DuBois Learning Center Tamara Clark Sykes said. Advertisement Advertisement She said this week, thieves broke into their building and stole copper pipes and wiring. Clark Sykes said damages are extensive, repairs could cost tens of thousands of dollars. On Monday, Clark Sykes learned someone cut power to the building. When we started investigating, we found out that the power had been cut such that the copper in our electrical lines could be taken, Clark Sykes said. Leavenworth man accused of killing sons must stay in jail, take medication While looking at the damage inside the building on Friday, Volunteer Josh Sykes discovered that more copper had been stolen. They came back last night, Sykes said. Advertisement Advertisement They believe the thieves came back a second time. Clark Sykes called police. Officers and a K-9 searched the 43,000 square foot building, but no suspects. This feels like a professional job, Clark Sykes said. This undeserved community will bear the brunt of this incident and, again, this incident, I dont know who did it, but I do know that they appear to be more skilled than the people we serve. Clark Sykes said the theft forced them to halt normal tutoring and mentoring programs for the next couple weeks. Our students are missing out our community is missing out. We had a huge weekend plan, Clark Sykes said. Advertisement Advertisement This learning center strives to improve the academic performance of undeserved communities through educational activities and technology. She said they also had to cancel Mad about STEM tournament and a Black History Month event. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV I do believe it is all of our responsibility in this community, in this city to keep our children and our community safe, Clark Sykes said. So, if someone sees something, I would absolutely like for them to get in contact with us, for us to figure out how we can prevent this, but we will be back. Clark Sykes said she appreciated the detectives diligent work investigating. Advertisement Advertisement If you would like to support the learning center, you can donate to the nonprofit 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Now we see what his ideological motor is, the belief that drives him in politics. Sir Keir Starmer has about-turned on pretty much everything else. But he is determined, almost to the point of clinical psychosis, to give away British territory. The Prime Minister has performed 15 major reversals since the election. He has no strong views on whether we should cap child benefit or pay a winter allowance to pensioners. He is indifferent on whether we should join the EU customs union. He does not much care whether farmers pay inheritance tax. Should Israel blockade Gaza? Should utilities be nationalised? Should local elections be cancelled? Meh. But when it comes to handing the Chagos Islands to a country that has never governed them, the man is unstoppable. The single-mindedness with which Starmer has sped past every off-ramp is a thing of wonder. It was clear from the start that there was almost no support in Britain for paying to exchange a freehold for a lease. Labour MPs were bewildered, Left-wing columnists baffled and, we read, Starmers No 10 advisers horrified. No one, they told their boss, would understand why we were raising taxes in Britain to fund tax cuts in Mauritius. Advertisement Advertisement Again and again, Starmer was presented with opportunities to walk away. A new administration in Washington was sceptical of the deal. But he poured his energies into talking it around, sending his National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, to convince US officials. A new government in Mauritius was likewise hesitant. Again, Powell was sent, dripping with Olympian disdain. These are very tiny islands, he told an interviewer. I dont think we should be too worried about losing that bit of territory. Were probably losing more to tidal erosion... than that. Mauritius, sensing that Starmer was committed to the handover, began to raise its price, demanding that the payments be front-loaded. Again, Starmer had a perfect opportunity to end the talks; again, he ploughed ahead. It is hard to stress quite how out of character his stubbornness is. As a senior Labour official recently explained: Keir travelled very lightly. He never defined himself, and when he came in, he was defined by events. Advertisement Advertisement One of his Downing Street aides put it more damningly: Keir has never met a policy that he had a natural view on. Thats why hes capable of thinking that ID cards are terrible and then ID cards are wonderful and must be compulsory and then that they mustnt be compulsory. Not, though, when it comes to Chagos. Here, the Prime Minister is like a trooper of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, charging at the cannons even as all around him are blasted from their mounts, even as it dawns on him that they are the wrong guns. Ours not to reason why, ours just to pay and sigh. When pressed on why they are pushing ahead so dementedly, government officials tell you, sotto voce, that the Americans want the deal. Yes, they concede, the International Court of Justices decision is merely declaratory. Yes, it has no jurisdiction in disputes between Commonwealth states. Yes, there is an exemption for military installations. Yes, Mauritius trousered a large sum for permanently renouncing any claim in 1965. Yes, diaspora Chagossians hate the deal. And, yes, it would mean handing a pristine marine conservation area to a country with a poor record on biodiversity. But the US cousins want the deal, and it is in practice their base. 1906 How far Chagos military base is from Iran Well, that may have been the position of the Biden administration, with its dislike of little pink dots on the map. But it is not the view of Donald Trump. Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100-year lease, declared the president on Wednesday. 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. Advertisement Advertisement The last remaining rationale for the deal, namely that it would strengthen our most important alliance, has collapsed. Far from pleasing the Americans, we are advertising our unreliability. Not only Trump, but plenty of American generals, feel they have been misled. There never was an imminent legal threat to the archipelago. The claim that Britain was weeks away from losing jurisdiction was false, and ministers who made it at the Dispatch Box in Parliament, including John Healey, the Defence Secretary, seem to have misled Parliament. Nor was there much awareness in DC of the legal implications of handing the islands to a nuclear-free country. That the Americans now understand these things is thanks to the efforts of several British patriots acting privately. While the Conservative spokesman, Lord Callanan, expertly dragged things out in the Upper House, others lobbied their American contacts. Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Dame Priti Patel have all made the case. Donald Trump said it may be necessary for the US to use Diego Garcia to prevent a potential attack by Iran - AFP via Getty Images The Great British PAC a coalition of patriotic experts has funded the Chagossians legal challenges. Retired generals have been having urgent conversations with their American counterparts. The US ambassador, Warren Stephens, has behaved with exemplary sense, tact and patriotism. All, in short, have been doing what the official organs of the British state should have been doing, and would have been doing had they not been captured by the Starmer/Lord Hermer obsession with surrendering to foreign courts. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Chagossians themselves, tired of being treated as NPCs, have proclaimed a government in exile. In a daring and dramatic move, they have crossed hundreds of miles of empty ocean, guided by the former Conservative MP and special forces officer Adam Holloway, to land on one of the outer atolls and establish a settlement. An inhabited territory is much harder to give away. Hence the extraordinary spectacle of a Labour government, which is unable to stop small boats in the Channel, moving heaven and earth to evict British citizens from British territory. Come to Britain as a foreigner and you will be given food, accommodation and a weekly spending allowance. Return to your ancestral lands as a British subject and you will be served with a removal order. Now we see what happens when an obsession with international law overrides considerations of decency and practicality. Rule by human rights lawyers turns out to be remarkably inhumane. It is suggested that Trumps missive, coming hours after a state department declaration backing the handover, was prompted by irritation at being told that he could not use British bases to bomb Iran perhaps not Diego Garcia, where there has always been an implicit understanding that the Americans could use their own facilities, but RAF bases in Britain and Cyprus. Advertisement Advertisement My own sense is that opposition to the Chagos surrender in the White House goes much deeper. Still, it is telling that Britain, which the ayatollahs rank behind only Israel and America as their chief foe, is unwilling to act in support of the Iranian people as they push for a more representative government. Once again, international law contravenes not only our national interest but justice. When we hide behind law codes, we make ourselves irrelevant, a ghost country, unseen and unheeded, scorned in both Washington and Tehran. That is the real consequence of being governed by the Doughty Street/Matrix Chambers nexus. When we bundle Starmer out of the door, we must throw his supranationalist obsessions out with him. Never again should we let the country be run by human rights lawyers. 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. Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday expressed concern over the tragic death of a Class 10 student who was denied entry to her exam for arriving late and later died by suicide. Speaking to the media, he stated that any such event is a matter of serious concern for the government. He acknowledged the opposition's right to engage in politics, but emphasised the government's commitment to ensuring justice and preventing future incidents. "Any incident that occurs is a matter of concern. The opposition may engage in politics over this, but it is a serious issue for our government. Even a single incident is a cause for concern for us... We are ensuring that no guilty person escapes," he said. Paswan stated that the Bihar Home Minister has instructed local authorities to increase vigilance, and the government is working to ensure no guilty individual escapes punishment. He assured that the government is taking all possible steps to address the issue and provide justice to the affected family "The Home Minister of Bihar Province has also issued orders to the local administration to remain more vigilant... Such incidents should not happen at all, and for that, our government is making every possible effort to take steps... We are equally committed with the same promptness to ensure that the family gets justice", he said. This comes after Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition and other leaders, protested outside the Bihar Assembly during the budget session and criticised the state government for deteriorating law and order and administrative lapses in public examinations. The RJD leader also condemned the government's handling of school examinations, citing the tragic death of a Class 10 student, who was denied entry to her board exam for arriving late and later died by suicide. Yadav urges the government to adopt a more humanitarian approach, allowing marginally late students to sit exams, saying, "No rule can be more valuable than a child's life". He claimed incidents of extortion, murder, and sexual assault are rising, and ordinary citizens are living in fear. Yadav accuses Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of losing control and weakening his authority by handing over the Home Department to the BJP. The student was delayed by traffic congestion and arrived 10 minutes after the reporting time, but was refused entry despite pleading with officials, claimed Yadav. Yadav blamed the government for administrative insensitivity and highlighted persistent issues with traffic management and exam coordination. Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar has promised to review the incident and consider more flexible rules for late students. The opposition, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has been protesting in the Bihar Assembly, alleging rising crime rates and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's silence on the matter. (ANI) Ohio groundhog Buckeye Chuck predicted an early spring. Have you noticed the days getting warmer and daylight lasting a little longer? Before long it will be time to change the clocks as we spring forward. Is daylight saving time this weekend? When does daylight saving time start in 2026? How many days are there until spring? Heres what to know. Is daylight saving time this weekend? Here's when we change the clocks for daylight saving time 2026 The clocks will spring forward at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, according to Old Farmer's Almanac. When the clock reaches 2 a.m. that day, the time will jump ahead one hour to 3 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement By the time spring starts later in March, daylight saving time will have already happened. Why do we have daylight saving time? When U.S. adopted it for good In the simplest explanation, World War I is the reason for daylight saving time. It started in Europe as a way to conserve fuel for electrical power. It was initially enacted in Germany and Austria and then spread to 11 other countries. The United States adopted it in 1918, when the first daylight saving time was held on March 30, 1918. It was so unpopular that it was repealed in 1919. Daylight saving time was again brought back during World War II. One of the biggest issues then was that it was not regulated by the federal government, and states and localities were all on different schedules from 1945 to 1966. Advertisement Advertisement The Uniform Time Act of 1966 set specific dates for when daylight saving was supposed to happen. It was to start on the last Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October. States could pass laws to not participate if they chose. Daylight saving as we know it today came about after the turn of the 21st century. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended daylight saving time to begin on the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November. Will daylight saving time change ever end permanently? Status in Ohio, U.S. At the federal level, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2022 passed the U.S. Senate. The bill sought to make daylight saving time permanent. However, it was not adopted by the House of Representatives and needs to be reintroduced. Ohio has attempted to make daylight saving time a permanent observation. Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Ohio's House of Representatives passed a resolution, the Sunshine Uniformity Act of 2023, to urge Congress to permanently observe daylight saving time. Its status remains pending, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, introduced in Ohio's 136th assembly, remains in committee as of Feb. 20, 2026. It would also seek to make daylight saving time permanent. What U.S. states don't observe daylight saving time? Arizona and Hawaii dont observe daylight saving, according to CBS. Additionally, several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, also do not observe daylight saving time. When is the first day of spring 2026? Spring will begin on Friday, March 20, 2026, when we reach the vernal equinox (spring equinox), according to Old Farmer's Almanac. How many days until spring 2026? As of Feb. 20, there are 28 days until spring 2026 begins. How is meteorological spring different from seasonal spring? Astronomical seasons are defined by the Earth's orbiting position around the sun, while meteorological seasons are dictated by Earth's temperatures, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Advertisement Advertisement The tilt of the Earth and the sun's alignment over the equator dictate the equinoxes and solstices. The Earth tilts approximately 23.5 degrees on its axis, according to National Geographic. Because of this tilt, there are times half of our planet faces toward the sun, and the other faces away, according to NCEI. Earth's elliptical orbit brings our planet closer to or farther from the sun, depending on where the planet is in its 365.24-day cycle. These factors determine when the astronomical seasons fall. Each season varies in length from 89 to 93 days. Because of these variations in length, meteorological seasons were created. So, meteorological spring begins March 1, while astronomical spring starts March 20, the day of the spring equinox, according to AccuWeather. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Is daylight saving time this weekend? Here's when we spring forward PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Democratic Oregon Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04) announced her decision to run for re-election Friday vowing the time to fight is now, against the Trump administration. Every day, we see the chaos being brought to our communities by a President who wants to crush dissent, erase our history and destroy our democracy by undermining free and fair elections. They are driving up costs, undermining working families and trying to sell off our public lands to the highest bidder, Hoyle said. While theyre working against you, its more important than ever to have someone who will fight for you. And thats what I do every single day, Hoyle added. Im running for re-election to send an unmistakable message that working people in this country come first. Advertisement Advertisement Oregon health officials are now calling measles an outbreak: What that means The congresswoman has been the majority leader in the Oregon House of Representatives and was head of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries before being elected to Congress in 2022. Recently, Hoyle signed a letter with other Democratic Oregon lawmakers to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting Director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons, raising concerns over potential plans to build a detention facility in Newport. Hoyle has also recently spoken out against President Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill spending package, called on the Trump administration to unlock funds to address Oregons fishery disaster, and in 2025, introduced the House version of the Vote at Home Act. Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Eye on Northwest Politics The bill aims to bring Oregons voting model nationwide by giving eligible voters the option to vote by mail (including via drop-off site), would provide pre-paid envelopes to return ballots and would automatically register citizens to vote at DMVs. In May, Hoyle also joined Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley in a request to the Trump administration to approve Governor Tina Koteks FEMA funding request after devastating floods hit Harney County in March. Oregons Fourth Congressional District is the largest coastal district in the state representing Benton, Coos, Curry, Lane, Lincoln and northern Douglas counties, as well as the city of Eugene. Advertisement Advertisement Others running for the Fourth Congressional District seat include Republican Monique DeSpain who has previously ran against Hoyle and Democrat Melvin Smith. 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. A so Florida thing to do is coming up: A Falcon 9 rocket will shoot up into the sky, sending a batch of internet satellites into orbit. If all goes according to plan, it'll be another successful Starlink mission for SpaceX and it's possible people viewing the rocket launch live outside can see it whiz by. Launch tentatively is set for the evening of Saturday, Feb. 21. Rockets here launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Merritt Island, Florida, or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and people in and around Brevard County usually have the best chance at seeing this phenomenon in the sky. Friends north of us in Volusia County or south of us on Florida's Treasure Coast can, too, depending on weather, cloud cover and launch trajectory. Sometimes, a rocket launch in Cape Canaveral can be seen as far south as West Palm Beach. Advertisement Advertisement When theres a nighttime launch window or very early morning, theres an opportunity for unique photos the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Is there a rocket launch today? Upcoming NASA, SpaceX, ULA launch schedule in Florida Below is more information on the next rocket launch from Florida and suggestions on where to watch it in person (or virtually via the USA TODAY Networks Space Team). For questions or comments, email our space reporters Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com, Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or Eric Lagatta at elagatta@usatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space. When is the next rocket launch in Florida? Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026: SpaceX Starlink 6-104 Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will lift 29 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. Launch window : (overnight) 9:04 p.m. ET Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, to 1:04 a.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 Launch trajectory: Southeast Launch location: Launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida Sonic booms for the Space Coast of Florida (Titusville, Merritt Island, Melbourne area): No Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space: You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Networks Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space, starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser. For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space. Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Live weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today? Will weather cancel a rocket launch? Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. This radar comes in handy if you're outside watching the launch and need real-time weather The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. Where to watch SpaceX Florida rocket launch from Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch in certain areas, you can get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches. Advertisement Advertisement If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river. If you are farther south along the Indian River, look northeast. Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline, (you can even see the pad from some spots). Some hotspots to check out: Jetty Park Beach and Pier , 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there's a charge to park. Playalinda Beach , 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there's a charge to park, and access to Canaveral National Seashore isn't always granted depending on capacity and time of day. Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park , 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge. Space View Park , 8 Broad St., Titusville Sand Point Park , 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville Rotary Riverfront Park , 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village , 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway) Cocoa Village , near the parks and shops or near the docks Various parks on Merritt Island Rotary Park , 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island Port Canaveral , with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean at port Alan Shepard Park , 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs. Cocoa Beach Pier , 401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies. Lori Wilson Park , 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way. Sidney Fischer Park , 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs. Downtown Cocoa Beach , along Minutemen Causeway Tables Beach , 197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach The Tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach Pineda Causeway Eau Gallie Causeway Front Street Park near Melbourne (U.S. 192) Causeway and U.S. 1 in Melbourne Indialantic boardwalk at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A Paradise Beach Park , aka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachside park) Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter) Where to watch a rocket launch in Vero Beach area of Florida Sebastian Inlet State Park , 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach, Florida (cost to enter) Wabasso Beach Park , 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso, Florida Ambersands Beach Park , 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach, Florida (free parking) South Beach Park , 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, Florida (free parking) Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach, Florida Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach, Florida Where to watch a rocket launch in Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Florida Fort Pierce Inlet State Park , 905 Shorewinds Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Blind Creek Beachside North and South, 5460 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Blue Heron Beach , 2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce, Florida Frederick Douglass Memorial Park , 3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Dollman Park Beachside , 9200 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida Herman's Bay Beach , 7880 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida John Brooks Park Beachside , 3300 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Middle Cove Beach , 4600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida Normandy Beach in Jensen Beach, Florida Pepper Park Beachside , 3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce, Florida Walton Rocks Beach , 6700 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida (dog park) Waveland Beach, 10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida Where to watch a rocket launch near Stuart, Florida State Road A1A causeway in Stuart, Florida House of Refuge and beach, 301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart, Florida Where to see Florida rocket launch in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach area In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County home to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch. The best views to watch a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look due south. Recommended spots: Advertisement Advertisement South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore) Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park. Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs along Florida's East Coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then travel east until it turns into State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance. Oak Hill riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County. Advertisement Advertisement Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill Goodrich's Seafood and Oyster House back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill Seminole Rest national historic site, 211 River Road, Oak Hill Riverbreeze Park, 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill Bird Observation Pier on River Road across from A.C. Delbert Municipal Pier (see above) Rose Bay in Port Orange, Florida Advertisement Advertisement beaches along New Smyrna Beach, Florida New Smyrna Beach Inlet, New Smyrna Beach lifeguard station Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, Florida Ormond-by-the-Sea in Ormond Beach, Florida George R. Kennedy Memorial Park in Edgewater, Florida Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX rocket launch in Florida. What time is Cape Canaveral liftoff? The Trump administration has fired a top prosecutor in Virginia just hours after judges hired him. A panel of judges announced on Friday that they had unanimously voted to appoint James W Hundley as the interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Hours later, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X: "EDVA judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you're fired!" Advertisement Advertisement It is the second time this month that the Trump administration has abruptly fired a prosecutor who was appointed by judges. Hundley was picked to fill the seat vacated by Erik Siebert, who resigned in September under pressure from President Donald Trump. In appointing Hundley - a veteran litigator with more than three decades of experience - to the role, the district court judges cited a law that allows them to hire a new person to the role after the previous holder's term expired. The justice department has argued that the president and the attorney general maintain the right to appoint interim US attorneys. Some critics have accused the Trump administration's appointments of skipping the Senate confirmation process. Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Virginia, judges in New York, New Jersey, California and Nevada have ruled that a Trump administration's pick for a US attorney role was serving unlawfully. "It was a great honor to be appointed by the Court as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia," Hundley said, in part, in a statement to the BBC. "Despite my dismissal by the President, I will continue to support our country and its justice system in any way I can," he added. The back-and-forth over the prestigious Virginia position is the latest in a conflict that relates to the Trump administration's attempted prosecutions of New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. Advertisement Advertisement Siebert, who was appointed as acting attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in January 2025, had been overseeing the investigation into James over allegations of mortgage fraud. James, a Democrat who led a civil fraud suit against Trump in 2023, has previously denied the allegations as "baseless" and says they are motivated by "revenge". Siebert's office ultimately decided not to bring criminal charges against James after Siebert expressed doubts about the strength of the case. That decision drew the ire of Trump, who had called for James to be investigated. Siebert then resigned from his position after Trump said: "I want him out". Advertisement Advertisement Days after Siebert's exit, Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide and the president's former personal attorney, to the position. Halligan quickly secured grand jury indictments against James, as well as against Comey. Comey, a longtime adversary of Trump, was accused of lying to Congress about not authorising a leak of classified information to the media. In November, a US judge dismissed the cases against James and Comey, ruling that Halligan had been unlawfully appointed to the role. Donald Trump is considering plans to assassinate the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei among the military options for a strike on Iran. The US president has reportedly been presented with a decapitation campaign against the leadership of the Islamic Republic, with Mojtaba Khamenei on the list alongside his father. The supreme leaders 55-year-old son had been thought his most likely successor, benefiting from close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful branch of the armed forces that has been designated a terrorist entity by the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Mojtaba also served in the Iran-Iraq war and studied theology in the holy city of Qom, meeting the constitutional requirement for clerical training. Mr Trump has not yet decided on whether to strike Iran, Axios news website reported. He could allow a deal that permits the regime to continue with token nuclear enrichment, so long as it has no path to an atomic bomb. Donald Trump, pictured in the White House situation room with JD Vance, wants assurances Iran will not try to build a nuclear weapon - AFP But should negotiations over Irans nuclear enrichment programme fail, among the options under consideration is a dramatic assassination campaign that would aim at wholesale regime change. They have something for every scenario. One scenario takes out the Ayatollah and his son and the mullahs, a senior US official told Axios. Advertisement Advertisement The US has dispatched more than one-third of its navy towards Iran and assembled the largest amount of air power in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Analysts have pointed to the deployment of more than two-thirds of the available E-3 Sentry fleet as one sign that Mr Trump is prepared to launch military action, with the radars of the reconnaissance aircraft needed to track and direct the interception of incoming missiles. On Friday, Mr Trump confirmed he was considering a limited strike on Iran in an attempt to pressure the regime into making a nuclear deal. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which is being joined in the Middle East by a second US carrier group - AFP In theory, that strike would display US power but fall below the threshold for provoking a serious response from Tehran. But the risks of a spiralling conflict are self-evident. Advertisement Advertisement The White Houses openness to Iran continuing a scaled-back enrichment programme, as confirmed by a senior US official cited by Axios, could create room for a deal and avert war in the Middle East. However, the outlet noted that any nuclear proposal from Iran would have to meet a very high bar to persuade sceptics within the Trump administration that military action was not needed. It remains unclear how token enrichment would be defined, and what supervision would be in place to ensure Iranian compliance. Iran does not have a strong track record of allowing UN nuclear inspectors to monitor activities. The senior US official said: [Mr Trump] will be ready to accept a deal that would be substantive and that he can sell politically at home. Advertisement Advertisement If the Iranians want to prevent an attack they should give us an offer we cant refuse. The Iranians keep missing the window. If they play games there wont be a lot of patience. On Thursday, the US president said he would give Iran 10 to 15 days to come to a deal. The worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, entered the Mediterranean sea on Friday and will arrive in range of Iran within that timeframe of 10 to 15 days. Two Israeli officials said they believed the gaps between Washington and Tehran were unbridgeable and the chances of a military escalation were high. Israels government is making preparations for possible joint military action with the US. However, no decision had been made on whether to carry out such an operation, a source familiar with the planning told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement It would be the second time the US and Israel have attacked Iran in less than a year, following air strikes against military and nuclear facilities in June. Regional officials said oil-producing Gulf countries were preparing for a possible military confrontation that they feared could spin out of control and further destabilise the Middle East. Some said Tehran was dangerously miscalculating by holding out for concessions, while Mr Trump was boxed in by the build-up of military assets. An Iranian resident protests against the regime in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday - Nacho Doce/REUTERS They feared he would be unable to scale it back without losing face unless there was a firm commitment from Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions. Earlier this week, the US began moving some personnel out of the Middle East to prepare for potential counter-attacks by Iran if Washington strikes Tehran in the coming days. Advertisement Advertisement At least 20 anti-regime protests were held in Iran on Friday at memorials to mark the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period for protesters killed by security forces. Thousands of demonstrators were killed after taking to the streets over economic woes and a lack of water in Tehran. The violence is what first prompted Mr Trump to make his latest threats of retaliation against the Iranian regime. 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. Nathan Howard / Getty Images Experts in psychology and politics say Truth Social is a questionable social network for a number of reasons. But perhaps the most egregious is that the platform much like other social media networks is an echo chamber, which is an environment in which people seek out and consume information that reinforces their existing beliefs, values or opinions, said Manahil Riaz , a psychotherapist in Houston and the owner of Riaz Counseling. Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images Related: Donald Trump Unveiled A Board Of Peace Logo, And The Reactions Are NOT GOOD Echo chambers became a more common topic of conversation around the 2016 election, said Claire Robertson , an assistant professor of psychology who focuses on political polarization and extremism at Colby College in Maine. And it was ... the first acknowledgment that what we see online is not necessarily representative of the offline world, Robertson said. Andrew Harnik / Getty Images Online, we curate our friends, the brands we follow, and the news we see. If I dont want to see updates from an ex, I dont have to and while that can be fine for a situation like that, its not so great when it comes to news and politics. The only content that were seeing online is from people who agree with us. That was the original kind of conceptualization of an echo chamber, Robertson explained. Advertisement Advertisement And while it is true that social media mostly shows us opinions from people who align with our beliefs, we will occasionally see content from people or news we dont agree with but not in a way thats helpful, either. It does happen, but for the most part, we see opinions from people who are most extreme versions of either side of the aisle. And then that can become substantiated in our minds as whats normative or representative of those different groups of people, Robertson said. Truth Social was designed to bring together like-minded individuals. Illustration: HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images Related: People Are Roasting "MAGA Makeup" On TikTok, And It Might Be The Shadiest Thing I've Seen All Year Truth Social was launched in 2022 as a conservative response to Trump getting kicked off of Facebook and Twitter (now known as X) after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and everything, they can become echo chambers, right? They just house echo chambers on both sides, whereas something like Truth Social versus Bluesky [which tends to be more left-leaning], they are much more specific to one side, Robertson explained. Advertisement Advertisement The platform was also created with the intention of being a conservative outlet, Robertson said. Social media channels like Facebook and X were originally designed to be like a digital town square. Thats the line that a lot of these tech companies still say, Robertson said. They were meant to be a place where people from different areas and backgrounds could speak to each other. There was this kind of hope that it would improve democracy. ... That obviously did not happen, Robertson added. Echo chambers create a feeling of safety. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images Related: "No One Even Knew Who The Fck She Is": 29 Of The Very Best, Most Brutal, And Sometimes Funny Political Tweets Of The Week Echo chambers are environments that might appeal to some people, because there is a sense of safety, comfort and validation, Riaz said. As humans, we love those three things. In these spaces, people are surrounded by beliefs and perspectives that align with their own, which can make their world feel very confirmed and secure. Advertisement Advertisement In an echo chamber, there isnt pressure to back up or reassess beliefs, either. When were engaging with opposing viewpoints, that requires a significant amount of emotional and cognitive effort, such as discomfort, curiosity, and tolerance, Someone who prioritizes familiarity also may be more drawn to an echo chamber, she said. These environments can affirm a sense of reality, a sense of belonging, while protecting their ideas. To be exposed to opposing ideas can be very destabilizing, like, Who am I if Im not Republican? My identity is so tied with this that it almost feels like a death. It almost feels like its a threat, Riaz noted. Being in an echo chamber is problematic and even dangerous. George Frey / Getty Images This goes for anyone, whether youre on the left or the right. It even extends to opinions outside of politics. Advertisement Advertisement Any time that people are exposed to an extremely biased selection of something opinions people they start to think thats A: how everything is, and also B: how everything should be, Robertson said. And neither of those things are inherently true. Online echo chambers also lead folks to have severely incomplete information, she said. I also think that we make the most mistakes when we dont have complete information, Robertson said. We arent skeptical of information that we agree with. We take that as ground truth. And I think thats where the echo chambers can really be a problem. Beyond not being exposed to other opinions, the fact that folks in echo chambers dont question what theyre seeing is the bigger concern. Echo chambers simply promote the idea that your own perspective is the absolute truth, Riaz explained. Advertisement Advertisement Theres little room for alternative viewpoints or critical reflection, she said. Within that echo chamber, ideas are repeated, reinforced, creating this black-and-white understanding of the world, and this is harmful because most social and political cultural issues are so complex and nuanced that they rarely have a single or a simple explanation. Opposing perspectives may feel overwhelming or even threatening, which can lead to people dismissing perspectives that dont align with theirs and close them off to meaningful dialogue. Whatever the contradicting information is, it could be labeled as an exception rather than a meaningful challenge that exists, Riaz said. So the mindset can reinforce harmful stereotypes and prejudice. In the case of Truth Social, specifically, Trump gatekeeps information on the platform by only sharing updates on this one site, which doesnt reach everyone. Gatekeeping information is usually not good, just from history ... things tend to get more equitable when information is shared more widely, Robertson said. Why might Trump be attracted to an echo chamber? Related: "This Is The Most Authoritarian Post I've Ever Seen" People Are Calling Out Donald Trump For His Latest Rant Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images Between reinforcing false beliefs, prejudice, stereotypes and keeping certain information away from others, the echo chamber of Truth Social isnt an ideal space for anyone, especially a president. But experts feel there are a few reasons why he may be drawn to this kind of space. Advertisement Advertisement I think he wants his worldview to be reiterated. I think hes power hungry, and he cant go to the general public and say something, that he has to create an audience for himself, Riaz said. He typically surrounds himself with yes people, Riaz said people who say yes to his every request, demand or idea. When someone disagrees with him, like recently when Republican Sen. Tim Scott and Katie Britt criticized his posting of a racist video of the Obamas, Trump reportedly lambasted them. Since Truth Social was created as a conservative platform and an alternative version of social media, Trumps thoughts are only backed up here instead of questioned, as they reasonably should. He turns to Truth Social as a place where people will listen and treat me like the entitled person I am, Riaz said. Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in In the News: JD Vance Made A Really Gross Joke Involving His Own Penis, And Usha Vance's Face Has Me On The Floor Also in In the News: My Delicate Little Mind Has Been D-E-S-T-R-O-Y-E-D After Learning These Terrible, Disturbing, And Creepy Things Also in In the News: People Are Disgusted By The Reason Why This MAGA Supporter Now Regrets His Vote Read it on BuzzFeed.com Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is at the center of a red-state rebellion against the organizations that oversee the nation's colleges and hes getting a boost from President Donald Trump. The outgoing Republican governor has been on a yearslong campaign to break up the current system of college accreditors, the obscure gatekeepers that decide whether universities qualify for federal student aid. And hes building support across several states looking to challenge woke policies. Despite being occasional rivals, DeSantis and Trump have both slammed accreditors and accused them of being education cartels that force colleges to adopt diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The governors project, which is getting $1 million from Trumps Education Department, is trying to establish an accreditor more aligned with conservative values and hes got a few takers. Advertisement Advertisement University systems in primarily red states are moving to ditch their current accreditors in favor of the one being promoted by DeSantis. And lawmakers in at least five states are also taking steps to advance the breakaway system with legislation encouraging and sometimes demanding schools switch to the yet-to-be-approved accreditor. The effort has the potential to create a chasm in how schools are evaluated for federal student aid eligibility that is deeply linked to their states politics. What you're seeing is a response from this administration communicating the fact that they want to see new accreditors in the field, reacting to actions of past administrations that restricted and constricted [them], said Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of Floridas state university system, which is a co-founder of the new oversight agency. Accreditors set standards for student achievement and school curricula and faculty. They also certify schools after reviewing their self evaluations, which involves analyzing data on metrics like student retention and reporting on areas they can improve, and conducting peer reviews and site visits. Advertisement Advertisement These organizations dont typically get a lot of attention, but no school can access billions of dollars in federal student loans and grants without an accreditors approval. Losing access to those funds would essentially cut a school off from the vast number of students who rely on federal student aid to attend college. The DeSantis-backed agency is focused on evaluating public four-year colleges and is being created by a group of state university systems in Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Its a push that comes on top of an established reputation on the right for dismantling diversity programs on school campuses, rebooting a progressive liberal arts college into a conservative testing ground and providing an education blueprint that red states have followed. Similarly, overhauling the oversight system is the next step in Trumps use of executive power to force colleges and universities to enact policies in line with his agenda. Trump promised during his 2024 presidential campaign to fire radical left accreditors and impose real standards. Administration officials are now trying to make good on that pledge, awarding more than $14 million in January to those efforts from a grant program that is typically used to help students with basic needs, such as food and housing, and lifting a Biden-era moratorium on accepting new accreditors. Advertisement Advertisement We wanted to put money behind giving institutions the ability to leave an accreditor if they don't feel that it's the right fit. We also wanted to put money behind the opportunity to support new and emerging accreditors, Education Undersecretary Nicholas Kent told community college leaders in February. By the time we leave office in three years, we will have a much more competitive system through the accreditation process that will include new choices for all of you, he said. Officials in the accreditation community agree the system could use more competition. Some leaders of accreditors agree that if institutions have more options, itll push the oversight agencies to be more efficient and affordable for colleges and universities that use them. But they worry these traditionally independent organizations will be pressured into making politically driven approvals or analyzing colleges based on ideological elements such as the push by conservatives for intellectual diversity on campuses where they believe faculty and students lean too liberal. Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis new oversight body, called the Commission for Public Higher Education, is meant to give participating states more say over the accountability standards for schools within their borders and be a conservative response to DEI. DeSantis has said the new oversight body will end the monopoly of the woke accreditation cartels and give schools an alternative for evaluating student achievement rather than ideological fads" like DEI. The Florida governor declined an interview request. In January, his multistate effort received $1 million from the Education Department. That amount will make up nearly half of the evaluators forecasted budget for federal fiscal 2027, according to the group. The organization also plans to apply for recognition from the department during that time. Accreditors are independent gatekeepers that decide which institutions can receive billions of dollars in federal student loans and grants, but their money comes from college membership dues and fees. They have not historically received funds directly from the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Education experts worry that the favorable treatment being given to this new agency ahead of its official approval by the Education Department could create a conflict of interest. It made me wonder if it blurs the line and makes it a project that is too close to the department, said Jamie Studley, the former president of WASC Senior College and University Commission, which evaluates schools in California, Hawaii, and U.S. territories in the Pacific. Trump administration officials seem to have a preordained outcome in mind, said Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, the investigations manager at the left-leaning think tank New America. The department should be evaluating each accreditor on its own merits and it's very clear that there's a lot of politics caught up in this particular venture. David Barker, the Education Departments assistant secretary for postsecondary education, said all the grant applications were sent to independent reviewers and do not reflect an endorsement from the department. Advertisement Advertisement This was just a [grant] competition to try and find interesting and innovative ideas on accreditation, and we funded that, Barker said. But that has no impact on our recognition decisions. In response to a question about the perceived politicization of the oversight system, Barker said the administrations concern is excellence in education, not ideology. He said some institutions have been using the same evaluator for far too long, and it's time for a new set of eyes evaluating schools. There are institutions that have been accredited by the same accreditor for 100 years, he said. It makes sense to have a fresh look. Trump in his first term set into motion major accrediting changes. Some of those policies, like scrapping geographic limits on accreditors, were ultimately enacted by the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement But Florida accused the Biden administration of putting up roadblocks to more comprehensive changes. The state, led by DeSantis, sued Bidens Education Department in 2023 claiming that its policy requiring colleges to demonstrate reasonable cause for changing evaluators and securing federal approval was standing in the way of a GOP-backed state law mandating schools switch oversight boards. The accreditors basically became monopolies, said Alan Levine, chair of Floridas Board of Governors, which oversees the state public university system. The favoritism was having regional monopolies protected by the Education Department, and then the Education Department slowing us down when we wanted to do what the law said we could do. The Florida governors organization is becoming a go-to option for red states. Lawmakers in Iowa advanced a bill, H.S.B.550, in January that would require the states public universities to apply for accreditation from the new agency. A bill in West Virginia, S.B.476, would also direct universities to review their evaluators and mentions DeSantis organization as an option, but stops short of mandating the change. And North Carolina passed a bill, H.358, in September to amend its oversight requirements for its universities and included the new agency as its top preferred accrediting agency. Advertisement Advertisement The DeSantis-backed agency bills itself as a consortium of higher education systems in its mission statement. But Floridas Board of Governors provided $4 million in seed funding for the project and its currently housed under the boards nonprofit organization. This structure has given some in higher education pause, said Bob Shireman, a Democratic appointee of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, a panel that counsels the Education Department on recognizing accreditors. Shireman said the emerging accreditor should be more candid in its mission statement about its ownership. He also said he was worried about the standards focus on intellectual diversity, and concerns of partisanship, given all the institution's systems coming together to form the new organization are primarily in red states. We have benefited a lot from accreditors having institutions from blue and red states, he said. I think something is lost if they create this accreditor and fail to attract some institutions from purple and blue states. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Yesterday, I was at a steel plant, as you know, and I went to a great, great place, great plant, great, wonderful people. And they were telling me, I said to them, you were there, a lot of the press in this room. Of course, I dont think the planes big enough to take the press in this room. But a lot of the press right here, were in Georgia. I said to the owner of I made a speech at a factory. They made steel products. And I said, how are you? Nice to meet you. Hows business? President, Id love to kiss you.. This is a very powerful man. I dont want to be kissed by that man. But a very strong, powerful man whos been in the steel business for many years. His father started it. And he said, Sir, I want to kiss you.. I said why? He said Because we were down to working one hour a week. And then you came in and imposed tariffs. And all of that foreign junk that they were dropping into our country stopped. And were now going to double shifts, seven days a week. And we may be, very soon, going to 24 hours around the clock, almost seven days a week. He said, Sir, I want to kiss you so badly! And I said, No, thank you! But you know what? He just, just to finalize it, he said, Oh, this is a great place in Georgia. In Georgia, he said, All up and down the highway. Same exact answer, sir. Were all going out of business. Were going to go bankrupt. Were are all going to out of business. And now every one of us are thriving and were hiring people like we havent-, he said Like Ive never, and hes been in business for I think 45 years, like weve never hired before. Thats because of tariffs. And were going keep it going the same way. President Trumps attack plans for Iran have roiled a deal for the United Kingdom to cede control of the tiny and isolated island of Diego Garcia, where a strategic American air base sits in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean. Trump took to his Truth Social media account Wednesday to warn British Prime Minister Keir Starmer against returning the island to the small African country of Mauritius, part of a decades-long legal battle to address Britains colonial past. 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 [England], in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime, the president posted. Advertisement Advertisement Trumps opposition caused whiplash for the U.K. and American diplomats, who were moving forward with talks surrounding the deal after the president gave it a green light earlier this month. It also marked a victory for the U.S. political right and conservative British politicians, who object to the deal on national security and historical grounds. Former conservative British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss lobbied Trump to oppose the Chagos islands deal, Politico reported. Truss was pictured with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last week, where she reportedly brought up the Chagos island deal. On Thursday, Nigel Farage, head of the right-wing Reform UK Party, seized on reports that Starmers government was obstructing U.S. military action on Iran to undermine the center-left leader. If Keir Starmers real obsession with getting rid of the Chagos Islands is to destroy our strong defense relationship with America, then his government must go, he posted on social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement The U.K. reportedly rejected an American request to use British facilities on Diego Garcia and in the U.K. for a strike against Iran. Trump has given Tehran a 10 to 15 day deadline to come to a deal about its nuclear program or risk a massive military attack. The president is weighing a limited strike on Iran to underscore his seriousness, although a regional source told The Hill that Iran could walk away from the negotiating table for good should America attack. The presidents public rebuke of Starmer came a day after the State Department announced the U.S. supported the U.K.s plan to hand over sovereignty of Diego Garcia, and other islands in the Chagos Archipelago. Mauritius would then grant the U.S. and U.K. access to the airfields under a 99-year lease. The United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago, the State Department said Feb. 18. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. officials have now postponed a trip to Mauritius that was scheduled for Feb. 23, a State Department spokesperson told The Hill. The bilateral talks were first announced in the State Departments Feb. 18 statement affirming support for the U.K.-Mauritius deal. The Hill reached out to the government of Mauritius. A spokesperson for the U.K.s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told The Hill in a statement that the Chagos island deal is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base. 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 statement read. Advertisement Advertisement The Chagos island deal between the U.K. and Mauritius was the result of a decades-long campaign in international forums and courts asserting Mauritiuss sovereignty over the collection of islands, which the British claimed as its own in the 1960s while granting Mauritius its indepenence. London and Port Louis came to an agreement on May 22, 2025, for the U.K. to hand sovereignty of the islands over to Mauritius. Secretary of State Marco Rubio came out that same day in support, saying in a statement that the Trump administration welcomed the historic agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius. On Friday, Rubio met with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the State Department with Diego Garcia reportedly on the agenda. Diego Garcia, about 15 miles long, sits only 22 feet above sea level in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Advertisement Advertisement The island is considered one of Americas major Navy installations, primarily used to provide logistical support for U.S. and allied forces operations in and around the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. It provided significant logistical support for U.S. combat operations in the Middle East following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, according to a 2023 report by the Congressional Research Service. In the event of a massive, weeks-long military campaign against Iran, Diego Garcia is a priority forward operating base for the U.S. military, said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. It is a place where you have a really long runway, where you can land [heavy bombers] B1s, B52s and B2s outside the range of Irans ballistic missiles and conduct some level of maintenance there, and refueling and allow them to get back into the fight, he said. Refueling U.S. heavy bombers is essential in a sustained military campaign, which Bowman said Trumps buildup is signaling. This includes two carrier strike groups among dozens of warships and the largest buildup of American airforce power since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, The Wall Street Journal reported. Advertisement Advertisement The quantity, the breadth, depth, scope, capability of the combat power being assembled in the Middle East is just breathtaking, he said. It has all the hallmarks of at least one of the most robust efforts Ive seen in recent years to cast a shadow of power over the bargaining table, if not, get ready for a conflict that is incredibly robust. In the U.S., opponents of the Chagos island deal say guaranteed U.S. access to Diego Garcia is an American national security imperative. Donald Trump should have halted the negotiations as soon as he assumed office. That he didnt tells us a lot about his administrations strategic incoherence, John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser and outspoken critic of the president, wrote in The Washington Post. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said in early February he was going to propose legislation for the U.S. to buy the Chagos islands from the U.K. as part of his opposition to the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy, known for colorful language, lashed out at Starmer that his testicles are on back order from Amazon and that the British prime minister should get an emotional support pony to come to terms with British colonial history. He described Diego Garcia as one of the mightiest and most important military bases in all of human history. If youre determined to divest the people of the United Kingdom of these islands, please sell them to the United States, Kennedy said on the Senate Floor earlier this month. I will sponsor the legislation happily, enthusiastically to appropriate the money to do it. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Hours after signing a proclamation that would implement a global 10% tariff following the Supreme Court's decision to strike down most of his levies, President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would raise those tariffs to 15%. Trump made his announcement in a social media post Saturday where he again railed against the high court for what he argued was a "ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision." "During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again -- GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!!," he posted without giving more details. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, February 20, 2026. The 15% rate is the upper limit allowed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday evening, Trump signed an executive order that raised lowered tariffs on almost every country outside of the U.S. to 10%. According to the order, the new tariff on global imports will take effect Tuesday, however, it is not immediately known if the new 15% rate would begin on that day. Earlier Friday, Trump previewed his alternate plan to impose tariffs under a different legal authority, lambasting the Supreme Court's decision as "deeply disappointing." Supreme Court invalidates most of Trump's tariffs "Other alternatives will now be used to replace the ones that the court incorrectly rejected," Trump told reporters in the White House briefing room. "We have alternatives, great alternatives, could be more money. We'll take in more money and we'll be a lot stronger for it." Advertisement Advertisement But such tariffs can only last for 150 days without congressional approval. When asked about that limitation, Trump claimed he could "do pretty much what we want to do." Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILES - PHOTO: President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a "Make America Wealthy Again" trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House, April 2, 2025 in Washington. Pressed more broadly on whether he was going to ask Congress (where Republicans currently hold a majority in the House and Senate) to take additional action on tariffs, Trump said he didn't believe he needed to. Neal Katyal, the lead attorney who challenged the president's tariffs, responded to the announcement on X and pushed back against Trump relying on the 15% statute. "Seems hard for the President to rely on the 15 percent statute (sec 122) when his DOJ in our case told the Court the opposite: 'Nor does [122] have any obvious application here, where the concerns the President identified in declaring an emergency arise from trade deficits, which are conceptually distinct from balance-of-payments deficits,'" Katyal said. Advertisement Advertisement Majority of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling tariffs: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll "If he wants sweeping tariffs, he should do the American thing and go to Congress. If his tariffs are such a good idea, he should have no problem persuading Congress. That's what our Constitution requires," he added. The new global tariff will apply to countries that already struck trade deals with the U.S., according to a White House official. The official said that the countries covered under the 10% rate include the United Kingdom, India, Japan and the European Union -- though the list was not exhaustive. Advertisement Advertisement This would lower tariffs on many deals he has negotiated; for example, the trade deals set tariff rates at 15% with Japan and 18% with India. "This really is a sort of Band-Aid tariff," Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation, told ABC News. "We know that these tariffs can't go higher than 15% for the next 150 days, but we have no idea what's coming after that." York stresses that even without the IEEPA authority to impose tariffs, Trump's 15% levies "maintains quite a high rate on US imports compared to where we were before Trump came into office." The Tax Foundation estimates that the tax burden on American households with this new tariff rate will be about $700 in 2026, compared to $1,000 in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement "There's a lot of chaos and uncertainty, and that itself can take a toll on business decisions and on financial planning. All in all, the policy environment right now is not one that's conducive to growth," York said. A fact sheet from the White House laid out a list of exemptions from the new tariffs, including on foods like beef, pharmaceuticals, cars and some electronics. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, February 20, 2026. Imports from Canada and Mexico that fall under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement struck during Trump's first term in office also will not face the new 10% tariff. Trump also signed another executive order extending a suspension of what's known as the de minimis exemption, which previously allowed low value goods under $800 to be shipped the U.S. duty-free. Trump first suspended the de minimis exemption last year. The new order implements the 10% tariffs on those goods, which often come from retailers, such as Shein and Temu. Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling marked a major blow to what has been the cornerstone of Trump's economic agenda in his second term and one of his longtime political goals. Trump publicly lobbied the court for months to rule in his favor. The court's majority deemed that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not give him the power to unilaterally impose tariffs. Congress, not the president, has the power to impose tariffs and taxes, the majority concluded. "I'm ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what's right for our country," Trump said. Majority of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling tariffs: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll Advertisement Advertisement Three conservative justices joined the liberal justices in invalidating the IEEPA tariffs, including two justices nominated by Trump: Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch. The opinion was delivered by Chief Justice John Roberts. Further attacking the court, Trump said "they're just being fools and lapdogs for the RINOs and the radical left Democrats." He said that the families of the conservative justices who ruled against the administration should be embarrassed, and called the liberal justices on the court a "disgrace to our nation." Trump said that because of the ruling, "Foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic. They're so happy, and they're dancing in the streets, but they won't be dancing for long that, I can assure you." The president also said he will start investigations under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, though he did not specify which countries or sectors they would target. These investigations can take weeks or months, and are used in response to an adverse trade policy taken up by another country. Advertisement Advertisement "We're going forward," Trump said. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, February 20, 2026. Trump congratulated Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh for their dissents in this case. He specifically praised Kavanaugh, saying his "stock has gone so up." From the White House briefing room podium, Trump read aloud part of Kavanaugh's dissent in which the justice said the court's decision "might not substantially constrain a President's ability to order tariffs going forward." Video What's next for global businesses with Trump's tariffs Kavanaugh also noted in his dissent the silence from the court's majority on the issue of refunds or how that process would work. As of December, the administration had collected $142 billion through the tariffs, according to the Yale Budget Lab. Advertisement Advertisement "It's not discussed. We'll end up being in court for the next five years," Trump said, signaling he would not voluntarily pay out refunds. ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze, Selina Wang and Zunaira Zaki contributed to this report. Three fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the spot, and efforts are currently underway to douse the flames. "At least three people got injured after an LPG cylinder caught fire in the Madanpur Khadar area of Delhi. Three fire brigade vehicles arrived at the scene," Delhi Fire Service said in a statement. Further details are awaited. Earlier this week, a fire broke out at two factories in the Sahibabad Industrial Area, Site 4. (ANI) President Donald Trump said he will raise the worldwide tariffs he imposed Friday from 10% to 15%. Trump made the announcement via Truth Social on Saturday. "Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been "ripping" the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level," Trump wrote. The President added that his administration will determine new and legacy permissible tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement The renewed trade tensions follow a 6-3 Supreme Court decision that struck down Trump's sweeping tariff policy. The justices said the president overstepped the authority granted under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the statute his administration had cited to justify the measures. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said the law does not clearly authorize the president to impose tariffs of such breadth and duration, and that sweeping economic powers require explicit approval from Congress. Trump sharply criticized the ruling, accusing the justices who opposed the tariffs of acting against U.S. interests. He said he would promptly reinstate a 10% tariff on all imports in addition to existing duties. An analysis by the University of Pennsylvania estimated that importers could seek refunds totaling as much as $175 billion if the government is required to return duties already collected. Advertisement Advertisement In a dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh warned that sorting out potential repayments could prove complicated, noting that the court did not outline how the government should handle reimbursement of billions of dollars in tariff revenue. He was joined in dissent by Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, while Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor sided with Roberts in the majority. Also on Saturday, the European Union signaled that it is prepared to retaliate against the United States if Washington moves ahead with a new round of tariffs, France's trade minister, Nicolas Forissier, said on Saturday. Forissier told the Financial Times that France is coordinating with European Union member states and the European Commission following Trump's initial announcement of a blanket 10% tariff on imports. "Should it become necessary, the EU has the appropriate instruments at its disposal," Forissier said. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Financial Times, French officials said one option under consideration is the EU's anti-coercion instrument, a mechanism designed to counter economic pressure from third countries. The "trade bazooka" allows the EU to deploy steps such as restricting exports, imposing levies on services or barring foreign firms from public procurement contracts. U.S. technology companies could be among those affected. The post Trump raises tariffs to 15% after Supreme Court blocks trade policy appeared first on Straight Arrow News. Related Links By Andrea Shalal and Joseph Ax WASHINGTON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Saturday he will raise a temporary tariff from 10% to 15% on U.S. imports from all countries, the maximum level allowed under the law, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program. The move came less than 24 hours after Trump announced a 10% across-the-board tariff on Friday after the court's decision. The ruling found the president had exceeded his authority when he imposed an array of higher rates under an economic emergency law. Advertisement Advertisement The new levies are grounded in a separate but untested law, known as Section 122, that allows tariffs up to 15% but requires congressional approval to extend them after 150 days. No president has previously invoked Section 122, and its use could lead to further legal challenges. Trade experts and congressional aides are skeptical the Republican-majority Congress would extend the tariffs, given polls that show growing numbers of Americans blame the duties for higher prices. TRUMP EYES OTHER WAYS TO IMPOSE TARIFFS In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said he would use the 150-day period to work on issuing other "legally permissible" tariffs. The administration intends to rely on two other statutes that permit import taxes on specific products or countries based on investigations into national security or unfair trade practices. Advertisement Advertisement "I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been 'ripping' the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level," he wrote in a Truth Social post. The Section 122 tariffs include exemptions for certain products, including critical minerals, metals and energy products, according to the White House. Wendy Cutler, a former senior U.S. trade official and senior vice president at the Asia Society think tank, said she was surprised Trump had not opted for the maximum Section 122 rate on Friday, adding that his rapid-fire change underscored the uncertainty trading partners faced. The Supreme Court's decision, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, concluded the law Trump had used for most of his tariffs, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, did not grant the president the powers he claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Roberts was joined in the majority by fellow conservatives Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, both Trump appointees, and the court's three liberal justices. Trump reacted with fury to the ruling, calling the justices in the majority "fools" and describing Gorsuch and Barrett in particular as "embarrassments," while vowing to continue his global trade war. Some foreign leaders applauded the decision. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday the ruling showed it is good for democracies to have counterweights to power and the rule of law. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he expected the decision would ease the burden on German companies. He said he would use his upcoming U.S. trip to reiterate that "tariffs harm everyone." Advertisement Advertisement TRADE DEALS MUST BE HONORED: GREER Trump has used the tariffs, or the threat of imposing them, to extract trade deals from foreign countries. After the court's decision, Trump's trade representative, Jamieson Greer, told Fox News on Friday that those countries must honor agreements even if they call for higher rates than the Section 122 tariffs. Exports to the U.S. from countries such as Malaysia and Cambodia would continue to be taxed at their negotiated rates of 19%, even though the universal rate is lower, Greer said. Indonesia's chief negotiator for U.S. tariffs, Airlangga Hartarto, said the trade deal between the countries that set U.S. tariffs at 19%, which was signed on Friday, remains in force despite the court decision. Advertisement Advertisement The ruling could spell good news for countries like Brazil, which has not negotiated a deal with Washington to lower its 40% tariff rate but could now see its tariff rate drop to 15%, at least temporarily. With November's midterm elections looming, Trump's approval rating on his handling of the economy has steadily declined during his year in office, with 34% of respondents saying they approve and 57% saying they disapprove in a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday. Affordability remains a top concern for voters. Democrats, who need to flip only three Republican-held seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in November to win a majority, have blamed Trump's tariffs for exacerbating the rising cost of living. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Joseph Ax; Editing by Rod Nickel) President Donald Trump escalated his push to raise tariffs without the Supreme Court's backing, announcing he would raise the 10% worldwide tariff he announced after the nation's highest court ruled against him to 15%. Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, allowing him to impose a maximum tariff of 15%. It can only remain in effect for 150 days, after which it would need authorization from Congress. "Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, the worldwide tariff would be raised to 15%, "effective immediately." President Donald Trump slammed the Supreme Court in a press conference on Feb. 20, 2026, after the conservative court blocked sweeping tariffs in a 63 decision, dealing a major blow to the presidents economic agenda and limiting executive power. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump's use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration's core economic policy. President Donald Trump takes question from reporters during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 2026, to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling against a major part of his tariffs, President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 2026, to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling against a major part of his tariffs. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trumpas use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administrationas core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump's use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration's core economic policy. Also pictured (L-R) are U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. President Donald Trump takes question from reporters during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 2026, to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling against a major part of his tariffs. President Donald Trump answers questions during a press briefing held at the White House Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump's use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration's core economic policy. Also pictured (L-R) are U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 2026, to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling against a major part of his tariffs. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 2026, to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling against a major part of his tariffs. Supreme Court limits tariff power, drawing fierce backlash from Trump 1 of 10 President Donald Trump slammed the Supreme Court in a press conference on Feb. 20, 2026, after the conservative court blocked sweeping tariffs in a 63 decision, dealing a major blow to the presidents economic agenda and limiting executive power. The move came after Trump lashed out at the Supreme Court on Feb. 20 over what he called its "deeply disappointing" decision to overturn the emergency tariffs that he imposed on countries around the world. The high court ruled Trump doesnt have the congressional authority to impose tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Advertisement Advertisement At a news conference after the ruling, Trump said he was "ashamed" of some Supreme Court justices for "not having the courage to do whats right for our country." "I think their decision was terrible," he added. "I think its an embarrassment to their families, if you want to know the truth." Conservatives in a bind: How the Supreme Court's tariff ruling split the conservative justices The court struck down the tariffs with a 6-3 majority, including two justices Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. It marked the first time in Trump's second term that the conservative-dominated court has ruled against his sweeping use of presidential power. Advertisement Advertisement The case came to the Supreme Court after a group of small businesses, joined by more than a dozen states with Democratic attorneys general, sued the Trump administration over the tariffs, accusing the president of inappropriately stretching his power to "regulate" to unlawfully impose taxes. The President asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his opinion, but had failed to "identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it. Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump ups worldwide tariffs to 15%, lashing out at Supreme Court US President Donald Trump has said he will impose global tariffs of 15%, as he has continued to rail against a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his previous import taxes. Trump said on Friday that he would replace the tariffs scrapped by the court with a 10% levy on all goods coming into the US. But on Saturday, he announced on Truth Social that this would be increased to the maximum allowed under a never-used trade law. Advertisement Advertisement That law allows these new tariffs to stay in place for around five months before the administration must seek congressional approval. The 10% tariffs were set to come into force on Tuesday, 24 February. It's unclear if the increased 15% would also be imposed starting then. The BBC has contacted the White House. The new 15% tax rate - a temporary solution under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act - raises questions for countries such as the UK and Australia, which had agreed a 10% tariff deal with the US. Trump said his administration had reached the decision to raise the levy following a review of the Supreme Court's "ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday". Advertisement Advertisement In a 6-3 decision, justices on the highest US court found that the president had overstepped his powers when he introduced sweeping global tariffs last year using a 1977 law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The US has already collected at least $130bn (96.4bn) in tariffs using IEEPA, according to the most recent government data. Immediately following the ruling, Trump said that he was "ashamed of certain members of the court" and called the justices who rejected his trade policy "fools". Advertisement Advertisement Trump's tariffs are a key plank of his economic policy, which he has said will encourage businesses to invest and produce goods in the US rather than overseas. But the high court's decision marked a significant check on his power and a major blow to his second-term agenda. The US president has argued his tariffs are necessary to reduce the trade deficit - the amount by which imports exceed exports - but the US trade deficit reached a fresh high this week, widening by 2.1% compared to 2024 and hitting roughly $1.2 trillion (890bn). Drew Greenblatt, owner of Marlin Steel Wire Products, a steel fabrication plant in Baltimore, said he was "very disappointed" by the Supreme Court's decision. "It is a setback for poor people in America that had a chance to climb into the middle class with great manufacturing jobs," he told the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement But John Boyd, a soybean farmer from Virginia and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, said: "This is a huge win for me and a big loss for the president. "I don't care how you look at it, President Trump lost on this." Yet Allie Renison, a former UK government trade adviser and director at SEC Newgate, said: "While it may seem like a good day for free trade, I think trade actually just got a lot messier." She said that businesses are now facing "much more of a patchwork approach" to tariffs under the Trump administration. It means that US businesses will have to pay a 15% tariff to import most goods into America under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Advertisement Advertisement But some products will be exempted such as critical minerals, metals and pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, separate tariffs on steel, aluminium, lumber and automotive parts and sectors - introduced using a different US law - remain in place, untouched by the Supreme Court's ruling. On Friday, a White House official said countries that previously reached trade deals with the US, including the UK, would face the global tariff under Section 122 rather than the tariff rate they had previously negotiated. However, the UK's deals around steel, aluminium, pharmaceuticals, autos, and aerospace sectors - which represent most of its trade with the US - were not impacted. Advertisement Advertisement The UK government said it expects Britain's "privileged trading position with the US" to continue and that it is a "matter for the US to determine" whether those deals still stand. William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, has said he feared that the president's response to the Supreme Court ruling "could be worse for British businesses". The new 15% import tariffs are "bad for trade, bad for US consumers and businesses" and will "weaken global economic growth", the leader of a UK business group said. The chairman of the European Parliament International Trade Committee told BBC Newshour he would call for a pause in ratifying a trade deal between the EU and US after Trump's announcement. Advertisement Advertisement The committee was due to vote on the deal on Tuesday, but German Social Democrat MEP Bernd Lange said fresh tariffs raised "several issues" that needed clarifying. The Supreme Court ruling opened the door for consumers and businesses to seek refunds from the unlawful tariffs, though the high court did not make a decision on whether reimbursements should be issued. On Friday, Trump indicated that refunds would not come without a legal battle which, he claimed, could take years. Companies and trade groups have already vowed to seek such reimbursements. But Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the US Chamber of Commerce, said: "Swift refunds of the impermissible tariffs will be meaningful for the more than 200,000 small business importers in this country and will help support stronger economic growth this year." Advertisement Advertisement While the National Retail Federation, which represents millions of American businesses, urged the courts "to ensure a seamless process to refund the tariffs to US importers". US Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat representing Washington state, has written a letter to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, asking whether the administration has a plan to refund businesses. "Given this Administration has illegally collected hundreds of billions of dollars from American businesses, that now must be refunded, I am requesting detailed information about how the Administration plans to fairly and expeditiously reimburse the payors of those tariffs," she wrote in a letter to Bessent. But Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, argued that if Democrats push for refunds, it could backfire and help Republicans in the next election cycle. Advertisement Advertisement He said it could be a boon for the US business community that would make the economy "roar" ahead of the midterm elections in November. You can also send us your questions by following this link President Donald Trump has given Iran two weeks to agree to the U.S. nuclear deal or it will face the American military. The White House has said that Iran's nuclear arms program is the main reason Trump may send the U.S. into another war in the Middle East. However, the administration said that it destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities last year. So, why would the U.S. go to war over that? A president declaring war on any country is usually an unpopular decision, but Americans are particularly uninterested in going to war with Iran. According to a January Quinnipiac poll, about 70% of respondents said they did not want the U.S. to enter a war with Iran if the government killed protesters. Even a majority of Republicans are against it. Advertisement Advertisement Trump had threatened to declare war if the Iranian government shot and killed protesters demonstrating against the government. Reports on how many protesters the government killed are mixed, but they range from 3,000 to 33,000. What's the rationale for going to war with Iran? While the Trump administration has said Iran's nuclear capabilities are the reason it might declare war, analysts who spoke to CNN think it might be something else. When asked by reporters why the U.S. would need to attack Iran if it already destroyed it last year, press secretary Karoline Leavitt gave a vague response. "Well, there's many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran," Leavitt said. Some analysts believe Trump is using threats of war to coerce Iran's leadership to the negotiating table to sign a nuclear deal that favors America. However, recent reports say talks have stalled, and the deal is in jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement According to CNN, Trump has been working hard to create a legacy by naming buildings after himself and planning a massive addition to the White House. But analysts told CNN that something that could really cement his legacy is taking down a foreign government that has been hostile towards the U.S. for decades. Analysts also believe this would be the perfect time for the U.S. to strike. The regime has never been weaker, as Israel has destroyed most of Iran's affiliated foreign groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas. Israel also decimated Iran's military during several covert and visible attacks. How could a war with Iran backfire? Despite a good opening for the Trump administration to take, a war with Iran could lead to negative outcomes. Neutering the Iranian leadership or decimating its military and paramilitary groups could lead to significant civilian casualties, since experts believe the U.S. would likely launch a multi-day air raid to avoid deploying ground troops. Most analysts don't believe the U.S. would launch a large-scale ground assault like the one seen at the start of the Iraq War. Advertisement Advertisement In January, the Trump administration carried out a controversial but widely successful raid and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. For Iran's leadership, it's unlikely this could happen, CNN reports. However, it remains unclear what would happen if the U.S. were able to topple the current Iranian government. The U.S. has historically had trouble in the Middle East regarding extremists filling the power vacuum left after a regime change. After the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, the lack of military forces allowed ISIS and other smaller extremist groups to form and take over most of the country and other lands. In 2021, the Taliban, one of the U.S.'s biggest foes during the War on Terror, toppled the American-backed Afghan government in a matter of months. The Taliban brought about a strict Islamic government only a few weeks after U.S. troops left the country. "Military operations designed to facilitate regime change frequently generate precisely the chaos they were intended to prevent," Think Tanks Monitor writes in an analysis. "The destruction of institutional capacity, weaponry dispersal, and sectarian mobilization that characterize post-intervention environments prove far more destabilizing than the original autocratic order." Advertisement Advertisement The post Trump's push for war in Iran might go beyond its nuclear ambitions: Analysts appeared first on Straight Arrow News. Related Links Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says a White House "working breakfast" with President Donald Trump "turned out well," following weeks of controversy between the president and members of the National Governors Association over the event. At the breakfast, Trump kicked reporters out of the room so the officials could speak candidly, reports USA TODAY. That way were going to talk very candidly and take questions at the end, Trump said. To the media, thank you. You can leave now. Advertisement Advertisement The Feb. 20 governors breakfast, traditionally held during the NGAs annual meeting in Washington, D.C., became a flashpoint after disputes with Democratic Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado raised confusion about who could attend the meeting, termed a "working breakfast" in the East Room. Moore is the vice chairman of the NGA, a bipartisan group of state governors. Stitt is the chairman of the organization. The NGA's annual meeting includes several events Feb. 19-21, including the breakfast meeting on Friday, Feb. 20, and a White House dinner set for Saturday, Feb. 21. On Friday afternoon, Stitt said he spoke to the president about ensuring all governors would be invited to the morning business meeting. He made the comments in an appearance on The Takeout, hosted by CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett. Advertisement Advertisement "I think the president was getting misinformation from staff because there were two meetings, the dinner and the business meeting. And the president rightfully said, 'Everybody is invited to the business meeting,' and everybody was invited," Stitt said. Stitt added that both Polis and Moore were in attendance on Friday morning. In the days before the event, Trump blamed Moore for one of the largest sewage spills in history. The sewage system is overseen by D.C., Maryland and Virginia officials, yet Trump targeted Moore. Notably, Moore did not clap as Trump entered the room. Moore urged Trump to do his job in helping local governments recover from the emergency. At least 200 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac River from a collapsed pipe known as the Potomac Interceptor. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is interviewed by David Rubenstein alongside Maryland Gov. Wes Moore at the Economic Club on Feb. 18 in Washington, DC. As chair and vice chair of the National Governors Association, Stitt and Moore discussed the NGA's bipartisan "Reigniting the American Dream" initiative. Moore issued a statement saying he attended the breakfast meeting to work with governors of both parties to solve problems. Advertisement Advertisement But let me be abundantly clear: I will not participate in political stunts," Moore said. "Americans are exhausted by the division and toxicity out of Washington, and we all pray for better. In a statement to The Oklahoman, Stitt said that overall, "it was a really productive meeting and a great show of how governors can come before the president and bring up issues that affect all of us. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is interviewed by David Rubenstein alongside Maryland Gov. Wes Moore at the Economic Club on Feb. 18 in Washington, DC. The presidents annual meetings with the National Governors Association are traditionally bipartisan. But in 2025, Trump singled out Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills over compliance with his executive order aiming to ban transgender athletes from school sports. Well see you in court, she replied. Contributing: Alexia Aston, The Oklahoman; Bart Jansen, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Trump's White House breakfast with governors 'turned out well,' Stitt says The conservative commentator accused US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee of 'working for Israel' during a recent interview at the Ben-Gurion Airport. In a two-and-a-half-hour episode released Friday including a 25-minute monologue before the interview began conservative commentator Tucker Carlson repeatedly accused US Ambassador Mike Huckabee of prioritizing Israel over the United States, on civilian casualties in Gaza, on convicted spy Jonathan Pollard, on fugitive sex offenders, and on the push for war with Iran. At one point, Huckabee pushed back, gesturing to his American flag pin: What flag am I wearing here? Advertisement Advertisement Well, thats, of course, my flag as well, Carlson replied. But he did not let up. The sit-down was filmed inside Ben-Gurion Airports diplomatic terminal on February 18, after a public back-and-forth between the two former Fox News hosts previously reported by The Jerusalem Post. Carlson did not travel beyond the airport complex. Huckabee defended his record, pushed back on several of Carlsons characterizations, and offered what he called a faith-based case for the US-Israel relationship. Not all claims made during the exchange stood up to scrutiny. Tucker Carlson during a visit to Israel. (credit: X/@TuckerCarlson) Former Fox News anchor Melissa Francis, who told the Post she helped facilitate the sit-down, said Carlson had tried to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu through intermediaries but was rebuffed. Advertisement Advertisement Author and political theorist Yoram Hazony told Carlson it would not be in his political interest to meet with you, according to Carlsons account. Francis said Netanyahu was not interested. Carlson's monologue before the interview Carlson preceded the sit-down with a 25-minute monologue in which he laid out his case against Israel, the embassy, and Huckabee personally. After critics noted Carlson had flown in by private jet, he addressed it in his monologue, saying he had chartered the aircraft which I never do because Im cheap. Carlson filmed the promotional video for his 2024 interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin from the rooftop of the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow. He owns three homes, including two waterfront properties on Gasparilla Island, purchased for a combined $8.4 million. His stepmother is an heiress to the Swanson frozen-food fortune. Advertisement Advertisement In the monologue, Carlson called Israel probably the most violent country in the world based on the number of citizens who have held a gun or shot someone conflating mandatory military service with criminal violence in a country whose homicide rate is a fraction of Honduras, Venezuela, or South Africa, and which the 2025 Global Peace Index ranks above Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria. He put the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States at 60 million three to six times higher than any credible estimate and called Israel a police state where they put software on your phone, overstating the documented use of NSO Groups Pegasus spyware, which has targeted specific individuals rather than visitors broadly. Pollard, embassy meeting The interview opened with Carlson confronting Huckabee over his meetings with Jonathan Pollard, the former US Navy intelligence analyst convicted of spying for Israel in the 1980s. Everyone Ive talked to in preparation for this has said the same thing: Jonathan Pollard, Carlson said. Advertisement Advertisement He called Pollard the greatest traitor in modern American history and said he had sold our battle plans against the Soviet Union to Israel, which, according to Reagan-era CIA director William Casey, then passed the intelligence to the Soviets. Pollards case is among the most damaging espionage cases in US history, though intelligence professionals have debated whether Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen both of whom spied for the Soviet Union and whose espionage led to the deaths of US agents caused greater damage. Former CIA director James Woolsey noted that Pollard did not get anybody killed and was not spying for an enemy. The declassified CIA Damage Assessment found that Israels intelligence requests to Pollard focused on regional intelligence information on Arab states, Pakistan, and Soviet weapons systems rather than US war plans against Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement The claim that Israel passed Pollards intelligence to the Soviets, first reported by Seymour Hersh, has never been proven. Israel denies it. Carlson then raised Pollards 2021 interview with Israel Hayom, in which Pollard said all Jews should have dual loyalty and told young Jewish Americans with security clearances that not doing anything is unacceptable and that loyalty to Israel should be more important than your life. Those remarks were widely reported and condemned. Do you see why the US ambassador hosting a convicted betrayer of his own country whos encouraging Americans to continue to betray their country would seem shocking? Carlson asked. Advertisement Advertisement Huckabee said Pollard had visited the embassy at his own request after Huckabee sent condolences when Pollards wife died. I think we met for maybe 30 minutes. We had a nice, pleasant visit, Huckabee said. He pointed out that the meeting was hardly clandestine. Tucker, if youve ever been to the US embassy, you would know theres no such thing as a secret meeting at the US embassy. There are cameras everywhere. He added, I did. And frankly, I dont regret it. Huckabee also said Pollard had been sentenced to 30 years. Pollard was, in fact, sentenced to life in prison. He served approximately 30 years before being paroled in November 2015. Carlson to Huckabee: 'That is calling for genocide' The interviews most intense exchange concerned what Netanyahu said on the eve of war. Advertisement Advertisement On October 28, 2023, as the ground invasion of Gaza began, the prime minister addressed IDF soldiers in a televised speech. You must remember what Amalek has done to you, he said, quoting Deuteronomy 25:17. Carlson walked Huckabee through 1 Samuel 15, in which God commands the Israelites to kill the men, kill the women, kill the children, kill the infants, kill the donkeys, kill the camels, kill everything. That is genocide, Carlson said. God is calling for the genocide of the Amalekites. And the prime minister of Israel described the Palestinians in Gaza as Amalek. Thats calling for genocide. And you know that. I totally disagree, Huckabee said, adding that he did not know whether it was an illustrative metaphor. Advertisement Advertisement Huckabee then made a point that went to the heart of the accusation: Because if Israel wanted to commit genocide, they could have done it in two-and-a-half hours. Israel possesses one of the most powerful military forces in the Middle East. His argument rested on the premise that if the intent had been total destruction, Israel had the capacity to do so long ago. Carlson pressed further: When you say that at the outset of a war, and then you wind up with massive civilian casualties then I have to ask you, what is that? And is that kind of thinking consistent with Western values and with Christianity? Do we as Christians believe its okay to kill peoples children? No, we dont, Huckabee said. And neither do the Israelis, because they didnt go after their children. The Prime Ministers Office has stressed that the verse Netanyahu quoted a commandment to remember, from Deuteronomy is not the more violent passage Carlson cited. The phrase appears on Holocaust memorials and at Yad Vashem, and Israels legal team at the International Court of Justice described it as a standard Jewish commemorative expression about antisemitic violence, calling South Africas use of it in its genocide case a grave distortion. Advertisement Advertisement The Amalek reference has been used throughout Jewish history as a typology for existential threats, most commonly applied to the Nazis. The rabbinical consensus is that Amalek no longer exists as a people and cannot be identified with any modern group. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on during an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem, September 10, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun) What flag am I wearing here? The sharpest confrontation came when the conversation turned to civilian casualties and the IDF. Carlson asked how many civilians had been killed in Gaza. Huckabee said the only available numbers come from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which he called dubious. How many kids were killed? Carlson asked. I dont know. Im sure it was thousands. And its thousands too many, Huckabee said. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has reported over 17,000 children killed since October 7, 2023. Those figures have not been independently verified, and Israel has repeatedly questioned the ministrys methodology and its failure to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Huckabee defended the IDF, saying the military sends text messages, drops leaflets, and makes phone calls before strikes. Nobody does that. The US doesnt do that, he said. Carlson seized on the comparison. Your dig at the United States is very revealing, he said. Because your priorities are very clear. As an American, permit me a moment of outrage. I said many civilians have been killed, and you said right in the middle of your elaborate defense of the IDFs killing of civilians, including children, you said they do a better job than the United States does. Thats my country and my government. Huckabee responded by pointing to his flag pin: What flag am I wearing here? Well, thats, of course, my flag as well, Carlson said. When Carlson pushed Huckabee to cite numbers supporting his claim that the IDF had achieved a lower civilian casualty ratio than any army in modern urban warfare, Huckabee could not. You dont know the numbers, do you? Carlson said. From the conversations that Ive had with the people who fought there, Huckabee said. I dont have the exact numbers for you. The IDFs warning system phone calls, text messages, leaflets, roof-knocking, and daily evacuation maps is well documented and widely regarded as unprecedented in scale. The US military has used similar tactics, including leaflet drops and broadcast warnings, but less frequently and not at the systematic level that has become standard IDF practice. 'Terror kids' and live ammunition In Huckabees description of child casualties, he said, Some of the kids who were killed had been recruited to be in the military. Kids as young as 14 years old. They were terror kids. Do you hear yourself? Carlson replied. Carlson later returned to the exchange: You told me that 14-year-olds deserve to die, because theyre working for Hamas. Youre putting words in my mouth, Huckabee said. I never said deserve to die. So do you think a 14-year-old child has agency? Carlson asked. Do you think that he deserves to die, because hes being used by adults? Isnt his death a crushing tragedy? Hamas has run military training camps for children and has been implicated in attacks carried out by minors, according to UN reports and international monitoring organizations. The recruitment of children under 15 into armed groups constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute, and international law treats recruited children as victims not combatants. Carlson also pressed Huckabee on the use of live ammunition near aid distribution sites. Are you okay with using live ammunition at aid distribution sites for families, women, and children? he asked. Huckabee said: Very rarely did this happen near aid distribution sites. How about at all? Carlson replied. Are you okay with that? No, Huckabee answered. What has actually happened near Gazas aid distribution points remains sharply disputed. The IDF has said troops fired warning shots at suspects who deviated from designated routes, away from the sites themselves. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates the sites, has denied that gunfire occurred at its distribution centers. Hamas has accused the IDF of firing on civilians seeking food a claim Israel denies. Fugitive sex offenders? 'Send him back' Carlson then shifted to leverage. Were obviously the single largest source of outside funding for this country, he said a statement that is true of military aid, though almost all of it flows back to US defense contractors rather than funding Israels domestic budget. He pressed Huckabee on what he described as dozens and dozens of accused sex offenders from the United States who had fled to Israel, citing the recent case of Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, a senior Israel National Cyber Directorate official arrested in a Las Vegas sting in August 2025 on charges of soliciting a minor online, who posted bail and returned to Israel without surrendering his passport. The broader issue is well documented. A CBS News investigation and Jewish Community Watch, an American Jewish organization founded by Orthodox abuse survivors, tracked over 60 such cases between 2014 and 2020, prompting Israel to require FBI background checks for immigrating Americans. I think it would fall to you to advocate with your friend, the prime minister, Carlson said. How can you take an accused child molester and shield him from American justice? Send him back to the United States. There has never been a request for me to engage in that, Huckabee said. I would be happy to do it if the White House sent a message to me. On the principle, Huckabee was careful. Its an allegation. Lets be clear. One thing about our system of jurisprudence is that youre innocent until proven guilty. But if charges exist, should he be extradited? I would say so, he said. Epstein, Herzog, and Barak Carlson did not ease up when the conversation moved to Jeffrey Epstein. He told Huckabee that President Isaac Herzog apparently was at Pedo Island. The accusation hangs on a single name Herzog that appears in a 2014 email buried among more than 3 million pages of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice on January 30, 2026. No major investigative outlet has confirmed that this refers to the Israeli president, let alone verified a visit. The release is so vast that much of it remains unreviewed. Huckabee did not engage. I havent kept up with that, he said. Ive never met the man. I dont know him. Former prime minister Ehud Baraks connections to Epstein are more extensively documented, including multiple island visits confirmed by scheduling records and photographs reviewed by the Post. Christians, Law of Return, and spitting One of the interviews quieter but more substantive threads concerned the status of Christians in Israel a subject Carlson has made central to his recent coverage. In his February Christian Persecution episode, as the Post previously reported, Carlson claimed that Christians in Israel are far fewer in absolute numbers than when the state was founded. Data from Israels Central Bureau of Statistics shows the opposite: The Christian population has grown from approximately 34,000 in 1949 to around 185,000 today. On the Law of Return, Carlson was on firmer ground. Ethnic Jews who convert to Christianity are ineligible for automatic citizenship under established Israeli case law. Huckabee said he personally knows Messianic Jews who have made aliyah some have, through spousal or grandchild provisions but the legal position is clear. Carlson also raised Israels 1977 Penal Law restricting inducements for religious conversion, and incidents of ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting on Christian clergy in Jerusalems Old City incidents the Post has reported on extensively, including arrests, an emergency academic conference, and a pledge from Netanyahu of zero tolerance. Huckabee did not hedge. It shouldnt happen. Its horrible, he said, comparing it to antisemitic attacks in New York. But he drew on five decades of personal experience: Ive been coming in and out of Jerusalem and Israel for 50, well, soon to be 53 years. Before I came as an ambassador, I made over 100 trips here. Ive never been spat on. Shadi Khalloul told the Post separately that the spitting incidents are perpetrated by a fanatic, tiny minority and are punished when reported. He said Carlson was totally wrong about the broader Christian experience in Israel. And it was on this subject Arab and minority citizens that Huckabee landed what may have been his strongest moment in the interview. Do you realize there are lots of Arab Israelis? They vote. They serve in the Knesset. They serve on the Supreme Court, he said. And did you know that it was an Arab who sentenced a former president and prime minister to prison? Judge George Karra, an Arab Christian Israeli, convicted president Moshe Katsav of rape in 2010 and was later appointed to the Supreme Court. Justice Salim Joubran sat on the panel that upheld both Katsavs conviction and former prime minister Ehud Olmerts corruption conviction. It was a rare moment in the interview where Huckabee offered a fact that needed no qualification. US aid, Iran, and free abortion The final stretch of the interview turned to money, and the question of what America gets for it. The Council on Foreign Relations reports that since October 7, 2023, the United States has provided at least $16.3 billion in direct military aid to Israel. The Quincy Institute estimates the total at $21.7 billion, including additional arms transfers. Huckabee claimed the return on investment is 400 to 1,200 percent a figure common in pro-Israel advocacy but not easily traced to an independent analysis. Carlson tried an angle clearly aimed at Huckabees Evangelical base: Israel provides universal healthcare and state-funded abortion. Why would we send any money to a country that provides free abortion? he asked. Because the money that we send does not pay for healthcare. It does not pay for abortion. It pays for military things, Huckabee said. When approaching the Iran situation, the two men talked past each other. Carlson accused Netanyahu of pushing America toward regime change in Iran for decades. Netanyahu has long publicly opposed Irans nuclear program, and during the June 2025 war suggested regime change could certainly be the result of Israels strikes though his government simultaneously said it was not a goal of the operation. Huckabee argued that Iran is Americas enemy regardless of what Israel wants, citing the IRGCs designation as a foreign terrorist organization, Iranian plots to assassinate President Donald Trump, and Tehrans funding of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis all confirmed by the US State Department. Neither man conceded the others framing. The airport incident What happened after the cameras stopped became the trips most publicly contested element. Carlson told The Daily Mail that producers were taken into separate rooms, questioned about the interviews content, and he was told twice to leave your guy behind. Both the Israel Airports Authority and Huckabee disputed the account, saying the group was asked routine security questions in accordance with standard procedures. A video circulating on social media the following day appeared to further undercut Carlsons version. The footage showed Carlson signing a document near a security checkpoint, then putting his arm around an airport employee and smiling for a photo before walking away. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett called Carlson a chickenshit who made up a story. Francis, the former Fox News anchor who helped arrange the sit-down, told the Post that Trump had directly urged Carlson to turn down the temperature on the Israel debate within the conservative movement. Within hours of landing back in the United States, Carlson released a new episode titled Israels purging of Christians from the Holy Land and the plot to keep Americans from noticing. SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) The Tennessee Valley Authority has paused its planned transmission line through a historic Sumner County family farm. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts News 2 previously reported the utility planned to build transmission lines through a portion of the Gregory Farm in Gallatin, which has been in active use by the same family for 239 years. Now, the utility has paused that plan and said theyre working on a new initiative to make sure community voices are heard. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The move comes after country artist John Rich went after the company for the proposal marking the second time hes come out against the TVA. In a social media post, Rich blasted the company for the proposal. The post came after Rich fought a proposed methane power plant in Cheatham County last year, which was eventually scrapped. Advertisement Advertisement A TVA spokesperson responded to News 2 on Thursday night with the following statement: We are listening. We have paused our reliability improvement work for a new transmission line on the north side of Gallatin because we want to learn more. TVA is establishing a Landowner Task Force to strengthen collaboration and transparency as we move forward with critical projects that could impact local communities. This group will bring together longtime farmers and landowners across our region to ensure their voices are heard and their perspectives are incorporated into decision-making. The Task Forces purpose is to listen, learn, and work alongside those who know the land best, fostering solutions that balance project needs with respect for property rights and community values. By creating this forum, we reaffirm our commitment to open dialogue and shared responsibility in shaping outcomes that serve both regional reliability and the people who call these areas home. TVA External Stakeholders and Regulation Board Committee members Randy Jones, Jeff Hagood and Wade White shared this statement with News 2: We thank President Trump for his leadership in appointing us to the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors. Since a quorum was reestablished on December 18, 2025, this Board has moved quickly to align with the Administrations goals of unleashing American energy dominance and delivering on TVAs mission of energy, environmental stewardship and economic development for the people of the Tennessee Valley. We are aware of concerns raised in Gallatin, Tennessee, and we take them seriously. Today, TVA leaders invited John Rich to join a new task force dedicated to strengthening communication and collaboration with landowners, and he declined. We want Mr. Rich to be involved, and we welcome his participation as part of a constructive path forward. Reliable power and property rights are not mutually exclusive. The new TVA Board is committed to earning trust through clear communication, respect for landowners, and common-sense solutions that serve both our communities and our regions long-term energy needs. 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. Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A federal immigration agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen in Texas early last year as immigration officials were aware of an increase in use-of-force incidents by agents in the field. Reports of use-of-force incidents involving ICE agents saw a nearly four-fold increase -- there were 67 incidents reported in the first two months of 2025, compared with 17 in the same time frame in 2024 -- as the Trump administration ramped up its nationwide immigration crackdown, according to internal emails reviewed by Newsweek. Among the revelations revealed in the documents was the shooting death of 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez, a San Antonio resident who was shot multiple times by a Homeland Security special agent in South Padre Island who did not follow commands to exit his vehicle, The New York Times and KSAT-TV reported. Advertisement Advertisement The documents were released on Feb. 17 by the non-profit American Oversight, which obtained them through a Freedom of Information Act request and lawsuit. The group said the internal emails and documents it obtained on training practices and the escalation of use-of-force show that the Department of Homeland Security has been aware that its officers are using increased force against both civilians and targets of immigration enforcement operations. "These records paint a deeply troubling picture of the violent methods used by ICE," Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, said in a press release. "In just the first months of this administration, ICE's own data shows a dramatic spike of nearly 400 percent in use-of-force incidents -- with people hospitalized, bystanders swept up in operations and even the death of a U.S. citizen." A spokesperson for DHS told Newsweek that the department had tracked 23 separate incidents where agents were attacked or injured, including civilians weaponizing cars and one incident that saw an agent's finger get bit off by a protester. Advertisement Advertisement These incidents, the spokesperson said, occurred in Chicago, Dallas, San Diego, Maine, New York City and Colorado Springs. In the case of Martinez, he was celebrating his 23rd birthday in South Padre Island when his car approached a car accident in which HSI was helping local police control traffic and he did not follow officers' instructions. After he stopped, HSI surrounded the vehicle and ordered him to exit the car but Martinez instead hit the gas pedal and struck an agent who landed on the roof of his car. Another agent then fired multiple times into the car, shooting Martinez, who later died at the hospital. The agent who was hit by the car was treated for a knee injury at the hospital and released. Advertisement Advertisement Martinez's death is the third shooting death of a U.S. citizen at the hands of a federal immigration agent since the Trump administration launched its immigration crackdown, but had not been acknowledged by DHS until now. Earlier this year, in January, two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis during a months-long operation in the city. Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed on Jan. 7 by an officer who alleged that she tried to run him over with her car. Just over two weeks later, on Jan. 24, another resident of the city, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed after police alleged that he interfered with an operation and then resisted arrest. WASHINGTON The arrest of Britains former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of "misconduct in public office" has propelled an obscure, powerful and hard-to-prove British corruption offense into the global spotlight. And the law raises a key question for investigators and potential prosecutors: Did the globe-trotting royal willfully abuse his position of public trust? British authorities have said virtually nothing about the case publicly since Mountbatten-Windsor's stunning arrest Feb. 19, and his release pending investigation hours later. Advertisement Advertisement British lawmakers and media following the case closely say it is tied to allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, shared confidential government information with the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the United Kingdoms special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011. Legal experts in Britain say the law used to arrest Mountbatten-Windsor is a catchall common-law offense, centuries old, that has been used to prosecute all manner of serious abuses of official power when no modern statute fits neatly. There is no U.S. equivalent to the "misconduct in public office" law. Instead, prosecutors use a toolkit of narrower statutes including some regarding "honest services fraud" depending on the facts of the case. The UK law is a potentially serious offense with a maximum sentence of life in prison, but one that usually results in a far more lenient sentence, according to the Institute for Government, the UKs "leading independent think tank working to make government more effective." Advertisement Advertisement The Institute describes the offense as applying to the abuse or neglect of power or responsibilities by someone holding public office. It says that applies to people in roles across government and public services, including elected officials, civil servants, the police and judiciary, but also some others working in public services. It's also a law that requires getting inside the head of the alleged perpetrator in order to prove it, said Catherine Haddon, a program director at the Institute who co-wrote a Feb. 5 analysis of the law. And in Mountbatten-Windsor's case, Haddon told USA TODAY on Feb. 20, there is also the question of whether the offense would even apply to him, given that his job as trade representative was in a quasi-official capacity. 'Any court case will have to prove that his role was as a public officer, and that any wrongdoing related to that role as a public officer," Haddon said. "The guidance around the offense also suggests that any prosecution depends on proving that a person was deliberately doing something wrong, knowing it to be wrong or recklessly indifferent to whether it was wrong." Advertisement Advertisement Haddon said the "misconduct in public office" charge is what's known as a "common law offense" in the England and Wales. That means that rather than Parliament defining it in legislation, "it's been established over many decades of court cases," she said. But the law has also created problems over many decades, including how it's been used, according to the Institute for Government and other studies done by British government and private sector legal experts. Now, because of those problems with the law, including securing convictions with it, the UK government should replace the "misconduct in public office" law with a more tailored "statutory offense," a 2020 Parliamentary "Law Commission" recommended. Haddon said the UK is currently considering doing just that. What problems exist with the 'misconduct in public office' law? The 188-page Law Commission report concluded that the MiPO law is one of the most notoriously difficult offenses to define in England and Wales. Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, it said, there have been high profile inquiries into alleged misconduct by public office holders, including undercover police, that have raised questions as to how well-equipped the common law offense is to deal with modern forms of misconduct, the Law Commission Reforming the Law report said. The Law Commission found that increased use of the MiPO offense in recent decades has exacerbated existing issues with it. They include: a lack of clarity on the terms and extent of the current offense in question, the risk of overuse and misuse of the offense "leading to injustice," its use as a "catch-all" charge in place of more targeted statutory offenses and a concern that it is used mostly against junior officials rather than senior decision makers, the Institute for Government said in its recent analysis. What former Prince Andrew is suspected of doing Local British authorities from the Thames Valley Police department arrested Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion that during his tenure as the special trade envoy he improperly shared sensitive government material with Epstein and potentially others. Advertisement Advertisement Emails released in the latest tranche of Epstein documents released by the Justice Department appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding reports related to official visits and investment opportunities, including material involving Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Afghanistan. Authorities emphasize Mountbatten-Windsor has not been charged, and he was released under investigation after questioning. Mountbatten-Windsor has strenuously denied any wrongdoing in connection with his longstanding relationship with Epstein and his former girlfriend and associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her conviction on sex-trafficking charges in the US. But in 2022 the former Prince Andrew also settled a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Roberts Giuffre accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was 17. Advertisement Advertisement Importantly, UK media have cited sources saying the current criminal probe is not centered on past sexual abuse allegations. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UK law used to arrest former Prince Andrew: Vague and hard to prove Juba, South Sudan (PANA) - The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator arrived in South Sudan on Friday to visit one of the most under-reported humanitarian crises in the world, as clashes between government and opposition forces continue in Jonglei state Two labourers lost their lives after a temporary structure and loose earth collapsed on them. The incident took place around noon when the deceased, identified as Ajay (25) and Ram Milan (45), were working near a drain at a factory in Bhorgarh Phase-II, and the structure above them suddenly gave way. Delhi Police informed, "Today on 20 February, information was received at PS Narela Industrial Area regarding two persons, Ajay (25) and Ram Milan (45) brought unconscious to SRHC Hospital, Narela. Both were declared brought dead vide respective MLCs. As per the alleged history and eye-witness Rampal Ahirwar, the incident occurred around 12.15 PM at Factory No. L-246/247, Bhorgarh Phase-II, near Kali Mata Mandir, when loose soil and a temporary structure/wall near a drain fell during construction work, trapping both labourers underneath." "Inspection of the spot confirmed fallen of loose soil and an unsafe temporary structure, indicating negligence at the construction site. FIR No. 83/2026 u/s 106(1) & 290 BNS has been registered at PS NIA. The role and responsibility of the contractor/factory management are being verified. Further investigation is in progress," Delhi police said. Earlier this month, Delhi Police detained a man in connection with the death of a 25-year-old man after his motorcycle fell into a deep, uncovered pit allegedly dug by the Delhi Jal Board during road work in West Delhi's Janakpuri area. The accused was present at the scene of the accident where a biker died after falling into a pit. He informed the subcontractor about the accident but then fled the scene. He was the labour of sub-contractor Rajesh Prajapati, who was arrested on Saturday in the same connection. The police also arrested sub-contractor Prajapati in connection with the death of Kamal Dhyani after falling into a pit. According to the police, the subcontractor was notified of the accident at night but did nothing to assist the motorcyclist. The police investigation revealed that a family was passing by when the 25-year-old, Kamal, fell into the pit, and the family informed the security guard present there. Sub-contractor Rajesh Prajapati was then informed at 12:22 am. Rajesh came to the scene but did not investigate the pit, police said. When police reached the spot, they found an unidentified man along with his motorcycle, lying inside a pit measuring about 20 feet in length, 13 feet in width and around 14 feet in depth. The pit had been dug in the middle of the road as part of road work. The injured man was pulled from the pit by the fire brigade and transported to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in a PCR vehicle. However, the hospital later informed police that "the patient brought by PCR has been declared dead. (ANI) Hundreds of dead and dying seabirds - including puffins, guillemots and razorbills - are washing up on British beaches in the wake of this winter's severe storms, according to wildlife charities. The death toll is even higher in France and Spain, where many of the seabird populations that breed in the UK spend the winter, raising fears of catastrophic seabird "wreck". France's main bird protection charity says more than 20,000 bird strandings most of them puffins have been reported along the Atlantic coastline since 1 February. Advertisement Advertisement Since most birds that die at sea are never found, the true death toll is thought to be far higher. Cornwall Wildlife Trust has recorded more than 270 dead puffins just on Cornish beaches this year - compared to just two in the whole of last year. Other sightings of dead puffins have been reported in Scotland and England's North East. Samuel Wrobel, senior marine officer at the RSPB, the UK's leading bird charity, said "the sheer volume of reports coming in gives great cause for concern." The RSPB believes this is evidence of a seabird 'wreck' - a mass mortality event caused when winter storms leave birds too exhausted or starved to survive. Advertisement Advertisement "The last time we saw a wreck on this scale was 2014," Wrobel added, "and after the impact of avian flu this is the last thing our seabirds need". In that year more than 50,000 seabirds washed up on the Europe's Atlantic coast. The episode is believed to be one of the largest seabird wrecks in recent European history. This latest wreck is believed to have been caused by the series of brutal storms that have battered the Atlantic coast of the UK and Europe since January. Storms Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra in particular caused floods and devastation for both humans and wildlife. Advertisement Advertisement The full impact on seabird populations won't be known until the birds return to their breeding sites in the coming months. But the RSPB warns UK seabirds are already in crisis, with two thirds of species in decline. It points out that when the first UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List was published in 1996, it contained only one species of seabird. Today, ten of the UK's 25 breeding seabird species are on the Red List, among them the puffin and the kittiwake. The latest figures from the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (LPO), France's main bird protection charity, show 15,000 birds have washed up in France so far this year, 4,400 in Spain and 1,200 in Portugal. Most are puffins with significant numbers of common guillemots and little auks. The LPO says: "Mass seabird strandings frequently follow winter storms, but this episode is exceptional in both its scale and duration." Advertisement Advertisement French rescue centres have been overwhelmed, with sick birds being transferred across the national wildlife network to relieve the most overstretched facilities. Roland Gauvain, the chief executive of the Alderney Wildlife Trust on the northernmost inhabited Channel Island said he believed rough seas had made it difficult for birds to feed. "Those populations will most likely be UK and northern European breeding populations that have been wintering out at sea and have been picked up in the storms during the last couple of months and bashed around the place," he said. "Finally, they are making their way back on shore where, unfortunately, a lot of them are already dead or dying as they approach the coastlines and get into rougher coastal waters." This dead puffin was found earlier this month on a beach in Brittany in France [AFP via Getty Images] Katie-jo Luxton, director of conservation for the RSPB said: "Mass deaths like this underline just how fragile our seabirds are, as well as the urgent need to build resilience in their populations to be able to withstand exactly this type of unpredictable event." Advertisement Advertisement The RSPB is calling for better management of the fishing industry to allow seabirds to feed safely, gaps to be filled in the UK's network of marine protected areas and stronger protection of breeding colonies from invasive predators. It also says new offshore wind development should avoid the most sensitive areas for wildlife, and has been critical of the government's decision to award a contract to the Berwick Bank windfarm off the East coast of Scotland. Luxton says the development sits on top of "a vital feeding ground for globally important species that will kill tens of thousands of seabirds over its lifetime". Anyone who finds a dead wild bird is urged not to touch it and to report the sighting to Defra (or Dera in Northern Ireland) for possible collection and testing. Sightings should also be logged with BirdTrack, the online reporting scheme run by the British Trust for Ornithology. Advertisement Advertisement [BBC] Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that the UK and its allies should deploy non-combat troops to Ukraine right now, to "flip a switch" in Russian President Vladimir Putin's head. Speaking exclusively to Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg alongside the former head of the military, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, Johnson said troops should be sent to peaceful regions in non-fighting roles. He said: "If we can have a plan for boots on the ground after the war, after Putin has condescended to have a ceasefire, then why not do it now?" Advertisement Advertisement The UK government is currently working with its allies to plan a "coalition of the willing" to provide forces to preserve peace and stability in Ukraine, but only if there is a deal to end the war. Speaking just days before the fourth anniversary of the war, Johnson, who was prime minister at the time of the invasion, also said the conflict could have been prevented if Western allies had paid more attention to Putin's increasing aggression and his annexation of Crimea in 2014. Johnson and Sir Tony recounted the moment when Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and the early days of the war, when the decision to support President Volodymyr Zelensky was made. Despite extensive UK support, they agreed that Western allies had been too slow and cautious in providing support to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement In the past four years, allies have often taken months to agree to sending the weapons that President Zelensky has requested. Sir Tony described the allies' approach as "incrementalism" and said Ukraine felt it was "too slow and it's deeply frustrating - these tensions have existed all the way through". Watch the interview in full on Sunday on Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday at 09:00 GMT on BBC One and on the BBC News channel at 20:30 GMT on Saturday Johnson said that the caution had cost lives. "We've always delayed needlessly," he said. "We've then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it's always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin. Advertisement Advertisement "I mean, the one person who suffers from escalation is Putin." He added: "If we can have boots on the ground after the war, after Putin has condescended to have a ceasefire, then why not do it now? "Just to make this point that it is up to the Ukrainians, and these people wouldn't be there in a war-fighting capacity, right?" Asked if he meant that UK and other European allies' forces should go to safe parts of Ukraine now to "flip a switch", he said: "Yes, I think, you know, if we are willing to do it in the context of a ceasefire, which of course puts all the initiative, all the power in Putin's hands, why not do it now? Advertisement Advertisement "There is no logical reason that I can see why we shouldn't send peaceful ground forces there to show our support, our constitutional support for a free, independent Ukraine. "That is a political thing. It's about whether Ukraine is a free country or not. If it's a vassal state of Russia, which is what Putin wants, then obviously it's up to Putin to decide who comes to his country. If it's not, then it's up to the Ukrainians." A Ukranian soldier walks near a home destroyed by Russian troops in Kharkiv in Janaury 2025 [EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock] Putin would most likely view the presence of international troops, on a peacekeeping mission or not, as a major provocation. In September last year, after the announcement of the proposed "reassurance force", Putin said any troops deployed to Ukraine would be "legitimate targets". Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey said he would send British troops to Ukraine once the warring countries had reached a peace deal. "I want to be the Defence Secretary who deploys British troops to Ukraine because this will mean that this war is finally over," he wrote in the Telegraph. "2026 must be the year this terrible war ends." The defence secretary did not vow to send non-combat troops while the conflict continued, as Johnson suggested, underlining instead the level of UK military aid delivered to Ukraine and sanctions imposed on Russia. In response to Johnson's comments, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We are proud of UK leadership on Ukraine - supporting the fight today and working to secure the peace tomorrow. Advertisement Advertisement "It's why this government is providing the highest ever level of military support, including a recent half-billion-pound air defence package just last week, accelerating 200m for the UK military to prepare for any Ukraine deployment, and working with over 30 nations through the UK-led Coalition of the Willing." Johnson said that the failure to confront Putin over the annexation of Crimea in 2014, when David Cameron was the UK prime minister, was "tragic". And when asked if the UK and Western allies had enabled Putin's invasion by not taking his aggression seriously enough, Johnson said: "I do think that. The failure to do anything in Crimea was tragic. "I think Putin was emboldened by a Western failure in Syria to punish Assad for using chemical weapons. Advertisement Advertisement "I think Putin was further emboldened in February 2022 by what he'd seen in Afghanistan, and a sort of general sense that the West was on the back foot. "He'd seen those appalling pictures of Americans being forced to flee Afghanistan and the UK pulling out as well, and that really did embolden him." He went on to say that "the general ambiguity of the Western position" had harmed Ukraine, adding: "If we'd had clarity and simplicity about Ukraine, rather than endless fudge and obscurity, we could have saved that, we could have prevented that invasion." Johnson, who was foreign secretary and prime minister during some of that period, admitted regret for not having taken more action. Advertisement Advertisement "I do think we should have done more," he said. "The real problem is, with Ukraine, that Putin does not yet believe, or he has not yet been convinced, that the West regards it as an overwhelming strategic objective for Ukraine to be a free and independent European country. "And until he sees the evidence that that is our determination, I think he's just going to keep going. "That's the problem we're in. It's that fundamental lack of resolve." On defence spending, Sir Tony called on the government to "resolve" its promise to spend 3.5% of national income on defence by 2035, a promise made at the Nato summit last year. Advertisement Advertisement He said: "We made, the prime minister made, an international commitment. "The reason for that commitment was because there is a war in Europe. Russia is weak, but dangerous. "We are safe as a country at the moment: we are a nuclear power, we're a member of Nato, we have America as our principal ally. "But we need to invest in each of those in order to assure our nation that we will continue to be safe in the 2030s. That's why we had a defence review. "That's why Nato galvanised around an operational plan and the need for more spending, and that has to be resolved. "We have made that commitment. Nato is challenging us. Where is our plan?" Analysis Johnson believes almost a decade of foreign policy mistakes led to the Ukraine war [Getty Images] As the war in Ukraine approaches its grim anniversary, it was striking to hear the former prime minister say, with regret, that the bloody conflict could have been prevented in the first place, claiming it was failures of the West, including times when he was foreign secretary and then in Number 10, that emboldened Putin. Essentially, Boris Johnson's suggestion is that nearly a decade of foreign policy mistakes led to what's happening now. That claim will be argued about for decades to come. But his eye-catching suggestion to send UK and allies' troops to Ukraine goes further than any suggestion currently being made by the UK or its partners in what Sir Keir Starmer called a "coalition of the willing" in our studio almost a year ago. The former head of the military, sitting alongside Johnson, was one of the architects of that plan, preparing forces to be ready to go and support Ukraine if, and only if, there is a peace deal. Back in 2022, Europe pledged support to Ukraine, but said sending troops was beyond what they were prepared to do. Switching the focus of the "coalition of the willing" to sending troops now would be a hugely significant political move. But it's not impossible that allies could discuss alternatives such as creating a safe zone in the west of the country or opening up Lviv airport, as a precursor to a ceasefire. Johnson's suggestion seems borne out of his own frustration, particularly given his ongoing links with Ukraine, that the allies' response has been too halting - enough support so that Ukraine can keep fighting, not enough to bring an end to the war. Both Johnson and Radakin were eager to emphasise that, in their view, President Zelensky has already made concessions, and that the only way to bring peace is to intensify the pressure on the Kremlin, economically, and militarily. The former prime minister told me it was "deluded" to believe that the Russian leader wants peace, and he had told the White House as much. But as the loss of life on both sides continues, it is not clear how much further Western allies are willing to go, or how much Vladimir Putin is ready to listen. Kyiv has proposed that the EU use alternative elements of Ukraine's oil transport network, particularly the Odesa-Brody pipeline, to deliver crude to Hungary and Slovakia following damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline caused by a Russian attack. Source: a letter from Ukraine's mission to the European Union dated 20 February and addressed to the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy, as reported by European Pravda Details: Until repairs to the Druzhba oil pipeline are completed, Ukraine is offering the EU the possibility of receiving oil via the Odesa-Brody route. Advertisement Advertisement The document noted that significant damage had been inflicted on elements of Ukraine's oil transport system, including technological and auxiliary equipment on the Druzhba pipeline, as a result of deliberate attacks carried out by Russia, the aggressor state, on 27 January. Ukrainian diplomats informed the European Commission that experts are currently conducting a detailed technical inspection of the damaged equipment and assessing the technical feasibility and conditions for the prompt restoration of oil transport through the pipeline. The letter added that efforts are continuing to survey the damaged elements, stabilise the system's technical condition and deal with the aftermath of the Russian strike. It also emphasised that the uninterrupted and stable functioning of the oil transport infrastructure is only possible if Russia stops its large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. It highlighted that Ukrainians are forced to conduct emergency repair work under a constant threat of airstrikes, risking their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine suggested to the EU that, to ensure secure oil supplies to European countries, particularly Hungary and Slovakia, they consider the possibility of using Ukraine's existing oil transport infrastructure. It added that such logistics could be organised either via Ukraine's pipeline network or by sea, with subsequent transshipment at seaports and onward transport through the Odesa-Brody pipeline to EU member states. Previously: Hungary has stated that it is blocking a 90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until Kyiv restores the transit of Russian oil to Europe via the Druzhba pipeline. The documents on the 90 billion package were planned to be approved by the Council of the European Union and signed by the European Parliament on 24 February, marking the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Background: The European Council agreed to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion loan for 2026-2027, based on EU borrowing on capital markets and backed by EU budget reserves. However, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia have refused to take part in the scheme. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Credit:X/@DenShtilierman Ukraine hit a factory that produces some of Moscows most sophisticated ballistic missile systems more than 1,400km (870 miles) behind Russian lines. The Ukrainian general staff said in a statement that FP-5 Flamingo ground-launched cruise missiles had been used to hit the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant in the Udmurt Republic, one of Russias most important facilities for producing solid-fuel ballistic missiles. Advertisement Advertisement The plant produces the short-range mobile Iskander-M missiles that have often been used in attacks on Ukraine, as well as vaunted intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of carrying nuclear warheads all the way to the US. It is thought to produce the nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik ICBM that Vladimir Putin boasted could not be destroyed or intercepted when launched, as it travels at 10 times the speed of sound. Eleven people were hurt in Ukraines attack, three of whom were taken to hospital, said Sergei Bagin, the local health minister. Alexander Brechalov, the regional head, said that an unspecified facility had been attacked by drones but did not offer any further details. Advertisement Advertisement Footage from locals circulated on Russian Telegram channels showed windows shattered in nearby buildings and a huge fire raging, with smoke billowing from the territory of the plant. Credit: X/@Exilenova_plus The Flamingo missile is Ukraines domestically made flagship missile, with a range of up to 3,000km. It carries a warhead weighing around 1,150kg, developed by defence firm Fire Point. Ahead of the strike, Denys Shtilierman, the Fire Point co-owner, posted a short teaser-style clip showing the launch of a Flamingo missile captioned: Context later. The Votkinsk plant is under sanctions from the UK, US, EU, Switzerland, Australia, Japan and Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Ukraines general staff said it had also struck the Neftegorsk gas processing plant in Russias Samara region and a fuel and lubricants warehouse and drone workshop in the occupied Donetsk region overnight. At least 15 people were injured across Ukraine overnight in Russian missile and drone attacks on Odesa and Sumy, which hit apartment blocks, houses, a warehouse, energy substations and a school. In Kherson, a drone attacked a civilian minibus, injuring three people, including its 71-year-old driver. The attacks came days after the conclusion of the third round of direct Washington-brokered peace talks between representatives of Moscow and Kyiv, which took place in Geneva. Advertisement Advertisement Despite both sides reportedly agreeing not to speak about the progress of talks publicly, a source told journalists that the first day had been very tense, while a second day of negotiations ended prematurely after only two hours. The Russian delegation continued to pursue hard-line demands for Kyiv to surrender the eastern Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as Vladimir Medinsky, a Kremlin aide tasked with leading the discussions, said they had been tough but businesslike. 2202 Russian missile factory Mr Medinksy is an ultranationalist populist historian who served as Putins culture minister and has rejected Ukraines sovereignty based on Russian history. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, also appeared to vent his frustrations following the talks, writing on X on Thursday: I dont need historical sh-- to end this war and move to diplomacy. Because its just a delay tactic. Advertisement Advertisement The discussions yielded no breakthrough on ending hostilities or a further moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure, which have left millions of Ukrainians without heat or electricity throughout a freezing winter. However, one Ukrainian negotiator said that the two sides had made progress on the technical steps of implementing a ceasefire such as disengagement, monitoring and verification of any truce. Slovak PMs electricity threat On Saturday, Robert Fico, the Slovak prime minister, threatened to cut off emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv fails to resume pumping Russian oil to Slovakia over its territory. Kremlin ally Slovakia, along with Hungary, continues to rely on Russian crude shipped via the Soviet-era Druzhba (friendship) pipeline over Ukraine, which has been cut off since Jan 27 when Kyiv said it was hit by a Russian strike. Advertisement Advertisement Both countries have accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up oil shipments, without providing any evidence for this claim. Kyiv has proposed alternative transit routes while the repair works are under way. Hungary, in turn, has threatened to veto the EUs 90bn (78bn) loan to Ukraine until the flow of Russian oil restarts. The European Commission convened for emergency talks earlier this week to resolve the dispute. As Russias closest ally in the bloc, Hungary has frequently threatened to choke Europes financial support for Ukraine. 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. The Brief The University of Texas System approved a rule limiting "controversial" course content. Instructors must exclude unrelated contested topics and use a "broad and balanced" approach. Critics warn vague language could chill academic freedom and lead to self-censorship. AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas System board passed a new rule for the system broadly defining the freedoms students and educators have to teach and learn undefined topics. New UT System rule What we know The new rule, which passed unanimously by the board after about 40 minutes of public objection, ultimately decides that students in the school system can get an education without learning "controversial" subjects that don't necessarily apply to their field of study. Advertisement Advertisement In addition, instructors are required to "carefully consider" their material and "exclude unrelated controversial or contested matters." Similarly to the recent changes to Texas A&M System and Texas Tech standards, UT professors now have to get their course content approved by administrators and stick faithfully to the sanctioned syllabi. Finally, when coursework includes controversial or contested issues, instructors are required to use "a broad and balanced approach" when dealing with them. Again, this somewhat reflects the A&M and Tech updates, where professors are banned from "advocating" certain topics in favor of presenting multiple viewpoints. Click to open this PDF in a new window. What we don't know Unlike the recent changes at other state schools, UT's new rule forgoes explicit definitions of terms or instructions for their enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement "Controversial and contested" issues have no parameters. While A&M and Texas Tech are prevented from teaching "race and gender ideology," these specific issues are not outright included in UT's restrictions. It's unknown who exactly will be guiding professors on following the rule going forward, or how, when or where the line will be drawn on the omission of content. Public concern over new rule What they're saying One second-year PhD student referred to a development in recent weeks, in which the race, ethnic and gender study programs were "consolidated" into a single department. He referred to it as multiple departments being eliminated and replaced, thereby losing autonomy and decision-making powers. He believes the new rule could cause a similar instability. Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Alex Karner, a UT Austin professor, expressed concerns over the undefined terms, and especially the fact that the new rule assigns no one to make judgment calls in specific use cases when they arise. In Karner's opinion, applying open-ended restrictions to ambiguous topics creates more problems than it solves. "Overall, this policy will not protect students," Karner said. "Even if you do not intend to limit discussion, policies that rely on vague and subjective standards predictably lead instructors to self-censor and avoid risk, narrowing classroom inquiry in ways that are difficult to detect or correct." Karner said he and his colleagues believe these effects are being felt already at the university, and they fear the new rule could worsen courses being forced to walk on academic eggshells. Further, experience in his field leads him to believe that "controversial" subjects are often necessary for real-world work. The other side Board Chair Kevin Eltife responded to the qualms over specificity with an apparent nod to the changing landscape of Texas' higher education. Advertisement Advertisement "We are in difficult times," the former state senator said. "Vagueness can be our friend." Changes to Texas university courses Big picture view The changes to Texas schools seemingly began when state and federal lawmakers tightened the definition of gender at the beginning of President Donald Trump's second administration, including an executive order last January. In September, an A&M student started an online controversy with a video of her confronting a professor over this EO during a lesson regarding gender studies. That controversy, fueled by state lawmakers leading a social media crusade against "woke leftist professors," led to that professor being fired, administrators being demoted, and the former school president stepping down. Advertisement Advertisement A&M soon redefined race and gender ideology and restricted when and how it could be taught. Texas Tech followed suit not long after. Since then, an A&M philosophy professor made national headlines by having Plato readings pulled from his coursework over the new rules, and Melissa McCoul, the professor fired at the start of it all, has sued the school for allegedly violating her constitutional rights and harming the future of her academic career. Texas A&M gender controversy backlog The Source Information in this article comes from a public meeting of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, and previous FOX Local reporting. The US ambassador to Israel has been condemned by Arab and Muslim nations after he said Israel has a right to a large portion of the Middle East. Mike Huckabee made the comments in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that today would include vast swathes of the Middle East, and asked Huckabee if Israel had a right to that land. Advertisement Advertisement It would be fine if they took it all," said Huckabee, although he added that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the land it legitimately holds. Carlson pressed Huckabee about his interpretation of Bible verses from the book of Genesis, where he said God promised Abraham and his descendants land from the Nile to the Euphrates an area described by some as "Greater Israel". That would be the Levant, so that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. It would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq," Carlson said. Huckabee replied: Not sure we'd go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land." Palestinians walk along the separation barrier between the West Bank and east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina. Credit: AP His comments sparked immediate backlash from neighbouring Egypt and Jordan, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States. Advertisement Advertisement In separate statements the groups called Huckabee's comments extremist, provocative and not in line with the US position. Egypt's foreign ministry called Huckabee's comments a blatant violation of international law, adding that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands. Statements of this nature extremist and lacking any sound basis serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions, the League of Arab States said. There was no immediate comment from Israel or the United States. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has not had fully recognised borders. Its frontiers with Arab neighbours have shifted as a result of wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements. Advertisement Advertisement During the six-day 1967 war, Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. From rubble to routine: How Gaza evacuees are rebuilding their lives in Qatar 'Bad things will happen': Trump targets Iran in Board of Peace speech Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula as part of a peace deal with Egypt following the 1973 Mideast war. It also unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Israel has attempted to deepen control of the occupied West Bank in recent months. It has greatly expanded construction in Jewish settlements, legalised outposts and made significant bureaucratic changes to its policies in the territory. Advertisement Advertisement US President Donald Trump has said he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank and has offered strong assurances that hed block any move to do so. Palestinians have for decades called for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with east Jerusalem its capital, a claim backed by much of the international community. Huckabee has long opposed the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people. In an interview last year, he said he does not believe in referring to the Arab descendants of people who had lived in British-controlled Palestine as Palestinians. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. Israel has encroached on more land since the start of its war with Hamas in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Under the current ceasefire, Israel withdrew its troops to a buffer zone but still controls more than half the territory. Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw further, though the ceasefire deal doesnt give a timeline. After Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted at the end of 2024, Israel's military seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Israel said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border. Israel still occupies five hilltop posts on Lebanese territory following its brief war with Hezbollah in 2024. Have you heard our podcast Talking Politics? Tom and Robert dig into the biggest issues dominating the political agenda in every episode The US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has said it would be fine if Israel took control of a vast swathe of the Middle East, drawing a swift rebuke from regional and other majority-Muslim states. Suggesting even nominal support for Israeli sovereignty over much of the Middle East is an unprecedented departure from American foreign policy. It also goes well beyond what much of Israels far-right is willing to call for publicly. Nearly every Middle Eastern country aside from Israel condemned Huckabees comments in a joint statement on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with US conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, the ambassador was asked about his understanding of a biblical verse suggesting that land including parts of Egypt, Syria and Iraq had been divinely promised to the Jewish people. Carlson said that according to the Old Testament, the boundaries would be basically the entire Middle East. He continued: Does Israel have the right to that land? Not sure wed go that far, Huckabee said in reply. It would be a big piece of land. Carlson then pressed him: Does Israel have the right to that land? It would be fine if they took it all, Huckabee responded, before adding: I dont think thats what were talking about here today. Advertisement Advertisement Carlson asked: You think it would be fine if the state of Israel took over all of Jordan? Theyre not trying to take over Jordan. Theyre not trying to take over Syria. Theyre not trying to take over Iraq or anywhere else, but they do want to protect their people, Huckabee responded. I think youre missing something because theyre not asking to go back to take all of that, but they are asking to at least take the land that they now occupy, they now live in, they now own legitimately, and it is a safe haven for them, Huckabee added. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on during an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem, September 10, 2025. - Ronen Zvulun/Reuters A statement led by the United Arab Emirates and backed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and others denounced Huckabees comments as dangerous and inflammatory. Muslim-majority countries outside the region, such as Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan, also signed on to the denunciation. Advertisement Advertisement The Arab and Islamic states statement added that Huckabees remarks were a flagrant violation of international law that jeopardized US President Donald Trumps plans for Gaza, some of which were outlined earlier this week at the Board of Peace meeting in Washington. They said the continuation of Israels expansionist policies and unlawful measures will only inflame violence and conflict in the region and undermine the prospects for peace and called for an end to these incendiary statements. The Palestinian foreign ministry said Saturday that Huckabees remarks contradict religious and historical facts, international law, and the position expressed by US President Donald Trump rejecting the annexation of the West Bank. In November 2024, shortly after Trump announced Huckabee as his pick for ambassador to Israel, Huckabee made clear that he supports Israels annexation of the occupied West Bank. Advertisement Advertisement He told Israels Army Radio: I wont make the policy, I will carry out the policy of the president. But (Trump) has already demonstrated in his first term that theres never been an American president that has been more helpful in securing an understanding of the sovereignty of Israel. But last September Trump said: I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. Its not going to happen. CNN has reached out to the State Department for comment on Huckabees remarks. CNNs Max Saltman and Jonny Hallam contributed. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON President Donald Trump could make good on his threats to attack Iran within days, as a growing number of U.S. warships encircle the country, and the administration pushes Tehran to make a nuclear deal fast. Trump has for weeks warned of potential for military strikes on the Middle Eastern nation, as his negotiators held mediated talks with their Iranian counterparts to discuss a deal. The White House says an agreement would avert military action, and the administration was waiting for a proposal from Tehran, heading into the weekend. The president acknowledged on Feb. 20 that a limited strike on Iran is currently on the table. "I guess I am considering that," he said in response to a question. Advertisement Advertisement After a Situation Room discussion on Iran on Feb. 18, a senior administration official told USA TODAY that Trump could decide to strike Iran as soon as this weekend. He could also strike Iran next weekend or never the official said of the president's options. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. Anti-government protests in Iran appeared to accelerate on Jan. 9, sparked by anger over the collapse of the country's currency and a broader sense of hopelessness and disillusionment with Tehran's clerical leaders. The uptick in unrest also comes as President Donald Trump warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington "will come to their rescue." See the scenes in Iran, beginning here on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. Witnesses told Reuters protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8, however this video's date taken has not been verified. Protesters gather as vehicles burn, amid evolving anti-government unrest, in Tehran, Iran, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video released on January 9, 2026. People tear down an Iranian flag after it was taken down in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released on January 8, 2026. Date when the video was filmed could not be confirmed. An overturned car and multiple fires burn as protesters chant outside a police station, during Iran's biggest demonstrations in three years over economic hardship, in Azna, Lorestan Province, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released on January 1, 2026. Protesters gather amid evolving anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video released on January 9, 2026. Witnesses told Reuters protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8, however this video's date taken has not been verified. People gather on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. The date of the videos could not be verified. Witnesses in Tehran told Reuters that protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8. People gather on the streets during a protest in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on January 8, 2026. The date could not be verified but multiple videos verified to Mashhad were posted online on January 8. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, January 9, 2026. Burning debris lies in the middle of a street during unrest in Hamedan, Iran on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. A person uses a lighter to set fire to a banner during demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. Burning debris lies next to an overturned dumpster in the middle of a street during unrest amid demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. Rocks, tree branches, and a toppled charity box remain on a street during unrest amid demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. A protester flashes victory signs as traffic slows during demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. Security forces detain protesters outside a commercial building on Ahmadabad Street in Mashhad, Iran on January 3, 2026. Iran has experienced recurrent waves of protests in recent years driven by political repression, economic hardship, rising living costs, and restrictions on civil and social freedoms, including women's rights. Demonstrations have frequently been met with arrests, heavy security deployments, internet disruptions, and, according to activists and rights groups, the killing of protesters, as authorities move to suppress dissent. People walk down the street, chanting in Farsi, "Reza Shah, rest in peace", in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released on December 30, 2025. Demonstrators attempt to force a gate open to gain access to a building during a protest in Fasa, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released on December 31, 2025. See Iran's anti-government protests, huge crowds, unrest in photos 1 of 16 Anti-government protests in Iran appeared to accelerate on Jan. 9, sparked by anger over the collapse of the country's currency and a broader sense of hopelessness and disillusionment with Tehran's clerical leaders. The uptick in unrest also comes as President Donald Trump warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington "will come to their rescue." See the scenes in Iran, beginning here on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. Witnesses told Reuters protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8, however this video's date taken has not been verified. More: Trump says Iran has 10 days to reach nuclear deal to avoid military action The following day, during a Feb. 19 meeting of his Board of Peace for Gaza, Trump told attendees he would know whether a deal was possible within the next 10 days. We may have to take it a step further or we may not, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement He said later in the day that 15 days was his maximum. The senior official who spoke to USA TODAY said earlier on Feb. 19 that the U.S. was waiting on a proposal from the Iranians, and it should arrive within the next two weeks. White House says 'all options' at Trump's disposal Trumps administration is currently locked in negotiations with Iran to curb its nuclear program, and the White House has repeatedly emphasized that Trump prefers the diplomatic route. But the mediated talks have not yet produced a deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed to include Iran's ballistic missile program and funding for its proxy forces in the region in the deal conditions that experts say the Iranians are highly unlikely to accept. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet in Israel with Netanyahu on the evening Feb. 28. Trump has typically consulted close ally Israel on his actions in the region and worked in close coordination with Israel when it bombed Iran's nuclear sites last June. Netanyahu also visited Trump in Washington this month. USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier was spotted in the sea waters as seen from Gibraltar, with Northern Africa in the background, February 20, 2026 in this picture obtained from social media. @dparody/Instagram/via REUTERS. The ship design matched file imagery of USS Gerald R. Ford, while other vessel in the photographs matched file imagery of US Destroyers, but the exact name of the ship could not be confirmed. The shape of the mountains and road layout matched satellite imagery of the area. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a "Morning Joe" interview on Feb. 20 on MSNOW that "there is no military solution for Iran's nuclear program." Advertisement Advertisement "The only solution is diplomacy. This is why the U.S. is back on the table of negotiation and is seeking a deal," he said. But the Iranian diplomat said his country was prepared for negotiation, "as much as we are prepared for war," if an agreement cannot be reached. Several news outlets have reported in recent days that Trump is considering a limited initial strike, but that an operation to decapitate Iran's government or take out leadership is also on the table. The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command referred USA TODAY's request for comment to the White House. A White House official told USA TODAY in a statement, President Trumps first instinct is always diplomacy, and he has been clear that the Iranian regime should make a deal. Of course, the president ultimately has all options at his disposal." Advertisement Advertisement Trump renewed his threats in recent months as the largest protests in decades broke out in the country, prompting the Iranian regime to carry out a brutal crackdown that has reportedly killed thousands. Trump previously sent a message to protesters in a Truth Social post that "help is on its way," but has since shifted the goal of negotiations and a possible military operation to Iran's nuclear program. Experts said Trump could launch an initial strike and expand as circumstances required. I think the idea of limited, and expanding [strikes] is something that is definitely on the table, said Brian Carter, an Iran-focused research manager at the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project. Even a limited strike, though, could send both nations down an escalatory path, said Jennifer Kavanagh, the director of military analysis at Defense Priorities. Advertisement Advertisement A limited strike is something the military could try, but the idea that Iran isnt going to retaliate, to me, seems unlikely. Iran has threatened to unleash attacks on U.S. troops in the region if Trump. On any given day, there are between 30,000 and 40,000 troops in the region, according to Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command. "They've made it clear they will retaliate, and then once they retaliate, the U.S. will have to retaliate," said Kavanagh. "Then we're into a cycle of strikes." State of the Union looms over Trump threats Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 24. After coming under criticism from MAGA Republicans for his frequent meetings with foreign leaders at the White House and overall focus on waging war and forging peace deals, the president has increased his domestic travel ahead of the midterm elections and held more economic events. He has mostly kept his meetings with visiting leaders behind closed doors after publicly broadcasting many of them in his first year in office. President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei does not comply with his nuclear demands. The optics of Trump hitting Iran for a second time, just as hes due to barnstorm the country coming out of the address as part of an affordability-focused tour in battleground areas his party needs to win to retain control of the House of Representatives, would not be ideal. Advertisement Advertisement Trump first attacked Iran in June 2025, when U.S. military planes at his direction dropped more than a dozen penetrating bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities. Now, he has dispatched a growing bevvy of military assets to the region to bolster his threats. An aircraft carrier and a dozen warships are currently deployed in the region, and dozens of fighter jets, including F-22s and F-16s, headed towards U.S. bases in the Middle East in the last week, according to open source accounts and news reports. They were accompanied by air tankers used to refuel planes while in flight. Another aircraft carrier is on the way to the region, with more naval destroyers in tow. The entirety of the Gerald Ford carrier strike group and full U.S. military assets are not expected to arrive in the region in mid-March, the senior administration official said. Allies have reportedly signaled they aren't willing to back up the United States if Trump launches an attack. The London Times reported on Feb. 19 that the United Kingdom will not allow Trump to use its military bases for an attack, following similar statements from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement Given the massive amount of U.S. military firepower in the region, anything is possible, Carter said. "The U.S. military has broad enough assets to do basically anything from a relatively limited strike that would intend to push Iran in the right direction on negotiations, all the way up to a strike that intends to actually topple the regime itself," he said. The more pressing question, Kavanagh said, is the day after strategy. There is no short, limited campaign here, she said. (This story was updated to add a video.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is an Iran attack coming? Trump says limited strike is on the table Representative Pramila Jayapal and 20 members of Congress are seeking the release of Rodney Taylor from Stewart detention center in Georgia, several weeks after the first anniversary of when agents seized the double amputee outside his suburban home in Loganville, about 40 miles north-east of Atlanta. The representatives sent a two-page letter on 17 February to Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, and Todd Lyons, the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), drawing extensively from the Guardians reporting and quoting several stories in detail with grave concern due to Taylors extreme hardship in detention and [because] his health is continuing to deteriorate. Several experts told the Guardian they hadnt seen such a case, with so many members of Congress advocating on behalf of an ICE detainee. Advertisement Advertisement Related: A bar, kitchen and flat-screen TVs: the $70m jet DHS is eyeing for deportations Taylors health issues include not having properly calibrated prosthetic legs, needing new linings for the prosthetics, not being able to charge the prosthetics as needed, high blood pressure and, as of late last year, bone spurs in his back. The lack of silicone linings has caused boils. He has recently been given a wheelchair something he has never used but his right hand is missing three fingers, so using it has caused pain in his wrist. The letter also mentions previously unreported details of Taylors conditions at the overcrowded detention center, such as having to crawl through showers [that] were moldy, covered in feces, and bodily fluids. Stewart is no longer providing Mr Taylor accommodation for meals, requiring him to get his meals three times a day by himself despite the issues with the prosthetics and the wheelchair. Mildred Danis-Taylor, Rodneys wife, told the Guardian that detainees without easy access to bathrooms defecate and urinate in the shower. Theres also mold, blood, food and semen on the floor, she said. For Taylor to shower, he has to take off his prosthetics. Then he has to crawl along the floor to a shower chair. Advertisement Advertisement As for getting to meals, in a call from Stewart on Thursday, Taylor told the Guardian that Jason Streeval, warden of Stewart, said this is not Uber Eats when informing him of the recent change. The details in the letter leave me speechless, said Joseph Nwadiuko, a University of Pennsylvania professor of medicine who researches immigration. These are repeated acts of dehumanization. Ryan Gustin, spokesperson for CoreCivic, the company that runs Stewart detention center, wrote in an email that he couldnt comment due to medical privacy laws but that the company was committed to providing safe, humane and respectful care for everyone entrusted to us. In answer to follow-up questions about Taylors experience in the shower and Streevals remark, Gustin said: We vehemently deny these allegations. ICE did not respond to the Guardians request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Jayapal, serves on the House judiciary committee, where she is a ranking member of a subcommittee dealing with immigration. Other signatories include Californias Ro Khanna and Michigans Rashida Tlaib. An effort seeking an ICE detainees release for medical reasons backed by so many lawmakers was unusual, said Nwadiuko. This many members of Congress being on the same page is not something Ive seen, he said. It is also the second time the Guardians coverage of Taylors case has been cited, after Senator Raphael Warnock wrote to Noem on 29 October 2025, urging her to consider the detainees pressing health issues while stopping short of seeking his release. Advertisement Advertisement Nwadiuko said that Taylors case was one of missed opportunities, where he continues being exposed to risks that could endanger his life. Brought to the US from Liberia by his mother on a medical visa when he was a small child, Taylor has had 16 operations. Now 47, he has lived in the US nearly his entire life. He got engaged only 10 days before ICE detained him in January. The agency apparently seized him due to a burglary conviction from when he was a teenager and for which the state of Georgia pardoned him in 2010, according to attorney Sarah Owings, who shared Taylors paperwork with the Guardian. Taylor has a pending application for US residence commonly known as a green card but has not been released on bond, despite having a habeas corpus petition before a federal judge since September. He is a barber and active in cancer prevention efforts in his community. Austin Kocher, a Syracuse University professor specializing in the US immigration enforcement system, said that ICE does not provide detailed data on the amount of detainees in its system with disabilities so you have to rely on exemplary cases such as Taylors to understand whats going on with how people with disabilities are treated. Advertisement Advertisement This treatment is only possible when you have a president who is using dehumanizing rhetoric and a system built on profit, he said. Another factor, Kocher noted, was the Trump administrations removal of oversight, with the decimation of the federal office for civil rights and civil liberties (CRCL) and the immigration detention ombudsman (Oido). During the last year, Danis-Taylor, Rodneys wife, said she had spent $500 a month for Taylors calls to her and others. Its a mental health thing, she said. Hell say, Is that a bird I just heard? But as time goes on, Taylor said on the phone from Stewart on Thursday: My body is deteriorating. He was grateful that members of Congress had advocated on his behalf but when youre sitting in here, its hard to see the end of the tunnel. Advertisement Advertisement If ICE brushes off this letter, said Kocher, its evidence for saying that ICE is, to put it crudely, out of control. This article was amended on 22 February 2026 to correct an instance of a misspelling of Pramila Jayapals last name. HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AP) The Pentagon and the Energy Department for the first time airlifted a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, demonstrating what they say is the U.S. potential to quickly deploy nuclear power for military and civilian use. The nearly 700-mile flight last weekend which transported a 5-megawatt microreactor without nuclear fuel highlights the Trump administrations drive to promote nuclear energy to help meet skyrocketing demand for power from artificial intelligence and data centers, as well as for use by the military. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Undersecretary of Defense Michael Duffey, who traveled with the privately built reactor, hailed the Feb. 15 trip on a C-17 military aircraft as a breakthrough for U.S. efforts to fast-track commercial licensing for the microreactors, part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reshape the country's energy landscape. A new emphasis on nuclear energy President Donald Trump supports nuclear power a carbon-free source of electricity as a reliable energy source, even as he has been broadly hostile to renewable energy and prioritizes coal and other fossil fuels to produce electricity. Advertisement Advertisement Skeptics warn that nuclear energy poses risks and say microreactors may not be safe or feasible and have not proved they can meet demand for a reasonable price. Wright brushed those concerns aside as he touted progress on Trumps push for a quick escalation of nuclear power. Trump signed a series of executive orders last year that allow Wright to approve some advanced reactor designs and projects, taking authority away from the independent Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has regulated the U.S. nuclear industry for five decades. Today is history. A multi-megawatt, next-generation nuclear power plant is loaded in the C-17 behind us, Wright said before the two-hour flight from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The minivan-sized reactor transported by the military is one of at least three that will reach criticality when a nuclear reaction can sustain an ongoing series of reactions by July 4, as Trump has promised, Wright said. Advertisement Advertisement Thats speed, thats innovation, thats the start of a nuclear renaissance, he said. Microreactors would be for civilian and military use Currently, there are 94 operable nuclear reactors in the U.S. that generate about 19% of the countrys electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That's down from 104 reactors in 2013 and includes two new commercial reactors in Georgia that were the nation's first large reactors built from scratch in a generation. Recognizing delays inherent to deployment of new, full-scale reactors, the industry and government have focused in recent years on more efficient designs, including a small modular reactor proposed by the nations largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority. Microreactors, designed to be portable, can accelerate the delivery of resilient power to where its needed, Duffey said. Eventually, the mobile reactors could provide energy security on a military base without the civilian grid, he and other officials said. Advertisement Advertisement The demonstration flight gets us closer to deploy nuclear power when and where it is needed to give our nations warfighters the tools to win in battle, Duffey said. The reactor transported to Utah will be able to generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 5,000 homes, said Isaiah Taylor, CEO of Valar Atomics, the California startup that produced the reactor. The company hopes to start selling power on a test basis next year and become fully commercial in 2028. Some safety concerns haven't been addressed, experts say Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the transport flight which included a throng of reporters, photographers and TV news crews was little more than a dog-and-pony show that merely demonstrated the Pentagon's ability to ship a piece of heavy equipment. The flight doesn't answer any questions about whether the project is feasible, economic, workable or safe for the military and the public, Lyman said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration hasn't made the safety case for how microreactors, once loaded with nuclear fuel, can be transported securely to data centers or military bases, Lyman said. Officials also have not resolved how nuclear waste will be disposed of, although Wright said the Energy Department is in talks with Utah and other states to host sites that could reprocess fuel or handle permanent disposal. The microreactor flown to Utah will be sent to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab for testing and evaluation, Wright said. Fuel will be provided by the Nevada National Security site, Taylor said. The answer to energy is always more, Wright said. After four years of restrictions on fossil fuels and other polluting energy under the Biden administration, he said, Now were trying to set everything free. And nuclear will be flying soon. Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that the State is staring at a revenue deficit of Rs 10, 000 crore following the discontinuation of Revenue Deficit Grant by the Union Government. Addressing reporters here after meeting party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the national capital a day earlier, Agnihotri flagged the financial strain on the hill state following the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG). "The Centre is trying to weaken the states, especially those ruled by Congress. We discussed the revenue deficit grant. Himachal Pradesh is going to face a revenue deficit of Rs 10,000 crore. We had been receiving the grant for the past five years, but it was stopped abruptly by the central government," he said. Echoing similar concerns, Himachal Pradesh Congress President Vinay Kumar said the leadership deliberated on pressing state issues. "We spoke to Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and discussed various issues that matter to the people of Himachal, including the apple industry and the revenue deficit grant that has been stopped by the central government," Kumar said. Meanwhile, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajani Patil said organisational matters were also discussed during the meeting. "Rahul Gandhi asked for an audit report of all the state ministers, and I have been assigned that responsibility during the meeting," she said. The Himachal Pradesh government is grappling with mounting fiscal pressure after the 16th Finance Commission discontinued the RDG. In response, the state has initiated reforms aimed at strengthening internal resource mobilisation. These include a new Toll Policy for 2026-27 mandating transparent e-auction of toll barriers, electronic toll collection, CCTV monitoring and phased FASTag implementation to plug leakages and ensure steady revenue flow. Excise reforms form another pillar of the state's strategy. The 2026-27 excise framework continues auction-based allotment of liquor vends with rationalised reserve prices linked to past revenue performance. Enhanced digital monitoring and stricter enforcement are expected to improve licence fees, excise duty and VAT collections. Additionally, the state has revised entry fees for vehicles entering Himachal Pradesh from April 1, 2026, raising charges across most categories. Officials argue that technology-driven systems and transparent bidding will boost compliance and offset revenue losses in the post-RDG fiscal landscape, even as tourism stakeholders express concern over higher travel costs. (ANI) By Steve Holland, Bo Erickson and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister said on Friday he expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days following nuclear talks with the United States this week, while U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering limited military strikes. Two U.S. officials told Reuters that U.S. military planning on Iran had reached an advanced stage, with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing leadership change in Tehran, if ordered by Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Trump on Thursday gave Tehran a deadline of 10 to 15 days to make a deal to resolve their longstanding nuclear dispute or face "really bad things" amid a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East that has fueled fears of a wider war. THREATS OF ATTACK FOLLOW CRACKDOWN ON MASS PROTESTS Asked on Friday if he was considering a limited strike to pressure Iran into a deal, Trump told reporters at the White House: "I guess I can say I am considering" it. Asked later about Iran at a White House press conference, Trump added: "They better negotiate a fair deal." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said after indirect discussions in Geneva this week with Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner that the sides had reached an understanding on main "guiding principles," but that did not mean a deal was imminent. Advertisement Advertisement Araqchi, in an interview on MS NOW, said he had a draft counterproposal that could be ready in the next two or three days for top Iranian officials to review, with more U.S.-Iran talks possible in a week or so. Military action would complicate efforts to reach a deal, he added. After the U.S. and Israel bombed Iran's nuclear facilities and some military sites in June, Trump again began threatening strikes in January as Tehran crushed widespread protests with deadly force. Referring to the crackdown on Friday, Trump said there was a difference between the people of Iran and the country's leadership. He asserted that "32,000 people were killed over a relatively short period of time," figures that could not immediately be verified. Advertisement Advertisement "It's a very, very, very sad situation," Trump said, adding that his threats to strike Iran had led the leadership to abandon plans for mass hangings two weeks ago. "They were going to hang 837 people. And I gave them the word, if you hang one person, even one person, that you're going to be hit right then and there," he said. The U.S.-based group HRANA, which monitors the human rights situation in Iran, has recorded 7,114 verified deaths and says it has another 11,700 under review. Hours after Trump's statements on the death toll, Araqchi said that the Iranian government has already published a "comprehensive list" of all 3,117 killed in the unrest. Advertisement Advertisement "If anyone doubts the accuracy of our data, please speak with evidence," he posted on X. ARAQCHI SAYS DEAL POSSIBLE IN 'VERY SHORT PERIOD' Araqchi gave no specific timing as to when Iranians would get their counterproposal to Witkoff and Kushner, but said he believed a diplomatic deal was within reach and could be achieved "in a very short period of time." United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated concerns about heightened rhetoric and increased military activities in the region. "We encourage both the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue to engage in diplomacy in order to settle the differences," Dujarric told a regular news briefing at the U.N. Advertisement Advertisement During the Geneva talks, the United States did not seek zero uranium enrichment and Iran did not offer to suspend enrichment, Araqchi told MS NOW, a U.S. cable television news network. "What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran's nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever," he said. He added that technical and political "confidence-building measures" would be enacted to ensure the program would remain peaceful in exchange for action on sanctions, but he gave no further details. "The president has been clear that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them, and that they cannot enrich uranium," the White House said when asked about Araqchi's comments. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Bo Erickson, Susan Heavey, Jarrett Renshaw, Gram Slattery, Trevor Hunnicutt and Simon Lewis in Washington, and Parisa Hafezi in Dubai and Menna Alaa El-Din in Cairo; Writing by Susan Heavey and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Rosalba O'Brien) BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Steven Tendo, a Ugandan pastor and UVMMC nursing assistant who is seeking asylum, is being released from custody Friday after a ruling by a federal judge. The UVMMC Support Staff union said that Tendo was detained by ICE while leaving a second job within the UVM Health network, just two days before a scheduled check-in with immigration authorities. He was then moved from Vermont to New Hampshire where he was being held. UVMMC nursing assistant detained by ICE Wednesday Advertisement Advertisement Community members had rallied for Tendos release, with a vigil held in his honor in St. Albans earlier this month. He was reportedly being taken to ICEs regional headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts, where he was scheduled to be released later Friday. Tendo is expected to be back at home in Vermont on Friday night. 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. MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Vermonts highest court on Friday ruled against landowners in Tunbridge who tried to prevent the town from maintaining a bike trail that crossed their property. The owners of a farm in Tunbridge and Strafford had maintained hiking trails across their property, though the trails dated all the way back to 1987. Cyclists wanted permission to use the trails as well, but the landowners objected and stopped maintenance; when the town of Tunbridge stepped in back in 2022 to allow people to maintain trails on the towns behalf, the landowners sued. Advertisement Advertisement Tips for safe and smart hiking during mud season According to the court, because trails are public rights-of-way, the Town has authority to maintain them to ensure the publics access. The courts decision hinged on the definition of trail. For class 1, 2, and 3 roads, maintenance is required. Trails were originally considered Class 4 highways, for which maintenance is optional. Owner giving away former Green Mountain College A technical change in 1986 defined trail in state law, and clarified that towns are not responsible for maintenance. The Tunbridge landowners used this definition to argue that they could control how the trails are kept up. Advertisement Advertisement But the court said that even though maintenance is optional, the town still has the right to ensure public access if it so chooses. 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. Like many recent politicians, Virginia's Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has made "affordability" the linchpin of her gubernatorial agenda. Right on cue, state lawmakers recently passed Spanberger's 16-bill "affordability package," which is already receiving pushback as to whether it will actually lower costs. But little attention has been paid so far to one of the most expensive pieces of proposed legislation currently percolating in Richmond: a likely repeal of Virginia's longtime ban on collective bargaining for government employees, which would replace it with a mandate to do just that. Since a 1977 state supreme court decision, Virginia has been one of a handful of states that bans collective bargaining for local and state government employees. This law was substantially amended in 2021, when former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation creating an opt-in system for bargaining, in which local units of government could pass authorizing ordinances to allow them to collectively bargain with their employees. Advertisement Advertisement Although this marked a substantial step forward for union interests, it still fell short of organized labor's ultimate goal: repealing Virginia's collective bargaining ban outright and mandating bargaining for state and local government employees statewide. (Since the 2021 law, at least 17 localities have opted into collective bargaining in the Commonwealth, according to the Center for American Progress). In 2025, Virginia Democrats passed legislation for a statewide mandate, only to have it vetoed by former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Now, with Spanberger residing in the Executive Mansion, Democrats are making a renewed push to get the legislation across the finish line. Under the terms of the recently-introduced S.B. 378, union certification can take place if a majority of government employees within a bargaining unit agree to be represented, while a union election can be triggered with a mere showing of 30 percent support. Once a union is recognized, the corresponding governmental unit must collectively bargain with it. The bill also creates a Public Employee Relations Board and imposes binding arbitration on governments that are unable to come to an agreement with a union. While Spanberger has notably claimed that she will not sign legislation that repeals Virginia's right-to-work law for private sector workers, union interests claim that a collective bargaining mandate for government employees has the support of the governor if it gets to her desk (which appears likely given Virginia's Democratic-controlled state legislature). Advertisement Advertisement The effort to mandate collective bargaining in Virginia may not seem related to "affordability" at first blush, but it would almost certainly presage a higher cost of livingin the form of substantial tax increasesfor all Virginians. Research suggests that mandatory collective bargaining increases state and local government spending by an annual average of $600 to more than $750 per person. This works out to an additional potential tax burden of between $2,300 to $3,000 per year for your average family of four. Accordingly, S.B. 378's estimated fiscal impact is jarring. The cost to the state has been estimated to hover around $50 million annually, while the projected costs for localities range from $50,000 to a jaw-dropping $403 million over a two-year period. Given this grim reality, the Virginia Association of Counties has come out strongly against the bill. Local government officials are even more outspoken. Advertisement Advertisement "If this bill passes, it will be the single largest tax increase in Virginia history, because all of the responsibility for these payments and salaries will be on the localities, local taxpayers, property taxes, and everyone in communities," said Babur Lateef, a Northern Virginia Democrat and chairman at-large of the Prince William County School Board. "It will bankrupt local governments and bankrupt school divisions." While Lateef says he personally supports collective bargaining, he believes the decision should reside with localities under the current opt-in approach. "If your number one goal of being elected was to do something about affordability," he said, "this goes in the exact opposite direction, and you will be putting a burden on the Virginia taxpayer like we've never seen." If the statewide mandate goes through, Virginia residents will pay the price. The post Virginia Democrats' Push for Mandatory Government Unions Is Not an 'Affordability' Agenda appeared first on Reason.com. A Virginia magazine editor was killed as she walked across the streets in downtown Richmond in a hit-and-run, police said. According to Virginia Living publisher John-Lawrence Smith, 23-year-old Hope Cartwright, an associate editor at the widely-read local magazine, was killed on Monday, Feb. 16 during a hit-and-run. "It is with profound sorrow that I write to you today with devastating news," Smith wrote in a Facebook post. "Hope was all of 23 years oldgifted, dedicated, and one of the most talented members of the Virginia Living team." Advertisement Advertisement "She stood at the threshold of what would have been a remarkable career, and her absence leaves a wound that words cannot adequately express," he said. Navy Reservist On Active Duty Accused Of Murdering Wife Believed To Have Fled To Hong Kong According to the Richmond, Virginia Police Department, authorities were called to the intersection around 5:34 p.m. Monday and found Cartwright unresponsive. She was transported to a hospital where she died. Read On The Fox News App Using traffic camera footage and data from Flock Automatic License Plate Readers, authorities determined that a vehicle making a left turn struck her and fled before officers arrived. According to police, analysts in the RPD Capital City Intelligence Center identified the vehicle and its registered owner, identified as Latesha Coleman, 41, within an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Coleman is charged with felony hit-and-run in connection to the crash. Her next court appearance is March 10. Latesha Coleman, 41, of Richmond, has been charged with felony hit-and-run. (Fox News) Suspect Who Fled From Iowa Officers Dies After Exchanging Gunfire On Wednesday, according to WTVR-TV, the Commonwealths Attorney urged the judge to deny bond citing Colemans criminal history of drug possession and selling convictions, petit larceny conviction, and several failures to appear dating back to 2002. She was more than halfway through the intersection, they said. "[Hope] did everything she was supposed to," the prosecution told the judge. Like What You're Reading? Find More On The True Crime Hub Advertisement Advertisement According to the outlet, the Commonwealth's Attorney's office said that the video allegedly shows Coleman briefly slowing down after impact before driving off. Sign Up To Get True Crime Newsletter Send Us A Tip Here They also said, according to Wtvr-tv, that Coleman told detectives she thought she hit a curb and that investigators "noticed an odor of alcohol." But the prosecutor said that there are no curbs or medians anywhere near the middle of the intersection where Cartwright was struck. They also said Coleman was driving on a suspended license but at one point did have a CDL license. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Original article source: Virginia magazine editor, 23, killed in hit-and-run while crossing street FILE - In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the USS Gerald R. Ford embarked on the first of its sea trials to test various state-of-the-art systems on its own power for the first time, April 8, 2017, from Newport News, Va. The worlds largest aircraft carrier entered the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday, according to maritime tracking data. Credit - Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni/U.S. Navy via Associated Press After building up a massive military force in the Middle East over the last few weeks, President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering strikes against Iran to pressure its leaders into accepting a deal on its nuclear program. Trump has ratcheted up threats of action against the countrys leadership in recent months alongside a steady buildup of military forces. Two aircraft carriers are currently deployed, and one morethe USS Gerald Fordis expected to arrive imminently. When questioned by reporters on Friday whether he was weighing limited strikes against the countrys leadership in order to get it to accept a deal over its nuclear program, Trump replied: I guess I can say I am considering that. Advertisement Advertisement Read More: Leavitt Says Iran Would Be Wise to Make a Deal as Trump Escalates Military Buildup in Region On Thursday, Trump gave Tehran a deadline of 10 to 15 days to finalize a deal to solve the nuclear dispute or face really bad things. The United States joined an Israeli-led military operation against Iran in June last year that struck three of the countrys nuclear sites. After that operation, Trump claimed Irans nuclear enrichment facilities had been completely and totally obliterated. Trump raised the prospect of further military action against Iran following a brutal crackdown on protests there that killed thousands. That prospect has drawn harsh criticism from inside and outside of the Presidents own party. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican, and Rep. Ro Khanna said they would table a War Powers resolution to prohibit the president from ordering military action in Iran without congressional approval. Congress must vote on war according to our Constitution. Rep. Ro Khanna and I will be forcing that vote to happen in the House as soon as possible, Massie wrote on X on Feb. 18. I will vote to put America first which means voting against more war in the Middle East. David Janovsky is the Acting Director of The Constitution Project at the Project on Government Oversight, and researches and develops policy reforms on separation of powers issues. He answered TIMEs questions about the legality of potential strikes on Iran. If Trump orders strikes on Iran tomorrow, however limited in scope, could that be legally justified? DJ: The short answer is no. There's no indication that there's any sort of circumstance that would give the President the unilateral authority to order military action. It's true that presidents have some inherent authority to deploy the military as Commander in Chief, but that's really limited to true emergency circumstances where there is an attack underway that needs to be repelled, or maybe an extremely clear imminent attack. But there's no suggestion that that's the case todaythat would make the strikes illegal. What steps would the White House need to take for this military action to be legally above board? DJ: Most simply, the administration would need to go to Congress. This is a contemplated attack against a sovereign state, and that, in simplest terms, is an act of war. And the Constitution gives the exclusive power to declare war to Congress, not the president. So this is something that would need a vote and congressional approval. How would this operation be different from the strikes on Irans nuclear sites in June 2025, legally speaking? DJ: My position is that those strikes in 2025 were not legally justifiable and also that strikes now would likewise not be justifiable. In 2025, the administration put out a very brief explanation that relied on both the President's inherent authority and a notion of collective self-defense with Israel. But again, self-defense is properly understood to involve a threat that is much more immediate than anything that's at play now. What would be the legal and political implications if Congress passed a formal War Powers resolution restricting the Presidents ability to strike Iran? DJ: It's important to keep in mind that if Congress did nothing, that would be a sign that Congress didn't approve an act of war, and so it would be illegal. Advertisement Advertisement So, congressional action isn't necessary, legally speaking, to prevent a strike against Iran. But, if Congress were to take the preemptive step of saying, You cannot do this, I think it would do two things. First, it would change the legal calculus, because the executive branch, for decades this is not a new phenomenonhas resorted to creative lawyering to come up with excuses for using the military abroad. A clear statement from Congress should at least make those executive branch lawyers a lot less willing to push the envelope. It could also change the calculus for the military lawyers who would need to review any actual strike order. And, politically, I think it would send a powerful message. We have seen, especially recently, that the administration is sensitive to losing support, particularly from its allies in Congress, and a clear congressional statement that there is not the buy-in for military action in this case would also be a limiting factor. Why has the reaction from Congress to this military buildup been so muted? DJ: I think there are probably both long-term structural reasons and sort of short-term political reasons, hand in hand with the executive branch's decades-long effort to push the envelope of what it can do has been Congress's acquiescence in the face of those expansions. In some ways, this is part of a constitutionally very dangerous but long-running trend. Back in 2025, there was an effort after the strikes to pass a war powers resolution. But the most charitable explanation for why Congress didn't act then was that there was a suggestion that the strikes were over and done. It was a one-off, and there was no need for Congress to prevent anything else. The fact that we're back here suggests that was not the correct assessment, and certainly underscores the need for Congress to act urgently now. Contact us at letters@time.com. WASHINGTON (AP) The annual dinner with governors at the White House is typically a chance for leaders from both parties to come together, socialize and spend a low-key evening with the president. But like many traditions during President Donald Trump's second term, Saturday's dinner has proven unusually controversial. Ahead of this week's gathering of the National Governors Association, Trump ridiculed the bipartisan group's leadership, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. He refused to invite Moore, along with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, to a working event at the White House on Friday only to relent at the last minute. Then the event ended shortly after Trump learned of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down his sweeping tariff policy. Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of Democrats had threatened to boycott Saturday's dinner if members of their party were blocked from Friday's meeting. But even after Moore's attendance, some said they still wouldn't show up. President Trump has made this whole thing a farce, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. When the dinner finally rolled around, no Democrats were spotted in the room. Enjoying the black-tie affair, with tall candles arranged on tables, were just top administration officials and Republican governors. In brief remarks, Trump joked that state leaders "look in that mirror and say, I should be president, not him. Advertisement Advertisement The president didnt criticize any Democrats by name, but he blamed two states led by Democratic governors when he mentioned a sewage spill in the Potomac River near Washington. We have to clean up some mess that Maryland and Virginia have left us, Trump said, adding that "its unbelievable what they can do with incompetence. The ruptured pipe is part of a Washington-based utility thats federally regulated and under the oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Vice President JD Vance praised the governors for having to make tough decisions. When you're in his position, Vance said, nobody blames you when anything goes wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Those who have attended previous dinners said they offered a rare and helpful opportunity for governors to connect with the president and members of his Cabinet away from the pressure of daily governing. Some also said the dinner was a chance to connect with fellow governors from other parties whom they might not see very often. Asa Hutchinson, the former Republican governor of Arkansas who briefly challenged Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, recalled being assigned to a table one year with then-Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and getting to know her family. Its a glowing evening in the White House, Hutchinson, who once chaired the NGA, said in an interview. The final day of the conference on Saturday focused on issues including affordability and political civility. During a conversation about immigration, Moore and Stitt said that both parties have failed over decades to address the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Stitt said that states should be empowered to issue workforce permits and warned that both parties are making false political assumptions. People think OK, all the Democrats want open borders, he said, and all Republicans hate immigrants. But Stitt noted that rural Oklahoma Trump voters have privately approached him, saying they couldn't operate their businesses without people who were trying to obtain work authorization. For all the turmoil surrounding this week's meeting, Moore said the conference was a success. There were a lot of things that were put in our way to try to distract us from our mission, to try to divide us as individual governors, to try to make the mission of this organization where a bipartisan group of governors can come together and solve problems on behalf of our people, to try to make our work irrelevant, he said. To all the people who tried to make that happen, you failed. The University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence Against Women will soon take a new name: the UK Center for Violence Prevention. The name change was approved at Fridays board of trustees meeting, and will officially go into effect on July 1. The two faculty trustees, Hollie Swanson and Karen Petrone, voted against the name change. The center was moved into the College of Public Health in 2024. While it previously focused on research related to violence between romantic partners and crimes against women, that has changed to now focus more broadly on reducing and preventing interpersonal violence, according to UKs website. Advertisement Advertisement Conservative watchdog group pressed UK employees about DEI. Heres what the law says The name change reflects the research focus to reduce violence by using and testing novel intervention and prevention strategies, the agenda item from the board meeting said. The Center for Research on Violence Against Women was established at UK in 2004, and at the time was the only research center in the country dedicated to such research, according to university archives. Since moving into the College of Public Health, that research now focuses on preventing violence through developing and testing strategies to reduce or prevent violence regardless of personal identifiers, according to the agenda item. Advertisement Advertisement UK spokesperson Jay Blanton said the name change is not related to any state or federal laws such as House Bill 4, which became law last year and bans diversity, equity and inclusion at Kentucky public colleges and universities. That includes any programming or practices that promote or provide preferential treatment or benefits to individuals on the basis of religion, sex, color, or national origin. Diversity and inclusion certificate program closes At the same board meeting, the board voted to close a graduate certificate in diversity and inclusion in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program was designed for a wide range of professional backgrounds in recognition of our increasingly diverse world and workplaces. Less than 10 students were enrolled in the certificate in recent years, according to university data. Due to low student demand and the resulting challenges in offering the required coursework, the College of Arts and Sciences has requested to close the graduate certificate in Diversity and Inclusion, according to the board materials. Executive orders, rulemakings, legislation, and court challenges all operate on different timelines with different powers and different guardrails. Yesterdays historic Duffy-Barrs press conference was the biggest enforcement announcement in a generation, and it still has to survive the process. Heres why, and what comes next. It happens every single day. In the comments. In the DMs. On X. On LinkedIn. Somebody tags the Secretary of Transportation or the FMCSA administrator or a member of Congress and demands that they close every CDL mill in America by Friday, remove every non-domiciled driver from the highway by Monday, mandate English proficiency testing at every weigh station, and fix 40 years of regulatory neglect before the next news cycle. The frustration is understandable. So is the impatience. But this is a government, not a sedan; you cannot just turn the wheel and expect it to change direction at 70 miles an hour. There are branches. There are processes. There are legal guardrails that exist for a reason. Miss that, and a lot of energy gets wasted being angry at the wrong people for the wrong reasons while the people who actually caused this mess sit in a conference room advising the government on what to do next. Advertisement Advertisement On February 20, 2026, Secretary Sean Duffy and FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs stood at a podium in Washington and delivered the most aggressive enforcement announcement the trucking industry has seen in a generation. Yesterday was not the finish line; it was the opening bell for a process that still has years to run. And if history is any guide, the legal challenges are already being drafted. What follows is a breakdown of what was announced, why even historic action takes longer than a news cycle, and what is coming next, and when. Yesterdays announcement was historic. It was also the beginning, not the end. The process doesnt stop because the press conference happened. WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY: The February 20 Announcement, By the Numbers In a joint press conference at DOT headquarters, Secretary Duffy and Administrator Barrs outlined a sweeping enforcement action and a set of forthcoming rulemakings that represent the most comprehensive trucking safety initiative in at least a decade. Here is what was announced. The CDL Mill Sting Operation Over five days, FMCSA mobilized more than 300 investigators across all 50 states to conduct over 1,400 on-site inspections of driver training providers. The results were not subtle: Advertisement Advertisement 448 CDL training providers issued notices of proposed removal from the Training Provider Registry 109 schools voluntarily removed themselves upon learning that investigators were coming 557 total CDL training programs removed or facing removal 97 additional providers are still under active investigation The violations ranged from unqualified instructors who did not hold the correct licenses to operate the vehicles they were teaching students to drive, to improper vehicles that did not match the type of training being offered, to fake addresses, and to schools that existed on paper but not on the ground. One school that was removed had been training school bus drivers. Advertisement Advertisement DUFFY: For too long, the trucking industry has operated like the Wild, Wild West, where anything goes, and nobody asks any questions. BARRS: If a school isnt using the right vehicles or if their instructors arent qualified, they have no business training the next generation of truckers or school bus drivers. The Forthcoming Rulemakings Beyond the enforcement action on CDL schools, Duffy and Barrs announced a package of regulatory proposals that, when finalized, would represent a fundamental restructuring of how motor carriers enter and are monitored in the federal system. These are proposals, not final rules. That distinction is everything, and well return to it. But here is what is on the table: Ending self-certification for entry-level driver training schools. The current self-certification model created the CDL mill explosion. Schools entered the Training Provider Registry with minimal verification and no real accountability until they were caught. The proposed rule would require active verification before a school can be listed, not after the damage is done. Advertisement Advertisement Revamping Motus, the new federal motor carrier registration system, into a rigorous identity verification and matching platform. Motus is already in soft launch for supporting companies. Duffy and Barrs want it weaponized against chameleon carriers, entities that cycle through DOT numbers to evade enforcement. The administrations goal is to tie DOT numbers to verified individuals, not legal fictions. DUFFY: One individual can get 100 different DOT numbers. We want to make sure that the DOT number is connected to an actual individual. Enhanced procedures for suspending or revoking federal approval for noncompliant carriers or schools. The current process for pulling a carriers authority is cumbersome. The proposal would create faster off-ramps for enforcement action. Requiring state motor vehicle departments to conduct all CDL testing. This is a significant structural change. Currently, third-party examiners, including, in some states, the training schools themselves, can administer CDL skills tests. That conflict of interest is a primary driver of fraudulent licensing. Moving testing exclusively to state MVDs eliminates the foxes from the henhouse. Advertisement Advertisement Adding qualification and testing requirements for brokers during registration. Brokers have largely operated under an honor system. A baseline competency requirement at the registration stage would represent the first meaningful gatekeeping in the history of broker licensing. Sharper verification of the principal place of business using AI tools. DOT announced it would use artificial intelligence to verify that carriers maintain actual physical addresses, not P.O. boxes, UPS Stores, or virtual offices. The regulation already prohibits those arrangements. What has been missing is the detection. The AI component is new, and in the context of hundreds of entities sharing one small building at a single address, it cannot arrive soon enough. The Non-Dom and ELP Scorecard Barrs confirmed that approximately 14,000 truck drivers have been placed out of service for English Language Proficiency violations since the administration reinstated enforcement last year. The non-domiciled CDL final rule, published February 13, takes effect March 15 and is expected to affect approximately 194,000 non-domiciled CDL holders. The administration also confirmed that $160 million in federal highway funds has been withheld from California for failing to cancel over 17,000 illegally issued CDLs by the agreed-upon deadline. New York faces similar pressure. Duffy gave California a kudos for beginning to enforce English language requirements once the funding threat became real. THE PROCESS: Why Announcements Are Not Laws and Laws Are Not Enforcement Now that the announcement is on the record, the more important question is what it means for the timeline and legal durability. The reaction on social media to a press conference like yesterdays invariably splits into two equally wrong camps: those who think everything just got fixed, and those who dismiss it as political theater that will never result in action. The truth requires understanding how the federal government actually works. The org chart There are three levels of federal authority that matter for trucking regulation, and they do not have the same powers. The President of the United States can issue executive orders, sign legislation, nominate agency heads, and set policy direction. What the president cannot do is write regulations unilaterally. Executive orders direct federal agencies to take action within their existing statutory authority. They do not create new law. Advertisement Advertisement Below the president sits the Secretary of Transportation, currently Sean Duffy. The secretary can direct policy, issue departmental orders, allocate enforcement resources, and champion specific regulatory changes. What the secretary cannot do is write federal regulations without going through the rulemaking process established by the Administrative Procedure Act. Below the secretary sits the FMCSA Administrator, currently Derek Barrs. The administrator runs day-to-day operations, oversees compliance reviews, directs field enforcement, and shepherds rulemakings through the federal process. What the administrator cannot do is snap his fingers and create a new regulation. He has to follow the process. And the process is slow by design. The process that drives everyone crazy The Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 governs how federal agencies create regulations. It requires transparency, public participation, and judicial review. Whether thats a feature or a bug depends on whether the proposed regulation helps or harms you. But it is the law, and it applies to FMCSA the same way it applies to the EPA, the FDA, and every other federal agency. The standard rulemaking cycle: the agency publishes an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to gather input on whether a rule is needed. Then it publishes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with the proposed regulatory text, a cost-benefit analysis, and a 60- to 90-day comment period. Every substantive comment must be reviewed and addressed. Then the agency publishes a final rule, which typically takes effect 30 to 60 days later. Then, anyone who participated in the comment process can challenge the final rule in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. If the court finds the agency skipped steps, ignored significant objections, or exceeded its authority, the rule gets vacated. Back to zero. Advertisement Advertisement From ANPRM to enforceable final rule, a typical FMCSA regulation takes three to seven years. The ELD mandate took over a decade. The safety fitness determination rule has been in various stages of rulemaking since the 1990s. The speed limiter rule was first proposed in 2016 and still has not been finalized. This is not because FMCSA is lazy. This is because the process exists, takes time, and is deliberately built that way. THE KEY DISTINCTION: Actions that enforce existing rules can move fast. Actions that create new rules cannot. Everything announced yesterday falls into one or both of those categories , and which one determines when the industry will actually feel it. What can move fast, and what cannot The CDL mill enforcement action announced yesterday, the 1,400 sting operations, and the 557 schools removed or facing removal happened within the agencys existing authority. FMCSA had the power to conduct those investigations. No new rule was required. Those schools got caught because investigators showed up. That is the enforcement of existing regulations, and it moved in five days. The proposed rulemakings Duffy and Barrs described are a different animal. Ending self-certification, restructuring CDL testing through state MVDs, adding broker qualification requirements, and creating identity verification mandates for carrier registration, those are new regulatory requirements. They require NPRMs. They require comment periods. They require final rules. They require time, and they are vulnerable to challenge. Advertisement Advertisement The English Language Proficiency enforcement is also instructive. ELP has been a federal requirement since 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) was written. The Obama administration issued guidance in 2016 that effectively neutered enforcement of an existing rule. President Trumps executive order directed the agency to rescind that guidance and reinstate enforcement. That happened within 60 days because it was not a new regulation; it was a direction to enforce an existing one. Those 14,000 out-of-service actions Barrs cited are the direct result of that distinction. Enforcement of existing rules moves at the speed of political will. New rules move at the speed of the Administrative Procedure Act. Know which one youre watching. THE CASE STUDY: How the Non-Dom CDL Rule Became the Perfect Illustration of Why Process Matters For anyone who wants to understand why every major announcement out of Washington should be followed by the question and then what?, study the non-domiciled CDL rule. It is the clearest case study available of the consequences of urgency overriding methodology. FMCSA had legitimate safety concerns. Annual program reviews found widespread non-compliance among state licensing agencies. California alone had an improper issuance rate of 25%. The agency identified 17 fatal crashes in 2025 involving non-domiciled CDL holders whose fitness could not be verified through existing databases. The concern was real. The data was real. The dead were real. Advertisement Advertisement FMCSA issued an emergency interim final rule that skipped the standard notice-and-comment period and the state consultation required by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act. A coalition of unions and individual drivers challenged the rule in the D.C. Circuit. The court found the petitioners would likely succeed on the claim that FMCSA improperly issued the rule without consulting the states. The rule was stayed within six weeks of issuance. Rather than litigate, the FMCSA filed for abeyance and returned to do it properly. The agency published a final rule on February 13, 2026, incorporating responses to 8,010 public comments. That rule takes effect March 15. And one day after publication, a new petition for review was filed in the D.C. Circuit by the same coalition. THE LESSON: Even when the safety justification is strong, skipping the process does not save time. It costs time. The shortcut became the long way around, and the legal fight continues. The same dynamic should be expected with yesterdays announcements. The proposed rulemakings will be challenged. The CDL school removals will face administrative appeals. The broker qualification requirements will generate industry pushback during the comment period. The state testing mandate will surface Tenth Amendment questions about federal intrusion into state licensing authority. None of that makes these rules wrong. It makes them subject to the same process that everything else goes through, and the people in that process who benefit from the status quo are very good at using it. THE LEGISLATIVE LANE: What Only Congress Can Fix Federal agencies can only regulate within the authority Congress gives them. And some of the most glaring problems in trucking cannot be fixed by FMCSA rulemaking because Congress has not granted the authority, or because the problem is baked into statute. The minimum liability insurance level for a commercial motor carrier has been $750,000 since 1980. When that number was set, a loaded tractor-trailer cost a fraction of what it costs today, and medical costs were a fraction of what they are today. FMCSA cannot raise that minimum through rulemaking. It is set by statute. Only Congress can change it. Every piece of evidence in the industry, every case involving catastrophic underinsurance, every compliance review where the insurer behind a chameleon carrier had a greater financial stake in keeping the carrier operating than in underwriting its risk, points to insurance reform as essential. And insurance reform requires a bill, a committee, a floor vote, and a signature. The chameleon carrier problem, which Duffy and Barrs specifically addressed yesterday, is being partially addressed through the SAFE Act currently moving through Congress. That bill has ATA support and bipartisan appeal. It also has to survive the legislative gauntlet. Representative Harriet Hagemans bill does important work. Whether it survives to signature is a separate question. The interplay between Congress and the agencies is what makes the timeline even longer. Congress passes a law directing FMCSA to do something. FMCSA then has to issue a rulemaking to implement the Congressional directive. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directed FMCSA and NHTSA to issue a rule requiring automatic emergency braking on heavy trucks in 2021. As of February 2026, the AEB rule is still in the supplemental proposed rulemaking stage. Five years after the Congressional mandate, still no final rule. That is not unusual. That is normal. THE ADVISORY CLASS: When the People Who Built the Problem Advise on the Fix And then there is the American Trucking Associations. ATA occupies a unique position in the trucking industry. They are the largest lobbying organization in the industry. They advise Congress. They advise FMCSA. They produce research through their research arm, the American Transportation Research Institute, that federal agencies cite in rulemakings. They have a seat at every table where policy gets made. And they have been on the wrong side of almost every major safety debate of the last two decades. They championed the driver shortage narrative that OOIDA, academic researchers, and even Secretary Duffy himself have rejected. They pushed the DRIVE Safe Act and the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program to allow 18-year-olds to drive interstate trucks, a program so unsuccessful that only 80 apprentice drivers applied out of a capacity of 3,000, and 88 of the 211 carrier applicants were disapproved for failing to meet basic safety standards. They lobbied against meaningful ELDT reform, helping to create the CDL mill explosion that FMCSA spent five days dismantling this week. They pushed for deregulation that contributed to the flood of new entrants during 2020-2022, which included the chameleon carriers and fraudulent operators that this administration is now shutting down. And now they are issuing press releases praising the very enforcement actions aimed at cleaning up the mess their policy positions helped create. ATA President Chris Spear praised Secretary Duffys pro-trucker package. ATA backed the SAFE Act, which targets chameleon carriers. ATA supported the non-domiciled CDL rule. These are the consequences of problems that ATAs own lobbying positions contributed to. The cycle is consistent: advise the government, produce research to support the advice, the government acts on it, a decade later, when the policy fails, come back to the table to advise on the cleanup while publicly praising whatever direction the political wind is blowing. This is not a conspiracy theory. This is documented. And it is one of the reasons the regulatory process takes so long and produces such inconsistent results. The loudest advisory voice in the room has institutional incentives that do not always align with safety outcomes. THE MOST ACTIVE DOT IN A GENERATION, AND WHY THAT STILL TAKES TIME The word process gets used as an excuse for inaction. That is not what is happening here. What the trucking industry is witnessing from DOT and FMCSA right now is the most aggressive enforcement posture in at least 25 years of industry observation. Carriers with 50 crashes are still operating. Insurers are covering hundreds of high-risk entities with zero meaningful underwriting scrutiny. Chameleon carrier networks that reincarnate faster than the agency can shut them down. These are documented failures, and this is the first administration in memory to have come in knowing what those failures look like and moving against them with real authority. Consider what has happened in roughly 12 months: an executive order reinstating English Language Proficiency enforcement, resulting in 14,000 drivers placed out of service. A non-domiciled CDL final rule, taking effect March 15, was based on 8,010 public comments after the emergency rule was properly revised. The largest enforcement action ever against CDL training programs, with 557 providers removed or facing removal following 1,400 on-site sting operations across all 50 states. $160 million withheld from California and $40 million from New York for non-compliance. A package of forthcoming rulemakings announced on February 20 targets chameleon carriers, CDL testing, broker qualification, and carrier identity verification. The Motus registration platform is in soft launch, the first major overhaul of FMCSAs registration infrastructure in decades. Over $275 million allocated for truck parking. HOS reform advancing through an NPRM. That is not inaction. That is an agency operating at the outer edge of its authority while remaining within the legal guardrails required by the Administrative Procedure Act. The rulemakings announced yesterday will move through the process. They will face comment periods where industry attorneys and advocacy groups will try to dilute them. They will face court challenges once finalized. And they will ultimately make the industry safer if the people demanding change understand that supporting the process is part of that demand. These problems did not start with this administration. They will not end with a press conference. But for the first time in a long time, the right people are in the room and they know exactly what theyre looking at. These problems did not start here. The ELP enforcement gap goes back to 2016. The non-domiciled CDL compliance failures have been building for decades. The ELDT program, which spawned thousands of questionable CDL schools, was implemented in 2022. The $750,000 minimum insurance level has not changed since 1980. The chameleon carrier problem has been documented since Congress created the Archie program 13 years ago. Attention fades between disasters. The cycle restarts when someone dies. What is different right now is that the administration arrived knowing the cycle and is trying to break it with structural fixes rather than enforcement theater. WHAT INFORMED ADVOCACY LOOKS LIKE FROM HERE Effective advocacy requires understanding what you are asking for and who has the power to deliver it. On CDL school reform: FMCSA is actively cleaning the registry. But the enforcement action announced this week is administrative, involving removals from the Training Provider Registry, and it will face appeals. A permanent fix requires Congressional action to establish minimum training-hour requirements, fund oversight infrastructure, and create penalties that deter fraud at the entry point. The ELDT program, as currently structured, provides the FMCSA with limited tools. Congress needs to provide better ones, and the comment period on the proposed ELDT rulemaking is the opportunity to put that on the record. On chameleon carrier enforcement: support the SAFE Act. Support FMCSAs new entrant screening reforms. When the Motus rulemaking on identity verification opens for comment, submit one. Documented experience, specific data, and real-world examples have legal weight when they are in the administrative record. They have zero weight in a social media comment thread. On principal place of business verification: the AI tools Barrs described are an enforcement capability layered on top of existing regulations that already prohibit mail center addresses and virtual offices. What has been missing is the detection. Support FMCSAs budget requests for enforcement technology. Contact your representatives and tell them the agency needs resources to use the tools it is building. On insurance reform: the $750,000 minimum is set by statute. Contact your representative with specific asks tied to specific data, crash costs, medical bills, and what an 80,000-pound truck traveling at highway speed does to a passenger vehicle. And understand that even raising the minimum does not fix the underwriting gap, because no carrier is required to have its safety record verified before a policy is issued. That is separate legislation requiring separate advocacy. On the non-domiciled CDL rule: the evidentiary record matters for the pending D.C. Circuit challenge. If there is data on crashes, licensing failures, or enforcement gaps involving non-domiciled CDL holders, submit it to the FMCSA. The rule that was built on 8,010 comments is more defensible than the emergency rule that skipped the comment process entirely. That is not an accident; that is how administrative law is supposed to work. So What Now? February 20, 2026, was a genuine milestone. The most comprehensive enforcement action against CDL training fraud in the history of the program. A clear-eyed announcement of rulemakings that address the structural vulnerabilities that created the mess. Two officials who clearly understand the industry they are regulating are putting their names on it publicly. And it is still just the beginning of a process that will take years, face legal challenges, and require Congressional support to fully realize. Criticizing the administration for not moving faster ignores what yesterday represented. Celebrating it as a finished product ignores what it actually is: a very strong opening move in a very long game. The process is slow. It is frustrating. It is maddening when people are dying on highways, and the legal machinery grinds at a pace that feels disconnected from urgency. But the alternative to the process is what happened with the non-domiciled CDL emergency rule. Action without process gets stayed by the courts. Action without data gets vacated. Action without methodology gets sent back to the starting gate. The solution is not less scrutiny of the process. The solution is more people who understand it well enough to use it. Comment on NPRMs. Contact your representatives with specific legislative asks. Support the organizations doing actual policy work. And stop demanding that government officials do things they legally cannot do while giving a pass to the advisory organizations that helped build the mess. It took decades to get here. It will not get fixed overnight. But it is getting fixed. And the people at DOT and FMCSA right now are doing more with the tools they have than this industry has seen in a long time. Give them the time and the legal space to do it right, because doing it fast and doing it wrong is how we got here in the first place. The post Why the Wheels of Trucking Reform Dont Turn as Fast as Your Timeline appeared first on FreightWaves. Here we go again. Another major winter storm, due to hit the East Coast starting Sunday, Feb. 22, is expected to hamper travel for days after the Nor'easter passes. Just four weeks ago, a huge winter storm dropped snow, sleet and freezing rain from Texas to New England. Now the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are bracing for blizzard conditions and airlines are already trying to ease the storm's impact on operations. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest and United Airlines on Feb. 21 alerted travelers with flights booked for Feb. 22 and 23 departing from and going through East Coast airports from Virginia to Maine that change fees and fare differences would be waived if they want to adjust their plans. A deicing crew works on a Southwest Airlines flight at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 24, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Snowstorm: Brace for up to 18 inches of snow. How much will your state get? Snowstorm expected to make travel 'treacherous, if not impossible' The governors of New Jersey and New York have already issued a state of emergency ahead of the storm, which is expected to create major travel disruptions and delays. "These are very dangerous driving conditions, so please plan to stay off the roads," New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Saturday, Feb. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Amtrak is adjusting service on the East Coast for Sunday and Monday, Feb. 22-23, the company said. More than 1,000 flight cancellations are expected on Sunday with 1,500 more on Monday, AccuWeather experts estimate. People wait in line to check out at the Shoprite supermarket in Yonkers, N.Y. early Sunday morning Feb. 22, 2026. Shoppers were stocking up on provisions before the massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. Alberto Hernandez loads his truck with ice melt early at Home Depot in Mount Pleasant, N.Y. Sunday morning Feb. 22, 2026. Shoppers were loading up on ice melt before the predicted massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. People wait in line for the opening of a Trader Joe's grocery store on Feb. 22, 2026 in New York City. A major winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions bringing heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions with the potential of up to 23 inches of snow in New York City. A blizzard warning has been issued for large areas of the East Coast, including New York City. A family shops for snow sleds at a hardware store ahead of a winter storm in Quincy, Massachusetts on Feb. 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. People rush to get groceries after waiting in line for the opening of a Trader Joe's grocery store on Feb. 22, 2026 in New York City. A major winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions bringing heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions with the potential of up to 23 inches of snow in New York City. A blizzard warning has been issued for large areas of the East Coast, including New York City. People rush to get groceries after waiting in line for the opening of a Trader Joe's grocery store on Feb. 22, 2026 in New York City. A major winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions bringing heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions with the potential of up to 23 inches of snow in New York City. A blizzard warning has been issued for large areas of the East Coast, including New York City. An employee helps a woman carry out rock salt from a hardware store in Boston, Mass. on Feb. 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. An Airbus A321 Delta Airlines passenger aircraft is seen at gate while a Boeing 737 MAX 8 United Airlines passenger aircraft takes off at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Feb. 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. Vincent Monaco, an employee at the Home Depot in Mount Pleasant, N.Y. helps Belinda Berisha of Larchmont load up her car with ice melt early Sunday morning Feb. 22, 2026. Shoppers were loading up on ice melt before the predicted massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. Desiree Babich of Thornwood, N.Y. holds her dog Cosmo, who is dressed for the weather, in the parking lot of Home Depot in Mount Pleasant Feb. 222, 2026. Babich was one of many shoppers who were loading up on ice melt before the predicted massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. Mark was at the Home Depot with his three year-old son Marco. See the Northeast race to prep for snowy weather amid blizzard warning 1 of 10 People wait in line to check out at the Shoprite supermarket in Yonkers, N.Y. early Sunday morning Feb. 22, 2026. Shoppers were stocking up on provisions before the massive winter storm forecasted to hit the New York City metropolitan region and the Lower Hudson Valley Sunday into Monday. In posts on X, New York airports John F. Kennedy Airport and LaGuardia Airport, along with Boston Logan International Airport, alerted travelers to check their flight status regularly with their airline before heading to the airport. Travel will be treacherous, if not impossible, during the worst of the storm. More than 2,500 flights could be canceled at major airports across the Northeast, said Carl Erickson, AccuWeather's director of forecasting operations. Blowing snow with near-zero visibility will make travel on the highways incredibly dangerous. People attempting to drive through this noreaster could end up stranded for hours. Advertisement Advertisement Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winter storm warnings grow as airlines waive fees for travel changes A day after a brief protest staged by the Indian Youth Congress during the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said that while people have the right to protest in politics, they should be mindful of the appropriate place to hold such demonstrations. Slamming the government over the issue related to Galgotias University, Sawant questioned whether what happened there was a matter of national concern. "Was what happened with the Galgotias University national? People have a right to protest in politics, but they should understand where to hold it," Arvind Sawant told ANI. Cadres of the Indian Youth Congress on Friday staged a 'shirtless' protest stunt at Bharat Mandapam against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticising the AI Impact Summit and accusing the PM of being "compromised". During the protest, party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit." Police later detained the protesters. "Indian Youth Congress workers raised their voice and protested against the compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit," an official post from Indian Youth Congress said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra slammed the Congress Party for allegedly disrupting the AI Impact Summit, following a "shirtless" protest conducted by the Indian Youth Congress at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. During a press conference, Patra criticised the party as "shameless, topless, and brainless." He further called Rahul Gandhi the country's "biggest traitor" for his alleged role in disrupting the high-profile event. "Earlier, India neither participated in such summits nor hosted them. But now, it is organising them on a large scale. Along with the Prime Minister, the President of France and several other prominent world leaders took part. Leaders from across the world were praising India. However, Rahul Gandhi is being described as the country's biggest traitor and a spoiler who disrupts such moments. It is said that he raises questions on everything -- whether it is Operation Sindoor or air strikes. As for the Congress, I have three words: topless, brainless, and shameless," said Patra. Delhi Police on Friday detained four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers during a protest at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. The accused are scheduled to be produced in the Patiala House Court later today. The protesters engaged in a prolonged scuffle and several serious charges have been registered, as per Delhi police sources. (ANI) Get ready, the snow is on its way. A winter storm watch is now in effect for much of the region from Sunday, Feb. 22, into Monday, Feb. 23, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. The bulk of the storm is expected to occur Sunday night into early Monday with widespread snowfall of 5 inches or more possible, the weather service said. But what is a winter storm watch and what's difference between a watch and a warning? Here's what weather experts say: Advertisement Advertisement How much snow on Sunday?: See snow forecast for this weekend in Delaware How much will it snow?: Winter storm watch for this weekend in Delaware What is a winter storm watch? These involve conditions favorable for a winter storm event, which is a threat to life or property. Watches are usually issued 24 hours before an event that has a 50% chance of occurring, but its occurrence, location and/or timing is still uncertain. The NWS also classifies blizzard watches, which are conditions favorable for a blizzard event that features visibility of less than a quarter mile with wind gusts up to at least 35 mph. What is a winter storm advisory? An Advisory indicates conditions pose a significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property, according to the NWS. Advertisement Advertisement These are issued for one or more of the following: Snow to 3 feet to 5 feet in an hour; Sleet up to a half inch; Freezing rain with sleet or snow; blowing snow. Freezing rain advisories are issued following a quarter each of accumulation. What is a winter storm warning? When conditions are at their worst, the NWS issues three types of warnings. These include: Heavy storm warning: Heavy snow of 6 inches in 12 hours or 8 inches in 24 hours that could include sleet of a half inch or more. Ice storm warning: Ice accumulation of a quarter inch or more. Blizzard warning: Blizzard conditions for three hours or more. What is a Nor'easter? A Noreaster is a storm along the East Coast of North America that typically blow over coastal areas. These storms can occur at any time of year but are most frequent and most intense between September and April, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement Advertisement Noreasters usually develop between Georgia and New Jersey, within about 100 miles of the coast, and generally move northeastward, reaching maximum intensity near New England and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. They often bring heavy precipitation rain or snow along with gale-force winds, rough seas and sometimes coastal flooding. What is a blizzard? National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm that contains large amounts of snow or blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours). The term originated in the 1870s when an Iowa newspaper refashioned the word, previously used to describe cannon fire, into a word for snow. Blizzard are largely defined by the low visibility, and heavy snowfall and severe cold aren't actually required to create blizzard conditions. Strong wind blowing already fallen snow can create blizzard conditions. How much snow are we getting in Delaware? Here's the most likely outcome for snow totals in Delaware, according to AccuWeather: New Castle County Middletown: 3 to 6 inches New Castle: 2 to 4 inches Newark: 3 to 6 inches Pike Creek: 3 to 6 inches Wilmington: 2 to 4 inches Talley: 1 to 3 inches Claymont: 1 to 3 inches Greenville: 2 to 4 inches Prices Corner: 3 to 6 inches Hockessin: 3 to 6 inches Glasgow: 3 to 6 inches Blackbird: 3 to 6 inches Kent County Dover : 2 to 4 inches Felton: 2 to 4 inches Harrington: 2 to 4 inches Milford (in Kent and Sussex counties) : 4 to 8 inches Smyrna (in New Castle and Kent counties): 3 to 6 inches Woodside: 2 to 4 inches Frederica: 4 to 8 inches Sussex County Georgetown: 4 to 8 inches Millsboro: 3 to 6 inches Rehoboth Beach: 4 to 8 inches Seaford: 4 to 8 inches Dagsboro: 3 to 6 inches Bethany Beach: 4 to 8 inches Stockley: 4 to 8 inches Nassau: 4 to 8 inches Ellendale: 4 to 8 inches Lewes: 4 to 8 inches Bridgeville: 4 to 8 inches Laurel: 4 to 8 inches Katie Landeck contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Winter storm watch vs. warning as winter snow storm nears Delaware The Brief A Wisconsin man is accused of stealing an ambulance and leading police on a chase. On Friday, a judge ordered that man to undergo a competency evaluation. Police said the accused driver was naked when he was taken into custody. WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. - A Wisconsin judge on Friday ordered the man accused of stealing an ambulance with a patient inside and leading police on a chase to undergo a mental competency evaluation. In court Court records show 37-year-old Benjamin Feltz of Stevens Point is charged with four felonies and six misdemeanors, including operating while intoxicated. He's being held on $100,000 cash bond. Advertisement Advertisement FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Stolen ambulance police chase The backstory Prosecutors said Feltz stole a Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department ambulance on Tuesday while a patient was inside. He then led police on an 18-mile chase that ended in a field. Feltz, who was naked, was then arrested. The Wisconsin Rapids Police Department said the ambulance was parked as fire department personnel were providing medical care to a patient at a nearby home. Two paramedics were with a patient in the back of the ambulance when a man, now identified as Feltz, jumped into the driver's seat. Advertisement Advertisement While the paramedics tried to stop Feltz, he fled the scene in the ambulance with the patient still inside. It led to a police chase that lasted roughly 40 minutes and stretched 18 miles, ending in Pittsville after an officer used a tire-deflation device. Neither Feltz nor the patient in the ambulance were injured, according to police. Minor damage to the ambulance was reported. The Source FOX6 News referenced information from the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) The New Republic reported this week that accusations made by a woman who credibly accused Donald Trump of having sex with a minor he met through Jeffrey Epstein, appeared to have been removed from the Epstein files. TNR reporter Edith Olmsted wrote that A 21-page slideshow buried in the massive trove of Epstein-related documents included allegations that sometime between 1983 and 1985, Trump forced a woman to give him oral sex when she was in her early teens, Olmsted wrote. When the woman bit down on Trumps exposed penis, he allegedly punched her in the head and kicked her out. That same woman told the DOJ that Epstein had introduced her to Trump in 1984. Advertisement Advertisement The report continued: Justice Department records indicate that the FBI spoke to this woman not once but at least four separate times, according to independent journalists Roger Sollenberger and Nina Burleigh. Now those records appear to have been removed from public viewing despite the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires all documents relating to the alleged sex trafficker to be made public. The report went on to say that Sollenberger found the interview records in a separate database of documents downloaded from the governments public files on Epstein. The FBI recorded the first interview on August 9, 2019 the day before Epstein was found dead in his jail cell, Olmsted wrote. Before the House Judiciary Committee this month, Attorney General Pam Bondi insisted that there was no evidence that Trump had committed any crime adding to the growing pile of denials from Trump officials that constitute a sweeping cover-up of the presidents alleged wrongdoing, TNR reported. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has repeatedly claimed he did nothing wrong and has been totally exonerated in the Epstein files. On Thursday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor became the first member of Britains royal family to be arrested in 350 years, due to his ties to Epstein. Trump called Andrews arrest a shame and a very sad thing. Read The New Republic story here. The post Woman Who Credibly Accused Trump of Sex With a Minor Reportedly Had Her Records Removed From Epstein Files first appeared on Mediaite. For several decades now, the story of the worlds rainforests has been the same tragic one: These iconic, animal-filled ecosystems are getting cut down to make way for farms and ranches, roads and mines. And it doesnt appear to be changing. In 2024, the most recent year of global forest data, the tropics lost a record 16.6 million acres of primary forest, largely to fires and agriculture. More than half of that recent loss was in Brazil and Bolivia. But one country has a very different narrative: Costa Rica. In the late 20th century, Costa Rica a Central American nation a little smaller than West Virginia had one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. The country was losing more than 100,000 acres a year. And by 1985, forests covered less than 25 percent of its area, down from closer to three-quarters just a few decades earlier. Agriculture-driven deforestation in Costa Ricas Osa Peninsula, in 1988. | Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images But then, near the start of the millennium, the trend abruptly flipped. Deforestation plummeted, and trees started growing back. Now, natural forests blanket well over half of Costa Rica, making it one of the few places on Earth that has revived its lost ecosystems. Advertisement Advertisement How did Costa Rica do it? Key takeaways Costa Rica once had one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, but around the turn of the century its forests started growing back. Now, Costa Rica is lauded as a green paradise thats all but ended deforestation. Experts often point to a groundbreaking program that compensates landowners for ecosystem services that forests on their property provide. But a closer look at the evidence presents a more complicated story behind Costa Ricas success of which that program likely plays only a small part. One reason that gets a lot of attention is that Costa Rica put a price tag on nature on the natural services that forests provide, from sucking up planet-warming carbon dioxide to sustaining the local water supply. Nearly three decades ago, the country began paying private landowners for those services, if they conserve or restore forests on their property. That created a concrete, financial incentive to keep forests standing. Costa Rica was the first country in the world to implement a national payment for ecosystem services scheme. In the decades since, as Costa Ricas forests came back, other countries followed in its footsteps, like Mexico and Vietnam, developing programs of their own that subsidized forest conservation. Together they fueled the idea, still popular in the conservation community, that you can save nature by valuing it in economic terms terms that everyone, including capitalists, can understand. Advertisement Advertisement But theres still an open question: Do these payment programs actually work? There has now been more than 20 years of research from Costa Rica on the programs impact on forests. And a new study, published this month, looks more specifically at how the payment system affects biodiversity the collecting of animals that live within them. These studies complicate the story of how Costa Rica became lush again. Costa Ricas groundbreaking payment for ecosystem services program, briefly explained Part of what made Costa Ricas ecosystem payment program so groundbreaking is that it recognized at the highest level of government that living forests are not only a source of timber, but are economically valuable for lots of other reasons: they reduce greenhouse gases, produce clean water, draw tourists, and are home to plants and animals that scientists use for biology research and drug development. In simple terms, the government pays landowners who enroll in the program for every hectare (roughly 2.5 acres) of forest that they protect or replenish by planting new trees. They receive more or less money, depending on how they manage their land. By planting native trees in a degraded landscape, for example, landowners can earn more than $170 per hectare per year, on average, for the duration of the contract (16 years for planting native trees). If a property owner protects existing natural forest on their land, meanwhile, they earn between roughly $44 and $110 per hectare per year. If they let forests regrow naturally on pastureland, they earn less. Advertisement Advertisement At first, the government funded the program through a tax on fuel, such as gasoline. Now it also raises funds to pay landowners from other sources, such as a fee on water usage. The idea is that people who use services that forests provide should help pay for them. Forests help maintain rainfall by pumping water into the air through transpiration. They also help prevent pollution and sediment from entering the water supply. A fiery throated hummingbird in Costa Ricas Cerro de la Muerte mountain. | Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The program provides what is essentially a subsidy for the lost opportunity that could come from farming or ranching on the land, said Giacomo Delgado, a doctoral researcher at ETH Zurich, a university in Switzerland, who is studying the impacts of the program. If that payment wasnt there, you can imagine that a lot of people would continually clear the forest, he told Vox. To date, the government has more than 20,000 contracts for payments with landowners, a spokesperson told Vox, and the program currently covers 540,000 hectares of forest an area a little smaller than the state of Delaware. Was paying landowners the secret to Costa Ricas success? For years now scientists have debated about whether or not these sorts of payment schemes actually work. Yet despite more than two decades of research, the answer is still elusive. Advertisement Advertisement I reviewed more than a dozen studies from Costa Rica, and on the whole, they suggest that the program has had a modest positive impact on forests overall but not a big one. A comprehensive 2008 study by the World Bank, in the northeastern region of Sarapiqui, determined that the program led to a small but statistically significant increase in the area of forest conserved. Other studies that analyzed the early years of the program indicate that it didnt reduce deforestation or only worked in some regions. A more current analysis, led by the Inter-American Development Bank, detected a drop in deforestation on land that was part of the program. Yet the results were only significant (statistically speaking) for the first year after enrollment. There also wasnt much deforestation to begin with. A 2024 paper, meanwhile, found that forest cover increased on farmland after it was enrolled in the program, but the study couldnt definitively attribute those increases to the payment system. Other stories you might like Then theres this new study an analysis, led by Delgado of ETH Zurich, that looks beyond forests to the wildlife within them. The research compares the biodiversity present on land inside and outside the payment program to healthy baseline forests in northwest Costa Rica. And it does so using sound. A healthy tropical forest produces a distinct, complex noise, comprising the calls of frogs, birds, and insects. Damaged ecosystems sound quieter and simpler. Advertisement Advertisement Delgado and his collaborators put microphones in different landscapes and analyzed the sounds they picked up. As they discovered, land in the payment program on which forests were naturally regenerating on old farmland were far more similar to healthy, old forests than to pastures that were not enrolled in the program. You can actually listen to some of the recordings here. Its a strong signal that [the payment program] is working for biodiversity, said Laura Villalobos, a Costa Rican economist at Salisbury University, who was not involved in the study. Theres no silver bullet for protecting forests and biodiversity The major drawback of many studies on Costa Ricas pioneering payment program including this new one is that they dont show that the forests or biodiversity have recovered because of the program. Whats really challenging is the issue of causality, said Hilary Brumberg, a doctoral researcher at Stanford University, who was not involved in the acoustics study. There are just so many confounding factors, said Brumberg, who studies Costa Ricas forests. There are many other reasons why forests in Costa Rica may have grown back. In 1996, for example, the government effectively banned deforestation in the country, making it illegal to convert natural forests to other kinds of land (though some logging is still permitted). Around the same time, the price of beef collapsed. That made clearing land for cattle less profitable and caused some landowners to abandon their pastures. Meanwhile, the countrys ecotourism industry ballooned, providing incentives to keep the countrys iconic forest ecosystems intact. Importantly, Costa Rica also has a more pervasive environmental ethic compared to other forested nations. In fact, research suggests that some people join the payment program not for the money but because they want to contribute to forest conservation as a public good. Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, something is working. Costa Rica is green again. But the payment program has likely played only a small part in the countrys success. Thats consistent with research beyond Costa Rica, which finds that compensating landowners for ecosystem services has a positive but small impact. Ultimately, these sorts of programs havent been the solution to deforestation that environmental advocates were hoping for, said David Simpson, a now-retired environmental economist. Trying to make nature valuable, it turns out, has had a disappointing track record, Simpson wrote in 2018. In response to a request for comment, Karla Alfaro Rojas, director of the Department of Institutional Communications for the Costa Rican government, said, in an email: Costa Rica doesnt have to prove anything to anyone. We are an international leader in financial mechanisms and forest cover restoration. In a world with so many environmental problems, perhaps it seems unproductive to critique a program that is, if anything, helping conserve tropical forests. But there is an important lesson here: No one solution, no one model, will solve a problem as difficult as deforestation. Costa Rica was successful because it had all of the right pieces in place strong policies, favorable economics, growing non-extractive industries, and, perhaps most importantly, political will. Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question youd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. What are wormholes and do they exist? Chinglembi D., age 12, Silchar, Assam, India Imagine two towns on two opposite sides of a mountain. People from these towns would probably have to travel all the way around the mountain to visit one another. But, if they wanted to get there faster, they could dig a tunnel straight through the mountain to create a shortcut. Thats the idea behind a wormhole. A wormhole is like a tunnel between two distant points in our universe that cuts the travel time from one point to the other. Instead of traveling for many millions of years from one galaxy to another, under the right conditions one could theoretically use a wormhole to cut the travel time down to hours or minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Because wormholes represent shortcuts through space-time, they could even act like time machines. You might emerge from one end of a wormhole at a time earlier than when you entered its other end. While scientists have no evidence that wormholes actually exist in our world, theyre good tools to help astrophysicists like me think about space and time. They may also answer age-old questions about what the universe looks like. Fact or fiction? Scientists call the points where you would enter and exit a wormhole mouths, while they call the tunnel itself the throat. Victor Habbick Visions/Science Photo Library via Getty Images Because of these interesting features, many science fiction writers use wormholes in novels and movies. However, scientists have been just as captivated by the idea of wormholes as writers have. While researchers have never found a wormhole in our universe, scientists often see wormholes described in the solutions to important physics equations. Most prominently, the solutions to the equations behind Einsteins theory of space-time and general relativity include wormholes. This theory describes the shape of the universe and how stars, planets and other objects move throughout it. Because Einsteins theory has been tested many, many times and found to be correct every time, some scientists do expect wormholes to exist somewhere out in the universe. Advertisement Advertisement But, other scientists think wormholes cant possibly exist because they would be too unstable. The constant pull of gravity affects every object in the universe, including Earth. So gravity would have an effect on wormholes, too. The scientists who are skeptical about wormholes believe that after a short time the middle of the wormhole would collapse under its own gravity, unless it had some force pushing outward from inside the wormhole to counteract that force. The most likely way it would do that is using whats called negative energies, which would oppose gravity and stabilize the wormhole. But as far as scientists know, negative energies can be created only in amounts much too small to counteract a wormholes own gravity. Its possible that the Big Bang created teeny, tiny wormholes with small amounts of negative energies way back at the beginning of the universe, and over time these wormholes have stretched out as the universe has expanded. Just like black holes? While wormholes are interesting objects to think about, they still arent accepted in mainstream science. But that doesnt mean theyre not real black holes, which we astrophysicists know abound in our universe, werent accepted when scientists first suggested they existed, back in the 1910s. Advertisement Advertisement Einstein first formulated his famous field equations in 1915, and German scientist Karl Schwarzschild found a way to mathematically describe black holes after only one year. However, this description was so peculiar that the leading scientists of that era refused to believe that black holes could actually exist in nature. It took people 50 years to start taking black holes seriously the term black hole wasnt even coined until 1967. The same could happen with wormholes. It may take scientists a little while to come up with a consensus about whether or not they can exist. But if they do find strong evidence pointing to the existence of wormholes which they may be able to do by looking at odd movements in star orbits the discovery will shape how scientists see and understand the universe. Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question youd like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit adults, let us know what youre wondering, too. We wont be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Dejan Stojkovic, University at Buffalo Read more: Dejan Stojkovic works for the State University of New York, University at Buffalo. He receives funding from the National Science Foundation. Jason Michael Walker leaves Yakima County Superior Court following his sentencing in a 2020 jail escape. Walker was one of 14 jail inmates who broke out of the jail during the COVID-19 pandemic. A state appeals court has thrown out his conviction, finding that prosecutors failed to produce evidence as to why Walker was in the jail at the time of the incident. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. About three-quarters of federal O&C forests in western Oregon are protected from regular logging. But Bureau of Land Management indicated it could return those acres to 1960s harvest levels more than 10 times current harvest levels. Delhi police said that a delivery boy died after being hit by a speeding car around 3 am in the Subhash Nagar area of West Delhi. Police have taken the accused into custody and seized the car, as per Delhi Police. Further investigation is underway. This comes after the recent incident that took place near Lal Bahadur Shastri College in Dwarka South, where a man was killed in a road accident after a car allegedly driven by a juvenile without a licence collided with his motorcycle. (ANI) On April 3, 2018, the Rev. Jesse Jackson visited the balcony outside Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., where he was when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lashed out at the Indian Youth Congress for staging a protest during the India AI Impact Summit, alleging that the act has tarnished the country's reputation on the global stage. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "The Youth Congress has defamed the nation. There is a discussion all over the world of the AI Summit...I condemn this protest. The Congress party has lost its mental balance, and they are not even able to see what is in the best interests of the nation." Earlier, on Friday, cadres of the Indian Youth Congress staged a 'shirtless' protest stunt at Bharat Mandapam against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticising the AI Impact Summit and accusing the PM of being "compromised". During the protest, party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit." Police later detained the protesters. "Indian Youth Congress workers raised their voice and protested against the compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit," an official post from Indian Youth Congress said. The protest followed Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi attacking the Government on the organisation of the summit and saying, "Instead of leveraging India's talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle - Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had also alleged mismanagement of the AI Summit, claiming that what could have been a "showpiece" event for India turned into "utter chaos." Kharge claimed that visitors and exhibitors alike faced "extreme distress" due to a lack of basic facilities such as food and water. In a post on X, Kharge criticised the government, stating that the summit, which was expected to showcase India's digital and artificial intelligence capabilities to the world, reportedly witnessed large-scale mismanagement. "What could have been a showpiece AI Summit for the entire world, demonstrating the digital and AI capabilities of India, has reportedly turned into utter chaos and rank mismanagement by this 'PR hungry' government!" Kharge said. (ANI) United Kingdom's Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Kanishka Narayan, arrived in Bihar his birthplace. On his arrival in Patna he met with Sanjay Kumar Jha, the National Working President of the Janata Dal (United). The visit marks a significant homecoming for the British Minister after more than two decades to observe the state's developmental progress and explore potential technological cooperation. Talking to the media, Kanishka Narayan said, "It's a real pleasure to be here in Bihar. I was born here and so I'm back after more than 20 years and you can see a huge amount of progress here. We are chasing the future of technology. That's what we're trying to do in the UK with AI as well. So it's a real personal pleasure to be here in Bihar" National Working President of the JD(U), Sanjay Kumar Jha, hosted the UK's AI Minister Kanishka Narayan at his residence today. While speaking to the media, Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Today everything has gone global, and Bihar is matching all this with technology...We are doing well in every sector in the country and the world... Things have changed in Bihar now. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has set the platform here. Now you can fly as high as you want. AI technology can be used in health, agriculture, and services... Bihar is an agricultural state. I believe that in the future, Bihar will be no less than any other state." Earlier, the United Kingdom's Minister for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan, called for deeper technological cooperation with India, citing shared ethical values and developmental goals as the foundation of a strong bilateral partnership. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Narayan described the ongoing discussions as highly significant. "The summit has been deeply impactful," the Minister stated, recognising the value of this global gathering in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Narayan emphasised that the UK-India relationship in the digital domain rests on mutual understanding and aligned strategic priorities. He highlighted the parallel paths both nations are taking in the regulation and responsible deployment of AI. (ANI) Sunroof cars: If youre looking for a car with a sunroof and the latest features, then these vehicles might be a better choice for you. In Indias competitive budget segment, several cars now offer sunroofs priced around Rs 7 lakh. From hatchbacks to compact SUVs, heres a look at the most budget-friendly cars with sunroofs that you can buy in 2026: 1. Hyundai i20 At the top of this list is the Hyundai i20, which is among Indias most affordable cars to offer a sunroof. This feature is available from the Magna MT trim, priced around Rs 7.79 lakh (ex-showroom). It comes with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and offers both manual and CVT gearbox options, along with a 10.25-inch infotainment system and safety features such as six airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and more. The real-world mileage of the Hyundai i20 Magna MT petrol ranges around 14-19 kmpl. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source 2. Hyundai Exter The Hyundai Exter micro-SUV offers a sunroof from its S Smart MT trim onwards, with prices starting slightly above Rs 7 lakh. Sharing its 1.2-litre petrol engine with the i20, the Exter also comes in CNG variants, making it one of the cheapest cars in India to offer a sunroof along with a CNG fuel option. Its ARAI-claimed mileage is around 19.4 kmpl. 3. Tata Punch The Tata Punch features a sunroof from its Pure+S trim, with prices beginning at Rs 7.35 lakh. It comes with a single-pane electric sunroof, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, four speakers, standard six airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. With the 1.2-litre petrol engine, it offers a mileage of around 18-20 kmpl. 4. Tata Altroz The Tata Altroz hatchback offers a sunroof starting from the Pure S trim, with prices around Rs 7 lakh. It comes with petrol, diesel, and CNG powertrain options. The Tata Altroz Pure S trim includes a 7-inch digital drivers display, a 10.25-inch infotainment system, automatic climate control, and rear AC vents. On the safety front, it gets six airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a 360-degree camera system, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The Tata Altroz Pure+S petrol manual trim delivers an ARAI-certified mileage of around 18-19 kmpl. (Also Read: Should you buy new Tata Punch EV facelift? Check top 5 features in Rs 10 lakh price segment) 5. Kia Sonet The Kia Sonet with a sunroof is available in India, with prices starting from approximately Rs 7.70 lakh for the HTE(O) 1.2L petrol manual variant. It comes with a basic audio system, four speakers, and front power windows. On the safety front, it gets six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill Assist Control (HAC), ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The Kia Sonet HTE(O) 1.2 petrol manual variant has an official ARAI-certified mileage of around 18.4 kmpl. The Indian equity benchmarks posted mild gains on a weekly basis, despite several sessions of sharp declines in the IT index. Nifty added 0.39 per cent during the week and added 0.46 per cent on the last trading day to settle at 25,571. At Fridays close, Sensex was up 316 points or 0.38 per cent at 82,814. It advanced 0.38 per cent during the week. Sectoral performance remained mixed during the week, with all major indices ending in the red. Nifty media was the worst performer, down 2.46 per cent on a weekly basis, followed by capital markets, down 2.44 per cent and IT, down 2.07 per cent. Global risk sentiment has improved meaningfully after the US Supreme Court struck down a majority of President Donald Trumps tariffs that were implemented under emergency powers. The development buoyed global markets, with GIFT Nifty rising over 1 per cent, indicating the possibility of a gap-up opening for the Nifty at the start of the next week, analysts said. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Continued institutional support and improving momentum indicators will be critical in determining whether the current rebound evolves into a sustained uptrend. On the domestic front, Indias Manufacturing and Services PMI climbed to 59.3 in February, marking the strongest reading in three months, driven by robust output growth and new orders, reflecting resilient demand conditions. Further, India signed the US Pax Silica agreement, marking a notable development on the trade and strategic front. Analysts said that immediate support for Nifty is seen at 25,350, followed by 25,200, and resistance is placed at 25,650 and 25,720. Broader indices showed divergence from the benchmark indices during the week, as the Nifty Midcap100 gained 0.13 per cent, while Nifty Smallcap100 lost 0.18 per cent. Globally, rising US-Iran tensions elevated geopolitical risks, pushing Brent crude higher to $71.8 per barrel, extending its three-day gain to 6.6 per cent and triggering risk-off sentiment across markets. This will be the key monitorable event in the near term and will provide direction to the market, market participants said. The stock market is likely to consolidate next week, tracking the geopolitical development along with the key US tariff ruling, India-US trade deal and Q3 GDP data. Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest outside the Congress headquarters in Delhi on Saturday, condemning the demonstration by Youth Congress members during the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam. The protest followed an announcement made on Friday by Virendra Sachdeva, who said he would lead a march from the Man Singh Road roundabout to the Congress office at 24 Akbar Road to denounce what he termed hooliganism by Youth Congress workers at the summit venue. Addressing media persons at the protest site, Delhi BJP Media Head Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, "Today, Bharatiya Janata Party workers have gathered here. All of them have assembled here voluntarily, and you will see them in thousands. The entire country feels proud. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source "Despite facing traffic issues, the people of Delhi were enthusiastic that such a big summit was being held in the country. In the end, it will bring benefits worth crores of rupees to the nation and generate thousands of jobs. However, Rahul Gandhi displayed his frustration during the summit by organising a protest to show his political disappointment. The country will not forgive him for this." Earlier, Sachdeva alleged that the 10 individuals detained by police for their shirtless protest at the summit venue were not genuine Congress workers but hired goons. At a time when Indias youth are showcasing their innovations at the AI Summit and saluting the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these individuals created disruption, he said. He further added, If they believe that such actions will damage the nations image, they should dispel this misconception. These people claim to be workers of the Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi, who goes abroad and speaks in a manner that harms Indias image. Meanwhile, speaking in Karnataka, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi criticised the protest and said, "I demand as I have already demanded that the AICC president should apologise to the country." In Uttar Pradesh, Minister Anil Rajbhar also condemned the incident. "Now you tell me, what can be done? Yesterday, the way the Congress party behaved at Bharat Mandapam was highly irresponsible. Is this in the interest of the nation? On Indian soil, when heads of state from 20 countries were present, when representatives from across the world had gathered, and when India demonstrated leadership in the field of AI, which has been acknowledged globally, at such a prestigious event, what does this kind of behaviour prove?..." he said. The protest marks a sharp escalation in the political exchange between the BJP and the Congress over the events that unfolded during the high-profile AI summit in the national capital. BJP workers waived black flags to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai on Saturday after Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers staged protest at the AI Summit in New Delhi. In a video of the incident, workers can be seen shouting, Rahul Gandhi haye haye, news agency PTI reported. The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha reached Mumbai for his appearance before the Bhiwandi Additional Sessions Court related to 2014 RSS defamation case. Before his appearance, the local administration in Bhiwandi has heightened security arrangements. Meanwhile, the BJPs Yuva Morcha staged a separate protest against the Congress in New Delhi. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source According to police, around 10 Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members were detained on Friday after allegedly gaining entry to Bharat Mandapam under false pretences and briefly raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The protesters entered the venue wearing or carrying white T-shirts featuring images of Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with slogans such as IndiaUS Trade Deal and PM is compromised, which led to tense exchanges with some attendees. Officials said the detained individuals are being identified and that appropriate legal action is being taken. The Indian Youth Congress defended the demonstration, describing it as the voice of millions of angry unemployed youth and alleging that the Prime Minister is compromised. The topless nature of the protest sparked strong reactions, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of orchestrating the disruption. The BJP described the demonstration as a topless, brainless, and shameless disturbance and alleged that it had been planned at Rahul Gandhis residence. BJP National Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Saturday targeted the Rahul Gandhi, calling him as 'Lashkar-e-Rahul' and stating that the country would never forget the incident. Trivedi said, At the AI Summit, on one hand, we witnessed a magnificent display of Indias talent and intellect. On the other hand, we saw a shameful display of the Congress partys pettiness and obscenity. What the Congress has done is not politics. It cannot simply be dismissed as negative politics. He further said, Earlier, Rahul Gandhi used to go abroad and make objectionable remarks. Now, the so-called soldiers of Lashkar-e-Rahul are attempting to malign the countrys image in front of world leaders." Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Hyderabad House here in the national capital today. Earlier today a ceremonial welcome was held at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. President Lula also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source On Friday, President Lula inaugurated the first office of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) in New Delhi. Sharing the details in a post on X he said that this would promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. Brazil's envoy to India, Kenneth da Nobrega, on Friday appreciated the efforts the Indian Government had put in organising the AI Impact Summit 2026. Futher he said that Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a State visit to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a very good chemistry and that they are not only colleagues but also friends. Speaking on the growing rapport between President Lula and PM Modi, he said, "This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level. There is a very good chemistry. I think they are not only colleagues, but they have become more and more friends. That's a fact." "This is a historical summit in the Global South, and the Prime Minister Modi is really trying to include the Global South in this essential new wave of technology, which is AI, which will transform our lives, Brazil's ambassador to India said. The Brazilian envoy to India said, "President Lula has come to India with the largest ever delegation, with more than 11 cabinet ministers, more than 300 businessmen, among them 50 CEOs. This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level." Lula's visit to India follows a July 2025 visit to Brasilia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years. The Brazilian President has arrived in India with large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum. An intelligence alert has been issued in the national capital after warnings of a potential terrorist threat near the Red Fort, with sources indicating that a temple in the Chandni Chowk area could be a target. According to intelligence sources, intel sources say key religious spots near Red Fort and in Chandni Chowk are still targets for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Intelligence inputs suggest the Lashkar-e-Taiba group is actively plotting an attack using an improvised explosive device (IED). A temple right in the heart of Chandni Chowk stands out as a likely target for this dangerous scheme. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Sources go further, revealing that the terror outfit is driven by a thirst for revenge over the February 6 blast that rocked a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. In retaliation, they may be gearing up for a large-scale strike somewhere in India to make their point. "Blast warning right in front of Delhi's Red Fort," intelligence sources warned. "Terrorists could hit a temple in Chandni Chowk. Lashkar-e-Taiba is scheming an IED attack. They're plotting a huge strike in India to get even for the February 6 mosque blast in Islamabad, Pakistan. LeT might target major temples nationwide." Sources added that LeT could target big temples across India, keeping major religious sites firmly in their sights. This alert comes right after the deadly car explosion near Delhi's historic Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which killed 12 people. The explosion came from a car packed with explosives near Gate No. 1 of Red Fort Metro Station. It sparked fires in several nearby vehicles. Just recently, a special NIA court at Patiala House on February 13 gave investigators 45 more days to wrap up the November 2025 Delhi blast case. The NIA asked for a 90-day extension to finish the probe. Meanwhile, the court extended judicial custody for all seven accused until March 13. (with agencies input) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy attended a dinner hosted by the US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor at the Chief of Mission's Residence in New Delhi on Friday evening. The gathering was attended by several global leaders and industry heads, including Raj Subramanian, CEO of FedEx; Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI; Andrej Plenkovic, Prime Minister of Croatia; Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal; and Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Airtel Limited, among other Heads of State and CEOs of multinational corporations. During the occasion, the Chief Minister interacted with the dignitaries and business leaders, highlighting Telangana's progressive industrial policy, world-class infrastructure, and investor-friendly ecosystem. He elaborated on the State Government's proactive approach towards facilitating investments, particularly in emerging sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and green energy. The Chief Minister extended a cordial invitation to the guests to visit Hyderabad and explore the vast opportunities available in Telangana. He assured them of the State Government's full support, speedy clearances, and a transparent, industry-oriented policy framework for companies seeking to establish or expand their presence in the State. The dinner provided a cordial platform for strengthening ties and fostering future collaborations. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Friday underlined the importance that US President Donald Trump attaches to India, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited him to visit the country. Addressing a joint press conference with US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and US President's Science and Technology Advisor Michael Kratsios, Gor said there was no formal announcement yet on the visit, but recalled that President Trump greatly enjoyed his earlier trip to India. He added that when Trump nominated him as ambassador, he had spoken about India's unmatched vibrancy, colour, history and culture, and expressed confidence that the President would return at some point. "In terms of the President's visit, the Prime Minister invited him. I don't have any announcements for you soon. The president loved his visit to India. When he nominated me to be ambassador here, one thing he said is the vibrancy, the colour, the history and the culture that you're gonna see in India is unmatched, and so I'm sure he will be back here at some point," said Gor. (ANI) Youth Congress members who staged a topless protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the AI Summit in New Delhi were influenced by Nepals Gen Z movement that toppled the government, Delhi Police told a court on Friday. Officials alleged that the demonstration, held during a high-profile summit attended by global leaders and tech executives, was part of a larger conspiracy to defame the country internationally. This is a larger conspiracy that has taken inspiration from the Gen Z protests in Nepal. The accused need to be confronted with each other as well as with digital evidence. This is a very important investigation, the police told the court. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Meanwhile, the Patiala House Court sent all four arrested accused to police custody for five days. Bail applications of all four accused have been rejected. #WATCH | Delhi: Four Indian Youth Congress leaders, arrested in connection with their protest at the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam, brought to Patiala House Court Those arrested have been identified as Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav https://t.co/RqtIKyMnCR pic.twitter.com/oj3TreHunW ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026 Indian Youth Congress AI Summit Protest Case: Patiala House Court sends all four arrested accused to police custody for five days. Bail applications of all four accused have been rejected. https://t.co/1DXzWBPMyt pic.twitter.com/W187chx7oU ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026 Earlier, Delhi Police has sought custody of the arrested Youth Congress members. Four Indian Youth Congress workers arrested for their protest at the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam, identified as Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narasimha Yadav were produced before the Patiala House Court on Saturday morning. Police also stated a detailed investigation is required into the funding of the protestors, for instance, who financed the printing of the T-shirts protestors were wearing during the protest. T-shirts carried a message like PM is compromised, India-US Trade Deal, and Epstein Files. Earlier on Friday, around 10 Youth Congress activists stormed the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam and staged a topless protest, raising slogans against Prime Minister PM Modi, such as "PM is compromised" over the India-US trade deal. The protestors were wearing or holding matching T-shirt having images of PM Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with several slogans. Security personnel promptly stepped in, and four protesters were subsequently arrested for allegedly disrupting the high-profile international event. The protesters counsel challenged the polices claims in court, contending that the demonstration was peaceful and that the activists had not attacked anyone. The lawyer further alleged that the protesters were the ones who were assaulted. The protest sparked a heated political clash between the BJP and Congress. BJP leaders, including Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Bhupender Yadav, condemned the act as anti-national and accused the Congress of trying to tarnish Indias global image in front of international delegates and tech leaders. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Saturday inaugurated several key IT initiatives at the Delhi Secretariat. She launched the CM Jan Sunwai Portal and mobile app, e-District services through the CSC Digital Seva Portal, and the online platform for EWS/DG/CWSN admissions. On the occasion, Chief Minister Gupta stated that these initiatives have been introduced to enhance convenience for Delhis residents, inspired by the Digital India vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said the objective is to empower citizens by making government services transparent, accessible and free from corruption. Delhis Education Minister Ashish Sood, IT Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh, senior officials and other dignitaries were present. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Gupta said that through technology the government is bridging the gap between the administration and the people. The portals and apps launched today are not merely digital platforms, but a testament to the governments commitment to good governance and Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. CM Jan Sunwai Portal and mobile app Providing detailed information about the CM Jan Sunwai Portal and app, Chief Minister Gupta said it will function as an integrated platform. Citizens will be able to register complaints related to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Delhi Police, and all departments of the Delhi Government on a single platform. The system has been designed to be simple and user-friendly, ensuring that citizens can submit grievances without technical difficulty. Complaints, jurisdictions and departmental officers have already been mapped within the system. Key features of the portal Chief Minister Gupta stated that upon assuming office, she observed that while platforms existed for lodging complaints, there was no effective monitoring mechanism for their resolution. Complaints were often transferred between departments without clarity for applicants regarding timelines or levels of action. The CM Jan Sunwai Portal and app have been introduced to address this gap. Citizens can register complaints through four modes: the online portal, mobile app, call centre (1902), and offline submission through the Chief Ministers Office. A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism has been implemented, comprising the Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO), Appellate Authority (AA), and Final Appellate Authority (FAA). Each complaint will be assigned a unique reference ID, and updates will be provided via SMS at every stage. Citizens can send reminders and link previous complaints to new submissions. If feedback on the resolution is negative, the case will be automatically escalated to a higher authority. The entire system is based on 100 per cent feedback-driven monitoring, ensuring accountability of officers at the field level. Chief Minister Gupta added that physical Jan Sunwai sessions will continue. From the Chief Minister to district-level officers, all have been instructed to hold public hearings. However, through the digital platform, citizens will now be able to register grievances from anywhere. The portal symbolises a government committed not only to listening, but to delivering timely solutions. EWS/DG/CWSN Admission Online Platform Chief Minister Gupta stated that to ensure transparency and timely admissions in education, a new digital platform has been introduced for admissions under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Disadvantaged Group (DG), and Children With Special Needs (CWSN) categories. The earlier outdated and insecure software has been replaced with a secure, cloud-based system. A comprehensive security audit was conducted prior to launch to ensure data protection and transparency. To prevent fraud and duplication, Aadhaar-based identity verification and digital verification of birth certificates have been made mandatory. Income certificates will also be verified directly through an integrated online system, significantly reducing the scope for malpractice. This system will ensure that eligible children receive their rightful access to free education in private schools in a fair and transparent manner. Chief Minister Gupta noted that this is a highly sensitive matter aimed at ensuring quality education for genuine beneficiaries. Previously, multiple forms were submitted for the same child and middlemen manipulated the system. With Aadhaar linkage, online applications, digital document verification and duplication control mechanisms, the entire process will now be transparent, swift and fair, effectively eliminating intermediaries. The admission process will be fully online and transparent. Eligibility will be verified digitally, and seat allocation will be conducted through an automated system. Parents will receive real-time updates on application status. Reduced human intervention will curb corruption and unnecessary delays. e-District Services through the CSC Digital Seva Portal To bridge the digital divide and make services easily accessible, the government has integrated e-District services with the Common Service Centre (CSC) network. Citizens will no longer need to visit multiple government offices for minor tasks. Over 7,000 active CSC centres across Delhi will provide services locally. Under this initiative, approximately 75 e-District services, including income, caste and residence certificates; birth and death certificates; services related to social welfare, food and civil supplies, labour, and education will be available. Each service will carry a nominal fee of Rs 30, ensuring transparency and equal accessibility. Chief Minister Gupta described this as a historic step that will curb financial exploitation by private cyber cafes and ensure affordable, simple and transparent government services across the capital. Another step towards a Viksit Delhi On the occasion, Chief Minister Gupta also announced that, for the first time, a comprehensive digital record of all Delhi Government assets has been created through an Asset Management Portal. Information regarding land, buildings, availability and encroachments can now be accessed on a single platform. Through the CM Pragati portal, all government projects are being monitored in real time. The current status of projects, approvals granted, pending files and reasons for delay are directly accessible at the Chief Ministers level. This will accelerate execution, prevent cost escalation and safeguard public funds. Speaking at the event, Delhis Education Minister Ashish Sood stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the governments first year has been dedicated to establishing a transparent and corruption-free administration. Amid various questions and allegations raised from time to time regarding the system, the Education Department, under the Chief Ministers direction and in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has developed a new digital portal for children under the EWS, DG and CWSN categories. He said that the portal, developed under the guidance and supervision of the concerned department of the Government of India, has been designed to prevent duplication and any form of irregularity, ensure stronger security, and make the admission process fully transparent. Sood further informed that the government provides crores of rupees every year to schools towards fees, uniforms and other expenses for children admitted under the EWS category. This is public money derived from taxpayers, and it is the governments priority to ensure that these funds reach the rightful beneficiaries and that the benefits of schemes extend to the last person in the queue. He added that, in line with the Prime Minister Modis mantra of saturation, eliminating duplication and rectifying systemic shortcomings is essential to ensure that every eligible person receives the full benefit of government schemes. Delhis IT Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the government has completed one year marked by accelerated development and digital governance reforms. The CM Jan Sunwai Portal and app will enable citizens to lodge and track complaints online. He added that a Cyber Crisis Management Plan has been implemented to strengthen the security of government websites and data. Over 200 departments are functioning through the e-Office system, promoting paperless governance, and all government websites have been integrated onto a unified platform. A WhatsApp-based service will soon be launched, allowing citizens to access information and services through chat. How to register a complaint The official web address of the Chief Minister's Jan Sunwai Portal is https://cmjansunwai.delhi.gov.in, where citizens can directly visit and lodge their complaints online. A mobile application titled CM Jansunwai is also available, which Android users can download from the Google Play Store or via the official website. To register a complaint, visit the website and click on the option Register a Complaint. You will be asked to enter your mobile number, on which an OTP will be sent for verification. After entering the OTP and proceeding further, you will be required to provide details related to your grievance, such as a description of the issue, the concerned department (for example, water, electricity, pension, etc.), and the relevant locality. Citizens may also upload supporting documents related to the complaint. Once the complaint is submitted, a reference or registration number will be generated, which can be used to track the status of the grievance at any time. The portal also provides options to check complaint status, send reminders in case of delays, and submit feedback on the resolution. This enables citizens to monitor both the progress and the quality of grievance redressal. In this manner, any citizen can lodge a complaint from home without visiting a government office and can regularly track its progress online. The Supreme Court of India on Friday stressed that increasing Delhis green cover is the only sustainable long-term solution to address the national capital's worsening air pollution, while agreeing to hear an urgent petition seeking steps to boost greenery across city. The Court made this remark while issuing an order on the formation of an expert committee to supervise the afforestation program compensating for tree felling in Delhis Ridge. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant noted, When we are fighting for better air quality index (AQI), this is one of the most well thought out long-drawn solution. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The bench, also comprises justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi. Senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, who was the amicus curiae in the case, informed the bench about matter concerning augmentation of Delhis green cover had been pending without substantive hearing. Krishnakumar was referring to the MC Mehta case on Delhis pollution, in which the Supreme Court had, in February last year, tasked the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute (FRI) with preparing a plan to expand the citys green cover and conducting a census of existing trees. Krishnakumar also informed the Court that FRI submitted a draft plan in March last year, but the case has not received any substantive hearing since. The bench observed, This issue has some inter connectivity with AQI and has bears relevance for Delhi. Advocate Krishnakumar also requested the Courts intervention to fill a vacancy in the three-member expert committee advising the Delhi government on afforestation plans and suitable tree species. The vacancy arose after former Indian Forest Service officer Ishwar Singh was appointed to the National Green Tribunal. The other members are former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sunil Limaye and environmentalist Pradip Kishen. The vacancy issue arose after the Supreme Court allowed the Delhi Development Authority to fell 152 trees in Delhi Ridge to widen the road leading to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) in Chhattarpur, south Delhi. The Court permitted the amicus to recommend candidates for the expert panel. On Friday, acting on two names proposed by Krishnakumar, the bench selected MD Sinha, a former Indian Forest Service officer of the Haryana cadre and ex-principal secretary in Haryana, to the committee. In March last year, FRI had submitted a phased plan to increase Delhis green cover to 33% of its area, including a complete tree census over four years, but the Court asked FRI to revise its timelines and budget estimates. The report highlighted that the first phase of Delhis greening project is crucial and requires a detailed action plan developed through stakeholder consultation. It recommended a high-level steering committee, led by the Delhi chief secretary with representatives from 19 central and Delhi government departments, to identify land for afforestation. A separate committee, also headed by the chief secretary, was proposed to oversee the tree census. The greening initiative was estimated to cost 3.69 crore, while the tree census, involving geospatial mapping and expert input, is projected at 4.43 crore. The India State of Forest Report 2023 by the Forest Survey of India states that Delhi has a total forest and tree cover of 371.31 sq km, about 25% of its 1,483 sq km area, with 195.28 sq km managed by the forest department. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held a joint news conference on Saturday and noted that the discussions between the two leaders aimed at moving forward across all sectors in the spirit of shared purpose and that the nations are committed to bilateral trade to surpass 20 billion USD in the next five years. PM Modi thanked the Brazilian President for joining the India AI Impact Summit. He also praised his visionary leadership in strengthening India-Brazil relations. "I am delighted to welcome President Lula and his delegation to India. India-Brazil relations have long benefited from President Lula's vision and inspiring leadership. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of meeting him several times, and in each meeting, I have felt his deep friendship and trust in India. President Lula's visit has graced the historic AI Impact Summit and given new energy to our strategic partnership. I express my gratitude to the President for his friendship and commitment to the relationship between our two countries," PM Modi said The Prime Minister also noted that Brazil is India's top trade partner in Latin America. He pointed out that the large Brazilian business delegation's visit shows this commitment. He added that expanding the India-MERCOSUR trade agreement will boost economic ties between the two nations. "Brazil is India's largest trading partner in Latin America. We are committed to taking bilateral trade beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Our trade is not just a figure; it's a reflection of trust. The large business delegation accompanying the President reflects this confidence. The expansion of the India-Mercosur trade agreement will further strengthen our economic cooperation. Our cooperation in technology and innovation is important for both countries as well as the entire Global South," said PM Modi. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source "I am pleased that we are working on establishing a Centre of Excellence for Digital Public Infrastructure in Brazil. We are also prioritising our cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, supercomputers, semiconductors, and blockchain. Both countries believe that technology must be inclusive and must become a bridge for shared progress. Energy cooperation has been a strong pillar of our relationship. In addition to hydrocarbons, we are also accelerating cooperation in several areas, including renewable energy, ethanol blending, and sustainable aviation fuel. Brazil's active participation in the Global Biofuel Alliance reflects our shared commitment to a green future. Brazil has also proposed co-chairing the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. I congratulate President Lula for this initiative. Brazil's extensive experience in this area will significantly contribute to further strengthening the CDRI," he added. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held delegation-level talks. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, MoS MEA Pabitra Margherita, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal were among those present during the talks. #WATCH | Delhi | Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says, "I would like to finish by saying to you, sir, that I am completely sure that the eyes of Brazil towards India are very hopeful...If we work together, we are going to strengthen Brazil-India bilateral pic.twitter.com/QV02hVX5eq ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026 During their address, both leaders also emphasised on strengthning the Global South Cooperation. We're going to strengthen the global South so that we never ever again are faced with a cold war between you two big superpowers," said the Brazilian President. We emphasise our commitment to the UN reform, particularly of the Security Council, so that it may represent the interests of the Global South and that have Brazil and India as natural candidates," added Lula da Silva. The Brazilian President has arrived in India with a large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum. (with ANI inputs) India is set to boost its defence partnership with Israel ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit later this month. The focus includes joint work on anti-ballistic missile defence, laser weapons, long-range stand-off missiles, and drones to strengthen strategic ties. India and Israel are likely to sign an MoU on security cooperation during the visit. However, no major defence deal will be inked, as their bilateral defence cooperationvalued at around USD 10 billion in the coming years- remains an ongoing effort between these close allies. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, despite limited details on PM Modi's Israel visit, Israel has agreed to share cutting-edge defence technologies with India, including advanced hi-tech laser defense and stand-off systems. This marks a shift, as Israel will now provide full access to its defence tech, unlike in previous years. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The groundwork for this boosted India-Israel defence cooperation was set during Defence Secretary RK Singh's visit to Israel last November, where an MoU on expanded ties was signed. Also Read: PM Modi heads to Israel after 9 years: Defence deals, tech ties, big strategy whats on the agenda? India-Israel Defence Partnership India and Israel signed a defence MoU in November 2025 during Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh's visit to Tel Aviv. It covers AI, cybersecurity, joint research, and co-production of weapons systems. Several reports indicate the arms deals hit $20.5 billion from 2020 to 2024, with Israel sending 34% of its exports to India. The latest includes an $8.6-8.7 billion package for precision munitions, SPICE bomb kits, drones, and AESA radars for Tejas Mk-1A jets. India is teaming up with Israel to co-develop anti-ballistic missile defence, a core part of Mission Sudershan, PM Modi's plan to shield India's mainland from enemy long-range missiles, which he announced from the Red Fort in his Independence Day address. Israel leads globally with systems like long-range Arrow, medium-range Davids Sling, and short-range Iron Dome. Tel Aviv proved its tech by intercepting 98% of Iranian ballistic missiles last June. Indias unstable neighbour: Increased Defence Demand India faces heightened threats from its unstable neighbor, Pakistan, driving urgent demand to expand its defence arsenal with advanced weaponry. This includes long-range missiles and loitering munitionsversatile weapons launchable from air, ground, or sea that evade enemy air defences. During Operation Sindoor, India unleashed Rampage missiles, Palm 400, Harpy, and Harop kamikaze drones on Pakistani targets, devastating Chinese-built defenses with strikes deep into enemy territory near Islamabad. Upcoming acquisitions target Spice 1000 glide bombs, proven Rampage air-to-surface missiles, Air Lora ballistic missiles, and Ice Breaker long-range systems. The Indian Navy seeks extended-range Barak missiles to safeguard warships from air and surface attacks. Israel's commitment to broader tech transfers, covering electronic warfare and munitions integration, marks a shift from past limits, fueled by mutual counter-terrorism priorities. PM Modis Israel Visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Israel on February 25-26, 2026, his second trip since 2017. First announced by his Israeli counterpart, PM Netanyahu, as part of a "tremendous alliance." The agenda includes boosting strategic ties, trade, and defence amid West Asia dynamics like Gaza peace efforts. Both leaders share a strong rapport, with recent calls reviewing partnerships and condemning terrorism. Netanyahu highlighted India's support in public addresses. Ties elevated to a strategic partnership in 2017, spanning defence, agriculture, and the IMEC corridor. India is preparing to commission its first dedicated military drone base, a massive 900-acre facility in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, that will fundamentally change how the Indian Army deploys unmanned aerial systems. Unlike a traditional airbase where fighter jets rule the tarmac, this will be a base designed exclusively for drone operations: a new kind of military infrastructure built for the era of autonomous warfare. The facility, being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), will feature two large hangars and a 2,110-metre runway, long enough to support heavy-lift transport aircraft like the C-130 in addition to long-range drones such as the Predator and Heron. BRO estimates full completion within 80 to 85 months. When operational, India will become only the fifth country in the world to run a dedicated military drone base, joining an exclusive club that currently includes only the United States, China, Israel, and Turkey. Operation Sindoor: The mission that made this base inevitable Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The strategic rationale for the Meerut drone base has a clear origin: Operation Sindoor. During the operation, the Indian military deployed four types of drones against three target categories-- terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Chinese-made air defence systems fielded by Pakistan, and the strategically significant Nur Khan Airbase. The outcome was unambiguous: every single drone hit its designated target, delivering a 100% success rate. That performance reset military thinking in New Delhi. If drones can reliably neutralise air defence systems and strategic airbases without a single miss, the case for a purpose-built drone infrastructure becomes impossible to ignore. The Meerut base is, in many ways, Operation Sindoor's most lasting strategic consequence. Strategic advantages of a dedicated drone base A dedicated drone base delivers several tactical advantages over a conventional airbase. Operating costs are significantly lower, with fewer personnel, reduced maintenance overhead, and no need for the vast support infrastructure that fighter jet operations demand. Continuous surveillance becomes possible because, as one drone completes its mission window (often 12 or more hours), another can launch immediately, enabling 24/7 coverage without gaps. In a conflict scenario, having all assets concentrated at one hub also means drones can be rapidly dispatched to multiple fronts simultaneously. Navy's INS Baaz and the V-BAT: India's drone arsenal grows on two fronts The Meerut base is not India's only drone infrastructure push. The Indian Navy is simultaneously upgrading INS Baaz in the Nicobar Islands, operational since 2012, from a maritime patrol station into a full drone hub. Its runway is being extended to 3,000 metres to accommodate Predator-class drones, giving India persistent surveillance across the entire Indian Ocean, a critical priority given China's expanding naval presence in the region. On the hardware side, India's armed forces currently operate approximately 200 long-range drones and 5,000 attack drones. To accelerate expansion, the government has signed an agreement with a US company to co-produce V-BAT drones domestically. The V-BAT's defining feature is its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability; it needs no runway and can launch from any position. It can carry four short-range missiles or GPS-guided smart bombs, making it lethal in both surveillance and precision-strike roles. Taken together, the Meerut base, the INS Baaz upgrade, and a rapidly growing drone fleet, India's drone warfare capability is undergoing a generational transformation. The message to adversaries is unambiguous: the next time a major terrorist attack is traced back to Pakistan-linked groups, India's response will not be constrained by geography, aircraft availability, or pilot risk. The drones will be ready. A chilling new terror threat is hanging over India's capital. Intelligence agencies have sounded a high alert warning that Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based terror group backed by army chief General Asim Munir, is actively plotting a major attack in Delhi, targeting the iconic Red Fort and the densely crowded Chandni Chowk market, home to one of Delhi's most revered temples. According to intelligence inputs, Lashkar is planning an IED blast in front of the Red Fort, while simultaneously eyeing a temple in Chandni Chowk as a secondary target. The alert further warns that Lashkar fidayeen, suicide operatives, have already been trained and are being readied for the attack. Security agencies have responded swiftly, deploying heavy reinforcements across both the Chandni Chowk and Red Fort areas. LeT Delhi terror plot: A carbon copy of November 2025 Red Fort blast Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The intelligence alert carries an ominous sense of deja vu. In November 2025, a bomb exploded near the Red Fort, an IED attack that killed 13 people, with the blast point just 200 metres from the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Chandni Chowk. The current threat mirrors that attack in almost every detail: same location, same method (IED), same target profile (temple), and the same modus operandi of deploying fidayeen attackers. The stakes this time, however, are significantly higher. Chandni Chowk sees between 5 to 7 lakh visitors every single day. Around 20,000 vehicles pass through it daily. At peak evening hours, more than 30,000 people are present simultaneously. The plot has also emerged days before Holi, when crowds in areas like Chandni Chowk swell further, a timing that investigators believe is deliberate. The Islamabad Mosque pretext and Munir's double game Lashkar-e-Taiba is reportedly using the recent Islamabad mosque blast as a justification for the planned Delhi attack, with Hafiz Saeed and Asim Munir blaming India without a shred of evidence. The reality, however, is that the Islamabad attack was claimed by Islamic State Khorasan, a product of Pakistan's own internal sectarian violence, specifically targeting the Shia community. Analysts say Munir is deliberately exploiting the Islamabad bombing to deflect attention from Pakistan's domestic security failures and to weaponise the incident against India. Adding to the complexity, this alert marks a significant tactical shift: fidayeen attacks have historically been Jaish-e-Mohammed's signature method, not Lashkar's. The fact that Lashkar is now deploying trained fidayeen operatives signals that, post-Operation Sindoor, the group has fundamentally overhauled its attack playbook. On the border, Pakistan's army compounded the threat picture by violating the ceasefire in the Naugam sector of Kupwara, firing on an advanced Indian post along the Line of Control. Indian forces responded decisively, and security officials believe the firing was designed to provide cover for terrorists attempting to infiltrate into Indian territory. That attempt was foiled. Meanwhile, Munir is running a parallel public relations operation. Pakistan's Punjab provincial government has released a list of 90 terror organisations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, that have been banned from receiving Zakat donations during Ramzan. The ban is being presented as a crackdown on terror financing. The reality tells a different story: in Pakistan, Zakat, the Islamic practice of donating 2.5% of one's income, generates approximately Rs 20,000 crore annually, with reports suggesting 10 to 15% of that finds its way to terror groups. After Operation Sindoor destroyed Lashkar's Markaz Taiba headquarters and Jaish's Markaz Subhan Allah base, Munir personally sanctioned Rs 12 crore each to rebuild both facilities. Banning Zakat donations publicly while rebuilding terror infrastructure privately is the clearest definition of a double game. Delhi is on high alert. India's borders are being held. But the Munir-Hafiz axis has made its intentions clear and if history is any guide, when a conspiracy is plotted across the border, the response will reach across the border too. In a landmark ruling, a special POCSO court in Banda sentenced a suspended junior engineer and his wife to death for the systematic sexual exploitation of 33 children and the sale of abuse material on the dark web. Describing the case as "rarest of the rare," Additional District and Sessions Judge Pradeep Kumar Mishra ordered that Ram Bhavan and his wife, Durgavati, be "hanged till death" on Friday, February 20. The court noted that the "unparalleled depravity" of the crimes allowed no possibility for reformation. A decade of horror: The modus operandi Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Ram Bhavan, a junior engineer in the states Irrigation Department, and Durgavati ran a predatory network across Banda and Chitrakoot for ten years (20102020). Enticement: The couple lured boys, some as young as three years old, using gifts like mobile phones, chocolates, watches, and access to online video games. The crimes: Once lured, the children faced aggravated penetrative sexual assault. Investigators found that many victims endured permanent physical injuries and severe psychological trauma, with some reportedly developing a squint due to the abuse. Commercial exploitation: The acts were documented and turned into a business. The couple allegedly distributed over 2 lakh objectionable videos and photographs to buyers in nearly 47 countries through encrypted platforms and the dark web. CBI investigation and digital evidence The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began its investigation in October 2020 after a tip from Interpol. Arrests: Ram Bhavan was arrested in November 2020, with his wife following a month later. Durgavati faced accusations of threatening survivors' families to sway the trial. The seizures: During raids, the CBI found 8.27 lakh in cash, eight mobile phones, laptops, and storage devices that held 34 explicit videos and nearly 700 photographs of the victims. International linkages: Forensic analysis of email accounts showed regular contact with foreign nationals for the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The verdict: Death penalty and compensation The court convicted the couple under various sections of the IPC (including Section 377 for unnatural offences), the POCSO Act, and the IT Act. ALSO READ | Delhi traffic advisory Feb 21: Full list of road closures near Bharat Mandapam, Rajghat & high court; key routes to avoid The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Saturday said the government is closely examining the US Supreme Courts recent judgment on tariffs and the subsequent announcements by the Trump administration. Earlier, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi declined to offer a detailed comment on the U.S. Supreme Courts recent judgment on tariffs, saying the government would first study it. He indicated that any formal response would come from the Commerce Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs. "I have read in the media that the US top court has given some judgment and the Indian government will study that and whatever the reaction needs to be given, that will be given by the Commerce Ministry and MEA, not by me," he said. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Opposition leaders react Meanwhile, Indian political leaders have reacted strongly after the US Supreme Court struck down most of the Trump administrations sweeping tariffs, with several opposition figures welcoming the verdict and warning of its wider implications for trade and executive authority. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari welcomed the U.S. Supreme Courts decision, stating that the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration were wrong and beyond the authority of the U.S. President. He called for the tariffs to be repealed and alleged that the measures unfairly burdened farmers and small businesses. "I respect the US Supreme Court's decision and want to say that the tariffs imposed were wrong. The US President had no authority. I demand that the US repeal them. He (Donald Trump) also said that the tariffs would benefit the US. Congress opposes them. We oppose the way the interests of farmers and small businesses have been placed in the US Treasury," he said. Congress MP Manish Tewari also backed the verdict, describing it as an important reminder to constitutional courts worldwide about their duty to check executive excess. He warned that if judiciaries fail to perform this role, democracies risk sliding toward autocracy. "The 6-3 verdict of the US Supreme Court is a message to all constitutional courts around the world that they are charged with the responsibility of checking executive excess and if the judiciary does not step up to the plate or does not perform its duty, then democracies turn into autocracies. Therefore, the decision of the US Supreme Court is a welcome decision. However, it also sets the stage for an unprecedented confrontation between the Trump administration and the judiciary on the one hand, with the legislature on the other hand. Because the US Supreme Court has clearly said that the power to levy tariffs does not rest in the executive, it rests with the legislature. Therefore now it's for the US Congress to assert itself, exert itself and appropriate the authority that is legitimately according to the US constitutional scheme," he said. Following the ruling, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the Centres decision to move ahead with an interim trade arrangement with the United States without waiting for the Supreme Court verdict. "Wonder why India rushed into a deal, giving up on energy purchase decisions, giving up on farmers interests rather than waiting for the US Supreme Court verdict? The trade is at 10% tariff now after the court intervention but again US imports to India at 0%," she said in a post on X. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also criticised the tariff situation, claiming it was detrimental to Indian farmers. "As of today, our country is facing an 18% tariff. Exports from the US are subject to a 0% tariff. This is a huge fraud and deception against the farmers of this country. If so much product comes from the US, the farmers here won't even get 1000 or 1500 rupees for their produce, leaving them with no option but suicide. This is a very serious issue and a huge deception, and Congress has decided to stand with the farmers of the entire country," he said. US Supreme Court tariff ruling The US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision on February 20, striking down most of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. Trump responded by announcing a new 10% global tariff via executive order under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, effective soon after, lasting up to 150 days without congressional approval. India-US interim trade agreement The judgment came just days after the United States and India announced a framework for an interim trade agreement aimed at creating more balanced and mutually beneficial trade. New Delhi: Following recent remarks by Anoushka Shankar denying claims that Rishab Rikhiram Sharma was formally a disciple of her father Pandit Ravi Shankar, the young musician has issued an official statement clarifying his position. Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, a 26-year-old sitarist, composer and music producer, is known for blending Indian classical music with contemporary styles and presenting them in a youth-friendly format. In several past interviews, he has described himself as the youngest and last disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, crediting the maestros musical lineage and philosophy for shaping his artistic journey. The controversy gained attention after Anoushka Shankar addressed the issue in an interview with Humans of Bombay. While praising Rishabs talent, she clarified what she termed a misunderstanding regarding his guruship. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source I think its really wonderful to see the sitar brought into its horizon the way it has, she said. Rishab is really talented and clearly speaking to people in a wonderful way. But there is some misunderstanding about his guruship. She explained that Rishab had trained under her fathers senior disciple, Parimal Sadaphal, and had only a few informal lessons with Pandit Ravi Shankar. He also had a couple of lessons with my father very informally, with Parimal uncle present in the room, she added. Anoushka further noted that the two families had known each other for years, as Rishab is the son of instrument maker Sanjay Rikhiram Sharma. Somehow, this has been blown up into a story of him being my fathers last or youngest disciple, which isnt true. But he is extremely talented and deserves all success with or without that story, she said. Rishab Rikhiram Sharmas Official Statement In response, Rishabs management released a detailed statement asserting that Pandit Ravi Shankar formally accepted him as a disciple through the traditional Ganda Bandhan ceremony in 2012. The statement reads: On January 3, 2012, at the Ravi Shankar Centre (Saraswati Pooja Hall), a private meeting was held at the express request of Pandit Ravi Shankar between 13-year-old Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, his parents Sanjay and Manjul Sharma, his brother Mukul Sharma, Pandit Parimal Sadaphal, Shruti Sadamal, and Panditji with his wife Sukanya Shankar. This followed a personal call from Panditji to Sanjay Sharma on January 2, requesting Rishabs presence for the Ganda Bandhan ceremony the next day. During the meeting, Panditji inquired about Rishabs prior musical training. Sanjay Sharma explained that Rishab had received guidance primarily from him and his school music teacher, Salim Kumar, and had not undergone formal initiation under any Guru, with much of his learning being self-directed through online study since the age of 10. Upon reviewing Rishabs aptitude, Panditji observed that such talent required structured grooming and expressed his willingness, with family consent, to formally accept Rishab as his disciple, noting that he would guide him even if he had previously studied under another Guru. Sukanya Shankar recalled that during their stay in the United States, she had shown Panditji a YouTube recording of Rishab performing Raag Tilak Kamod at a Sanjay Rikhi Ram Vadya Parampara event in New Delhi on February 10, 2011. After reviewing the recording again on the morning of January 3, 2012, Pandit Ravi Shankar decided to accept Rishab as a shishya and personally nurture his potential. Panditji asked Rishab to perform the same raag, listened attentively, corrected the composition, and conducted a formal lesson lasting several hours. He clarified that while he might not always be physically present, Pandit Parimal Sadaphal would supervise structured training, with periodic remote reviews. The session concluded with the formal Ganda Bandhan ceremony, during which Panditji tied the traditional red thread around Rishabs wrist and spoke of Kartavya Vidya, emphasizing that while the thread may physically break, the spiritual GuruShishya bond endures for life. On February 10, 2012, at a Sanjay Rikhi Ram Vadya Parampara event held at Kamani Auditorium, Pandit Ravi Shankar publicly introduced 13-year-old Rishab Rikhiram Sharma on stage as his youngest disciple, in the presence of Sukanya Shankar, members of the Sharma family, fellow disciples, and the assembled audience. This marked Panditjis final public appearance in India before relocating to the United States. Following Pandit Ravi Shankars passing in December 2012, Rishab was invited by Sukanya Shankar to perform at the maestros memorial gathering at Nehru Park on March 10, 2013, alongside other disciples from Panditjis extended teaching lineage. From 2013 onwards, Pandit Parimal Sadaphal continued Rishab Rikhiram Sharmas training in accordance with the guidance of Pandit Ravi Shankar. In addition, Rishab has studied under several eminent musicians, including Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Aashish Khan, and others. At the age of 17, Rishab relocated to New York City to pursue undergraduate studies in Music Production and Economics at The City University of New York, while continuing his musical development. Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan condemned the protest held by Indian Youth Congress workers during the India AI Summit. "This is a very shameful and unfortunate incident. The plight of Congress is now beyond the control of Rahul Ji and his group. There is no doubt that they are raising questions on the image of Congress," he said. The statement follows the recent incident where cadres of the Indian Youth Congress staged a 'shirtless' protest stunt at Bharat Mandapam against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticising the AI Impact Summit and accusing the PM of being "compromised". During the protest, party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit." Police later detained the protesters. "Indian Youth Congress workers raised their voice and protested against the compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit," an official post from Indian Youth Congress said. The protest followed Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi attacking the Government on the organisation of the summit and saying, "Instead of leveraging India's talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle - Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased." Meanwhile, speaking on the Rajya Sabha elections, the JD(U) national spokesperson said, "We have enough base to win all five seats, and we are confident that we will win all five seats in Bihar." The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced the schedule for the upcoming biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to fill the 37 seats across 10 states, as the members are set to complete their term in April 2026, as per a press release. (ANI) Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for reportedly threatening Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh and demanding Rs 20 crore. Security around the actor has been tightened as the Anti-Extortion Cell probes the case. An FIR was registered after police verified a voice note in which the caller identified himself as Harichandra alias Harry Boxer. As per the Mumbai Police, the Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Harichandra alias Harry Boxer, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, in connection with threatening Ranveer. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Police had sent the threatening voice note received by Ranveer Singhs manager to Punjab and Haryana for verification. The sender of the voice note had identified himself as Harry Boxer and demanded a ransom of Rs 20 crore. After Mumbai Police received information about the threatening voice note, it was forwarded to the Punjab and Haryana Police. Once authorities there confirmed that the voice in the note matched that of Harry Boxer, an FIR was registered. The Mumbai Cyber Police registered an FIR against Harry Boxer based on a complaint filed by Ranveer Singhs manager, Vijay Subramanian. The case is being investigated in coordination with the Crime Branchs Anti-Extortion Cell. According to police, the manager received calls on his phone from an international number (+340), which is believed to be the country code for the Virgin Islands. The caller allegedly demanded money and issued threats. Following the threats, security at Ranveers residence has been tightened. He has also been advised to remain cautious while travelling for film shoots. It is reported that Boxer left lengthy voice notes stating that if his demands were not met, the next seven generations would remember the consequences. In the voice note, he allegedly said: Ranveer Singh, you went back on something you had said, fine either return to that commitment, or we will show you what punishment follows for backing out. Thats why we are leaving this voice note for you Rohit Shetty and you come on the line and we are telling the entire Bollywood as well the firing carried out today in Portugal, I and my brothers take responsibility for the firing at Marina Grand and at Sukhdevs shop. This is the second FIR registered against members of the Bishnoi gang. Earlier, on February 1, a firing incident took place outside the Juhu residence of filmmaker Rohit Shetty. The agency investigating the case has so far arrested 12 people, including alleged shooter Deepak Sharma, who reportedly opened fire at filmmaker Rohit Shettys residence at the behest of the Shubham Lonkar group. New Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron, who was recently on an official visit to India, opened up about his favourite Bollywood actor. His warm interaction with Indian film personalities during the trip also grabbed headlines and won hearts on social media. Emmanuel Macron Reveals His Favourite Bollywood Actor During an interaction with Brut India, President Macron was asked to name his favourite Bollywood star. Without hesitation, he responded with a smile, saying, I mean, yesterday I mentioned Jai Ho, so I would say Anil Kapoor. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Earlier this week, Macron took to Instagram to share pictures from his meeting with several Bollywood celebrities. He captioned the post in French: Aux cotes de legendes du cinema indien. La culture nous rassemble, which translates to, Alongside legends of Indian cinema. Culture unites us. The first photograph showed President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron posing with Manoj Bajpayee, Anil Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar, Richa Chadha, Shabana Azmi, Ricky Kej, and others. Another image captured the group posing at the iconic Gateway of India. Some photos also featured Anil Kapoor and Richa Chadha interacting with the President and other dignitaries. Anil Kapoor later shared pictures from the meeting on his social media 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. 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. Heres to India x France And to many more stories waiting to be told. pic.twitter.com/UkNzhcKxKG Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) February 17, 2026 Emmanuel Macrons India Visit President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron were in India for a three-day diplomatic visit, which included stops in Mumbai and New Delhi. He also attended the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. France and India had co-chaired the AI Action Summit in February 2025, and innovation in science and technology remains a key focus under the Horizon 2047 roadmap aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. Anil Kapoors Upcoming Projects Anil Kapoor was last seen in War 2 as Colonel Vikrant Kaul. He will next appear in Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail. The film also stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in lead roles, along with Bobby Deol, and is slated for release later this year. He will also be seen in Prime Videos Subedaa, which features Radhikka Madan. The action drama is directed by Suresh Triveni and premiered on OTT on March 5. New Delhi: Indias largest software exporter, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has reportedly increased quarterly variable payouts for mid- to senior-level employees, offering up to 80% for the third quarter. This marks a notable turnaround after nearly two years of relatively low payouts, signalling improving sentiment within the company, according to Moneycontrol report. According to Moneycontrol, the hike comes after a long phase when variable pay for mid- and senior-level employees was restricted to around 2050 per cent. The increase also comes at a time when the company is reshaping its workforce to strengthen AI-driven capabilities, while management continues to remain optimistic about a demand recovery in 2026. Earlier, IT major Infosys rolled out performance bonus payouts averaging around 85 per cent for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 (Q3FY26). This marks the strongest variable pay outcome for eligible employees in at least the past three and a half years. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Variable Pay Sees Strong Comeback After a prolonged period of cuts, variable pay has seen a noticeable recovery. According to employees familiar with the development, most mid-level staff received around 80 per cent of their variable compensation for the OctoberDecember quarter. One employee, who requested anonymity, said the payout is now closer to the variable component mentioned in offer letters. For senior-level employees, payouts reportedly ranged between 40 per cent and 80 per cent. Another employee also confirmed receiving the OctoberDecember quarter variable pay in January. Earlier, TCS had said that over 70 per cent of its workforce received 100 per cent of their quarterly variable pay. However, sources suggested that this benefit was largely limited to junior-level employees. Leadership Confident About Deal Pipeline The companys leadership has expressed strong confidence in its deal pipeline. In the December quarter, TCS reported a total contract value (TCV) of $9.3 billion, beating market expectations. Speaking at the companys earnings conference on January 12, CEO K Krithivasan said, If this trend continues, we will be somewhere closer to about $38-39 billion for the year, which will be one of the highest. We believe this order book will help us in growing in FY27 as well. We are now quite comfortable with the order book itself. Despite global uncertainties such as geopolitical tensions, US tariff pressures and visa policy changes, the management remains optimistic. As far as Q4 international revenue is concerned, we are optimistic, and we will take every step that is required to see we reach the aspiration of having a revenue better than FY25, the CEO added. New Delhi: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan) scheme continues to be a vital source of support for millions of small and marginal farmers across India. Under this initiative, eligible farmers receive financial assistance in periodic instalments directly into their bank accounts to help with agricultural and related expenses. Heres everything you need to know about the next PM Kisan instalment date, how the payments are disbursed, and what farmers should expect. What is the PM Kisan Scheme? The PM Kisan scheme, launched by the Government of India, provides Rs 6,000 per year to eligible farmers. This amount is paid in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each, usually spread throughout the year. The goal is to provide direct income support to farmers so they can manage inputs and agricultural costs more easily. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The instalments are credited directly into the beneficiarys bank account through direct benefit transfer (DBT), which helps ensure transparency and quick payments. When Will the Next Instalment Be Paid? Under the current schedule, farmers typically receive the three annual instalments in the following months: 1st Instalment: April July 2nd Instalment: August November 3rd Instalment: December March According to the latest updates, the next PM Kisan instalment (the 3rd instalment) is expected to be credited by late December to March this year. Exact dates can vary slightly depending on bank processing times and administrative processes. Once the instalment is processed, beneficiaries should receive the 2,000 amount directly in their registered bank account. Farmers are advised to check their bank account and stay in touch with their local revenue or agriculture office for confirmation of the credit. Who Is Eligible for PM Kisan Payments? To receive PM Kisan instalments, a farmer must meet the eligibility criteria which generally include: Being an Indian citizen Possessing farmland ownership documents Falling into the category of small and marginal farmers Certain groups are not eligible, including high-income professionals such as pensioners receiving regular income, institutional landowners, and those with sizable non-agricultural income sources. The eligibility list is periodically updated, so farmers are advised to check the official PM Kisan portal for the latest details. How to Check Your PM Kisan Status Farmers can track the status of their PM Kisan instalments online. The steps usually involve: Visiting the official PM Kisan website Navigating to the Status of Beneficiary section Entering details such as mobile number or Aadhaar number Viewing the instalment history and next payment status This allows beneficiaries to confirm whether instalments have been disbursed and see the dates they were credited. Why These Payments Matter PM Kisan instalments play a critical role in supporting small and marginal farmers, especially in managing seasonal expenses like seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, and labour costs. The predictable quarterly instalments provide an essential safety net, helping rural households maintain stability even amid market fluctuations or unpredictable weather patterns. Since payments are made directly to the beneficiarys bank account, the system also reduces leakages and improves efficiency. Tips for Farmers Ensure your bank account details and mobile number are updated in the PM Kisan database. Keep your Aadhaar and land ownership documents ready for verification. If an instalment is delayed, contact your local agriculture or revenue office for support. The Bottom Line If you are enrolled under the PM Kisan scheme and meet eligibility requirements, you can expect your next Rs 2,000 instalment to be credited between December and March this year. The payments are a dependable source of financial support designed to ease farming expenses for millions of Indian farmers. For the most accurate and updated instalment status, farmers should use the official PM Kisan portal or reach out to local officials. Best tyre pressure for car: Tyre pressure is typically measured in PSI, bar, or kPa. Most sedans and hatchbacks require around 32-36 PSI, while SUVs usually need 35-38 PSI. The suspect has reportedly denied the charges. Police are investigating whether he transferred any funds to Lashkar-e-Taiba. This is believed to be the first case of South Korean authorities arresting someone linked to a group declared a terrorist organisation by the United Nations Security Council. The R. Premadasa Stadium has recently favored spin, which may play into the hands of Pakistan's Usman Tariq and New Zealand's Mitchell Santner. After a narrow victory over the Netherlands and a 31 run win against the United States, they faced a heavy 61 run loss to India at the very venue hosting this upcoming match. By referring to the holy month as a "12th man," Shadab suggests that the team feels an added layer of protection and motivation. As the team prepares for these high-stakes encounters in Colombo and Kandy, the atmosphere in the dressing room has shifted. Trump is calling for tariff levels between 50 percent and 100 percent on goods linked to Russian oil purchases from the two Asian nations. G7 finance ministers are set to discuss the proposal during a video meeting on Friday. The US argues that these measures are necessary to pressure Moscow into meaningful peace talks and to cut off a major stream of income sustaining its military operations. New Delhi: Leading industry experts at the AI Impact Summit 2026 examined whether AI agents are fundamentally disrupting traditional software-as-a-service (SaaS) models and cautioned against oversimplification. Addressing speculation about the future of SaaS, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson and CEO of Salesforce India, said that markets will make many claims, and not all of them come true. When you talk about the SaaS model, its not only about coding or creating an application; its about understanding workflows, recognising customer pain points, and ensuring you address them. Its about observability, governance, auditability, and adoption, she said during a session here. Bhattacharya emphasised that while ways of working will evolve, long-term sustainability will depend on delivering real customer value. K. Krithivasan, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services, said, We are entering an era where the role of the software engineer is shifting toward high-level architecture and rigorous validation. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source While AI promises immense productivity gains, he stressed that enterprise adoption requires significant groundwork, from data rationalisation to application modernisation. We dont envision a shrinking of the sector, but rather a massive explosion in the volume of what can be produced and the complexity of the problems we can solve, he added. Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer of Infosys, said that AI is creating a $300 billion services opportunity by making the impossible economically viable. Through Infosys orchestration platforms, he noted, enterprises can integrate foundation models with specialised agents to unlock measurable business value. According to C. Vijayakumar, CEO and Managing Director of HCL Technologies, Large language models and foundational models cannot yet be applied most efficiently to enterprise use cases, noting a persistent gap between foundational capabilities and enterprise-grade performance. The leaders delivered a clear message that AI agents will reshape business and operating models, but they will not render them obsolete overnight. Success in the AI era will hinge on agility, enterprise readiness, orchestration, and, above all, the ability to continuously solve real customer problems in increasingly complex digital ecosystems, they noted. Rafael Luis Torralbas Ezpeleta, President of the Cuban delegation, expressed his delight during his first visit to India, saying he is deeply impressed by the country. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit, he described the event as the first major Global South summit focused on Artificial Intelligence and praised India's proposal for promoting inclusive AI. "This is my first time in India, and I'm very impressed with this country... This is the first Global South big summit in Artificial Intelligence, and we appreciate India's proposal about inclusive AI... We are focused on informatics science and data science in some of our universities," said Rafael Ezpeleta. Ezpeleta further stated that, through the Cuban Embassy, discussions are underway with Indiasoft and NASSCOM. The delegation plans to visit Bengaluru, including the Science and Technology Park there, to explore opportunities for collaboration with Indian organisations and companies, particularly in the technology sector. "Through our Embassy, we are in a conversation with Indiasoft, with NASSCOM chamber. We will visit Bangalore and we hope to visit Science and Technology Park at Bangalore and we will try to find out the way to cooperate with organisations in India, especially with companies," he added. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, reflects 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. This 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 being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and ended on 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, reflects 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. (ANI) India's youngest keynote speaker: At a summit dominated by global tech CEOs, industry leaders, and senior policymakers, it was an eight-year-old who truly stole the spotlight. At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Ranvir Sachdeva emerged as the youngest keynote speaker, leaving the audience both surprised and inspired. With remarkable clarity and confidence, the child prodigy drew powerful connections between ancient Indian philosophies and modern artificial intelligence, while also reflecting on how nations across the world are shaping the future of AI. His presence was a reminder that innovation knows no age. India AI Impact Summit 2026: Who is India's youngest keynote speaker Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Ranvir Sachdeva was born in 2017. He is a child prodigy with exceptional skills in technology and artificial intelligence. Despite his young age, he has already established himself as a technologist, global author, and TEDx speaker. By the age of three, Ranvir was able to mentally calculate squares and cubes of numbers, showcasing his extraordinary mathematical abilities early on. He has developed proficiency in smart city technologies, sustainability, space exploration, coding, and AI. Adding to his achievements, Ranvir holds a Google certification in Responsible AI and has built his own AI-powered chatbot that integrates with applications through APIs. He is also the author of the book Are You Born With AI?, which is available worldwide on Amazon. (Also Read: Who Is Asha Sharma? Microsofts new gaming CEO replacing Phil Spencer, reports directly to Satya Nadella; Check her age, career, and net worth) At the India AI Impact Summit, Ranvir Sachdeva met several top global technology leaders, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. He later shared photos from these meetings on social media. World's Youngest Programmer: Achievements Ranvir Sachdeva holds a robotics certification from IIT Delhi and started achieving big milestones at a very young age. When he was just four years old, his summer project on the Mars Mission was featured on NASAs website. At the age of five, he became the worlds youngest Apple Swift programmer and was invited by Apple CEO Tim Cook to attend the Worldwide Developers Conference (WDC) at Apples headquarters in California. In the same year, he was named the youngest Green Yodha by Schneider Electric CMO Chris Leong after speaking about sustainability and Net Zero at a global expo. At six, he became the worlds youngest TEDx speaker on technology and innovation, focusing on Artificial Intelligence, and his name was recorded in the Asia Book of Records. Youngest Invitee at UN General Assembly This was not the first time Ranvir represented India on a global stage. In September 2024, at just six years old, he became the youngest person ever invited by the United Nations to attend the 79th General Assembly session, titled the Summit of the Future, at the UN Headquarters in New York. He was also recognised by UN Youth Affairs for his contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals after meeting UN Assistant Secretary-General Felipe Paullier. In 2025, Ranvir was invited to the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. He addressed an audience of more than 10,000 people from over 180 countries, including 53 UN partner organisations and leading AI experts. At the summit, he delivered a 20-minute talk titled Agents of Change: A 7-Year-Olds Lens on Generation AI for Good. (Also Read: India's Own AI Chat App Indus launched by Sarvam: Multi-language support, ChatGPT and Gemini rival; Check top features, and how to download) Young Indian Prodigy Joins Geoffrey Hinton At just seven, Ranvir shared the stage in Switzerland with Geoffrey Hinton, the Nobel Prize and Turing Award winner known as the Godfather of AI. He also appeared alongside top global leaders, including senior executives from Salesforce, Amazon, Meta, and TIME 100 AI changemakers. Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma: Microsoft has appointed Indian-origin executive Asha Sharma as the new Executive Vice President and CEO of its gaming division, marking a major leadership change in Xboxs history. She will replace Phil Spencer, who is retiring after 38 years with Microsoft Gaming. President Sarah Bond will also step down. Xbox Game Studios chief Matt Booty will move into the role of Chief Content Officer and report to Sharma. Asha Sharma takes charge at a challenging time, as Microsoft Gaming faces rising costs due to tariffs, tough competition, and uncertain consumer spending. The company has already increased prices for Xbox hardware. Notably, she will report directly to Satya Nadella, Microsofts chairman and chief executive. New Microsoft Gaming CEO: Who is Asha Sharma Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Indian-origin 36-year-old technology executive Asha Sharma has joined the ranks of global C-suite leaders from India. Before taking on her new role, she led product development for Microsofts Core AI Product division. She is an alumna of the University of Minnesotas Carlson School of Management and has nearly 15 years of experience in technology, product, and operations leadership roles, according to her LinkedIn profile. (Also Read: iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB variant gets massive price cut in India on THIS platform; Check display, camera, battery and more features) Asha Sharma began her career at Microsoft in 2011 in marketing. After two years, she joined Porch Group as Chief Operating Officer (COO), where she helped build the company and played a key role in its $1 billion public debut. She led product, engineering, sales, marketing, and operations, and also served as Chief Marketing Officer and a board member from 2015 to 2022. In 2017, she joined Meta as Vice President of Product and Engineering. She led product teams for Messenger and Instagram Direct and served as General Manager for calling, video, and kids experiences. She later worked at Instacart for three years as Chief Operating Officer, helping guide the company to its IPO and profitability. In 2024, Sharma returned to Microsoft as President of Core AI Product. She led the global product portfolio covering AI models, applications, agents, responsible AI, and developer tools. Earlier, she also served as Corporate Vice President and Head of Product for Microsofts AI Platform. She is currently serves on the boards of The Home Depot and Coupang. (Also Read: India's Own AI Chat App Indus launched by Sarvam: Multi-language support, ChatGPT and Gemini rival; Check top features, and how to download) Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma Net worth Media reports estimate that new Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharmas net worth is around $5060 million. This is mainly due to her senior executive positions, stock holdings in major companies, and board roles at firms such as The Home Depot and Coupang. However, there are no publicly available or officially verified figures confirming her exact net worth in recent reports. One of Indias closest neighbours, Nepal, is set for parliamentary elections on March 5, 2026, ignited by last year's fiery Gen Z protests, which threaten to redefine stability across India's 1,800 km porous border, where millions cross freely for trade, work, and family ties. For New Delhi, sharing deep economic links like $10 billion annual trade and 70% of Nepal's hydropower exports, any post-poll chaos risks refugee surges into Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, disrupted power supplies, and amplified Chinese influence, turning a youth-driven reset into a strategic vulnerability or bolstered buffer. Gen-Z vs The Old Order Add Zee News as a Preferred Source In September 2025, Nepal's youth, frustrated by elite nepo kids, unemployment, corruption, and a social media ban, stormed parliament, sparking clashes that killed many. Their demands rang clear: immediate parliament dissolution, mass resignations of corrupt leaders, tough anti-corruption laws, job creation programs, and restored digital freedoms. This fury forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's coalition to collapse, leading to parliament's dissolution on October 6, 2025. Sushila Karki, appointed interim PM outside normal protocols, stabilized the ship, finalized voter rolls for 18.9 million eligible citizens, and set the March 5 polls under a mixed system: 165 first-past-the-post seats and 110 proportional representation slots. Gen-Z demographic, representing over half of new voter registrations, seeks fulfillment of protest pledges: a directly elected executive, voting rights for Nepali diaspora abroad, citizen-led anti-corruption probes, and economic policies like reopening industries, tourism revival, and job creation to tackle 20% youth unemployment. They demand transparency, ending "nepo kids" elite capture, and digital freedoms after the social media ban that ignited their fury, no more platform restrictions on TikTok, YouTube, or Discord coordination. Leaders like Miraj Dhungana and Sudan Gurung emphasize "fresh ideas" and good governance, refusing to contest unless "bottom-line" conditions like these are met. Celebrities and influencers amplify calls for thoughtful voting to avoid past instability, according to the Kathmandu Post. Gen Z influence is booming with over 675,000 youth registered to vote after the protests, fueling 123 parties with one-third new, like Gen Z groups led by Kishori Karki, the highest since 2006. Nepali Congress woos them with 40% youth quotas in leadership, UML ramps up outreach too. What Does Nepal's Election hold for New Delhi? Nepal's March 5 general election holds high stakes for New Delhi, primarily through border stability, economic ties, and countering China's influence. India seeks a credible poll outcome to end Nepal's post-protest limbo under interim PM Sushila Karki, preventing chaos along the 1,800 km open border. Past unrest spiked refugees into Bihar and Uttar Pradesh; a stable government ensures Terai calm, Gurkha recruitment continuity, and curbs extremism risks. New Delhi backed Karki's timeline via NSA Ajit Doval's talks with leaders like Prachanda, emphasising elections as key to political transition. A stable post-poll government in Kathmandu could fast-track hydropower plants and roads, spurring shared growth beyond Oli's delays. The election could reshape regional stability by either consolidating a credible government post-Gen Z protests or prolonging political uncertainty, influencing South Asia's security, economy, and power dynamics. Israel has exclusively offered New Delhi the Golden Horizon air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM), designed for launch from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters, making India the first and only country to receive such an offer, according to open-source defence reporting. With an estimated range of approximately 800 kilometres, open-source analysts note the Golden Horizon would allow Indian Air Force strike packages to engage high-value targets deep inside adversary territory, well outside the reach of enemy long-range BVR fighters and sophisticated surface-to-air missile networks. PM Modi's Israel visit These reports come as India prepares to deepen its defence partnership with Israel ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-day visit later this month. Discussions are expected to focus on cooperation in anti-ballistic missile defence, laser weapons, long-range stand-off missiles, and unmanned systems, areas aimed at strengthening strategic ties between the two countries. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source During the visit, India and Israel are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on security cooperation. However, no major defence deal is expected to be formally announced, as their broader defence collaboration, projected to be worth around USD 10 billion in the coming years, remains an evolving, long-term effort between the close partners. What is the Golden Horizon ALBM? Unlike cruise missiles that fly low and sustained, ballistic missiles follow a high-arc trajectory, making them far harder to intercept. Open-source defence trackers note that when launched from an airborne platform like the Su-30MKI, the combination delivers the reach of a ballistic weapon with the flexibility of air power, a capability few air forces globally possess. At 800 km of estimated range, as reported across multiple open-source defence platforms, a Su-30MKI armed with the Golden Horizon could threaten adversary airbases, radar networks, command nodes, and logistics hubs without entering enemy fighter or SAM threat envelopes, including Chinese HQ-9 batteries deployed along contested Himalayan sectors and Pakistan's expanding air defence architecture on the western front. Why this matters for India's two-front reality Open-source defence analysts have consistently flagged India's sharpening two-front strategic environment. China's PLAAF continues capability build-up along the northern front while Pakistan deepens its Chinese-supplied air defence network in the west. In this context, stand-off precision strike is not a luxury; it is a deterrence essential. As observed in open-source reporting, the Golden Horizon ALBM would give the IAF the ability to hold high-value targets at risk on day one of any conflict, without risking aircraft or aircrew inside contested airspace, fundamentally reshaping India's escalation calculus on both fronts simultaneously. Indigenous ALBM: The larger question The more consequential debate flagged by open-source defence communities is whether India will develop its own ALBM under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat framework. India already has relevant foundations, BrahMos-NG air-launched variants, DRDO hypersonic research, and Agni-P miniaturisation advances, all documented in open-source programme tracking. However, analysts note a full indigenous development and certification cycle typically spans 8-12 years. The pragmatic path, as discussed across open-source defence forums and publications, is a parallel track: acquire the Golden Horizon as a bridging capability today while concurrently building an indigenous ALBM for tomorrow, a model India has successfully followed before. The US Supreme Court ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by imposing sweeping global tariffs, including on Indian exports. The 6-3 decision, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, limits presidential power over trade, reinforcing Congress's role and invalidating broad IEEPA-based duties, such as the 50% tariffs on India. Following the ruling, Trump, during his address, said, India will be paying us tariffs, we will not be paying them tariffs, emphasizing the unchanged India-US trade deal. He described relations with India as "fantastic" and called it a "fair deal" with a "little flip," where India pays 18% reciprocal tariffs while the US enjoys zero duties on its exports. Trump vowed alternative measures, like a new 10% global tariff, insisting nothing changes for India with context to the recently announced India-US trade deal. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Also Read: Trump to ditch IEEPA tariffs; uses alternative legal powers, says US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Indias Gain or Loss? From India's point of view, the Supreme Court IEEPA tariffs decision is a major win, slashing risks of sudden tariff shocks on key exports like engineering goods, textiles, chemicals, and gems. It restores trade predictability, potentially enabling refunds for struck-down duties and boosting $55% of India's US exports now tariff-free. Indian businesses in auto components and pharmaceuticals gain relief, aligning with New Delhi's push for balanced US-India trade. While the February 2026 India-US trade framework remains intact, reducing US tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%, with zero-duty access for pharmaceuticals, gems, and high-value items. India cuts tariffs on US industrial and agricultural products, unlocking $500 billion in purchases for supply chain resilience. This paves the way for a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), focusing on energy, tech, and manufacturing amid the Trump tariffs era. Countries like India, UK, EU, and Japan, which inked trade deals with President Donald Trump, will now face a flat 10% tariff, the White House announced after SC curbing the administration's emergency tariff powers under the IEEPA. Trump's Response to Supreme Court Ruling Trump labeled the Supreme Court ruling "deeply disappointing" but insisted "nothing changes" for the India-US trade deal when asked about its impact. He affirmed the agreement remains on track for signing by late March 2026. Trump reacted defiantly to the Supreme Court ruling by announcing an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122, capped at 150 days without legislative renewal. Income coming in from tariffs will increase, claimed the decision, made my ability to impose tariffs more powerful, by unlocking new pathways, said US President Donald Trump in response to the US Supreme Court ruling. Trump declared, I will go in a stronger direction now, adding provocatively, I could do anything I want to do, but I cant charge any money, while asserting his right to impose embargoes. US-Iran tensions: The ties between Iran and the United States have been on edge for weeks. Meanwhile, reports have emerged about the tensions with some stating that US President Trump is considering a limited military strike on Iran to strike a nuclear deal. Also read- Fattah hypersonic specs revealed: Is Iran's new glide vehicle a 'carrier killer' or psychological warfare? 'Limited military strike' Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Trump is weighing a 'limited military strike' on Iran to push Tehran into a nuclear deal, IANS reported, citing The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper said Trump is considering an initial limited military strike on Iran to force it to meet his demands for a nuclear deal. The move would be meant to pressure Iran without triggering a full-scale war. The opening strike, if approved, would target a few military or government sites, people familiar with the matter told the Journal. Meanwhile, if Tehran refused to comply with Trumps demand to end nuclear enrichment, the United States could expand the campaign to hit more regime facilities. One person cited by the Journal said Trump could ratchet up his attacks, starting small before ordering larger strikes until the Iranian regime either dismantles its nuclear work or falls. Were going to make a deal or get a deal one way or the other, Trump said on Thursday. Khamenei on radar? Axios reported that the US President was presented with "military options" including targeting the Supreme Leader of Iran directly. A senior US official told Axios that the US government may consider a proposal that would allow Iran to continue its nuclear enrichment if it leaves "no possible path" to make a nuclear bomb. US-Iran tensions The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its warships are nearing the region. Meanwhile, the US forces deployed there are expected to be fully in place by mid-March, officials reportedly told the Post. Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei's reply Earlier, as per ANI, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also issued a warning to Trump. In a series of provocative posts on X (formerly Twitter), Khamenei challenged Trump'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, Khamenei suggested that US hardware remains vulnerable to Iranian countermeasures. (with agencies' inputs) Pakistan's creation of a security unit aimed to protect Chinese civilians is the clearest sign of yielding to Beijing's demands, effectively placing Chinese workers on a pedestal above the rest of the local population, a report has highlighted. In an effort to retain investment amid its challenges with militancy, Pakistan continues to make significant concessions to China, it mentioned. In early January 2026, Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the creation of a new special security unit tasked exclusively with protecting Chinese citizens in the country. This development comes after years of relentless attacks by militant groups in Pakistan targetted against Chinese citizens, workers, and infrastructure projects, a report in leading international news magazine 'The Diplomat' detailed. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source By giving even greater attention to Chinese interests, Pakistan is signalling its desperation to keep its largest sponsor on side. Beijing, meanwhile, is capitalising on Islamabads ever-weakening position to enhance its presence in the country, rather than further retreating as it had begun to do in the latter half of 2025, it added. According to the report, since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, China has moved to assert its authority in the region and take advantage of the waning US presence and influence. Instead of gaining the expected benefits of this strategy, Chinese interests have become targets for several terrorist and militant groups, leaving Chinese workers to bear the brunt of the violence. Pakistan has been the principal theatre of this sharp uptick in attacks, with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) specifically targetting Chinese infrastructure projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, respectively. In recent months, though, attacks against Chinese workers, citizens, and businesses have also begun to pick up in neighbouring Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the report detailed. Throughout this period, hostility toward China has become a common theme across a range of regional and transnational terrorist groups, despite their differing strategic objectives. In Afghanistan, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has stated that its attacks against Chinese nationals are intended to serve as bloody reprisals for the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) growing crimes against the Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang, it mentioned. The report highlighted that Pakistans security weaknesses were exposed following an unprecedented assault by the BLA on January 31, which included coordinated suicide bombings and shootings that killed dozens of Pakistani police and military personnel in Balochistan. Against this backdrop, the CCP has repeatedly urged Pakistan to allow Chinas own armed security forces to be deployed in the country to protect Chinese citizens, signalling an explicit lack of confidence in Pakistans capacity to manage its internal security challenges. Beijing went further still by proposing the permanent stationing of Chinese military personnel in the port city of Gwadar, though Islamabad has been hesitant to surrender further sovereignty, it noted. Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported a preliminary toll, stating that over 10 individuals had died and more than 30 were wounded in the airstrike on a building in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon. A source from the Lebanese Civil Defence told Xinhua news agency that the death toll had climbed to 11, with 35 injured, adding that search efforts for missing persons were currently underway. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Well-informed security sources revealed to Xinhua that among the deceased were three Hezbollah commanders: Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, Ali Zeid al-Moussawi, and Mohammad Ibrahim al-Moussawi. In a statement, Hezbollah mourned commander Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, stating that he had become "a martyr in defence of Lebanon and its people." Lebanese security sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out six airstrikes on areas in eastern Lebanon, including Hezbollah sites. Since November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect. Earlier on February 16, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned that Israel would face a "painful" response if tensions escalate, accusing the United States of directly supporting Israeli military operations and regional expansion. Speaking at a memorial ceremony, Qassem said in a speech aired on al-Manar TV channel that Israel is pursuing "maximum pressure" aimed at extracting political concessions while avoiding the broader costs of war. He added that although Israel may achieve tactical military superiority in certain confrontations, it would not be able to impose lasting control or stability. Qassem described Israel as an "expansionist entity" seeking broader territorial control across Palestine and the region. He warned against the gradual and formal annexation of the occupied West Bank. He pointed to developments in Gaza, claiming that significant portions of the territory are under direct Israeli control. He also described the United States as a "full partner" in Israeli actions, alleging that Washington manages operations and provides political and diplomatic cover for military campaigns and territorial expansion. Hezbollah and Israel engaged in cross-border fighting following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. US tariffs: The Supreme Court of the United States on Friday struck down most of US President Donald Trump's tariffs, ruling that he lacked authority under a 1977 emergency law to impose broad import levies on Americas trading partners across the world. After the ruling, Neal Katyal's name has emerged as the face of the landmark judgment. Also Read- Trump's 'much ado about nothing'? From 50% to flat 10% How court ruling brings change in US trade strategy Who is Neal Katyal? Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Neal Katyal, according to IANS, is a former Acting Solicitor General of the US. Notably, he argued against Trumps use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose what he described as unjust, unconstitutional taxes on imports from nearly every trading partner. Katyal was born in Chicago to Indian immigrant parents, a doctor and an engineer. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Yale Law School. He clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer of the US Supreme Court. Appointed Acting Solicitor General by former US President Barack Obama in 2010, Katyal represented the federal government before the apex court and the Courts of Appeals nationwide. IANS reported that Katyal is currently a partner at Milbank LLP and the Paul Saunders Professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Furthermore, he specialises in constitutional and complex appellate litigation. Moreover, he has built a career around high-stakes constitutional battles. He has argued more than 50 cases before the Supreme Court, breaking records for minority advocates. His past cases include defending the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, challenging Trumps 2017 travel ban, and winning unanimous rulings in major environmental and national security disputes. Katyal has also served as Special Prosecutor for the State of Minnesota in the murder case of George Floyd and is the author of the book Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump. He has received the US Justice Departments highest civilian honour, the Edmund Randolph Award, and has been named Litigator of the Year by The American Lawyer in 2017 and 2023. What Neal Katyal said after SC's ruling? The case was reportedly brought by small businesses and supported by the Liberty Justice Center. On the other hand, US President Trump had defended the tariffs as vital to national security and economic leverage, citing trade deficits and fentanyl overdoses as national emergencies. After the ruling, Katyal said, Today, the United States Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law and Americans everywhere. Its message was simple: Presidents are powerful, but our Constitution is more powerful still. In America, only Congress can impose taxes on the American people. "The US Supreme Court gave us everything we asked for in our legal case. Everything, he said. This case has always been about the presidency, not any one president. It has always been about the separation of powers, and not the politics of the moment. I'm gratified to see our Supreme Court, which has been the bedrock of our government for 250 years, protect our most fundamental values, he further added. Just think about it like that. The son of immigrants was able to go to court and say on behalf of American small businesses, hey, this president is acting illegally. And I was able to present my case, have them ask really hard questions at me. It was a really intense oral argument. And at the end of it, they voted, and we won, according to IANS, he told MS Now in an interview. That is something so extraordinary about this country, the idea that we have a system that self-corrects, that allows us to say you might be the most powerful man in the world, but you still can't break the Constitution. I mean, that to me is what today is about, he elaborated. Katyal framed the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs as a constitutional milestone. (with IANS inputs) Following the US Supreme Court's verdict quashing the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday questioned why India rushed into an interim trade deal instead of waiting for the apex court's decision. In a post on X, she noted that while the trade now attracts a 10% tariff following the court intervention, US imports to India continue at 0%. She also praised Brazil for maintaining its trade sovereignty despite being among the highest-tariffed nations. Chaturvedi described the US court's ruling as a vindication. "Wonder why India rushed into a deal, giving up on energy purchase decisions, giving up on farmers interests rather than waiting for the US Supreme Court verdict? The trade is at 10% tariff now after the court intervention but again US imports to India at 0% Well done Brazil for standing tall despite being amongst the highest tariffed nation, the country did not buckle and trade with its sovereignty. The US court decision is a vindication," Priyanka Chaturvedi said. In another post, referring to a report, Chaturvedi criticised government's stance on the purchase of Russian oil. "After the US Court intervention, China like the rest of the world is at 10-% tariff but hasn't signed up its rights to purchasing Russian oil so it's lapping up the cheap oil with no consequences. While India, too will be at 10% tariff but no leverage to buy the oil.. because we signed that away for a 'Historic 18% tariff' The genius of India's Trade Minister!" she said. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs. Terming the SC's ruling as a "terrible decision", Trump announced he would sign an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits. "Effective immediately, all the national security tariffs under Section 232 and existing Section 301 tariffs remain in place... Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122 over and above our normal tariffs already being charged," he said. Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and the three liberal justices, held that the IEEPA does not explicitly authorise the president to levy duties--a power the Constitution assigns to Congress. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, supporting the administration's broader interpretation of emergency powers. The ruling invalidated billions of dollars in "reciprocal" and emergency tariffs, potentially requiring the government to refund approximately $130-$175 billion in collected revenue. (ANI) Bristol's Power Education tutoring scheme is helping refugee children achieve GCSE results that match or exceed the UK national average, according to new findings. The programme, based at the University of Bristol's campus in Barton Hill, offers extra lessons in maths, science, and English to secondary school pupils whose first language is not English. Many of the young people are from refugee and asylum-seeking families who have recently arrived in the city. Sessions run outside normal school hours and are designed to support what pupils learn in the classroom, as well as to build confidence, according to the BBC. How the Scheme Works Power Education was set up in 2023 by science technician Ilyass Kudiyirickal and University of Bristol staff member Simon Neville after they noticed a "cultural disconnect" between schools and some refugee families. They found that parents often wanted to help their children but did not fully understand the UK education system or GCSE requirements. The scheme now works with about 100 students aged 11 to 16 every week, most of whom live in the surrounding neighbourhoods. A recent report linked to the University of Bristol showed that many participants started the programme with low or moderate literacy and rarely read at home. After receiving regular tutoring, students' maths scores rose above the national average, while their English results came into line with national performance. This progress is notable because national research shows that refugee and asylum-seeking children are usually far behind their peers at GCSE level, often by more than a year of learning, Bristol reported. The Scheme's Impacts Kudiyirickal, who came to Bristol from Djibouti after training as a water engineer in France, said trusted relationships with families have been key. He acts as a link between home and school, explaining expectations, exam structures, and homework in ways that parents and children can easily understand. Neville added that being taught by someone who shares students' background and language helps them feel seen and supported. Teenagers on the programme describe it as life-changing. Sixteen-year-old Ayaan said the tutoring made her believe she could reach goals she had once thought were impossible. Another student, Sadane, also 16, said Power Education had boosted both self-esteem and confidence in class. Education experts say the Bristol results suggest targeted community-based tutoring could be an effective way to narrow the GCSE gap for refugee children across England. They argue that combining academic support with mentoring and family engagement may help many more young people move from falling behind to meeting, and even beating, national standards, as per the Education Policy Institute. The Indian Youth Congress on Saturday staged a protest outside the official residence of state Health Minister Veena George, after scissors were found in a woman's abdomen five years after surgery at Vandanam Government Medical College. The protestors in large numbers marched towards the residence of the Health Minister and forcefully entered the inside despite security personnel trying to hold the gates closed. The protesters placed a funeral wreath at the doorstep of the minister's residence and later continued to protest outside. Kerala Minister V Sivankutty condemned the incident saying that the protest has crossed boundaries and called out the workers of the Indian Youth Congress for jumping inside the residence of Veena George and placing a funeral wreath at his doorsteps. "In a democratic system, everyone has the right to protest and agitate, but there are limits. This protest crossed every boundary. Jumping inside a minister's residence and placing a funeral wreath at the doorstep is a grave act. The Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan, knowingly orchestrated this .." he said. Furthermore, Sivankutty asserted that such acts will not be tolerated by the Left Democratic Front. He said that any discrepancies in the HealthDepartment can be discussed, further stating that the state's healthcare sector has been widely acknowledged by the Central Government. "Let me make one thing very clear: the Youth Congress should not try to isolate or hound the Health Minister by choosing such undemocratic methods of protest. The Left Democratic Front and its ministers are not people who will retreat under such intimidation. If there are issues in the Health Department, they can be discussed. There have been issues earlier too; these are not new. But one thing must be understood: Kerala's healthcare sector is functioning at a level widely acknowledged even by the Central Government. The Youth Congress protest was nothing but an attempt to smear this progress and create a smokescreen..." he stated. (ANI) Speaking to reporters, Sai informed that every time during his birthday, he visits his villages and seeks blessings from his mother. "It is my 62nd birthday, and on every birthday, I stay in my village, my home, and seek my mother's blessings. I listen to the Shri Satyanarayan Vrat Katha with my family, villagers, and our party workers, seeking everyone's blessings. So, today, too, I am going to my village to seek my mother's blessings," CM Sai told reporters. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday greetings to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, praying for his long life and good health. In an 'X' post, PM Modi said CM Sai's efforts to boost Chhattisgarh are admirable and have a transformative impact on people's lives. "Warm birthday wishes to CM of Chhattisgarh, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. His efforts to boost Chhattisgarh's progress are admirable and are having a transformative impact on people's lives. Praying for his long life and good health," PM Modi wrote on 'X'. Replying to PM Modi's wishes, CM Sai expressed gratitude to him, crediting his dynamic leadership and 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' mantra as the reason behind the double-engine government of Chhattisgarh reaching new heights of public welfare. (ANI) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary lashed out at the Indian Youth Congress for staging a shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam on Friday, remarking, "Topless kya senseless tha". Speaking exclusively to ANI, Chaudhary said the Opposition's conduct reflected disregard for democratic norms. "We've seen the opposition's behaviour both inside and outside the House. It seems they don't want to follow the established traditions and rules of democracy," he said. Highlighting the significance of the summit, he added, "This event is being held in the country for the first time; it's a celebration of the skills and capabilities of our youth. Heads of state from 21 countries have come and are leaving with a positive image. While so much positive talk is happening, many Indian startups are emerging." Chaudhary alleged that the protest sent a negative message. "The opposition has sent a message to millions of young people that they don't want to come to power for years to come. It's the opposition's responsibility to demonstrate to the public what they will do if they are in government. They're unable to articulate any positive work and are stuck in a negative situation," he said. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also slammed the Congress saying that the party was attempting to justify the protest rather than apologise for it. "I was expecting that congress party would apologize for the shameful behavior of youth congress activists. I couldn't believe my ears when Congress leaders defended the disgraceful conduct. Public taught them a lesson," he posted on X. The remarks come after cadres of the Indian Youth Congress removed their shirts during a protest at the summit venue, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "compromised." Police later detained the protesters. In a statement, the Youth Congress claimed the demonstration was against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit." Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also condemned the protest, alleging it tarnished India's global reputation at a time when the country was hosting international delegates. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, had separately criticised the organisation of the summit, alleging mismanagement and calling it a "PR spectacle." (ANI) Congress MP Manish Tewari on Friday described the 6-3 verdict of the US Supreme Court on the Trump administration's tariffs as a strong reminder to constitutional courts worldwide about their role in checking executive excess. Speaking on the ruling, Tewari said, "The 6-3 verdict of the US Supreme Court is a message to all constitutional courts around the world that they are charged with the responsibility of checking executive excess, and if the judiciary does not step up to the plate or does not perform its duty, then democracies turn into autocracies." Tewari described the verdict as a "welcome decision" but cautioned that it could trigger an unprecedented institutional confrontation in the United States. "The decision of the US Supreme Court is a welcome decision. However, it also sets the stage for an unprecedented confrontation between the Trump administration and the judiciary on the one hand, and the legislature on the other hand. Because the US Supreme Court has clearly said that the power to levy tariffs does not rest in the executive, it rests with the legislature. Therefore, now it's for the US Congress to assert itself, exert itself and appropriate the authority that is legitimately according to the US constitutional scheme," he told ANI. Responding to US President Donald Trump's terming the judgment a "terrible decision" and announcing a fresh executive order to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, Tewari said the standoff could reshape American constitutional politics over the next three years. "This is going to set the stage for an unprecedented confrontation between the US Supreme Court or the US judiciary and the Trump administration. How this pans out over the next three years is going to redefine the United States in more ways than one," he said. Tewari added that if the administration persists with similar measures, it is likely to spark another round of litigation. "If the Trump administration continues to recreate what it has said after the US Supreme Court judgment, it will spark off a fresh round of litigation," the Congress MP added. Tewari further said the Supreme Court's ruling could redefine the US over the next three years if it upholds that tariff powers rest with the legislature. "If the Supreme Court were to again hold that these powers also rest with the legislature, that is why I am saying that in more ways than one, this constitutional confrontation will redefine the United States of America over the next three years, 36 months," Tewari added. The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs. Terming the SC's ruling as a "terrible decision", Trump announced he would sign an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits. "Effective immediately, all the national security tariffs under Section 232 and existing Section 301 tariffs remain in place... Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122 over and above our normal tariffs already being charged," he said. Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and the three liberal justices, held that the IEEPA does not explicitly authorise the president to levy duties--a power the Constitution assigns to Congress. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, supporting the administration's broader interpretation of emergency powers. The ruling invalidated billions of dollars in "reciprocal" and emergency tariffs, potentially requiring the government to refund approximately $130-$175 billion in collected revenue. (ANI) Hitting out at the Congress over Indian Youth Congress' "shirtless" protest at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the party leaders of justifying such "obscene" rather than apologising to the nation. Speaking to the reporters in the national capital, Rijiju said that at a time when the whole global community and tech leaders are in India and praising the country's leadership in the field of Artificial Intelligence, the Congress workers were indulging in "obscene" behaviour at the AI Summit venue. "Yesterday at Bharat Mandapam, when people from the global AI and tech community had come to India and were praising India, under the leadership of India's Prime Minister, India had taken a very positive initiative to unite the world and move it forward under India's leadership. There was praise everywhere, and heads of state, heads of government and many well-known personalities from leading countries of the world were appreciating India and working together in unity," Rijiju said. "At that time, some workers of the Indian Youth Congress came there and indulged in obscene behaviour, and everyone has seen the photographs. No matter how much it is condemned, it is still less," he added. Furthermore, the Union Minister further termed the act a crime against the nation, adding that he thought the Congress party would introspect and apologise for the incident; however, in reply, their leaders ended up justifying the issue. "This is not a mistake; this is a crime -- a very big crime against the nation. The Indian National Congress has committed a serious offence against the country. When we woke up in the morning, we thought that if the Congress party had even a little concern for the nation, they would introspect and apologise. But when we saw in the morning, instead of apologising, several Congress leaders were justifying this obscene act," said Rijiju. He asserted that several Congress leaders called the protest the anger of youth, adding that if it's used to defame the country, there cannot be anything more shameless than this. "They were saying this is the anger of youth. If the anger of youth is used to defame the country, then nothing can be more shameful than this. When any work is done in the national interest, no matter which government is in power, it is not about politics. And when someone represents the country, there is absolutely no politics involved in it," he added. (ANI) The Patiala House Court on Saturday rejected the bail applications of all four arrested Indian Youth Congress workers and sent the accused to police custody for five days. The arrested accused, who have been identified as Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav. Earlier, the Delhi police had sought five days' custody of these four accused persons, who were among those who performed a shirtless protest at the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam for raising anti-national slogans in the presence of international leaders and dignitaries. Their custody is required to arrest other accused persons who fled from the spot, the Delhi police said. The counsel for the accused argued and submitted that the accused belongs to a political party. They used their right to organise a protest at Bharat Mandapam. The protest was peaceful; there is no video that shows any violence. It is also submitted that they are office bearers and educated individuals with degrees. This comes after members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a protest at the Bharat Mandapam venue of the Al Impact India Summit in the national capital by removing their shirts with slogans that read, "Compromised PM". The party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. Earlier, in a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit." Police later detained the protesters. Meanwhile, BJP workers held a protest across multiple states against the Congress over the Indian Youth Congress protest at the India AI Impact Summit yesterday. In Surat and Jammu, BJP cadres staged demonstrations against the Congress, while in Delhi, members of the BJP Yuva Morcha held protests condemning the incident. (ANI) A clash broke out between Congress and BJP workers in Puducherry today during a protest organised by the BJP condemning the Indian Youth Congress's shirtless demonstration at the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The confrontation comes amid escalating political tensions after four Indian Youth Congress workers were arrested in connection with the protest. The Patiala house court granted 5 days custody of accused Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar , Narsingh. The Delhi Police had sought five days' custody of the accused, stating that further interrogation was required to identify and arrest other individuals who allegedly fled the scene. According to the prosecution, the accused raised anti-national slogans and wore T-shirts carrying messages against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit, which was attended by international leaders and dignitaries. The public prosecutor argued that their custodial interrogation was necessary to trace other suspects. However, counsel for the accused contended that the protest was peaceful and carried out as part of their democratic right. The defence submitted that the accused are office-bearers of a political party, educated individuals, and that none of the alleged offences carry punishment exceeding seven years. They also argued that there was no video evidence indicating violence. Meanwhile, BJP workers staged protests in multiple states, including Surat, Jammu and Delhi, condemning the Youth Congress's actions. Members of the BJP Yuva Morcha demonstrated in the national capital, alleging that the protest tarnished India's image at a global forum. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly criticised the Congress, terming the act "obscene" and "a crime against the nation." He said that at a time when global leaders and tech experts were praising India's leadership in artificial intelligence, such actions were shameful. Rijiju added that instead of apologising, Congress leaders were justifying the incident, calling it the "anger of youth." (ANI) Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday said the manner of protest staged by the Indian Youth Congress at the India AI Impact Summit may not have been in the "right spirit", but the BJP should instead be embarrassed over the controversy surrounding the display of alleged Chinese products at the event. Reacting to protests by the Indian Youth Congress and the subsequent political row, Kharge said, "Whatever happened yesterday, I'm not sure that was in the right spirit. But if the Government of India or the BJP is so embarrassed, they should have been embarrassed when a university and a few other companies projected Chinese products as their own." Kharge was referring to the controversy involving Galgotias University, which allegedly showcased a Chinese-made robotic dog at the summit in the national capital. Several Opposition leaders criticised the Union government over the incident. Taking aim at the conduct of the event, Kharge added that the summit appeared chaotic, with the centre of attention on the Prime Minister rather than innovators, job creators, and business leaders. "I was there at the summit. I have organised summits like this, and I have never seen such chaotic summits where the centre of attention is the prime minister and not the innovators and the builders, not the people who are creating jobs," he said. "Go see on social media what international delegates have to say about the event. Forget what Congress has to say... What do Indian innovators and Indian business heads have to say about the event?" Kharge added. The controversy intensified after BJP leaders and workers staged protests in Delhi against the Congress party over the conduct of its youth wing at the summit, which was held at Bharat Mandapam. On Friday, Youth Congress workers carried out a "shirtless" protest inside the venue, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "compromised" and alleging that the country's identity had been traded at the AI event. Police detained several protesters following the demonstration. On Saturday, Delhi Police sought five days' custody of four arrested Youth Congress workers - Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav - alleging that they raised anti-national slogans in the presence of international dignitaries. The public prosecutor told the court that the accused wore T-shirts carrying messages against the Prime Minister. (ANI) The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Saturday hit back at YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over his criticism of their protest at the India AI Impact Summit. The IYC jibed that while he is facing multiple CBI and ED cases, he should not tarnish the image of his father, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. In a post on X, IYC shared, "Dear Jagan, Your father, our proud leader Late Shri Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), dedicated his life to fighting communal, divisive & compromised forces. We understand you are facing CBI/ED cases, but at the very least, do not let your father's legacy down so openly." https://x.com/IYC/status/2025131018454532431?s=20 Earlier in the day, YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy criticised the Indian Youth Congress for protesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India AI Impact Summit, saying their actions brought shame to the country and added that political differences should not undermine India's image on the global stage. In a post shared on X, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said, "Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress made us all feel ashamed. Where is our politics heading! No one should ever demean our country." https://x.com/ysjagan/status/2025106417070604426?s=20 He added that despite political differences, all parties should always present a united face to the world. "Whatever our political differences may be, we should always present a united face to the world," Reddy further wrote. This comes after, on Friday, Youth Congress workers carried out a "shirtless" protest inside the venue, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "compromised" and alleging that the country's identity had been traded at the AI event. During the protest, party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The controversy intensified after BJP workers held a protest today across multiple states against the Congress party over the Indian Youth Congress protest at the India AI Impact Summit yesterday, held at Bharat Mandapam. The Patiala House Court rejected the bail applications of all four arrested Indian Youth Congress workers and sent the accused to police custody for five days. The arrested accused, who have been identified as Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav. (ANI) The Patiala House Court on Saturday sent four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, Narsingh in 5 days police custody. They have been arrested in connection with the AI Summit protest that was held at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. They were wearing T Shirts inscribed with the slogan 'India US Trade Deal Compromised'. The bail pleas of all accused have been dismissed by the court. The court rejected the bail pleas in view of the crucial initial stage of investigation, apprehension of Accused fleeing from justice, tampering with evidence, and termed it as premature . Delhi Police argued that the accsued persons raised anti national slogans and protested on line of Gen Z protest of Nepal in order to defame the country at the international level. They protested when the international dignitaries were present at Bharta Mandapam. Delhi police has registered a case for the alleged offences of obstructing public servant from performing the official duty, assaulting a public servant, hate speech, criminal conspiracy etc. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Ravi granted five days custody of accused persons after hearing the submissions of Delhi police and additional public prosecutor (APP). Police have sought custody of four accused persons to custody to investigate and unearth the Conspiracy, to identify and arrest the other persons involved in Conspiracy of the offence. While opposing the remand application, advocate Rupesh Singh Bhadauria, Litesh Batra and Chitwan Godara submitted that accused belong to a opposition political party. They organised a protest at Bharat Mandapam, they used their right to protest. Their protest was a peaceful protest. It was also submitted that they are office bearers. The protest was peaceful, there is no video that shows any aggression or violence. All the offences alleged against the accused persons attracts a punishment upto seven years only. There is no requirement of arrest and custodial remand. The counsel for accused submitted that the FIR is nothing, but a political task. The counsel also submitted that they are educated persons and they are degree holders. Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastav submitted that accused raised anti national slogans. They were wearing T-shirts showing message against the Prime Minister. While seeking five days custody, Delhi police argued that the anti-national slogans were raised in the presence of international leaders and dignitaries. Their custody is required to arrest other accused persons who fled from the spot, to confront with the electronic evidence. Delhi police further submitted that the custody of the accused persons was required to investigate the case effectively. Police said that three police men got injured when they tried to apprehend the accsued persons, their mobiles are to be recovered, to verify whether they were funded by any organisation is also to be investigated. APP Shrivastav submitted that the accsued are four persons from four different places who come together, they printed T-shirts, in order to investigate the case five days custody is required. While opposing the remand application the counsel for the accused submitted that they are being targeted as they belong to a opposition party, they have been beaten black and blue, there is a recession and protest are being held everywhere, can everyone be arrested. There should be a justification for custodial remand. It should not be given in a mechanical manner, Advocate Rupesh Singh Bhadauria argued. They are young, they have career, the political dissent shouldn't be crushed in this way. It was a peaceful protest, the counsel said. On the other hand APP submitted that if they are educated persons they should know the consequences of their acts. The court asked the investigation officer why five days custody is required? Investigation officer said that there is deep Conspiracy to defame, other protestors fled from the spot, for proper investigation custody is required. They are from different states and they are required to be taken to their places. While arguing on the bail pleas, the Counsel for the accused said that there is no evidence to show that the protest was not peaceful. All the offences are not punishable for more than seven years. They are not required to be arrested and sent in custody remand. The guidelines of Arnesh Kumar is not complied with, the counsel argued. APP Shrivastav opposed the bail pleas and submitted that the allegations are serious in nature, there is Conspiracy to defame the country at international level. The don't deserve to be released on bail. (ANI) WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On his first visit to the United States since assuming office on January 15, Director General Muhammad Ibrahim of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) met with senior officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to advance a shared agenda to protect the hemispheric food supply and expand opportunities for farmers and ranchers through stronger, science-based agricultural trade. Luke J. Lindberg, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (USDA); Michelle Bekkering, Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (USDA), and Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of IICA. Director General Ibrahim held consultations with Luke J. Lindberg, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, and Michelle Bekkering, Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. The meetings focused on practical cooperation to strengthen food safety and biosecurity, improve regional capacity to prevent and respond to animal and plant pests and diseases, and expand Americas-to-Americas agricultural trade through sound-science, evidence-driven regulatory approaches. "The United States and IICA share a clear interest in protecting the integrity of the food supply chain and expanding trade that rewards producers and delivers safe, nutritious food to consumers," Director General Ibrahim said. "IICA is ready to help operationalize this agenda across our 34 Member States by strengthening sanitary and phytosanitary capacity, accelerating risk-based regulatory alignment, and supporting rapid response systems that keep threats from becoming crises." Under Secretary Lindberg underscored the importance of reinforcing the Americas' position as a reliable global supplier of food, feed, fiber, and fuelwhile ensuring trade delivers tangible benefits to producers, strengthens market access, and supports resilient supply chains. Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering emphasized the value of science-based standards and evidence-driven risk assessments as the foundation for predictable, trusted agricultural trade and effective protection against transboundary threats. The officials discussed practical pathways to deepen cooperation with IICA to strengthen biosecurity protocols, expand early warning and surveillance capacity, and improve coordinated response mechanisms for pests and diseases affecting crops and livestock. During the consultations, Director General Ibrahim also reaffirmed IICA's readiness to support agricultural recovery and rebuilding efforts in Venezuela, including collaboration with USDA on a structured approach to agricultural development and market access. With a longstanding operational presence in Venezuela, IICA can support technical cooperation, institutional strengthening, and risk management measures aligned with broader hemispheric food security and stability objectives. SOURCE Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Congress MP Manickam Tagore B on Saturday hit back at YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, saying his criticism of the Indian Youth Congress' protest was to seek applause from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister had condemned the IYC protest at the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, against the India-United States trade deal. Manickam Tagore, in an X post, maintained that criticising the government does not amount to demeaning the country. Tagore wrote, "Condemning protest to please those in power like Modi and Shah may win applause from rulers -- but it weakens democracy. From Mahatma Gandhi to Nelson Mandela, dissent has strengthened nations, not shamed them. Criticising a government is not demeaning the country. Silencing protest is far more dangerous than hearing uncomfortable questions." "When farmers' interests are compromised, what should the Indian Youth Congress do? Stay silent -- or protest? Democracy demands courage, not selective outrage. Well done, IYC," he added. His remarks came after YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said the Youth Congress' actions brought shame to the country and added that political differences should not undermine India's image on the global stage. In a post shared on X, Reddy said, "Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress made us all feel ashamed. Where is our politics heading! No one should ever demean our country." He added that despite political differences, all parties should always present a united face to the world. "Whatever our political differences may be, we should always present a united face to the world," Reddy further wrote. Here, YSRCP's response echoed the reaction by Telugu Desam Party (TDP), an ally of the BJP in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh minister and TDP leader Nara Lokesh hit out at Congress for turning the international event into a "political spectacle." "I'm shocked and dismayed by the disruption caused by the Youth Congress at the AI Summit yesterday. This global platform was meant to showcase India's growing leadership as an emerging AI superpower. Turning such a prestigious international event into a political spectacle only diminishes our collective standing before the world. India deserves better. Let us rise above petty politics and focus on nation-building through innovation and excellence," Nara Lokesh wrote on X. On Friday, Youth Congress workers carried out a "shirtless" protest inside the venue, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "compromised" and alleging that the country's identity had been traded at the AI event. During the protest, party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The Patiala House Court on Saturday rejected the bail applications of all four arrested Indian Youth Congress workers and sent the accused to police custody for five days. (ANI) A day after Indian Youth Congress held a 'shirtless' protest at the India AI Summit, the IYC members in Chandigarh held another protest against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, criticising the trade deal with the US. The party workers calling the PM "compromised" were reaching the BJP office when the police launched a lathi charge and tried to stop the protestors using water cannon. Speaking to reporters while at the protest, HS Lucky, Chandigarh Congress President, criticised the PM, stating that he favours other nations over India. He said that Congress "will not get scared" and will continue its protest against what he believed were "unjust policies" of the BJP government. "The PM is compromised. He is not protecting the rights of the citizens; he is caring for the foreign nations. Be it the deal with the US or the fight against China in the Galwan Valley. He is not able to embody the desired courage and patience. Today, the Youth Congress held this massive protest against that. We were headed to the BJP office, but we were stopped midway by the police, who used water cannons against us and did a lathi charge. We will not get scared away by this. The Congress will continue to protest against the unjust policies of the Modi government," he said. Meanwhile, the Patiala House Court on Saturday sent four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narsingh, in 5 days police custody. They have been arrested in connection with a protest they held on Friday at the Bharat Mandapam venue of the Al Impact India Summit in the national capital by removing their shirts with slogans that read, "Compromised PM". The party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The Indian Youth Congress, in a statement, said its workers were protesting against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit." Police later detained the protesters. However, the Delhi Police argued that the accused persons raised anti-national slogans and protested along the lines of the Gen Z protest of Nepal in order to defame the country at the international level. They protested when the international dignitaries were present at Bharta Mandapam. (ANI) A clash broke out on Saturday between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Indore, while the latter was protesting the Indian Youth Congress 'shirtless' protest at the India AI Impact Summit. The confrontation saw stone-pelting, prompting police to step in and control the situation. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Krishna Lalchandani said a clash broke out between two groups near the Congress office during a protest, resulting in stone-pelting and injuries. He added that the area had been barricaded with proper police arrangements. Speaking to the reporters, Lalchandani said, "There were two parties involved. One party was protesting. The protest was near the Congress office. The area had been barricaded, and proper police arrangements had been ensured." "Suddenly, some rumour-mongering occurred, and some stones were thrown. Then, the other side also threw stones. Some people were injured... It's too early to say who threw the first stone," he said. This comes after, on Friday, Youth Congress workers carried out a "shirtless" protest inside the venue, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "compromised" and alleging that the country's identity had been traded at the AI event. During the protest, party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The Patiala House Court rejected the bail applications of all four arrested Indian Youth Congress workers and sent the accused to police custody for five days. The arrested accused, who have been identified as Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav. The counsel for the accused argued and submitted that the accused belongs to a political party. They used their right to organise a protest at Bharat Mandapam. The protest was peaceful; there is no video that shows any violence. It is also submitted that they are office bearers and educated individuals with degrees. (ANI) All Jaat Mahasangh, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj (BKS) and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) on Saturday strongly condemned the Youth Congress protest at the India AI Impact Summit, calling it an act that harmed the nation's dignity and image on the global stage. In separate statements and letters, the organisations criticised the Congress party for staging the protest during an international event attended by foreign representatives and said any political differences should have been raised in Parliament. The All Jaat Mahasangh condemned the protest, stating that the Congress party had no right to compromise the nation's self-respect. The organisation said members of the Jat community criticised the protest and passed a resolution condemning the Congress, adding that any differences should have been raised in Parliament rather than during an international event attended by foreign representatives. In a letter, the All Jaat Mahasangh said, "The Jat community condemned this action of the Congress party. Mr. Naveen Dhankhar stated that the Congress party has no right to compromise the nation's self-respect. Similarly, Mr. Rakesh Mathur, representing Karala, Majri village, said that if the Congress party had any issues or differences of opinion, they should have discussed them in Parliament." "This protest, in the presence of representatives from various countries, demonstrates that the Congress party has no love for the country and will stoop to any level of depravity in its pursuit of power. The entire Jat community passed a resolution condemning the Congress party..," the letter reads. Bharatiya Krishak Samaj (BKS) also condemned the Youth Congress protest, calling it a disgrace to the nation. In a statement, BKS alleged that the protest was an attempt to defame the country globally and accused the Congress of conspiring to create unrest. "National President of Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, Krishna Bir Chaudhary, said that the naked hooliganism committed by the Youth Congress at the AI Summit is a disgrace to the nation and a conspiracy to defame the country globally. Congress, in collaboration with international anti-India forces, is conspiring to spread anarchy in the country. While opposing Modi, Congress is now preparing to set the country on fire," the statement said. They also called on central government agencies to take strict action against those involved, stating that the summit was aimed at showcasing India's technological progress on the world stage. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has organized the AI Summit to bring India to the world stage, in which the youth of the country are showcasing their technical prowess and bringing glory to India in the world. Congress is attempting to incite large-scale riots in the country. In the national interest, central government agencies should take strict action against those perpetrating such anti-national conspiracies," the statement furher said. This comes after, on Friday, Youth Congress workers carried out a "shirtless" protest inside the venue, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "compromised" and alleging that the country's identity had been traded at the AI event. During the protest, party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The Patiala House Court rejected the bail applications of all four arrested Indian Youth Congress workers and sent the accused to police custody for five days. The arrested accused, who have been identified as Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav. (ANI) Senior Assam Congress leader Ripun Bora on Saturday hinted at a strategy to induct Bharatiya Janata Party leaders into the party ahead of the state Legislative Assembly elections. Speaking to ANI, Bora refrained from revealing the details of the BJP leaders Congress would look to induct. When asked if the party has a strategy to make BJP leaders switch to Congress, he said, "Yes, but why should I reveal this to the media. Media mein bolne se khela khatam (Game is over, if it is revealed in the media). We will show things at the right time." Following former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah's switch to the BJP, Ripun Bora maintained that the party is still "strong" in the run-up to the polls and leaders quitting would not impact the party. "This happens with every party. People quit the BJP too. This keeps happening. Still, the party is strong. This will have no impact in Congress," he said. As Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra chaired a party meeting in Assam, Ripun Bora said that several election committees discussed the overall strategy for the polls. Bora told ANI, "Priyanka Gandhi, the Screening Committee Chairman for Assam, visited the state. She spoke with everyone in Assam - from block president to district president to PCC office bearers. The chairmen for four committees, in view of the state elections, were called here. One-to-one discussions were held on the overall situation and strategy. Suggestions were sought from us." Earlier on Thursday, during her Assam visit, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, questioning its record on unemployment and crimes against women in states governed by the party. Addressing a public gathering in Guwahati, the Congress MP said the BJP distributes money to women ahead of elections but fails to ensure their safety or provide them with sustainable livelihoods. Assam is set to hold Legislative Assembly elections later this year, where the BJP will look to secure a third consecutive term, while the Congress would want to oust the ruling party. (ANI) The Saket District Court on Saturday rejected the bail plea of businessman Satya Prakash Bagla who was arrested in an alleged case of cheating a Kolkata-based investor. He was arrested by the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police on January 9. This case pertains to the alleged siphoning and diversion of funds of Exclusive Capital Ltd (ECL), of which Bagla is the Managing Director. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Shunali Gupta rejected the bail plea of Satya Prakash Bagla after considering the submissions and facts of the case. "I am of the firm opinion that, considering the serious nature of the offence, investigation being at the nascent stage, concealment of past criminal antecedents by the applicant and the likelihood of thwarting the investigation by the applicant, impels me to dismissthe bail application at this stage," ASJ Shunali Gupta said. Senior Counsel Pramod Kumar Dubey submitted that the complaint upon which the FIR got registered was not filed by the company but by an individual shareholder. As per the allegations in the FIR, the complainant alleges that the funds that they have invested into the ECL company by way of shares and CCPS have been entrusted to the accused persons ( Directors of ECL), including the applicant. The allegation prima facie is untenable as if at all, money was entrusted to ECL and not to its Directors. The beneficial interest has been passed over to the company, and it became the money of the company; therefore, there exists no entrustment and offence under section 409 (criminal breach of trust) IPC is not made out, senior counsel argued. It was also argued that ECL, being an Non Banking financial company (NBFC), is involved in the business of disbursal of loan and whether the disbursals were rightful or wrongful, has to be seen by the regulator, which is the RBI. The RBI has already given a clean chit to the applicant. The counsel further argued that the applicant is a sick person having only one functioning kidney and is under constant supervision of doctors. Due to the non-availability of basic hygiene facilities during custody, he has developed swellings in his feet, which indicate his deteriorating condition. On the other hand, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Akhand Pratap Singh opposed the bail plea and argued that the offence is very serious in nature and, considering the nascent stage of investigation, bail may not be granted to the applicant. Further, in the reply filed by the investigation officer (IO), it is stated that ECL raised funds from third parties to the tune of Rs. 315 crores. These funds were entrusted to the accused by the victims/investors as debt for expanding the operations of ECL. It was also argued by the SPP that the offence under section 409 IPC is attracted as the accused Satya Prakash Bagla was in dominion over the funds by virtue of his fiduciary position and dishonestly misappropriated the same. It was also stated that Bagla has actively attempted to destroy and tamper with the electronic evidence. The mobile phones used by the accused have not been recovered. At the time of arrest, only one mobile phone was later produced by his wife; however, its Data was cleaned/erased, SPP Singh argued. Bagla has been arrested in a cheating case lodged on 24 October 2025, based on a senior citizen couple residing in Kolkata. An FIR was registered under sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy of the IPC. As per FIR, the Complainant had alleged cheating worth crores by three persons, including Bagla. Delhi Police earlier had sought custody of Bagla to trace and establish the complete money trail of siphoned funds, to identify the ultimate beneficiaries of proceeds of crime. It was stated earlier that accsued is to be confronted with financial records, forged documents and bank transactions, as the accused persons, while managing the affairs of ECL, have systematically, through sham transactions,s diverted substantial funds belonging to ECL to themselves through a web of related party transactions. Police had earlier said that the accused Satya Prakash Bagla has deliberately concealed material facts, evade full disclosure during the enquiry/investigation and has not cooperated with the investigation, crucial information has also to be ascertained like the end use of siphoned funds, creation of sham loan transaction, fabrication of documents, identification of other accomplices, unearthing location of missing assets and vehicles. Police has also said that the accused needs to be taken to Mumbai to ascertain the business activities, etc., in the name of M/s ECL and his other related company M/s Luxus Retail Pvt. Ltd. and to ascertain the end user of the vehicle (Bentley Bentayga). It was also submitted that during interrogation accused had stated that one car was given to someone in Lucknow, UP, and he used to recover the said vehicle from there and to identify movable and immovable properties acquired from diverted funds. Suresh Kumar Agarwal, in October 2025, gave a complaint against Satya Prakash Bagla, Achal Kumar Jindal, and Johnson Kallarachal Abraham, directors of Exclusive Capital Limited, having an office near Hauz Khas Metro Station, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi, for cheating, criminal breach of trust and other offences. Suresh Kumar Agarwala and Kanta Agarwala stated in the Complaint that they are senior citizens living permanently in Kolkata. They are holders of 2,34,650 shares in Exclusive Capital Limited (ECL), having a face value of INR 10 for each share, an aggregate value of INR 23,46,500. They also acquired 17.50 crore compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS) in ECL through Evaan Holdings Private Limited, in which we are the majority shareholders, and Kanta Agarwala is a director. The aggregate face value of the CCPS is Rs. 175,00,00,000 (Rupees One Hundred and Seventy Five Crore Only). (ANI) BJP leaders on Saturday staged a protest in Andhra Pradesh's Ongole, condemning remarks made by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been 'compromised' over tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Following these comments, leaders and workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party organised a demonstration in front of the Indian National Congress office in Prakasam district. In response, Congress leaders and workers also held a counter-protest, creating a tense atmosphere in the area. Tensions escalated when BJP leaders attempted to burn an effigy of Rahul Gandhi. Police immediately reached the spot and intervened, preventing clashes and dispersing both groups. Suresh Varam, Prakasam district Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president, condemned the protest by the Indian Youth Congress members at the India AI Impact Summit on Friday, stating that Rahul Gandhi is scared of the success of the BJP government. "Congress leaders staged a protest against the BJP at the AI Summit to malign the image of the government. This party did nothing for the nation during their period of reign. While PM Narendra Modi made it the fourth-largest economy. They are scared of the accomplishments of the BJP-led Union government," he said. Meanwhile, the Patiala House Court on Saturday sent four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narsingh, in 5 days police custody. They have been arrested in connection with a protest they held on Friday at the Bharat Mandapam venue of the Al Impact India Summit in the national capital by removing their shirts with slogans that read, "Compromised PM". The party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The Indian Youth Congress, in a statement, said its workers were protesting against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit." Police later detained the protesters. However, the Delhi Police argued that the accused persons raised anti-national slogans and protested along the lines of the Gen Z protest of Nepal in order to defame the country at the international level. They protested when the international dignitaries were present at Bharta Mandapam. (ANI) Reaffirming the narrow limits of review jurisdiction, the Delhi High Court on Saturday refused to reopen its earlier judgment upholding the transfer of proceedings involving former West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay from the Kolkata Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to its Principal Bench in New Delhi. The Division Bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Jyoti Singh observed that a review petition cannot be treated as an appeal in disguise and courts cannot revisit conclusions merely because a party seeks reconsideration of arguments already examined. The Court held that interference in review proceedings is permissible only when a clear and self-evident error exists on the face of the record, which was absent in the present case. The petitioner had sought review of the High Court's March 7, 2022 judgment that upheld the Tribunal Chairman's decision to transfer his service-related challenge concerning a disciplinary chargesheet. It was argued that the earlier judgment suffered from legal errors, denial of effective hearing, and non-consideration of certain judicial precedents. However, the High Court found no merit in the contention that the petitioner was denied an adequate opportunity of hearing. The Bench noted that representation through counsel had been duly provided and clarified that the grant of a pass-over to enable the appearance of senior counsel is not an enforceable legal right. Dealing with allegations of violation of principles of natural justice, the Court held that the Tribunal had complied with statutory requirements by issuing notice and granting a hearing before passing the transfer order. The Bench clarified that Section 25 of the Administrative Tribunals Act does not mandate the filing of written objections and requires only notice and opportunity of hearing. The Court also rejected the petitioner's principal argument that the power exercised by the CAT Chairman under Section 25 is judicial or quasi-judicial in nature. Upholding its earlier reasoning, the Bench reiterated that the power to transfer cases between Tribunal benches is essentially administrative and subject only to limited judicial review. Addressing the submission that a retired government officer has a statutory right to institute proceedings before a Tribunal bench within whose jurisdiction he resides, the Court observed that such an interpretation would undermine the Chairman's statutory authority to transfer cases. The Bench held that procedural rules cannot override powers expressly granted under the parent legislation. The High Court further noted that judgments relied upon by the petitioner either dealt with different statutory provisions or addressed issues unrelated to the transfer powers under the Administrative Tribunals Act, and therefore did not justify review of the earlier decision. Finding that the review plea effectively sought rehearing of the matter rather than correction of any apparent error, the Court dismissed the petition as devoid of merit and disposed of all pending applications. (ANI) The West Bengal State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) stated that the committee member Pratik Ur Rahman has been expelled from the party for engaging in "serious anti-party activities and joining the enemy camp." In an official statement, the committee said, "The State Committee member of the party, Pratik Ur Rahman, has been expelled from the party with immediate effect as per the decision of the West Bengal State Committee under Sub-section 13 of Article 19 of the party constitution for engaging in serious anti-party activities and joining the enemy camp." The statement comes after Pratik Ur Rahman joined the Trinamool Congress today, ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. The former CPI(M) State Committee member earlier met with TMC MP and National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. After joining, Pratikur Rahman said, "This is just the trailer, picture abhi baaki hai." Earlier on Thursday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma from Kurseong Assembly constituency also joined the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). Sharma joined the party at Trinamool Bhavan in Kolkata in the presence of senior TMC leaders, marking a setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the hill constituency. TMC leaders welcomed Sharma and hailed the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led state government's achievements, attributing them to the reason for his switch. West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja said that BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma believes in development-based politics, citing it as the reason for his joining Trinamool Congress. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh said that Sharma joined the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) because he felt disconnected from the party. These latest party switches create a tense political environment in the state, as all parties gear up their ground-level preparations and campaigns ahead of the legislative assembly elections. West Bengal will face assembly polls in the first half of this year, but the dates have not been announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In 2026, assembly elections are scheduled for four states and one union territory in India. The four legislative bodies, along with West Bengal, up for election are Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. (ANI) Bhopal Police on Saturday booked seven Bharatiya Janata Party workers at the Habibganj Police Station over a clash involving stone-pelting and physical assault between the BJP and Congress members at the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) office located in Shivaji Nagar, Bhopal. Based on the complaint filed by Madhya Pradesh Congress SC Department President Pradeep Ahirwar, police have booked seven BJP workers. The complainant alleged that around 3:45 PM, a group of 50 to 60 individuals armed with sticks and stones forcibly entered the office and began vandalising the property. Glass partitions, furniture, and posters were damaged during the ruckus. The complaint further states that several party workers were assaulted, and the complainant, Ahirwar, himself sustained a head injury after being struck by a stone. Authorities have initiated an investigation, registering the case against seven named suspects and several unidentified individuals under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This comes as the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) members staged a protest in Bhopal as part of their nationwide protest against the Congress earlier today. The BJYM demonstrated against the Congress in the wake of the Youth Congress protest at the AI summit in New Delhi on Friday. Addressing the gathering at the site of protest, the BJYM state president Shyam Tailor said that the demonstration was held against the "anti-national ideology" of the Congress. "Congress has maligned the identity of the nation. The Congress is not able to accept the growth of the nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The protest staged by Congress members at the AI Summit is evidence of their anti-national ideology. Today, the BJYM are here to gherao the Congress office. We are not opposing a person or a party, but the ideology that is against our nation," BJYM state president Shyam Tailor said. Tensions escalated when BJYM members attempted to forcibly attack the Congress office, igniting a violent clash. Police immediately reached the spot and intervened, attempting to prevent the clashes and dispersing both groups. However, the state Congress members alleged that the police supported the BJYM members, aggravating the clash. "These BJYM goons have now reached the Congress office. It's a matter of three more years, after which the youth and farmers of Madhya Pradesh will remove the BJP government for good. The Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi is not going to get scared of these cowards," a Congress member said while clinging onto the office gate, as the police tried to control the agitated protestors. Following the violent clash, the Congress workers staged a counter-protest demanding action against the BJYM members. They alleged that the BJP protestors had the backing of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and the police. "Today, the BJP members, on the orders of the Chief Minister and Police Commissioner, came to the Congress office. All of them had lathis in their hands. The Congress workers were put under house arrest at the office, as the BJP workers were escorted to the office under police protection. The police are working as agents of the BJP," another Congress member said. In the protest held at the Al Impact India Summit in the national capital, the Youth Congress members removed their shirts with slogans that read, "Compromised PM". The party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The Indian Youth Congress, in a statement, said its workers were protesting against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit." Police later detained the protesters. However, the Delhi Police argued that the accused persons raised anti-national slogans and protested along the lines of the Gen Z protest of Nepal in order to defame the country at the international level. They protested when the international dignitaries were present at Bharta Mandapam. (ANI) CUTLER BAY, Fla., Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Do you need flood insurance even if you're not in a high-risk zone? A HelloNation article answers this question for Cutler Bay homeowners by explaining the gaps in standard homeowners insurance and why flood risk is more widespread than many residents assume. Ellie Mills, President of Mills Insurance Agency Inc Speed Speed The article outlines how many homeowners mistakenly believe that flood insurance is only necessary if they live in a FEMA-designated high-risk zone. But as the article explains, flooding in South Florida doesn't always follow mapped zones. Because of the region's flat terrain and low elevation, water can accumulate quickly from intense rain, overwhelmed drainage systems, or storm surge, regardless of proximity to the coast. The article underscores that flood zones in Cutler Bay help determine federal insurance requirements but don't reflect the full scope of real-world risk. Homeowners insurance flood exclusion is one of the central concerns addressed in the article. Standard homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood damage of any kind. Whether caused by rain, storm surge, or rising groundwater, water entering from outside the home is excluded under most policies. The article stresses that relying on homeowners insurance without separate flood insurance can leave property owners exposed to significant financial losses. According to the article, Cutler Bay flood insurance is critical for residents across the entire area, not just those in high-risk zones. Even neighborhoods categorized as moderate or low risk can still face flooding during heavy rainfall. In fact, the article points out that a significant number of flood claims come from these areas. This reinforces the importance of understanding the limits of existing policies and exploring additional protection. The article also highlights the increasing flood risk in South Florida due to changing weather patterns and urban development. New construction can change drainage dynamics, and stormwater systems can become overwhelmed during intense rain events. As flood risks grow, the need for tailored Florida flood insurance coverage becomes more important for homeowners looking to safeguard their property and belongings. Another point raised in the article is the role of flood insurance in long-term financial planning. Many homeowners drop coverage once their mortgage no longer requires it, but the risk of flood damage does not disappear. The article explains how maintaining flood insurance can help preserve property value, especially as potential buyers increasingly take flood history and insurance into account when evaluating homes. In Cutler Bay, flood insurance is available through both the National Flood Insurance Program and private insurers. The article encourages homeowners to review coverage options and limits carefully, especially when evaluating policies that cover both the structure and personal property. A detailed understanding of what is and isn't included is essential for avoiding surprises after a storm. Timing is another key concern mentioned in the article. Many flood policies come with a waiting period before coverage begins. The article warns that waiting until a storm is forecast to buy coverage may result in being unprotected when damage occurs. It also discusses the use of elevation certificates and the importance of checking whether a home's flood zone has changed, since FEMA maps are updated over time. By explaining how flood zones in Cutler Bay relate to real-world flood risk, the article supports more informed decision-making. It calls attention to the difference between water damage from internal issues, such as a burst pipe, and flooding caused by external water sources. Understanding that difference is crucial, as only the latter is excluded from standard homeowners insurance and requires separate coverage. The article closes with a reminder that federal disaster aid is not a substitute for insurance. Disaster assistance is only available when an event is officially declared and may come in the form of loans, not grants. The article stresses that having proper flood insurance in place offers more dependable protection. What Cutler Bay Homeowners Should Know About Flood Insurance features insights from Ellie Mills, Insurance Expert of Cutler Bay, FL, in HelloNation. About HelloNation HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. www.hellonation.com SOURCE HelloNation Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday criticised the then Left Front government for ignoring the labour class people and creating a division between owners and labourers. Saha said this while inaugurating a programme to unveil the bust of Syama Prasad Mukherjee at Nagerjala Bus Stand, Agartala. "The Nagerjala bus stand was not in good condition. When we came here, we restored it. The earlier government never thought about the working and labour class. They never thought about the bus drivers or passengers; there were not even any passenger sheds. They only thought about how to bring people to their processions and ruled the state for 35 years. However, after our government came, we decided to restore the bus stands. A few days back, I laid the foundation stone for some bus termini," he said. Saha said that Syama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life for the country and for the unity of the nation. "So if we want to give him due respect, we must name this bus stand after him. Everyone has the duty to maintain this bus stand. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was always proactive and had vast knowledge. At a very young age, he became the Vice-Chancellor of the then University of Calcutta. He was also a minister. However, protesting the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, he resigned from the ministerial post. In 1951, he formed the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He worked for the unity of the nation. Everyone knows the history," he said. He said that there was a time when vehicle drivers and labourers had a good relationship, but then communism and socialism created divisions among them. "They focused on dividing owners and labourers and creating a gap between them. They created a divide-and-rule policy among owners and labourers. But now PM Modi is saying 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' and 'Sabka Prayas'. We must stay united for the development of the country and the state," he said. Saha said that the state government has created 1.08 lakh "Lakhpati Didis," which is 95 per cent of the target achieved. "Women will not only be lakhpatis but also entrepreneurs. This is the aim of PM Modi. There is no alternative to hard work. Those who work hard will progress. Many industries were shut down earlier. Previously, there were many disputes at Nagerjala Bus Stand, but now no such incidents are taking place. Conductors have to maintain a good relationship with passengers," said Saha. He also informed that earlier, Tripura had only one national highway, NH-08. He added, "This will be four-laned from Chandrapur to Churaibari, and the Udaipur road will also be four-laned. The DPR has also been completed. Our government is working with transparency, and the work on the ring road has already started. We focus only on development. In the last year, I have laid foundation stones and inaugurated projects worth Rs 1,500 crore." (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday took a dig at the BJP on corruption in the wake of a BJP MLA, Chandru Lamani, being nabbed by the Lokayukta while taking bribes. Speaking to reporters at the GBA office, he sarcastically said, "Aren't BJP politicians the most honest in the country?" He was replying to a question on the BJP MLA being caught taking a bribe. "BJP leaders can't be corrupted. Someone must have given you false information. Let's wait till the Lokayukta gives its statement, and then I will give my comments," he quipped, taking a dig at the BJP. Asked about the comments of the BJP leaders who dubbed Youth Congress protests at the AI summit as anti-national, he said, "I will talk about this after I gather more information about the party's stand on this." Earlier on Thursday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that there was a strong anti-incumbency wave in Assam, and said that people in the state were looking for a change in the government. He said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were strong in Assam, it would not try to induct former state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah. Speaking to the reporters here, Shivakumar said, "All our senior leaders and office bearers are very much confident that on the ground, there is a big anti-incumbency wave. The people of Assam want a change." "If the BJP were strong, why would they beg our former PCC President (Bhupen Borah)? Not a single worker from our party went with the former PCC President. That shows that the BJP is very weak and is losing," he added. Shivakumar's remarks come as Bhupen Kumar Borah is set to join the ruling BJP on February 22. This major shift comes just a day after Borah tendered his resignation from Congress, marking a pivotal development in the buildup to the state Assembly elections. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar today said he was happy about AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's assurance to Satish Jarkiholi on resolving the leadership issue in Karnataka. The DCM was speaking to reporters at the Karnataka State Higher Education Council here. When asked about CM's article and series of tweets, he said, "I don't have any information on that." Replying to a question on Bagalkote violence, he said, "I returned to Bengaluru from Assam last night, and I was very tired. I don't have any information on that yet, will seek details of it." Asked if the government would give compensation to the victims in Bagalkote in view of the Congress delegation's visit, he said a decision would be taken after officials give a report. Asked about BJP MLA Dheeraj Muniraju saying he had not demanded any funds for allowing garbage dumping in his constituency, he said, "We will talk about it later. Earlier, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar deflected from commenting on the cabinet reshuffle speculations, stating that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will himself respond "when the time comes." Speaking to reporters at the State Election Commission on Bellary Road, Shivakumar reiterated that leadership decisions are made by the party's High Command. "H C Mahadevappa is a big man, and now he is also part of the High Command. I don't want to talk about it; the party will decide on this," Shivakumar said without commenting further on Minister of Social Welfare, HC Mahadevappa's comment about the leadership change. "As stated earlier, the leadership issue is a matter to be decided by the High Command, Siddaramaiah and me. When the time comes, you will know about the decision. This is not a secretive deal; Siddaramaiah himself will give the message to the people of the state when the time comes," the Deputy Chief Minister clarified. The leadership tussle within the Karnataka Congress began in November last year, when the government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday condemned the Indian Youth Congress protest at the AI Impact Summit, stating that Congress believes in defaming "vibrant democracy with violent anarchy." Ridiculing the Congress protest as "a naked dance," he said that the Opposition party must change its thinking, or it will be ruined. "Recently, at the AI Summit, where heads of nearly twenty countries and representatives from 118 countries were present, you performed a naked dance... They believe that through their violent anarchy, they can destroy, disturb, and defame a vibrant democracy. Therefore, they must break free from this thinking. Otherwise, they will continue to ruin themselves every day..." the BJP leader told ANI. The BJP leader further listed several instances of Congress protests, calling the chronology "Congress's criminal actions by choice." He said that Congress held a campaign in 2015 when several heads of state of African countries were in India, adding that a similar instance happened in 2019-20 when Congress members held a protest to safeguard the citizenship of minorities and Muslims while the US President was in India. "This chronology of Congress's criminal actions is not by chance, but by choice... In 2015, when the heads of state of approximately 54 African countries were in India, a very prestigious and historic summit was underway... What was happening at that time? An award-return campaign was underway... In 2019-20, when the US President and his delegation were in India, and all sorts of important issues were being discussed, what was going on at that time?... Some of our sisters were made to sit there in Shaheen Bagh to defame the entire world, claiming that the citizenship of minorities and Muslims in India is under threat...," he noted. Additionally, BJP Leader Basavaraj S Bommai called the protest "most shameful" and said that Congress has disgraced the country with their 'shirtless' protest, adding that the nation will never forgive Congress and Rahul Gandhi. "... The conduct of Congress workers during the AI Summit was most shameful. Congress has reached such a phase that they resorted to removing their clothes simply to attract attention. In doing so, they have disgraced the country, disgraced India and Bharat. People will never forget or forgive Congress and Rahul Gandhi for this futile act against the nation. It is truly shameful," the BJP leader said. Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called the Indian Youth Congress protest "a betrayal of India's image." "On behalf of the Goa government, I condemn the way Congress, due to its low-level politics, sent its young workers to this AI Summit, and the way they have taken off their clothes and protested... This is a betrayal of India's image...," the CM said. In the protest held at the Al Impact India Summit in the national capital, the Youth Congress members removed their shirts with slogans that read, "Compromised PM". The party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent. The Patiala House Court on Saturday rejected the bail applications of all four arrested Indian Youth Congress workers in connection with the protest and sent them into a five-day police custody. (ANI) Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday questioned the mindset of refusing to shake hands with Pakistani players, saying such actions do not reflect nationalism but a lack of sportsmanship, while addressing students at the Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad programme organised by a private university in Pune. Speaking during the event, Singh said, "I totally agree with what Rajdeep said. What is this mindset? What kind of patriotism or nationalism is it to refuse to shake hands with Pakistani players? Are they responsible for the Kargil war, Pulwama, or Pahalgam? No, they are sportspersons." He added, "Why should we refuse to acknowledge or thank them? This is not nationalism; this is about sportsmanship. Sportsmanship means that when you play a game, you compete hard, if you win, you celebrate; if you lose, you accept it with grace. You don't insult the opponent." Citing an example, Singh said, "When Neeraj Chopra lost to Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan, they didn't just shake hands, they embraced each other. That is true sportsmanship. Unfortunately, that spirit seems to be missing in today's politics." During his address, Singh also spoke about Sanatan Dharma and constitutional values. He said, "You must understand one thing, our religion is Sanatan, not 'Hindu.' Hindu is our geographical identity; our religion is Sanatan. That which has no end is Sanatan. Therefore, it believes in sarva dharma sambhava, equal respect for all religions. Respecting all faiths is the essence of Sanatan Dharma." He further added, "However, when religion is weaponised, by which I mean when it is used to accumulate wealth or to gain political power, then it is no longer religion; it becomes adharma (unrighteousness). Our Sanatan Dharma teaches that saying 'this person is ours and that person is not' reflects a narrow mindset. For those with a broad and generous heart, the entire world is one family." Expressing concern over current political discourse, Singh said, "I am saddened by the fact that in politics today we talk about having a '56-inch chest,' but what the country truly needs is not 56 inch chest. What it needs is the commitment to fight for the poor and the oppressed to stand with them and share in their joys and sorrows." He further stated, "Bringing hostility into politics is unethical, and doing politics in the name of religion is wrong." Referring to his tenure as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Singh said, "When I was the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, I never took action against any BJP leader out of political vendetta. I have also maintained very good relations with RSS leaders. I admire their spirit of commitment. Their agenda has always been that of a Hindu Rashtra. I have often told them that the Constitution says, 'We, the people of India.' So why call it a Hindu Rashtra?" He also referred to a recent remark by the RSS chief, stating, "Recently, the Sarsanghchalak also said that Hindu includes Muslims and Sikhs as well. If that is the case, then they should also be regarded simply as Indians." (ANI) US President Donald Trump reiterated his claim of mediating a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan in 2024 with his threats of "200 per cent tariffs" as he argued against the US Supreme Court ruling to invalidate his reciprocal tariffs. While reiterating his claim, Trump, this time, said that 10 fighter jets were shot down during the conflict, backtracking from his claim of 11 jets yesterday. "Tariffs have likewise been used to end 5 of the 8 wars I have settled. I have settled 8 wars, whether you like it or not, including India- Pakistan, big ones, which could have been nuclear. The Prime Minister of Pakistan said yesterday at the Peace Board meeting that President Trump could have saved 35 million lives by getting us to stop fighting. They were getting ready to do some bad things," Trump said. "10 planes were shot down. That war is going and probably going nuclear. I did it largely with tariffs. I said look if you are going to fight, then it's fine, but you are not doing business with US, and you are going to pay a 200 per cent tariff, each country, and they called up and said we have made peace," he added. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs. During the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif also showered praises on Trump for his mediation in the conflict, calling him a "man of peace" and "saviour of people of South Asia." "Your timely and very effective intervention to achieve a ceasefire between India and Pakistan potentially averted the loss of millions of people's lives. You have truly proved to be a man of peace and let me say you are turly saviour of the people of South Asia," Shehbaz Sharif said. Post-Pahalgam terror attack in April of 2024, in which 26 people were killed. India, in response to the attack, launched precise attacks on Pakistan's terrorist infrastructure under Operation Sindoor. India has consistently refuted Trump's claims, stating that the ceasefire was achieved bilaterally through the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs), without third-party involvement. India has also reiterated its long-standing position that any issues with Pakistan, including those related to Jammu and Kashmir, are to be resolved bilaterally between the two countries. (ANI) Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked PM Modi for the invitation to the AI Impact Summit and discussed the strengthening of historic ties and expanding economic, trade, and cultural cooperation. In a post on X, he said, "Joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi this afternoon (20) for a meeting. I thanked him for the invitation to the AI Impact Summit 2026. We held extensive discussions on strengthening our historic ties and expanding economic, trade, and cultural cooperation." "I also expressed my gratitude for India's exceptional support during the recent Cyclone Ditwah," he added. PM Modi described the meeting as "wonderful" and said that they discussed avenues of cooperation in various areas. "Strengthening friendship with a valued neighbour! It was wonderful meeting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Delhi. We took stock of the progress in India-Sri Lanka relations in recent times. We also discussed avenues of cooperation in areas such as energy, connectivity, infrastructure, healthcare, skilling, culture, blue economy and more," he said. The India AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academics and civil society representatives to deliberate on responsible AI governance and inclusive technological advancement. The India AI Impact 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 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. The Summit saw participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, and about 45 Ministers. (ANI) Neal Katyal, former Acting US Solicitor General and a leading Supreme Court litigator, who plead the case against tariffs in the US Supreme Court, hailed the landmark decision by the Court as a decisive victory for constitutional governance and the separation of powers. Katyal, who serves as the Paul and Patricia Saunders Professor of National Security Law at Georgetown University Law Center, described the ruling as a sweeping endorsement of the arguments advanced in the case challenging what plaintiffs called unconstitutional taxation by the executive branch. In his statetement on X, he wrote, "Today, the US Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law and Americans everywhere. Its message was simple: Presidents are powerful, but our Constitution is more powerful still. In America, only Congress can impose taxes on the American people. The US Supreme Court gave us everything we asked for in our legal case. Everything." "I'm grateful for the leadership of the Liberty Justice Center, and in particular for the brilliant advocacy by its chair, Sara Albrecht, who led the fight when others wouldn't and was dauntless in its defense of our constitutional order. I'm also grateful to the five small business owners who stood up against these unjust, unconstitutional taxes. By taking a stand, they have delivered crucial relief to tens of thousands of businesses and millions of consumers across the country," the statement read further. "Finally, I lack the words to properly thank my brilliant Milbank team, especially Colleen Roh Sinzdak and Sami Ilagan, who worked with me day and night for many months to craft the winning argument. This case has always been about the presidency, not any one president. It has always been about separation of powers, and not the politics of the moment. I'm gratified to see our Supreme Court, which has been the bedrock of our government for 250 years, protect our most fundamental values," the statement concluded. Katyal, a partner at the global law firm Milbank LLP, has argued dozens of cases before the nation's highest court and is widely regarded as one of the country's foremost constitutional advocates. His academic and litigation work has long focused on executive power, national security law, and the structural safeguards embedded in the Constitution. The case, backed by the Liberty Justice Center and a group of small business owners, centered on whether the president could unilaterally impose taxes without congressional authorization. In siding with the challengers, the Court reaffirmed that taxing authority rests exclusively with Congress under Article I of the Constitution. By emphasizing that the dispute concerned "the presidency, not any one president," Katyal underscored the broader institutional stakes -- a theme consistent with his scholarship and courtroom advocacy. In an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins, he said, "Oftentimes in these high profile cases, there are 5 to 4. But this one was 6 to 3. And notably with two of President Trump's three appointees voting against him." When asked if he thinks President Trumo could've actually done something to change the minds of Supreme Court Justices, he said, "He could've behaved in a constitutional way. And not in 'I am the President, I'll do whatever I want.' It is really hard to win a case against the President. It has only happened once or twice."(ANI) A ceremonial welcome was held on Saturday at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was recieved at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. On Friday, President Lula inaugurated the first office of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) in New Delhi. Sharing the details in a post on X he said that this would promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. "Brazil and India are two of the largest nations of the Global South. We had a trade flow of US$ 15.2 billion in 2025, with plenty of room for growth", the post added. https://x.com/LulaOficial/status/2024848211815342331?s=20 Brazil's envoy to India, Kenneth da Nobrega, on Friday appreciated the efforts the Indian Government had put in organising the AI Impact Summit 2026. Futher he said that Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a State visit to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a very good chemistry and that they are not only colleagues but also friends. Speaking exclusively to ANI on the growing rapport between President Lula and PM Modi, he said, "This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level. There is a very good chemistry. I think they are not only colleagues, but they have become more and more friends. That's a fact." "This is a historical summit in the Global South, and the Prime Minister Modi is really trying to include the Global South in this essential new wave of technology, which is AI, which will transform our lives, Brazil's ambassador to India said. Asked about the significance of India hosting the AI summit, the envoy said, "Yes, India definitely is becoming a new hub for AI." The Brazilian envoy to India said, "President Lula has come to India with the largest ever delegation, with more than 11 cabinet ministers, more than 300 businessmen, among them 50 CEOs. This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level." Lula's visit to India follows a July 2025 visit to Brasilia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years. The Brazilian President has arrived in India with large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum. (ANI) A new report released by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee has alleged a disturbing escalation in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and staged police encounters across Balochistan during February, raising fresh concerns about Pakistan's security policies in the province, as reported by The Balochistan Post. According to The Balochistan Post, the committee documented at least 19 deaths in a single month, warning that the real number could be significantly higher. The group said many incidents remain unrecorded due to strict media controls and fear among affected families, who are often reluctant to speak publicly. These constraints have made independent verification increasingly difficult. The report states that several of those killed were unarmed civilians, including minors and students. Among the cases cited was three-year old, who allegedly died in a drone strike, and a 12-year-old, who was reportedly shot dead. The committee documented instances where students who had previously been forcibly disappeared were later found dead. These included matriculation and FSc students Nawab Abdullah, Jangiyan Baloch and Junaid Ahmed. One of the most high-profile cases involved 24-year old Hamdan Baloch. He was taken into custody by Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department in Karachi on December 29, 2025. Weeks later, on February 18, he was killed in what police described as an encounter. However, the committee alleged that the circumstances pointed toward a staged killing, questioning the legality of the operation and the responsibility of authorities during his detention, as highlighted by The Balochistan Post. The report also named several other individuals, including Malang Baloch, Karim Jan, Pazeer Baloch and Aseel Baloch, who allegedly forcibly disappeared before being killed. Some deaths were attributed to targeted attacks by what the group described as state-backed militias. Calling the situation a grave assault on the Baloch people's dignity and security, the committee urged the United Nations and international rights organisations to push for independent investigations and accountability, as reported by The Balochistan Post. (ANI) VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Kootenay Silver Inc. (TSXV: KTN) (OTCQX: KOOYF) (the "Company" or "Kootenay") is pleased to announce it has entered into a marketing services agreement (the "Marketing Agreement") with Gold Standard Media, LLC ("Gold Standard"), an internet marketing and advertising company. Gold Standard, together with certain Affiliates (as such term is defined in the policies of the Exchange), will provide to the Company certain financial publishing and digital marketing services focused on introducing the Company to a broader audience. In exchange for providing these services, Gold Standard its Affiliates will receive an aggregate upfront payment of USD$1 million. The Marketing Agreement remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Marketing Agreement has an initial term of three months, ending May 20, 2026, and any renewal or extension of the Marketing Agreement will be subject to prior Exchange approval. Consideration offered to Gold Standard and its Affiliates does not include any securities of the Company. Aside from this engagement, the Company does not have any relationship with Gold Standard and/or their Affiliates, Mr. Kenneth Ameduri, the CEO of Gold Standard, or Juliet Ameduri or Lior Gantz, the other authorized representatives of Gold Standard. Neither Gold Standard, their Affiliates, nor any parties that are non-arm's length parties (as defined under the policies of the Exchange) to Gold Standard holds any securities of the Company or has any interest, direct or indirect, in the Company. Gold Standard's address is 723 W. University Ave, #110 283 Georgetown TX 78626 www.goldstandardir.com. Neither the 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. About Kootenay Silver Inc. Kootenay Silver Inc. is an exploration company actively engaged in the discovery and development of mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region of Mexico. Supported by one of the largest junior portfolios of silver assets in Mexico, Kootenay continues to provide its shareholders with significant leverage to silver prices. The Company remains focused on the expansion of its current silver resources, new discoveries and the near-term economic development of its priority silver projects located in prolific mining districts in Sonora, State and Chihuahua, State, Mexico, respectively. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The information in this news release has been prepared as at February 20, 2026. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expected", "may", "will" or similar terms. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kootenay as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by law, Kootenay expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in Kootenay's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. SOURCE Kootenay Silver Inc. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday held delegation-level talks here in the national capital. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, MoS MEA Pabitra Margherita, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal were among those present during the talks. Earlier, PM Modi and President Lula held discussions at Hyderabad House on Saturday. Earlier today a ceremonial welcome was held on Saturday at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. President Lula also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. On Friday, President Lula inaugurated the first office of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) in New Delhi. Sharing the details in a post on X he said that this would promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. Brazil's envoy to India, Kenneth da Nobrega, on Friday spoke to ANI about the growing rapport between President Lula and PM Modi, and said, "This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level. There is a very good chemistry. I think they are not only colleagues, but they have become more and more friends. That's a fact." The Brazilian envoy to India said, "President Lula has come to India with the largest ever delegation, with more than 11 cabinet ministers, more than 300 businessmen, among them 50 CEOs. This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level." Lula's visit to India follows a July 2025 visit to Brasilia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years. The Brazilian President has arrived in India with large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum. (ANI) Himani Pande, DPIIT Additional Secretary on Saturday said the India-Brazil partnership is poised for a more ambitious and transformative phase, asserting that existing trade levels fall short of the relationship's strategic potential, according to a report by Brasil 247. Speaking at the Brazil-India Business Forum in the national capital, Pande said recent high-level exchanges including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brazil and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to India have created fresh political momentum. She said the bilateral relationship is now prepared to move onto an expanded and transformative path. Pande noted that bilateral trade currently stands at around USD 15 billion, describing the figure as significantly below potential. She added that the previously set 2030 trade target of about USD 20 billion is too modest and called for a stronger push to achieve more ambitious goals. Addressing trade barriers, the minister acknowledged that restrictions and regulatory hurdles on both sides have sometimes constrained growth in commerce and investment. She stressed the need for deeper coordination and a more strategic approach to unlock greater economic engagement, adding that the recent state visits provide the necessary impetus to pursue bolder objectives. Pande outlined five pillars of immediate strategic importance identified through leaders' discussions: defence and security, food and nutritional security, energy transition and climate action, digital transformation and emerging technologies, and industrial partnerships. She said these priority areas reflect shared interests and offer a structured roadmap for sustained collaboration. Highlighting India's economic performance, Pande said the country recorded approximately 7.8 per cent GDP growth, surpassing expectations and improving upon the previous year's 6.5 per cent expansion. She attributed the growth to strong services performance, industrial revival supported by production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, and enhanced infrastructure spending, noting capital expenditure of around USD 120 billion for 2024-25. She also pointed to advances in digital infrastructure and regulatory predictability aimed at facilitating business. Turning to Brazil's strengths, Pande referred to its vast natural resource base, including ethanol production and the Amazon region. She emphasised Brazil's leadership in critical minerals such as niobium, lithium and iron ore, linking these to global energy transition and technology supply chains. She also identified aerospace, automotive and digital technologies as areas of synergy that could position both nations as key partners in global value chains. Beyond trade, Pande said the partnership is rooted in shared democratic values, cultural ties and commitment to inclusive development. She also highlighted cooperation in intellectual property and referenced Ambassador Antonio Patriota's role in advancing a treaty at the World Intellectual Property Organization on genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Concluding her remarks, Pande expressed confidence in building a strong and enduring India-Brazil partnership. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed a joint press conference in the national capital Three MoUs were exchanged between the two government namely -the MoU Joint Declaration On Digital Partnership for Future, the MoU on Cooperation in areas of Rare Earth and Critical Minerals and the MoU for Cooperation in the field of Mining in the Steel Supply Chain. "My dear friend Modi, it is a reason of happiness for me to return to this country for the sixth time. The meeting between India and Brazil is a meeting of superlatives. We are not just the two biggest democracies of the Global South. This is a meeting of a digital superpower with a renewable energy superpower. We are both mega diverse countries and hubs of the cultural industry and we both defend multilateralism and peace," President Lula da Silva said sharing how happy he was to be in the country. "This shows the synchrony and mutual trust that binds us together. A few months ago, in July last year, I had the honour of hosting my friend Modi in Brasilia. His visit was a milestone. On that occasion, we restructured the bilateral cooperation agenda in five areas...We signed several agreements that provide concrete quality to our cooperation in these areas," he added. President Lula highlighted that India and Brazil's voice were crucial especially in the context of changing geopolitics. "A turbulent global scenario requires our countries to strengthen and deepen our strategic dialogue...India and Brazil are crucial voices at the UN, the WTO and G20 are partners in building a multilateral governance which is more just, peaceful, and governed by international law Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Hyderabad House here in the national capital. A ceremonial welcome was held at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. President Lula also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On Friday, President Lula inaugurated the first office of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) in New Delhi. Sharing the details in a post on X he said that this would promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. Lula's visit to India follows a July 2025 visit to Brasilia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a joint news conference with Brazilian President Lula here in the national capital and noted that the discussions between the two leaders aimed at moving forward across all sectors in the spirit of shared purpose and that the nations are committed for bilateral trade to surpass 20 billion USD in the next fiver years. He thanked the Brazilian President for his participation in the Global AI Impact Summit, and also praised his visionary leadership in giving a fillip to India-Brazil ties. "I am delighted to welcome President Lula and his delegation to India. India-Brazil relations have long benefited from President Lula''s vision and inspiring leadership. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of meeting him several times, and in each meeting, I have felt his deep friendship and trust in India. President Lula''s visit has graced the historic AI Impact Summit and given new energy to our strategic partnership. I express my gratitude to the President for his friendship and commitment to the relationship between our two countries," PM Modi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that Brazil is India''s largest trade partner in Latin America. He further highlighted that the visit of the large business delegation from Brazil is a commitment to this fact and noted that with expansion of India-MERCOSUR trade agreement the economic cooperation will further increase between the two countries. "Brazil is India''s largest trading partner in Latin America. We are committed to taking bilateral trade beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Our trade is not just a figure; it''s a reflection of trust. The large business delegation accompanying the President reflects this confidence. The expansion of the India-Mercosur trade agreement will further strengthen our economic cooperation. Our cooperation in technology and innovation is important for both countries as well as the entire Global South," the PM said. "I am pleased that we are working on establishing a Centre of Excellence for Digital Public Infrastructure in Brazil. We are also prioritising our cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, supercomputers, semiconductors, and blockchain. Both countries believe that technology must be inclusive and must become a bridge for shared progress. Energy cooperation has been a strong pillar of our relationship. In addition to hydrocarbons, we are also accelerating cooperation in several areas, including renewable energy, ethanol blending, and sustainable aviation fuel. Brazil''s active participation in the Global Biofuel Alliance reflects our shared commitment to a green future. Brazil has also proposed co-chairing the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. I congratulate President Lula for this initiative. Brazil''s extensive experience in this area will significantly contribute to further strengthening the CDRI," he added. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also held delegation-level talks. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, MoS MEA Pabitra Margherita, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal were among those present during the talks. Prior to that, a ceremonial welcome was held on Saturday at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. He also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Lula''s visit to India follows a July 2025 visit to Brasilia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years. The Brazilian President has arrived in India with large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted how the coming together of India and Brazil strengthens the voice of global south in the international arena. He gave a call for reform of international institutions to address contemporary challenges and affirmed the resolve of India and Brazil to work together in that direction. He made the remarks during a joint presser with Brazilian President Lula here in the national capital. "India and Brazil's partnership on the global stage has been strong and influential. As democratic nations, we will continue to advance the priorities and aspirations of the Global South. When India and Brazil work together, the voice of the Global South becomes stronger and more confident." PM Modi also said, "We believe that all problems must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. India and Brazil are unanimous that terrorism and its supporters are enemies of all humanity. We also agree that reform of global institutions is essential to address the challenges of our time. We will continue to work together in this direction" In his remarks, PM Modi noted that the cooperation in areas of climate resilient agriculture, precision farming, and biofertiliser will strengthen the food security of both the nations. "The agreement reached on critical minerals and rare earths is a major step in building a resilient supply chain. Our cooperation in the defence sector is also steadily growing. This is a great example of mutual trust and strategic alignment. We will continue to strengthen this win-win partnership." PM Modi added, "There is also immense potential for cooperation in the health and pharmaceutical sectors. We will work to increase the supply of affordable and quality medicines from India to Brazil." He also noted that the discussions between the two leaders aimed at moving forward across all sectors in the spirit of shared purpose and that the nations are committed for bilateral trade to surpass 20 billion USD in the next five years. He thanked the Brazilian President for his participation in the Global AI Impact Summit, and also praised his visionary leadership in giving a fillip to India-Brazil ties. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also held delegation-level talks. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, MoS MEA Pabitra Margherita, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal were among those present during the talks. Earlier today, a ceremonial welcome was held on Saturday at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to India. President Lula was accorded the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Brazilian President was received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. He also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Lula's visit to India follows a July 2025 visit to Brasilia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years. The Brazilian President has arrived in India with large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum. (ANI) Pakistan's business community has cast serious doubt on the government's claims that its energy tariff incentive package has delivered meaningful relief to industry, despite official figures suggesting widespread benefit. The Power Division reported that 127,686 industrial consumers availed themselves of the scheme in December 2025 and January 2026, receiving a combined relief of Rs 12.125 billion. This represents 46 per cent of the country's 278,961 industrial electricity consumers, as reported by Dawn. The package includes a three-year incremental plan featuring a Rs4.04 per unit reduction for industry and a shift in tariff rebasing from a fiscal year to a calendar year cycle starting January 1, 2026. The government maintains that both small and large industries received a benefit of Rs 10.3 per unit on surplus electricity consumption, Dawn reported. However, industrial representatives dispute these claims. They argue that the relief primarily benefited inactive or limited-scale units, while larger B3 and B4 category industries, which contribute no losses to the grid but pay higher tariffs, saw little real advantage. Business leaders also contend that rising fuel costs and quarterly adjustments have effectively wiped out much of the announced reduction. 1,176 million units of electricity were sold under the surplus package in the two-month period, accounting for nearly 24 per cent of total industrial consumption. December saw 557 million units sold under the scheme, providing Rs5.743 billion in relief, while January recorded 619 million units and Rs6.382 billion in benefits. Yet the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has warned that the fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for January alone increased charges by Rs1.78 per unit, with another Rs0.40 per unit expected under quarterly revisions, as highlighted by Dawn. FPCCI President Atif Ikram Shaikh stated that more than half of the promised relief had been neutralised within the same billing cycle. Industry leaders further criticised repeated tariff rebasing in July 2025 and January 2026, arguing that such volatility undermines planning certainty and export competitiveness, despite official assurances from Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari of continued oversight and reform, as reported by Dawn. (ANI) Pakistan's Parliamentary body has raised red flags over what it termed as "unreliable and incomplete statistics" being reported on HIV/AIDS in the nation, cautioning that the country could face humiliation at international platforms if inaccurate data is forwarded to global health agencies, as reported by The Express Tribune. According to The Express Tribune, the concerns were voiced during a meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Mahesh Kumar Malani. Lawmakers scrutinised figures presented by the health ministry and questioned their credibility, describing them as inconsistent with provincial data. Briefing the committee, officials said that the National AIDS Programme spends roughly $300 to $500 per year on each registered HIV patient. However, PPP MNA Shazia Sobia Somro sharply criticised the ministry's report, arguing that it failed to account for a significant number of cases across the country. She claimed that approximately 40,000 HIV patients were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2025 alone, alongside around 300 cases in Islamabad and between 7,000 and 8,000 in Balochistan during the same year. Despite these numbers, the federal report listed only 81,000 patients nationwide and omitted detailed data from several regions. She warned that sharing such flawed statistics with international organisations could damage Pakistan's credibility. Somro further alleged that the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority had submitted outdated figures instead of updated data when asked to provide fresh statistics. She also drew attention to reports of illegal abortions, claiming they were taking place in as many as 60 per cent of certain cases, raising broader governance and oversight questions, as cited by The Express Tribune. Responding to the criticism, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said it was unrealistic to expect years of systemic shortcomings to be resolved within months. He added that estimates placing Pakistan's HIV burden at 300,000 were largely speculative. The minister also disclosed that under the Global Fund framework, 25 per cent of resources are channelled through the government, while 75 per cent are distributed to non-governmental organisations, highlighting structural complexities in the national HIV response, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI) Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, P Kumaran said on Saturday that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed about the recent developments on the US tariffs. Kumaran, while speaking at the Special Briefing by MEA on State visit of President of Brazil to India, said that it was a "rather new development" and both sides needed to study about it. "Yes, there was a discussion on the US trade policy and the implications of the US Supreme Court judgment. Both leaders agreed that it's a rather new development and that both sides need to study the implications of this and wait for further developments by the US administration. So we will essentially be in a wait-and-watch mode to see how the administration responds to this judgment and whether any further steps are taken and to study the implications for our trade," he said. The parties discussed that it is not clear yet as to which tariffs would go and which would stay. "We discussed that there is a 10% tariff that President Trump has announced in his press conference yesterday. Now which are the tariffs that remain which are the tariffs that go away. All that is being studied in detail by our commerce ministry all that was agreed upon was that these are all very fast-moving developments. It came in late last night. And it was agreed that we will wait and watch and see what exactly it means for our trade," he added. He said that there is no discussion on BRICS currency, but there is agreement on settling trade using local currencies. "About BRICS currency there is there is no discussion about a BRICS currency. In fact, President Lula had said this in his interview yesterday. There is interest in trying to have some trade on the basis of local currency settlements but there is no discussion for a BRICS currency and I think President Lula had clarified this in ample detail yesterday so I would refer you to that also," he said. Kumaran said that there is a strong consensus among India and Brazil on UN reforms. "UN reforms are important in India-Brazil discussions. We are the G4 members India Brazil Germany and Japan. We have permanent membership candidate support. We have UN efforts coordinated for reforms. President Lula talked on that subject on- or multilateralism in WTO or United Nations related organisations," he said. Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18. During the period February 19-20 participated in the India AI Impact Summit. Today, he was given a traditional welcome in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He, alongwith 11 ministers met the Prime Minister and his delegation at Hyderabad House. This is President Lula's fifth visit to India as President of Brazil. The visit comes seven months after the state visit of PM to Brasilia on July 8, 2025. (ANI) NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until April 13, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. ("Kyndryl" or the "Company") (NYSE: KD), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between August 7, 2024 and February 9, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Get Help Kyndryl investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-kd/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Kyndryl and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On February 9, 2026, the Company disclosed that it would be unable to timely file its Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 and that "the Company anticipates reporting material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting for the period covered in the Quarterly Report, as well as for the full fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, and the first two fiscal quarters of fiscal year 2026, which are expected to include, but may not be limited to, the effectiveness and strength of certain functions at the Company, including with respect to controls related to information and communication and tone at the top," as well as the departure of its C.F.O and General Counsel. On this news, the price of Kyndryl's shares fell $12.90 per share, or 55%, to close at $10.59 on February 9, 2026. The case is Brander v. Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 26-cv-00782. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler Matthew Morrison Fired from SYTYCD for 'Flirty' Messages That Made Contestant 'Uncomfortable': Source https://t.co/3guLxBhEfA People (@people) May 31, 2022 Follow up to this post A few days ago it was reported that Matthew Morrison had been fired from SYTYCD for not following "production protocols".A source close to the Fox reality show tells PEOPLE mag that Matthew Morrison was fired from the series "after he had an inappropriate relationship with a female contestant.""They didn't have sex, but," the source says. "and went to producers, who then got Fox involved. He was fired after they did their own investigation."The source adds that Morrison and the unidentified female contestant "never met up off-set.""It was just messages that crossed the line," the source notes.Morrison has been married to Renee Puente since 2014 and they have two kids together. Around the world, competition for land and finite resources is leading to a new era of manifest destiny as political and industrial leaders look to the stars as the final frontier for resource extraction. From the Trump administration to the bigwigs of Silicon Valley, a new space race is on. Billionaire-backed ventures like Elon Musks SpaceX and Jeff Bezos Blue Origin are making a far more diverse, competitive, and innovative playing field. At the end of last year, Trump issued an Executive Order entitled Ensuring American Space Superiority, which laid out a series of goals, including returning Americans to the moon by 2028, establishing the initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030, and laying the foundations for lunar economic development, as described by Power Magazine. But while some of the worlds most deep-pocketed investors including the United States government and billionaire-backed ventures like Elon Musks SpaceX and Jeff Bezos Blue Origin are intent on developing ambitious new space programs, some major bottlenecks are standing in the way. One of the most critical of these is how those space programs, especially long-term ones, will be powered. "With great power competition rising, the ocean floor, Arctic, and lunar surface are becoming the front lines of global security and economic progress but they remain energy deserts," says Tyler Bernstein, Chief Executive Officer of a venture-backed nuclear battery startup called Zeno Power. Last year, Zeno Power just received $50 million in Series B funding to continue its work to develop nuclear batteries for extreme environments. With this round of funding, were on track to demonstrate full-scale systems in 2026 and deliver the first commercially built nuclear batteries to power frontier environments by 2027, Bernstein continued. Zeno is not alone. Over the last decade, nuclear energy has emerged as the most promising approach for powering high-intensity propulsion systems and enabling lasting power generation once in orbit. ??Plus, nuclear energy systems create tons of heat. On Earth, this is a liability, requiring costly and water-intensive cooling systems. But in space, any consistent heat source is a major benefit. Radioisotopes can safely produce heat that will enable deep space exploration and survival of the frigid lunar night, explains Space News, while fission reactors are capable of producing kilowatts of electricity on the moon or in orbit. As the promise and viability of nuclear-powered space programs has become evident, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has become increasingly invested in piloting the technology. The organization aims to do a test run of a nuclear propulsion system by the end of 2028, and the Trump administration is pushing for installing a fission reactor on the surface of the moon by 2030. Ambitious goals, writes Space News, but absolutely within reach. But there is still a major kink in the works its just not the development of the space-capable nuclear reactors themselves. The technology is already there, and supply chains are not a major constraint. Rather, the problem is one of adequate infrastructure. The U.S. currently lacks the testing, demonstration and integration facilities necessary to turn advanced reactor concepts into flight-ready systems. In order to fulfil its nuclear ambitions under the Trump administration, the United States will need to first develop massive facilities with complex and costly specifications, like vacuum capabilities. Such a facility would have to blend space system engineering with the rigor associated with nuclear safety, essentially creating a new class of hybrid test complex, writes Space News. Without it, performance in space remains an assumption rather than validation." By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Investigation started into possible murder of two men found dead on Costa Maya beach Costa Maya, Q.R. Authorities in Costa Maya are investigating what is believed to be the murders of two local fishermen. The bodies of two adult males were found on a beach between the towns of Mahahual and Xcalak late Thursday afternoon. One body was found in a boat. The second was found laying in the sand. Recovery was reported difficult due to the remoteness of the location. The woman who found the bodies escort police to the scene at Playa Xahuayxol February 19, 2026. An area resident stumbled upon the bodies of the two men who are reported to have been local fishermen. Their bodies were found at Playa Xahuayxol and showed signs of a possible violent death. Both bodies appeared to have been tortured, according to local media reports. A local resident passing by reported the discovery to Xcalak authorities. One of the men was inside a boat and had visible injuries to his head and torso. He was found with a blue nylon rope around his neck. The other man was found naked laying the sand with injuries and bruises on his right leg and head. National Guard arrived a few hours after the report to confirm the finding at which time the State Attorney Generals Office (FGE) was notified. Forensic personnel proceeded to remove the bodies. Playa Xahuayxol lies halfway between Mahahual and Xcalak in the area known as Costa Maya. Police were at the scene Friday investigating in the daylight. Authorities have not commented on what is believed to be a double murder. The two deceased men have not been named. Marina participates in search for missing vessel with eight on board heading for Mexico Costa Maya, Q.R. The Navy of Mexico is participating in the search and possible rescue of a vessel reported missing. The makeshift boat, which is sailing without a name or registration, left the island of Cuba in precarious conditions. According to an official statement, Mexican authorities received the alert after contact was with the Cuban boat was lost. The Navy says they have been searching for the vessel for more than 24 hours. The boat left the island of Cuba five days ago. Marina personnel say that eight Cuban nationals, four men and four women, are known to be on board, all of whom were heading for Mexico. Since receiving the report of the missing boat, the Marina of Mexico deployed surface units and specialized personnel to conduct patrols in the maritime zone near Quintana Roo. At the moment, search efforts are being concentrated in the Banco Chinchorro area, an island area east of the town of Mahahual. According to the Marina, the operations are being carried out in accordance with search and rescue protocols, with the objective of safeguarding human life at sea. The whereabouts of the eight occupants, who allegedly departed from Cuba on an irregular voyage to Mexican territory have not yet been confirmed, they reported Saturday. Mexican Navy personnel help search for a makeshift boat that left Cuba five days ago February 20, 2026. Attention to the Maritime and Port Community in General: The Port Captaincy of Isla Mujeres hereby reports the search for a vessel with no name or registration number and eight foreign crew members, who departed from Cuba approximately five days ago, the Navy said in their search notice. The Port Captain of Isla Mujeres, Maria Dolores Cobela Vargas, also issued an alert: The aforementioned vessel is considered a search and rescue operation and all necessary precautions should be taken to safeguard human life at sea. The public is asked to be vigilant while navigating and report any sightings of the aforementioned vessel to the nearest Port Captains office on VHF radio channel 16 or call 998-877-00-95 with any questions. NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO) resulting from allegations that Apollo may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Apollo 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=1323 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 February 1, 2026, Financial Times published an article entitled "Apollo chief Marc Rowan consulted Epstein on firm's tax affairs". The article stated that top "Apollo Global Management executives including chief Marc Rowan held wide-ranging discussions over the firm's tax arrangements with Jeffrey Epstein throughout the 2010s, despite the private capital firm having previously said it 'never did any business' with the child sex offender." On this news, Apollo stock fell 1% on February 2, 2026, and 4.76% on February 3, 2026. 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. At the time 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. Over 100 illegal cameras in 16 raids: Police take down mega criminal spy network in southern Quintana Roo Chetumal, Q.R. Authorities in southern Quintana Roo executed 16 search warrants in order to shut down a criminal spy network. Over 100 surveillance cameras were seized during raids that included gyms, restaurants, shops, warehouses, private homes and one hotel. Authorities said Friday they dismantled a clandestine criminal group monitoring center in the municipality of Othon P. Blanco in southern Quintana Roo. During the Thursday raids, stolen vehicles and loaded firearms were also found. Authorities shut down a Chetumal gym after finding illegal surveillance cameras February 19, 2026. The network was dismantled and five arrests made during the mega-operation that involved the military, FGE and members of the Interinstitutional Group. Police said a majority of the monitoring points were found in the towns of Subteniente Lopez and Chetumal, both in the municipality of Othon P. Blanco. During their first search, 24 surveillance cameras were found being monitored from inside a home on Oaxaca Street in the town of Subteniente Lopez. Those cameras were installed in 17 strategic points in the community and in Chetumal, which were monitored 24 hours a day through three televisions, police said. Three people believed related to the use of the illegal surveillance cameras were taken into custody from near the private home. Two males and one female identified as Rudy N, Adriel Osvin N and Fariay Edith N were arrested Friday. Police say they are allegedly related to crimes of drug dealing. Five people were arrested during the Thursday raids February 19, 2026. Subsequently, the Quintana Roo Attorney Generals Office carried out 12 more search warrants in Subteniente Lopez and three in the city of Chetumal. The community of Subteniente Lopez lies along the Quintana Roo border with Belize. In the raided properties they seized 113 video surveillance cameras, 14 DVRs and four vehicles, one of which had been reported stolen. They also seized a motorcycle, four televisions, two firearms: one long and one short, both 0.22 mm caliber, a communication radio, a modem and two optical network terminals. The community of Subteniente Lopez lies along the Quintana Roo border with Belize. From the 16 searches, an internet extender, two wireless routers and six cell phones, in addition to substances similar to marijuana and cocaine were also found and seized. A few meters from one of the raided properties police arrested Geovanny Abdiel N and Raymel Nahem N, and seized doses of what is believed to be possible narcotics from them. Authorities says the 16 search warrants included searches of gyms, restaurants, shops, a hotel, warehouses and private homes, all of which had cameras installed and connected to the clandestine monitoring center. Video cameras, firearms, narcotics and numerous electronics were seized during the 16 raids February 20, 2026. During the execution of the court orders, agents from the Investigative Police of the Attorney Generals Office (FGE), the Navy Secretariat, National Defense Secretariat, National Guard, State Police and Municipal Police participated. 60 Minutes will air an Anderson Cooper-led segment focused on the Trump administrations decision to accept refugees from South Africa on Sunday, days after Cooper announced his exit from the CBS News program and weeks after the segment was reportedly held up by delays. The segment, the network announced on Friday, will see Cooper travel to South Africa to speak to farmers who President Donald Trump has claimed are victims of white genocide, which the South African government disputes. Its producers are Michael Gavshon and Nadim Roberts. The segments existence emerged last month after Status reported that CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss extensive feedback on the package kept it in limbo. The back-and-forth left Gavshon exasperated, according to Status, though the segment had not yet gone through a legal review process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speculation over whether it would air intensified as another piece, a Sharyn Alfonsi-led report focused on conditions inside an El Salvadorian prison, remained held up. That segment aired late last month. Sundays segment is also one of the final pieces Cooper will produce for the newsmagazine after he said on Monday he would leave 60 Minutes following its current season after nearly 20 years as a correspondent. Cooper will continue to have segments air through the shows 58th season, but he will not return for its 59th season premiere this fall. Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career, Cooper, who also anchors CNNs Anderson Cooper 360, said in a statement. I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors and camera crews in the business. Cooper attributed the decision to a desire to spend more time with his children, but Status reported that Weiss management of the network rankled Cooper enough to decide not to renew his contract despite her offer to expand his role within the network and his salary. The post 60 Minutes Schedules Anderson Cooper Segment After Reported Delays appeared first on TheWrap. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slates Political Gabfest podcast. Recently, John Dickerson talked with Father James Martin about his new book, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest. During part of their discussion, they explored how Martins early jobs taught him humility and empathy, why his LGBTQ Catholic ministry has drawn intense opposition, and what the Gospels actually say about immigration and welcoming strangers. This partial transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. John Dickerson: So lets talk about the turn that your life took from being what you say is a corporate tool. Its not going perfectly. And then you come home one night and what happens? Give us the sense of where you were in terms of your job and you were on your way to being rich, the thing that you had started out at age 15 wanting to be. Father James Martin: So I worked at General Electrics Finance and Accounting division in New York City for three years. And then I moved to GE Capital, which was their financial services arm, which was really booming at the time in the mid-80s. So I moved there in 1985. I took a job in human resources and I thought that would be a little more congenial, but gradually I started to realize Im in the wrong place. And business is a real vocation for a lot of people. Many of my friends, believe it or not, they worked in GE for their whole lives. A lot of them just retired a couple of years ago, and they contributed to the common good. GE made great things, medical systems and light bulbs and all that kind of stuff, but it wasnt for me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I found myself getting more and more stressed, more and more miserable, and really thinking, what am I doing here? And there were occasions that I witnessed as an HR person of really crass and cruel behavior. Can I share one of them? John Dickerson: Yeah. Father James Martin: This was a defining moment for me. Very brief, Ill make a long complicated story shorter. I was in HR, I was 25, 26. Im a young guy still, but as you know, their HR departments are pretty small. So you have these young people going to these executives saying, You can do this and not do that, and whatnot. So there was a manager who wanted to fire somebody or bounce them as we used to say. And we had just given this guy an incentive award. So in other words, we had just given him, I think, a trip. So he had just gotten this great job performance review. In any event, this guy said, I dont care. Im firing him. So my manager said, Go and talk to this manager, who was way above me, and tell him, You cant do that. You cant fire someone without cause and you just cant bounce somebody. Advertisement And he said, I dont care. And I said, Well, this guy had an incentive award, and I dont care. I want him out. I can see him standing. He was taller than I was. And I said, Well, he has a family for Petes sake. So I said, Have some compassion. And he said, F compassion. Not ironically. And I remember thinking, oh my gosh, that someone could say that with a straight face? What am I doing here? So that got me thinking about leaving. And then as I say in the book, I came home and turned on the TV and saw a documentary about Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, and monastic life and the priesthood. It came at the right time. So I always say my life was changed by TV. There you go. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Since the fall of abortion rights, no abortion provider has been convicted of violating a state ban. Proceedings underway in Texas might soon change that. Last March, Ken Paxton, Texas Republican attorney general, filed civil and criminal charges against a Houston midwife, accusing her of performing illegal abortions and practicing medicine without a license. Texas law permits penalties of up to life in prison for performing abortions. The midwife, Maria Margarita Rojas, has responded that the state just cant prove their case. Thats the argument she made to a Texas court this week as she appealed an order that forced the closure of three clinics where she worked while the litigation continues. This appeal concerns the civil case against Rojas. The criminal case against her is also ongoing, but the questions of inadequate proof that were front and center in Rojas civil appeal will play a significant role there too. Even if an appeals court rules in her favor, Rojas likely wont be able to reopen the three clinics because of the conditions of her bond, which prevent from her being within a certain distance of the facilities, and because of the suspension of her midwifery license. Its also possible that the three judges on Texas 15th Court of Appeals wont say that much about the caliber of the states evidence, instead focusing its on procedural technicalities or constitutional questions. But the hearing was a first look at whether Texas can prove its case against Rojas. And so far, the states case looks far from a slam dunk. The most obvious obstacles to successful abortion prosecutions are political. Polling has shown consistent support for abortion rights, and even more so since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Republicans have mostly worked to draw attention away from an issue that can hurt them at the polls. The Trump administration has played for time, supposedly launching a new study on the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone and seeking delays in court. All of this, Trump officials say, could take years, and certainly will take until after the midterms. A high-profile conviction could bring attention to the issue that some Republicans dont want, especially if a defendant can tell a sympathetic story about the care they provide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Rojas case is reminder that it just isnt that easy to prove an abortion has occurred. That has been true throughout the history of abortion criminalization in the United States. In the 19th century, as state criminal bans on abortion spread across the country, prosecutors struggled to find enough evidence for a conviction. It wasnt always straightforward to distinguish an abortion from a miscarriage, or even to prove that a patient had been pregnant (some states didnt even require proof of it). Even if there was evidence of an intentional abortion, juries couldnt always tell if that procedure was meant to preserve a patients life. A conviction was easier if a patient died. Then, prosecutors could rely on autopsy evidence, or even a womans dying words. But in a meaningful number of cases, defendants seem to have walked because there just wasnt enough evidence of what had happened. Advertisement The obstacles to conviction arent any less daunting today. Consider whats happening in Rojas case. Its been hard for prosecutors to know when abortions might be occurring in the first place, especially given the availability of telehealth procedures. This case came to the attention of the Texas attorney general because of an anonymous tip. Rojas might have been an attractive target because she is a midwife. Historically, midwives had a harder time in abortion prosecutions than did licensed physicians, and Paxton might be hoping that the same is true today. But one of the charges she facesthat she was practicing medicine without a licenseis complicated by Rojass own version of events, which centers on the claim that she worked with advanced practice nurse practitioners to provide telehealth services and was a licensed midwife herself. And it wont be easy for the state to prove that Rojas offered abortions. The state is relying on a witness who claimed that she was prescribed a low-dose of misoprostol, a drug commonly used as part of the two-pill protocol used in a majority of abortions nationwide. Investigators also recovered misoprostol when they raided Rojass place of business. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate A Judge Made Trump Officials Investigate Themselves. They Came Back With a Stunning Admission. Read More But simply possessing or dispensing misoprostol cant tell prosecutors all that much. The drug is widely used to prevent ulcers caused by taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen, manage early pregnancy loss, induce labor, or address hemorrhage after childbirth. Rojas operated a birthing center. Her attorneys stress that prosecutors cant tell if she was using misoprostol to treat patients who had given birth or experienced miscarriage. And there were no supposedly telltale signs of abortion services present at her clinics either, such as tools used for surgical abortion or even mifepristone, a drug with multiple off-label uses that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration only for the termination of pregnancy. Its not clear that this evidence this will be enough to secure a conviction. In the past, prosecutors sometimes struggled with similar cases. Even if a defendant did have a drug used in abortion, prosecutors often needed additional proof, such as evidence that a person had been convicted of offering abortions in the past, or was widely recognized in the community as an abortion provider. The reason was straightforward: These medications were and are used in obstetrics and gynecology for other reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of these obstacles to a conviction make the stakes of the Rojas trial that much higher. States know they wont be able to find most people accessing or distributing abortion pills. Its not clear either that they will be able to pursue physicians mailing pills from states that protect reproductive rights into ban jurisdictions. But prosecutors like Paxton hope that by making an example of someone like Rojas, they can scare others into compliance. Even charges like the ones Rojas faces can be devastating, whether or not a jury ever convicts. Clinics where she worked have been forced to close and her midwifery license has been suspended. She had to pay a $1.6 million bond and faces years in prison. The risk of similar consequences might be enough to frighten off many providers. If Rojas is convicted, the impact will be even greater. It might give pause not only to those who might offer abortions but anyone who might use misoprostol to manage miscarriage, hemorrhage, or any other complication. Patients in many Texas counties already lack access to maternity care. Cases like this one are likely to exacerbate the problem. Prosecutors in places like Texas know they wont be able to detect the vast majority of abortions. But by making an example of people like Maria Rojas, prosecutors hope that they wont have to. BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Scott Alexander Rose is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Achiever 2026 for his contributions to Insurance, Education and Philanthropy. Scott Alexander Rose Dr. Rose stands as a beacon of commitment to education and philanthropy, with a distinguished career marked by remarkable achievements. Beginning his academic journey at Florida Atlantic University, Dr. Rose earned multiple Bachelor's degrees in Theater Arts, Music Education, and Fine Arts. His pursuit of knowledge continued with a Master's degree in Nonprofit Management in 2012, a second Master of Business Administration degree, and culminated in a Doctor of Education degree from Lynn University in 2015. Additionally, he holds certifications as a fundraiser, financial planner, and Certified International Specialist. As the owner of Mainstreet Solutions LLC since 1992, Dr. Rose has applied his expertise to make a meaningful impact. His contributions extend beyond his professional endeavors, evidenced by his involvement in community leadership roles. Notably, he served as the president of the Life Care Foundation on Disabilities from 2004 to 2015 and actively supports organizations like Limitless Horizons Ixil. Limitless Horizons Ixil, a nonprofit organization (NPO) co-founded by Dr. Rose's daughter, Katie Morrow, epitomizes their shared commitment to education and community empowerment. Founded in response to the needs of the indigenous Maya community in Chajul, Guatemala. The NPO aims to cultivate literacy skills and support academic and personal development needed to effect change in their lives and community. Over the past two decades, the organization has grown from a small but mighty scholarship program into a thriving initiative that provides life-changing access to high-quality education, nutrition, and psychosocial support for Indigenous youth and families in Chajul through its very own middle and high school, named "Colegio Horizontes". This new school brings culturally responsive, rigorous, and engaging academics to Chajul for the first time, in an environment that is empowering, safe, and sensitive to girls' specific needs. . Led by local women, Colegio Horizontes fosters the skills youth need to effect change in their lives and community. In addition to education, this innovative school provides each student with two nutritious meals per school day and psychosocial support for both students and their families through mentorship support. In addition to the 125 students and their families served annually by Colegio Horizontes, Limitless Horizons Ixil (LHI) reaches many more members of the community through its downtown library, called the Saber Sin Limites Community Library, which opened in 2010 as the very first library in Chajul. Now, with over 500 annual members and more than 11,000 books, along with microscopes, computers, STEM materials, and homework help, the library is making reading and learning fun and popular in Chajul. In 2021, its innovative approach to literacy during COVID-19 was honored with the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize. To address the growing number of alumni and deepen its investment in the youth it serves, Limitless Horizons Ixil launched the Emerging Leaders Program in 2011. This program helps the organization's high school graduates obtain employment, start small businesses, and/or pursue further education. LHI's long-term goal is to develop a pipeline of young professionals who will drive and grow the local economy, leading to a decrease in overall unemployment. Limitless Horizons Ixil believes that breaking the cycle of poverty among families in Chajul is possible by empowering youth with education and opportunities to gain the knowledge, skills, experience, and networks needed to succeed in professional careers. Limitless Horizons Ixil broke ground on a new high school for Chajul in November 2023, and on March 6, 2025, the organization hosted a grand opening for the two-building expansion, which includes five new classrooms, the region's first and only science lab, a meeting room, additional storage areas, expanded bathroom facilities, and more. The day was filled with joy and inspiration, marked by powerful speeches from co-directors Odilia Cedillo and Zuliana Lopez, executive director and founder Katie Morrow, and two students from the school's inaugural high school class, along with presentations by each grade level. The celebration also honored the achievements of the organization's Emerging Leadersalumni whose success laid the foundation for this ambitious dreamand recognized the generous donors and partner organizations who helped make this new high school a reality for generations of Chajul's youth to come. Dr. Rose's dedication to philanthropy is exemplified by his support for the organization mission and for sponsoring students. Katie Morrow, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Limitless Horizons Ixil, brings her passion for social work and international communities to the forefront. With a Bachelor's degree in community studies and a Master of Social Work from San Jose State University, Katie has devoted herself to improving educational opportunities in Chajul. Through innovative programs and community engagement, she envisions a future where every child has access to quality education. Together, Dr. Rose and Katie Morrow exemplify the transformative power of education and philanthropy. Their collective efforts through Limitless Horizons Ixil are creating positive change in Chajul, paving the way for a brighter future for generations to come. To learn more about Limitless Horizons Ixil, visit: www.limitlesshorizonsixil.org To view a featured video on their mission, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzNCDsxIMmU Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle In a Friday night fillies and mares Meadowlands feature that could have been billed as the Battle of the Foreign Breds, New Zealand-bred Raspalia N recorded her second win in as many North American tries for trainer Agostino Abbatiello in a $19,863 conditioned event on the pace. The daughter of Johny Rock-Fun Sponge was one of five leavers in the eight-horse field and was stacked up four-wide around the first turn before some aggressive Lauren Tritton handling found the five-year-old mare on the point at the quarter in :27.3 after surging past the 7-5 favourite, Irish-bred Churchview Meow IR (Mark Herschberger), who raced in the pocket down the backside. Tritton was able to rate the second fraction, reaching the half in :56.2 with no movement as the top two choices on the tote board continued their march to three-quarters. Sweetloveofmine (Brett Beckwith) vacated the four-hole at the five-eighths and made up ground racing on the rim before Churchview Meow IR popped out of the pocket in front of that one just after three-quarters, which was timed in 1:24.3. Through the stretch, Raspalia N was kept to her task and never experienced an anxious moment keeping Churchview Meow IR, who never threatened through the stretch drive, at bay in a dominant 1-1/2-length score in a lifetime-best 1:52 over the "sloppy" track. Papis Dream (Joe Bongiorno), who advanced along the rail from the three-hole after Churchview Meow IR vacated the pocket, rallied along the inside to grab second over that foe. Shes come over and done a really nice job so far, said Tritton of Raspalia N, who arrived in the United States last fall and is owned by Durazzano Stable of Pine Bush, New York. Shes quite a strong mare to handle. Shes had a great start since coming over. Shes really fast. She actually does her best work from behind. [On the lead], she looks like shes done but she actually just waits for them and gets going again at the end. Shes definitely got a lot of talent and Im just happy to have sat behind her for the last two weeks. The lightly-raced Raspalia N now has five wins from 16 lifetime starts. As the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, she paid $6 to win. Tritton, Bongiorno and Johnathan Ahle tied atop the driver leaderboard with two wins apiece. There were two carryovers when the night began and that fact was unchanged at the end of the evening. The $1 Pick-8 went unhit, upping the carryover to $57,198. Odds for the winning horses during the sequence were 3-5, 3-5, 2-1, 8-1, 2-1, 21-1, 8-5 and 2-1. Those with seven correct collected $1,412.30. The 20-cent Pick-6 now has a double carryover of $11,632 after a sequence with winners' odds of 21-1, 8-5, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1 and 6-5. Those with five correct collected $23.22. All-source handle on the 14-race program totalled $2,075,580 USD. Racing resumes at The Meadowlands on Saturday at 6 p.m. (With files from Meadowlands Racetrack) Most travelers know the drill at airport security: shoes off, laptops out, and liquids in a clear bag (including some bizarre items the TSA considers to be a liquid). And while you're used to taking loose change out of your pockets before stepping through the scanner, you might want to think twice before carrying cash at all. It's not just the risk of another passenger "accidentally" taking your wallet out of the wrong screening bin the TSA itself might confiscate your money. According to a New York Post report, more than 10,000 travelers have had money taken during airport encounters since 2014, often without ever being charged with a crime. One of the most notable examples involves a woman named Rebecca Brown, who was traveling domestically through Pittsburgh International Airport in 2019 with about $82,000 in cash. The money, her father's life savings, was intended to be deposited into a joint bank account. However, she was questioned during TSA screening, and law enforcement officers ultimately seized the cash. After months of working with lawyers to resolve the situation, she got the money back, but Brown was outraged and still argues that the seizure violated her constitutional rights. The case launched a broader class action lawsuit with other victims of cash seizures, and the controversy raises an unsettling question: If it's legal to carry cash through the airport, when can the TSA actually take it? Well, TSA agents don't actually have the authority to legally seize any money, but they can refer travelers to law enforcement like DEA officers on-site, who can then detain passengers and confiscate cash. Rebecca Brown and other critics argue this stretches or even exceeds TSA's authority under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 18 Best Ways To Help You Get Through Airport Security Faster Why your cash might be seized at the airport US passport stuffed with several 100 dollar bills - Vadishzainer/Getty Images From a security standpoint, cash itself is not dangerous, but it may raise suspicion of criminal activity most commonly drug trafficking or money laundering. You've likely had to tick the "no" box when filling in an international customs form asking if you're traveling with more than the value of $10,000 USD in any currency. That doesn't make traveling with cash illegal, but you do have to declare it when leaving or entering the United States. When it comes to domestic travel, there is no rule that outlines how much cash you can bring through TSA, and no declaration form. So technically you are legally allowed to carry any amount of cash on a domestic flight, but carrying large sums can attract scrutiny. As for what defines a "large sum," Dan Alban, a lawyer with the Institute for Justice representing the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit, told CBS News, "In some of the TSA depositions, they said as little as $100 in 100 one-dollar bills would still count as a large amount of currency." The Transportation Security Administration exists to protect the country's transportation systems, not to conduct general criminal investigations. So, a large amount of cash may flag your bag for further inspection, but once screening confirms there are no prohibited items or threats to security, you should be able to proceed to your gate with your money. Make sure you avoid these 12 airport dos and don'ts to make security a breeze. What to do when carrying cash through TSA Person holding an open wallet with cash at TSA checkpoint - Alena Savina/Getty Images Ideally, you should avoid going through TSA with large sums of cash to reduce the risk of seizure, even when traveling domestically. While checks may still raise some questions, they attract less attention than stacks of cash. However, you should also avoid actively trying to conceal cash. Advertisement Advertisement If you feel like you're being treated unfairly, arguing with TSA is unlikely to get you anywhere in the moment and may escalate the situation. Remain calm and consistent when answering questions. Know exactly how much you are carrying and be prepared to explain why. Traveling with documentation such as withdrawal slips, inheritance letters, or bank records can help defuse suspicion. If TSA or law enforcement officers at the airport confiscate your cash, document as much as you can. Note the officer's name and badge number, request a Custody Receipt of Seized Property Form (6051S) if they don't provide one, and do not sign a waiver abandoning your cash. Like Rebecca Brown and other victims of cash seizure at the airport, you may need to consult with a lawyer to get your money back. You may also think twice about bringing large sums of cash through TSA to reduce the risk of outright theft. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Explore. Since the country is one of the most popular destinations in the world, it can be hard very hard to escape the crowds in Italy. But if you head way down to the toe of the Italian boot, you'll find the much less crowded destination of Aspromonte National Park (Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte), whose trails and waterfalls are so far off the beaten track, it will feel like you have this tranquil spot all to yourself. The Aspromonte is a mountain massif in Calabria in Southern Italy. Though the word "aspromonte" translates to "bitter mountain," there is nothing unpleasant about these mountains or the national park that's named after them. Within the park there are 143 named mountains, dense forests, pretty waterfalls, small villages, and winding rivers. The park was established in 1989 and now covers almost 250 square miles of Calabria, a region that should definitely be on your foodie bucket list for its distinctive cuisine. A car is definitely needed to explore this remote national park. You can rent one at Reggio Calabria "Tito Minniti" Airport (REG), which receives nonstop flights from other cities in Italy as well as some in Europe. From the airport, the drive is less than an hour to Gambarie, the main entrance to the park, which is on the park's western edge. The town actually has a ski resort, Gambarie d'Aspromonte, which is the largest in Calabria. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Rick Steves Recommends Cinque Terre's Only Resort Town For A Vibrant Italian Getaway Go hiking in Aspromonte National Park a hiking trail in Aspromonte National Park in Calabria, Italy - Antonio Arico/Shutterstock Between its secluded location and gorgeous landscapes, it's not surprising that Aspromonte National Park is home to some of Southern Italy's best hikes. These range from easy walks to full-day ascents. The Grand Italian Trail (Sentiero Italia) is the longest mountain trail in the world, having 354 different stages and crossing every region in Italy over its almost 5,000 miles. Its U02 section starts in Gambarie and goes until the town of Polsi. The trail ascends Montalto, the highest mountain in the Aspromonte at more than 6,400 feet above sea level. It then continues to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi, an ancient pilgrimage site. This 13-mile stretch of the Sentiero Italia is strenuous and takes about 9 hours to complete. The rewards are views of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas as well as Mount Etna, an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily. Another well-known trail in Aspromonte National Park leads to Pietra Cappa, one of the tallest rock monoliths in Europe, which rises 459 feet from the floor of the Valley of the Great Stones. The trail passes ancient ruins, chestnut and oak trees, and other interesting rock formations. This hike takes around 4 hours to complete and is not as hard as the U02. The views of the valley are supposed to be breathtaking. The Valley of La Verde (Gole la Verde) is another recommended trail in the park, and it also promises lovely valley views. This 4-hour hike meanders past a church, the ruins of an ancient village, and more rock formations before revealing the valley's gorges. Waterfalls in the national park a waterfall in Aspromonte National Park in Calabria, Italy - Antonio Arico/Shutterstock There are also some impressive waterfalls in Aspromonte National Park some with pools that even allow you to take a refreshing dip. One of these is the four-tiered Menta-Amendolea Waterfall (also known as the Maesano Waterfall). The 3.2-mile walk to the falls starts near a big parking area at the Menta Reservoir (Lago Menta), the largest lake in the park. The path then follows the Amendolea River (Fiumara di Amendolea) to a panoramic viewpoint of the falls and three pools that the falls have carved over time. The clear water here is a perfect spot for a swim. Advertisement Advertisement The Menta Reservoir is also not far from the Forgiarelle Waterfall (Cascate Forgiarelle). This waterfall tumbles over metamorphic rocks in the Ferraina stream and then pools into a large basin at the bottom. The 230-foot-high waterfall is a beautiful spot that's frequented by cyclists. Returning to Gambarie, it's possible to see yet another waterfall by taking a guided tour through an area known as the Fairy Wood, a peaceful area with lush forests and wildlife. Along the way, you'll be treated to views of the lovely Vallescura Waterfall (Cascatella Vallescura), a small waterfall in a tranquil, forested setting. After exploring Aspromonte National Park, you should definitely check out more of Calabria. Capo Vaticano, an underrated Italian destination for stunning crowd-free beaches, is 55 miles north of Gambarie, while Tropea, a dreamy Mediterranean getaway with gorgeous beaches, is less than 10 miles beyond that. The crowds haven't discovered either of these places yet, either. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. 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Blog Archive: Mar 2026 (45) Feb 2026 (140) Jan 2026 (155) Dec 2025 (126) Nov 2025 (141) Oct 2025 (153) Sep 2025 (149) Aug 2025 (154) Jul 2025 (155) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) 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. A Tucson couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Defense, prosecutors say. Richard Stefon Ramroop, 35, and his spouse, Manuel George Madrid, 32, face a 12-count indictment on charges that include conspiracy to commit theft of government property, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona said in a news release. Ramroop is a staff sergeant in the Air Force, the release said. From January 2022 through about December 2025, Ramroop used his position in the pharmacy at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to buy thousands of medical devices using taxpayer money. He and Madrid then resold the devices, pocketing the money, the release says. From 2022 through 2025, bank accounts controlled by Ramroop and Madrid received over $11 million in fraud proceeds through wire transfers, Automated Clearing House deposits, and other credits from companies engaged in the resale of medical test strips and devices, the release said. The orders of the diverted medical devices cost the government over $3 million, court records say. The indictment also alleges that Ramroop and Madrid used the proceeds to purchase luxury vehicles and real estate. That allegedly included a million-dollar home in Tucson, $141,443 on a new 2024 Porsche Cayenne Sport Utility Vehicle and $195,397 on a new BMW i7 Sport Utility Vehicle. The two vehicles were among those seized when a search warrant was served in January, the release said. The defendants allegedly stole millions in taxpayer dollars from the U.S. Department of War to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, diverting critical resources away from their intended purpose, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in the news release. Every dollar taken through fraud is a dollar denied to the mission it was meant to support." The pair faces several years behind bars if convicted. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Tucson is handling the prosecution. People often move to Sahuarita from the big city in search of quiet living and wide open spaces. The same goes for giraffes and rhinos. Hundreds of exotic animals could one day roam through giant enclosures at a conservation safari park the Phoenix Zoo hopes to build at the eastern edge of the booming town about 20 miles south of Tucson. The park would be developed on almost 1,100 acres of vacant land, with large natural areas capable of supporting sustainable populations of some of the worlds most at-risk animals. We don't quite have a name for it at this point, but we're building a conservation park for imperiled species, said Norberto Bert Castro, president and CEO of the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, the nonprofit that operates the Phoenix Zoo. At the same time, we're going to have a really great drive-through wildlife experience for the public. The zoo has entered into a long-term lease with Phoenix-based Freeport-McMoRan to develop the park on several contiguous parcels the American mining giant owns just east of the pecan orchards that bracket Interstate 19 through Sahuarita. The combined acreage is nearly triple the size of the University of Arizonas main campus in Tucson. Possible residents of the park include giraffes, white and black rhinos, Addra gazelles and other endangered or vulnerable species adapted to live in hot, arid environments. We're considering cheetah, Castro said. We're hoping to have Somali wild ass. There are less than a thousand of those. Zoo officials also plan to partner with federal and state wildlife agencies to house and breed some endangered animals native to Arizona, including Mexican gray wolves, California condors, ocelots and masked bobwhite quail. That's a species that's critically endangered, Castro said of the quail. There are less than 200 living now, and Sahuarita is kind of in their area of habitat, so we really want to get involved in that program. The park will feature enclosures ranging in size from 10 acres to 100 acres or more, so there'll be some very large areas for animals to roam, he said. We're looking at some very large paddock areas to really do this right. Annexing the oryx Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy has taken to calling the project the Sahuarita Safari. Thats not the official name, but Im trying to will my way into it, Murphy said with a laugh. He thinks the park could provide an economic boost to the town and the region at large, while establishing Sahuarita as a destination for recreation and conservation. Were extremely excited, said Murphy, who was first elected to the town council in 2013 and has served as mayor since 2016. All but about 160 acres of the proposed site is located in unincorporated Pima County, so the zoo is working with town and county officials to have the entire property annexed into Sahuarita. On Jan. 26, the town council unanimously approved a pre-annexation agreement with the zoo and the listed owner of the land, Freeport-McMoRan subsidiary Cyprus Climax Metals Company. We felt in talking with the county and the town that having one local government agency to work with made sense to everybody, Castro said. The next step is to put together a conditional use permit, basically a detailed agreement with the town spelling out the future use of the property. This will mark the Phoenix Zoos first expansion beyond its original 125-acre site in Phoenix's Papago Park, where it opened in 1962. Castro said the first phase of the project will likely cover about 600 acres and cost roughly $20 million. The zoo has secured commitments for about half of that money through its fundraising efforts so far, he said. The safari park is expected to be populated with a mixture of newly acquired animals and transplants from the Phoenix Zoo. Castro said some Arabian oryx are expected to make the trip south to Sahuarita, which will allow the zoo to highlight arguably its most famous success story. The bright white antelope with long, straight horns and a black spot on its nose was hunted to extinction in the wild in the early 1970s, but a captive breeding program that started in 1963 with less than a dozen animals at the Phoenix Zoo brought the oryx back from the brink. By 1982, that so-called World Herd had produced enough offspring to begin reintroducing them to the wild. Today, the species is listed as vulnerable but no longer endangered. There are over 10,000 Arabian oryx throughout the Arabian Peninsula and in wildlife parks throughout the world, and they genetically can be all traced back to the Phoenix Zoo, Castro said. That was the very first true species survival plan that came out of Phoenix, Arizona. New kind of zoo Conservation parks are all the rage in the zookeeping world these days. Many of the countrys top zoos are developing satellite facilities like this, with enclosures roomy enough to keep whole herds of threatened animals and breed more of them to bolster wild populations. I believe it's the future of conservation, Castro said. Having larger space allows us to have more of these animals, which allows us to have more sustainable populations in case of any catastrophic event that might happen in the wild. Perhaps the best-known example is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, formerly known as the Wild Animal Park, which has operated in Southern California for more than 50 years. Omahas Henry Dorley Zoo in Nebraska, the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans and the Columbus Zoo in Ohio have also opened conservation parks, and the St. Louis Zoo is in the midst of building one now. The main sponsor of the Audubon Zoos Species Survival Center is Freeport-McMoRan, which also has its name on the facility. The company supports initiatives that advance the stewardship and conservation of animals and their habitats as part of its broader commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and biodiversity conservation, said Freeport-McMoRan vice president of communications Linda Hayes in a written statement. We value partnerships that help inspire people and communities to engage with and protect the natural world. Castro said the multinational mining company has long been a major supporter of the Phoenix Zoo and its conservation and educational programs, with several Freeport-McMoRan executives serving on the zoos board over the years. The land in Sahuarita was one of six sites in Arizona and New Mexico that the mining company offered up for the safari park, he said. Zoo officials have been leasing the property since 2018. There's a lot of pieces to this puzzle, and getting all those things in the right spots is taking a little bit longer than we had anticipated, Castro explained. Were taking all the right steps to ensure that it's going to be a successful project, not only for the zoo, but for the community and for the animals that we take care of and that we're entrusted with. One nagging issue is access. At the moment, there are no paved routes connecting with the park site, which extends north from Sahuaritas Walden Grove High School, east of Nogales Highway between Sahuarita Road and Pima Mine Road. Castro said zoo officials are working with the town to get a road cut into the former agricultural property. That's kind of put us a little bit behind schedule, but we're hoping within the next two or three years to have our public opening, he said. Whenever that day comes, Castro believes the safari park will have been worth the wait for people and animals alike. It's going to be a little bit different than what's down in that part of Arizona, but we feel it's going to be really good for conservation and for the economy in Southern Arizona, he said. And it should be a fun place to go to. On a storm-lashed night in Dak Lak, unmanned aircraft hovered above stranded homes, guiding residents to safety. Years of quiet R&D have now propelled Vietnamese UAV makers into demanding markets from South Korea to the US. From flood rescue flights to exporting 5,000 UAVs Vietnam has the capability to master UAV technology. In the middle of a stormy night in Dak Lak, hundreds of households were cut off by rising floodwaters. All lines of communication had gone silent, save for the blinking lights of low-flying UAVs sweeping over rooftops. Loudspeakers mounted on the aircraft pierced the cold darkness, urging residents to stay calm, move toward safe shelter, while life buoys, milk cartons and medical kits were carefully lowered from above. Behind those flights was CT UAV, a company that has spent more than a decade quietly pursuing UAV technology. Phan Van Han, head of the rescue team, recalled how one engineer stepped on a nail in the floodwaters yet insisted on finishing the mission because people need us. That spirit, fused with years of persistent research, laid the groundwork for generations of UAVs known for exceptional durability, stability and resistance to strong winds. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, CT Group established Dr One - a name reflecting both the ambition of being Doctor No.1 and the word Drone itself. It was seen as Vietnams first bold scientific dream in the UAV field. Choosing a path centered on research and development was always costly, long term and risky. While CT Group committed to mastering core technologies, some shareholders favored distribution - a quicker, safer route to profit. Financial strain compounded by the pandemic gradually drained Dr Ones momentum, and the venture ultimately had to close. When everything seemed to collapse, CT Group made a decisive choice: not to give up and not to let hard-earned lessons go to waste. The research team arrived at a vital conclusion - survival depended on mastering core technology and achieving an R&D pace faster than market shifts. CT UAV was born as a rebirth. It was not merely a brand transformation, but a strategic commitment to heavy R&D investment and expanded international cooperation. That persistence led to a milestone on August 12, 2025, when CT UAV signed a contract to export 5,000 UAVs to South Korea, witnessed by Party General Secretary To Lam and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min Seok. CT UAV now operates five research and manufacturing plants. The company is also preparing to build a 400-hectare UAV industrial complex with a test airfield, large-scale production facilities and a specialized training school. Its goal is to become ASEANs leading UAV enterprise by 2027 and export tens of thousands of UAVs annually. Mastering a modern military UAV ecosystem Viettel plays a central role in Vietnams military UAV sector. While CT UAV represents the civilian and industrial segment, Viettel plays a central role in Vietnams military UAV sector. In less than a decade, it has built a comprehensive UAV ecosystem capable of reconnaissance, territorial surveillance and precision strike missions. Viettels reconnaissance UAVs are designed to adapt to Vietnams weather conditions, terrain and high humidity - environments where many imported models struggle. Its long-range multi-mission VU-MALE line exemplifies deep research capabilities. With a flight range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, it meets strategic surveillance demands over vast areas. Beyond reconnaissance, Viettel has also developed the VU-C2 loitering munition UAV, integrated with artificial intelligence that enables automatic target search, detection and lock-on at attack speeds surpassing 130 km/h. This marks a significant step, placing Vietnam among nations capable of autonomously producing tactical UAVs. Viettels development must be viewed alongside globally recognized UAV platforms. Compared to the Bayraktar TB2 of Turkiye, Viettels UAVs may carry less weapon payload but offer advantages in flight endurance and operating costs. Against Irans Shahed-136, the VU-C2 is smaller, more maneuverable, equipped with more advanced AI and better suited for short-range tactics. Compared with Chinas Wing Loong, Viettels UAVs remain competitively priced while retaining full technological autonomy, avoiding dependence on tightly controlled foreign components. Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman of Viettel, said that from now until 2030 the group will act as the nucleus of a high-tech defense industry complex, proactively advising and proposing new-generation weapons and technical equipment to the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense. Viettel is also increasingly focusing on UAV development for the low-altitude economic ecosystem. Most striking is its cross-sector connectivity. Beyond defense, Viettel UAVs are being deployed in civilian fields such as power transmission line inspection, forest management, firefighting support and terrain surveying. When Vietnamese UAVs appear in the US and Europe Alongside these two major players, the emergence of Hera - developed by startup RTR Vietnam - reflects the vitality of Vietnams UAV ecosystem. Hera is foldable and compact enough to fit in a backpack. It can fly for 56 minutes without payload and carry 1 kilogram for 53 minutes. Its design prioritizes rapid deployment, making it suitable for security forces, rescue teams and patrol operations. Notably, Hera has been supplied to US national security forces, US police departments and Dutch police. These are highly demanding markets with stringent requirements on security standards, anti-jamming capabilities, durability and flight stability. The acceptance of a fully Vietnamese-developed UAV signals that the countrys technological capacity has reached parity with established players. RTR Vietnam has also secured patents in the US and Australia - a rare achievement in the UAV field, where most patents are concentrated in the US, Israel and China. This not only brings commercial value but also affirms that Vietnam can develop core technologies and protect intellectual property on international markets. Michael Vu Nguyen, General Director of Boeing Vietnam, said Vietnam has the capacity to master UAV technology. He cited RTR Vietnam as an example: a startup powered entirely by Vietnamese engineers and technology that has obtained patents in the US and Australia. Representing the Vietnam UAV Network, Tran Anh Tuan, its Standing Vice Chairman and CEO, noted that recent restrictions by the US and its allies on importing UAVs and components from China have opened significant opportunities for Vietnam to integrate more deeply into the global value chain. If it can capitalize on these opportunities and overcome challenges in core technologies, he believes Vietnam can become a leading UAV hub in ASEAN within the next decade, with Made in Vietnam products serving not only domestic demand but reaching global markets. A new era for Vietnamese UAVs The Vietnam UAV Network, bringing together nearly 100 experts and scientists worldwide, is emerging as a key support force helping domestic enterprises access advanced technologies, international standards and market development strategies. Its objective is to foster a US$5 billion UAV industry by 2035, with Make in Vietnam products present in multiple countries. CT UAV, Viettel and RTR Vietnam now form three spearheads of Vietnams UAV sector. They share a common goal: to position Vietnam as a nation that masters UAV technology - serving economic development, safeguarding national defense and security, and integrating deeply into global supply chains. The rise of these three enterprises demonstrates that Vietnam is not merely catching up with the world but steadily carving out its own identity while conquering global markets. Thai Khang Nguyen Hoang Hong Phung, a former student of Nguyen Du High School in Ho Chi Minh City, has graduated in Industrial Management from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology with a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0, becoming one of the highest-scoring graduates in the universitys history. Her achievement in a field often regarded as male-dominated left a strong impression on lecturers and peers alike. Overcoming pressure to reach a perfect GPA Nguyen Hoang Hong Phung graduated in Industrial Management from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology with a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0. Since high school, Hong Phung had been interested in Industrial Management, a discipline that bridges economics and engineering, closely tied to production processes, operations and corporate governance. The interdisciplinary nature of the program and its broad career prospects were what drew her in. After carefully studying the curriculum and receiving guidance from her family and teachers, she decided to apply to Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. I felt the program matched both my abilities and my long-term direction, so I chose to challenge myself, Phung said. In her early days at one of Vietnams most rigorous technical universities, Phung struggled with self-doubt and worried about keeping pace with the demanding coursework. Encouragement and trust from her family and lecturers gradually helped her regain balance and set higher goals for herself. Even so, maintaining near-perfect academic results for two consecutive years was far from smooth. Phung constantly imposed high standards on herself, allowing pressure to accumulate. At one point, she felt overwhelmed and even considered taking a year off to restore her balance. A turning point came when she heard the story of a lecturer at the university during her most difficult period. He had once failed Calculus and temporarily suspended his studies due to academic pressure. After overcoming a psychological crisis, he returned, persevered and eventually became a lecturer at the very institution he once struggled to keep up with. That story helped me realize that stumbling is not the end. What matters is not giving up, Phung reflected. Study habits behind a 4.0 GPA According to Hong Phung, the most important factor in sustaining her perfect GPA was proactivity in learning. Before each class, she would read materials in advance to grasp the foundational concepts. This allowed her to follow lectures more easily and focus on advanced content. Whenever something remained unclear, she actively discussed it with lecturers or classmates to avoid gaps in knowledge. She also built a structured schedule, prioritizing urgent deadlines while flexibly allocating time to other tasks. This method helped her prevent overload and maintain consistent academic performance. The subject that left the deepest impression on her was Research Methodology. Although she had frequently read academic papers before, she once struggled to understand how research methods were constructed and how data were processed. After completing the course, she gained a clearer understanding of the structure of scientific research - from defining problems and selecting methods to analyzing and presenting results. The experience strengthened her confidence in approaching professional literature. Beyond improving her academic reading skills, the learning process equipped Phung with essential competencies such as analytical thinking, data processing, teamwork and presentation skills. She believes these abilities will prove invaluable in her future career. In the coming time, Hong Phung plans to pursue postgraduate studies abroad. She prefers not to disclose details until everything is finalized, but affirms that her long-term goal is to continue developing her expertise seriously and contribute positively to the community. Le Huyen Despite being thousands of kilometers away and requiring nearly half a day of travel, Hanoi has unexpectedly become one of the most sought-after destinations for British travelers looking to escape weeks of persistent rain and damp weather. Hanoi in February and March enjoys pleasant weather. According to the Daily Mail, while Europe offers numerous sunny getaways, the destination seeing a remarkable spike in searches among British tourists is Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam. Data from Kayak shows that flight searches to Hanoi from the UK between February and March have risen by 103% compared to the same period last year. British media reports note that during this time of year, Hanoi enjoys average temperatures of around 24 degrees Celsius, significantly warmer than conditions in the UK. The city is also recognized as one of the most affordable destinations in the world. According to online data platform Numbeo, a local beer in Hanoi costs about VND25,000 (US$1), a soft drink around VND12,000 (US$0.50), and a three-course meal for two typically costs about VND800,000 (US$33, equivalent to 22.9 euros). Travel costs to Hanoi are also currently attractive when booked early. At present, airfares are nearly 450 euros lower than in March. Travel journalist Hugo Brown recently shared in the Daily Mail that he spent just 19.60 euros, or under VND700,000 (US$29), for an entire day in Hanoi, including one nights accommodation and three meals with drinks. Meanwhile, traditional winter sun destinations closer to the UK have seen a slight drop in interest compared to last year. For instance, searches for Arrecife on the island of Lanzarote have declined by 11%. In contrast, several long-haul destinations have gained traction. Colombo has recorded a 20% increase in searches year-on-year, while Cancun has seen a 14% rise. Kayak travel expert Rachel Mumford commented: Search data shows that Britons are willing to travel farther in pursuit of sunshine, but cost remains a crucial factor in booking decisions. She noted that Hanoi stands out due to its combination of consistently warm weather and low living expenses. Vietnam offers the feeling of a long-haul adventure while remaining financially comfortable, thanks to its low daily costs, she said. Linh Trang The proposal is part of a restructuring plan of VNR for the 2026-2030 period with a vision to 2050 recently submitted to the Government for consideration. The plan aims to transform the current State-owned corporation into a group model under the name Vietnam National Railway Group with the parent company to operate as a single-member limited liability company with 100% State ownership. Under the plan, the restructuring would be carried out in phases with the establishment of specialised subsidiaries. Specifically, by the end of 2027, a Vietnam Railway Industry Corporation is expected to be formed. By the end of 2029, a Vietnam Railway Electrification One-Member Limited Liability Company would be set up, and a Vietnam Railway Infrastructure Corporation, by the end of 2031. The Ministry of Finance said that the overhaul is driven by new mandates assigned by the National Assembly, the Government, and the Prime Minister, including resolutions on investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway and Lao CaiHanoiHai Phong line, which requires urgent restructuring in capital raising, human resources, and organisational model. Regarding financial resources, the ministry said it would develop plans to supplement the charter capital for the new group. Notably, VNR is expected to receive additional public assets, including the Da LatTrai Mat railway line and several existing stations such as Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Hue, and Sai Gon. The Da LatTrai Mat line alone is estimated to be worth around 50 billion VND (2 million USD), which would bring the groups projected charter capital to nearly 32.41 trillion VND in the 2026-2030 period and more than 49.78 trillion VND in 2031-2035./. VNA Le Anh Trung, Chair of the Dak Lak Durian Association. On February 5, the Vietnam Youth Startup Support Center (SYS Vietnam) under the Vietnam Youth Federation, the E-commerce Development and Digital Technology Center (eComDX - Vietnam E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade), and the Dak Lak Durian Association officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement. This opens a new phase of companionship in training - digital transformation - e-commerce - communication - trade promotion, aiming for the sustainable development of the Vietnamese durian industry, especially in the Central Highlands region. Enhancing supply chain value According to the agreement, the three parties will establish a strategic cooperative relationship to support businesses, cooperatives, and members belonging to the Dak Lak Durian Association in training, e-commerce development, communication, and trade promotion. The core goal is to enhance supply chain value and build a sustainable Dak Lak durian brand. Dak Lak is considered one of the key regions of the Vietnamese durian industry. In the context of export markets increasingly demanding high quality, traceability, and brand standards, "bringing agricultural products to digital trading floor" is no longer an option, but a mandatory direction to increase competitiveness and reduce dependence on traditional consumption channels. The cooperation agreement between the three parties identifies four key implementation contents. First, training in e-commerce and TikTok. Accordingly, SYS Vietnam will provide free online training for members of the Dak Lak Durian Association. For offline training, the parties will coordinate to arrange funding to invite experts from SYS and eComDX to deploy directly in the locality. Second, organizing intensive sales courses, focusing on sales skills on TikTok. Notably, learners belonging to the association enjoy a policy of partial tuition support from the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Youth Federation. Third, developing digital infrastructure and technology products. eComDX and SYS will support the Association in standardizing sales channels, while connecting to apply support programs from TikTok for the Association. In addition, the agreement also sets a direction for supplying production materials, especially in distributing nano-technology fertilizers for durian trees with price subsidy policies. Fourth, professional training and communication. The parties agreed to organize professional courses in the durian industry and issue official certificates; at the same time, develop plans and provide specialized TikTok communication packages for Dak Lak durian businesses to promote their brands. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Le Anh Trung, Chair of the Dak Lak Durian Association, said the durian industry is entering a new stage of competition, where quality alone is not enough, but market capacity and branding are also needed. We expect this cooperation to help members not only sell products but also sell the brand. Dak Lak wants to go the long haul, and there must be digital capacity, communication capacity, and standardization capacity," Trung said. Nguyen Phan Huy Khoi, Director of the Vietnam Youth Startup Support Center, said that SYS Vietnam identifies this as a model for a new approach: taking training as the root, digital transformation as the lever, and digital platforms as the channel to expand the market, thereby creating sustainable momentum for Vietnamese agriculture. We do not just teach how to open a shop or make a video. We aim to build a generation of businesses - cooperatives - farmers with a digital business mindset, doing e-commerce the right way, and having the ability to develop long-term," Khoi said. Meanwhile, Nguyen Huu Tuan, Director of the E-commerce Development and Digital Technology Center (eComDX), said this cooperation is a step to concretize the role of specialized agencies in accompanying localities, industry associations, and social organizations in implementing substantive e-commerce. E-commerce and digital technology are not just sales channels. They are a system of capacities including standards, processes, data, communication, traceability, and governance. This cooperation aims to create that capacity for the Dak Lak durian industry," Nguyen Huu Tuan said. "Industry-Training-Platform" model Nguyen Lam Thanh, representative of TikTok Vietnam, praised the parties sitting down together to build a structured cooperation model, in which training and standardization are the foundation, rather than just stopping at an online sales movement. Thanh said TikTok is ready to accompany from a platform perspective, supporting programs toward sustainable development, transparency, standards, and creating brand value for Vietnamese agricultural products. If Vietnamese agricultural products want to go far, they cannot rely on output alone. They need stories, brands, data, and digital capacity," Thanh said. Rescue forces search through the night for six people missing after the passenger boat capsized on Thac Ba Lake. Photo: X Speaking to VietNamNet, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Chairman of Cam Nhan Commune Peoples Committee, said the incident occurred at around 6pm in the Thac Ba Lake area of Bao Ai Commune. According to information from Bao Ai Commune Peoples Committee, at around 7:15pm on February 21, passenger boat bearing registration number YB0876H collided with a stone transport vessel numbered YB0919 on Thac Ba Lake, in the area of Lang Can Hamlet, Bao Ai Commune. As a result of the collision, the passenger boat sank, leaving six people missing. The six missing victims have been identified as H.T.T. (59), H.T.H. (55), T.T.H. (47), H.V.T. (42), H.D.M. (10) and H.T.T.T. (13). All are residents of Hamlet 1, Cam Nhan Commune. Rescue forces are making every effort to search for the six missing victims. Photo: Provided by local authorities Local authorities said the passenger boat was owned by Tran Anh Tuan, 47, a resident of Bao Ai Commune. The vessel had been purchased but ownership transfer procedures had not yet been completed. The boat was operated by Trieu Van Noi, 31, from Cam Nhan Commune. At the time of the incident, the boat was carrying 23 people, including the operator, traveling from Yen Binh Commune to Cam Nhan Commune. The stone transport vessel belongs to Marble Vietnam Mineral Company, based in Luc Yen Commune. It was operated by Nguyen Van Tham, 42, a resident of Cam Nhan Commune. At the time of the collision, the vessel was carrying 515 tons of stone and was traveling from Luc Yen Commune toward Yen Binh Commune. Immediately after the accident, authorities from Bao Ai and Cam Nhan communes, along with provincial agencies in Lao Cai, arrived at the scene to conduct search and rescue operations. Duc Hoang When happiness is placed at the heart of national goals, every reform is guided by the imperative to protect health, ensure safe living environments, improve public services and guarantee fair access for all citizens. Bringing happiness to the people is the noble aspiration of every nation. Figures on GDP, growth rates or economic structure ultimately converge on a core question: Are people living in good health, in safety, free to make their own choices, cared for and loved? That is the true meaning of the happiness index, a measure increasingly valued around the world, and Vietnam is no exception to this trend. A modern measure of social progress Health and life expectancy are two foundational indicators reflecting quality of life. Photo: Hoang Ha The happiness index is built upon several groups of factors: income per capita, life expectancy, social support, freedom of choice, generosity and volunteerism within society, and perceptions of corruption control. Among these factors, many are directly linked to healthcare, especially health and life expectancy - two foundational indicators reflecting quality of life. It is no coincidence that Finland, which has led global happiness rankings for many consecutive years, is known for its comprehensive healthcare system, strong preventive care and advanced social welfare policies. In recent years, Vietnam has paid greater attention to the happiness index as a reflection of development quality. In the draft documents for the 14th National Party Congress, reviewing the 2021-2025 term, it was noted that Vietnams happiness ranking rose by 33 places, reaching 46th out of 143 countries. The former Yen Bai province and the city of Hanoi have boldly incorporated the happiness index into their Party resolutions, treating it as a development goal on par with socio-economic targets. At the National Assembly forum, I also proposed including the happiness index in the documents of the 14th Congress and setting a target to elevate Vietnams ranking from 46 into the top 20 within the next five years. For the first time, the draft documents of the 14th Congress have set a target for the 2026-2030 period: striving to achieve a Human Development Index of approximately 0.78. A significant turning point Among all factors contributing to citizens happiness, healthcare holds a central place. Over the past five years, the healthcare system from the central to grassroots levels has been gradually strengthened. Hospital networks have been upgraded and expanded; modern medical equipment has been installed across multiple tiers; and doctors and medical staff have received more systematic training. Another bright spot is the strong policy of opening the door to private healthcare, creating a diversified medical ecosystem that helps ease the burden on public hospitals and improve service quality. Longstanding bottlenecks in health insurance have been addressed, particularly through the policy allowing patients to access care across designated levels. Participants are now free to choose appropriate healthcare facilities instead of being bound by rigid administrative constraints as before. A breakthrough initiative is Politburo Resolution 72, which sets the goal of moving toward universal free medical examination and treatment, along with screening for congenital and genetic diseases based on medical indications. If implemented effectively, this would rank among the most progressive health policies for the people. Restructuring the three tiers of healthcare Hanoi is implementing a model linking ward and commune health stations with central hospitals to provide examinations and health monitoring at the grassroots level. To build a society where citizens happiness is the central objective, the healthcare system must be reorganized into three tightly connected and harmonious tiers. The first tier is grassroots healthcare, primarily preventive care, serving as the initial shield. It must adhere to the principle of being truly close to the people - wherever there are residents, there must be healthcare facilities. When a child develops a fever, a mother should need no more than a 15-minute walk to reach medical assistance. In cases of drowning, electric shock or burns, relatives should be able to access emergency care within the same short span. This is also a global trend aimed at reducing healthcare costs, detecting disease early and improving community health. The second tier consists of provincial hospitals. These facilities are equipped to receive and treat more complex cases, especially chronic diseases or conditions beyond the full capacity of grassroots centers. Provincial hospitals also implement advanced specialized techniques, from diagnostic imaging and interventional procedures to intensive care and complex treatment protocols requiring multidisciplinary coordination. With stronger professional and technological capacity, they serve as a critical bridge between primary care and central hospitals, sparing patients long-distance travel and reducing financial and time burdens. The third tier comprises highly specialized medical centers focused on treating severe, rare and emerging diseases, while conducting research of international caliber. When these three tiers operate smoothly and complement one another, citizens not only receive comprehensive care but also experience a deep sense of security and trust - essential pillars of lasting happiness in a civilized society. For this system to function effectively, medical training must be prioritized. Medical education cannot rely solely on theory; patients themselves must be the living textbooks and the direct teachers of medical students. Supporting people throughout the life cycle Resolution 72 and the National Target Program on Health have laid important orientations and foundations for elevating preventive medicine to a new level, both in professional capacity and organizational structure. In theory and in institutional design, the status of preventive medicine must be more firmly affirmed. This is reflected in the restructuring of the system, the formulation of new regulations and, notably, the National Assemblys discussion and passage of the Law on Disease Prevention. This law marks a significant step forward by broadening the scope of prevention. It no longer focuses solely on infectious diseases but also addresses the rapidly rising group of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, mental health disorders and congenital genetic conditions. This expansion ushers preventive medicine into a more comprehensive, proactive phase, closely aligned with the long-term protection of community health. Elevating preventive healthcare becomes truly meaningful only when placed within the broader framework of human-centered health and social security policies. In this context, the newly adopted Population Law represents another important milestone. It shifts the mindset from family planning to population and development, expanding care to protect and support people throughout their entire life cycle. From the prenatal stage to birth, through childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age, each phase is addressed with consistent and humane policies. To effectively implement population strategies and strengthen preventive and curative healthcare capacity, a synchronized and sustainable system of solutions is required. A key measure is the development of an integrated national population and health data system, enabling life-long health monitoring, management of non-communicable diseases and more accurate policymaking. Happiness is not merely a personal emotion. It is the outcome of policies that place people at the center. When happiness becomes the guiding objective, reforms naturally focus on protecting health, ensuring safe living environments, improving public services and guaranteeing equitable access for all. A robust preventive healthcare system, improved quality of medical examination and treatment, and humane policies such as the new Population Law will together lay a solid foundation for a society moving steadily toward enduring happiness. The newly adopted Population Law marks an important shift from family planning to population and development. It expands the scope of care, aiming to protect and support individuals throughout their life cycle. From the prenatal stage and birth to childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age, every stage of life is addressed with consistent and humane policies. Prof. Nguyen Anh Tri (National Assembly deputy) The final two days of the Lunar New Year holiday offer favorable weather nationwide for spring outings. A weak cold spell is expected to return to northern Vietnam midweek, bringing light rain and cooler conditions. Hanois weather will remain warm during the final days of the holiday, favorable for spring outings. Photo: Nam Khanh According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, during the last two days of the Lunar New Year holiday on February 21-22 (the fifth and sixth days of Tet), northern Vietnam will see light rain in a few places, with scattered mist and light fog in the early morning. Sunshine is expected by late morning and afternoon. In mountainous and midland areas, February 22 may bring scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Mornings and nights will remain chilly. Daytime temperatures in the North will range from 23 to 27 degrees Celsius, with some areas in the northwest exceeding 28 degrees. Nighttime lows will hover between 17 and 20 degrees, dropping below 16 degrees in mountainous regions. In Hanoi, light rain is expected in a few areas, along with scattered mist and light fog in the morning, followed by sunshine in the afternoon. Mornings and nights will be cool. Highs will range from 24 to 26 degrees, with lows between 19 and 21 degrees. Meteorologists predict that on February 23, the first working day of the Year of the Horse, Hanoi will be mostly cloudy, with light rain and scattered light fog at night and in the early morning. Southeast winds will be at level 2. Temperatures will remain cool, with lows of 19-21 degrees and highs of 24-25 degrees. From February 24-25, a weak cold air mass shifting eastward combined with upper-level wind convergence will keep temperatures in Hanoi relatively stable. Skies will remain mostly cloudy with occasional light rain. Nights and mornings will be chilly. Over the weekend of February 21-22, areas from Thanh Hoa to Hue will experience light rain in a few places, with early morning mist and sunshine in the afternoon. Northern sections will be cool in the morning and at night. Highs will range from 25 to 28 degrees, with some locations exceeding 28 degrees, while lows will be between 20 and 23 degrees. In the south-central coastal region, the northern part will see light rain in some places and sunshine in the afternoon. The southern part will be sunny during the day with isolated evening showers. High temperatures will range from 27 to 31 degrees, exceeding 31 degrees in some southern areas. Lows will be between 22 and 25 degrees. The Central Highlands and southern Vietnam will continue typical dry-season conditions. In the highlands, daytime highs will range from 28 to 31 degrees, exceeding 31 degrees in some places, while nighttime lows will be between 16 and 20 degrees, dropping below 16 degrees in certain areas. In the southern region, sunshine will intensify. Parts of the southeastern area may experience localized heat during midday and early afternoon, with highs ranging from 31 to 35 degrees and exceeding 35 degrees in some locations. Nighttime lows will be between 22 and 26 degrees. For the first working week of the Year of the Horse, from the night of February 22 through March 2, northern and north-central Vietnam will see light rain in some places. Mountainous and midland areas in the North may experience scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms on the nights of February 22-23. Around February 24-25 and from February 27 to March 1, scattered rain and light rain are forecast across the region. Nights and mornings will remain chilly. From Quang Tri to Da Nang and the eastern areas stretching from Quang Ngai to Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa, light rain is expected in a few places. From around February 24-26, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms may occur. Other regions will see scattered showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon and at night, with sunny conditions during the day. During thunderstorms, whirlwinds, lightning and strong gusts are possible. The meteorological agency advises authorities and residents to regularly update short-term forecasts and warnings issued one to three days in advance, in order to proactively respond to complex and extreme weather developments and ensure safety for production and daily life. Bao Anh Hanoi recorded positive growth in both visitor numbers and tourism revenue during the Lunar New Year holiday. The Hanoi Department of Tourism recently reported that over six days, from February 14 to February 19 - corresponding to the 27th day of the last lunar month to the third day of the first lunar month - the capital saw positive growth in both visitor numbers and revenue. During the five official Tet holiday days, Hanoi is estimated to have welcomed more than 726,000 visitors, including approximately 135,000 international arrivals. Among the most popular attractions were the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, Hoa Lo Prison Relic Site and the Huong Pagoda complex. Several destinations also left a new mark through technology application and innovative visitor experiences. The Flag Tower Memories tour combined 3D mapping performances at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long; the Co Loa Festival in spring Binh Ngo 2026 piloted a Digital Relic - Traditional Festival Space model; the Huong Pagoda Festival introduced e-ticketing, online sales, automated ticket kiosks, QR code control and AI cameras to proactively regulate traffic flows. According to a rapid report from the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, from February 14 to February 19 the province welcomed more than 1.36 million visitors, including nearly 230,000 international tourists. Tourism revenue exceeded VND2,040 billion (US$83 million). In addition to the traditional domestic market, the number of visitors from India and several European countries increased markedly, contributing to a vibrant multicultural atmosphere in this heritage land. Well-known destinations such as Trang An, Hoa Lu Ancient Town and the Thung Nham Ecotourism Area were crowded with visitors throughout the Tet holiday. From February 14 to February 19, Hue welcomed an estimated nearly 250,000 visitors, including close to 165,000 international arrivals. Tourism revenue reached approximately VND736.5 billion (around US$30 million). On February 19 alone, room occupancy hit 99 percent, the highest rate during the Tet holiday. Over the nine-day Lunar New Year break, Hue is expected to receive around 500,000 visitors, up 231 percent year on year. Lam Dong province recorded an estimated 910,000 visitors from February 14 to February 20, an increase of about 29 percent compared to the Tet holiday in 2025. Of these, roughly 60,000 were international travelers. Tourism revenue was estimated at VND1,800 billion (US$73 million). Average room occupancy reached 75 to 80 percent, while three- to five-star accommodations achieved 85 to 95 percent occupancy. An Giang also reported strong growth between February 14 and February 20. The province is estimated to have welcomed more than 1.1 million visitors, up nearly 63 percent year on year, including close to 78,000 international arrivals. Total tourism revenue reached over VND1,995 billion (US$81 million), an increase of 40.5 percent compared to the same period. The Phu Quoc special zone alone welcomed more than 264,000 visitors over seven days, up 22.2 percent year on year. Overall, the organization and service for tourists during the Lunar New Year 2026 were carefully implemented by local authorities and tourism service providers, meeting visitor demand. However, on the afternoon of February 19, due to a power incident, the Hon Thom cable car temporarily stopped operating for inspection. The operator proactively transported visitors back to Phu Quoc (An Thoi) by hydraulic cable system and canoe to ensure safety, while covering meal expenses on the island and refunding ticket and related travel costs. To date, customers have expressed understanding and no complaints have been recorded regarding the incident, a representative of the An Giang Department of Tourism said. Linh Trang Cao Bang reinvents itself: Le Hai Hoa, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chair of the Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee (right) talks with VietNamNet's Doan Bong VietNamNet talked with Le Hai Hoa, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chair of the Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee, to clarify governance views and actual changes in this locality. In economics, time is the most expensive cost. Recently, Cao Bang made a strong decision to cut out intermediate layers. In your opinion, is this a way to minimize transaction costs and help capital flow faster? By what scale do you measure that speed? We closely follow the instructions and reform spirit of the Central government and organize implementation in a way that best suits local conditions. Saying that time, transactions, and intermediate layers are costly is absolutely correct. Every business, citizen, or any subject of the economy, when making investment or carrying out civil transactions, wants to fulfill procedures quickly, with fewer hassles, and simple procedures. In Cao Bang, we strictly implement the policies and guidelines directed by the Party and the State, just as other localities do. However, we do have some differences. First, we are not a merged province. That is an advantage because people are less shuffled, so still the same people, still the same space. But the personnel force must renew more drastically and faster. Clearly, Cao Bang must "renew itself." To renew itself, three things are needed. One is to clarify the responsibility of the heads of all levels. We are not just urging, but must solve work together. Two is converting time into specific measurement indicators. We do not measure by how much time has been spent solving this matter or how many meetings have been held, but how to shorten the "turnover of money." For example, once capital is assigned and investment preparation is full, we must reach the finish line, and reach it ahead of schedule. If a business wants to invest, we must resolve administrative procedures very quickly. If a citizen has to follow procedures, they should be most convenient. Therefore, the time cost truly must be cut. Aiming for less trouble, explaining so people understand correctly and hits the mark, and doing it right the first time is the goal. Sir, in a previous address to the provincial Peoples Council at the end of last year, you delivered the message: Comply with regulations but ensure they fit reality. This message represents a very delicate boundary. When decentralizing authority strongly to the grassroots level to optimize resources, how do you apply safety valves to control risks related to public service ethics and avoid the situation where local customs override state law? Complying with regulations is a requirement and a guiding principle. What we fear is situations where people claim to follow regulations but fail to coordinate, push responsibilities away, avoid tasks, or shy away from sensitive matters. For issues that are sensitive, many officials tend not to take to play safe. This reality exists not only in Cao Bang but in many other places as well. I believe that the main reason for inaction is fear, lack of information, and a feeling of being isolated. There are things that previously a Commune Chairman could not imagine they could decide and had to ask for opinions, but now they must do it. One must both act according to the law and meet the practical demands of the locality, and promptly report to competent authorities when there are obstacles. Compliance with the law is still number one, but there is a series of following processes. Otherwise, we will be in a situation where everyone is right, but problems cannot be solved. Even for myself, the chair of the Provincial People's Committee now has many expanded powers compared to before, and so does the Commune Chairman. The trend of decentralization and delegation of power is an irreversible trend. We cannot take over or do the work for others, and we cannot delay. And, especially, we must fight against what is called "discretionary power." That is the right to decide or not; to sign or not; to sign today or tomorrow, or 30 days later without issue. One task can have many people doing it, but only one person is responsible. Doan Bong To be continued... Photo: Ministry of Science and Technology. On the afternoon of February 18 in Washington D.C., in the presence of Party General Secretary To Lam, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long handed over a license to provide satellite-based telecommunications services, both fixed and mobile, to Starlink Services Vietnam Company. Earlier, on February 13, an important milestone was marked in the completion of Vietnams national digital infrastructure when the Radio Frequency Department officially granted a license for the use of radio frequencies and radio equipment to Starlink Services Vietnam Co., Ltd. This event was more than an administrative procedure. It signaled Vietnams stronger openness to next-generation space technology, where internet connectivity is no longer constrained by mountainous terrain, islands or traditional infrastructure blind spots. Under the granted frequency license, the initial deployment phase will include four gateway stations and a maximum of 600,000 user terminals in Vietnam. The scale reflects a methodical, controlled rollout aligned with the national telecommunications infrastructure development roadmap. Earlier media reports said that SpaceX, the space company owned by billionaire Elon Musk, plans to invest US$1.5 billion in Vietnam. The investment aims to deploy the Starlink satellite internet service, which is expected to provide broadband connectivity across the country, particularly in remote, border and island areas where traditional internet infrastructure remains limited. The rollout of Starlink services is anticipated to accelerate digital transformation and help narrow the digital divide in Vietnam. However, achieving optimal effectiveness will require close cooperation between SpaceX and domestic telecommunications enterprises, along with investment in infrastructure and supply chains. Such efforts are expected to expand access to digital services nationwide, especially in remote regions that lack fixed broadband or 4G and 5G coverage. Nonetheless, Starlinks specific business model in Vietnam has yet to be disclosed. Commenting on SpaceX being allowed to pilot low Earth orbit satellite internet services in Vietnam, Vu The Binh, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Vietnam Internet Association (VIA), described it as a positive signal for Vietnams internet landscape. It provides an additional broadband option, especially for areas without fiber optic cables, remote regions and islands. Elaborating on the potential benefits, Vu The Binh noted that Vietnam ranks among the leading ASEAN countries in terms of internet penetration and both fixed and mobile broadband access. So far, Viettel is the only domestic enterprise to publicly declare its intention to participate in the low Earth orbit satellite sector. Tao Duc Thang, Chairman of Viettel, said the group is conducting research into low Earth orbit satellites, although no results have yet been announced. A frequency expert told VietNamNet that, in theory, Vietnam could still secure orbital slots for low Earth orbit satellites. In practice, however, registering satellite orbits is extremely challenging, as major countries have already claimed many of these positions. Thai Khang General Secretary To Lams working trip to attend the opening session of the Peace Council on the Gaza Strip marked the first major high-level multilateral diplomatic engagement of the Party and State following the 14th National Party Congress. Farewell ceremony for General Secretary To Lam at Joint Base Andrews. Photo: VNA The visit represents a concrete step in implementing Vietnams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, as well as the external relations orientation set out by the 14th Party Congress. Vietnam aims to contribute actively and responsibly to peace, cooperation and sustainable development, while also helping address common regional and international challenges. According to Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, in line with General Secretary To Lams recent article titled Advancing comprehensive diplomacy to a new height, this new stage is reflected in Vietnams goodwill and efforts to promote peace in the Middle East and ensure the fundamental national rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to establish an independent state. The trip also helped strengthen Vietnams relations with the host country and international partners, including Middle Eastern nations. During exchanges, the General Secretary reaffirmed Vietnams views on the Middle East peace process and the Palestinian issue, underscoring the perspective of a nation that has endured great sacrifice and loss in war and consistently strives for peace. General Secretary To Lam attends the opening session of the Peace Council on the Gaza Strip. Photo: VNA Opening session of the Peace Council on the Gaza Strip. Photo: VNA International and host country media highly appreciated Vietnams role as a founding member of the Peace Council on the Gaza Strip and the General Secretarys participation in the meeting. Observers noted that Vietnams engagement reflects its foreign policy line and desire to contribute to global peace and development, as well as international recognition of its standing and capacity to contribute. In discussions, the General Secretary affirmed that Vietnam would make practical contributions, such as participating in peacekeeping activities to help ensure stability in Gaza, as well as humanitarian assistance and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. In the host country, General Secretary To Lam met with US President Donald Trump, received US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, held phone talks with US legislators and met with members of the Vietnamese community. General Secretary To Lam speaks with US President Donald Trump. Photo: VNA Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said Vietnam will study and implement a roadmap for the peace plan in three main directions. The first is to stabilize the situation in Gaza and ensure the implementation of the ceasefire. The second is to carry out long-term reconstruction, beginning with meeting essential needs, restoring infrastructure and gradually developing various economic sectors. The third is to build institutional foundations and enhance the administrative and governance capacity of Palestinians in Gaza. We will carefully assess and identify areas where we can participate, as we have done in UN peacekeeping operations, which have been highly appreciated by the United Nations. Our military and police forces could join UN peacekeeping missions, contribute to maintaining security and social order in Gaza, or provide training for local police forces, Minister Le Hoai Trung outlined. Vietnam could also take part in humanitarian and reconstruction activities, areas in which the country has considerable experience. The Foreign Minister emphasized that Vietnam will contribute to the efforts of other international partners, including countries and international organizations, particularly UN agencies. We will continue to participate in or support initiatives by countries within and outside the region to enhance peace in the Middle East, peace and stability in the Gaza Strip, and especially to ensure the fundamental national rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to establish their own state, he affirmed. Tran Thuong At his meeting with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister Trung praised the substantive progress in implementing the VietnamUAE Comprehensive Partnership, spotlighting the recently unveiled over-1-billion-USD hyperscale data centre project in Ho Chi Minh City between G42 and a Vietnamese investment consortium. The UAE official revealed that Investment Minister Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi has been appointed as the focal coordinator for advancing relations with Vietnam a designation reserved for a limited number of strategic partners. He also voiced interest in expanding the intake of Vietnamese workers across various UAE sectors. Both sides agreed to step up cooperation in trade, tourism, science and technology through flexible, results-oriented mechanisms, while maintaining close coordination on Gaza reconstruction within the Board of Peace framework. Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. (Photo published by VNA) During his meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, the two sides committed to effectively rolling out the outcomes of State President Luong Cuongs state visit to Egypt last August and advancing the bilateral Comprehensive Partnership. They set a target of doubling two-way trade from current levels and expanding collaboration in priority sectors such as defence and security, agriculture, science and technology, information technology, artificial intelligence and semiconductors. The Egyptian minister called for high-level exchanges within the year and the early activation of established cooperation mechanisms, including the Intergovernmental Committee and political consultations. Both sides agreed to fast-track pre-feasibility studies toward launching negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), alongside boosting business exchanges and online connectivity forums. On Middle East issues, they shared concern over safeguarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and pledged to coordinate humanitarian support for Gaza. Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. (Photo published by VNA) In discussions with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Minister Trung underscored the alignment of strategic interests between the two countries as a solid platform for deeper cooperation. Minister Fidan affirmed that Turkiye highly values its relationship with Vietnam its second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and commended Vietnams constructive contributions to addressing regional hotspots. The two ministers agreed on a range of measures to elevate ties, including intensifying high-level visits, upgrading the partnership framework, convening the Intergovernmental Committee in 2026, strengthening Party-to-Party exchanges, initiating bilateral FTA negotiations, and expanding cooperation in defence and security, defence industry, aviation and maritime connectivity. They also committed to enhanced coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums. The meeting concluded with exchanges on regional and global developments, with both sides agreeing to work closely within the Peace Council framework to ensure effective assistance for the people of the Gaza Strip./.VNA An initiative to attract PhDs and develop outstanding young scientists returning home began with an intimate dinner, where the distance between teacher and student dissolved in shared stories, memories, concerns and aspirations. Biotechnology Laboratory at the International University - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Associate Professor Vu Hai Quan, now Standing Deputy Minister of Science and Technology and at the time Director of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, recalls the warmth of that gathering. Students who were studying and working at leading universities around the world shared with me many reflections: How can Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City become a destination for the most outstanding scientists? How can young experts trained abroad return to contribute to their homeland? Though working in some of the worlds most favorable research environments, their hearts still turn toward Vietnam. Around a modest table of familiar dishes, the leader of one of Vietnams largest higher education institutions and young researchers from advanced countries spoke animatedly about academic culture, research ecosystems, career development mechanisms and how to build an environment where talent feels inspired to stay and give their best. From that conversation emerged the idea of a large-scale, systematic and long-term program to attract and develop elite intellectuals. The VNU350 Program aims to recruit around 350 talented scientists between 2024 and 2030, all holding doctoral degrees or higher, supported by preferential policies, mechanisms and income packages. For young scientists, the first two years include a Category C research grant of up to VND200 million (US$8,000). In the third year, they are eligible for a Category B grant of up to VND1 billion (US$40,000). By the fourth year, they may receive laboratory investment of up to VND10 billion (US$400,000), and in the fifth year they are supported in meeting criteria for associate professorship. For leading scientists, the first two years include a Category B grant of up to VND1 billion (US$40,000). In subsequent years, they may receive support of up to VND30 billion (US$1.2 million) to build laboratories, establish strong research groups and register as principal investigators for major projects. Income packages are provided by member universities at competitive levels. A PhD holder may earn VND40-50 million per month (US$1,600-2,000) or more, while a professor may receive close to VND100 million per month (US$4,000), alongside other benefits. The journey of one who returned Associate Professor Vu Hai Quan - Standing Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. Dr Can Tran Thanh Trung, born in 1995, is an alumnus of the High School for the Gifted under Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. He won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad in Colombia in 2013, later received a full scholarship to Duke University, one of the top universities in the US, and graduated as valedictorian in mathematics in 2018. He then pursued a PhD at the California Institute of Technology, consistently ranked among the worlds top universities. During ten years of study in the US, Trung observed that Vietnamese students possess talent and passion equal to their international peers, yet often lack early opportunities for development. At his undergraduate institution, a Summer research program in big data launched in 2015 attracted millions of US dollars in funding from businesses and local authorities, nurturing a new generation of experts. Recognizing that early cultivation of talent is priceless, in 2016 Trung used his own scholarship funds, together with fellow students, graduate researchers and the University of Science, to organize the PiMA Mathematical and Applied Research Summer Camp. Over eight years, PiMA has introduced cutting-edge applications in machine learning, data science and bioinformatics to hundreds of talented students. Many now pursue research at leading universities worldwide or work at major technology corporations. This initial success made me seriously consider returning to Vietnam long term to contribute to my homeland, Dr Trung shared. While weighing the decision between staying abroad and returning home, he learned about the VNU350 Program. Seeing that its objectives aligned with his own aspirations and motivations, he applied and was selected as a lecturer in the Faculty of Information Technology at the University of Science. Returning home, each day carries meaning. Beyond the new professional challenges, I have the chance to understand my homeland more deeply, he said. He also participates in selecting and mentoring gifted high school students in mathematics, inspiring young people in provinces where access to experts remains limited. Horizons for those who fly Dr Can Tran Thanh Trung (born 1995), PhD graduate of the California Institute of Technology, the US. Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home you can find them all here. In his monthly column for Wrexham.com, Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP Steve Witherden writes: This article for my Wrexham-area constituents is a round-up of all things rail, as I have a lot of rail-related developments affecting Glyndwr to share. I will cover the announcement of a new station for the Deeside Industrial Park, the new direct line from Wrexham General to London, my proposed amendment to the Railways Bill on restoring services, and the proceeding of plans to get a disabled ramp built at Ruabon Station. Taken together, we are looking at a really transformative agenda of upgrading rail access across North East Wales. Deeside Industrial Park Station The UK and Welsh Governments jointly announced plans for seven new stations for Wales earlier this week, as covered by Wrexham.com on Wednesday. This comes after almost half a billion pounds of rail funding was allocated for Welsh rail in last years Spending Review. Infrastructure works near Padeswood have been slowing down rail traffic for years. This funding will expand capacity on the Liverpool line, making northbound trips much easier (with two extra trains per hour). Then there is the construction of a new station at the Deeside Industrial Park. 135 of my constituents work at the Airbus plant there, so this is a big win for them and Im sure countless others who work in Deeside. Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Next up, plans to launch a new direct service from Wrexham General to London the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR)/Alstom are gathering steam. A proposed open-access operator, its application was rejected by the Office of Rail and Road last summer, but after some changes, support is building for its second application, which was lodged in December 2025. On the second of March, myself and many other local representatives along the route will be taking a specially chartered train down to London together to directly hand a letter to Downing Street in support of the project. If launched, this would be another major win for my Wrexham-area constituents. Access for All at Ruabon Station Constituents will know I have long campaigned for the construction of a disabled access ramp on the northbound platform at Ruabon Station, the lack thereof currently meaning wheelchair users have to alight further up the track. Again, as was reported in Wrexham.com last month, the station has moved to the next stage of the UK Governments Access for All programme, which provides funding for step-free access. Plans will be drawn up, and then a final decision made as to whether to proceed to construction. I raised the project to the Welsh Affairs Committee in March and November last year, held two meetings with Welsh transport minister Ken Skates, submitted a Written Question to the UK Government, and personally wrote to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Budget. I will keep making the case for the campaign and hope to see it carried to fruition. My amendment to the Railways Bill All in all, this is a lot of very promising news for rail users across the Wrexham area. But there is more to be done. Further south, across the Montgomeryshire part of my constituency, the rail network there is in dire need of improvements. That is why I have tabled an amendment to the Railways Bill that would establish a department within Great British Railways to explore reopening stations closed since the 1960s. This of course needs to be accompanied by capacity increases, but if you build it, they will come. Investment in rail infrastructure boosts local growth. My amendment will give MPs a tool to push for the restoration of services and stations in their constituencies, something that will benefit all parts of my constituency and indeed all parts of the country. The return of the railways to public hands will go down as a major achievement of this UK Labour government. A recent poll showed 70 per cent of people believe the government should use all savings from ending rail privatisation to cut fares or open new rail services. The government has a chance to be bolder and go further, delivering real transformative change to our railways. The Federation of Small Businesses Wales has written to the Welsh Governments Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Mark Drakeford MS, warning that Budget 2026/27 will have a severe impact on hospitality and leisure firms. In its letter, FSB Wales said its Small Business Index shows confidence at minus 58 points. It said 30% of small firms now expect to downsize, close or sell in the next 12 months, compared with 18% planning to grow. According to FSB Wales, 68% of businesses cite the domestic economy as their top concern, with 45% identifying tax burdens as a key issue. The organisation said it welcomed the introduction of a new retail multiplier to reduce pressure on shops. However, it raised concerns that hospitality and leisure businesses are excluded. FSB Wales said its analysis indicates a typical small retailer will face an 18% rise in business rates. A hospitality or leisure business with the same rateable value would see a 40% increase by the end of the transitional period, it said. For medium-sized properties in those sectors, bills could rise by as much as 70% once transitional relief ends. The Welsh Government has announced a 15% relief for pubs, music venues and restaurants alongside transitional relief for the next budget year. FSB Wales said this would slow the increase in bills in the short term but that, by the end of the three-year transition period, many businesses would face significant rises. It also said 6,500 properties will be placed into business rates for the first time because the Small Business Rate Relief threshold remains frozen. Joshua Miles, Head of FSB Wales, said: Hospitality and leisure businesses are the lifeblood of our towns and city centres right across Wales, yet they are being hit with far steeper rates increases than retail. Many are already operating on wafer thin margins and these rises risk closures, job losses and empty properties in town and city centres across Wales. We call on the Welsh Government to include hospitality and leisure in the new retail multiplier to support these vital sectors and to raise the Small Business Rate Relief threshold to 12,000, to match England. FSB Wales said it is asking the Cabinet Secretary to act to prevent further damage to the Welsh economy and to protect businesses operating on high streets across Wales. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com Members of the public will be able to raise their concerns directly to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales at a public surgery. Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin and North Wales Police will hold the online event on Microsoft Teams on March 18 between 6pm and 8pm. Attendees will have 20 minutes to speak personally with Andy Dunbobbin, who will be joined by representatives from his office and North Wales Police. The online surgery will enable local people to discuss policing in their communities and to raise any concerns or comments they might have with the Commissioner and representatives from North Wales Police, remotely. Conversations will remain confidential, and the commissioner, officers and staff will be able to provide further signposting if an issue can be more appropriately dealt with by other agencies and organisations. Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: I would urge residents of North Wales to book a slot at my upcoming online surgery with North Wales Police. I always aim to listen closely to what residents are telling me, and the online surgery is a great way for residents of North Wales to voice their concerns. This creative approach showcases our dedication to accessibility and our ability to adapt in delivering the needs of the people in North Wales. How the public surgery works The PCC will be accompanied by staff from his team and North Wales Police during the online event, who will help to facilitate the meetings and take notes if needed. Surgeries are by appointment only to ensure that the issues being raised relate to policing, crime or community safety, and to ensure the PCC is fully briefed on the issue prior to the meeting. The PCC will not be able to consider complaints about police officers, members of police staff, police community support officers or special constables as this has to go through the existing and established channels. Further advice on the complaints system is on the OPCC website here. How to book a place If you would like to book a 20-minute slot with Andy Dunbobbin, please contact the PCCs office with your name, contact information and what you would like to discuss during your meeting, by: Email: opcc@northwales.police.uk Phone: 01492 805486 Post: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales, Police Headquarters. Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW Surgery slots are limited and work on a first come, first served basis and a slot cannot be guaranteed for everyone. If a session is full, residents will be given the details of alternative sessions. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com The Welsh Government has announced a further 1 million in continued funding to strengthen animal welfare across Wales. The funding for 2026/27 will allow Animal Licensing Wales to maintain its specialist team supporting local authorities to regulate animal activities, tackle illegal breeding, and prosecute offenders. A central online portal now streamlines applications for dog breeders, with plans to expand to other licensed activities. Since launching in 2020, Animal Licensing Wales has become a vital national resource. The initiative has secured significant prosecutions and improved welfare outcomes through consistent, expert enforcement. They have helped train animal welfare inspectors across Wales, raising professional standards. Veterinary professionals have also received training to conduct health checks on breeding dogs, including fitness to breed assessments. Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said: Im delighted to announce this funding for Animal Licensing Wales, an award-winning Welsh Government funded initiative which is making a real difference in supporting our welfare enforcement. We take animal welfare very seriously and this investment delivers on Programme for Government commitments to improve inspector qualifications and develop a national model for animal welfare regulation. The pan-Wales approach ensures consistent standards for animals in licensed establishments. Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Richard Irvine, said: Animal Licensing Wales has transformed how we protect animal welfare across the country. By bringing together expertise and creating a consistent national approach, we have given local authorities the tools they need to tackle illegal breeding and poor welfare practices. This continued funding means we can build on five years of progress. Our trained inspectors and veterinarians are now better equipped than ever to identify welfare concerns early and take action. Every animal in a licensed establishment in Wales deserves proper care. This investment helps ensure they get it. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com Wrexham Council is urging residents to have their say on a new strategy aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on Britains Roads. The Road Safety Strategy, published last month by the Department of Transport, sets out plans to improve road safety in light of rapidly advancing technology, including improved data collection on collisions and a stronger focus on prevention. Its headline targets include reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured in roads in Great Britain by 65% by 2035, and cutting the number of children under 16 killed or seriously injured by 70% over the same period. The proposals include mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers and introducing a minimum learning period of six months for learner drivres, As part of the strategy, the Department for Transport has launched a series of public consultations and is inviting feedback on a number of proposed changes. Cllr Terry Evans, lead member for environmental services, with responsibility for road safety at Wrexham Council, is urging residents to share their views on the plans. Cllr Evans said: However you choose to travel around the county borough and the rest of the UK you should be able to do so safely. These consultations give you the chance to make your opinions known about changes that may affect you, so I would encourage everyone to take part whether you use the roads as a pedestrian, cyclist or motorist. Deadline for the following consultation is March 5, 2026: Developing the UK automated vehicles regulatory framework Deadline for the following consultations is March 31, 2026: You can read the full Road Safety Strategy on GOV.UK. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com AceShowbiz - In a landscape of endless streaming options, a concise, gripping thriller is a rare find. The Clearing, a Hulu original miniseries, is exactly that: a perfectly bingeable eight-episode journey that holds a Certified Fresh 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This Australian psychological thriller from 2023 delivers a masterclass in tension and mystery, proving that sometimes less is profoundly more. The story centers on Freya Heywood (Teresa Palmer), a woman grappling with a traumatic past. As a child, she was indoctrinated into The Kindred, a sinister all-female cult. Now an adult, Freyas fragile peace is shattered when a young girl in her community disappears. Haunted by familiar patterns, she is forced to confront the nightmare of her upbringing to prevent other children from suffering the same fate. Critics and audiences have praised The Clearing for its foreboding atmosphere and meticulously unraveling plot. Each episode peels back another layer of the cults disturbing operations and Freyas fractured psyche. The series skillfully builds suspense, making its compact eight-hour runtime feel both complete and utterly compelling for a weekend binge. Adding to its chilling appeal is the shows connection to real-world events. The Clearing is adapted from J.P. Pomares novel, which draws inspiration from the infamous Australian cult known as The Family, led by Anne Hamilton-Byrne. This cult, which illegally adopted children and subjected them to abuse, was the subject of a major police raid in 1987. While the series is a fictionalized account, this grounding in historical terror amplifies its unsettling resonance. The performances are a major draw, with Teresa Palmer delivering a powerful portrayal of trauma and resilience. She is compellingly matched by Miranda Otto, who plays the enigmatic and manipulative cult leader, Adrienne Beaufort. Their dynamic fuels the central conflict, exploring themes of control, memory, and the arduous path to recovery. For viewers seeking a thriller that respects their time without sacrificing depth or suspense, The Clearing is an exceptional choice. Its critical acclaim, based on a taut narrative and strong execution, is well-earned. This Hulu hidden gem demonstrates that the most impactful stories dont need dozens of episodesthey just need eight perfectly crafted ones to leave a lasting impression. SC State students and supporters met with state lawmakers to showcase the university's strengths during Legislative Day at the State House. More photos follow the text. We need to shed light on the great things thatre going on" SC State senior Savion Bouknight. COLUMBIA, S.C. Alumni and students were among the supporters of South Carolina State University who flooded the halls of the State House on Wednesday. Students and alumni stood in solidarity to promote the role of their beloved university in advancing education, workforce development and service in the state during 2026 Legislative Day. Its very important to advocate for South Carolina State. Theres a lot of great things that are happening at South Carolina State, student Savion Bouknight said. The 21-year-old SC State senior elementary education major is also vice president of the universitys Call Me MiSTER cohort, a national program through which the university is leading the way in recruiting and training teachers for South Carolina classrooms. We have a lot of representatives whether thats from Call Me MiSTER or the Honors College showing how great and excellent South Carolina State is as a university at the State House on Legislative Day, Bouknight said. We need to shed light on the great things thatre going on. So thats why its very important for us to be here, he said. Bouknight said he is delighted that the university is seeking heightened security measures in the aftermath of a Feb. 12 shooting incident, including with security screening and identification measures for visiting guests. Theyre trying, and I like seeing the improvement. As long as we see improvement, I think thats something that we can be appreciative of, he said. Khristian Sprinkle, a SC State junior music education major from Orangeburg, is also among the members of the Call Me MiSTER Program who attended Wednesdays event. I expected to see the university stand together after recent events and know that we can get through anything and get through tough times, the 20-year-old said. SC State Honors College students India Wilkes and Habenoim Woldabyezgi also attended Legislative Day. Wilkes said she is confident SC State President Alexander Conyers is working to ensure student safety as the university continues working to be a beacon of academic excellence. I feel pretty safe on my campus. I feel as if President Conyers is doing everything in his power to better our security and that hes doing well so far, the 20-year-old sophomore biology major said. Woldabyezgi, a 19-year-old sophomore psychology major from Las Vegas, Nevada, said he is pleased that the university has held meetings with students regarding its campus security. He said Legislative Day also provided him with an opportunity to learn more about how state government and its laws work. Woldabyezgi said he appreciates how the university has welcomed him into the Bulldog family. South Carolina State University is not the only school to offer me a scholarship, but they were one of the first to genuinely welcome and embrace me despite my differences, he said. Columbia resident Dian Alston, a 1981 SC State graduate, was among the alumni who turned out in support of SC State on Wednesday. We love South Carolina State, and we want the public to know that we have confidence in our school no matter what. But on the flip side of that, we also need to see those consistent (security) measures in place, Alston said. I know that the president and his cabinet and everyone at the university are working to put those measures in place, she said. Legislators speak on promoting university, its mission Rep. Bill Taylor (District 86), who serves on the Higher Education Subcommittee within the S.C. House Education & Public Works Committee, said the universitys request for additional funding to enhance security is warranted. One of the budget requests for $8 million has been to increase that security with a police station and just more personnel for security, etc. I am highly supportive of that, Taylor said. SC State has had numerous outlays of state money to build buildings over the last several years, but, to me, the highest priority this year is to make sure that the security on campus is at its highest level, he said. Rep. Hamilton Grant (District 79), an SC State alumnus, said college campus violence is part of a national problem, particularly across the state with campuses coming under fire, more access to weapons and open carry laws. I think this is indicative of that, and I think people are starting to exploit that. What I would like to see from the university is a more holistic approach to safety. Sen. Deon Tedder (District 42), another SC State alumnus, said, We know that funding is an issue. It always has been an issue. I commend the president and the board of trustees on their quick rollout of an updated security plan. We have to focus on who is on the campus, making sure that the students are safe, first of all, and that also we have some kind of requirements for nonstudent guests, the legislator said. Rep. Jerry Govan (District 93), an SC State alum and ordained minister, said, About 30-plus of us ministers met with President Conyers on Tuesday night on campus. We had prayer and met with them. I feel that under his leadership, this situation is going to be addressed. State Rep. Harriet A. Holman speaks with SC State Student Government leaders at the State House. State Rep. Hamilton Grant and State Sen. Deon Tetter, both of whom are SC State graduates, show their Bulldog pride at Legislative Day. SC State President Alexander Conyers chats with Mister Junior Trey Newton at the State House. Members of SC State's Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College turned out in force for Legislative Day. Rahul Gandhi Appears in Bhiwandi Court, Submits New Surety in RSS Defamation Case 2 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday appeared before a magistrates court in Bhiwandi, Maharashtras Thane district, to furnish a new surety in an ongoing defamation case filed against him by an RSS activist. The court had directed Gandhi to present a fresh surety after former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who had stood as his guarantor in the case, passed away in December last year. Gandhi submitted Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Harshwardhan Sapkal as his new surety. The magistrate had specifically instructed the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to remain present in person to complete the legal formalities related to the change of surety, his lawyer had earlier said. The case stems from a complaint filed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Rajesh Kunte, who alleged that Gandhi, during a rally at Sonale village in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, stated that the RSS was behind the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Kunte claimed the remark was false and damaged the organisations reputation, and filed the complaint under Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. The trial has progressed with Kuntes cross-examination and re-examination already completed. The matter, which was initially scheduled for hearing on December 20, 2025, was adjourned to January 17 due to the requirement of a new surety. On January 17, the magistrate further deferred the hearing to February 21. English News American glaciologist decodes secrets of glaciers on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 17 Fevrier 2026 To advance international support for the China-led Third Pole Environment (TPE) program, Prof. Thompson utilized his academic influence to establish a TPE satellite office at The Ohio State University. He has consistently taken part in TPE Workshops, where he urged Earth scientists focusing on the Third Pole research to share their expertise and collaboratively tackle climate change challenges. By Zhang Bolan, Wang Xiaobo, People's Daily Nestled beneath the campus of Ohio State University in the United States lies a unique repository: an underground "ice core bank." Within its chambers, thousands of gleaming silver tubes are neatly arranged on steel racks. This vault safeguards the world's most extensive collection of ice-core archives -- irreplaceable records chronicling Earth's climate fluctuations across an extraordinary 700,000-year timespan. The visionary behind this initiative is Lonnie Thompson, a member of the American Academy of Sciences and distinguished professor of the School of Earth Sciences at Ohio State University. Prof. Thompson presents a polite and scholarly figure, often seen with silver-rimmed glasses. However, when discussing glaciers, his demeanor transforms, revealing profound passion and encyclopedic knowledge, as if recounting tales of cherished companions. Demonstrating remarkable foresight over four decades ago, Prof. Thompson diverged from the prevailing focus on polar regions. He recognized the critical scientific importance of glaciers in mid- and low-latitude areas. This insight propelled him to lead 50 challenging expeditions to remote highlands across nearly 20 countries. Through the collection and analysis of ice-core samples, he pioneered the reconstruction of global paleoclimate patterns. These foundational contributions earned him recognition as the founder of mid- and low-latitude alpine paleoclimatology. Prof. Thompson holds the distinction of being the first American glaciologist to conduct scientific research on the QinghaiXizang Plateau and the first paleoclimatologist to drill ice cores from Himalayan glaciers. Since 1984, he has visited the plateau 29 times for field research and is known among Chinese colleagues as both a "trailblazer" and a "collaborator" in China's glacier scientific expeditions. In 1987, Prof. Thompson worked with Chinese and Russian scientists, including Prof. Yao Tandong, one of the pioneers in Chinas glaciological research, to complete the drilling of the first deep ice core at the Dunde ice cap in the Qilian Mountains in the northwest China. In 1989, the research findings were published in Science, one of the world's leading academic journals, drawing widespread attention from the international science communities. In 1992, a multinational research team including Chinese and American scientists reached the Guliya ice cap in the west Kunlun Mountains in northwest China and successfully drilled an ice core that set a milestone: at 308.6 meters long, it was then the longest ever retrieved from mid- to low-latitude regions, and it remains the one containing the most extended continuous climate record to date. Spanning over 700,000 years, the core has enabled detailed reconstruction of climatic and environmental changes across multiple timescales since the last interglacial period. In 1997, on Mount Shishapangma, the 14th-highest mountain in the world in China's Xizang autonomous region, a joint China-U.S. expedition drilled three Dasuopu ice cores with a combined length of 480 meters and a total weight of 5 tons, setting a world record for the highest-altitude ice-core drilling site, at 7,200 meters above sea level. Through his long-standing collaboration with Chinese scientists such as Prof. Yao, Prof. Thompson became firmly convinced of one fundamental truth: even amidst extreme climatic conditions, scientists from the United States and China share common goals. Science transcends borders. Ultimately, he believes, the global community must unite to confront the shared challenge of climate change. Since the late 1980s, Prof. Thompson has dedicated portions of his research funding to support Chinese scientists, inviting them for academic exchanges at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center in the United States. Over the following decades, he has co-authored papers with Chinese researchers in internationally renowned journals such as Nature, substantially elevating the global academic profile of Chinese scientists in this field. Built upon decades of persistent research and accelerated in recent years by major national science and technology programs such as the Second Scientific Expedition and Research to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and "Pan-Third Pole Environment Change Study for Green Silk Road Development" project by the Chinese Academy of Sciences -- Chinese scientists have risen to the international forefront of glacier research on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Prof. Thompson has personally witnessed China's transformative development and observed the government's increasing investment in cultivating young scientific talents and modernizing research infrastructure. He notes that China's ice-core laboratories have grown increasingly sophisticated, with new research campuses established in both Beijing and Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region. Today, the QinghaiXizang Plateau has emerged as a new arena for international ice-core research, alongside the Arctic and Antarctic. Prof. Thompson remains committed to advancing China-U.S. scientific cooperation in glaciology and to helping China's glacier research integrate more deeply into the international scientific community. To advance international support for the China-led Third Pole Environment (TPE) program, Prof. Thompson utilized his academic influence to establish a TPE satellite office at The Ohio State University. He has consistently taken part in TPE Workshops, where he urged Earth scientists focusing on the Third Pole research to share their expertise and collaboratively tackle climate change challenges. Furthermore, he has facilitated visits and coordinated coverage by international media outlets, including The New York Times, to relevant research institutes in China, enabling the world to gain a better understanding of China's glaciological research and effort to combat climate change threats. Dans la meme rubrique : < > China implements measures to counter Japan's accelerating remilitarization Professor helps high-altitude communities grow fresh vegetables year-round China's total power use exceeds 10 trillion kWh in 2025 Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News China builds world's largest express delivery network, fueling dynamic economy Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 17 Fevrier 2026 The road ahead is long, but the stride is steady and confident. As technological innovation and industrial innovation deepen their integration, and as the development of a unified national market advances further, the world's largest express delivery network will become smarter and more accessible, contributing to a more connected future. By Han Xin, People's Daily Speed, scale and connectivity are defining features of China's modern logistics system, offering a clear view into the nation's economic vitality. A case in point is the "cherry express." Riding this dedicated route, a cargo aircraft carrying over 100 tons of fresh cherries can fly from Chile to Ezhou Huahu International Airport in central China's Hubei province in just 25 hours. From there, an integrated rail-road-air transport network swiftly delivers the fruit to destinations across the country. Such efficiency has become increasingly visible to consumers. Earlier this year, many netizens remarked that even the delivery of Spring Festival goods now comes with "China speed." This is one snapshot of China's rapidly evolving logistics sector. Behind that speed is the world's largest express delivery network, serving the country's vast population. In 2025, China handled nearly 200 billion parcels, up 13.6 percent year on year, ranking first globally for 12 consecutive years. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (20212025), postal coverage in rural and border areas expanded significantly. The number of service outlets increased by nearly 1.5 times compared with five years ago, and all natural villages in border areas now have access to postal services. Though small in size, parcels connect online and offline markets, link production with consumption, and serve as a barometer of economic vitality. Exploring how China built the world's largest logistics network offers deeper insight into a dynamic and thriving China. Historically, this achievement demonstrates how China's reform have transformed its economy. The first private express delivery companies emerged in 1993 and developed steadily. A major turning point came in 2009, when revisions to the postal law clarified the legal status of private courier firms. Major companies accelerated network expansion, seizing the momentum and scaling up rapidly. As a result, China now handles about 10 billion express parcels a month -- roughly what used to be its annual total. Over more than three decades, China's express delivery sector has repeatedly reached new milestones. Growing alongside the country's reform, the expanding delivery network has become a vivid example of a vibrant China in motion. From a real-world standpoint, this global lead highlights the advantages of China's super-large market. Placing orders on a smartphone and receiving parcels at the doorstep has become routine for Chinese consumers. Behind this convenience lies a strong synergy between e-commerce and express delivery. Today, more than 80 percent of China's parcel volume originates from e-commerce transactions. In 2025, the value of physical goods sold online and delivered via express services exceeded 14 trillion yuan ($2.01 trillion). Growing together, e-commerce and express delivery have effectively unlocked consumption potential. Initiatives like "e-commerce expansion to western regions" have helped break through the "last mile" of consumption, steadily enlarging areas offering free shipping. The advantages of China's vast market continue to emerge. Take Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in the northwest, for example: since the introduction of free-shipping services, the average daily volume of inbound parcels has risen by nearly 1 million, strongly supporting rapid growth in online retail sales of physical goods. Looking to the future, this world's largest logistics network is increasingly driven by new quality productive forces. Handling over 10 billion parcels each month -- equivalent to processing about 6,000 parcels per second -- requires robust technological support to keep such enormous volumes moving smoothly. That support comes from advanced technologies. In smart warehouses, handling robots glide along tracks while vertical robots move tirelessly between floors. On sorting lines, AI-powered vision systems identify and route parcels with speed and precision. At the last mile, unmanned delivery vehicles work seamlessly alongside couriers to improve efficiency. Across collection, sorting, transportation and delivery, next-generation information technologies are taking effect, making the delivery network denser, smarter and more efficient. The rapid growth of the express delivery network also mirrors China's broader infrastructure upgrade. Across the country, the world's largest and most advanced high-speed rail network links north and south; the world's largest expressway network serves hundreds of millions of people; and the world's largest 5G network blankets vast urban and rural areas alike. Tangible and intangible networks interweave, infusing a mobile China with renewed vitality. The road ahead is long, but the stride is steady and confident. As technological innovation and industrial innovation deepen their integration, and as the development of a unified national market advances further, the world's largest express delivery network will become smarter and more accessible, contributing to a more connected future. Dans la meme rubrique : < > China implements measures to counter Japan's accelerating remilitarization Professor helps high-altitude communities grow fresh vegetables year-round China's total power use exceeds 10 trillion kWh in 2025 Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Could radio host Larry Elder be right? Advertisement He once summed up Gov. Gavin Newsoms career in four succinct words: He keeps failing upward. Its hard not to admire the consistency. Advertisement To be fair, the governors true talent isnt governing. Its rebranding. Reinventing. And relabeling yesterdays fiasco as tomorrows framework. He takes industrial-sized fraud, waste, or mismanagement (take your pick), tosses it into the public relations cycle, slams the lid, and selects heavy duty spin. Out comes a brand-new view of a state awash in so much fraud it makes Gov. Tim Walz appear cogent and on the job. Advertisement Consider the most humiliating crown jewel of Californias boondoggle issues: The $111 billion high-speed rail project, now viewed by taxpayers as Californias Great Train Robbery, according to Citizens Against Government Waste. Such criticisms have led the governor to reframe the issue: He prefers to ignore the scandalous implications and likes to view the project (no irony intended) as the train to the future. The cost overruns are merely part of the pile-up of unaccounted billions disappearing into a black hole of fat consulting fees (wink wink), siphoned money into special projects, and yet-to-be-conducted audits. Advertisement But wait -- there is some good news! The governor recently unveiled a 1,150-acre railhead facility in Kern County. No one could confuse the facility as a passenger station (i.e. no track, no trains). It was a logistics hub. A place to store things for something that does not yet exist. Advertisement This, we are assured, is a critical step in the track-laying phase. Even, better, the project is now back on track. Advertisement A bold phrase, considering the conspicuous absence of not one track laid. California assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo wasnt sharing the governors over-the-top optimism, and even went so far as to call the announcement an absolute disgrace. She made the media rounds: They (Democrats) have the audacity to sell (this) to the taxpayers that this (bullet train) is going to be from San Francisco to Los Angeles, she said in a KCRA on-air interview. There is no viable path forward for this project. Perhaps Ms. Macedos incendiary criticism can be traced to Gov. Newsoms ever-evolving timeline -- one that quietly abandons the 2030 projected completion date. The latest projection? Early 2030s. Or perhaps 2039. A 13-plus-year glide path into the future -- long enough for everyone responsible to collect consulting fees, relocate to a lower-tax state, and cash pension checks from afar (joining Californias exodus). Vice President J.D. Vance, reviewing the crisis, didn't mince words: California, he warned, could rank among the nation's worst offenders in squandering taxpayer dollars -- a hardship for hardworking families, a paradise for swindlers. He vowed federal auditors for a long-overdue reckoning. Gov. Newsom fired back with trademark swagger: Bring it on. V.P. Vance, ever polite, promptly thanked him for the gracious invitation -- and promised to take him up on it. Here is where the governor faces the reckoning he can no longer dodge -- on his own watch. The now-infamous unemployment insurance fiasco at the California Employment Development Department bled between $20 billion and $32 billion straight into the pockets of fraudsters (as part of COVID relief fund). That's no mere accounting glitch; it's a black hole of epic proportions -- one big enough to devour public trust, and swallow entire budgets. Nor did the problems stop at unemployment checks. At the Small Business Administration, Administrator Kelly Loeffler has acknowledged at least $9 billion in suspected fraud tied to pandemic relief for small businesses, warning of a culture permissive of fraud and abuse. Citizens Against Government Waste described the rollout as a fraudsters paradise with an express checkout. Then add another layer to Newsom's mounting headaches: Medi-Cal -- Californias colossal Medicaid empire -- where auditors routinely unearth overpayments and improper disbursements only after the vault has been thoroughly looted. In Sacramento, oversight appears to belong to the next guy in the next cubicle. Gov. Newsom could hardly have missed the headline in the financial newspaper of record, the Wall Street Journal: Newsom Continues a Medicaid Scam. The subhead doesnt improve matters for the beleaguered governor: His Budget Includes a Tax That Congress Has Rendered Illegal. While Newsoms office has been busy pummeling alleged health-care fraud in red states, the Journal argues that the governors latest budget maintains a Medicaid funding gimmick designed to bilk federal taxpayers of billions of dollars. Ouch. At least Newsom gets off the hook for the final price tag of the runaway incompetence on his watch: Auditors are merely digging up hundreds of millions tied to fraudulent hospice operations, duplicate enrollment schemes, and (of course) payments to those who dont qualify -- illegal aliens prominent among them. The political question is now accountability. The deeper one: Will anyone actually be held to account -- starting with Californias chief executive? Democrats may be loyal to their party, but are some finally questioning its competence? Critics like radio host Larry Elder say Californias governor has perfected political buoyancy: absorb failure, reframe it as progress, then float serenely upward -- waving all the way. If failing upward needs a lift, Californias taxpayers supply the hot air. Theyve paid for their leaders colossal failures with endlessly rising taxes -- among the nations highest on retail sales, payroll, utilities, gasoline, property, and more. At some point, voters might pose a truly radical question: What if leadership isnt meant to work like a hot-air balloon ride -- scenic for the pilot, but utterly untethered to reality? It is still a common experience, spending time with friends and family despite opposing political views. There may be mutual consideration, with acceptable topics of conversation around shared interests. There may be the occasional proclamation, intended harmlessly for the ears of kindred spirits, that is met nonetheless with a small inner groan or eye roll. No doubt, it is easier to speak freely when all are of like mind, but supposing at least that we still love one another, it is worth examining the gulf between us and how it came about. Advertisement I have pool-shooting friends who would not necessarily call themselves liberals, or on the Left, but rather see themselves as independent-minded. We get together on many evenings, and it has long been apparent that they do not like Donald Trump, as they themselves would concede and perhaps state in even stronger words. They know that I would rather shoot pool than argue over politics; as a result, I suspect that they would describe me as on the Right in some fashion. My friends get their information through traditional mainstream media, through CNN, NBC, ABC, Fox, NPR, the Wall Street Journal, through local newspapers and radio, as we all did, once upon a time. In contrast, my information (what they would consider disinformation or misinformation) is mostly gleaned from internet sources and some podcasts. Advertisement The other night, Bob asked how I thought people on the Right would react if something happened to Trump, and JD Vance were to become president; or, with Trumps term in office ending, if Vance were to become the Republican nominee. I felt that most people who voted for Trump had very favorable views of Vance, possibly liking him even more than Trump himself. Bob found the assessment very surprising! The conversation continued civilly, following a logical path Bob was exploring: did Trump have any accomplishments at all? I took the bait and said that at least he had pardoned the J6 people. Well, it wasnt long following that thread, before Charlie, listening on, could take it no longer and cried out, These are conspiracy theories! My friends agree that we all tend to seek out news and information from sources we find trustworthy and rational, and that we are all subject to some confirmation bias. There was a time, not so long ago, when we shared a similar sense of reality. Kennedy was assassinated by a lone gunman, Nixon was a crook, the two-party system was a rigged game. We saw the world through the same lens, and could openly question anything, because we were like minded. Did Roosevelt know ahead of time that an attack was coming on Pearl Harbor? Did the State Department green-light Iraqs invasion of Kuwait? Was there really a hole on the ozone layer? Such topics never set us on either side of a divide; after all, we didnt have access to boundless information, so it was mostly conjecture for its own sake. Even if some conspiracy theory or other were true, it wouldnt have had any great bearing on how we saw the world overall. Some things may been unsettling, but we werent living in the Matrix. Advertisement The Internet has changed things. These days, our view of reality itself creates a gulf between us. Each of our clear lenses becomes a kaleidoscope, when the other looks through it. We would have opposing answers to the following examples: Advertisement Are humans causing a crisis of global warming? Is there a deep state within the U.S. executive branch? Do intelligence agencies spy on everyone? Was there a coup against Trump in his first term? Is there widespread censorship of conservative viewpoints? Are many protests and activists funded through NGOs? Did the FBI stage the attempted kidnapping of Governor Gretchen Whitmer? Was the 2020 election stolen with fraudulent ballots? Were peaceful J6 protesters set up by federal assets and capital police? Was the government weaponized against conservatives? Has the country been intentionally flooded with millions of alien foreigners? Was Epstein working for foreign and domestic intelligence agencies? Did the U.S. provoke the war between Russia and Ukraine? Were state actors involved in the assassination attempt in Butler? Have childhood vaccines been harming people? The list could go on and on. Occam's razor is double-sided. For my friends, the simplest explanation is that all the conspiracy theories have been debunked, that their own sources of information are telling them the truth, and that people who believe such nonsense have fallen prey to various forms of malinformation. The alternative is that there is some deep-state cabal and everyones in on it, from government to tech companies, to a widespread media, to a multitude of public and private organizations: it doesnt even seem possible. For the other side, the machinery is in plain view, once you see it: forces are controlling the narratives, and that is the simplest explanation for otherwise inexplicable events. What was really more believable, that there was no natural immunity after COVID, or that people like Fauci wanted to ensure that everyone was vaccinated? A complex system can rise from simple interactions: personal interests around money, greed, and fear. Advertisement In his famous Essay Concerning Human Understanding, John Locke noticed that belief becomes a question of probability. Does some proposition conform with what people already know? Who is testifying about it? How many people? Are they reliable? Do they know what theyre talking about? Why are they talking about it? What are their motives? Is there counter testimony? We may not have the information we need to weigh the odds, and yet we are forced to determine ourselves on the one side or other. For my friends, anyone believing such conspiracy theories must be gullible, putting trust in unreliable sources. In the interest of protecting conservatives from the kind of predatory information that put Trump in office, they even embrace more censorship. In the past, we used to agree on freedom of speech and expression, at least. Advertisement Our beliefs have certainly diverged. I do not trust government, big tech, or the mainstream media. It started with censorship, sneaky algorithms at first. Now censorship has been embraced, not just by freedom-loving friends, but by the Supreme Court. How could I choose anything but the red pill? In time, my friends may realize that the conservative viewpoint isnt some cult of personality around Trump but instead has its roots in national pride and fiscal policy. They may even backtrack on some of their convictions, as they catch COVID despite the vaccines and boosters. But still, they want to live in an optimistic world. They make the appeal, that it would be better to pursue happiness in their blue-pill reality. Admittedly, the conservative view is dark. But its not insurmountable, so long as friends can find common ground. So long as we notice, at the very least, that forces continually pit us against each other. M. Damien is a husband, father, and writer, having spent many years in software engineering. Image: AT via Magic Studio What began as a celebration of George Washington's birthday has become a bogus federal holiday known as Presidents' Day. A few presidents were great, but most have been terrible. Yet, no president did more to degrade the country, the Constitution, and the intentions of the Founders than Woodrow Wilson. Advertisement It's encouraging to see his presidency lose its reputation as quickly as it has, but unfortunately, many historical rankings still have him in the top 15 of all-time presidents. A century has gone by, but it's past time for a national repudiation of the Wilson presidency. Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia in 1856 and is well known as the only President with a doctorate. However, he actually held only an honorary law doctorate. He was a law school dropout who eventually earned a Ph.D. in political science. For that, he wrote his doctoral dissertation as a book with only 52 citations, which helped him rise to become the president of Princeton University. Advertisement His tenure at Princeton revealed his un-American, racist roots originating from his formative years during the height of the Confederacy. Like his vile, anti-black published books, Wilson committed to keeping the university segregated, which was unlike other Ivy League schools at the time. Sadly, an African American would not graduate from Princeton until nearly a quarter-century after Wilsons death. Consequently, Woodrow Wilson used his sparse academic achievements to enter politics, and it was for the worse. As governor of New Jersey, he endorsed eugenics and signed a bill into law that sterilized "the hopelessly defective and criminal classes. Wilson had campaigned for Indiana's law in 1907, which became the first such legislation in the country. Advertisement Unfortunately, after two years as governor, Woodrow Wilson would become the Democratic Party's presidential nominee and win the 1912 election in a three-way race against the incumbent President William Howard Taft and former President Teddy Roosevelt. Wilson prevailed with a lowly 42% of the vote, which is a plurality, not a majority, and making him the first President from the South since Andrew Johnson. As the 28th President, Wilson standardized racism in the federal government by segregating the civil service in 1913. He fired 15 of 17 black supervisors appointed to federal jobs; meanwhile, the Treasury and Postmaster General segregated their departments. Advertisement The first film shown at the White House was D.W. Griffiths The Birth of a Nation. The film was based on the novel The Clansman by Wilson's friend and classmate, Thomas Dixon. The movie includes quotes from Wilsons book History of the American People in which he endorses the KKK. The motion picture was a massive hit and is considered a milestone in the evolution of filmmaking. As you might expect, there was a noticeable uptick in racial violence during Wilsons two terms. The Summer of 1919 saw hundreds of blacks murdered, including around 200 sharecroppers in Elaine, Arkansas, whom the U.S. Army slaughtered. His efforts helped revitalize the Klan, which reached five million members, and helped make lynching a common practice again, for which the President would make no apology. Dylan Matthews of Vox states, "Woodrow Wilson was extremely racist -- even by the standards of his time." Advertisement Furthermore, Christopher Cox's biography Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn, presents a clear portrayal of the President's dangerous progressivism. President Wilson was the first American head of state to do away with the vision of government the framers intended. He believed that Americans should move beyond the Declaration of Independence. His vision of government was that the Executive Branch needed greater centralized power and that the Madisonian framework of checks and balances was outdated for modern society. He popularized the theory of the living Constitution that many Democrats believe today. The government is a living organism, said Wilson, and no living thing can have its organs offset against each other as checks, and live. Advertisement Its important to note that Wilson believed that God had anointed him to be President, and, to be sure, he acted on it. His major economic achievement during his first year in office was signing the federal income tax into law. He also created the Federal Reserve, which helped trigger the Great Depression and played a major role in the 2008 economic recession, not to mention the ratification of the 17th Amendment, which replaced the appointment of U.S. senators by state legislatures with direct elections, which was a huge blow to federalism. Without a doubt, his most consequential blunder was the United States entry into World War I. Wilson won re-election in 1916 with the campaign slogan "He kept us out of war." Well, three months into his second term, he declared war on Germany. The President sold the war under the guise of making the world safe for democracy. It did no such thing. Conventional wisdom holds that if the U.S. had stayed out of the war, more likely than not, the other countries would have brokered a peace deal. Because Wilson wanted America to lead the postwar negotiations, he decided the best way was for the U.S. troops to join in the offensive. What America got in return was a massive loss of life. The war ended with 320,000 wounded and 116,000 American soldiers dead. In addition, it was the prerequisite for World War II. Germany became a failed state and turned to Nazism. The Bolsheviks in Russia overthrew the tsarist government and turned to communism after the new socialist government collapsed, because Wilson bribed the Kerensky government to stay in the war. As Vladimir Lenin would later say, Our revolution was born of the war." A unconstitutional assault on civil liberties accompanied the descent into war. The Wilson Administration created the Committee on Public Information. The goal of this government agency was to indoctrinate American citizens to support the war effort. It was composed of over 150,000 employees to promote government propaganda and to administer censorship of opposing political opinions, similar to the Biden Administration's campaign to monitor what it determined to be misinformation on social media. The term fascism is thrown around a lot in our political discourse, but Woodrow Wilson fits the bill. He used the 1916 Army Appropriations Act to take over private property and nationalize the railroad and energy sectors. The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 followed, authorizing the monitoring of public expression and leading to the imprisonment of thousands for publicly opposing the war. Socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debs was given a ten-year prison sentence and had his citizenship revoked for speaking out against the Espionage Act. More people were imprisoned as political dissidents under President Wilson than under Benito Mussolini in the 1920s. Another Wilson failure was the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended WW I. The problem is that it assigned blame and war payments to Germany. The League of Nations, which preceded the United Nations, represented Wilson's idea of a world government. The United States never joined, and it became an abject failure, but give him credit for creating the blueprint for sovereign states to conform to a globalist order. Its fitting that Wilsons presidency ended in a depression, only for America to bounce back under the conservative presidencies of Harding and Coolidge. In many respects, Woodrow Wilson is the godfather of the modern Democratic Party. He made progressivism the party's central tenet nationally and paved the way for statist presidents in Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Barack Obama. While scholars still debate Woodrow Wilson, let the record show that he was a bad man and an even worse president for the country. Image: Public Domain This essay has been edited since publication to clarify Wilson's academic history. President Trumps public remarks on the U.S. Supreme Courts recent ruling concerning tariffs and presidential authority, was one of his best, most succinct insights into Court behavior: its tariff ruling displayed an absence of insight into international trade economics, and American economic priorities. Advertisement When asked by a reporter about certain Democrats who were otherwise giddy over the Court ruling, the president stated that House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries doesnt even know what a tariff is. The president is right: the DNC doesnt know, and doesnt care; they care about obstruction. The president rightly called out the Roberts Courts effective dereliction of legal duty to the United States. U.S. reciprocal tariffs are indirectly incurred by foreign country exporters who have to adjust their export prices, or respond by lowering their import duties of American products, so it would seem the Court may be effectively acting on behalf of non-U.S. entities. Advertisement Indeed, among the foreign globalists organizing resistance to the presidents tariff plan was Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president in Brussels. The plaintiffs legal team throughout its litigation, was made up of Yale Law School alumnae (98 percent of 2025 Yale faculty election donations went to the DNC), including Ilya Somin, a political activist of global foot voting which he argues is a higher form of world political expression, including the global freedom to openly cross borders. Advertisement The lead plaintiff lawyer in the SCOTUS case was none other than rabid anti-Trump ideologue Neal Katyal, acting Solicitor General in the Obama administration, who previously stated I think Donald Trump is an existential threat to the rule of law and democracy and to the enlightened west. Katyal drew up regulations used in the Mueller investigation over Russian collusion, and he also wrote the legal handbook, Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump. As for Learning Resources, the plaintiff, it has one board director, Steven Youngwood, who is the CEO of Sesame Workshop, the media and education arm of Sesame Street. As Yale Alumnae magazine states of Mr. Youngwood, He can tell you how to get to Sesame Street," which is noted for pushing leftist ideology on children, and was openly criticized, along with Public Broadcasting, by President Trump. Advertisement The co-plaintiffs in the SCOTUS tariff case included 12 states from swing and solid blue DNC strongholds including: Vermont, New York, Illinois, Oregon, Delaware, Minnesota, and Connecticut. It appears the entire case was an organized, political lawfare project against the president, and the America First agenda. The timing with the upcoming State of the Union may also make it suspect. Advertisement The Courts ruling otherwise oddly claims that there is insufficient legal precedent for the president to exercise broad tariff authority. Theyre wrong: In Wayman v. Southard (1825), Justice Marshall observed that Congress had the latitude to grant powers. The difference between the departments is that the legislature makes, the executive executes, and the judiciary construes the law; but the maker of the law may commit something to the discretion of the other departments, and the precise boundary of this power is a subject of delicate and difficult inquiry, into which a court will not enter unnecessarily. Advertisement In a landmark 1892 case, Field v. Clark, Marshall Field & Co. complained about tariffs under the Tariff Act of 1890, which authorized the president to levy when other countries deployed tariffs, which the president may deem to be reciprocally unequal and unreasonable (italics mine). However, in his majority opinion, Justice John Marshall Harlan wrote that the president was acting in his executive role, executing congressional policy: What the president was required to do was simply in execution of the act of Congress. It was not the making of law. He was the mere agent of the lawmaking department to ascertain and declare the event upon which its expressed will was to take effect. The central element of President Trumps tariff strategy is reciprocity, which can elevate the tariff argument to the international trade domain, and take it beyond state-based interests, or beyond strictly a congressional matter. In 1934, Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, which gave President Franklin Roosevelt the discretion to raise tariffs rates by 50% and negotiate bilateral trade arrangements, without additional approval from Congress. This was followed by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Trade Act of 1974 which empowers the president to impose tariffs deemed a threat to U.S. domestic industry. President Trump works for U.S. business, U.S. citizens, and U.S. security. Who the SCOTUS is working for, may be a question. Matthew G. Andersson is a former CEO and author of the upcoming book Legally Blind concerning legal ideology. He has testified before the US Senate and is a graduate of the University of Chicago. Not a day goes by that Democrats and their media propaganda arm, dont repeatedly call President Trump, and his entire administration, fascists. That they never explain just what it is that Trump is doing to constitute fascism, or define it, is beside the point. He is a fascist because they say he is a fascist and theyre the press! Advertisement Despite the best efforts of most of the media and Democrat politicians, irrefutable evidence proves Donald Trump and his administration are the worst fascists ever. CNN host Kaitlan Collins credited White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday for defending the journalist while on a presidential trip to Saudi Arabia. Advertisement Collins explained on Heather McMahans Absolutely Not podcast that she was in Saudi Arabia on a trip covering President Trumps visit to the country and noted the Saudis famously do not like the media. Collinsno fan of Trumpshouted a question to Trump. As is not uncommon, Trump didnt answer. The Saudis dont have high opinions of journalists, and particularly not female journalists, which attitude is exacerbated by the fact they do not have a free press Advertisement When the media began to follow Mr. Trump into another room, the Saudis prevented Collins from following. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt immediately resolved the situation: I could see them like, whispering, and pointing about me, Collins said. And some of the younger White House staff, they are with the press, werent really sure what to do, and they went to Karoline and, to her credit, she said, No, Kaitlans coming in with the rest of the US press, and we went in. And, so, it didnt become this huge issue. Advertisement So, to her credit, she, without a doubt, was like, No, youre coming in,' Collins said of Leavitt. Which I do think is important in that moment, especially when youre kind of the US contingent abroad, and we dont do things like they do in Saudi Arabia. Advertisement Graphic: Social Media Post This wasnt the first time the Administration has defended Collins and ensured her access. This despite Collins frequent dust ups with Trump: Advertisement Trump has called her stupid and nasty and criticized her during a recent Oval Office exchange for not smiling. I dont think Ive ever seen a smile on your face, he told her earlier this month. Trump often criticizes the press and has threatened lawsuits. Hes actually won multi-million-dollar lawsuit settlements against the media. To her credit, Collins has admitted Trump has given the media unprecedented access. Though shes only covered two presidents as a White House correspondent, Collins said even veteran reporters have noted Trump changed the media dynamic. When you speak to reporters who covered President Obama, he almost never responded to shouted questions, Collins said at the time. It wasnt his thing. He would have his moments with world leaders, and then you would leave the Oval. Trump kind of upended that when he came into the White House, she said. Sometimes presidents are press-averse. Trump embraced the media. Kind of upended that? Donald Trump has given the press enormous access. Hell take impromptu questions on the White House lawn, on Air Force One, just about anywhere. Hell take questions for an hour or longer and invites the press to Cabinet meetings and meetings with foreign dignitaries. Hes the most transparent POTUS in memory. Karoline Leavitt handles the press like a pro, as when a dimwitted reporter, parroting a new Democrat narrative claimed no Democrat has ever called Trump a racist. She smiled and asked: youre kidding, right? Even some of the press laughed. I will pull you a plethora of examples. Im going to get my team in that room to start going through the internet of radical Democrats throughout the years who have accused this president falsely of being a racist, Leavitt said. She continued, And Im sure theres many people in this room and on network television across the country who have accused him of the same. In fact, I know that because Ive seen it with my own eyes. There is a lot this president has done for all Americans, regardless of race, she said. And he has absolutely been falsely called and smeared as a racist, and Im happy to provide you those receipts. And she did. It was one of those classic who you gonna believe? Us or your own lyin eyes and ears? moments. It was also another example of how President Trump and his Administration are the worst fascists ever. Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Remember the Me too movement? It was about giving sexual harassment victims a chance to defend themselves, or something like that. It was also politicized and used to make up stories about Judge Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court nomination. Advertisement Well, fast forward to 2026 and let me introduce you to the new me too movement, or the line of rich Californians leaving the state. The latest is Steve Spielberg, the well known director. Here is the story: California may be losing two of the states most famed residents and generous political donors. Advertisement Filmmaker Steven Spielberg recently moved to New York and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is eyeing purchasing a new property in Florida, stirring speculation about whether their decisions are tied to a proposed new tax on California billionaires to fund healthcare for the states most vulnerable residents. Although a handful of prominent conservatives who bolted out of California noisily blamed their departure on the controversial wealth tax measure, as well as the states liberal ways and what they describe as cumbersome business regulations, neither Zuckerberg nor Spielberg has given any indication that the tax proposal is the reason for their moves. Advertisement Well, thats cute. No indication? So its all a coincidence that they are looking to move when the state is considering a tax on rich guys? Maybe these two men are fed up with LA traffic, or the Dodgers buying all of the free agents. Or more realistically, they just met with their business manager and were given a view of what the new taxes would do to their finances. The ghost of the future in California today is a balance sheet of what all of these taxes will do to your wealth. What makes these moves so interesting is that these two guys have supported the policies that have made California what it isa place where doing business is very difficult. Advertisement Spielberg is hoping to avoid criticism by moving to New York. Blue to blue. He is hoping to avoid saying that he is going to Texas or Florida. Okay, but his timing is interesting, as John Sexton points out: Come on now. Look, Im not saying Spielberg (or his spox) are lying about why they moved. I believe he really wanted to be near his family. But dont try to tell me that the Jan. 1 date of the move is a coincidence. Thats literally the deadline for the retroactive tax to take effect (assuming it makes it on the ballot and gets approved by the voters). Advertisement There are others leaving, too. What makes Spielberg and Zuckerberg interesting is that they voted for the policies coming back to bite them. They are lucky to move out, but lots of others dont have that choice. So me too 2026 means me too getting out. Advertisement P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image generated by ChatGPT. There is a fundamental difference between how China and the United States view higher education. Grasping that difference is essential to national security. Top Chinese graduate students are cultivated with the expectation that their expertise will advance state priorities. So when Beijing sends its top students to matriculate at American universities, it is not pursuing benign cultural exchange; it is deploying strategic assets. Advertisement Seen through that lens, China is using the American university system as a conduit for absorbing American know-how, extracting technical expertise, and moving valuable research and intellectual property back to China. The practical effect is that Peoples Republic of China (PRC) nationals are often placed in sensitive labs and federally funded research roles, frequently at taxpayer expense, under limited scrutiny and with ample institutional cover. The Sept. 19, 2025 report, From Ph.D. to PLA (the Peoples Liberation Army), from the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), confirms that Americas top research universities have become reliable access points for the PRCs defense ecosystem through visas, federally funded research appointments, and institutional partnerships that fail to account for, much less mitigate, the CCPs military-civil fusion strategy. Advertisement The Department of State defines the military-civil fusion strategy as a CCP strategy to build a world class PLA by 2049 by leveraging civilian research and siphoning intellectual property and technological advances to serve military aims. The committees investigation targeted six schools: University of Maryland, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Carnegie Mellon, USC, Purdue, and Stanford. They investigated Chinese students: where they previously studied, how theyre funded, what research they conduct, and how deeply the universities collaborate with Chinese counterparts. The reports significant conclusion is that U.S. visa and university policies are enabling PRC defense-linked entities to tap American higher education. Advertisement In May 2020, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamation 10043 to block entry for certain PRC graduate students and researchers linked to Chinas military-civil fusion apparatus. However, the Biden administration failed to enforce it. The committee identified Chinese graduate students at the surveyed universities who had previously attended Seven Sons of National Defense universities the very category of entrant the Trump-era policy was meant to restrict. The reports second finding is the one most likely to trouble the average American because it shows that the American taxpayer is either directly or indirectly underwriting substantial portions of PRC doctoral training in STEM fields here on U.S. soil. The report shows that one university disclosed that it had 1,139 Chinese graduate staff appointments, with 515 paid via sponsored programs funded by federal, state, or private grants or contracts. Notably, 402 of those paid positions were funded by federal grants or contracts. The report adds that among those 402 federally funded Chinese nationals, 205 were in the College of Engineering, and 107 were in the College of Science, including disciplines such as aeronautics, nuclear engineering, and computer science. Pictured below, an excerpt detailing some of the data from page 6 of the report: Advertisement The report states in finding number three that every university the Select Committee surveyed had students from Chinas top military and defense research universities, including institutions tied to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and Chinas defense industrial base. More alarming is the finding that many of the Chinese universities (from which the PRC students come) are on U.S. government blacklists. According to the report, many of the students are studying advanced fields like artificial intelligence and quantum science. Advertisement The relationships described are not isolated cases, but instead are widespread institutional and faculty ties durable relationships that create and foster repeated placements, repeated access, and repeated legitimization of ways for sensitive intellectual property to flow back to the CCP. The University of Maryland alone disclosed at least 89 known cases of faculty collaboration with Chinese entities, and there were 15 formal exchange agreements and three formal research agreements. American universities are granting systematic access to the CCPs military-civil fusion network when matriculating these students. A related Feb. 11, 2026 press release from the Department of Education (DOE), 2026, announced a new public portal (went live on Jan. 2, 2026) detailing the required foreign funding disclosures submitted by American colleges and universities for 2025. For context, under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act (20 USC 1011f), institutions receiving federal financial assistance must disclose foreign-source gifts and contracts totaling $250,000 or more in a calendar year (including when aggregated with other gifts and contracts from the same foreign source). Advertisement The portal is a Trump administration initiative designed to improve reporting quality and oversight, including bulk uploads and condensed executive summary views for institutions. The DOE has tied the new system to a broader transparency push under Executive Order 14282 (Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities, April 23, 2025). Importantly, the DOEs new portal flags gifts and contracts connected to countries of concern, a defined term in federal law that maps closely onto the U.S. Intelligence Communitys threat picture. Under federal statute, a foreign country of concern means the Peoples Republic of China, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran plus any other country the State Department determines to be a country of concern related to our national security. According to ODNIs 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and even Venezuela are major state adversaries that have weapons that can strike U.S. territory or can target or disable critical systems (elections) through cyber- or coercive means. For 2025 alone, DOE data compiled on the portal under Section 117 show more than $5.2 billion in reportable foreign gifts and contracts. In 2025, China was one of the largest foreign funding sources, at over $528 million in reportable gifts and contracts. Notably, the portal lists Qatar and the U.K. ahead of China in 2025 totals (over $1.1 billion and over $633 million, respectively), underscoring that the foreign funding problem is broader than adversary states. However, it should be noted that countries of concern carry a different risk profile when the concern is technology transfer and influence operations. The DOE press release also highlights where countries of concern funding concentrates over the long run. From 1986 through December 16, 2025 (as identified at 42 USC 19221[a][1]), the U.S. higher education institutions disclosing the largest totals from counterparties located in countries of concern were Harvard over $610 million MIT over $490 million New York University over $462 million Stanford over $418 million Yale over $400 million Again, as noted in the Select Committee on China report, these are not insignificant relationships. They are sustained, high-dollar pipelines operating inside the same research ecosystem Congress is simultaneously warning can be exploited by adversarial states. For additional context, not limited to the statutory countries of concern, the DOEs 2025 disclosure summary lists the top overall recipients of reportable foreign gifts and contracts as Carnegie Mellon (almost $1 billion), MIT (almost $1 billion), Stanford (over $775 million), and Harvard (over $324 million). The DOE also noted a compliance problem. More than $2 billion in reportable gifts and contracts were disclosed late during 2025, in direct violation of statutory requirements meaning the public record often arrives long after relationships are formed and the damage is done. A companion Select Committee report found that the national security vulnerability is not limited to admissions and visas, but extends into federally funded defense research itself. An excerpt from the report is pictured below: The committee identified roughly 1,400 papers published from June 2023 to June 2025 that acknowledged Department of Defense (DOD) funding or support while also involving PRC-entity collaboration covering more than 300 DOD grants. More than half involved entities tied to Chinas defense research and industrial base, in fields with clear military application. Image via Public Domain Pictures. February 20, 2026: The innovative, extensive and effective use of drones in the Ukraine War has alarmed major military powers worldwide. Everyone is seeking ways of effectively integrating drones into their current military forces and war plans. Because of Ukraine, the European NATO countries are expanding and upgrading their forces to deter further Russian aggression. Over half a billion Europeans, backed by 326 million Americans should be enough to deter further aggression by 145 million bankrupt and war weary Russians. Its a different story in the Pacific, where an increasingly aggressive and heavily armed Chinese military is preparing for war. Not a major conflict, China could not afford that and really only wants to conquer Taiwan and merge it with China. Such a conflict would be short, violent and possibly indecisive. Drones play a role in that. China is aware of that and has already developed a microwave anti-drone weapon that can quickly and cheaply destroy drones several kilometers away. The U.S. and Israel have developed similar systems and Taiwan has access to much of that technology. Taiwan and China have also been developing drone swarm technology and the use of AI/Artificial Intelligence technology to enable the swarms to operate effectively when facing massive electronic jamming. The drone factor makes a Chinese attempt to take Taiwan by forces less likely. While drones are a new opportunity, an amphibious operation against Taiwan is nothing like the land war Russia and Ukraine have been fighting. Everyone could find out how drones might impact current NATO doctrine by examining similar situations in the past. Current American and NATO tactics began emerging in the late 1970s when the United States sought a new combat doctrine to make the best use of new weapons, an all-volunteer force and growing air superiority. West Germany was then urging the United States to adopt tactics that would mean losing less German territory in the opening stages of a war. In 1982 this led to the American AirLand Battle doctrine, which emphasized meeting a mainly Russian Warsaw Pact invasion by attacking as well as defending. West Germany was reassured as were those who had studied the 1972 Arab Israeli war. This conflict began with a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria which was quickly defeated by an Israeli active defense that emphasized attacking as well as defending. The Americans had already adopted an active defense doctrine in 1978 but AirLand Battle was a refinement of that, and evolved to the present with improved versions of these tactics. The Russians interpreted AirLand Battle as the result of how much post-Vietnam military reforms had turned NATO defense plans into an offensive opportunity for NATO that made any Russian attack less likely to succeed and vulnerable to a NATO invasion of East Europe. The 1991 Iraq war certainly confirmed this, but Russians attributed that to poor quality Iraqi officers and troops. After the East European Soviet satellite governments collapsed starting in 1989, it was revealed that the Soviets had become less confident of the ability and willingness of East European Warsaw Pact armies to assist Russian forces in attack or defense. Part of this was due to the aftereffects of the crackdown in East Europe after the uprisings of the 1950s and 1960s. Western intelligence officials interviewed many of East European civilians getting out and thought the refugees were exaggerating. They werent and that became obvious in 1989, and again two years later when the USSR itself collapsed. Once the Ukraine War has ended, the Russian military may accept that the NATO tactics were a major reason for their failure in Ukraine. Russia will have a difficult but not impossible time implementing a version of the NATO tactics for their forces. It would mean changing how their officers are trained and finally getting serious about reviving the use of NCOs, something the communists eliminated in the 1920s to prevent sergeants from leading another revolution as they did in the early 1920 to create the Soviet Union. In other words, Russia still has the same problems it has been burdened with since the Cold War ended in 1991. While Russia quickly adapted to drone warfare, that was in wartime and as of early 2026, Ukraine is more confident of winning their war with the Russians than the Russians are. Suppose for a moment that Joe Citizen and his lovely wife are rendered unconscious in an auto accident. Joe is a diabetic and suffers from hypertension, while his wife is under medication for rheumatic heart disease and is allergic to some types of antibiotics. When the EMTs arrive they scan their embedded chips, quickly ascertain their blood types, their medical history, their doctors' names, and their insurance information. Treatment begins almost immediately. Advertisement Joe is employed in a field that requires extensive travel, including overseas. His chip, no larger than a grain of rice, allows him to pay for meals in restaurants around the world, verify his identity at hotels and airports, gain access to his company's offices and innumerable other activities without coming into physical contact with cash or credit card touchpads. After dealing with the heightened health scares in the post-COVID era, he finds this reassuring. Proponents of digital IDs and embedded microchips will frame them as modern, efficient tools that will make everyday life safer and more convenient. The potential benefits of instant identification during a health crisis and everyday convenience are undeniable, but many of us consider the risks far in excess of the gains. Convenience is a thin veneer over a deeper reality: digital IDs dramatically expand the power of the state and its ability to monitor, restrict, and control citizens. The debate is not simply about technology -- it's about the proper limits of government in a free society. Advertisement The Open Government Partnership notes that over a billion people worldwide lack formal identification, and digital systems could help them access banking, healthcare, and voting. Digital identity wallets, or apps that store personal credentials, are marketed as giving individuals more control over what information they share and with whom. Supporters in the UK claim that a unified digital ID could reduce bureaucratic failures like those seen in the Windrush scandal. They argue that a modern state needs modern tools, and that digital IDs are just the next step in public administration. Advertisement Conservatives view it differently. A digital ID system -- especially one tied to biometrics or centralized databases -- gives government unprecedented visibility into citizens' lives. Even if officials promise restraint, the infrastructure itself enables tracking, profiling, and monitoring on an unprecedented scale. When have we ever seen government relinquish power and control once they've been granted? Once a digital ID becomes required for banking, healthcare, travel, or voting, it becomes a de facto internal passport. Research shows widespread fears of surveillance, data misuse, and political targeting -- concerns that we conservatives have long warned about. Advertisement Digital identity wallets are marketed as "user-controlled," but they still rely on platforms, devices, and networks that can be hacked, pressured, or regulated. Unlike passwords, biometric data cannot be changed if compromised. The deeper issue is choice. As with digital currency, once digital ID becomes the default, opting out becomes impossible without sacrificing access to essential services. What begins as "voluntary" quickly becomes mandatory in practice. Conservatives have long recognized this pattern: government programs start small, then expand until participation is unavoidable. Advertisement Even if we trusted the intentions behind digital IDs, the practical risks and challenges remain enormous. Governments have struggled with basic IT modernization and cybersecurity. It is unrealistic to expect it to build and secure a nationwide digital identity system. Such a system would instantly become a prime target for cyberattacks that would expose not just names and addresses, but biometric identifiers, financial access points, and personal histories. The consequences would be catastrophic and irreversible. Supporters insist digital IDs are inevitable. Conservatives reject that framing. The real question is whether they are compatible with a free society. They concentrate power and expand surveillance capabilities. They create infrastructure that future governments -- perhaps less restrained -- could exploit. They shift the balance between citizen and state in ways that cannot easily be undone. Advertisement Fraud prevention and administrative efficiency matter, but we argue that liberty matters more. A system that gives government the technical ability to track, restrict, or condition access to daily life is a system that undermines the principles of limited government. Digital IDs offer undeniable benefits, but they come with risks that strike at the heart of conservative values: privacy, individual autonomy, and skepticism of centralized authority. Until and unless governments can demonstrate technical competence as well as ironclad legal and constitutional safeguards, conservatives will continue to view digital IDs not as tools of convenience, but as instruments of control. Obama insider Susan Rice recently gave us a preview of what to expect should the Democrats ever regain power. There will be an accountability agenda." Do we want to hand figures like this even greater tools to target political opponents? Do you think for one moment that the Left will not utilize these systems if given the chance? Image: Pixabay Polls show most people like the results of President Trump's actions and policies, but not the way he goes about achieving them. Advertisement In fact, the simple majority claim to dislike the way he goes about achieving the results more than they like the results themselves! Amazing. Well, guess what? The reason he achieved these results, when so many others couldn't, is because of the way he went about achieving them! Advertisement Is it possible the majority of citizens are now utterly unable to connect cause and result? Actions and behavior to outcome? Apparently, roughly half the country is spectacularly stupid or batsh*t insane -- espousing suicidal softness and empathy for everyone and everything but reason, sanity, achievement, tradition, history, and conservatives. This isnt the 1950s or even the 1980s. Advertisement Sadly, Marquess of Queensberry rules no longer apply to the political realm if they ever did. Democrats never miss a chance at a low blow or cheap shot. They never tire of the fight and revel in dishonesty and chicanery. Republicans who refuse to fight back in a similar manner are not taking the high road, they are guaranteeing the demise of the country and the people they were sworn to protect. Yet, despite all evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Democrats around the country, Republicans steadfastly refuse to ultimately hold anyone responsible or accountable, no matter how great the crime. Tim Walz? Jacob Frey? Keith Ellingson? Ilhan Omar? Alejandro Mayorkas? John Brennan? James Clapper? The Clintons? Eric Swalwell? Adam Schiff? Anyone?! Bueller? Bueller? Advertisement There are only three possible reasons for this, as not all Republicans are blathering idiots, despite their performative outrage: 1) they are utterly incompetent, 2) they are not particularly disturbed by these crimes and abuses of the American taxpayer and are just as compromised and bought off as Democrats, or 3) they, too, prefer style over substance/results. Thats it. There is no more. No other possibility. Get right with that fact. Advertisement If our leaders refuse to hold each other accountable, we must do just that. Because results must trump style or the republic is doomed. Advertisement Image by heblo from Pixabay The Dems landslide win in Virginia has received much media attention and made Governor Abigail Spanberger well-known. Advertisement Despite the overwhelming Dem numbers, the Family Foundation of Virginia has transformed into a David to fight the Dems political Goliath. On February 10, they led a Don't Tread on Parents Day event that gathered a significant number of concerned parents, students, and school leaders to flood the General Assembly and deliver a clear message to lawmakers that actually got some positive results. From meetings with lawmakers across multiple floors to a packed press conference to praying in the halls and looking legislators in the eye families delivered a warning Richmond cant ignore: stop sidelining parents, stop politicizing our kids, and start protecting Virginias children. Enough legislators listened, and the very next day, the egregious HB-359 introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer (D) was rolled to 2027. His bill, if signed, would force any private school that enrolls even one student receiving tuition assistance, whether through a federal scholarship tax credit program, a state tuition assistance program, or any other public subsidy, to comply with the same mandates imposed on public schools. This includes indoctrinating students with DEI, transgenderism, drag, and other LGBTQ initiatives. Although this delay may be only a minor setback for Dem plans, it proves that enough legislators will listen. Advertisement One influential comment against Helmers bill was made at the press conference by Elijah, an 18-year-old student at the private Regents School of Charlottesville. He shared how when he first came to this country as an immigrant, he longed for an education that honored his faith traditions. Im here today to ask the legislators to not cut or end my scholarship but to extend the program so that other kids like me can excel. You can watch his short, but powerful plea on this YouTube Video starting at about the 15:2-minute mark: Legislators have also begun a retreat on several other radical Left proposals after sustained pushback from citizens across the Commonwealth: Advertisement Parents also pushed back on HB 614, the bill embedding identity politics into history lessons and testing. The bill was reduced to a commission study -- more proof that showing up makes a difference. On Wednesday, February 11, the House Courts of Justice Committee voted to continue the physician assisted suicide bill (HB886, D-Hope) to 2027. In practical terms, this action ends consideration of the bill for this session which is a polite way of effectively stopping its progress this year. Advertisement Lawmakers were also forced to scale back or water down several other controversial proposals targeting families, curriculum, and faith-based education. There is also evidence that what happens in Virginia may not stay in Virginia. Last Wednesday, Richmonds early morning talk radio (WRVA) guy said that Del. Helmer (responsible for the above delayed woke school indoctrination and similar bills) has apparently started his campaign preparations for one of the new, very left-leaning gerrymandered VA congressional districts, even though its passage is in doubt. Additionally, he may have the endorsement of Hakeem Jeffries, the U.S. House Minority Leader. Advertisement The evidence of outside Dem influence does not end there. For example, one of Gov. Spanbergers top cabinet positions was filled by Jessica K. Looman, who previously ran the Biden administrations Wage & Hour Division and was Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Yep, the same fraud-prone, ICE, and Trump-hating state of Minnesota. Another major cabinet seat was filled by Sesha Joi Moon, formerly the "chief brand strategist" for Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and she was Speaker Nancy Pelosis chief diversity officer. Advertisement And it was announced that Gov. Abigail Spanberger will speak following Trumps State of the Union address. Her selection had to come from the top and suggests this is to prepare her as a viable Dem Presidential candidate in 2028. She is the only remaining moderate they have to offer. As was true for many conservatives, when I saw the headline saying that the Supreme Court had reversed Trumps tariffs, I admit that my stomach sank. My first thought was that this was an epic disaster for the Trump administration. More than that, I thought that this is an epic disaster for the strong Trump economy, because tariffs have been a major leg of that stool. Advertisement Then I took a deep breath and had a couple of useful thoughts. My first thought was, I bet Trump has a backup plan, because hes always known that this could happen. Hes not the kind of guy to see a known risk and sit there sucking his thumb. It turns out that I was right. Without missing a beat, the administration pivoted to other tariff powers in the executive arsenal. Advertisement As Justice Kavanaugh wrote in his dissent, while the Supreme Court now claims that Trump erred by using his powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (a conclusion, by the way, that I believe represents judicial overreach), the fact remains that Congress has still granted the president broad tariff authority: Although I firmly disagree with the Courts holding today, the decision might not substantially constrain a Presidents ability to order tariffs going forward. That is because numerous other federal statutes authorize the President to impose tariffs and might justify most (if not all) of the tariffs at issue in this casealbeit perhaps with a few additional procedural steps that IEEPA, as an emergency statute, does not require. Those statutes include, for example, the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232); the Trade Act of 1974 (Sections 122, 201, and 301); and the Tariff Act of 1930 (Section 338). In essence, the Court today concludes that the President checked the wrong statutory box by relying on IEEPA rather than another statute to impose these tariffs. Advertisement Sure enough, practically within minutes of the decision coming down, Trump issued a Temporary Import Duty to Address Fundamental International Payment Problems: President Trump is invoking his authority under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which empowers the President to address certain fundamental international payment problems through surcharges and other special import restrictions. By taking this action, the United States can stem the outflow of its dollars to foreign producers and incentivize the return of domestic production. By increasing its domestic production, the United States can correct its balance-of-payments deficit, while also creating good paying jobs, and lowering costs for consumers. The Proclamation imposes, for a period of 150 days, a 10% ad valorem import duty on articles imported into the United States. The temporary import duty will take effect February 24 at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time. Trump excluded from the order only those goods that are necessary to meet Americas critical national security, transportation, food, health needs, etc. Advertisement So, for now, we have economic stability while Trump gets his other ducks in a row. As Scott Bessent explains, these other ducks will ensure a continuous flow of tariff revenue into the treasury in 2026: JUST IN: Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent just STUNNED the "Experts," he and Trump have been making big plans and it's FULL-STEAM AHEAD Tariff revenue will be *unchanged* in 2026. Boom. "Let's be clear about what today's ruling WAS and what it WASN'T. Despite the misplaced pic.twitter.com/tYHk1DoEvy Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 20, 2026 All the panicans can cease panicking. Trump and his team, like Pattons tanks, are rolling full steam ahead. Advertisement The second thing I figured out is that Trump has already realized, in large measure, one of the major purposes behind his tariffs: to force trade negotiations with nations that previously had seen no reason to change their prohibitive tariffs against the U.S. Thanks to the tariff threat, Trump was able to get favorable trade deals with India, the UK, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the EU, Pakistan, and China, while getting deals in place with Switzerland/Liechtenstein, Ecuador, Argentina, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and othersdeals that should still be locked in thanks to his recent Executive Order. The Trump trade juggernaut, having rolled, will continue to roll on. Advertisement Image created using AI. Of course, what this whole thing revealed is the problem of the federal judiciary. As the prescient Judge Robert Yates warned in 1787, in Anti-Federalist essays 78 and 79, the Founders were making a terrible mistake in creating a judiciary that imposed checks on the other two branches, with only the threat of impeachment (by a two-thirds majority) as a check on itself. Chief Justice Marshall unleashed that power in 1803s Marbury v. Madison, when he gave the Court the power for full constitutional review, but the early judiciary at least tried to be temperate. In the 20th century, the Franklin Roosevelt administration made the Supreme Court an openly political entity, a reality that has continued to this day, despite the Court, the media, and the government clinging to the fiction that it is not. Thats how Roberts, in 2012, was able to breathe life into the Affordable Care Act. Both Congress and Obama said explicit variations of Its a penalty, not a tax. However, Roberts was confronted with the fact that its unconstitutional to force people to buy a product, so he blithely said, Well, its really a tax, and stuck us with Obamacare. I was sure then that Roberts had handlers in the Swamp. Now, Im even more sure, because this time, Roberts handlers werent asking him to save something unconstitutional; instead, they wanted him to destroy something that is lawful. So, even though the IEEPA explicitly gives the executive discretionary powers to determine an economic emergency and, once having made that determination, to regulate importation, the Supreme Court took those discretionary powers upon itself, which is a dangerous overreach with longstanding repercussions. (See Thomass and Kavanaughs dissents to understand how grossly the Court abused its power. Note, too, how easy it is to read their dissents, versus how painful it is to read the opinion and the concurrences. You can always tell when a Supreme Court justice is lying about the law. The tell is that their opinions are thickets of obfuscatory language, disorganized arguments, tissue-thin connections between one idea and the next, and the general sludge of turgid writing. In the law, telling the truth is easy; lying is hard.) But of course, its not just the Supreme Court. The lower federal courts have cast off their shackles, too. Once, most dealt honestly with the facts and law, even if they were trying to shape them toward a specific outcome. What constrained them was personal honor and the shame of being overruled. Now, with honor and shame out the window, they routinely ignore facts and law, content to throw a delaying wrench in the Trump works while throwing red meat to the baying base. Unless Trump has a grand plan to control an out-of-control judiciary, and conservative media and American common sense combine to sideline the often openly communist and always dishonest mainstream media, we are in for a rough ride. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor reportedly challenged his removal from the Royal Lodge by saying Im the Queens son, you cant do this to me, a royal insider has claimed. The former prince was ordered to leave his 30-room Windsor mansion last October by King Charles, with the eviction carried out earlier this month, amid renewed scrutiny of Andrews links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He moved to Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, in what The Sun previously described as a sudden relocation that took place in the middle of the night. A royal insider has now claimed that Andrew refused to leave or take any responsibility for his eviction and allegedly used Im the Queens son as his defence. A royal insider told The Sun on Sunday: He refused to leave or take any responsibility. When he was told to get out he was so arrogant and deluded he repeatedly shouted, But Im the Queens second son, you cant do this to me. It is extraordinary he chose to use the Queens name in his defence. No one is quite sure if the reality of his dire situation has hit home even yet. Another insider reportedly told the newspaper that Andrew made it clear he did not want to leave. Andrew was arrested on Thursday, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. His arrest follows an assessment by police of a complaint relating to Andrews alleged sharing of sensitive information with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Six vehicles, reportedly unmarked police cars, and eight plainclothes officers were seen arriving at Wood Farm on Thursday morning. Thames Valley Police say they have opened an investigation into an allegation of misconduct in public office, including claims Andrew shared sensitive information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy. According to The Sun, a South London lock-up could become a focus of the police inquiry, after some of his Royal Lodge possessions were moved there for storage last month. The unit, which reportedly may also contain Andrews collection of teddy bears, is monitored 24/7 by guards and CCTV. The former princes arrest came after the latest tranche of files relating to late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were released by the US Department of Justice. Both Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson appear in multiple correspondence in the files. Andrew has consistently and strongly denied any wrongdoing. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could be removed as eighth in line to the throne, says royal expert Royal expert and friend to King Charles, Jonathan Dimbleby has explained how its possible for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed as eighth in line to the throne. The former prince was arrested on Thursday (February 19th), his 66th birthday, on suspicion of alleged misconduct in public office. Thames Valley Police is investigating claims that while serving as the UKs trade envoy, he shared sensitive information with disgraced financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has since been released under investigation. Speaking on BBC Newsnight, Mr Dimbleby, explained how parliament has the power to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession to the throne. He said: It can happen. I think it's sort of straining at a gnat to suggest because he's eighth in line to the throne that somehow threatens the Constitution - don't think it does. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to his connections to Epstein. An American citizen was shot dead by Immigration and Customs Enforcement months before the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota, records have shown. Ruben Ray Martinez was killed during a traffic stop on South Padre Island in Texas last March, several outlets, citing documents obtained by nonprofit watchdog American Oversight, reported. Martinez had just turned 23, and he and his best friend were driving from San Antonio to South Padre Island to celebrate, his mother, Rachel Reyes, told the Associated Press. Shortly after midnight on March 15, 2025, a driver, confirmed by family to be Martinez, and a passenger in a blue Ford were passing through an intersection where Homeland Security Investigations officers had been helping South Padre Island police redirect traffic after an accident, according to an internal ICE incident report included in the new release of documents. Reyes confirmed to the Associated Press that the victim in the report was her son, and Charles Stam, a lawyer for Martinezs family, also confirmed Martinez was the one killed to The New York Times. U.S. citizen Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was shot dead by Immigration and Customs Enforcement months before the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, records have shown (Rachel Reyes via AP) Agents surrounded Martinezs car and ordered him and the passenger to get out, according to the report. Martinez accelerated forward and hit an HSI special agent, who wound up on the hood of the vehicle, the report said. An HSI supervisory special agent then fired multiple times through the open drivers side window, according to the report. Martinez was taken to a hospital and later died, the report said. The HSI agent hit by the car was treated for a knee injury, according to the report. Martinez was killed during a traffic stop on South Padre Island in Texas last March, according to the records (Henrique Campos/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images) It was his first time getting to go out of town, Reyes said of her son. He was a nice guy, humble guy. And he wasnt a violent person at all. Its unclear why Martinez was stopped in the first place. Without confirming the identity of the victim, the Department of Homeland Security said a federal agent had fatally shot a man that day in March to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public. A driver of a blue Ford intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent resulting in him being on the hood of the vehicle. Upon witnessing this, another agent fired defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public, a DHS spokesperson told The Independent. This incident is under active investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety Ranger Division. The Trump administration sparked nationwide backlash over the deaths of Good, a mom of three, and Pretti, an ICU nurse (Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images) According to the Associated Press, Martinezs death is one of at least six fatal shootings by federal immigration agents since the start of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, which has grown increasingly unpopular. The Trump administration sparked nationwide backlash over the deaths of Good, a mom of three, and Pretti, an ICU nurse. Both were gunned down by federal agents in the streets of Minneapolis last month. Both were 37-year-old U.S. citizens. Both shootings have been framed by the Trump administration as self-defense, a claim that has been scrutinized. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 55 percent of Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of immigration, while just 38 percent approve, the lowest level since the president returned to the White House. This years Bafta film awards could see a number of landmark firsts, as well as some long-standing records tumble. Chloe Zhao will make history if she is named best director for her film Hamnet at the ceremony on Sunday. It would make her the first woman to win the award twice, coming five years after her success in 2021 with Nomadland. Zhao is one of only three women in history to have won the Bafta for best director. The other two are Kathryn Bigelow (for The Hurt Locker in 2010) and Jane Campion (The Power Of The Dog in 2022). Hamnet has already set a new Bafta record for the most nominations for a film directed by a woman, with nods in 11 categories. The movies star, Jessie Buckley, has the chance to make history for her home nation of Ireland. She is nominated for best actress and if she wins, it would be the first time an Irish performer has received this award. It would also mean Ireland has now triumphed in all four of the main Bafta acting categories, following wins for Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon in 2023 (best supporting actor and supporting actress respectively, for The Banshees of Inisherin) and Cillian Murphy in 2024 (best actor for Oppenheimer). Two of Buckleys fellow nominees for best actress have their own chance to make history. If Renate Reinsve wins, for her role in the film Sentimental Value, she would be the first person from Norway to take home the award. And if Chase Infiniti wins, for One Battle After Another, she would be the first non-white person to be named best actress. British talent failed to win any of the four main acting categories in 2025 the third year in a row this has happened. There could be a fourth consecutive washout in 2026, given that none of the bookies favourites or industry frontrunners are from the UK. No British performers have been nominated for best actress this year, the first time this has happened since 2020. The strongest category for the UK is best supporting actress, where three of the six nominees are British: Wunmi Mosaku (for Sinners), Carey Mulligan (The Ballad Of Wallis Island) and Emily Watson (Hamnet) though all face strong competition from US frontrunner Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another). Robert Aramayo is the sole UK hopeful in the best actor category, while Peter Mullan is the only UK nominee for best supporting actor both for their roles in the film I Swear. Mullan would be the first person from Scotland to win the Bafta for best supporting actor. Elsewhere, history has already been made in the category for best cinematography, where Autumn Durald Arkapaw from the United States is the first ever non-white woman to be nominated, for her work on the film Sinners. If she triumphs on Sunday night, she will be not only the first ever non-white female to win the award, but also the first woman to take home the prize. The first non-white man to win the Bafta for best cinematography was Remi Adefarasin in 1999, for the film Elizabeth. The record for the most Bafta awards won in a single evening is nine, set by Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid in 1971. Four films have a chance of breaking this record at Sundays ceremony: One Battle After Another, which has received 14 nominations; Sinners (13 nominations); Hamnet (11) and Marty Supreme (11). If the votes go a different way, Sentimental Value could set a new record for the most awards picked up by a non-English language film. This title is currently held by All Quiet On The Western Front, which bagged seven awards in 2023. Sentimental Value has eight nominations this year. Armed members of Irans police special force monitor a pro-Government rally in Tehran last month - Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images There was a time when Britain was able to identify an enemy and defeat it. Most of us miss those days; theres a reason, after all, why Sir Winston Churchill remains so revered. Today, our old certainties have become so eroded that our leaders make excuses for those who would destroy us rather than taking action to stop them. Take Iran. Countless protesters have been blinded by pellets to the face or rendered impotent with bullets to the genitals. Regime thugs have prowled hospitals, executing young activists in their beds. The Ayatollahs 48 hours of butchery in January, which are believed to have claimed more than 30,000 lives, found a precedent only in 1941, when 34,000 Jews were murdered in the Babyn Yar ravine near Kyiv. This is not some foreign problem. The regime is the worlds biggest sponsor of terrorism and has plotted kidnap and assassination plots on our shores. If this isnt an enemy, what is? Yet at Irans time of greatest vulnerability, Britain has blocked American warplanes from using the Diego Garcia airbase to target the killers. The reason? International law, that most debased of terms, which has become so beloved of our gutless elites. One suspects that the same excuse would have been used to avoid bombing the railway to Auschwitz. Ed Davey, the clownish leader of the Liberal Democrats, bleated that Trump was trying to bully the Government into unilateral military action. Starmer must stand strong, he added, and place the matter before Parliament. Where have we heard that before? In 2013, Ed Miliband scuppered David Camerons attempt to back Obamas red lines in Syria. As a result, Bashar al-Assads use of chemical weapons went unpunished, and Vladimir Putin loaded his Kalashnikov and marched into Crimea. If that is standing strong, somebody tell me what weakness looks like. This woolly liberalism might seem harmless, but it is knitting a British comfort blanket for the repellent Iranian regime. Ironically, if the Ayatollah is deposed by American force, his Revolutionary Guards will still not have been banned in London, and his ambassador will not have been expelled. Its not just Britain. Earlier this month, the secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, sent Tehran a message of congratulations on the 47th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, which plunged the region into decades of murder that are approaching a climax today. The Ayatollahs 48 hours of butchery in January claimed an estimated tens of thousands of lives - Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA/via REUTERS On Thursday, an Iranian diplomat was elected vice-chair of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations, responsible for upholding the rules of international law. In 2024, the UN outrageously lowered its flag to half-mast to mourn the late Iranian president, Ebrahim Butcher of Tehran Raisi. Meanwhile, the Security Council has still not unequivocally condemned the October 7 attacks. Youd be laughing if you werent puking your guts up. How small is the step from universal standards to moral relativism, and from moral relativism to weaponisation! From the thwarted deportation of foreign criminals from Britain to strikes on the Ayatollah, not only is there a gulf between international law and natural moral law, but the former is now trashing the latter. Not that Donald Trump is driven by ethics. While the Iranian bloodletting continued, he gave the world erratic rhetoric and protracted negotiations with the regime, leveraging the protesters to get America and her Middle Eastern allies a better deal. Many Iranians cannot forgive Trumps promise that help is on its way delivered in the aftermath of the two-day massacre of innocents in January which sent thousands more onto the streets to die. 1402 US Navys deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups Is this a repeat of 1956, when the Americans whipped up a Hungarian uprising against the Soviet regime which ended with the bloody deployment of tanks? Or 1991, when George HW Bush encouraged the Kurds and Marsh Arabs to rebel against Saddam Hussein but failed to back them up, resulting in a bloodbath? Unlikely. Rather, the president is probably just taking time to load his revolver. After all, this is the largest concentration of American force in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and his threats have been blood-curdling. On Thursday, Trump suggested that the hold-up was down to logistics. With war, you never know whats easy and whats not so easy, he said. This is true; when America has opened fire recklessly Vietnam, Iraq the results have been disastrous. In addition, the more time elapses, the greater the pressure on Tehran. This is Casablanca thinking: Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. Sir Keir Starmer has pushed back on Donald Trumps desire to use British air bases to hit Iran - Getty Images Quite clearly, Trump is gaming American interests, not protecting the Iranians on the streets. When the B2s have done their thing, the president could be satisfied with Venezuela-style regime taming, rather than the regime change so coveted by the people. Certainly, Americas Gulf allies favour that outcome. A stable and democratic Iran would provide unwelcome competition in the oil markets and may even inspire another Arab Spring. The Ayatollah may have to go, but far better for them a weakened and compliant set of tyrants. Will this amount to a betrayal of the Iranian people? Perhaps. But at least Trump doesnt take the moral high ground. Our preening leaders, on the other hand, are so infatuated with their own virtue that they cant even name the enemy, whether at home or abroad. What would Churchill do? These days, the Government seems to ask itself that question and do the opposite. Russia is having problems recruiting soldiers after four years of war in Ukraine and over 1.2 million soldiers killed, disabled or missing in combat. Russia was able to recruit 400,000 last year and expects to do the same this year. In the last two years, new recruits were often foreigners, including South Americans, Cubans, Africans and many countries in Asia. Recruiting standards have been lowered in Russia, where prisons have been emptied and alcoholics, drug addicts and the mentally ill have been induced, tricked or forced to sign a contract to join the military. Recruiters have been particularly successful in rural Russia where good jobs are scarce and alcoholism is rampant. Recruiters will sometimes visit a venue that serves alcohol and buy drinks for likely new recruits. Once these inebriated men have signed, the recruiter will often have to enlist local police to go where the new soldiers lived and tell the now sober men that they are in the army and take them away. Soldiers recruited in this way are not expected to last long in Ukraine, so their physical or mental condition is not important. Recruiters have other problems to deal with. Twenty years ago, Russian leaders were informed that the rapidly aging Russian population was not only shrinking but was not fit for any major economic or military efforts. Some 60 percent of Russians were elderly, children, or disabled. Out of 20 million males of working age, one million were in prison, a million in the armed forces, five million were unemployed or unemployable due to poor education, health or attitude, four million were chronic alcoholics, and a million were drug addicts. Thus, there is something of a labor shortage, with plenty of jobs for women and immigrants. The birth rate is below replacement level, and a declining population means more immigrants just to keep things going. Improving medical care, and health habits, especially treating alcoholism and drug use, was a government priority, in order to raise the lifespan of Russian males. All of this made the idea of a smaller, all volunteer, military more attractive. Too many of the current troops were drunks, addicted to drugs or just unreliable. Volunteers must be paid much more, but their discipline is much higher. Russian officers are very impressed with what the British, Japanese and Americans have done with all-volunteer armed forces and want to emulate them. That never happened. February 21, 2026: One of the many reasons why the Russian plan to conquer Ukraine in a few weeks was a misunderstanding of who they were fighting. Even before 1991, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian were known as clever and inventive. After Ukraine became independent in 1991, that cleverness, inventiveness and enterprising nature took off. In military matters that was first seen in the way Ukrainians managed to modify, upgrade and tweak the thousands of tanks, artillery and other weapons Ukraine found itself because they had been a major producer of weapons for the Soviet Union. Most of those were exported to customers around the world, mainly because the prices were low and the Ukrainians would modify these weapons in any way the customer wanted and could pay for. When Russia began attacking Ukraine in 2014, by seizing territory, the Ukrainian applied their talents to developing weapons and tactics to foil the Russians. This annoyed the Russians and was one of the reasons Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago. Once at war the Ukrainians put their entrepreneurial skill into overdrive. Russia believed their Shock and Awe invasion would defeat the Ukrainians quickly but were themselves shocked at how quickly Ukrainian civilians rapidly improvised and implemented defensive units, tactics and weapons. This played a major role in defeating the initial Russian advance that was meant to capture the capital Kyiv and shatter the Ukrainian resolve and force a surrender. Tens of thousands of civilians mobilized themselves and went after vulnerable Russian units. Supply convoys were a popular target because, without continuous supplies of fuel, ammunition, food and other items, the Russians could not keep advancing. The improvised Ukrainian irregulars cut those supply lines and used weapons captured from the fleeing Russian soldiers to do more damage. This spirit of innovation and improvisation eventually led to the use of drones in warfare, something the Russians did not expect and were not prepared for. The first military drones were built by individual Ukrainians in homes, barns, or garages by individuals or small groups. The drones were sent to friends or relatives in the army who added explosives and used the drones in combat. The government saw what was happening and established factories to turn out the drones in large numbers. The amateur drone designers and builders ran many of these factories and trained new workers. Innovation continued when the troops got these drones. One of the unique ideas was to add gaming elements to the use of drones in combat. Commanders established goals and the first individuals or units to achieve the goals, like hunting down and killing Russians with drones received points. As an individual or a unit's accumulated points they use them to obtain scarce equipment or resources. These items would eventually reach units without this competitive system, but with the competition the most effective units received these items first. The winning units also enjoyed better morale and were often acclaimed in the Ukrainian media. This encouraged more civilians to support their friends or family members in the military. This popularization of innovation and entrepreneurship has been a major asset to the Ukrainian military effort. In contrast the Russian use of imagination often backfired. An example of that was the failure of their BTG/Battalion Task Group concept. Russia had expanded the use of BTGs since the 1980s because BTGs had consistently proved successful in many small wars, including the rather large operation in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Systems like the BTG began to appear during World War II when it was found that forming temporary task forces containing tank and infantry units were more effective. The Germans did the same thing, calling them battle groups or Kampfgruppen and the Americans adopted the practice after World War II. There was an important difference between the Western battle groups and the current BTGs. The Western battle groups were kept simple, mainly using combinations of infantry and tank companies, with the addition of combat engineers or artillery as needed. American infantry officers got lots of realistic training using these battle groups. Western armies had many career NCOs to make sure the troops performed well. Russia expanded their BTGs after 2000 and added more support units so that each BTG had most of the support capabilities usually found in a division. These support units were smaller in the BTG, often a dozen or so specialists riding in a few trucks. The BTG commander put an officer in charge of all these non-combat support troops and the dozens of trucks they traveled in. The combat element of a BTG always consisted of a few hundred infantry and ten or twenty tanks. But now there were small platoon sized detachments of specialists. The only ones that were always present were a dozen or so self-propelled 152mm guns and somewhat more 82mm and 120mm mortars. There was also a medical detachment. In the last decade a detachment of fire control troops was added to coordinate all that firepower with some UAVs to scout for targets. There were also a small number of self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons in addition to the portable anti-aircraft missiles carried by individual soldiers. There were several other specialist units that could be added as needed. Total strength of a BTG varied depending on how it was assembled. Official personnel strength varied from 600 to 800 personnel but was more like 300-500 in peacetime. These new BTGs became the standard for Russian divisions, which now consisted of two or three brigades. Each of these usually had just two BTGs. The division had fewer support units because most of these troops were now assigned to BTGs or brigades. By 2021 there were 170 BTGs. The combat elements usually consisted of one tank company, two or three infantry companies and one or two batteries of artillery. While BTGs had some contract volunteer troops, most of the rest of the BTG personnel were conscripts. The conscripts had several shortcomings. They could not be used in a combat zone; their term of service was only one year, and they were not as well trained as the contract troops. By law conscripts were not allowed in a combat zone unless it was wartime, and they were defending Russia. This massive adoption of BTGs was a mistake that became obvious when nearly half the available BTGs were sent into Ukraine in early 2022. Many newly formed BTGs were sent to the Ukrainian border in late 2021 to threaten Ukraine and if that did not work, to invade. The flaw in the BTGs was not obvious until they encountered well-armed and motivated opponents. That happened soon after they crossed the border into Ukraine. The leadership in these BTGs simply could not handle the complex composition of BTGs. Senior Russian leaders knew this from the performance of BTG leaders during military exercises. This was not a surprise as the quality of officers had declined in the last decade and there were still not enough experienced NCOs. The lack of competent leadership meant the troops in the BTGs were poorly used during combat, and increasingly abandoned their vehicles and fled if they encountered Ukrainian troops, who concentrated on hitting the very vulnerable tanks and light armored vehicles, like BMPs or wheeled armored infantry carriers. BTG commanders failed to order effective reconnaissance or even get the infantry out of their armored vehicles to protect their tanks from Ukrainian infantry armed with modern Western anti-tank weapons. Worse, the Ukrainians concentrated on attacking the BTG trucks carrying supplies and maintenance personnel. The trucks were the last to enter Ukraine because there were a lot of conscripts driving the trucks and these conscripts were not told they were driving into Ukraine. Instead, many were told they were on another training exercise. Most of these vehicles were destroyed or abandoned because of Ukrainian artillery fire and ground troops using whatever weapons they had. In one case a retired Ukrainian soldier was given a single-shot RPG/Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher by some passing Ukrainian troops. The elderly veteran used that one RPG to destroy a whole Russian truck convoy by waiting for the fuel trucks and hitting one of them. The fiery explosion ignited other trucks including some carrying fuel. Soon the entire truck column was in flames, and the surviving drivers were walking back to the border. Charles Bronson has vowed to expose his unlawful sentence and treatment as his plea for release is to be considered at an oral hearing in the coming months. The 73-year-old once considered one of Britains most violent offenders could be invited to speak at the meeting after eight failed attempts to seek parole. I am 23 years over my tariff. I am forever denied progress. I am forever kept in solitary, Bronson wrote in a letter to Sky News. They won't even take me off Cat A." He added: I have to expose this unlawful sentence and treatment. It's now gone on for far to long [sic] its become a total joke. Bronson - who is also known by the surname Salvador after he changed it in tribute to the artist Salvador Dali - has spent most of the last 50 years in prison for a string of violent offences. Charles Bronson was convicted of his first crime in 1974 at the age of 21 (PA) They include thefts, firearm crimes and violence, and 11 hostage-taking incidents in nine different sieges. After 12 years without a violent conviction, it was decided that Bronsons case would be reconsidered, allowing witnesses and evidence to be assessed to determine his current risk level. It will then be decided whether he is safe enough to be released into the community. My hopes for the hearing are that Mr Salvador can finally have some progression, his lawyer Gurdeep Singh told the broadcaster. He has been languishing in solitary confinement for years now without any future plans for him. With the right support in place, there is no reason why he should not be released into the community, allowing Mr Salvador to continue focusing on his charity work with the Born Art Foundation. Court artist sketch of Bronson, appearing via video link from HMP Woodhill, during his previous public parole hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London (Elizabeth Cook/PA Archive) In 2000, Bronson was handed a discretionary life sentence after taking a prison teacher at HMP Hull hostage for 44 hours. Since then, he has been denied all pleas for parole. Diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, Bronson whose birth name was Michael Peterson was convicted of his first crime in 1974 at the age of 21. He reoffended during two brief periods of freedom and was sent back to prison. His last appeal for parole was rejected at a public oral hearing in March 2023. He is said to have spent most of his time in prison in solitary confinement, with up to 23 hours a day spent locked in his cell. He said while he used to find violence cathartic, he has since sought solace in his art and practices deep breathing to cope with negative feelings, and he now professes to be anti-crime and no longer violent. A date for the hearing has not yet been set. Tucker Carlson interviewed Mike Huckabee on his show. Composite: Reuters/Getty Images (Composite: Reuters/Getty Images) Parts of the Maga right may be souring on Israel but a hardline form of Christian Zionism seems to remain unofficial Trump administration policy, if a heated debate between Tucker Carlson and Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, is any indication. Related: US envoy Mike Huckabee says it would be fine if Israel took all Middle East land On Friday, Carlson released a confrontational video interview with Huckabee, conducted at Ben Gurion airport in Israel, that vividly illustrated a gaping divide between two factions of the Republican party. On one side is a Christian nationalist stream of the Maga movement, which views the United Statess close relationship with Israel with increasing suspicion. On the other is an older Christian conservative establishment that views that alliance as a totem of US foreign policy and in some cases believes that Israeli Jews possess a divine right to a large swathe of the Middle East, US public opinion be damned. Call it the Brawl at Ben Gurion. During their more than two-hour dialogue, Carlson, the rightwing commentator, repeatedly insinuated that Huckabee was more invested in defending the interests of Israel than those of the country he represents as a US official. For his part, Huckabee a prominent Christian Zionist who believes that Israel has a biblical right to the territory that its government and settlers claim sharply disputed Carlsons suggestions that Israel does not deserve the military and monetary aid it receives from the US. The testy interview highlights just how unresponsive the Trump administration is to rising American discontent with Israel, as measured by polling of Americans across a variety of demographics including a modest drop in pro-Israel sentiment among Republicans. In one extraordinary moment during the interview, Carlson asked Huckabee if Israel was entitled, according to a literal interpretation of biblical scripture, to claim much of the modern Middle East. Huckabee responded: It would be fine if they took it all. (He backtracked a moment later, arguing that Carlsons question was irrelevant because Israel had no such intentions.) The interview occurs against the backdrop of the Israel-Gaza war, which continues to claim Palestinian lives despite a fragile truce, and as Israel has recently moved to tighten control over Palestinian areas of the West Bank, in what an Israeli minister has described as a measure to kill the idea of a Palestinian state. The interview also comes as Trump threatens US strikes on Iran a prospect that Carlson ardently opposes, but which Huckabee has hinted he believes may be necessary. Carlson noted that only around 20% of Americans, according to polling, support a war with Iran. We dont live in a world where you have a poll taken to find out if our policy should be a particular direction, Huckabee said, arguing that there are threats to the US whose magnitude the American people might not understand. (He did not articulate any direct threat Iran poses to the US.) Carlson also hammered Huckabee about his decision to meet, late last year, with Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted of spying on the US for Israel; about why an Israeli official was able to return to Israel after police arrested him in Nevada last August for allegedly soliciting a minor for sex; about why the US might send money to a country that provides state-funded abortions to its citizens; and about links between Jeffrey Epstein and Ehud Barak, a former prime minister of Israel. (The official accused of a sex crime in Nevada pleaded not guilty. Barak has not been implicated in wrongdoing, and has said he regrets ever knowing Epstein.) Israel looks a lot nicer than our country. It has nicer roads than the United States, Carlson said. Its like, OK, why are we sending all this money to a country that has a higher standard of living than ours? Carlson and Huckabee remained mostly civil, but argued fiercely often interrupting each other to question the premises of each others assertions. In fact, controversy and mutual antagonism dogged the interview since before it even aired: earlier this week, Carlson alleged that shortly after he interviewed Huckabee he and his staff were subjected to a bizarre temporary detainment at Ben Gurion airport by security agents. In response, Huckabee on social media ridiculed Carlsons characterization, describing his treatment as a normal security process at the famously strict border. Carlson never left the vicinity of the airport. A one-time supporter of the Iraq war, Carlson has over time come to embody the populist-nationalist wing of the Maga movement. Since leaving Fox News in 2023, he has criticized Israel and its American supporters with a particular vehemence. Some critics have accused him of mainstreaming conspiracy theories and antisemitic tropes. Although Republican voters as a whole remain pro-Israel, younger conservatives are increasingly skeptical of the USs support for the country and sympathetic to Carlsons point of view. I think that we are reaching the end of a period, [which] reached its peak under George W Bush, when it could be taken for granted that national spokesmen for the Republican Party, or conservatism, would be favorable to Israel, said Samuel Goldman, an associate professor of humanities at the University of Florida and the author of Gods Country: Christian Zionism in America. There is a clear generational element to the Carlson-Huckabee debate, Goldman noted. Huckabee, 70, is part of a generation of American Christians who tended to view Israel as a pillar of a shared Judeo-Christian civilization. In addition, many evangelical Protestants believed that there was a biblical imperative that American Christians support the Jewish state. In contrast, Carlson, 56, has tracked with the rise of a stream of the Maga movement that is isolationist and Christian nationalist. I think he both reflects and appeals to doubts among younger Christians and conservatives about whether the enthusiasm for Israel that was displayed by their parents and, at this point, sometimes grandparents makes political or theological sense, Goldman said. In recent decades, the Israeli right cultivated close ties with the Republican party and conservative Christian groups in the US. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu believed that Christian Zionists would prove a more useful longterm ally to Israel than liberal-leaning Jewish Americans, and that allying with the right was worth the risk of alienating other segments of American support. But I dont think that a lot of Jewish groups, especially Jewish allies of the right, have understood that Protestant Christianity is highly fluid, said Eliyahu Stern, a professor of religious studies at Yale and the author of a forthcoming book entitled Nowhere Left to Go: Jews and the Global Right 1977-10/7. Protestantism is a protean movement, he said, that is constantly changing with larger political and social forces. As long as Trump is in power, however, Maga critics of Israel will probably remain on the margins of deciding actual US policy in Israel and the Middle East. Yet once Trump leaves office, the rights internal divide about Israel might pose serious problems to the coherence of the conservative movement. What happens then is anyones guess. Were at the beginning of something, not at the end, Stern said. We do not know where, at this point, this goes. A federal prosecutor, recently selected by judges for a key Virginia office that pursued cases against figures critical of President Donald Trump, was abruptly dismissed by the Justice Department on Friday. This swift firing marks the latest escalation in an ongoing dispute over the appointments of powerful U.S. attorneys. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the dismissal of James Hundley on social media, shortly after judges unanimously chose him to replace Lindsey Halligan, a lawyer who previously worked for Trump, as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. While legal statutes permit district courts to select U.S. attorneys when an initial appointment expires, the Trump administration has consistently maintained that this power rests solely with the executive branch. Blanche stated on X: "EDVA judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, youre fired!" Hundley, who boasts over 30 years of experience in criminal and civil cases, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Friday evening. His firing reflects the continued turmoil within one of the Justice Departments most elite prosecution offices. Since September, the office has faced upheaval following the resignation of a veteran prosecutor amid pressure from the Trump administration to pursue cases against two prominent political adversaries of the president: former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Halligan resigned from the position last month after judges in the district continued to express skepticism regarding the legitimacy of her appointment (AFP via Getty Images) That prosecutor, Erik Siebert, was effectively forced out and quickly replaced by Halligan, a White House aide. She secured indictments against Comey and James, though a judge later ruled her appointment unlawful. While those cases were dismissed, the Justice Department has appealed the decision. Halligan resigned from the position last month after judges in the district continued to express skepticism regarding the legitimacy of her appointment. U.S. attorneys, who serve as the top federal prosecutors in regional Justice Department offices nationwide, typically require Senate confirmation. However, the law does allow attorneys general to make temporary appointments for limited periods. In several instances, the Justice Department has attempted to keep its temporary appointees in place, leading to court challenges and resistance from judges who have deemed such appointments unlawful. Just last week, a lawyer appointed by judges to be the US attorney for northern New York was also fired by the Justice Department after serving less than a day. Judges in that district had appointed Kinsella after refusing to retain the Trump administrations choice, John Sarcone, once his 120-day term concluded. Gemma Bissix is set to reprise her role as Clare Bates in EastEnders this spring, returning for a brief but emotional reunion with Nigel Bates as part of the BBC soap's ongoing dementia storyline. The 42-year-old actress last appeared in Albert Square in 2008, following a nearly decade-long absence. Her character departed Walford later that same year. This upcoming return, almost two decades on, is prompted by news of her estranged stepfathers deteriorating dementia. It was a real pleasure to be asked to reprise the role of Clare for Nigels storyline. I was hoping to get the call as I think the fans wanted EastEnders to revisit their relationship, Bissix said. Nigel and Clare were a formidable pairing in the 90s with a very unique stepfather/stepdaughter relationship. It has been so great to reconnect with Paul (Bradley) and Karen (Henthorn) after all these years, and its crazy how time felt like it had stopped when we did. I grew up on the set of EastEnders and essentially learned my craft there, so its been a real full-circle moment. Whilst it will be an emotional reunion, I hope the viewers will be pleased to see Clare and Nigel on screen together once again. Clare Bates will return to EastEnders this spring (BBC/PA Wire) In recent episodes of the soap, viewers saw Nigels carers his wife Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn) and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) decide to place him in a residential home after he was found underwater and unconscious in a bath. As she returns to the soap, Clare is said to be essential in helping Nigels loved ones to decide what is best for him in the next stage of his dementia care. EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey said: We always knew we wanted to bring Clare Bates back to Walford as we continue Nigels storyline, and Im delighted that Gemma said yes. The stepfather and daughter duo share a complicated history and have been estranged for many years, but it was essential for us to revisit this relationship as Nigels dementia progresses and the family start to consider his additional care needs. Bissix made her first appearance in Albert Square as Clare in 1993, as the daughter of Debbie Bates (Nicola Duffett). Nigel and Debbie tied the knot in 1994 but she was killed off in a hit-and-run a year later, and Nigel was given full custody of Clare. In 1998, Nigel met his current wife Julie and later that year they left Walford with Clare to move to Scotland together. Bradleys character returned to the long-running soap after 26 years on December 24 2024, and he has since been struggling with young onset dementia. EastEnders has worked with Dementia UK for the ongoing storyline, which has also seen returns from popular characters such as Debbie Bates, Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement) and Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson) in the form of hallucinations, as Nigel experiences worsening dementia symptoms. EastEnders is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. A Budapest pizzeria is inviting diners on a culinary journey back two millennia, to a time before tomatoes, mozzarella, or even the word pizza were known in Europe. At Neverland Pizzeria in the heart of the Hungarian capital, founder Josep Zara and his team have crafted a limited-edition pie using only ingredients that would have been available in ancient Rome, long before the modern pizza came into existence. Curiosity drove us to ask what pizza might have been like long ago, Mr Zara said. We went all the way back to the Roman Empire and wondered whether they even ate pizza at the time. Strictly speaking, they did not. Tomatoes arrived in Europe centuries later from the Americas, and mozzarella was as yet unknown. Some histories suggest that the discovery of mozzarella led directly to the invention of pizza in Naples in the 1700s. However, Romans did consume oven-baked flatbreads topped with herbs, cheeses, and sauces, which are considered the direct ancestors of modern pizza. These were often sold in ancient Roman snack bars known as thermopolia. A customer cuts a Roman-era pizza at Neverland Pizzeria (AP) In 2023, archaeologists uncovered a fresco in Pompeii depicting a focaccia-like flatbread topped with what appear to be pomegranate seeds, dates, spices and a pesto-like spread. The image made headlines around the world, and sparked Mr Zaras imagination. That made me very curious about what kind of flavor this food might have had, he said. Thats where we got the idea to create a pizza that people might have eaten in the Roman Empire, using only ingredients that were in wide use at the time. Mr Zara began researching Roman culinary history, consulting a historian in Germany as well as the ancient cookbook De re coquinaria, thought to have been authored around the 5th century. Following his research, he compiled a list of historically documented ingredients to present to the pizzeria's head chef. A chef at Neverland Pizzeria tosses the dough (AP) We sat down to imagine what we might be able to make using these ingredients, and without using things like tomatoes and mozzarella," Mr Zara said. We had to exclude all ingredients that originated from America. Head chef Laszlo Bardossy said the constraints forced the team into months of experimentation, and a few false starts. We had to discard a couple ideas, Mr Bardossy said. The fact that there wasnt infrastructure like a water system at the time of the Romans made things difficult for us, since more than 80 per cent of pizza dough is water. We had to come up with something that would have worked before running water. The solution: helping the dough rise using fermented spinach juice. Ancient grains such as einkorn and spelt, widely cultivated in Roman times, formed the base, and the dough ended up slightly more dense than that of most modern pizzas. Laszlo Bardossy serves up (AP) The finished pie is topped with ingredients associated with Roman aristocratic cuisine, including epityrum, an olive paste, garum, a fermented fish sauce ubiquitous in Roman cooking, confit duck leg, toasted pine nuts, ricotta and a grape reduction. Our creation can be called a modern pizza from the perspective that we tried to make it comprehensible for everyone, Mr Bardossy said. Although we wouldnt use all its ingredients for everyday dishes. There is a narrow niche that thinks this is delicious and is curious about it, while most people want more conventional pizza, so its not for everyday eating. Its something special. For Mr Zara, the project reflects Neverland Pizzerias broader philosophy. Weve always liked coming up with new and interesting things, but tradition is also very important for us, and we thought that these two things together suit us, he said. However, he added, there is a modern boundary the restaurant will not cross. We do a lot of experimentation with our pizzas. But of course, we definitely do not use pineapple, he said. Westbury Road, Walthamstow (Google ) Four men have been arrested after a man in his 60s was stabbed to death in Walthamstow, police say. Officers were called to an address on Westbury Road, Walthamstow, just before 9pm on Friday following reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, police found a man with stab wounds to his chest. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers are in the process of informing his next-of-kin. Four men, two aged in their 20s and two in their 50s, were arrested later that evening on suspicion of murder. They remain in police custody. The investigation is being led by homicide detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command. Enquiries are ongoing. Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, leading the investigation, said: We are working around the clock to understand exactly what led to this mans murder. While four men have now been arrested, this remains an early-stage investigation and we still need information from the public. If you saw or heard anything, or have any details that could assist us, please come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting CAD 7109/20FEB. To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Matthieu Jalibert had impressed for France in the first two rounds (Andrew Matthews/PA Wire) France have been dealt a major late blow with fly half Matthieu Jalibert ruled out of their clash with Italy. The French rugby federation (FFR) announced on match eve that Jalibert would miss the encounter in Lille having been named to start the Six Nations clash at No 10 on Friday. His absence forces a reshuffle from Fabien Galthie as Toulon wing Gael Drean comes into the starting side, with Theo Attissogbe relocated to full-back and Thomas Ramos now starting at fly half. Jalibert had starred in Frances round one and two wins over Ireland and Wales, translating excellent form for Bordeaux Begles as he found his footing at international level in the absence of Romain Ntamack. Ramos has featured regularly at fly half for club and country in the past, starting at the position in last years win over Italy in Rome. The inclusion of Drean, meanwhile, is earned after several strong season in the Top 14. The 25-year-old has scored 12 tries in 15 appearances for Toulon this season. France are hoping to further their grand slam bid but drew 13-all with Italy in Lille two years ago, with only a late Paolo Garbisi missed penalty denying the visitors victory. Lawyers for imprisoned British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell are fighting the requested release of 90,000 pages related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell, saying a law used to force the public release of millions of documents is unconstitutional. The lawyers filed papers late Friday in Manhattan federal court to try to block the release of documents from a since-settled civil defamation lawsuit brought a decade ago by the late Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell. The Justice Department recently asked a judge to lift secrecy requirements on the files. Maxwell's attorneys said the Justice Department obtained the documents otherwise subject to secrecy orders improperly during its criminal probe of Maxwell. They said the documents include transcripts of over 30 depositions and private information regarding financial and sexual matters related to Maxwell and others. Some records from the year-long exchange of evidence in the lawsuit battle were already released publicly in response to a federal appeals court order. Maxwells lawyers say a law Congress passed in December to force the release of millions of Epstein-related documents violates the Constitutions separation of powers doctrine. Congress cannot, by statute, strip this Court of the power or relieve it of the responsibility to protect its files from misuse. To do so violates the separation of powers, wrote the lawyers, Laura Menninger and Jeffrey Pagliuca about the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Giuffre said Epstein had trafficked her to other men, including the former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (US Department of Justice) Under the Constitutions separation of powers, neither Congress nor the Executive Branch may intrude on the judicial power. That power includes the power to definitively and finally resolve cases and disputes, the lawyers added. The release of Epstein-related documents from criminal probes that began weeks ago has resulted in new revelations about Epstein's decades-long sexual abuse of women and teenage girls. Some victims have complained that their names and personal information were revealed in documents while the names of their abusers were blacked out. Members of Congress have complained that only about half of existing documents, many with redactions, have been made public even as Justice Department officials have said everything has been released, except for some files that can't be made public until a judge gives the go-ahead. Giuffre said Epstein had trafficked her to other men, including the former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. She sued Mountbatten-Windsor in 2021, claiming that they had sex when she was 17. He denied her claims and the two settled the lawsuit in 2022. Days ago, he was arrested and held in custody for nearly 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in having shared confidential trade information with Epstein. In a memoir published after she killed herself last year, Giuffre wrote that prosecutors told her they didnt include her in the sex trafficking prosecution of Maxwell because they didnt want her allegations to distract the jury. Maxwell, 64, was convicted in December 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Epstein took his own life in a federal lockup in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was moved from a federal prison in Florida to a low-security prison camp in Texas last summer after she participated in two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Two weeks ago, she declined to answer questions from House Oversight Committee lawmakers in a deposition conducted in a a video call to her federal prison camp, though she indicated through a statement from her lawyer that she was prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station captured by Russia is a staging post for hunting trips against civilians. Acting as a base for artillery within mortar range and a nearby drone pilot school, it looms so close to the city of Nikopol that one could almost pat the plants unstable nuclear domes. Nikopol, still held by Ukraine, has seen its population halve to 50,000 since the war began. About 6,500 of those still living here are children. Lying right on the front line, the city has been attacked every day for the last four years. Roads in are a gamble and gauntlet, a race along icy roads, in hope of avoiding an attack or a freezing crash. First Person View drones (FPVs) are flown by Russian pilots who can see the streets of Nikopol with the naked eye from the nuclear plant across the river. But they go one step further to see the look on their victims faces when they dive their quadcopter killers onto whomever they choose to die. Despite this, half of this citys inhabitants have decided to stay. Hunted as prey, and shelled at random, countless people have been killed by Russia here since 2022, when Vladimir Putins forces captured the power station just over the river. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are opting to live in this place they call home, flitting about the streets like the prey they are and sending their children to underground schools. Children gather underground in the city of Nikopol (Sam Kiley/The Independent) On arrival at School Number 6, the vast main atrium is silent but for a few footsteps. Outside, a not-too-distant crack and thump of a drone that has got through the bad weather and hit the city rattles at the hall windows. A teacher shrugs and leads the way into the cellar to start the day. Its walls are decorated with posters about how to spot unexploded bombs. One shows a red drone with its four engines and gives instructions on how to hide from these new weapons. Good morning! chime a classroom full of seven- and eight-year-old Ukrainian children in grade two, the UKs year 3. Spinning backwards in their chairs to see the visitor in a windowless classroom, they smile and wriggle. Laptops sit on the desks in front of them as their teacher, Iryna Sichkarenko, asks them to recite in English my name is. This is a warm and safe place where they can learn and hang out with friends. Above ground, in the sunlight, that has been impossible for more than half the lives of this class of 20 kids. Putin has increased the pounding of civilian targets over the last year. His troops have singled out the port city of Odesa in the far south, Kramatorsk in the north and the energy systems across the country, for especially violent attention. The Russian president intends to drive Ukraine out of the eastern territories he has already illegally annexed and to cripple the country in the long term. So-called peace talks run by the US, which has adopted a largely pro-Russian position and demanded concessions from Ukraine in return for mineral rights and a ceasefire, have delivered nothing. In places like Nikopol, though, the steady state of attacks has changed only with the advent of the deadly accurate drones. On the battlefield, statistics have been upended drones kill about 80 per cent of the people they hit and wound the rest. Guns and old-fashioned artillery have statistics the other way around. For these children, underground school is a lifeline to normality in a very abnormal world. Here we can discuss our dreams, weekends, plans, interests. Its live communication and we value every minute we can meet, draw something, do some crafts or organise some kind of party, the teacher says. They get two morning sessions like this a week. The rest of these childrens lives is spent at home and studying remotely as if the Covid pandemic never ended. Bohdan is seven. He reads out loud with confidence and dramatic inflection. Its a story about Grandpa Frost because in the lives of these youngsters, there is little space for whimsy. Bohdan, aged seven, is one of the children who comes to the underground school to learn to read and write (Sam Kiley/The Independent) A small old man with a grey beard was sitting on a bench and drawing something in the sand with an umbrella. Move over, Pavlyk said to him and sat on the edge, Bohdans fingers trace the words as he talks. Lilia, also seven, also reads from the book: There is such a magic word Pavlyk opened his mouth wide. I will tell you this word, but remember: you must say it in a quiet voice, looking straight. Pavlyk is an angry character. Anger is an instantly recognisable theme for these kids and something that takes hold of some of them and wont let go. Bohdans mother, Inna Liaskovska, says her son loves school but suffers from anxiety. Sometimes he gets nervous. He can react very childishly and he cant hold his emotions, she explains. He needs to release them. He releases them through hysterics, shouting for no reason. You tell him no, dont do it, and for him its like an emotional explosion. He doesnt want to listen to anyone, doesnt want to do anything he just closes off, he has such hysterics. That is not surprising because, she says, she feels like they are being hunted every time they leave their flat. Inna Liaskovska says Bohdan loves school but suffers from anxiety (Sam Kiley/The Independent) Last summer as soon as we went out, and its a miracle that we were still near the house, we had to run back to hide in the entrance, because we saw a drone flying past the house So, I believe that yes, this is a targeted safari on people. There was another case: we were coming from school and, again, an FPV drone was flying. We hid behind the trees so that it would fly past, and we could get home safely. When we came home, my boy asks, Mom, is everything okay? I say, Everything is okay. Like, dont you worry. But none of us is safe. Inna says she and Bohdan did leave Nikopol when the Russians first captured the power station opposite in 2022. They moved to safety in Poland for three months, but came back. Home is home. It was difficult there. Not as much physically as it was spiritually difficult. With a child, alone, without my husband. So we returned home to Ukraine. The underground school, built and maintained in large part with funds from Street Child International, offers counselling, social support, supplementary education and meals to children. Anatasia Ukhan, Street Childs local manager, is a teacher and has a 13-year-old too. She says: These children dont know how to communicate with each other; they are closed. The underground school offers counselling, social support, supplementary education and meals (Sam Kiley/The Independent) Especially teenagers With them, its the hardest. Small kids, they are still sincere and open, and they hope for the best. But the teenagers, grades 6 to 9, are much more difficult. They are closed. They dont talk to anyone. So, unfortunately, desocialisation is happening. It will be a huge problem in the future, she warns. Another underground classroom holds about eight young teenagers. They sit, as people their age often do, awkward, muted. Fifty-three of the 58 schools in the city have been hit by Russian bombs and a couple more explosions can be heard hitting somewhere downtown as we visit. Sophia Prokopenko, 15, says they are all experts at how to react depending on whether it is a drone or artillery. They endure incidents every day, she says. You go out into the street, and you can see or hear a drone. You go to training a drone. If not a drone, then artillery. To training, to the store, to the pharmacy, just going out to throw out the trash they are everywhere, she adds. She insists that the school is their salvation. Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant just across the river from Nikopol has been under Russian control since the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (AFP/Getty) We just cant gather in another place. If we go to a cafe a drone, FPV, or artillery and thats it; theres no cafe and no people. School is the only place where we can hide from this cruel world. So why does she not also leave with her family? Of course, its very scary, very difficult to constantly be in such a state, she explains. Many have left abroad, to other cities, to relatives, to Western Ukraine but still, the best place remains at home, no matter how hard it is here. Its not clear that Putin quite understands that. Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi has revealed she has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. The Jersey Shore star, 38, shared the news with her 4.1 million TikTok followers after receiving the results of a recent cone biopsy. She had previously told fans in January that she needed a colposcopy and biopsy. It came back stage 1 cervical cancer called adenocarcinoma, she said in a video, sighing. Snooki shared her diagnosis in a TikTok video (Snooki/TikTok) Obviously not the news Ive been hoping for, but also not the worst news just because they caught it so early. Thank freaking God! The TV personality, who is a mum of three, then urged other women to get their smear tests done. Im 38 years old and Ive been struggling with abnormal pap smears for three or four years now, and now look at me, she said. Instead of putting it off because I didnt want to go, because I was hurt and scared, I just went and did it. And it was there, cancer is in there. But its stage 1 and its curable. She added: So get your appointments done! Im telling you! Once you go to stage 2, then you have to do chemo... nobody wants to do that! Its scary. So get your appointments done. Snooki at the MTV Awards in 2019 (Getty Images for MTV) (Getty Images for MTV) Snooki then said she will be transferred to an oncologist and then have a PET scan to see if the cancer has spread. She said her doctor said she could have chemotherapy and radiation, or get a hysterectomy. Obviously, I think the smart choice here is the hysterectomy, she added. Ill still keep my ovaries, which is a good sign. But yeah, gotta get the cervix and uterus out. It all depends on the PET scan. So 2026 is not panning out how I wanted it to, she continued. But also, it could be worse. Snooki says she hopes her honesty will help other women (TikTok) (Snooki/TikTok) The MTV star said she felt compelled to talk about her diagnosis to help other women. A lot of women go through it silently without anyone to talk to and theyre scared by themselves, she said. And that was me until I decided to upload the video about what was happening with me, she added. I like that we have a platform here to talk about it with each other. I appreciate all of the love. Everythings going to be fine. Im going to tackle this and get it done. I gotta keep attacking this and everythings gonna be great. February 21, 2026: After four years of war in Ukraine and over 1.2 million soldiers killed, disabled or missing in combat, Russia is having problems recruiting soldiers. Russia was able to recruit 400,000 last year and expects to do the same this year. In the last two years, new recruits were often foreigners, including South Americans, Cubans, Africans and many countries in Asia. Recruiting standards have been lowered in Russia, where prisons have been emptied and alcoholics, drug addicts and the mentally ill have been induced, tricked or forced to sign a contract to join the military. Recruiters have been particularly successful in rural Russia where good jobs are scarce and alcoholism is rampant. Recruiters will sometimes visit a venue that serves alcohol and buy drinks for likely new recruits. Once these inebriated men have signed, the recruiter will often have to enlist local police to go where the new soldiers lived and tell the now sober men that they are in the army and take them away. Soldiers recruited in this way are not expected to last long in Ukraine, so their physical or mental condition is not important. Recruiters have other problems to deal with. Twenty years ago, Russian leaders were informed that the rapidly aging Russian population was not only shrinking but was not fit for any major economic or military efforts. Some 60 percent of Russians were elderly, children, or disabled. Out of 20 million males of working age, one million were in prison, a million in the armed forces, five million were unemployed or unemployable due to poor education, health or attitude, four million were chronic alcoholics, and a million were drug addicts. Thus, there is something of a labor shortage, with plenty of jobs for women and immigrants. The birth rate is below replacement level, and a declining population means more immigrants just to keep things going. Improving medical care, and health habits, especially treating alcoholism and drug use, was a government priority, in order to raise the lifespan of Russian males. All of this made the idea of a smaller, all volunteer, military more attractive. Too many of the current troops were drunks, addicted to drugs or just unreliable. Volunteers must be paid much more, but their discipline is much higher. Russian officers are very impressed with what the British, Japanese and Americans have done with all-volunteer armed forces and want to emulate them. That never happened. Fans of K-Pop have come to the defence of the organisers behind a major tribute concert in Belfast, following complaints from ticket-holders. The KPop Forever! Tribute gig took place on Thursday night (20 February) at the citys SSE Arena. Further shows are scheduled for next Monday (23 February) and later in May. Some people who attended the concert reported feeling underwhelmed and disappointed, with one parent telling BBC News Northern Ireland that it was just horrendous. Another atendee, Ruairi George OConnor, said the performance, which he attended with his fiancee and their five-year-old daughter was not appropriate for kids, at all. Their daughter was left bored out of her head by the event, and asked countless times to go home, he said. OConnor added: It was just devastating, it just wasnt what I was expecting for the amount of money I was spending. Aiken Promotions and the SSE Arena defended the event, claiming that the majority of customers enjoyed the show, but admitted: We understand that this was not what some expected. Their statement said they were content that the show delivered an arena-standard tribute to the entire K-Pop genre with Aiken Promotions later adding that they took all customers feedback seriously. Among the songs performed were hits by K-Pop superstars Blackpink (Getty) As of Saturday (21 February), SSE Arenas statement on Facebook has received nearly 2,000 comments from concert-goers and others debating the shows quality. Many fans of the genre pointed out that most of the complaints seemed to be over the lack of songs from KPop Demon Hunters, the 2025 smash hit film by Netflix, which has contributed to the rising popularity of K-Pop music. They noted that such complaints are unreasonable given that the show was never advertised as a KPop Demon Hunters-themed concert. So in other words parents didnt actually bother to research what they were buying tickets for? wrote one person. Another attendee, Michaela Hutchinson, told BBC News NI: I knew what I signed up for. Whenever we bought the tickets, it was never advertised as a KPop Demon Hunters concert... it was KPop genre music. She added that she had a great time with her six-year-old daughter at the concert, during which eight songs from the hit film were performed including Golden, Takedown and Soda Pop. As for complaints that the show was unsuitable for children, Hutchinson said its no different to a Katy Perry concert or a Beyonce concert. Not at one point throughout the whole show did I think, This is inappropriate, she said. Commenting on a viral video of Thursdays event showing a seated crowd apparently bored, one person defended the act, writing: I feel so bad for the performers that worked so hard on this just to get complaints. The poster never said it was a KPop Demon Hunters tribute btw. Read the poster, said one person. KPop is a genre NOT a movie, reiterated another. Thats like going to a rock concert and being confused why Dwayne Johnson didnt show up, said someone else. Posted by username @tara_conaboy, the video was captioned: May as well of burned the 250 spent on our 5 tickets. The most confusing, underwhelming, boring load of dribble Ive ever witnessed in my 42 years. SSE Arenas website describes the concert as featuring all-live performances of smash-hits including Blackpink, BTS, Twice, Soda Pop, Golden and many more, this is the ultimate non-stop party for all ages. The website advertises four epic live vocalists, accompanied by four world class dancers amidst a background of eye-popping lighting and effects. The power station in Boulder City which was attacked on Thursday - KTNV Police in Las Vegas are investigating the ramming of a power station as a possible act of terrorism. Dawson Maloney, 23, on Thursday drove his car into a substation in Boulder City, Nevada, and was found dead at the scene, police said. Maloney, who had been reported missing in Albany, New York, was found at the facility with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was wearing body armour and his vehicle was packed with weapons, including shotguns and a flamethrower. Kevin McMahill, sheriff of Las Vegas Police department, said on Friday his team had uncovered, as part of their investigation, a number of books belonging to Maloney related to extremist ideologies, including Right and Left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy and anti-government ideology. Police also found explosive materials and components. Maloney drove his vehicle through a secure gate, damaging the fence - KTNV Before going missing in New York, Maloney had told his family he felt obligated to commit an act that would put him on the news, Mr McMahill said. Maloney had also made reference to harming himself and referred to himself in messages to his mother as her dead terrorist son. He rented a car on 12 February and left Albany two days later, driving more than 2,500 miles (4,020 km) across the country to Boulder City, according to the FBI. He spent a few days in Boulder City before choosing to attack the power station, police said. At about 10am (6pm GMT) on Thursday, Boulder City police received a 911 call reporting that a vehicle had smashed through a secure gate at the substation. The caller told police there were gunshots following the crash and that the driver appeared to be dead. Police found a silver Nissan Sentra with New York licence plates up against reels of industrial wire inside the compound. In a surveillance video shown to reporters, the car could be seen crashing through the gate. Here is video of the 23-year-old suspect ramming through a "secured gate" on Thursday around 10 am and continuing on the property. Police say it was stopped by large industrial wire reels. The suspect died by suicide. pic.twitter.com/cGglPWxrKn Cristen Drummond (@CristenDrummond) February 20, 2026 While searching the rental car, officers found two shotguns, an AR-style pistol, flamethrowers, a crowbar, a hatchet, numerous bullets and a mobile phone. The FBI carried out two searches in Albany, where officers recovered electronics, gun components and a 3D printer. A spokesperson for Albany Law School, where Maloney was a student, told CNN: We are heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of one of our law students, Dawson Maloney, in an off-campus incident. Officers said there was no evidence of major damage to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power facility and there were no service disruptions following the incident. Boulder City is home to the Hoover Dam, which provides water and hydroelectric power to millions of people in Nevada, Arizona and California. US authorities have increasingly warned about terror attacks carried out in vehicles. There was a similar incident in 2023, when a driver rammed a vehicle into a solar power facility northeast of Las Vegas. The suspect was later declared unfit to stand trial. Fourteen people were killed on New Years Day in 2025 when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, rammed his rented truck into a crowd of partygoers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. On the same day in Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck driven by Matthew Livelsberger, 37, and stuffed with fireworks and fuel canisters exploded outside a Trump hotel. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Photograph: Toby Melville/PA (Photograph: Toby Melville/PA) An influential committee of MPs could launch an inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors role as a UK trade envoy despite his arrest, it is understood, as it emerged that the disgraced former royal pestered ministers about getting a bigger government role. After his arrest on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the cross-party business and trade committee said it would meet next Tuesday to discuss a possible investigation into the role he held from 2001 to 2011. The decade-long spell as what was formally titled the UKs special representative for international trade and investment ended after a series of controversies, including his links to figures from repressive regimes and a personal style seen as brusque, as well as his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. According to one senior figure who dealt with Mountbatten-Windsor during his role with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), responsibility for which crossed between the Foreign Office and the business department, he personally asked ministers for a more significant job on multiple occasions. What I saw was a rather unpleasant, arrogant, entitled person who was on the hustle Senior figure He approached ministers personally, saying Can you find a bigger role for me?, they said. Trade envoys are not considered a very important part of the state, they are mainly tokenistic. Andrew seemed to feel he had no real role in life, but had something to offer in terms of contacts around the world, particularly royalty. Others who observed his trade envoy work from within government at the time said that, while his royal status could at times be useful, he was widely regarded as a liability, both because of his personality and the way he did the job. The classic thing would be for him to turn up and being a royal would get access in some countries do a lunch meeting but then disappear for six hours and come back with two new Rolexes, another senior figure said. What I saw was a rather unpleasant, arrogant, entitled person who was on the hustle and couldnt tell the difference between the public interest and his private interests. It created quite a sense of general distaste. It was always never completely clear who would pay for his trips the Foreign Office, business department or the palace. And it wasnt cheap. He went to Davos one year and insisted on the most expensive chalet. Another area of frustration was the then princes lack of liaison with government. Weeks before David Cameron led a high-level visit to Beijing in late 2010, Andrew appeared in China on his own mission. Before they went they found out Andrew had already been there and they hadnt been told, one government figure said. An area the business committee could look into is whether more could have been done while Andrew was still in the post to challenge this alleged behaviour, and particularly whether there were worries that his actions could cross over into illegality. Both the people who dealt with him in the role said this appeared unlikely, in part as few in government took his job particularly seriously. There was a general sense that Andrew was seen as a bit of a liability, a freeloader, who didnt do much that useful, but that UKTI put up with it because it was something which would please the royals, the first figure said. The second person, however, said that, particularly during the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, which comprised the bulk of the period, there was in retrospect too much deference shown. I dont think anyone could have predicted anything about allegations of misconduct in public office, not least as its not clear if this was even a public office, they said. But this was, absolutely, a government of some people who loved tugging their forelock, and who enjoyed the company of rich people. Among those who reportedly pushed for Andrew to receive the envoy job was Peter Mandelson, the former business secretary who is separately being investigated by police over allegations he leaked market-sensitive information to Epstein, the late child sex offender. Downing Street is currently going through a mass of documents relating to Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to Washington in late 2024, a role which ended after details emerged about his links to Epstein. A first tranche of the documents, ordered to be released by a Commons vote, could emerge next week, with parliament returning following recess. The shock of seeing a member of the royal family, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in the back of a car after he was released from police custody will reverberate in British history for generations to come. The photograph by Phil Noble of Reuters that featured on our front page this week will send a powerful and welcome message, one that has been reinforced in a statement by the King: The law must take its course. There will be those who question that course. Some will argue that the allegations of the sexual abuse of women and girls facilitated by Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier and convicted sex offender, are more serious than the vague charge of misconduct in public office in relation to the former Prince Andrews trade envoy role that prompted the police to act. Others will say, and indeed have said, that the use of the power of arrest was not necessary in this case, as Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would not have refused to attend an interview voluntarily. These, however, are second-order issues that can be addressed in due course. What is of paramount importance is the principle that no one in Britain is above the law. The last vestige of royal prerogative was swept away when Queen Elizabeth II started to pay income tax in 1993, and Britain accepted that the rule of law applies to everyone in the country, irrespective of their social or economic status. The same principle applies, thank goodness, in the United States the nation to which we are most prone to compare ourselves. This weeks ruling by the Supreme Court, overturning President Donald Trumps tariffs, was a vindication of that principle strengthened rather than diminished by Mr Trumps graceless tirade against the six justices in the majority, calling them a disgrace to the nation, fools and lapdogs for the radical left Democrats. Against the ravings of a bad loser, it is worth quoting the noble sentiments expressed by Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was nominated to the court by Mr Trump. His concurrence appeared almost personally addressed to the president: Yes, legislating can be hard and take time. And, yes, it can be tempting to bypass Congress when some pressing problem arises. But the deliberative nature of the legislative process was the whole point of its design. Through that process, the nation can tap the combined wisdom of the peoples elected representatives, not just that of one faction or one man. Justice Gorsuch concluded: If history is any guide, the tables will turn and the day will come when those disappointed by todays result will appreciate the legislative process for the bulwark of liberty it is. Mr Trump has, naturally, cocked a snook at the court by announcing a new 15 per cent tariff on all imports a measure that will probably be struck down and more quickly than this weeks ruling. The US also faces a more serious rule of law problem than Mr Trumps unconstitutional attempts to levy tariffs without the consent of Congress. Agents of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) appear to have been deployed by the president in something resembling a reign of terror, and the arc of justice is taking its time to bend towards ending it. Yet this weeks Supreme Court ruling offers hope that the rule of law will eventually prevail on both fronts. It should also remind us in Britain how priceless our reputation for fair dealing truly is. On Friday we reported that YTL, the Malaysian-based multinational company, will invest 4bn in Britain, including in the Aviva Arena, a new events venue in Bristol. We love the UK and are pleased to be its largest Malaysian investor, Francis Yeoh, its executive chair, said. He has previously praised Britain as a place where the rule of law is the order of the day. The rule of law is no abstract principle. It is the guarantee of the rights of every member of society and the foundation of our prosperity. Police and the FBI are investigating after a car filled with weapons was rammed into a power substation near the Hoover Dam Thursday, in what has been described as a "terrorism-related event. It is the latest in a string of incidents targeting electric infrastructure in recent years but there is no ongoing threat to the public, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference Friday. Police received a 911 call at 10 a.m. Thursday reporting a vehicle had crashed through a secured gate at the substation in Boulder City, located approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Las Vegas, McMahill said. A witness called in the incident after seeing the car crash then hearing gunshots, according to the sheriff. The driver of the vehicle was 23-year-old Dawson Maloney of Albany, New York, police said. Prior to the crash, Maloney had been reported missing. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, McMahill said. Police say Dawson Malone, 23, of Albany, New York, rented a car and drove across the country then crashed into the substation outside Las Vegas (LVMPD) Security video, shared by Vegas police, shows a vehicle speeding towards the facility, swerving past a gate, then driving through a chainlink fence. Maloneys vehicle, a rented Nissan Sentra, later crashed into large wooden bales of wire, police photos show. Fallen traffic cones were strewn across the substation in the wake of the incident. The man communicated with family members before the crash, referencing self-harm, and said he was going to commit an act that would gain media attention. He referred to himself as a terrorist in a message sent to his mother, police said. Authorities found explosive materials and multiple books related to extremist ideologies in Maloneys hotel room, McMahill said. The books included ones about right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacism and anti-government ideology, he said. Police photos also show multiple U.S. military weapons manuals recovered from his possessions. These findings significantly elevate the seriousness of this incident, McMahill said during the press conference. Police say they recovered a smorgasbord of radical literature from crime scenes tied to Maloney (LVMPD) The official described the materials as a "smorgasbord of radical literature and said law enforcement agencies are seeing a rise in individuals combining disparate extremist ideas. This is something that we have seen in the last couple of years that individuals will take very left-wing ideology, very right-wing ideology, combine it ... and then they come up with their own, their own ideology," he said. Hotel guest Logan Stubbs said he saw Maloney before the crash. "He had his hoodie up and just looked really sketchy, Stubbs told ABC7. There was just something off about him. Maloney is listed as a student at Albany Law School in the class of 2027. He was also an honors student at New Yorks Siena University. We are heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of one of our law students, Dawson Maloney, in an off-campus incident, Tom Torello, director of communications and marketing at Albany Law School, said in a statement. The driver of the car was a 23-year-old from New York Two shotguns, an assault rifle-style pistol, and flame throwers were found in his rental car, McMahill said. A police photo shows the weapons piled on top of each other near one of the car seats. About six shotgun shells can be seen nearby. Maloney was wearing what police described as soft-body armor at the time of the crash. Authorities recovered a 3D printer and several gun components needed to assemble a firearm from an Albany residence. Officials have searched two Albany residences overall as part of their investigation. Maloney had driven a rental car from Albany to Boulder City, according to Christopher Delzano, the FBI's Las Vegas special agent-in-charge. The New York man rented the car on February 12 and began driving across the country two days later. The crash at the substation, near the Hoover Dam, did not cause any power outages, officials said (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Boulder City is home to the Hoover Dam, providing water to millions of people across Nevada, Arizona and California. The power substation that was rammed is owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Boulder City Police Chief Timothy Shea said there was no evidence of major damage to critical infrastructure and no service disruptions as a result of the crash. In 2023, a man rammed a car through a fence at a solar power facility in the desert northeast of Las Vegas, setting the car on fire. The solar power facility served Las Vegas Strip casinos. He was declared unfit for trial. Electrical substations have also been targeted in Washington, Oregon and North Carolina. The risk is continued disruption of our economic system in our country not only that, but theres also lives at stake, Jon Wellinghoff, a former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, told The New York Times after the incident in North Carolina. Extremists have targeted such infrastructure for a variety of reasons, according to experts, including accelerationist views that seek to hasten the collapse of society. American-born Olympian Eileen Gu, 22, has responded to Vice President JD Vances comment that she should not be competing for China in this years Winter Olympics. During a Tuesday interview with Fox News, Vance suggested that because Gu was born and raised in San Francisco, California, she should compete for the United States and not her mothers home country of China. The freestyle skier then spoke with USA Today days later, where she responded to the vice presidents comments, saying, Im flattered. Thanks, JD! Thats sweet. She was also asked if she felt like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics at the moment, prompting Gu to agree. So many athletes compete for a different country, she added. People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So its not really about what they think its about. Olympian Eileen Gu has responded to Vice President JD Vances criticism of her playing for China and not the United States: Im flattered (Getty Images) The Olympian also admitted that Vance was not the only person to criticize her decision to not compete for Team USA, as she recalled being physically attacked on Stanford Universitys campus where she is a student in broad daylight. It was pretty serious, Gu said. Her comments came after Vance told Fox News 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 many athletes compete for a different country, Gu said (Getty Images) 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 skier has won two silver medals at the 2026 games, adding to her collection of two golds and one silver 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, as this is her second Olympics competing for China. 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 earlier this year. 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. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, said Friday it considered alerting Canadian police in 2025 about the online activities of the suspect in one of the worst school shootings in the countrys history. The San Francisco tech company said it identified the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar in June via abuse detection efforts for furtherance of violent activities. It considered whether to refer the teenagers account to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but ruled that it did not meet the threshold for referal to law enforcement. Instead, it banned the account for violating its usage policy. Van Rootselaar, 18, is suspected of killing eight people in a remote part of British Columbia last week, before killing herself. OpenAI said the threshold for referring a user to law enforcement is whether the case involves an imminent and credible risk of serious physical harm to others. The company said it did not identify credible or imminent planning. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police/AF) OpenAIs revelation was originally reported by The Wall Street Journal. OpenAI said that, after learning of the school shooting, employees reached out to the RCMP with information on the suspect and her use of ChatGPT. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy. We proactively reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT, and well continue to support their investigation, an OpenAI spokesperson said. The RCMP said Van Rootselaar first killed her mother and stepbrother at the family home before attacking the nearby school. Van Rootselaar had a history of mental health contacts with police. The motive for the shooting remains unclear. The town of 2,700 people in the Canadian Rockies is more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) northeast of Vancouver, near the provincial border with Alberta. Police said the victims included a 39-year-old teaching assistant and five students, ages 12 to 13. The attack was Canadas deadliest rampage since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people and set fires that left another nine dead. Para athlete Paul Nunnari has received the golden buzzer on Britains Got Talent for his aerial silk audition. The ITV talent show returned to screens on Saturday, when performers auditioned for the chance to appear at the Royal Variety Performance and win a cash prize. The Australian athlete blew away the judging panel, made up of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and YouTuber KSI, and scored the first golden buzzer of the series, sending him straight to the live shows. Nunnaris act involved him climbing up the silk in his wheelchair before swinging from it by his neck. KSI said: In the first half we were impressed and then you just upped it again. Thats one of the greatest things Ive ever seen in my life. Dixon added: You are really amazing, you are going to inspire millions and millions of people. No excuses right? Holden said she could not believe what she saw and praised the performer for being so brave. Before hitting the golden buzzer, Cowell said: One of the most incredible things, I really do believe, that Ive ever seen, and youre so humble and so nice and so talented. Nunnari said: If you dream something, you can make it happen, but this is the dream come true. Hosted by presenting duo Ant and Dec, the talent show also saw a drone act light up the sky by the group Celestial, who received a firm yes from the judges. Using 800 drones the act paid homage to Britain, creating formations that resembled the silhouette of James Bond, Queens Freddie Mercury, and a Kings guard while a snippet of a speech by the King played. Danger act Liwei Yang received four yeses from the judges after balancing and spinning flaming objects while upside down. Cowell said: That was actually quite incredible. Ive never ever, ever seen anything like that. Dixon added: It was visually stunning, but at the same time, really thrilling, really dangerous, really different. Magician Fraser Penman from Glasgow, who has albinism, wowed the judges with his heartfelt magical act, after correctly revealing the secret word Cowell had been asked to think of. He received four yeses from the the judges and said: I spent 10 years dyeing my hair, doing fake tan, because I was uncomfortable in the skin I was in, to change my mindset to stand in front of the world. So if I can do that, anything in your imagination can happen. KSI said: You have superpowers bro. Holden added: I would love an act like this to be on the Royal Variety Performance. So its a yes for me. Penman later told Ant and Dec: To come from somebody that was ashamed to be who he was, tell my story and demonstrate my abilities, was incredible. Other auditions that made it through included Dom and his dog Ninjas parkour act, and dance team LMA from Liverpool, who blew the judges away with their tutting dance performance. Holden said: We have so many dance groups that come on to the show that promise us difference, and they never are. And that was as different and exceptional as it gets. Ive never seen anything like it. Cowell told the group they nailed their audition before bringing out the choreographer Sadeck, who he praised for raising the bar on the show. Previous winners include magician Harry Moulding, who won series 18 and bagged the 250,000 cash prize and a spot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance. Britains Got Talent returns on ITV1 and ITVX next Saturday at 7pm Green Party leader Zack Polanskis reckless plans would shatter communities, the policing minister warned - Anadolu Playgrounds would turn into crack dens if the Green Party took power, Labour has claimed. Sarah Jones, the policing minister, warned that the Greens, led by Zack Polanski, would cause an epidemic of drug use in Britain through its plan to liberalise drug laws. Labours attack comes ahead of Thursdays by-election in Gorton and Denton, which is expected to be a three-way fight between the two parties and Reform UK. Mr Polanski has said he wants to legalise all drugs. Party members will vote on whether to adopt the policy at their spring conference next month. Green Party documents unearthed by Labour claim that the controlled use of recreational drugs could benefit human relationships and creativity. Sarah Jones, the policing minister, warned that the Greens plan to liberalise drug laws would cause a drug use epidemic - PA Ms Jones said: These reckless plans would shatter communities across the country and tear apart the very fabric of Britain. Polanski would unleash a drugs epidemic across Britain that would see our parks and playgrounds turned into crack dens. Lets be clear about what that would mean lives shattered, anti-social behaviour through the roof, and public drug use running rife. Its deeply irresponsible to even suggest this idea and its families and young people in our communities whod pay a very heavy price. Under Labour, Ms Jones said, drug seizures had reached a record high while billions of pounds had been invested in drug prevention and treatment. She added: This is a common sense approach to keep our communities safe and keep drugs off our streets. A Labour source said Mr Polanskis proposals would risk a tinder box being opened and cause havoc across British towns and cities. In response, Mr Polanski told The Telegraph: These are desperate lies from a desperate Labour Party that knows its about to lose the Gorton and Denton by-election. Greens have a specific manifesto commitment to preventing children accessing drugs. In contrast, right now, while the Government refuses to legally control and regulate drugs, we have drug use and drug deaths increasing every year for the last 13 years, with more young people being exploited through the drug trade. Drug dealers dont ask for IDs. If Labour cared about people as much as they did smearing political opponents, they would back Greens call for a national commission on drugs to see how we can reduce the harm drugs cause. At the 2024 general election, the Greens promised to set up a commission that would produce an evidence-based approach to changing the law around substance use. However, Mr Polanski, who became the partys leader in September, has declared he would go further and indicated his support for legalising every drug, including heroin and cocaine. Mr Polanski campaigning in Gorton and Denton with Hannah Spencer, the Green Party candidate - Loannis Alexopoulos/Anadolu On Friday, Labour research revealed the principles behind the Greens drug policy. The drug section of an internal Green document, titled Policies for a Sustainable Society, states: The Green Party recognises that adults should be free to make informed decisions about their own drug consumption and that such freedom must be balanced against the governments responsibility to protect individuals and society from harm. The document adds: The Green Party recognises that, in the majority of cases, the limited use of drugs for recreational purposes is not harmful and has the potential to enhance human relationships and human creativity. Support for the Greens has more than doubled since Mr Polanski became leader, according to polls. The party is polling at an average of just over 14 per cent, ahead of the Liberal Democrats and less than five points behind Labour and the Conservatives. The Greens claim the Gorton and Denton by-election on Thursday is a straight fight between the party and Reform, while Labour insists it is the only party capable of beating Reform. Dame Prue Leith has said she did not want to overstay her welcome on the Great British Bake Off. The 86-year-old TV cook announced in January that she was stepping down as a judge on the popular Channel 4 baking show after fronting it since 2017. She has since wished her replacement, cookbook author Nigella Lawson, the best of luck and told the food writer to enjoy it. Dame Prue Leith had been a judge on the show since 2017 (John Walton/PA) (John Walton) Speaking to the Telegraph about her decision to leave, Dame Prue said it came after dithering on the idea for two years. She said: Ive never wanted to overstay my welcome in anything. Just like you dont want to stay too long at a dinner party, I think its important to leave while youre happy and enjoying it and people arent fed up with you. The TV cook admitted that she has never watched an episode of the series because she hardly ever watches TV. She added: If I do itll be a travel programme, because my husband likes things involving people going to extraordinary places. Dame Prue Leith joined activists from Dignity in Dying in support of the assisted dying Bill in Parliament Square (Yui Mok/PA) (Yui Mok) The TV cook has been a vocal campaigner in support of the assisted dying Bill after watching her brother David suffer a slow and agonising death from bone cancer. She said: Had assisted dying been a legal option for him, he could have died peacefully, surrounded by love and support, with enough morphine to still the pain. Instead, his familys memories of his last days are of his trauma and suffering and their inability to help him. I would like that option myself of course I would if I had a terminal disease like my brother. But thats not the only reason Im campaigning for it, because there are about 7,000 or 8,000 people a year dying horrible deaths in NHS hospitals. If you talk to most people, nearly everybody has a memory of somebody having a horrible death, and we could change that. Dame Prue has enjoyed a long career in broadcasting (Steve Parsons/PA) (Steve Parsons) She went on to criticise more than 1,000 amendments made by the House of Lords to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, describing it as disgraceful and unprincipled. The topic is a source of contention within her family as her son, Reform UK MP Danny Kruger, who opposes the legislation. Despite their disagreements, Dame Prue believes it is important to be able to discuss these topics without getting upset with one another. She said: We debate, but without getting angry about it. I think one of the sad things about modern life is how little proper discussion there is. Dame Prue Leith appeared on the catwalk during London Fashion Week (Yui Mok/PA) (Yui Mok) Its either youre with me or youre against me, and if youre against me it turns into a punch-up. We need to encourage a healthy exchange of views. It comes after Dame Prue strutted the catwalk at London Fashion Week on Tuesday, modelling for eco-designers Vin+Omi during their show at The Artotel in Hoxton. Following her walk, the audience sang a rendition of Happy Birthday to mark the TV cooks 86th birthday. Dame Prue wore a pink ruffled shirt and orange suit, paired with an extravagant floral headpiece, as part of an ensemble created from holly, nettles, butterbur, wood clippings and recycled aluminium. AI-driven robots are quietly reshaping how space agencies think about Mars and Moon exploration, from smarter Mars rovers to underground scouts for lunar lava tubes. A New Era of AI Navigation in Space Traditional rover missions depend heavily on human planners, but long communication delays make real-time control impractical on distant worlds. AI navigation allows rovers and landers to plan routes, avoid hazards, and adapt to changing terrain without waiting for instructions from Earth. These capabilities are turning Mars rovers and other autonomous space systems into more independent explorers, able to cover more ground and collect more science in a single mission. What Makes a Rover "AI-Driven?" AI-driven rovers combine sensors, cameras, and onboard computers with algorithms that can interpret their surroundings and make decisions. Instead of following a rigid script, they use machine learning and rule-based systems to recognize obstacles, assess risk, and choose where to drive next. This approach reduces the operations workload on Earth and lets missions react quickly to unexpected features such as sand ripples, boulder fields, or promising rock outcrops. In effect, rovers become mobile, autonomous space systems rather than remote-controlled vehicles. How Mars Rovers Use Artificial Intelligence Recent testing on NASA's Perseverance rover shows how far AI navigation has progressed on Mars. A vision-enabled AI analyzed orbital imagery and terrain data, identified hazards, and generated continuous paths across challenging terrain. Perseverance then followed these AI-generated waypoints over multiple Martian days, driving hundreds of meters without human route planning. The system uses a generative AI model similar to advanced vision-language systems to process the same data human planners normally use, but at greater speed and scale. In parallel, other AI tools such as AEGIS and machine-learning navigation (MLNav) support autonomous targeting and safer driving across uneven ground. Beyond driving, onboard algorithms help Mars rovers decide which rocks or soil patches deserve close inspection. By ranking points of interest and flagging unusual textures or compositions, AI ensures that limited downlink bandwidth is used on the most valuable science data. This prioritization is essential when each image or spectral scan competes for precious transmission time back to Earth. The Role of Robotics in Mars Exploration Robotic systems remain the first to explore regions where humans cannot yet go safely. On Mars, rovers provide high-resolution geological surveys, climate measurements, and subsurface analysis that inform future human landings. Increasingly, mission concepts focus on coordinated teams of robots instead of single vehicles. Multi-rover strategies can divide tasks, map wider areas, and provide redundancy if one unit fails. Studies of autonomous mission planning show that a team of coordinated rovers can cover target zones more efficiently while maintaining safe trajectories across rough terrain. Helicopters, hoppers, and small drones are also entering the picture as complements to wheeled Mars rovers. These aerial or jumping vehicles can scout routes ahead, inspect cliffs or craters, and relay data back to a central rover, all under the umbrella of shared AI navigation and communication systems. Why Lunar Lava Tubes Matter On the Moon, one of the most promising frontiers lies underground in ancient volcanic tunnels known as lunar lava tubes. These structures could offer natural protection from radiation, micrometeorite impacts, and extreme temperature swings that dominate the lunar surface. As a result, many mission concepts treat lava tubes as potential locations for future bases or storage sites for sensitive equipment. Before humans can safely use them, however, these caves must be located, entered, and mapped in detail by robotic explorers. How Robots Explore Lunar Lava Tubes Exploring lava tubes presents different challenges than navigating open terrain. Entrances may be steep skylights or narrow cracks, followed by dark, uneven floors and vertical drops. Autonomous robots must operate without GPS, often with limited lighting and intermittent communications. To address this, researchers are developing multi-robot systems that work together to find entrances, descend safely, and spread out to map interior passages. Some concepts use specialized mobility, such as hopping or leaping robots, to cope with boulder fields and gaps in the cave floor. Others rely on wheeled or tracked vehicles that deploy tethered sensors or drones once inside the tube. AI navigation is central in each case, enabling robots to build 3D maps, avoid sudden drops, and maintain communication links with surface relays or orbiters. Collected data may include structural stability assessments, temperature readings, and radiation measurements that guide future habitat design. Swarm Robotics and Autonomous Space Systems One notable trend in both Mars and Moon exploration is the shift from single large vehicles to distributed autonomous space systems. In swarm robotics, many small units cooperate using shared intelligence, allowing wider coverage and resilience to individual failures. A Japanese effort involving ispace and Chuo University, for example, is investigating AI-equipped swarm robots for surveying lunar lava tubes in the late 2020s. These robots are designed to adapt to unknown terrain, exchange information, and extend exploration deeper into complex tunnel networks. In parallel, research on mission planning algorithms for multi-robot teams shows that coordinated path planning can maximize scientific return while keeping each rover within safe tilt and stability limits. Such systems treat the entire group as a single autonomous space system, optimizing routes, avoiding collisions, and assigning tasks in real time. The same principles could be applied beyond the Moon and Mars to missions on icy moons or asteroids, where fleets of small robots survey large areas or different depths. Benefits and Challenges of AI-First Exploration AI navigation and robotics offer several clear advantages for planetary missions. Rovers can travel farther in a single day, collect more targeted data, and respond to new discoveries without waiting for Earth-based instructions. Multi-robot systems add redundancy and flexibility, allowing exploration to continue even if some units are damaged. By automating many routine planning tasks, mission teams on Earth can concentrate more on scientific interpretation and long-term strategy. However, the shift toward more autonomous space systems brings technical and operational challenges. Algorithms must be robust enough to handle unexpected obstacles, sensor errors, and environmental conditions that are difficult to simulate on Earth. Verifying and validating AI behavior for mission-critical decisions is complex, especially when software updates during flight are limited. Reliable communication within caves or over rough terrain remains a major issue for lunar lava tube exploration, where line-of-sight links can be lost quickly. These constraints drive ongoing work in fault detection, fail-safe behaviors, and human oversight tools that can monitor and adjust autonomous operations. How AI Navigation Shapes the Future of Mars and Moon Missions As projects like Perseverance's AI-planned drives and lava tube scouting concepts mature, they illustrate a broader change in how exploration missions are designed. Instead of treating robots as remote instruments, planners increasingly view them as partners that can interpret local conditions, manage risks, and decide how best to achieve mission goals. AI navigation, swarm robotics, and other autonomous space systems will likely underpin future campaigns that combine orbiters, surface rovers, cave explorers, and eventually human crews into tightly integrated networks. In that context, Mars rovers and lunar lava tube explorers are early examples of a larger trend toward distributed, intelligent infrastructure across the solar system. The technologies being tested today, route-planning AI, cooperative robot teams, and resilient underground scouts, are expected to support future bases, resource extraction, and long-duration human stays on both the Moon and Mars. Frequently Asked Questions 1. How does AI navigation handle dust storms on Mars? AI systems use real-time sensor data to reassess terrain risks and visibility, then slow or adjust routes while maintaining safe drive limits set by engineers. 2. Why are swarm robots useful inside lunar lava tubes? Swarm robots can spread out to map different sections at once, relay communications between deep areas and the surface, and provide backup if one unit fails. 3. Can autonomous space systems operate completely without human oversight? They can manage routine decisions and navigation, but humans still define mission goals, safety constraints, and approve major strategy changes. 4. How might AI navigation help future astronauts on the Moon or Mars? AI-guided rovers could premap safe paths, deliver supplies, scout hazards, and continuously monitor terrain around habitats to support daily operations. Originally published on Science Times Dame Prue Leith has some words of wisdom for Nigella Lawson as she prepares to join Great British Bake Off as the shows new judge. It was announced in January that the celebrity chef will succeed Leith for the next series of the popular baking competition. Leith announced she would be stepping down from the post she has held for nine years, a role she took over from Dame Mary Berry in 2017, the same year the show moved over from the BBC to its new home on Channel 4. Its daunting to be following in the footsteps of both Leith and Berry, said Lawson last month. Asked in a new interview with The Telegraph whether she has any tips for her successor, Leith replied simply: Just enjoy it, because youll never have a nicer job. Another tip, she added, is always double check before posting anything on social media a reference to the time that Leith prematurely tweeted about the winner of the 2017 series before it aired on TV. She had been travelling in Bhutan and got confused over the time zones. I felt like an absolute idiot, Leith told The Telegraph. It was horrible at the time, although everybody involved in the show was remarkably nice about it. Leith, however, will not be tuning into to watch Lawson on the show, having never watched Bake Off before she joined or during her own tenure. (Channel 4/Love Productions) I hardly ever watch telly, and if I do itll be a travel programme, because my husband likes things involving people going to extraordinary places, she said. Lawsons arrival to Bake Off marks her most high-profile gig in the UK in years. Recently she has focused on her TV career in Australia, where shes been a regular guest on MasterChef and My Kitchen Rules. Her appointment has been praised by many fans of the series, including The Independents Rachel McGrath who called it an ingenious casting for a show thats gone a bit stale. (BBC Studios / Jay Brooks) Lawson, who published her first cookery book, How to Eat, in 1998, and has presented numerous BBC specials since Nigella Bites aired in 1999, is expected to bring her signature flair and cooking innuendos into the Bake Off tent next season. The Great British Bake Off is expected to return later this year, following a celebrity edition confirmed for spring, featuring stars including Molly-Mae Hague. President Putin approved a measure on Friday that will reportedly allow security agents to shut down Russias internet - AP Vladimir Putin has given his security services the power to shut down the internet across Russia. Under the measures, signed into law on Friday, internet providers will be forced to cut off access to the web on the orders of the Federal Security Service (FSB), and will be shielded from liability for such shutdowns. The law will cover the occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as Russia. The move will allow Putin to decide when online communications across the country or in a specific region should be turned off, without having to give a reason. The bill was introduced late last year, when it was argued that it would help protect citizens and the state from security threats while shielding telecom companies from legal reprisals. FSB officers will get the power to order internet providers to cut off Russian citizens access - Getty Legal experts pointed out that the vague wording of the legislation meant it was unclear how sweeping the new powers would be. Alexander Karavaev, a human rights lawyer, said: If you read the law literally, even postal deliveries could fall under its scope. Ivan Lebedev, Russias deputy minister of digital development, said the bill would remain deliberately ambiguous about which services could be cut off, in order to confuse Russias enemies. It is the latest in a series of measures to expand state control over digital communications, as the Kremlin pursues its aim to achieve a sovereign internet an online space severed from western influence. Mobile internet outages have become a norm across the country and Ukraines occupied territories. Authorities have said they are necessary to fend off attacks by Ukrainian drones, which can tap into Russian data signals for navigation. Ukrainian drones built by Kyivs Dronarium use mobile internet signals to target Russian assets - Justin Yau for The Telegraph However, experts say it appears to be part of an effort to introduce greater state control over Russians access to the internet. During the blackouts, only whitelisted government-approved websites and online services are available. In 2025, Russia became the world leader in mobile internet shutdowns, with more than 37,000 hours. They affected 146 million people, according to Top10VPN, an organisation tracking global internet blackouts. The unprecedented blackouts are thought to have cost the country around 9.5bn in economic output that year. The Kremlin recently introduced new laws punishing online searches for content it deems extremist. This month, to much outcry, it ordered a block on WhatsApp and cut access to messaging app Telegram. WhatsApp accused Moscow of trying to force users on to its state-owned surveillance app, Max, a messaging tool modelled on Chinas WeChat. Blackouts of the internet cost the Russian economy billions last year - Ramil Sitdikov/Reuters Russian authorities have been criticised by soldiers, war correspondents and even politicians for their efforts to throttle Telegram, which is often used for operational purposes on the battlefield. A Kremlin source told the opposition outlet Meduza: Theres a sense the Iranian experience with internet shutdowns has inspired our security services. Dmistry Peskov, Putins spokesman, admitted this week that the Kremlins own press service uses virtual private networks to maintain its own Telegram channel, despite successive rounds of legislation by the State Duma targeting VPN usage. Reform UK has a chequered history when it comes to women and families, with some of the partys more prominent figures having faced criticism for their views. Matt Goodwin, the partys candidate in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, has previously called for young girls to be given a biological reality check, as well as suggesting people who dont have children should be taxed extra as punishment, while the partys new head of policy, Dr James Orr, has previously argued that marriage is best for children when it is between a man and a woman. Nigel Farage himself has also faced criticism for his comments about women, last year suggesting that men are prepared to sacrifice family lives for successful careers in a way many women aren't. As the party surges in the polls and attempts to get its top team ready to fight an election, The Independent has taken a look at exactly what key figures in the party have said about marriage, women, abortion and fertility and what it might mean for policy. Nigel Farages party has promised to scrap the Equality Act if it wins a general election (Getty) Marriage In 2025, Mr Farage was accused of vile homophobia for claiming straight couples are more stable than gay relationships during a press conference welcoming former Conservative MP Danny Kruger to Reform UK. Mr Farage, who has twice been married and is now in a relationship, said the most stable relationships tend to be between men and women after he was asked about past comments made by the right-winger, who became the first sitting Tory MP to join Mr Farages party. Mr Kruger, who defected to Reform from the Tories last year, previously told a National Conservatism conference that marriage between men and women was the only basis for a safe and successful society. This is a view that has been echoed by the partys new head of policy. Speaking to the Family Educations Trusts 2025 Annual Conference, Dr Orr said: All the data shows that the children are better off, are best off with a mum and a dad, preferably in the house, preferably biologically related to them. It's a difficult piece of data to put forward in our permissive age, but it's true. Describing families which are made up of a heterosexual couple with children as natural, he added: There needs to be some kind of normative ideal, there needs to be some benchmark that we can at least aspire to that the state, to some extent, can help families aspire to. Abortion Nigel Farage has previously taken aim at UK abortion laws, saying they are totally out of date, arguing it is ludicrous we allow abortion up to 24 weeks. Mr Kruger, the Reform MP for East Wiltshire, in a debate on abortion once disagreed that pregnant women had an absolute right to bodily autonomy, sparking protests in his constituency. He later clarified that he does not wish to dictate what a woman should do with her own body, as has been claimed, adding that his position on abortion "reflects the status quo" and that he supported the 1967 Abortion Act. It came as MPs voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, reforms which were designed to protect women while maintaining penalties for medical professionals and abusive partners who terminate a pregnancy outside the current legal framework. A Reform spokesperson last year said the party does not have a stance on abortion and has no intention of making changes to the current abortion laws. However, the partys new head of policy has described Britains abortion laws as extreme. Two or three days ago, I think, there was an interview on Times Radio with a medic arguing that even though Britain has one of the most extreme abortion regimes in the world, 24 weeks, were up there with North Korea, China and, God help us, Canada this wasnt extreme enough, that we should be pushing for 37 weeks, 38 weeks, Dr Orr told Family Education Trusts 2025 annual conference. Fertility and birth rates Earlier this month, The Independent revealed that Reform UKs candidate in an upcoming by-election, Matt Goodwin, previously called for women and young girls to be given a biological reality check, as he gave his views on how Britain should tackle its impending fertility crisis. Days earlier, it was revealed that Dr Goodwin previously suggested people who dont have children should be taxed extra as punishment. The unearthed clip posted to his personal YouTube channel in November 2024 showed the former academic warning that many women in Britain are having children much too late in life. While Nigel Farage later poured cold water on the proposal to tax people without children, saying the party has no plans to hike taxes, he said those who have quite a few children could be given tax breaks to help with the cost of living if his party came to power. Dr Orr has also advocated for pro-natalist public policy, saying that the gap between desired fertility and actual fertility was getting wider and wider in most parts of the West. While he said this is not about coercing women into making choices that they dont want to have, he added that it is perfectly legitimate for social conservatives, for all of us, to ask why and what can be done to make it easier to bring new life into the world. But in spite of these comments about the declining birth rate, Reform UK earlier this year U-turned on a promise to lift the two-child benefit cap, which penalises families which have more than two children. Mr Farage vowed to axe the cap in May last year, saying it was the right thing to do, before later clarifying it should be lifted only for British families in work. But Robert Jenrick, Reform UKs new Treasury spokesman, said on Wednesday that the policy has to go, calling for the cap to be kept, as Mr Farage admitted his attempt at being pro-family has failed. Women in the workplace The most concrete policy Reform has unveiled relating to women and families so far is their plan to scrap the Equality Act, announced by Suella Braverman, Reforms new education and equalities spokesperson. But the announcement has sparked concerns that it could negatively impact women, given its role in protecting maternity leave and discrimination against mothers and pregnant women. In the wake of the announcement, the Good Law Project accused Reform UK of pitching for the votes of misogynists, homophobes, racists and antisemites, who are the only people who benefit from removing discrimination protections. And in 2025, Mr Farage risked triggering a row over sexism after he told a Westminster lunch that more men are prepared to sacrifice their family lives in order to pursue a career and be successful in a way that fewer women are. And those women that do have probably got more chance of reaching the top than the blokes, he added. Gone Girl actress Rosamund Pike has said Dame Judi Dench is the best actress she has ever worked with and described the star as a mischief maker. The 47-year old acted alongside Dame Judi in a 2009 London production of Madame de Sade as well as the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day. She has praised the veteran actress for her being so delightful and for her ability to switch into character effortlessly. Rosamund Pike starred with Dame Judi on the London stage (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) Speaking to comedian and radio host Romesh Ranganathan on BBC Radio 2, Pike said: The best actress Ive ever worked with is Judi Dench, whos such a mischief maker. Shes so delightful. Shes so, so good. If you ever just want to just hear something short, listen to Judi Dench read a Shakespeare sonnet, just find one on YouTube, and it will move you to tears youll just think that is how English should be spoken. Shes just amazing and yet, when youre doing a play with her, shes so funny, shes so naughty. Off stage, shes completely out of character, laughing, playing a practical joke, and then she walks on and its all there. Dame Judi Dench was hailed as being funny and naughty off-stage (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (Jordan Pettitt) Pike also named American Psycho star Christian Bale as being the best actor she has ever worked with after starring in the 2017 film Hostiles together. Despite working together on the film, she said she does not know Bale very well as he was often in character, with the star known for his method acting approach. She said: Hes another level. I cant say I know him really, but it was just a pretty amazing experience to be around him in a film called Hostiles, but I dont think I met Christian, I think I only met the character. Hes quite method. Hes very method. She continued: Its just the level of truth, the level of commitment, integrity, truth. Its the sort of depth of it all the time. Christian Bale was praised for his method acting approach (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) I think he just doesnt give anything away. I think hes not someone whos fallen victim to the thing of needing to be liked. I dont think hes at all interested in his own image in the press or anything. I think he just does the work and has been able to do it since he was very young. I think he shuts out all the noise really well and creates the space he needs. His performances are just astounding. Pike later added that she does not method act, but rather can switch into character at the last minute. She said: Ive seen both ways of total excellence, and I think I can go quite up to the last minute being silly and then switch on. Pike is known for starring in the 2014 thriller Gone Girl, 2005 Pride and Prejudice, and 2023s Saltburn. She will also star in the West End production of Inter Alia from March 19 until June 20 at Wyndhams Theatre. Robert Jenrick said that there was no way Josh Simons, pictured, should remain in post - Roger Harris Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to sack a Cabinet minister over his alleged role in a smear campaign targeting journalists. A coalition of senior politicians from across the political spectrum have called on the Prime Minister to fire Josh Simons, the former Labour Together director. They say Mr Simons is up to his neck in questionable practices and warn that his position is untenable after it emerged he asked spy chiefs to investigate journalists at The Sunday Times. Mr Simons is accused of paying PR firm Apco Worldwide 36,000 to investigate the personal, religious and political backgrounds of journalists reporting on Labour Togethers undeclared funding. At first Mr Simons claimed he was distressed by the report, accusing the PR firm of going beyond its brief by including unnecessary information about the newspapers Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund. But on Friday The Guardian revealed that Mr Simons had passed information on Pogrund and other journalists directly to Britains spy agency, while falsely claiming they had links to the Kremlin. Josh Simons passed on information about Gabriel Pogrund, of The Sunday Times, pictured, to British intelligence - Peter Tarry/Times Newspapers An email from November 2023 appeared to outline the parameters of the investigation Apco agreed to carry out for Labour Together. The email, written to Mr Simons, said: Apco will investigate the sourcing, funding and origins of a Sunday Times article about Labour Together, as well as upcoming works by authors Paul Holden and Matt Taibbi, to establish who and what are behind the co-ordinated attacks on Labour Together. The approach should provide a body of evidence that could be packaged up for use in the media in order to create narratives that would proactively undermine any future attacks on Labour Together. The Cabinet Offices Propriety, Ethics and Constitution group has launched an investigation into Labour Together credited with Starmers ascent to the premiership but many are accusing the Government of marking its own homework. Labour Together helped Sir Keir Starmers rise to the top - Matthew Horwood/PA Photo On Saturday night, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told The Telegraph: The latest installation of this case shows Josh Simons was in this up to his neck. He clearly knew exactly what was going on. He is therefore not suitable to serve as a minister and he should resign and, if he doesnt, the Prime Minister should fire him. Robert Jenrick, a Reform frontbencher, added: Josh Simons commissioned a report to smear and discredit journalists and appears to have lied to cover it up. This is the same man who championed mandatory digital ID and is entrusted with protecting the personal data of British citizens. There is no way he can continue in his position. Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: We were told this Government would be cleaner than clean. Instead were stuck with Cabinet Office ministers whose previous spin tactics involved reporting journalists to the intelligence agencies. Simons must consider his position. Even some Labour MPs now think Josh Simonss position is untenable Fellow Labour politicians also began to turn against Mr Simons on Saturday. Labour MP Rachel Maskell told The Telegraph: I find it astounding that he [Josh Simons] is still in place in the Cabinet Office. I think its quite curious why action hasnt been taken on that ground. There must be an independent investigation into what happened. Karl Turner, another Labour MP, said: I dont think it cuts the mustard to have the Cabinet Office investigating a Cabinet minister. The idea that two journalists were hunted down by a PR outfit is an absolute disgrace and completely shameful if proven to be true. It is a matter for the PM who he appoints as ministers and for him, the PM, to decide who stays in his Government. But if Mr Simons were a Conservative then I have no doubt many Labour colleagues would be calling for him to be sacked. Meanwhile, John McDonnell and Alistair Graham, the trade unionist and chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, both urged the Government to commission an independent inquiry into the scandal. It is the latest scandal to hit Sir Keirs embattled administration and follows the sacking of Lord Mandelson over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the resignation of Angela Rayner over unpaid property taxes, as well as the resignation of Rushnara Ali, the former homelessness minister, who was criticised for evicting her own tenants. Downing Street was approached for comment. Secret Service to get tailored suits at taxpayer expense after Kristi Noem disliked how protective detail was dressed: report Secret Service members will get tailored suits at the expense of taxpayers after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disliked how a protective detail was dressed, according to a new report. Graduates from protective detail training will get two navy blue suits with their name embroidered on the inside of the jacket, according to a public contract solicitation from the Department of Homeland Security, as first reported by CNN. The suits must be entirely made in the United States, the solicitation published last week states. Two people familiar with the matter told CNN Noem didnt like the suits a protective detail had bought for themselves, prompting the new suit solicitation. The cost of the contract is yet to be determined and it will cover a five-year ordering period. Secret Service members will get tailored suits at the expense of taxpayers after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disliked how a protective detail was dressed, according to a new report (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) A CNN source said the Secret Service found funding inside its current budget. Its unclear whether the partial government shutdown will affect the solicitation, as Democrats withhold funding from DHS in a battle to reform its immigration enforcement arm. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN about the new suits, This does not have to do with optics. McLaughlin said that agents in the Secret Services Uniformed Division dont have to pay for their on-duty clothes, but agents in protective details do. Uniformed Division officers wear protective vests and dark clothing. Two people familiar with the matter told CNN Noem didnt like the suits a protective detail had bought for themselves, prompting the new suit solicitation (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) This is to fix the inequity that non-uniformed [officers] have to pay for their uniform, she said. The Independent has reached out to DHS and the White House for comment. Former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a Republican critic of the Trump administration, mocked the new initiative. Former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger mocked the new initiative, saying the suits will look nice on the plush new jet too, referring to the $70 million luxury jet Immigration and Customs Enforcement is reportedly trying to buy (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) DHS has so much money (thank GOP) that now new secret service detail agents get two new tailored suits each! he wrote on X. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed last summer, gave about $170 billion for immigration enforcement over the next several years. Kinzinger said the suits will look nice on the plush new jet too, referring to the $70 million luxury jet Immigration and Customs Enforcement is reportedly trying to buy. At the Drexel Food Lab, we tried 13 non-toxic pans to learn which cook the best, testing for protein sear, heating rate, egg stickiness and heat retention. Photograph: Courtesy of: Smithey; Lodge Cast Iron; Caraway; Our Place (Photograph: Courtesy of: Smithey; Lodge Cast Iron; Caraway; Our Place) So-called non-toxic pans are often under a microscope. If you go down an internet rabbit hole about toxic cookware, youll find scary phrases about heavy metals, chemical coatings and something called polymer flume fever. Its enough to make you side-eye the skillet you use every morning. Whats actually going on? At the Drexel Food Lab, we investigate questions like these. When we started our search for the best non-toxic pans, we immediately reached out to our best colleague for defining toxicity: Dr Caroline Schauer, head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University. In chemistry and health contexts, a material is considered toxic [to people] if it can cause damage to organs or increase the risk of disease, she said. Nonstick coatings are typically fine on their own, but they can release chemicals at high heat. Some of those are Pfas, PFOA, BPA and PTFE, otherwise known as forever chemicals that have been linked to health problems. When these coatings are heated to temperatures higher than 650F (343C), they can also release fumes that, if inhaled, can cause flu-like symptoms. The good news is that cookware brands have responded. Many brands test for these chemicals, or use materials that limit chemical exposure while staying nonstick and cooking well. At the Drexel Food Lab, we tested 13 of the top non-toxic pans in the US to learn which cook the best, including buzzy brands Our Place and Caraway. We also asked Schauer to explain what forever chemicals really are, and what the safest cookware materials are. Scroll past our list for her advice. *** At a glance Best overall: Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro $179 at Our Place Best budget: Lodge Cast Iron $23.65 at Home Depot Best heat retention: Victoria 12in Cast Iron Skillet $29.99 at Amazon Best for the oven: Caraway Enamel Cast Iron Skillet $185 at Caraway Best splurge: Smithey Ironware 12in Carbon Steel Farmhouse Skillet $300 at Smithey Best cast-iron cleaner: Field Company Cast Iron Care Kit $50 at Field Company *** Why you should trust us Based at Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Drexel Food Lab is a food product design and innovation lab that uses cooking and food science to help improve health, reduce waste and build smarter food systems. On any given day, we might be developing a new product, helping businesses cut down on food waste, exploring culinary medicine or running consumer research and taste tests. Were staffed by students and mentored by faculty. Right now, our team includes one faculty lead, two administrative staff members and 13 students from backgrounds ranging across culinary arts, nutrition, sensory science, public health and more. Working in commercial kitchens, we require pans that can hold up to industrial dishwashers, the high flames of a gas range and of course, the inevitable plummet to the floor. *** How we tested non-toxic pans While choosing pans, we avoided any materials with Pfas, PFOA, BPA and PTFEs. Pfas refers to a broad family of synthetic chemicals, and PFOA is one of them. BPA and PTFE are used for plastics. We ended up with 13 pans across seven brands with these non-toxic materials: stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron, enamel cast iron and ceramic. Over a period of two weeks, we ran a variety of tests: how long a pan took to heat up, how well it retained heat once removed from the source, how sticky eggs got on their surface, how crisply chicken and fish seared in them, and how well they baked cornbread. We also examined how difficult to clean and wash the pans were, along with any discoloration they acquired after tests. Heat rate test: Since some of the pans recommended a max heat of 450F and use of low-medium heat, we began with a control pan over medium heat on a gas burner and continued to reduce temperature until around 400F. From there, we tested all pans on the same burner to keep the temperature consistent, and tracked how long each pans surface took to get to 400F. Protein sear test: We cooked a small piece of skin-on salmon for three minutes on each side, using a metal spatula unless the pans instructions recommended otherwise. We did the same with chicken. Heat retention test: We then removed the pan from heat and tested its temperature at removal using an infrared thermometer. We checked the temp again at three and five minutes. Egg stickiness test: We made all eggs over-medium to test heat consistency, as it is easy to overcook a part of an egg with this method. The nonstick pans were the most forgiving; eggs were harder to remove from cast iron and stainless steel if not cooked at a lower temperature. As a non-profit, we kept two pans for the lab to replace some of our own equipment and track how they do over time. We donated the rest to Rebel Ventures, a youth-led food non-profit in Philadelphia that the Drexel Food Lab has supported for the past few years. *** The best non-toxic pans in 2026 A product photo of an Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro *** A product photo of a Lodge Cast Iron *** A product photo of a Smithey Ironware 12in Carbon Steel Farmhouse Skillet *** A product photo of a Victoria 12in Cast Iron Skillet *** A product photo of a Caraway Enamel Cast Iron Skillet *** *** The best of the rest A product photo of a Lodge Carbon Steel *** A product photo of a Field Company cast iron pan *** A product photo of a Field Company Cast Iron Care Kit *** Other non-toxic pans we tested *** What else to know about non-toxic cookware What is toxic cookware? Back in ancient Greece, they would say the difference between medicine and toxicity is dose, Schauer said. While nonstick coatings may be okay most of the time, it is how and how much we use them that makes them dangerous. High heat can cause chemicals to leach into your food. When you put coatings on, thats what cant take the heat, she said, and thats when you have issues. Cooking with metal utensils can also scrape off small particles that get into our system. Related: A game changer: these glass food containers transformed how I store leftovers Acid in food reacts to aluminum in cookware when heated, causing the aluminum to leach into the food. This is why most aluminum cookware is made with nonstick coatings. But these coatings have been scrutinized for having forever chemicals such as Pfas, PFOA, BPA and PTFE. What are forever chemicals and why are they dangerous? PFOA, Pfas, BPA and PTFE are called forever chemicals because of the long time that it takes for them to break down in our bodies and the environment. They have been classified as possible carcinogens by the WHO and have been linked to cancers such as testicular, liver and breast cancers. Pfas stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Its a large group of synthetic chemicals that are resistant to heat, oil and water. Thats why they dont break down easily. PFOA is one specific type of Pfas. Its historically been used to make nonstick coatings like Teflon. PTFE is a polymer (a type of plastic) best known by the brand name Teflon. Its what gives traditional nonstick pans their slick surface. PTFE itself is stable at normal cooking temperatures, but if overheated to temperatures higher than 650F (343C), toxic fumes can be released. These fumes, if inhaled, can cause a condition commonly called polymer fume fever or Teflon flu. What are the safest materials? If you want to avoid Pfas and PFOA entirely, the safest pans are cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel and ceramic (true ceramic, not ceramic coatings). Each has its own pros and maintenance needs. How safe is cast iron and enamel cast iron? While even cast iron can leach iron, many people see this as a benefit for nutrition. Enamel cast iron does not react with food at any temperature and is therefore considered non-toxic as well. In older, cheaper pans, the enamel glaze has a higher risk of containing more heavy metals, so err on high-quality, modern enamel cookware and avoid anything without manufacturing labels. How safe is stainless steel? High-quality stainless steel (18/10 or 18/8 grades) is very safe. It could leach a tiny amount of nickel, but that is only an issue if you have a nickel allergy. How safe is carbon steel? Like cast iron, its generally safe. Carbon steel is made from iron and a small percentage of carbon, so its similar to cast iron, but lighter and smoother. No coatings it just needs seasoning with oil to create a natural nonstick layer. How safe is ceramic? True ceramic, made from kiln-baked clay and glazed, is generally non-toxic. However, ceramic coatings can chip or wear down, exposing metal underneath that can potentially leaching into foods. Safety depends on the brand and quality of the glaze. Some ceramic and nonstick coatings contain trace amounts of lead the way foods such as sweet potatoes and cinnamon do, making this definition too broad for our purposes. While we evaluated ceramic pans for our test, none of our award winners have this material we found it was difficult to track when ceramic cookware began overheating. How do I know if a pan is safe to use? On brand websites, look for a page on chemical disclosure, usually listed with California Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021 (CA AB 1200), the regulation that mandates disclosure. This is the place to begin. Related: Steam up the house with this shortcut to restaurant-level hotpot at home Avoid pans disclosing PFOA, Pfas, BPA and PTFEs. Look at how each company tests the coatings too: is it a third party? Is the brand open about publishing findings? Temperature safety is another thing to pay attention to. Many home cooks do not test pan temperature regularly, if at all. Directions state that pans with a 450F (232C) maximum temperature can be cooked over medium heat, but if you have a gas stove, medium heat might still be too high. During testing, we found that some of our ceramic pans heated over the maximum recommended temperature very quickly. If you are truly worried about chemicals leaching into your food, invest in an infrared thermometer (we recommend Thermoworks) to make sure coated pans do not cross their temperature limit. What else should I know before buying? While sets are popular, sometimes mixing and matching may be the better option. Perhaps a cast-iron or carbon steel pan for your meat and fish dishes, a ceramic-coated pan for your eggs or other low temperature dishes, and the Titanium Always Pan Pro for everything else. Dont limit yourself by visual appeal, research your cookware materials and figure out what works best for your lifestyle. *** The Drexel Food Lab is a food product design and culinary innovation lab that applies culinary arts and science to improve the health of people, the planet and economies. It is a faculty-mentored, interdisciplinary food product design and culinary innovation research lab whose staff has written for various publications around the world. Bernie Sanders again called for a moratorium on the expansion of AI data centers to slow down the revolution and protect workers while policymakers catch up. Photograph: John G Mabanglo/EPA (Photograph: John G Mabanglo/EPA) Bernie Sanders has warned that Congress and the American public have not a clue about the scale and speed of the coming AI revolution, pressing for urgent policy action to slow this thing down as tech companies race to build ever-more powerful systems. Speaking at Stanford University on Friday alongside congressman Ro Khanna after a series of meetings with industry leaders in California, Sanders was blunt about what he called the most dangerous moment in the modern history of this country. The Congress and the American people are very unprepared for the tsunami that is coming, he said. Khanna, a progressive Democrat who represents Silicon Valley, shared Sanderss concerns, warning that the country was experiencing a new gilded age run by tech billionaires who believe they would have been heroic conquerors in a different era. Thats just not my observation, Khanna said. Thats what they tell me. Related: AI poses unprecedented threats. Congress must act now | Bernie Sanders Khanna and Sanders declined to specify which tech executives they met with during the senators visit to California, but the congressman said it was senior leaders at the most prominent tech companies. I think it was important for both Senator Sanders to hear from tech leaders and tech leaders to hear from Senator Sanders, who represents and understands the concerns of so many working-class Americans, Khanna said in an interview after the event. During his remarks, Sanders reissued his call for a moratorium on the expansion of AI data centers to slow down the revolution and protect workers while policymakers catch up. Khanna does not want a moratorium, but has instead pushed to steer AI, advocating for the US to adopt a Singapore model for data center growth, with an emphasis on renewable energy and water efficiency. In his remarks before an auditorium of mostly students, Khanna outlined seven principles to guard against oligarchic capture and dominance of wealth generated by AI innovation. We must ask not what America can do for Silicon Valley, but what Silicon Valley must do for America, said the congressman, who is eyed as considering a 2028 presidential bid. The event capped a days-long visit to California, a state he won in the 2020 presidential primary and where he returned to rally thousands during his Fight Oligarchy tour last year. In Los Angeles on Wednesday, Sanders delivered a scathing denunciation of the greed of the billionaire class. There he helped formally launch a campaign for a ballot initiative that would impose a one-time 5% tax on residents worth more than $1bn a proposal that has already prompted some ultra-wealthy tech leaders to flee, or threaten to do so. At Stanford, Sanders focused his remarks on his concerns over how AI would impact not only the labor force but personal wellbeing and peoples ability to interact with one another. He mentioned that a restaurant in DC offered a Valentines Day special for people and their AI buddies, which drew laughs from the students. It may seem funny, Sanders said, but the truth is that a lot of people are becoming dependent upon AI for their emotional support. What is the long-term impact of that? What is the long-term impact if we lose work as an important part of our lives? What do we do with our lives? Sanders read statements from industry leaders who have predicted widespread automation, and cited projections that AI and robotics could eliminate tens of millions of jobs in the coming decade from truck drivers to fastfood workers and many whitecollar roles. Polling has found Americans are deeply concerned, as federal regulators and states debate how to impose guardrails on the nascent but fast-developing technology. A 2025 Pew survey found that 64% of the public thinks AI will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years. Just 17% of Americans say AI will have a very or somewhat positive impact on the United States over the same period. The tech CEOs leading the AI race have argued that AI will drive productivity, innovation and new kinds of employment as technological advancements have always done. But critics, like Sanders, say the unprecedented speed and scale of the changes threaten to enrich the multibillionaires while deepening inequality and leaving policymakers and the public ill-equipped to mount a response in time. Sander urged his colleagues in Washington and the public to begin a serious public debate about the future of work as AI disrupts the economy, democracy and peoples emotional lives. AI and robotics are neither good nor bad, he said. The question is: will a handful of billionaires benefit from it, or will the general public benefit? A teacher in Tehran on her mobile phone. The concept of a splinternet is becoming reality for many millions of people. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/Reuters (Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/Reuters) During the height of Irans blackout in January, people could still access a platform that, in some senses, was like the internet. Iranians could message family members on a government-monitored app and watch clips of Manchester United on a Farsi-language video-sharing site. They could read state news and use a local navigation service. What they couldnt do was check international headlines about thousands of people being killed by government forces during one of the bloodiest weeks in recent Iranian history. Nor, for the most part, could they get evidence out of Iran to the outside world no pictures, no videos, no testimony of military vehicles being driven into protesters or family members being dragged from their homes and shot. What Iran has, a splinternet, is becoming reality for many millions of people. It is likely to get far worse. More than half of Russias regions are able to access only a limited, government-approved version of the internet through their mobile phones. The great firewall of China blocks most of the global internet, including sites such as Google and the Guardian. The Myanmar junta has experimented with targeted internet shutdowns and so recently have authorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan. For nearly two decades, the US backed a global effort to make it extremely difficult for governments to divide up the internet in this way. It hinged on funding tools built by groups worldwide to circumvent censorship. These made it very costly and very hard to shut down the internet entirely, and they ensured that governments that did seek to cut off their people often had to isolate themselves and their financial institutions as well. Like many US soft-power initiatives, the programme was imperfect, morally complex and at times at odds with the policies of other governments. Yet it is one foundation of what the internet is: a global commons. Todays online world is dominated by large tech platforms and awash with illegal content and misinformation. But it is still a structure in which facts, ideas and information accessible from London are largely accessible from Delhi, Johannesburg and Sao Paulo as well. That could change rapidly. On the one hand is the matter of US funding, now cut or apparently redirected towards a Trumpian, politicised effort to undermine global attempts to regulate US big-tech platforms. On the other is the mounting export of censorship technologies, which are constantly improving and increasingly marketed overseas. These include devices sold by companies in China that give their customers governments in Pakistan, Myanmar and Ethiopia among others extremely fine-tuned control over what comes in and out of a country. It is believed that similar technologies are the foundation of Irans current shutdown. Related: US funding for global internet freedom effectively gutted Censorship technologies are growing more powerful at the same time as programmes designed to stymie them have been decimated. To those who work on the problem, the stakes are high. When governments want to not be scrutinised for how many people theyre killing in their streets, theyll shut the internet down, said a former US official. It is not easy to build a splinternet. The internet is, by design, a decentralised and deeply inter-dependent network. But Irans recent example indicates that it is becoming far more plausible. Russia has been attempting to create a similar cut-off internet for some years, and other authoritarian regimes appear to share the ambition. It will become cheaper and easier to achieve. Governments worldwide, including in Europe, are promoting notions of sovereign data, sovereign AI and, in some cases, sovereign internet. Accompanying this is an ambition to nationalise infrastructure, for example to keep UK citizens health records stored in UK data centres. This is an understandable goal, given the increasingly authoritarian bent of US tech platforms that are the custodians of much of the worlds data. But if fascist or authoritarian regimes ascend, such an approach risks replacing one set of despots with another. Irans ability to cut off its internet was prefigured by a years-long push to nationalise its underlying infrastructure. Shutdowns such as Irans become far easier when a countrys data is entirely accessible to its domestic authorities. Those fighting for digital freedoms in harsh environments in Iran and beyond are approaching Europe, hoping the EU might pick up some of what the US has dropped and fund anticensorship technologies. It is doubtful that Europe has the money or the willpower to do much, given the other responsibilities it must shoulder. Next to defence, it seems a marginal concern. But the information environment as we know it the ground of shared fact that allowed this piece to be written and you to read it is at stake. California Institute of Technology signage on campus in Pasadena, California, in July 2013. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images) A renowned California Institute of Technology (Caltech) scientist who studied distant planets and other areas of astronomy for decades was recently shot to death at his home in a rural community outside Los Angeles, authorities said. Carl Grillmair, 67, died from a bullet wound to the torso on Monday in Llano, an unincorporated community in the Antelope Valley, according to information from the LA county medical examiners office. The county sheriffs department said it had arrested a suspect in Grillmairs slaying, identifying him as 29-year-old Freddy Snyder. Snyder faces a count of murder in connection with Grillmairs death, along with charges of carjacking and burglary pertaining to other cases. He remained in custody on Friday. The Los Angeles Times quoted a Caltech spokesperson who confirmed that the university employed Grillmair as a research scientist. He helped explore the universe as part of Caltechs Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, a partner to the US space agency Nasa, the National Science Foundation and researchers worldwide. Grillmairs curriculum vitae listed more than four decades of experience in his field, including hundreds of publications, contributed papers and abstracts as well as an exceptional scientific achievement medal from Nasa. Hes irreplaceable, Sergio Fajardo-Acosta, who worked alongside Grillmair at Caltech for 26 years, said in an interview on Friday. I will miss him very personally, and I will miss him as a colleague as well. Officials said local deputies responded to an emergency call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon at Grillmairs home shortly after 6am on Monday. Related: Accused Brown University shooter planned attack for years, video transcripts show They said deputies found Grillmair on his front porch having been shot once. Paramedics pronounced him dead on the scene. While investigating Grillmairs killing, deputies reportedly arrested Snyder in connection with a carjacking that occurred nearby. Authorities subsequently charged Snyder with Grillmairs murder, the nearby carjacking and a burglary reported on 28 December, according to court records reviewed by the Guardian. It was not immediately clear whether Grillmair was acquainted with Snyder. Fajardo-Acosta said Grillmair made important contributions to scientists understanding of Earths galaxy, the Milky Way, advancing knowledge of its collisions and mergers with other galaxies in its long-ago past. He considered Grillmairs most remarkable achievement to be detecting indications of water on a distant planet orbiting around a star different from the sun. Water, of course, is a telltale sign of life or at least conditions that are favorable to life. And finding signs of life on another planet has been a quest for all of humanity throughout history, Fajardo-Acosta said. Thats monumental, he added; the discovery won his friend Nasas exceptional scientific achievement medal in 2011. Fajardo-Acosta said Grillmair spent his free time flying airplanes over the desert, and on home improvement projects. He was known for his ability to tell personal stories with flair while unwinding with his friends. Grillmair enjoyed his home in the remoteness of southern Californias Antelope valley in large part because it allowed him to easily study the stars at night, Fajardo-Acosta said. Grillmair did so in his astronomical observatory at home, equipped with various telescopes. Carl was always very happy there, Fajardo-Acosta recalled. Some reacting to the news of Grillmairs death noted that he was killed roughly two months after the shooting death in December of Nuno Loureiro, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist, that devastated the international science community. Loureiro and the suspect in his murder had previously attended the same university program in Portugal. Authorities said that suspect later died by suicide after also fatally shooting two students at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, about 50 miles (80km) from the suburban Boston home where Loureiro was slain. A law enforcement agency in Texas has come under scrutiny after it posted a mugshot of a woman with a gloved hand gripping her jaw, raising concerns that she had been potentially mistreated in custody. Harris County Constable Precinct 2 posted a mugshot on its Facebook page earlier this week of Fant Jomecia, 28, who had been accused of trespassing at a Houston apartment complex. The image showed Jomecia looking upwards with a gloved hand under her chin and pressing into her cheeks. A statement accompanying the post - which has since been deleted - said Jomecia had been taken into custody and booked into Harris County Jail without incident. The Independent has contacted Harris County Constable Precinct 2 and the Harris County District Attorneys Office for comment. A mugshot showing a gloved hand holding up the head of Fant Jomecia, 28, of Harris County, Texas, alarmed online commenters (Harris County Constable Precinct 2) Some of those who came across the mugshot online were alarmed. "She absolutely shouldnt be touched. If a person doesnt cooperate they stay in holding & possibly get disorderly conduct charges," one wrote. "I'm very disturbed by this picture, another added. I don't like the force by the officer holding her aggressively like that. It's not necessary. If she doesn't want to cooperate, place her alone until she's ready to do so. But, do not forcefully do it. Not okay, ever. She's a human being. No matter what she is accused of. The case against Jomecia was later dismissed, according to a county database. On Saturday, Harris County jail records did not include anyone with the name Fant Jomecia in custody. The district attorneys office requested the case be dropped in the interest of justice, according to court records obtained by the Atlanta Black Star. The Independent has contacted Jomecia for comment. Harris County jails, where Jomecia was detained, have faced scrutiny for their detention practices. A 2025 lawsuit against Harris County accused a group of detention officers of striking a female inmate dozens of times. The suit stems from a 2023 physical altercation, which allegedly began when a guard struck the inmate in the face during a verbal argument. Harris County jail officials have faced scrutiny for allegedly mistreating inmates in the past (Harris County Sheriff's Office) In a separate 2024 case, three officers were charged with assault for allegedly leaving an inmate in a coma after a beating in a Harris County jail, though the case was later dropped for insufficient evidence. Harris County has long struggled with understaffing in its jails. Since 2019, the county has been under a federal consent decree regarding its bail practices, allowing most people accused of misdemeanors to be released without payment. The agreement came about to settle a 2016 lawsuit, which alleged that Houston was effectively penalizing people for being poor if they didnt have bail money, violating their constitutional rights. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has pushed to end the consent decree. Mojtaba Khamenei is thought to benefit from having close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto Donald Trump is considering plans to assassinate the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei among the military options for a strike on Iran. The US president has reportedly been presented with a decapitation campaign against the leadership of the Islamic Republic, with Mojtaba Khamenei on the list alongside his father. The supreme leaders 55-year-old son had been thought his most likely successor, benefiting from close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful branch of the armed forces that has been designated a terrorist entity by the United States. Mojtaba also served in the Iran-Iraq war and studied theology in the holy city of Qom, meeting the constitutional requirement for clerical training. Mr Trump has not yet decided on whether to strike Iran, Axios news website reported. He could allow a deal that permits the regime to continue with token nuclear enrichment, so long as it has no path to an atomic bomb. Donald Trump, pictured in the White House situation room with JD Vance, wants assurances Iran will not try to build a nuclear weapon - AFP But should negotiations over Irans nuclear enrichment programme fail, among the options under consideration is a dramatic assassination campaign that would aim at wholesale regime change. They have something for every scenario. One scenario takes out the Ayatollah and his son and the mullahs, a senior US official told Axios. The US has dispatched more than one-third of its navy towards Iran and assembled the largest amount of air power in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Analysts have pointed to the deployment of more than two-thirds of the available E-3 Sentry fleet as one sign that Mr Trump is prepared to launch military action, with the radars of the reconnaissance aircraft needed to track and direct the interception of incoming missiles. On Friday, Mr Trump confirmed he was considering a limited strike on Iran in an attempt to pressure the regime into making a nuclear deal. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which is being joined in the Middle East by a second US carrier group - AFP In theory, that strike would display US power but fall below the threshold for provoking a serious response from Tehran. But the risks of a spiralling conflict are self-evident. The White Houses openness to Iran continuing a scaled-back enrichment programme, as confirmed by a senior US official cited by Axios, could create room for a deal and avert war in the Middle East. However, the outlet noted that any nuclear proposal from Iran would have to meet a very high bar to persuade sceptics within the Trump administration that military action was not needed. It remains unclear how token enrichment would be defined, and what supervision would be in place to ensure Iranian compliance. Iran does not have a strong track record of allowing UN nuclear inspectors to monitor activities. The senior US official said: [Mr Trump] will be ready to accept a deal that would be substantive and that he can sell politically at home. If the Iranians want to prevent an attack they should give us an offer we cant refuse. The Iranians keep missing the window. If they play games there wont be a lot of patience. On Thursday, the US president said he would give Iran 10 to 15 days to come to a deal. The worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, entered the Mediterranean sea on Friday and will arrive in range of Iran within that timeframe of 10 to 15 days. Two Israeli officials said they believed the gaps between Washington and Tehran were unbridgeable and the chances of a military escalation were high. Israels government is making preparations for possible joint military action with the US. However, no decision had been made on whether to carry out such an operation, a source familiar with the planning told Reuters. It would be the second time the US and Israel have attacked Iran in less than a year, following air strikes against military and nuclear facilities in June. Regional officials said oil-producing Gulf countries were preparing for a possible military confrontation that they feared could spin out of control and further destabilise the Middle East. Some said Tehran was dangerously miscalculating by holding out for concessions, while Mr Trump was boxed in by the build-up of military assets. An Iranian resident protests against the regime in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday - Nacho Doce/REUTERS They feared he would be unable to scale it back without losing face unless there was a firm commitment from Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions. Earlier this week, the US began moving some personnel out of the Middle East to prepare for potential counter-attacks by Iran if Washington strikes Tehran in the coming days. At least 20 anti-regime protests were held in Iran on Friday at memorials to mark the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period for protesters killed by security forces. Thousands of demonstrators were killed after taking to the streets over economic woes and a lack of water in Tehran. The violence is what first prompted Mr Trump to make his latest threats of retaliation against the Iranian regime. Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on 20 February. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/EPA (Photograph: Yuri Gripas/EPA) Donald Trump experienced a rare moment in his second term as president Friday: a loss from the nations highest court. The US supreme court declared many of Donald Trumps tariffs illegal in a sharp rebuke that topples a key pillar of the presidents aggressive economic agenda. In a 6-3 ruling, the court decided that a 1977 law designed to address national emergencies did not provide the legal justification for most of the Trump administrations tariffs on countries across the world. It is the first time the court has overruled one of Trumps second-term policies. Trump was not happy and, shocking probably no one, lashed out at the justices who ruled against him including two he appointed in his first term. On his Truth Social platform, Trump called the justices who ruled against his tariffs fools and lap dogs, very unpatriotic and disloyal to the Constitution, claiming without evidence that the court has been swayed by Foreign Interests. In the same post, he also singled out the three conservative dissenters Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh for praise. Later at a press conference, Trump added to his insults, saying the six justices who ruled agains his global tariffs were a disgrace to the nation and are now barely invited to next weeks State of the Union address at the US Capitol. He also said that the ruling had emboldened him to enact very powerful alternatives to the tariffs declared illegal. That took shape later Friday when the president signed documents imposing a 10% tariff on all countries, which a White House fact sheet says will take effect Tuesday, 24 February. Furious Trump signs global 10% duty after supreme court issues tariff blow Donald Trump on Friday railed against the supreme court justices who blocked his use of tariffs, calling them a disgrace to the nation, and later signed documents imposing a 10% tariff on all countries. Read the full story Federal judge accuses White House of terror against immigrants in US A federal judge has accused the Trump administration of terrorizing immigrants and recklessly violating the law in its efforts to deport millions of people. The judge said that the White House had also extended its violence on its own citizens, citing the killings of Renee Good in January by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and Alex Pretti in the same month by border patrol, both US citizens and both protesting in Minneapolis. Read the full story US citizen shot and killed by federal immigration agent last year, new records show The death of Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, would mark the earliest of at least six deadly shootings by federal officers since the start of a nationwide immigration crackdown in Donald Trumps second term. On Friday, DHS said the shooting on South Padre Island last March occurred after the driver intentionally struck an agent. Read the full story Anger as Trump FDA retreats from plan to ban artificial colors in food In a further retreat from its pledge to ban artificial dyes from food, Donald Trumps Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would loosen labeling requirements to allow companies to state no artificial colors, even though products may contain some dangerous substances such as titanium dioxide. Read the full story US envoy Mike Huckabee says it would be fine if Israel took all Middle East land The USs ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has contended to the podcaster Tucker Carlson that Israel has a biblical right to take over the entire Middle East or at least the lions share of it. It would be fine if they took it all, Huckabee said to Carlson during an interview posted on Friday. Read the full story Florida Republicans pass bill renaming West Palm Beach airport after Trump Democrats in Florida have condemned Republican colleagues in the state legislature who approved renaming the airport in West Palm Beach to the President Donald J Trump International Airport, less than a week after lawyers for Trump sought to trademark the name. Read the full story New Mexico to reopen inquiry into Epsteins ranch amid pressure campaign New Mexico will reopen its investigation into Jeffrey Epsteins Zorro ranch in the state after a public pressure campaign for a fuller accounting of the role the location played in the late financiers sex-trafficking conspiracy. Read the full story What else happened today: Catching up? Heres what happened on 19 February 2026. Donald Trump speaks at the White House on 20 February 2026. Photograph: Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock (Photograph: Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock) Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would raise a temporary tariff rate on US imports from all countries from 10% to 15%, less than 24 hours after the US supreme court ruled against the legality of his flagship trade policy. Infuriated by the high courts ruling on Friday that he had exceeded his authority and should have got congressional approval for the tariffs he introduced last year under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the US president railed against the justices who struck down his use of tariffs calling them a disgrace to the nation and ordered an immediate 10% tariff on all imports, in addition to any existing levies, under a separate law. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday announcing the further increase, Trump wrote: I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ripping the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level. Related: US businesses clamor for refunds after supreme court strikes down Trumps tariffs The law according to section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 which has never been used allows the president to impose a levy of up to 15% for 150 days, although it could face legal challenges. After that, the administration has to seek congressional approval. During that 150-day period, his administration will work on issuing new and legally permissible tariffs, Trump said. While Trumps announcement claimed that the new tariffs would take effect immediately, it was unclear whether any official documents had been signed confirming the timing. A White House fact sheet issued on Friday regarding the original 10% tariffs said the levies would go into effect at 12.01am ET on Tuesday, 24 February. German chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday that he would travel to Washington with a coordinated European position after the US supreme courts blow to Trumps tariff agenda, and warned of the poison of more uncertainty. He said that he expected the burden on German companies to ease after the supreme courts ruling but added: I want to try to make it clear to the American government that tariffs harm everyone. The biggest poison for the economies of Europe and the US is this constant uncertainty about tariffs. And this uncertainty must end, Merz said. French president Emmanuel Macron told journalists in Paris: It is not bad to have a supreme court and, therefore, the rule of law. It is good to have power and counterweights to power in democracies. He said France would consider the consequences of Trumps new global tariff and that the fairest rule was reciprocity and not to be subjected to unilateral decisions. The new 15% tax rate also raises fresh questions for countries such as the UK, which had previously agreed to a 10% tariff with the US. William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chamber of Commerce, said of the latest hike: This will be bad for trade, bad for US consumers and businesses, and weaken global economic growth. Businesses on both sides of the Atlantic need a period of clarity and certainty. Higher tariffs are not the way to achieve that. Some products will be exempted from the temporary tariffs including critical minerals, metals and pharmaceuticals. Other exemptions include USMCA-compliant goods from Canada and Mexico. Meanwhile, the supreme courts ruling doesnt affect separate, industry-specific tariffs that Trump slapped on steel, aluminum, lumber and autos under a different US law, which remain in place. Trump has pursued his aggressive tariff policies in a bid to revitalize US manufacturing. The US has already collected at least $130bn in tariffs using the IEEPA, according to the most recent government data. However, studies show that the vast majority of that sum 90% has been paid by US businesses and consumers. Top associations of US businesses have already begun clamoring for refunds from the federal government, but Trump indicated on Friday that reimbursements would not come without a lengthy legal battle. Also on Saturday, Trump continued to lambast the supreme courts 6-3 ruling as ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American in his Truth Social post, following unusually personal attacks directed at justices the day before. At the White House on Friday, Trump told reporters: Im ashamed of certain members of the court. Absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do whats right for our country. He praised the three justices who dissented in the opinion: Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote the main dissent, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. He was scathing in his remarks about the others including two of his appointees, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch. Theyre just being fools and lapdogs for the Rinos [Republicans in name only] and the radical-left Democrats, and not that they should have anything at all to do with it, Trump said. Theyre very unpatriotic and disloyal to our constitution. He called Barrett and Gorsuch an embarrassment to their families and said they were barely invited to the State of the Union address next week. While President Donald Trump and his top advisers are mulling military strikes on Iran, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has been busy doing bench presses in the gym. The Defense Secretary featured in a series of videos on official U.S. government social media accounts this week, showing off his skills. Gotta keep the butt down, Hegseth advised viewers before he racked weights, in one clip posted on the Department of War Rapid Response X account. In another video shared Friday Hegseth, a military veteran, was cheered on by troops at Fort Campbell as he bench-pressed in front of them. Several clips of Hegseth working out, including where he tried to bench press 300lbs with his teenage son spotting him, were shared on his X account and the rapid response account between Thursday and Saturday. The warrior ethos is alive and well at Fort Campbell, Hegseth captioned a post Saturday with photos of him holding an ax, addressing troops beneath a banner that read Let valor not fail, and again working out. While President Donald Trump and his top advisers have been mulling military strikes on Iran, his so-called Secretary of War has been busy doing bench presses in the gym (@DOWRapidResponse/X) Hegseths three days of fitspo content come as Trump has held high-stakes talks with top officials, including Marco Rubio and special envoy Jared Kushner (Getty Images) Hegseths fitspo content was posted as Trump told reporters Friday that he is considering ordering airstrikes on Iran. As Trump moves the military closer to war with Iran there is this, CNNs Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr commented on the video of Hegseth pumping iron with his son. Starrs sentiment was shared among other social media users. Doesnt really look like hes invading Iran today, quipped one account. Bro, go do your job said another. Hes the secretary of war not a fitness influencer, one person commented. I know for a fact Irans [sic] SecWar can't bench 315, someone else joked. But Hegseths fans chimed in with support. Ok to be fair, its [sic] nice having a Secretary of War bench 315, one person noted. 315 is respectable, another pointed out. In another video shared Friday, Hegseth, a military veteran, was cheered on by troops at his former base Fort Campbell as he bench-pressed in front of them (@SecWar/X) Hegseths gym sessions at Fort Campbell follow a similar display he put on Wednesday with Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads up the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, at the TV personalitys Palm Beach, Florida, residence. Secretary @PeteHegseth visited us for a beachside brunch he can turn a leisurely afternoon into a MAHA extravaganza with tree pull-ups, a cold plunge, and a Mediterranean feast! Oz posted Wednesday on X, with pictures of the pair doing pull-ups on palm trees. In the same week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also shared a bizarre video where he worked out in nothing but a pair of jeans with musician Kid Rock. Trump met Wednesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, special envoy for the Middle East, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, a special envoy for peace, according to Axios. The group discussed next steps in the Iran crisis with Trump after the U.S delegation returned from high-stakes talks in Geneva. The president told reporters Friday that he is considering airstrikes on Iran to pressure the countrys government into a new agreement to curb its nuclear program - one which Trump claimed to have obliterated with a series of strikes last year. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pictured this week doing pull-ups on a palm tree in Palm Beach, Florida, with Dr. Mehmet Oz who heads up the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (Dr Mehmet Oz) I guess I can say I am considering that, Trump said, when asked by reporters if he was considering limited strikes with U.S. warplanes. The U.S. has been building up military assets in the Middle East as tensions grow with Tehran. The U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was spotted off the coast of Oman this week and will soon be joined by the worlds largest warship, the $13bn U.S.S. Gerald R Ford. The ongoing buildup has seen destroyers and specialist combat ships move to cover Irans southern flank as F-15 and EA-18 fighter jets gather numbers across military bases to the west. At a Thursday meeting to promote Trumps Board of Peace, where he also touted efforts in ending Israels war in Gaza, the president warned that Tehran must reach an agreement with the U.S. on curbing its nuclear program or risk bad things. Not everyone in the Trump administration is supportive of military strikes, according to Reuters, citing a senior White House official who said Saturday there was no unified support in launching an attack on Iran. Aides instead want the president to focus on pushing economic matters ahead of the 2026 midterms, according to the news agency. President Donald Trump vowed Saturday to raise worldwide tariffs to 15 percent effective immediately, in a Truth Social post. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trumps sweeping global tariffs, ushered in under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, were unlawfully imposed. The president had used the act to charge huge levies on countries, including 50 percent on India, which was later reduced, and 34 percent on China. Speaking from the White House briefing room after the ruling Friday, a seething Trump called the 6-3 Supreme Court decision deeply disappointing and said he was absolutely ashamed of the Republican appointees on the court whod failed to back his signature policy. By Friday night, the president posted on Truth Social that he signed an executive order enabling him to bypass Congress and impose a 10 percent tax on imports from around the world. It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately, Trump wrote. Less than 24 hours later, Trump said he was bumping up the tariffs to 15 percent based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday. President Donald Trump, pictured Friday, vowed to raise worldwide tariffs to 15 percent, up from 10 percent, effective immediately (AFP/Getty) Please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ripping the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level. During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again - GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!! the president wrote on his social media platform. The White House shared the presidents latest Truth Social on 15 percent tariffs to its official X account Saturday. Trump also hailed conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh his new hero after he sided with the president, as did Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. My new hero is United States Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and, of course, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, Trump said in another Truth Social post. There is no doubt in anyones mind that they want to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The 15 percent import tariffs have caused further confusion for Americas trading partners, including the U.K. Will Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said the tariffs are bad for trade, bad for U.S. consumers and businesses. Businesses on both sides of the Atlantic need a period of clarity and certainty, Bain said. Higher tariffs are not the way to achieve that. A spokesperson for the U.K. government said it would continue to support businesses as more details were announced. Under any scenario, we expect our privileged trading position with the U.S. to continue and will work with the administration to understand how the ruling will affect tariffs for the U.K. and the rest of the world, the spokesperson said. The Supreme Court ruling is a blow to Trump, who used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to charge huge levies on countries, including 50 percent on India, which was later reduced, and 34 percent on China (Getty Images) Democrats, meanwhile, blasted Trump for bumping the tariff up to 15 percent, characterizing it as a tax on the American people. Donald Trump just announced a NEW 15% TAX on the American people, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a post on X. He does not care about you. When someone illegally takes your money, thats called stealing, added Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Donald Trump stole your money with his illegal tariffs and you paid higher prices on everything from housing to groceries. Its time for Trump to pay up and give back your money. Rep. Ted Lieu of California called the president a crybaby and quipped that Trump woke up this morning and still feels hurt from the Supreme Court defeat. So hes taking it out on the American people by increasing his 10% tax increase to 15%, said Lieu. These temporary tariffs will be challenged in court and Democrats will kill them when they expire. After the courts decision, Trump announced he would instead use the 1974 Trade Act to continue his tariff agenda. But the Trade Act only allows a maximum tariff of 15 percent and comes with a limit of 150 days, unless Congress votes to extend it. The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in a 6-3 decision Friday. Conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, both appointed by Trump, joined Roberts as well as liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in ruling against the president. Trump and his aides had expected a negative ruling in the case for months and have been preparing other authorities for taxing imports which, like tariffs, are ultimately shouldered by consumers. But those other avenues are far more limited than the broad powers Trump had asserted for himself. The president has also threatened to invoke Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act to impose as much as a 50 percent tax on imports from countries that discriminate against American products. That portion of the U.S. Code has its roots in the infamous Smoot-Hawley tariff enacted during the Great Depression with the effect of worsening the economic devastation caused by the stock market crash a year earlier and has never been used by a president in the modern era. The ruling does not impact all of Trumps tariffs, just those brought under the 1970s law. That includes reciprocal tariffs on other countries since he announced that policy during an April event on what hed dubbed Liberation Day as well as tariffs specifically imposed on Canada, China and Mexico to stop the flow of fentanyl. Tariffs imposed on specific sectors, such as aluminum or steel some of which date back to his first term can remain in place. Ariana Baio and Andrew Feinberg contributed to this report Credit:X/@DenShtilierman Ukraine hit a factory that produces some of Moscows most sophisticated ballistic missile systems more than 1,400km (870 miles) behind Russian lines. The Ukrainian general staff said in a statement that FP-5 Flamingo ground-launched cruise missiles had been used to hit the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant in the Udmurt Republic, one of Russias most important facilities for producing solid-fuel ballistic missiles. The plant produces the short-range mobile Iskander-M missiles that have often been used in attacks on Ukraine, as well as vaunted intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of carrying nuclear warheads all the way to the US. It is thought to produce the nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik ICBM that Vladimir Putin boasted could not be destroyed or intercepted when launched, as it travels at 10 times the speed of sound. Eleven people were hurt in Ukraines attack, three of whom were taken to hospital, said Sergei Bagin, the local health minister. Alexander Brechalov, the regional head, said that an unspecified facility had been attacked by drones but did not offer any further details. Footage from locals circulated on Russian Telegram channels showed windows shattered in nearby buildings and a huge fire raging, with smoke billowing from the territory of the plant. Credit: X/@Exilenova_plus The Flamingo missile is Ukraines domestically made flagship missile, with a range of up to 3,000km. It carries a warhead weighing around 1,150kg, developed by defence firm Fire Point. Ahead of the strike, Denys Shtilierman, the Fire Point co-owner, posted a short teaser-style clip showing the launch of a Flamingo missile captioned: Context later. The Votkinsk plant is under sanctions from the UK, US, EU, Switzerland, Australia, Japan and Ukraine. Ukraines general staff said it had also struck the Neftegorsk gas processing plant in Russias Samara region and a fuel and lubricants warehouse and drone workshop in the occupied Donetsk region overnight. At least 15 people were injured across Ukraine overnight in Russian missile and drone attacks on Odesa and Sumy, which hit apartment blocks, houses, a warehouse, energy substations and a school. In Kherson, a drone attacked a civilian minibus, injuring three people, including its 71-year-old driver. The attacks came days after the conclusion of the third round of direct Washington-brokered peace talks between representatives of Moscow and Kyiv, which took place in Geneva. Despite both sides reportedly agreeing not to speak about the progress of talks publicly, a source told journalists that the first day had been very tense, while a second day of negotiations ended prematurely after only two hours. The Russian delegation continued to pursue hard-line demands for Kyiv to surrender the eastern Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as Vladimir Medinsky, a Kremlin aide tasked with leading the discussions, said they had been tough but businesslike. 2202 Russian missile factory Mr Medinksy is an ultranationalist populist historian who served as Putins culture minister and has rejected Ukraines sovereignty based on Russian history. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, also appeared to vent his frustrations following the talks, writing on X on Thursday: I dont need historical sh-- to end this war and move to diplomacy. Because its just a delay tactic. The discussions yielded no breakthrough on ending hostilities or a further moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure, which have left millions of Ukrainians without heat or electricity throughout a freezing winter. However, one Ukrainian negotiator said that the two sides had made progress on the technical steps of implementing a ceasefire such as disengagement, monitoring and verification of any truce. Slovak PMs electricity threat On Saturday, Robert Fico, the Slovak prime minister, threatened to cut off emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv fails to resume pumping Russian oil to Slovakia over its territory. Kremlin ally Slovakia, along with Hungary, continues to rely on Russian crude shipped via the Soviet-era Druzhba (friendship) pipeline over Ukraine, which has been cut off since Jan 27 when Kyiv said it was hit by a Russian strike. Both countries have accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up oil shipments, without providing any evidence for this claim. Kyiv has proposed alternative transit routes while the repair works are under way. Hungary, in turn, has threatened to veto the EUs 90bn (78bn) loan to Ukraine until the flow of Russian oil restarts. The European Commission convened for emergency talks earlier this week to resolve the dispute. As Russias closest ally in the bloc, Hungary has frequently threatened to choke Europes financial support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Kyivs forces were gaining ground in counterattacks along the southern frontline. I wont go into too many details, Zelenskyy told AFP of the advances, but today I can congratulate our army first and foremost all the defence forces because as of today, 300 [square] kilometres have been liberated. He did not say over what timeframe and the claim could not be verified. Military bloggers have suggested some of those gains could have been aided by sweeping outages of Elon Musks Starlink internet terminals across the Ukraine front. Zelenskyy said Kyiv was taking advantage of the situation but conceded that Ukrainian forces had also experienced interruptions due to the outages. There are problems, there are challenges, he said. Donald Trump has increased global tariffs to 15% just a day after the Supreme Court overturned his sweeping import taxes. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that over "the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs". Initially, the US President said he would impose a 10% levy after the US Supreme Court struck down his previous import taxes on Friday. But in the post on social media today, Trump said that he would be increasing this to the higher rate effective immediately. Britains biggest business organisation, the British Chamber of Commerce, warned the move by the US president would deal a further blow to UK businesses. The organisation expressed dismay at the announcement and urged the Government to continue dialogue with US counterparts to keep the UK's competitive advantage. "We had feared that the President's plan B response could be worse for British businesses and so it is proving," William Bain, head of trade policy at the BCC said. "This means an extra 5% increase in tariffs on a wide range of UK goods exports to the US, except those covered under the Economic Prosperity Deal. "This will be bad for trade, bad for US consumers and businesses and weaken global economic growth. Businesses on both sides of the Atlantic need a period of clarity and certainty. Higher tariffs are not the way to achieve that." In a 63 decision, the US Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs under legislation intended for national emergencies, stating that congressional approval is required to levy taxes on imports. The president described the Supreme Courts decision as deeply disappointing. Today, he escalated his criticism, branding the ruling ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American. The judgment may have weakened Trumps use of tariffs as a diplomatic pressure tool, though it has not eliminated it entirely. Mr Trump signed an executive order on Friday night that enabled him to bypass Congress and impose a 10% tax on imports from around the world, after his "reciprocal tariffs", introduced under an emergency powers law in April, were overturned by the Supreme Court. Britain had received the lowest tariff rate of 10%, and a subsequent agreement struck by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump saw further carve-outs for the country's steel industry and car manufacturers. Questions remain over the implications for the UK, although officials are understood to believe the changes will not have an impact on most of Britain's trade with America, including preferential arrangements on steel, cars and pharmaceuticals. The UK Government repeated its assertion that it expects Britain's "privileged trading position with the US" to continue when asked about the announcement of a new 15% rate. In his post on Saturday, the US President said: "Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been "ripping" the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level." A Government spokesperson said: "This is a matter for the US to determine but we will continue to support UK businesses as further details are announced. "Under any scenario, we expect our privileged trading position with the US to continue and will work with the administration to understand how the ruling will affect tariffs for the UK and the rest of the world." Friedrich Engels is to have a museum dedicated to him in Primrose Hill - Print Collector/Getty A museum dedicated to Friedrich Engels is set to open at his former home in north London. Librarian Caroline Amy Read bequeathed the Primrose Hill home where the Communist Manifesto co-author spent 24 years of his life to a trust that wants to transform the property. Under the Amy Read Trusts plans, the home in Regents Park Road will be converted into Engels House and consist of a museum and community meeting space. The trust says that young people will be able to learn about the history of the working-class struggle, gender equality, and international solidarity, through regular talks, debates and exhibitions. But residents in Primrose Hill and local politicians have questioned the suitability of the location. The home in Primrose Hill where Friedrich Engels lived for 24 years - Dylan Garcia/Alamy One neighbour, who lives very close to the property, told The Telegraph: We get enough visitors to the area as it is. Opening the property up to the public will certainly attract larger crowds. While many can understand the reasoning behind the idea because it was Engelss former home, I know a few people, including myself, are worried that the street will become known for being a place where the extreme Left congregate. Surely, a blue plaque to remember the property is enough. Another business owner added: I wasnt aware of the plans, its an interesting idea. But I think there needs to be a thorough consideration of what is to be offered at Engelss House. According to the Camden New Journal, other residents say they are concerned about a central hub for the loony Left opening on the street. Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group in the London Assembly, said: Im not surprised that some local residents would be concerned about a property that could attract mass gatherings. Personally, I would hate what appears to be a quiet residential area turned into a gathering point for what some would call the loony Left! A bit cultural Jonathan Schofield, a writer and guide who runs Engels tours of Manchester, said: If [the trust] can strike a nice balance between a museum and be open-minded about communism and its foundations, I think they can get the neighbours on board. But Doro Marden, a trustee of the Primrose Hill Community Association, said: I think it would be great to have more things that are a bit cultural and alternative around here. Engels lived there for a long time. Moving to London to be closer to his friend Karl Marx, Engels lived in the property with his partner, Lizzie Burns. He opened up his home on Sundays for political debate among international socialists. He took daily walks in Primrose Hill while living at the property between 1870 and 1894, and was monitored by the security services during his time in London. Before living in London, Engels spent his time in Manchester and, along with Marx, planned the Communist Manifesto at Chethams Library. Engels also used the library to research his influential work The Condition of the Working Class in England. The directors of the trust include Andrew Murray, Jeremy Corbyns former adviser, and Dr Kate Hudson, vice-president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Explaining the plans, Meg Ryan, a co-founder of Show Racism the Red Card and close friend of Ms Read, said: We want to mirror what Engels did while he was living in the house. He opened it up to the people for regular debates, and often with people that he didnt necessarily agree with. We want to use it to make the world a better place. A public consultation on the plans was held this week and a planning application is set to be submitted to Camden council in due course. Nigel Farage has accused the British Government of trying to thwart a mission to send aid to Chagos islanders. The leader of Reform UK flew to the Maldives last week with equipment to assist four Chagossians who are attempting to establish a permanent base on a deserted island in the archipelago, and establish a colony in their former homeland. A boat with Mr Farage on board, and carrying food and medicines, was due to make the 24-hour journey to the island, Ile du Coin, about 300 miles south of the Maldives. But The Telegraph understands the plans have been thwarted by threats, mechanical problems and an insistence by UK authorities that only trained crew should be on board. The Reform leader was due to return to the UK on Saturday night, with the boat setting sail without him. He said he had received a phone call from a senior source in the Maldives government warning him that the British authorities wanted him to be prevented from setting foot on Ile du Coin. 2102 Chagos Islands He said: The British Government has made every effort to prevent me heading towards the Chagos Islands. They have asked the Maldives government to stop me from leaving here and setting foot on the boat. This was information conveyed to me by a senior figure in the Maldives government. I cannot believe such an attempt has been made to stop a British citizen from reaching British territory. My source told me the British were very concerned about me and wanted to know why I was here. This trip is a humanitarian mission and I dont want my presence to jeopardise that. About 2,000 people were forcibly removed from the remote archipelago in the late 60s and early 70s to make way for a joint US and UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands. The islands are owned by Britain, but under a treaty signed last year not yet ratified the ownership will be ceded to Mauritius. The deal will cost the UK at least 35bn over a century, in lease payments for the base and development funding for Mauritius, which is facing a budget crisis. The agreement was thrown into doubt this week after criticism from Donald Trump, who described it as a blight on our Great Ally. He has also called the deal an act of great stupidity. Credit @guidofawkesstudios/ YouTube Britain has tried in vain to persuade Mr Trump to back the deal, because the US has an effective veto on whether it will proceed. Diego Garcia is considered one of the most strategically important US military bases and has been used for bombing runs into the Middle East. The Chagossian campaigners, with former MP Adam Holloway, arrived on Ile du Coin on Monday having sailed from Sri Lanka to try to establish a permanent settlement. British authorities served them with eviction papers, warning them to leave or face a possible jail sentence. A court in the UK put a block on the deportation order, giving them respite. But with supplies running out, there are fears for the health of Michel Mandarin, 74, who was born on the islands but forcibly removed when he was 14. His son Misley Mandarin is the leader of the group. The yacht carrying aid and food to the four men cannot reach the islands without permission from the British Indian Ocean Territory, which administers the archipelago. There are no commercial flights to the islands and permits for yachts are issued only to allow safe passage through the Indian Ocean. The Telegraph understands the boat taking supplies to the islanders will be allowed to do so, provided aid specialists are on board. Farage: Government eviction plan upsetting It is understood Mr Farages presence risked putting the voyage in doubt, given his status as a senior politician who has kickstarted a campaign to stop the deal and who wants to see Chagossians allowed to return to their homeland in large numbers. He said it was upsetting that the British Government wanted to evict Mr Mandarin from his homeland for a second time. Mr Mandarin, who has health problems, has insisted he wants to die on the island. The Maldives, which is much closer to the Chagos Islands than Mauritius, is opposed to the deal and claims it should own them. The Maldives National Defence Force has deployed a coast guard ship its largest naval asset to patrol the waters north of the Chagos archipelago. It is unclear whether the deployment is intended to give safe passage to the Chagossians ship before it reaches the British exclusion zone around the islands. The Foreign Office was approached for comment. Paramedics and police attend to victims on London Bridge after the attack in June 2017 One of the first police officers on the scene of a terrorist attack in London has been sacked for sending offensive messages in a WhatsApp group. Det Con Mark Luker of the British Transport Police used the word pikey in messages about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, a misconduct panel heard. Mr Luker also used the term dags, referencing a scene in Snatch, a film directed by Guy Ritchie, in which one character struggles to understand anothers accent when he mentions dogs. In another message, he referred to scrap metal, lead roofing and cable, which he accepted was a joke to associate theft with the Irish Traveller community, the panel was told. The panel concluded he probably knew the language was offensive to a minority community and ruled it gross misconduct. In 2024, Mr Luker was one of the investigators in a police team that arrested a serial sex offender targeting lone women on trains between Cambridge and London. Messages linked Traveller community to theft A year earlier, he received a British Transport Police Federation Award on behalf of his major, serious and organised crime (MSOC) team for reviewing unsolved rapes. It led to a conviction in at least one particularly distressing case. The misconduct panel heard that Mr Luker was in a WhatsApp group called Selbie Gumshoes with other members of the MSOC team. The panel was told that, on Dec 31 2024, during a conversation about someone winning a bottle of whisky with a security tag attached, he wrote: Was this a raffle on a certain kind of site? Lots of mobile type homes? Lots of Dags. He then added: You are the MSOC pikey liaison. The panel found that these were deliberate messages, that clearly link the Irish Traveller community to acts of theft. It added that the use of the word dags in the messages was derogatory as it referred to a scene in Snatch where an Irish Traveller characters accent was mocked. Off to find some scrap metal On March 17 2025, another group member shared a video of Paddy Day parade, with the message just like a Disney World Parade. They know how to put on a show, the panel heard. Mr Luker replied: Off to find some scrap metal, lead roofing and cable, the panel was told. The panel concluded that this was deliberate and discriminatory in linking the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community to theft. On March 27 2025, he used the word pikey again, which the panel found to be disrespectful. Mr Luker said that he was one of the first responders to the 2017 London Bridge terror attack and one of his coping mechanisms for dealing with the day involved the use of humour. He said he did not intend for the word pikey in the messages to be offensive. The panel accepted that Mr Luker was not inherently racist. It wrote: As an experienced BTP police officer used to dealing with a whole range of people, the panel found that, on the balance of probabilities, he probably would have known that this was an especially offensive use of language directed towards members of a minority community. Police at the Jamia Masjid in Smethwick, West Midlands, the scene of a knife murder - British News and Media / Alamy A murder investigation has been launched after a teenager was stabbed to death outside a mosque in Smethwick, West Midlands. Police responded to reports of disorder outside the Jamia Masjid at around 9pm on Friday and found an 18-year-old with serious injuries who later died. Two other men aged 19 and 22 were taken to hospital, although their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. Footage showed ambulances and police cars rushing to the incident on Oldbury Road with their lights flashing. Worshippers were shocked at news of the stabbing - British News and Media/Alamy Witnesses, who were at the mosque for Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan, described the scene as horrible. Syed Ahmad, 48, said: I came here at 7.40pm for Isha Namaz, for one-and-a-half hours. I came out at 9.20pm and there was police and ambulances. On the corner there was police and doctors. It was horrible. People were crying just young guys. The incident happened as worshippers were leaving the mosque after prayers. Forensics staff examine the crime scene - British News and Media/Alamy Police told the worshippers to go back inside the mosque as they sealed off the area, a 52-year-old witness said. We were very panicked, we were shocked. I walked home last night, he told local media. Worshippers returned to the mosque on Saturday to collect their cars. Police set up a tent in the car park and forensics officers were seen working at the scene. Detectives were reported on Saturday to be trying to obtain CCTV footage from nearby business, including a Texaco fuel station, a gym and an industrial estate. Friday prayers were being held at the Jamia Masjid when the incident happened - British News and Media/Alamy No arrests had been made, but West Midlands Police urged anyone with information, including mobile phone or dashcam footage, to come forward. We understand how deeply distressing and concerning this incident is, and we will have extra officers in the area over the coming days to offer reassurance to the community, it said. The force said the incident was not being treated as religiously or racially motivated. FILE - An alpinist is seen on his way to the cross on the summit of the 'Gross Glockner' mountain, right, on Austrian province of Easttyrol, on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson, File) VIENNA (AP) An Austrian court has convicted a man of manslaughter caused by gross negligence after his girlfriend froze to death as the couple attempted to climb the country's highest peak last year. The 37-year-old defendant was given a five-month suspended sentence and a 9,600-euro ($11,300) fine in a verdict handed down by the Innsbruck state court Thursday night after a one-day trial, the Austria Press Agency reported. The court did not identify him, in keeping with local privacy rules. The man and his 33-year-old girlfriend set out to climb the Grossglockner in western Austria in January 2025. Prosecutors said that she died about 50 meters (164 feet) below the 3,798-meter (12,460-foot) peak after he left her behind. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Norbert Hofer said that the defendant had misjudged the situation on the mountain but had not wilfully left behind his girlfriend whose knowledge of mountaineering, he said, was galaxies short of the man's own. The sentence was well short of the maximum three years in prison. Advertisement I don't see you as a murderer, I don't see you as a cold-hearted man, he said, alluding to social media posts about the case. I see you as the one who ultimately tried to call help and stand by his girlfriend. However, the judge said that the defendant had failed to take his leadership responsibility. He said the woman would almost certainly have survived if the appropriate measures had been taken, for example making an emergency call earlier or turning back. The defendant told the court he was endlessly sorry," APA reported. He said that the couple had made all their decisions together and planned their climbs together, including the Grossglockner climb. He argued that he himself had no formal Alpine training and that his girlfriend's knowledge wasn't far short of his own. He said she had been in good condition when a police helicopter flew over the couple earlier in the climb and he couldn't explain her rapid deterioration. He said he had descended to seek help after consulting with her. The verdict can be appealed. Rhode Island is no stranger to the British Royal Family. A number of royals have visited over the years. Queen Elizabeth II visited in 1976, as part of Americas Bicentennial, before heading on to New York. King Charles III visited Newport, in the summer of 1996, to give a speech at a 250-guest, $500-a-ticket fundraiser for the Mary Rose Trust. The trust runs a museum and cares for artifacts from the Mary Rose, a 16th-century British warship that sank off the coast of England. He also sailed aboard the Shamrock V, a former Americas Cup entry, while talking to 30 VIPs on board. Advertisement And Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, visited in 1983 and caught some of the Americas Cup race, as well as visiting the Newport mansions and the Naval War College and meeting with the governor. 1 / 0 See photos from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's 1983 visit to RI 1983: In the co-pilot's seat, Prince Andrew leaves Newport for a two-week vacation in Canada. British police arrested Mountbatten-Windsor on Feb. 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public life. He has faced intense scrutiny over his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, has denied any wrongdoing and said he regrets the friendship. He has not responded to requests for comment following the latest Epstein files published by the U.S. Justice Department. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Prince Andrew's Rhode Island visit and recent arrest Thomas Plamberger, a climber accused of leaving his girlfriend to a fatal end on a 12,461 ft (3,798 m) mountain, shared her last words to him during a court hearing. 33-year-old Kerstin Gurtner passed away on January 19 while climbing Austrias highest peak, Grossglockner, situated on the Hohe Tauern range in the Central Eastern Alps. Her body was recovered just 160 ft (50 m) below the summit, several hours after Plamberger left her alone. A month of investigation into the matter led to Plamberger, the more experienced of the two climbers, being charged with grossly negligent manslaughter. What a terrible man, one user said about the incident. May her soul rest in peace. She deserved better. Thomas Plamberger revealed his girlfriends last words before she succumbed to extreme conditions Image credits: Facebook As Bored Panda previously reported, Plamberger, 39, abandoned his girlfriend on the mountain at around 2 a.m. to seek help. He left her defenceless, exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented, according to Senior Public Prosecutor Hansjorg Mayr. Before that, he reportedly called the Alpine police at 1:35 a.m., but did not inform them that Gurtner had said she could not continue the trek. Plamberger pleaded not guilty to the accusations, as his lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, argued that his departure was a mutual agreement. Image credits: Kerstin Gurtner Memorial Go, now go, were Gurtners last words to him, Plamberger claimed during the trial at an Innsbruck courtroom on February 19. It was alleged at the hearing that Plamberger had waited too long to call for help and did not answer when rescuers attempted to reach him. According to The Daily Mail, he had switched it off. Image credits: DEA / ALBERT CEOLAN At around 2:30 a.m., a webcam captured him descending, and an hour later, he contacted rescue officials. Help came after another 3.5 hours. At 10 a.m., rescuers finally reached Gurtner on the mountain, but it was too late. She was hanging from the rock face, already frozen and deceased. Prosecutors accused Thomas Plamberger of nine critical errors that caused the tragedy Image credits: Facebook She was not found at the location where Plamberger claimed to have left her, said the head of the mountain rescue team. It was certainly not a pretty sight for us when the woman was found, he said at the hearing. Gurtner was reportedly stranded in freezing conditions, with a wind chill of -17F (-27 C) and winds of up to 45 mph. The couple allegedly got stuck the night before, at around 9 p.m., but Plamberger did not send any distress signal, even though a police helicopter flew nearby a couple of hours later, according to Heute. Image credits: Bild/Joerg Voelkerling This was among the nine critical errors the public prosecutor accused him of, including failure to carry sufficient equipment, starting the climb too late at night, and not leaving Gurtner at a better-protected spot or with a bivouac sack or aluminium rescue blankets. Image credits: Facebook Plamberger, who served in the Austrian army, claimed in court that he was not a mountain guide but an amateur mountaineer. Even though he had climbed the Grossglockner 14-15 times, his experience was self-taught. Thomas Plamberger was found guilty despite his girlfriends mothers support On February 19, Plamberger was handed a suspended five-month prison sentence. He was also fined 9,600 ($11,297). Advertisement In a suspended prison sentence, the imprisonment takes effect only if the defendant commits another offense punishable by imprisonment within a specified period or fails to comply with any other court-ordered conditions. Image credits: Foto Webcam Eu Gurtners mother, who took the boyfriends side in the argument, said it was unfair how he was being treated. Theres a witch hunt against him in the media and online, she told Die Zeit, after disclosing that Kerstin was in top physical condition and had trekked far more difficult routes before. It makes me angry that Kerstin is being portrayed as a stupid little thing. Image credits: Kerstin Gurtner Memorial A surprise prosecution witness, Plambergers ex-girlfriend Andrea Bergener, was believed to be a turning point in the case. She said that during their relationship, he had left her alone on a climb on the same mountain, Grossglockner, while she was feeling dizzy. Judge Norbert Hofer, who presided over the trial and is also an emergency mountain rescuer, showed sympathy for Plamberger but also chastised him for negligence. Image credits: DER STANDARD Mr. Plemberger, you have borne an incredible burden. You lost a person, Hofer said to The New York Times. You are an excellent alpinist, but someone who finds it very difficult to make the switch between your own limits and those of others. I am infinitely sorry for what happened, Plamberger stated during the hearing. He said he had lost the person he loved the most. Thomas Plamberger was found guilty in the court of public opinion as well Image credits: Kerstin Gurtner Memorial The outcome of the case fell in line with a principle in Germanic law named Garantenstellung, which establishes a responsibility and liability of duty of care toward anyone in the range of the situation. Only 5 months? I thought manslaughter would be more serious, one user said. Another wrote, Hes got off easy. All the steps he took/didnt take pointed to a premeditated attempt or high negligence. Once is an unfortunate event, another said, referring to Bergeners statement. Twice is intentional. Basically a POS who abandons people when things get tough, one individual commented. Mountaineering-related demises are not rare in Austria. In 2024, 309 people lost their lives in the Austrian mountains, a 14% increase from the 271 casualties in 2023, according to an Alpinmesse review. The highest percentage (58%) of fatalities in the European Alps occurs in Austria, followed by Germany (28%) and the Netherlands (3%). Severin Glaser, a professor of criminal law at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, suggested to The New York Times that the verdict could prompt a change in Austrias mountaineering laws. This could shift the responsibility for yourself if youre doing something dangerous, he said. The costs of mountaineering, the costs of expressing your freedom might rise, and maybe some people are not willing any more to pay this higher price. Her mothers response is bizarre. Social media weighed in on Thomas Plamberger leaving his girlfriend alone to freeze at the top of the Alps. A leading domestic energy advocacy group praised EPA Administrator Lee Zeldins announcement that his agency would undo recent additions to the federal "mercury and air-toxics standards" (MATS) for coal-fired power plants. Zeldin said removing the restrictions allows the already "robust" MATS standards to remain in effect, ensuring both public health and the health of Americas coal industry amid a push for U.S. energy dominance. "The Biden-Harris Administrations anti-coal regulations sought to regulate out of existence this vital sector of our energy economy. If implemented, these actions would have destroyed reliable American energy," Zeldin said, adding that protecting the environment and supporting industry and baseload power is not a "binary choice." In response, Power the Future founder Daniel Turner told Fox News Digital the move is a significant step toward revitalizing the American coal industry and, in turn, fueling economies in economically depressed industrial communities throughout Appalachia and beyond. Trump Directs Military To Strike New Deals With Coal-fired Power Plants: Going To Be Buying A Lot Of Coal "Since the war on coal, we have weakened our grid, driven electricity prices through the roof, outsourced major industries to Mexico and China, but most of all driven tens of thousands of Americans into ruin because of a globalist agenda," Turner said Friday, adding that the costs of a crippled coal industry went far beyond shuttered infrastructure. Read On The Fox News App "The cruel Obama-led war on coal ruined numerous towns across rural America, drove families into poverty, caused alcoholism, opioid addiction, domestic violence, and suicide to skyrocket. "Power The Future started because of coal miners, the acceptable casualties in the globalist climate change agenda," added Turner, whose group is based in coal-heavy Virginia. Epa Chief Wraps National Tour As Critics Slam Deregulation Agenda "Restoring Americas coal dominance is good for our national security and economy, and it restores the dignity of small-town coal workers whose labor is vital to Americas survival." Many of Americas poorest counties are in what were once very wealthy coal communities, including McDowell and Mingo counties in West Virginia and Bell, Letcher, McCreary and Breathitt counties in Kentucky, where Vice President JD Vances family is from. Advertisement During much of the 20th century, McDowell County and its seat, Welch was the No. 1 coal-producing county in the U.S. and home to 100,000 people a population boom some credit with spurring construction of what became the nations first parking deck, which is still standing today in Welch. Trump Admin Relaunches Key Council After Biden Admin Shuttered It: 'Ignorance And Arrogance' Now, about one-quarter of McDowell residents live in poverty while the median income is around $30,000. Turner alluded to those conditions in comments to Fox News Digital, saying people must "never forget or forgive the drivers of the war on coal for their cruel attacks on a vital industry found only in rural America. "[Anti-coal politicians] fly private jets to attend global climate summits while they orchestrated an evil attack on the coal miner making America weaker and China richer." Turner quipped that any "anti-coal activist" is invited to join him in visiting coal-producing communities but may be unhappy to get dirt on their clothing and find lodging not up to "Four Seasons" standards. "We need coal. There is not one product around you right now that was not touched by coal, and to lower prices, bring market stability and ensure economic growth, we need to dominate the coal industry," Turner said. The Mill Creek power plant in Kentucky, where EPA made its announcement. (Getty Images) Click Here To Download The Fox News App "Sadly, the liberal elite who launched the war on coal are too ignorant or too indifferent to know this. The ignorant can be educated, and thats what I try to do at Power The Future. But the indifferent must be defeated, as they are a threat to our liberty, property and prosperity. I will never stop until I defeat them all," he said, calling President Donald Trump the "greatest coal president in history." Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy fired back at the policy change, telling the AP that "by weakening pollution limits and monitoring for brain-damaging mercury and other pollutants, they are actively undermining any attempt to make America and our children healthy." Original article source: EPA scraps Biden coal restrictions, and advocates say move will restore American dominance Traders watch President Donald Trump speak on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images The Supreme Court struck down most of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Friday Business groups hailed the decision. House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed that Republicans would not abandon Trump's trade agenda. The Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to President Donald Trump's trade policy on Friday morning. The court issued a 6-3 decision finding that Trump had exceeded his authority by imposing most of his tariffs under a 1970s law. Trump spoke at a White House press conference on Friday. "It its deeply disappointing," Trump told reporters, adding that some of the Supreme Court justices were "being fools and lapdogs for the RINOS and radical left Democrats." Here's what the smartest people in finance and politics are saying so far. Donald Trump President Donald Trump blasted Supreme Court justices for siding against him. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump issued a stinging rebuke of the Supreme Court for striking down most of his tariffs. "Others think they're being politically correct, which has happened before far too often with members of this court," Trump said. "They are just being fools and lapdogs for the RINOS and radical left Democrats." Trump vowed to press on with his trade agenda, starting with a sweeping 10% global tariff that will be in addition to any existing tariffs. The president has other avenues to impose tariffs, including through Section 232. While he criticized the justices who sided against him, Trump lavished praise on the three who dissented, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas. "I would like to thank Justice Kavanaugh for, frankly, his genius and his great ability," Trump said. Dan Ives Wedbush's Dan Ives said the ruling could be a "net positive" for tech companies if refunds are issued. "With ~$133.5 billion in tariff revenue up for grabs if the US tariff ruling leads to refunds for organizations, we believe this would act as a net positive for tech with financial relief for many companies while creating greater supply chain visibility especially coming from the Asia supply chain," Ives wrote in a note. "This will be a very noisy situation but for the tech space and AI trade it's a net positive out of the gates in our view." Chief Justice John Roberts' ruling did not explicitly address what companies that paid the now-invalidated tariffs may be entitled to. Scott Bessent Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lamented the ruling, adding that it was "unlikely" Americans will ever see tariff refunds. "I got a feeling the American people won't see it," Bessent said during a speech before the Economic Club of Dallas. Like Trump, Bessent noted the administration has other alternatives to impose tariffs. He also echoed the president's point that it may take years to sort out any potential refunds. "My sense is that could be dragged out for weeks, months, years," Bessent said about the coming court fights. Analysts Jefferies analysts said five consumer stocks are poised to get a big boost on the heels of the ruling. The firm's analysts said Signet Jewelers, Yeti, Sharkninja, Nike, and Birkenstock are all set to gain do to "a meaningful margin tailwind." Louis Navellier, in his daily market notes report to investors, wrote that retailers, in particular, saw a "relief rally" caused by the news, but predicted "further volatility going forward as the details of how the billions in tariffs already collected will be dealt with and what Trump's plan 'B' is." Raymond James Washington Policy Analyst Ed Mills said he expects any sort of refund process to be "lengthy and challenging." "We expect that the process for firms to receive tariff refunds will be lengthy and challenging, with litigants needing to bring individual cases or participate in class action (vs. automatic refunds)," Mills wrote in a note. Mills added that Costco and other firms have sued to ensure their claims are not invalidated by the US Customs and Border Protection's deadline for disputing tariff bills. Costco's case remains ongoing. Economists Bharat Ramamurti is a member of the COVID-19 Congressional Oversight Commission. Sarah Silbiger/Washington Post via AP pool Former Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Bharat Ramamurti said "rational businesses" should understand that tariffs aren't going away. "The point is that any rational US business is going to anticipate the possibility of new tariffs, which is going to: (a) deter them from passing along any short-term cost savings to consumers; and (b) continue to fuel the uncertainty that is putting a damper on certain forms of business investment in the US," Ramamurti wrote in a post on Substack. The short-term economic impact is unclear, Ramamurti wrote, because the court's opinion did not address major issues like potential refunds. Advertisement On the topic of refunds, Erica York, the vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation, said it should actually be quite easy for the Trump administration to issue refunds. "The IEEPA tariffs have brought in around $160 billion in tariff payments. For context, the IRS refunds taxpayers more than $300 billion in income tax overpayments each year," York wrote on X. "Refunding tariff payments to the importer of record should follow a similar, straightforward process." Jason Calacanis JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images Investor Jason Calacanis said the court's ruling shows why Trump needs to work with Congress to impose tariffs. "MAGA and AFAO loyalists will lose their minds when President @AOC and VP @ZohranKMamdani start using 'emergency powers' to shape their socialist agenda," Calacanis wrote on X. "This is why the Founding Fathers limited executive power and balanced the branches of government." While often supportive of Trump, Calacanis and others in the business and tech space have expressed skepticism of Trump's sweeping tariffs. Business groups The US Chamber of Commerce hailed the court's decision. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call The US Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Federation, and the National Restaurant Association hailed the court's decision. "Swift refunds of the impermissible tariffs will be meaningful for the more than 200,000 small business importers in this country and will help support stronger economic growth this year," Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the US Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. The National Retail Federation called on a lower court "to ensure a seamless process to refund the tariffs." "The refunds will serve as an economic boost and allow companies to reinvest in their operations, their employees and their customers," David French, executive vice president of government relations, said in a statement. The National Restaurant Association urged the Trump administration to "exempt food and beverage products from any new tariffs." Tariff-related uncertainty caused significant hardship for more than 60% of restaurant operators, the trade organization said, as they faced challenges planning their menus and maintaining pricing. "We support the president's efforts to balance trade deficits, but the food and beverage products we depend on are not major contributors to these imbalances," Michelle Korsmo, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, said in a statement. Dominic LeBlanc Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc celebrated the court's ruling, but made clear it is not the final word on all of Trump's tariffs. Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the decision "strengthens" his country's view that Trump's emergency tariffs were "unjustified." "Although Canada has concluded the best trade agreement with the United States among all its trading partners, we recognize that there is still much to be done to support Canadian businesses and workers who continue to be affected by the tariffs imposed under Section 232 on the steel, aluminum, and automotive sectors," LeBlance wrote in a post on X. Notably, Section 232 tariffs are not included in Friday's ruling, underscoring that Trump still has additional tools at his disposal for his trade policy. JD Vance JD Vance Kevin Lamarque-Pool/Getty Images Vice President JD Vance called the decision "lawlessness from the Court." "Today, the Supreme Court decided that Congress, despite giving the president the ability to 'regulate imports,' didn't actually mean it," Vance wrote in a post on X. "This is lawlessness from the Court, plain and simple. And its only effect will be to make it harder for the president to protect American industries and supply chain resiliency." Mike Johnson House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana defended the work of Elon Musk in probing government spending. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans would find a way forward after the setback. "No one can deny that the President's use of tariffs has brought in billions of dollars and created immense leverage for America's trade strategy and for securing strong, reciprocal America-first trade agreements with countries that had been taking advantage of American workers for decades," Johnson said in a statement posted on X. "Congress and the Administration will determine the best path forward in the coming weeks." Hakeem Jeffries Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are projected to gain a majority of seats in the House of Representatives. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries took a victory lap after the ruling. "Donald Trump's failed economic policies and global trade war waged with irresponsible, on-again, off-again tariffs on our allies and trading partners have generated massive uncertainty, threatened the economic well-being of the American people and damaged our country's standing around the world," Jeffries said in a statement. The Top House Democrat said his party will "push back aggressively in Congress" on Trump's tariffs. Despite being in the minority, all but one House Democrat recently joined with six Republicans to approve a largely symbolic rebuke of Trump's emergency tariffs on Canada. It was unclear if the resolution would have passed in the Senate. Trump was widely expected to veto it if it arrived on his desk. The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Trump lacked the power to impose such tariffs on Canada. Correction: February 20, 2026 An earlier version of this story misspelled Hakeem Jeffries' name. Read the original article on Business Insider Related video: Indiana House Committee votes unanimously in favor of victim protection bill HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) An Indiana bill authored by Indiana State Representative Tim OBrien passed the Indiana senate. The bill unanimously passed through the Indiana house and senate chambers. According to OBrien, House bill 1250 will require Indianas Department of Corrections to give law enforcement agencies at least 7 days notice before the release of a violent offender. Rep. OBrien authored the bill following the murder of 74-year-old Susan Haynie last August, when Evansville police say Jamerus Parkman broke into her home and killed her. Parkman was released from prison after serving just 12 of the 35 years he was sentenced to for similar violent offenses including rape. Advertisement The Evansville Police Department was never notified of Parkmans release by other law enforcement agencies at the time. Officials say this bill aims to solve that by requiring notification of law enforcement agencies both where the crime was committed and where the inmate is released. This bill is about ensuring tragedy like this does not happen again. Rep. OBrien said. The bill now heads to Indiana Governor Mike Brauns desk for signature. 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Iowa legislators passed a new bill designed to make AI chatbots safer and more secure for children online. Putting these restrictions in place. Help enable a parent to utilize these tools in an appropriate way. Right now, I dont feel thats a possibility, and that should concern every parent, said Iowa District 7 State Senator Kevin Alons. House Bill 647 was introduced following a tragic incident involving the death of a minor, prompting lawmakers to take swift action. So this bill stems from a horrible situation where somebody was working with a chat box for their homework, and then that chatbot ended up encouraging them to commit suicide, said Iowa District 1 State Representative J.D. Scholten. Story continues below The new law enforces strict safeguards on chatbot developers, placing tough restrictions on the collection and storage of childrens personal information. These provisions aim to better protect young Iowans in the digital space. We really want to put guardrails around just having reasonable age verification and safeguards that establish some guidelines around some of these chatbots, said Scholten. Especially with relations to as kids work more and more with A.I. in this type of scenario. Advertisement Senator Alons is in support of the bill, emphasizing that it will help protect children, who are especially impressionable at a young age. Our children, theyre the future, said Alons. Theyre so impressionable at those young ages, when theyre 8, 10, 12, even up to 17, you know, minor is generally 17 or below. Its we have to balance the risk to them and the risk at large or, you know, some erosion of absolute First Amendment rights to view or to use any and all technology. A key provision of the bill requires age verification for anyone under 18 who attempts to access or purchase chatbots, further raising safety standards for Iowas youth. So if youre under 13 or under 16, but you cant have the same access as somebody whos an adult. You know, were just, were trying to look out for the kids and we can, said Scholten. The bill passed out of committee with unanimous bipartisan support, receiving a 20-0 vote. 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 KCAU 9 News | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. The Supreme Court just struck down President Donald Trumps worldwide tariffs. Contrary to immediate takes on the opinion, Learning Resources v. Trump does not mark a permanent reduction in presidential power. If he chooses, Trump could restore many of his tariffs over the next year under different laws. But Learning Resources should put to bed the lefts attacks on the court and the Constitution, while also highlighting the need for cooperation between the president and Congress in managing foreign affairs. Writing for a 6-3 majority, Chief Justice John Roberts reaffirmed two basic constitutional principles. First, he wrote that the Constitution vests the power to impose tariffs and taxes in Congress alone. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution states that "Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposes and Excises," and "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations." Second, Congress can delegate that power to the president. Congress has enacted a series of trade laws that have. There was no real disagreement among any of the justices on these two fundamental points. Where the justices divided is whether Congress had given the president the power to impose the unique, worldwide, immediate tariffs that he imposed last year. On Liberation Day, April 2025, Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to set targeted tariffs not only on Canada, Mexico and China, but also a universal tariff of at least 10% on all imports. Roberts, joined by a rare coalition of three conservative justices (himself, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett) and three liberal justices (Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson), held that IEEPA did not grant the executive the power to impose tariffs. The majority unduly narrowed the reach of IEEPA. IEEPA grants the power to the president, in the event of an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to American national security, foreign policy or the economy from abroad, to investigate, block, "regulate, direct and compel, nullify, void, prevent or prohibit" economic transactions with another country. Us Tariff Revenue Up 300% Under Trump As Supreme Court Battle Looms The Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (AP Newsroom) Trump declared that the large trade deficit created a national emergency; the court did not touch this aspect of the presidents tariff orders. Instead, the court held that because Congress did not include the specific word "tariff" in IEEPAs list of powers, it had not granted this power to the executive. Read On The Fox News App "The President asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it," Roberts writes. "IEEPAs grant of authority to regulate importation falls short. IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties." This reading pays no attention to the way that the United States has used IEEPA and its predecessor statute, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917. The government, and the lower courts, have long understood the power to "regulate" trade to include the power to impose a complete embargo on hostile nations, such as Cuba, Iran and North Korea. Supreme Court Keeps Nation Waiting On Trump Tariff Decision, Releases 3 Lower-profile Opinions IEEPAs reference to the powers to "regulate" and "prevent" "importation" of foreign goods is quite sufficient to justify the president in imposing tariffs. Indeed, if sufficiently high, tariffs are simply a tool to "prevent or prohibit" such "importation." Nevertheless, Learning Resources will not prevent Trump from succeeding in the end. The decision only says that the administration cannot impose tariffs under the IEEPA statute. But Congress has enacted several trade laws that clearly grant the president the power to impose tariffs. Going by the nicknames of Section 232, Section 301, and Super 301, among others, these laws allow the executive to impose reciprocal tariffs in response to high tariffs on American goods, to sanction unfair trade practice by other countries, or to address a surge of imports in a specific product. And trade law still allows tariffs on specific countries that pose a national security threat to the United States. The Supreme Court did not touch those powers, and, as Trump made clear in his press conference, he intends to re-enact as many of his tariffs as possible under these other laws. Advertisement Bessent Warns Of 'Gigantic Loss' If Supreme Court Strips Trump's Emergency Tariff Powers Beyond the technical reading of trade statutes, and its impact on Trumps economic policies, Learning Resources bears deeper lessons on our constitutional order. First, the decision belies the attacks from the left that the Supreme Court particularly its conservative majority simply rubber stamps the Trump administrations policies. Here, two of Trumps appointments to the Supreme Court, Gorsuch and Barrett, joined Chief Justice Roberts, himself appointed by President George W. Bush, in striking down the Trump tariffs. They were joined by the three justices appointed during the Obama and Biden administrations. These justices did not decide the case because they agree or disagree with tariffs or like or dislike Trump. They simply voted because of the way that they read the IEEPA statutes lack of the word "tariff." Click Here For More Fox News Opinion Second, Learning Resources denies the lefts cries of wolf that the United States is falling under an authoritarian regime. Learning Resources demonstrates, again, that the separation of powers continues to work. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the majority opinion overruling the Trump tariffs. Congress alone has the power to impose tariffs and taxes as part of its overall power of the purse. It can delegate that power to the president; and it has. But when existing statutes are silent, Congress retains the constitutional power to set tariff rates. Trump did not claim a right to impose tariffs unilaterally under his executive power; he continuously argued that Congress simply had given him that power in IEEPA. Even if he reimposes tariffs, he will have to use other trade laws enacted by Congress. Using delegated powers according to the terms set out by Congress does not amount to authoritarianism. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Lastly, Learning Resources points the way for future cooperation between the president and Congress. The dissenters Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh argued that the court should have read IEEPA broadly in order to allow the president to conduct foreign policy and protect the national security. While the president bears the constitutional responsibility to address foreign threats and advance the nations interests abroad, the Constitution vests in Congress the means of international economics. In order to achieve the nations interests in restoring dominance in the Western Hemisphere or fending over the rising threat of China, the president and Congress will have to cooperate to ensure that economic policy plays a harmonious role in a full-spectrum American approach to the world. Click Here To Read More From John Yoo Original article source: JOHN YOO: Supreme Court tariff ruling should end complaints that justices favor Trump Jonathan Turley Explains Why Even A Marvelous Defense Couldnt Save IEEPA Tariffs (Screenshot/Fox News) George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Friday that the Supreme Courts ruling against the Trump administration and its use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs was hardly shocking. The Supreme Court ruled 63 on Friday that the IEEPA does not authorize President Donald Trump to impose tariffs, holding that the statutes phrase regulate importation does not include the distinct and extraordinary power to levy tariffs absent explicit congressional approval. Turley said on The Ingraham Angle that even a marvelous defense from the solicitor general could not overcome the Supreme Courts textual reading of IEEPA. The odds were against the president in this appeal. Some of these conservative justices historically take a more textual approach to statutes. They did not see the clear authority under IEEPA, and there were good faith arguments on both sides, Turley said. I actually thought the solicitor general of the United States did an extraordinary job in oral argument. I thought that he was marvelous and it ultimately didnt carry the day, but thats what most of us thought would be the outcome. Turley said the ruling does not spell the end of Trumps broader tariff strategy. He said the administration anticipated the result and prepared accordingly. WATCH: I expect the administration was well prepared for this. Its not a welcomed result, but its not an unanticipated result. The key is that this doesnt mean the checks in the mail, as you noted for refunds, Turley said. It also does not mean that these tariffs are going to fall away. The president has used tariffs as part of his foreign policy. Advertisement Turley said that the Presidents approach will continue regardless of the Courts limitation. Hes also used it to secure a series of favorable trade deals, including one just in the last 24 hours with Indonesia, and I dont think that is going to change either. And so there are aspects of the result here that the president can take some solace in, Turley added. The court clearly recognizes he has tariff authority under other laws. What he does not have is the easier route of IEEPA, but thats not, I think, going to materially change his policies. Indonesia and the United States finalized a trade agreement Thursday that reduces U.S. tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19% from 32% after nearly a year of negotiations. Trump imposed the reciprocal tariffs last year, arguing they were necessary to counter non-tariff barriers that disadvantaged American exports. (RELATED: Alan Dershowitz Says Trump Team Made Wrong Argument In Tariff Case) Trump rolled out tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico in February, tying the move to the fentanyl crisis, then expanded the effort in April with a new round of trade measures that imposed a 10% baseline duty on imports and increased rates depending on each countrys trade posture with the United States. In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a lower court decision blocking the policy. The Supreme Court later agreed to review the case, hearing oral arguments in November. 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. (Photo via Getty Images) After 14 years of litigation, two contempt findings, millions of dollars in fines, a 15-day trial and repeated violations of a permanent injunction, a federal judge decided Thursday she has no choice but to take the drastic step of placing Arizonas prison health care system into receivership to remedy an systemically unconstitutional system. The order covers all 10 Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry prisons and every incarcerated person in Arizona state custody a population of roughly 34,000 people. U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver pummeled the the state in her 128-page order as she detailed all the ways the Corrections Department had repeatedly failed to comply with court orders, unreasonably misread the courts directives and went to great lengths to exploit any ambiguity to the maximum extent possible. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ordering the implementation of a receivership is extraordinary, and the Court has exercised caution and critical reflection in making the decision, Silver wrote. But after nearly 14 years of litigation with Defendants having not gained compliance, or even a semblance of compliance with the Injunction and the Constitution, this approach has not only failed completely, but, if continued, would be nothing short of judicial indulgence of deeply entrenched unconstitutional conduct. Silver was appointed to the bench by Bill Clinton in 1994. David Fathi, director of the American Civil Liberty Unions National Prison Project, praised the order as a critical step to protect the rights of the prisoners that the ACLU has represented throughout the litigation. This decision means that an independent authority will be able to implement the systemic changes necessary to ensure that medical and mental health care meets constitutional standards, he said in a written statement. This is a life-saving intervention, and it brings hope that the preventable suffering and deaths that have haunted Arizonas prison system for over a decade can finally end. The Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry said it will aggressively pursue an appeal of Silvers receivership order. If this decision stands, an exorbitantly expensive, unnecessary receiver risks disrupting the significant progress we have made in our prisons, all with no time clock on its authority, Corrections Department Director Ryan Thornell said in a written statement. We will be promptly appealing the decision while continuing our work to comply with the Courts orders and running a secure, safe, and accountable prison system. In a post on the social media site X, Gov. Katie Hobbs wrote that she was deeply disappointed in the decision, which she said fails to recognize the immense strides the Corrections Department made in complying with prior court orders, including increasing staffing and drastically improv(ing) health care outcomes for inmates. We will keep making improvements, doing the work that others including the two previous governors refused to do for far too long, she wrote. The class-action lawsuit stretches back to 2012, when prisoners sued the department and alleged that its shoddy health care violated their Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment. The 14 years since have been marked by escalating judicial intervention, culminating in Silver ordering the prison health care system into receivership. Advertisement In 2014, the prisoners and the state reached a 103-point agreement on health care performance. But when the Corrections Department repeatedly failed to comply with those standards, the court twice held the agency in contempt and levied fines totaling more than $2.5 million. Following a 15-day bench trial in 2022, the court issued a 200-page findings-of-fact order declaring the health care system pervasively and systemically unconstitutional. The next year, a permanent injunction was issued with 154 specific quality indicators to assess how the prison system was complying with the courts directives. In 2024 and 2025, Silver wrote, the state repeatedly and flagrantly violated those orders, and a pilot program aimed at testing a new model for prison health care failed disastrously it was only partially implemented at one of the two test sites, and was only in place for eight days before it was scrapped. Earlier this month, attorneys for the prisoners returned to court and asked Silver to turn control of the system over to a receiver. The Courts patience has run out. Too many individuals are needlessly suffering while Defendants have deployed many delay tactics, Silver wrote. The Court has exercised restraint for much of this litigation, to the point that anymore tolerance of unconstitutional healthcare becomes judicial indulgence. Silver found that the state failed to comply with 131 of the 154 quality indicators in the permanent injunction. The most repeated grievance in a sprawling compliance chart that catalogued violations across every major category of care was that the Corrections Department was letting nurses serve as the primary providers for complex patients. The court also slammed the state for chronic understaffing. The injunction required an equivalent to nearly 28 full-time doctors to staff the 10 prisons. While the state claimed it had 18 in place, court-appointed monitors said only 11 were actually board-certified or eligible to practice medicine in Arizona. And only 3% of orders referring ill prisoners to off-site specialists were made in a timely fashion, meaning 97% of critical referrals were either made far too late or werent issued at all. Now that receivership has been ordered, all of the parties and court monitors have 60 days to submit up to five candidates to be the receiver who will take over day-to-day management of medical and mental health care across Arizonas prison system. The receiver will have total authority over the prison health care system, including the power to hire and fire staff, renegotiate or terminate the existing $300 million contract with NaphCare, set salaries, reconfigure facilities and override department administrators. Prison health care will almost certainly cost significantly more under receivership than it did with the Corrections Department overseeing things. The state repeatedly cited budget limitations and the need for legislative appropriations as reasons for its failure to comply. But Silver flatly rejected those arguments as legally invalid defenses to constitutional violations. The receivership will likely force spending that the Legislature has so far declined to authorize. ***UPDATED: This story has been updated with comments from Gov. Katie Hobbs and ADCRR Director Ryan Thornell. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Justice Brett Kavanaugh called the Supreme Courts decision striking down Trumps emergency tariffs "illogical" in a fiery dissent on Friday and offered a roadmap of alternatives for Trump to attempt to carry out his signature economic policy. Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, said the 6-3 majority cherry-picked ways in which Trump could regulate imports under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), making what he said was a textualist case that the law already allows similar forms of regulation on imports, including quotas and embargoes. Tariffs are not just in the same category as those but are a "far more modest" alternative to them, Kavanaugh said. "If quotas and embargoes are a means to regulate importation, how are tariffs not a means to regulate importation? Nothing in the text supports such an illogical distinction," Kavanaugh wrote. Trump last year bypassed Congress and unilaterally levied tariffs on nearly every country in the world by invoking IEEPA. The president argued that an influx of illicit drugs from China, Mexico and Canada and a trade deficit that has decimated American manufacturing constituted emergencies that justified the tariffs. Supreme Court Blocks Trump's Tariffs In Major Test Of Executive Power Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented in a pivotal Supreme Court decision striking down Trump's emergency tariffs. (AP Newsroom) The majority held in a 6-3 opinion that while IEEPA allows a president to "regulate importation" during a declared national emergency, the statute does not clearly authorize tariffs, a core congressional taxing power. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that when executive action carries sweeping economic consequences, Congress must weigh in on the matter with unmistakable clarity, alluding to what is known as the major questions doctrine. Read On The Fox News App Kavanaugh said the Supreme Court's decision in 2022 upholding a vaccine mandate former President Joe Biden imposed on millions of healthcare workers "strongly supports" upholding Trump's tariffs. Like tariffs, that executive action also carried major consequences even though Congress did not explicitly mention vaccines in the health and safety statute Biden used to justify his mandate, Kavanaugh said. In oral arguments in November, Solicitor General John Sauer, appearing on behalf of the government, said tariffs were an invaluable way for Trump to negotiate with foreign partners. Weakening his "suite of tools" by removing tariffs from it was a "bit unusual," Sauer said. Sauer also said tariffs were the same as embargoes, which block imports altogether. The solicitor general conceded, though, that tariffs had the "incidental and collateral effect" of raising revenue, but he said their primary purpose was to regulate rather than collect income. Kavanaugh agreed. "As the [majority of justices] interpret the statute, the President could, for example, block all imports from China but cannot order even a $1 tariff on goods imported from China," Kavanaugh wrote. As Trump Touts Tariff Windfall, Battleground States Shoulder Billions In Costs Kavanaugh referenced numerous other statutes he said Trump had in his toolbox, mapping out alternatives in the wake of the high court nixing IEEPA as an option. Kavanaugh said the majority "in essence" concluded that Trump "checked the wrong statutory box." Advertisement Trump, in a speech remarking on the decision, praised Kavanaugh for "his genius and his great ability," adding he was "very proud of that appointment." The president referenced a quote from Kavanaugh's dissent, saying, "'Although I firmly disagree with the court's holding today, the decision might not substantially constrain a president's ability to order tariffs going forward.' So think of that and it doesn't. He's right. "We have very powerful alternatives." Kavanaugh also raised a glaring question left unaddressed by the high courts majority of how the U.S. Treasury could go about refunding companies to the tune of billions of dollars that the government gained from the unlawful tariffs. Jonathan Turley: Supreme Court Ruling On Trump Tariffs Comes Down To A Numbers Game President Donald Trump shows off non-reciprocal tariff examples. (Getty Images) Kavanaugh said of the "serious practical consequences" of outlawing Trumps ability to use IEEPA to levy tariffs that the refund process could be a "mess" as lower courts are likely to see an influx of lawsuits from business owners looking for their money back. "The United States may be required to refund billions of dollars to importers who paid the IEEPA tariffs, even though some importers may have already passed on costs to consumers or others," Kavanaugh wrote. "As was acknowledged at oral argument, the refund process is likely to be a mess." Click Here To Download The Fox News App The majority opinion, authored by Roberts, found that IEEPAs language allowing a president to regulate imports intentionally omits the word "tariff." Roberts wrote that the other words in the statute "cannot bear" the same weight as the word "tariff," which he said operates like a tax because it allows the government to collect revenue, which he said only Congress can authorize. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas joined Kavanaughs dissent, and Thomas also wrote a separate dissent. Original article source: Kavanaugh rips Supreme Court majority's illogical line on tariffs This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). A heavily armed 23-year-old man who told his family he wanted to commit an act that would put him "on the news," allegedly drove across the country and crashed a car into a Nevada power facility Thursday an incident authorities are calling a potential act of terrorism. Dawson Maloney, 23, of Albany, New York, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound wearing soft body armor and holding a shotgun, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a news conference Friday. Officials said Maloney, who was recently reported missing out of New York, intentionally crashed a rental car through a secure gate protecting a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power facility near Boulder City at about 10 a.m. local time Thursday. The power facility, owned by the city of Los Angeles, works closely with Hoover Dam, officials said. Power generated at the plant is transferred to the Hoover Dam basin. Pa Man Charged With Attempting To Make Weapons Of Mass Destruction After Neighbor Tip Read On The Fox News App Video showed the car, which had New York license plates, speeding toward the gate, breaking the perimeter fence. Maloney's car was stopped by large, industrial wire reels, seemingly leading to his subsequent suicide, according to McMahill. He added that there is no ongoing threat to the public. Officials said he spoke to his family prior to the attack and made multiple references to self harm and committing an act that would place him "on the news." In a message to his mother, Maloney referred to himself as a "dead terrorist son" and said he felt he "had an obligation to carry out his act," according to McMahill. Advertisement Maryland Man Accused Of Targeting Trump Cabinet Official Russell Vought In Murder Plot Two shotguns, an AR-style pistol, numerous loaded AR magazines, a box of shotgun shells, two flamethrowers containing thermite material, a crowbar and a hatchet were found inside the car, leading the incident to be treated as a "terrorism-related event," according to McMahill. Multiple books were found in Maloney's hotel room related to extremist ideologies, including right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy and anti-government ideology. Authorities also recovered explosive materials and components to include thermite, ammonium nitrate, magnesium ribbon, metal pipes and gasoline. Fbi Pittsburgh Ramming Suspect Quoted Lincoln Assassin During Confession, Special Agent Says A cellphone found in the car is being forensically analyzed, according to McMahill. FBI Las Vegas and FBI Albany are assisting with the investigation and carried out two search warrants in New York. Electronics were pulled from one Albany home, and "several gun components" needed to assemble a gun, along with a 3D printer, were recovered from another house in Albany. Based on the information uncovered, FBI agents believe Maloney rented a car on Feb. 12 in Albany and left the area two days later. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Boulder City Police Chief Tim Shea said there is no major damage to critical infrastructure at the power plant and there are no known service interruptions. "We also recognize the gravity of an armed individual intentionally reaching the power facility while in possession of incendiary components. Our responsibility is to identify threats early, act decisively and protect critical infrastructure," Shea said. "There is no continuing threat to the community." Original article source: Man who crashed into Nevada substation found dead in car with arsenal in suspected terror incident: sheriff A Massachusetts healthcare giant has pulled the plug on its transgender hormone treatment for minors, citing concerns about protecting hundreds of millions in federal funding amid increased scrutiny from the Trump administration. Baystate Health, the largest healthcare system in western Massachusetts, announced it will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to those under 18. It is one of several hospitals to roll back transgender health programs. The Boston Globe first reported on the announcement Wednesday, stating a letter about the change was sent to patients and their guardians on Feb. 9. "This decision offers patients the specialized expertise and continuity of care they need and deserve and reflects the evolving regulatory landscape that threatens hundreds of millions of dollars in hospital Medicaid and Medicare funding," the health system said. California Ag Sues Hospital That Ended Gender Transition Treatment For Minors To Comply With Trump Policies Patients involved in the program will now be transferred to Transhealth, a nonprofit healthcare organization in Massachusetts. Read On The Fox News App A transgender rights supporter takes part in a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court as the justices hear arguments in a case on transgender health rights in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2024. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Baystate Health said the decision followed an assessment of the evolving "healthcare regulatory landscape" to ensure the system can continue meeting its "clinical obligation" to provide the best care for patients. "After careful consideration and thorough analysis, we have made the decision to pause gender-affirming medication care for patients under age 18 while continuing to provide gender-affirming mental health counseling for children and adolescents. Baystate Health is working with the impacted patients and their families to transfer their care to a trusted healthcare organization in our region, or another provider that our patients and their families choose." The Medical System Pushed Transgender Surgery On Kids Now It's Facing Legal Justice "This decision offers patients specialized expertise and continuity of care while acknowledging an evolving regulatory landscape that threatens hundreds of millions of dollars in government reimbursement and our conditions of participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Nearly 70 percent of Baystate Healths patients rely on Medicaid and Medicare for coverage, and preserving access to care for all 800,000+ residents of Western Massachusetts is a responsibility we take seriously." "Our duty is to support our patients and families throughout this process and work closely with them to provide a smooth transition that offers the exceptional care that they need and deserve." Advertisement A demonstrator holds a sign outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Jan. 13, as the justices revisit issues surrounding transgender rights and student athletes. (Getty Images) Plastic Surgeon Applauds Move Away From Trans Youth Surgeries As Far-left Outlet Examines Doctors' Shift The Trump administration has warned that hospitals providing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or certain surgical procedures to minors could risk losing federal funding. In December, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed regulations that would bar hospitals from performing "sex-rejecting procedures on children under age 18" as a condition of participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Earlier this week, NYU Langone Health made a similar move, ending its transgender program for young people. The decision has been criticized by patients, and New York state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez called stopping the care "dangerous and cruel." In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, NYU Langone Health said, "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." Click Here To Read More Media And Culture News A protester holds a sign in support of gender-affirming care for transgender youth outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2025. The changes come amid ongoing debate over gender-related care for minors. An article published last week in The Atlantic questioned whether medical organizations remain united on puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-related surgeries for young people. Click Here To Download The Fox News App The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) updated its guidance, recommending medical professionals delay gender-related surgical procedures until patients are adults. The organization now recommends "surgeons delay gender-related breast/chest, genital, and facial surgery until a patient is at least 19 years old." The group said it found "insufficient evidence" that the procedures have a positive risk-benefit ratio. Original article source: Massachusetts healthcare giant ends youth gender care to protect 'hundreds of millions' in funding Julia Ann Cluett during the final round of Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok on Nov. 21, 2025. LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty NEED TO KNOW On an episode of The SHE Word podcast, Miss Universe Malta titleholder Julia Ann Cluett reflected on the sacrifices she made to win her national pageant and compete at Miss Universe Cluett shared that she was laid off from her job two days before she was crowned Miss Universe Malta in July 2025 Between her duties as a national winner and her participation on the international stage in November, Cluett said she was without income for a total of seven months Miss Universe Malta winner Julia Ann Cluett is pulling back the curtain on the not-so-glamorous side of preparing to take a pageant stage. Cluett was one of three beauty queens who appeared on an episode of The SHE Word podcast on Thursday, Feb. 19. Host Sasha Vella also welcomed Ella Gatt Baldacchino, who won Miss Universe Malta in 2023, and Miss Grand International Malta Shailey Micallef. The group discussed a variety of issues and topics associated with their experiences, including struggles with body image and balancing pageantry with personal and career pursuits. At one point, Vella asked the women about what they feel people don't see from the outside looking in. Julia Ann Cluett during the final round of Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok on Nov. 21, 2025. LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Cluett was quick to list time, effort, dedication and money as things contestants need to have and give to be competitive on a pageant stage. She referenced her own circumstances in July 2025, when she was laid off from her job shortly before winning her national preliminary for Miss Universe, which was held months later. "I was made redundant two days before the Miss Universe Malta competition," Cluett recounted. "I was even in the process of looking for and getting an apartment at the time, so I lost everything." She added, "I won Miss Universe Malta, and I'm super, super grateful, don't get me wrong, but there were a lot of things that were ... on my checklist of what I wanted to do that I lost." Advertisement 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. Cluett said she remained unemployed for another seven months while preparing to compete at the international level. The titleholder explained that she wasn't able to find work as she fulfilled her commitments, first to her reign as Miss Universe Malta, which required her to travel on tour, then to represent the country at Miss Universe in Thailand for three weeks in November. "What company is going to be like, 'Yes, of course, start with us, and then in September, you leave for two weeks, and then leave for another three weeks in November, it's totally fine.' No one wanted to do that," said Cluett, who has experience working as a psychologist. "I ended up having to sacrifice my job, an apartment, an income in order to be Miss Universe Malta." The mental health advocate says she didn't take the decision to proceed lightly. Cluett ended up having a notably successful run in Thailand, where she was one of the top 12 finalists from around the world. She was also named Miss Universe Europe and Middle East, but she still remembers the difficult lead-up to the competition. "There were a lot of moments where I was like, 'How am I going to do this? How am I going to get through this?' But you have to," Cluett said on the podcast. Despite all the challenges, Cluett never considered relinquishing her national title and spot at Miss Universe. "I was like, 'I'm never going to get this opportunity again,'" Cluett reflected. "It was my time." Read the original article on People FILE - This photo provided by Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department shows firefighters battling a house fire, Dec. 28, 2025, in Stanley, N.C. (Brian Lee Weyeneth/Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department via AP, File) GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) The North Carolina house fire that killed NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin's father and injured his mother has been ruled accidental but it's still unclear what started it. A report released by Gaston County Emergency Management & Fire Services said the Dec. 28 fire at the two-story home originated in a bedroom, but the cause of ignition is undetermined. Otherwise, the investigation determined the fire as accidental, Gaston County spokesperson Adam Gaub wrote in an email Friday. Advertisement Hamlin's parents, Dennis and Mary Lou Hamlin were found outside the home the evening of the fire suffering from catastrophic injuries, officials said. Dennis Hamlin, 75, later died, while his wife survived. The home, located near Stanley about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Charlotte, was owned by a company that listed Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to government records. Dennis Hamlin was already seriously ill last year, his son previously said. Denny Hamlin is a leading driver in NASCARs top circuit, having won 60 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 three times. Hamlin and Michael Jordan co-own the car driven by Tyler Reddick that won this year's Daytona 500 last weekend. PacifiCorp agreed to pay $575 million to the federal government for damages and expenses arising from the 2020 Labor Day Fires in Oregon and California as well as a 2022 fire in California. The settlement covered six wildfires, which U.S. attorneys said were negligently ignited by the utility's power lines during a historically powerful windstorm and burned large swaths of national forest. The settlement included these fires: Oregon: 242 Fire, which began on Sept. 7, 2020, near Chiloquin and burned 8,916 acres of federal land. Oregon: Archie Creek Fire, which began on Sept. 8, 2020, near French Creek in the Umpqua National Forest and burned 67,000 acres of federal land. Oregon: Echo Mountain Complex Fire, which began on Sept. 7, 2020, near Otis and burned approximately 2,500 acres of federal land. Oregon: South Obenchain Fire, which began on Sept. 8, 2020, east of Eagle Point and burned 14,780 acres of federal land. Northern California: Slater Fire, which began on Sept. 8, 2020, on Slater Butte in Klamath National Forest and burned 157,229 acres of federal land. Northern California: McKinney Fire, which began on July 29, 2022, on land next to the Klamath National Forest and burned 39,000 acres of federal land. The settlement resolves the United States claims that PacifiCorps electrical lines negligently started all six fires, a news release said. The settlement monies will help repay the United States for the substantial costs it incurred fighting the fires. Advertisement The Archie Creek Fire of 2020 burned a significant amount of Umpqua National Forest. PacifiCorp is paying to settle the claims that its downed power lines ignited the fire. The funds will also be dispersed to the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to restore some of the 290,000 acres of public land that were burned. PacifiCorp said it had spent $2.2 billion settling claims arising from the fires. It remains in litigation with survivors of the wildfires in the class action James v. PacifiCorp, which includes nearly 5,000 people. PacifiCorp is appealing a June 2023 verdict that found the utility grossly negligent for the 242, South Obenchain, Echo Mountain and Santiam/Beachie wildfires. This settlement is another significant milestone demonstrating our ongoing commitment to resolve all reasonable claims related to the devastating fires that affected Oregon and California, said Ryan Flynn, president of Pacific Power. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: PacifiCorp pays $575M to federal government for 2020 Labor Day Fires SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Several San Angelo ISD students gathered at a North Bryant Boulevard intersection during the afternoon of Feb. 20 to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the second of its kind to happen in San Angelo and one of many to have occurred across the nation in recent months. A Concho Valley Homepage reporter observed at around 1:40 p.m. approximately 30 students gathered at the intersection of North Bryant Boulevard and West 29th Street. Statements such as skipping lessons to teach you one, ICE out, you cant love the culture and hate the people and no one is illegal on stolen land could be seen on signs held by protestors. San Angelo ISD students gathered at an intersection in northern San Angelo on Feb. 20, 2026, to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. San Angelo ISD students gathered at an intersection in northern San Angelo on Feb. 20, 2026, to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. San Angelo ISD students gathered at an intersection in northern San Angelo on Feb. 20, 2026, to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. SAISD rejects SB11 religious prayer, reading period policy Advertisement San Angelo ISD has provided the following statements regarding the observed protest: San Angelo ISD is aware of a student-led protest and is actively monitoring the situation. While we respect students rights to express their individual viewpoints, our top priorities remain student safety and maintaining a positive, uninterrupted learning environment for all. If a student chooses to participate in a walkout during the school day, they will be counted absent in accordance with district and Texas Education Agency guidelines. Any actions or behavior that disrupt instruction or create safety concerns will be addressed appropriately in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Campus and district administrators will continue to monitor activities throughout the day, coordinate with district safety personnel and local law enforcement as appropriate, and provide updates to families as needed. San Angelo ISD The protest is the second of its kind to be held in San Angelo. On Feb. 10, dozens of students from SAISDs Central High School left classes during the school day to participate in a walkout protest. The walkout, which began at approximately 11:40 p.m., saw students protest ICE and current federal immigration policies while traveling through areas and along roads near the North Concho River. 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. A Salem man was sentenced to 21 years and eight months in federal prison on Feb. 19 for paying for livestreamed shows of the sexual abuse of children from the Philippines between 2018 and 2019, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oregon said. Steven Daniel Griswold, 44, was also ordered to undergo supervised release for life and to pay $12,000 by U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut. Griswold livestreamed content featuring the sexual abuse of children as young as 3 years old in the Philippines between 2018 and 2019. He paid between $20 and $40 for the livestreams and gave sex traffickers instructions about how to abuse the children. According to the U.S. Attorneys office, Griswold fled to the Philippines in 2020 after learning he was under investigation for uploading child pornography to Snapchat in a separate case. Advertisement He was indicted by a federal grand jury on counts of sexual exploitation of children, attempted sexual exploitation of children and receiving child pornography on Nov. 14, 2023. Griswold was arrested in the Philippines in December 2023, then deported from the Philippines, according to court records. He was arrested in the United States in March 2024 and arraigned on May 9, 2024. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children on Nov. 5, 2025. Bill Poehler covers Marion and Polk County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem man sentenced to 21 years for paying for livestreamed sex abuse A cave environment and its hyper-arid conditions contributed to the cheetahs' mummification, researchers found. - National Center for Wildlife When scientists with the National Center for Wildlife in Saudi Arabia were surveying caves in search of wildlife in 2022 and 2023, they came across something unexpected: seven naturally mummified cheetahs in five caves near the northern city of Arar. The remains were largely intact with well-preserved soft tissue and skeletons. Now, an analysis of three of the mummies DNA has revealed something that could help reintroduce cheetahs to the Arabian Peninsula wilderness, researchers say. Cheetahs once inhabited much of Africa and parts of Asia, but now they are found in only 9% of their historic range. It was previously believed that the Asiatic cheetah, called Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, was the only subspecies ever present in Saudi Arabia. The species is now critically endangered, with a small wild population remaining in Iran. Across the peninsula, cheetahs were deemed locally extinct in the 1970s. But when the researchers analyzed three of the mummies, they found that two of the oldest specimens were genetically closer to the subspecies Acinonyx jubatus hecki, known as the Northwest African cheetah. The findings, published in January in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, reveal that at least two subspecies of cheetah once roamed the Arabian Peninsula. The discovery could help reintroduction efforts as scientists now know which cheetah lineages once lived in the peninsula and have evidence of their success in the area. It was highly surprising, said lead author Ahmed Al Boug, an ecologist researcher and deputy CEO of the National Center for Wildlife in Saudi Arabia. This finding represents the first documented case of natural mummification in cheetahs, and first physical evidence that cheetah subspecies occurred in the Arabian Peninsula. Moreover, cave use by cheetahs is extremely atypical behavior, making both the discovery itself and the context in which it occurred entirely unexpected, he added in an email. The researchers are investigating why the cheetahs entered and used the caves; they do not believe it was accidental or for isolation as they neared the end of life. Nonetheless, the cave environment and its hyper-arid conditions contributed to the mummification of the cheetahs, Al Boug said. Reintroducing cheetahs in Saudi Arabia Researchers examine a mummified cheetah. - National Center for Wildlife Alongside the seven cheetah mummies, the researchers came across skeletal remains of 54 additional cats within the caves. The study authors dated five of them and found the oldest to be about 4,000 years old. Two mummies that were analyzed date from about 130 to 1,870 years ago, according to the study. The authors plan to investigate further the remaining mummies and skeleton fragments to potentially identify the subspecies of additional samples, Al Boug said. This discovery is significant in that it represents the easternmost record of an African cheetah subspecies and demonstrates that northern Saudi Arabia was occupied by multiple cheetah lineages over millennia, Al Boug said. Together, these findings refine our understanding of cheetah landscape use, clarify timelines of regional extirpation, and improve resolution on the subspecies historically present in this region. To identify the subspecies of the mummified cheetahs, the authors extracted complete genome sequences from three of the seven remains. It was the first time DNA has been extracted from naturally mummified cheetahs or large felines, according to a news release from the journal. Advertisement Adrian Tordiffe, a veterinary wildlife specialist based in India, said it is surprising that some of the cheetah remains were only about a century old as it reveals that these cats lived in Saudi Arabia far more recently than people realized. Even more striking is that the remains show different subspecies of cheetahs lived there at different times, said Tordiffe, also a lecturer at South Africas University of Pretoria, in an email. He was not involved with the study. This tells us the Arabian Peninsula was once an important natural bridge for cheetahs, not an ecological dead end. Tordiffe added that the discovery gives conservationists clear evidence of what species lived in the area in a not-so-distant past. Because we now know which cheetah lineages lived in Arabia, reintroduction efforts can focus on using animals that are ecologically appropriate, rather than bringing in cheetahs from completely different environments. The remains also include young animals and adults, showing that cheetahs werent just passing through, they were breeding and thriving. That tells us the landscape once supported full cheetah populations, especially alongside prey species like gazelles, which are now being successfully restored in Saudi Arabia. This research turns cheetah reintroduction from a hopeful idea into a well-informed plan based on real evidence, Tordiffe said. The cheetah remains in five caves were mostly intact with well-preserved soft tissue and skeletons. - National Center for Wildlife Wildlife populations in the Arabian Peninsula were historically diminished by the impact of humans, including overhunting and land-use changes, Al Boug said. But now, with large, protected areas in the Middle East, many of the primary threats to cheetahs, such as habitat degradation, human disturbance and competition with lions have been reduced, he added. As a result, Al Boug said he believes that Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to support the recovery of a species once widespread across the region. Showing the length of time the cheetah lived in Saudi Arabia shows that they were an important part of the ecosystem and not just passing through, said Laurie Marker, founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, a nonprofit that acts to prevent the extinction of cheetahs. Marker was not involved with the new study, but the fund is partnered with the National Center for Wildlife for cheetah reintroduction efforts in Saudi Arabia. Cheetahs and other top predators play important roles in the ecosystem. Cheetahs are great hunters and eat rapidly then also leave remains for feeding other species. Therefore where we find top predators there is a greater amount of biodiversity as they feed the other small mammals, birds and insects, she added in an email. As the Saudis are bringing back their wildlife species, the cheetah will be an important addition to rewilding, bringing back a healthy ecosystem to the desert once again. Taylor Nicioli is a freelance journalist based in New York City. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Parkside Pediatrics providers, Nathan Heffington (left) and Chandler Hash, assessing a patient with measles symptoms. Spartanburg, South Carolina, on January 30. - The Washington Post/Getty Images This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive its biggest stories as soon as theyre published. In mid-January, an unassuming man in khakis and a button-down shirt walked to a wooden lectern at a school board meeting in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Most chairs in the audience were empty. The man, Tim Smith, was the only person signed up to speak during public comments. He had five minutes. I trust that each one of you had a good Christmas and New Years, he began. Unfortunately, I cant say the same thing. His wife is an assistant teacher at a public elementary school in the county, epicenter of the states historic measles outbreak, and shortly before winter break shed received a notice that a child in her classroom had measles. Given his wife is fully vaccinated, he wasnt worried. Then, she began to get sick. And sicker. She got a measles test and, to their shock, it came back positive. She was apparently among the very rare breakthrough infections. Frightened, they took her to the hospital that night. My wife was throwing up, Smith said at the meeting. She had diarrhea. She couldnt breathe. All for what? This is its absolute insanity. Dr. Leigh Bragg, a pediatrician working a county away, wasnt even aware that anyone in South Carolina had been hospitalized with measles-related illnesses until a short time later when she logged on to Facebook and saw someone relay the distraught husbands comments. Part of the reason Bragg didnt know is that South Carolina doesnt require hospitals to report admissions for measles, potentially obscuring the diseases severity. In the absence of mandatory reporting rules, she and other doctors are often left to rely on rumors, their grapevines of colleagues, and the fragments of information the state public health agency is able to gather and willing to share. With 973 reported cases, South Carolinas measles outbreak has ballooned into the nations largest since the virus was declared eliminated in the U.S. 25 years ago. Yet, since state health officials first confirmed the outbreak on Oct. 2, the states hospitals have reported only 20 measles-related admissions, or about 2% of cases. Some infectious disease experts say that the true number is likely much higher. Hospitalization rates can vary greatly by a measles outbreaks location and who is getting infected. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 20% of measles cases will result in admissions. A hospitalization rate at 2% is ludicrous, said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and an infectious disease physician at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia who served on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions immunization advisory committee. Its vast underreporting, Offit said. Measles makes you sick. Measles is among the most contagious of viruses. In 2026 so far, almost half of states have reported cases. Yet its left largely to each state to decide how much infectious disease reporting to require about it. We dont think we are getting an accurate picture at all of how these illnesses are impacting our community, Linda Bell, the South Carolina state epidemiologist, said at a briefing last month. Were just not getting a picture of that now with the small number of hospitalizations that are known to us. Bell said the state Department of Public Health is urging hospitals to report their measles-related admissions, and seven hospitals have done so. (There are at least a dozen acute care hospitals in the Upstate alone.) But the state cannot force them to do so. Bell also said that the agency, which sets infectious disease reporting requirements, hasnt considered adding hospitalizations to the list because the primary purpose of public health surveillance is to understand disease transmission, frequency and distribution not to track complications. That leaves doctors like Bragg advising patients, including vaccine-resistant parents, without the benefit of confirmed, real-time data about how many South Carolinians have been hospitalized with measles. Severe complications include pneumonia, dehydration and a potentially life-threatening brain swelling called encephalitis. Its a very big disservice to the public not reporting complications we are seeing in hospitals or even ERs, Bragg said. Measles isnt just a cold. ProPublica contacted state health agencies across the South and found most do not require hospitals to report measles-related admissions. Alabama does. So does Virginia, although it doesnt release that data to the public. Like South Carolina, North Carolina and Texas dont require reporting of hospitalizations, but epidemiologists can identify them during case investigations. During the Texas measles outbreak last year, 99 people were hospitalized out of 762 cases. Thats a rate of about 13%. In South Carolina, the reported rate is 2%. Real-time hospitalization data can show where to target resources and help hospitals prepare for an influx of patients. As vaccine rates decrease, it could also really help us understand the changing epidemiology of measles in this current context, said Gabriel Benavidez, an epidemiology professor at Baylor University in Texas. When ProPublica asked hospitals across the Upstate, the northwest quadrant of South Carolina where the outbreak is concentrated, if they are reporting their measles-related admissions to the state and how many patients they had treated, few responded. Only Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System shared its total. (As of mid-February, the number was four.) A spokesperson for Prisma Health, a Greenville-based nonprofit that owns eight acute-care hospitals in the Upstate, said its hospitals are reporting everything we are supposed to report. She wouldnt say how many measles patients have been hospitalized at Prisma hospitals or how many the system has reported to the state. Doctors in the dark Bragg, who is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric infectious disease, works in the region of South Carolina where the outbreak is concentrated. Its a highly religious expanse with the states lowest student vaccination rates. She recently met with a parent questioning the recommended vaccines for a 1-year-old child, which includes a first dose of measles vaccine. Advertisement Were in the middle of a measles outbreak, Bragg thought. Then she began a 30-minute discussion of the vaccines extreme safety and 97% lifetime effectiveness when two doses are given. She explained that 95% of people in South Carolina who have gotten measles were unvaccinated. She rattled off historic risks of measles complications. Yet Bragg couldnt tell the parent just how severely ill their fellow South Carolinians were getting from the outbreak sickening people around them. She had heard about pneumonia, ICU admissions and even a case of encephalitis. But she hadnt been able to confirm it, or find out if it was a child, much less how the patient fared. (Shortly after, Bell announced that the state health agency had learned of encephalitis cases in children, but she didnt provide the numbers of patients or their outcomes.) As president of the South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Martha Edwards is connected to physicians across the state. All Im hearing about are complications of measles, which can mean a lot of different things, she said. Communicating the risks of severe illness is all the more important because few of todays parents have seen measles up close. Neither have most practicing doctors. Early in his career, Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University who focuses on the prevention of infectious diseases, worked with the CDC to implement the measles vaccine. When he tells medical students today that in the 1960s, before the measles vaccine, 400 to 500 kids died of measles and its complications each year, Theyre stunned. If the severity of the illness cannot be ascertained if it cant be determined it cant be appropriately communicated to the public, Schaffner said. And the public might get the false impression that measles is milder than it really is. At a briefing, Dr. Robin LaCroix, a Prisma pediatric infectious disease physician, said the organizations physicians have seen the whole gamut of acute and post-measles infections that have afflicted these children. They are sick. Children have become listless and suffered blotchy rashes, coughing and coughing spasms, dehydration and secondary infections including pneumonias. Measles infections are particularly dangerous for babies who cannot get vaccinated yet and young children who havent gotten the second dose. Infections during pregnancy also pose severe risks for mothers who are not vaccinated or immune, including miscarriage and a tenfold increase in death due to pneumonia. Mothers can pass on the virus to their babies, which can be catastrophic, said Dr. Kendreia Dickens-Carr, a Prisma OB-GYN. More than 900 confirmed measles cases have been reported across the country already in 2026, compared with 2,281 in all of 2025. Most of this years cases are in South Carolina, but Florida has reported 63 cases and neighboring North Carolina 15, including one hospitalization. We really do need to think about the way in which we report these things, because viruses and bacteria dont respect state lines, said Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina. Public health professionals from one state to another should be comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges. The most advanced pediatric care in the state is provided at the Medical University of South Carolinas campus in Charleston, several hours away from the Upstate on the coast. So far, its childrens hospital hasnt admitted any measles patients, doctors said. Dr. Danielle Scheurer, the chief quality officer at MUSC, celebrated the states low hospitalization rate and said she doubted hospitals would object to required reporting of measles-related admissions if the state health agency were to change its rules. Transparency here is going to help other states, Scheurer said. The more transparent we are about all of our statistics, the better off any other state is going to be in preparing. Political pressures Across South Carolina, large health care systems have bought up local hospitals and doctors practices. With that control, they can exert influence over what those doctors and hospital employees say publicly, especially when it comes to potentially controversial topics like vaccines. At the same time, they face pressure from Republican lawmakers and a growing segment of vaccine-wary patients. The result is often highly controlled information sharing, or a lack thereof. Theres this level of caution that wasnt there before, Edwards said. She understands that hospitals dont want to offend patients who are dubious of vaccines. Bragg agreed but said given that 93% of the states students are vaccinated, she worries the hospitals are pandering to a small group. A pending bill, sponsored by several of Spartanburg Countys state representatives, seeks to prevent hospitals and doctors from questioning or interfering in any manner with a patients right to refuse treatments or vaccines. During COVID-19, the bill contends, federal agencies collaborated with medical organizations and others to orchestrate a coordinated and coercive propaganda campaign to shame people who declined COVID-19 vaccines. Doctors and hospitals argue they must balance public health risks with individuals who decline to take vaccines. The states Republican governor, Henry McMaster, and major GOP candidates to replace him have largely framed their responses to the measles outbreak around the concept of medical freedom, particularly when discussing vaccine mandates. Andrews, the pediatrician running for the U.S. Senate, said shes experienced the chilling effect the GOPs anti-science movements have had on health care systems and individual physicians. If you speak up, you are at risk of being censored, Andrews said. If you speak up, you are at risk of losing your job. So everyone is just trying to keep their head down and do whats best for their patients. Bragg is among the declining ranks of doctors who run their own independent practices. She has the freedom to post what she wants to on social media and to wear pro-vaccine T-shirts that say things like, Got polio? Me neither because I got the vaccine. But one recent day, her 10-year-old son asked why she insisted on wearing the T-shirts. Even a 10-year-old can tell you how polarizing vaccines have become, Bragg said. Despite that, she has continued to wear them. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNCN) During his visit to Washington, D.C. Friday, Gov. Josh Stein called on President Donald Trump to support western North Carolina as it continues to recover from Hurricane Helene. Stein attended the National Governors Association conference, which was led by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. Speaking to reporters after the conference, Stein described advocating for federal funding toward North Carolinas recovery from Helene, which devastated the western region in September 2024. In North Carolina, we have a lot of work to do to recover from Hurricane Helene, he said. I was able to talk to the president about that and thank him for the focus his administration has brought to setting the table for recovery. According to Stein, 15 million cubic yards of debris have been removed from western North Carolina, but homes, roads, bridges, and businesses still need to be rebuilt. We cannot do that in North Carolina without the partnership of the federal government, he said. Advertisement Stein spoke about $13.5 billion request for Helene recovery with the U.S. Office of Business Management and Congress, which he brought to the attention of Trump. I asked the the president and he said they are eager to talk about that, Stein said. I came away very encouraged he will bring renewed focus from this administration to help western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene. Stein also issued the following statement on the conference and his meeting with Trump: I am grateful to NGA leaders Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Governor Wes Moore of Maryland for their commitment to bringing leaders together across party lines to get real solutions for our people. It was important for me to advocate at the White House for our Hurricane Helene recovery needs because I will not miss a single opportunity to make sure western North Carolina has what it needs to thrive. President Trump and his cabinet members were receptive and I look forward to continuing to work with them to get it done. 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. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Donald Trumps wide-ranging tariffs, which had impacted Kentuckys spirits industry and many consumers over the last year. Trumps trade war has already cost bourbon millions in lost sales overseas due to high costs and burgeoning ill will, and if it continues, it could cost Kentucky jobs. Bourbon is drained from a barrel at a Kentucky distillery before being sent for bottling. Sales of Kentucky whiskey are down over the last year largely due to declining exports. (Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com) Brown-Forman reported in December that mid-year profits were down 14%, nearly $60 million, much of it due to lost overseas sales. After the ruling Friday, the stock market jumped, taking with it alcohol-based stocks including Brown-Forman, which is headquartered in Louisville. The company had been particularly hard-hit by the year-long trade war with Canada and the possibility of new retaliatory tariffs coming this summer in Europe. It is unclear where both of those issues stand in the wake of the courts decision. Trumps administration had argued that it had authority to impose these tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which was enacted in 1977 and gave the president broad economic powers during a national emergency. Barrels age in a warehouse in Kentucky. Sales have been down in the last year, hurt by declining exports due to retaliatory tariffs. (Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com) A US distillers group speaks The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. quickly responded to Fridays ruling, calling for an elimination of tariffs on distilled spirits. As the administration navigates the implications of the Supreme Courts decision, we urge them to take this opportunity to secure a permanent return to zero-for-zero tariffs on spirits products with our major trading partners, such as the EU and U.K., said Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. The elimination of tariffs on distilled spirits would provide much needed certainty for American spirits exporters while helping ease financial pressures on bars, restaurants and retailers at a time when affordability remains a major concern for consumers. Kentucky distillers group on ruling Kentucky Distillers Association president Eric Gregory issued this statement: Kentucky Bourbon, Americas only native spirit, is a shining example of how American industry can build economies, create jobs and showcase our best across the globe. Our historic and homegrown industry is better positioned to do that when there is stability in the marketplace, free from uncertainty over tariffs and unpredictable global trade policies. As it takes years for Kentucky Bourbon to age to perfection, the KDA will continue to advocate with elected officials for that stability and a return to reciprocal, tariff-free trade. Congressional reaction Kentucky U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, said in a statement on X, Today the Supreme Court confirmed what Kentucky families have known from the start: Trumps tariffs are illegal. From bourbon getting wiped off Canadian shelves to Louisville families paying $1,300 more just for everyday goods and services, Kentuckians have been footing the bill for the Presidents reckless, ego-driven trade war. Advertisement The White House should pay back the billions to the small businesses and families it screwed over, and we will hold this administration accountable for every dollar it took from working families. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville, issued this statement: Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed authority that has rested with Congress for centuries. As a matter of policy, the empty merits of sweeping trade wars with Americas friends were evident long before todays decision. The American people already know that when Washington throws up artificial barriers, building and buying here at home become more expensive. Kentuckians whose livelihoods depend on auto manufacturing, agricultural commodity markets, or demand for bourbon whiskey understand this painful reality better than most. But as a matter of Constitutional authority, there is now no room for doubt: the use of IEEPA to circumvent Congress in the imposition of tariffs already without precedent is also illegal. Will there be refunds? Also uncertain: Whether and how the federal government will refund the billions collected over the last year on imports, most of which has been paid by American consumers in the form of higher costs. Several lobbying groups called for swift action on refunds. The courts decision is welcome news for American importers, the United States economy, and the rule of law, but theres much more work to be done. Most immediately, the federal government must refund the tens of billions of dollars in customs duties that it illegally collected from American companies pursuant to an IEEPA tariff authority it never actually had, said Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute in a statement. Even without IEEPA, other U.S. laws and the Trump administrations repeated promises all but ensure that much higher tariffs will remain the norm, damaging the economy and foreign relations in the process. ... Overall, however, the tariff beatings will continue until Congress reclaims some of its constitutional authority over U.S. trade policy and checks the administrations worst tariff impulses. We Pay The Tariffs, a coalition of small businesses, launched a national sign-on letter campaign that has already been signed by hundreds of businesses calling for full, fast and automatic tariff refunds. Today, the Supreme Court has validated what weve been saying all along: these tariffs were unlawful from the start, said executive director Dan Anthony in a statement. But a legal victory is meaningless without actual relief for the businesses that paid these tariffs. Anthony also said the administrations only responsible course of action now is to establish a fast, efficient, and automatic refund process that returns tariff money to the businesses that paid it. Small businesses are rightfully worried that the Administration will respond to this legal defeat by simply reimposing the same tariff policy through other means, Anthony said. Small businesses cannot afford for the administration to double-down on failed tariff policies. Tariffs imposed under IEEPA crippled small businesses; tariffs reimposed under different statutory approaches would have the same destructive effect. The path forward should prioritize refunds, not new rounds of tariffs under different names. This undated photo provided by Rachel Reyes on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, shows Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen who was shot and killed in Texas by a federal immigration agent last year. (Rachel Reyes via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) Newly released records show a U.S. citizen was shot and killed in Texas by a federal immigration agent last year during a late-night traffic encounter that was not publicly disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security. The death of Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, would mark the earliest of at least six deadly shootings by federal officers since the start of a nationwide immigration crackdown in President Donald Trumps second term. On Friday, DHS said the shooting on South Padre Island last March occurred after the driver intentionally struck an agent. The shooting involved a Homeland Security Investigations team that was conducting an immigration enforcement operation in conjunction with local police, according to documents obtained by American Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog group based in Washington. The records are part of a tranche of heavily redacted internal documents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement that the nonprofit obtained as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. Though Martinez's death on March 15, 2025, was reported by local media outlets at the time, federal and state authorities did not disclose that the shooting involved the team from HSI. In a statement Friday, DHS said the driver who was killed intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent, resulting in another agent firing defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public. The department did not respond to questions about why it had made no media release or other public notification of the officer-involved shooting over the last 11 months. Martinez's mother, Rachel Reyes, said her son was just days past his 23rd birthday when he and his best friend drove from San Antonio down to the beach for the weekend to celebrate. South Padre Island, located on the Gulf Coast just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, is a renowned spring break destination that attracts tens of thousands of college-aged partiers each March. Martinez worked at an Amazon warehouse, liked to play video games and hang out with friends. His mother said he had never had any prior run-ins with law enforcement. He was a typical young guy, Reyes told The Associated Press. He never really got a chance to go out and experience things. It was his first time getting to go out of town. He was a nice guy, humble guy. And he wasnt a violent person at all. Records show federal agents were assisting police According to an internal two-page ICE incident report included in the newly disclosed documents, shortly after midnight, HSI officers were assisting South Padre Island police by redirecting traffic through a busy intersection after a vehicle accident with several injuries. A blue, four-door Ford with a driver and passenger approached the officers, who ordered the driver to stop. The report does not say why. Initially, the driver didn't respond to commands but did eventually come to a stop, according to the report. Agents then surrounded the vehicle, telling those inside to get out, but the driver accelerated forward and struck an HSI special agent who wound up on the hood of the vehicle, the report said. An HSI supervisory special agent standing by the side of the car then fired his weapon multiple times through the open drivers side window, and the vehicle stopped. Paramedics already on the scene of the accident quickly provided medical aid and the driver was taken by ambulance to a regional hospital in Brownsville, where he was pronounced dead, according to the report. The passenger, also a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody. The HSI officer who the report says was struck by the vehicle was treated for an unspecified knee injury at a nearby hospital and released. The names of the two HSI agents involved in the shooting and the names of the two men in the car were all redacted from the ICE report, but Reyes confirmed the dead driver was her son. She said he was shot three times. Advertisement State investigation into shooting is still active The report says the Texas Rangers responded to the shooting scene and took the lead as the primary agency investigating the shooting. Reyes said she first learned her son had been shot by a federal agent, rather than a local police officer, about a week after he was killed. She was contacted by an investigator from the Rangers who she said told her there were videos of the shooting that contradicted the account provided by federal agents. DHS did not immediately respond to an email Friday about the claim that there is video showing a different account. She said she was told by the investigator that the state report into the shooting was completed in October and that the case would be presented to a grand jury for potential criminal charges. The Texas Department of Public Safety, which includes the Rangers, said in a statement Friday that the investigation into the shooting is still active and declined to offer more information. Messages left with the office of Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz, an elected Democrat whose jurisdiction includes South Padre Island, received no response Friday. South Padre Island Police Chief Claudine OCarroll also did not respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for the family said Friday they have spent the past year pursuing accountability and transparency. It is critical that there is a full and fair investigation into why HSI was present at the scene of a traffic collision and why a federal officer shot and killed a U.S. citizen as he was trying to comply with instructions from the local law enforcement officers directing traffic, attorneys Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm said in a statement. Agents involved were part of a border task force According to the ICE report, the HSI agents involved in the shooting were part of a maritime border enforcement security task force typically focused on combating transnational criminal organizations at seaports. Over the last year, however, officers from across multiple federal agencies have been reassigned to prioritize immigration enforcement. In January, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother in Minneapolis, was killed in the driver's seat of her SUV by ICE officer Jonathan Ross. Trump administration officials initially attempted to paint Good as a domestic terrorist who tried to ram officers with her vehicle before multiple videos emerged of the incident that cast doubt on the government's narrative. As in the Good case, experts in police training and tactics questioned why a federal officer apparently positioned himself in front of Martinez's vehicle. You dont stand in front of the car, you dont put yourself in harm's way, said Geoffrey Alpert, a police use-of-force expert at the University of South Carolina. He added that theres never a scenario where its justified, because you dont know whether this person is going to flee, and if he flees, you could be dead. Alpert said investigators will likely review any available body camera video or other footage to examine how swiftly Martinez moved the car forward, if he merely took his foot off the break or pressed down hard on the accelerator. Martinez's mother said she didn't believe he would ever intentionally assault a law enforcement officer. They didnt give him a chance," Reyes said. Its so excessive. They could have done anything else besides that. Its like they shoot first and ask questions later. ___ Bedayn reported from Denver. Toyota The new 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is coming to dealers this year, but were already learning about a sweet feature that buyers folks in Japan will be able to enjoy... and those of us in the United States wont. Toyota calls it HV power supply mode. The function was revealed just yesterday in a press release detailing the Japanese market RAV4 PHEV. Those familiar with tech like Fords Pro Power Onboard or GMs V2H can guess exactly where this is going: this new RAV4 PHEV will be able to supply electricity to your home in the case of a power outage. Toyota As of today, the car is set up to be used as a 100-volt power supply outlet. Thats the standard in Japan, which is (of course) lower than the 120-volt standard we use in the U.S. It can send up to 1.5 kW of power to a home, a level that admittedly lags behind the powerful V2H systems in some EVs and hybrids. Toyota doesnt provide a spec for how long the car will keep juice flowing to a home at the maximum power, but if youre consistently using 400 watts, it will last about 6.5 days. Should you switch to power supply time priority mode, Toyota claims another half day to get you to a full week. Those time figures are assuming both a full battery charge and a full tank of gas from the start. Advertisement Road & Track asked Toyota if it intends to make this feature available to folks who buy the RAV4 PHEV in the U.S. When we drove the car last fall, there was no mention of it. A spokesperson pointed out that the new all-electric 2027 Highlander will ship with the feature, but the 2026 RAV4 PHEV will not. As per usual, the company did not comment on if it will arrive in a future model year. As weve learned with other vehicles capable of vehicle-to-home charging, its not as simple as just having this feature on the car to keep the lights on in your house. A home integration kit is typically necessary, which would still be the case if the RAV4 PHEV added this feature in. Considering that Toyota is bringing the function here in an EV, however, it's no stretch to hope we see it in future PHEVs, too. Zac Palmer You Might Also Like PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Portland man was convicted of multiple sex crimes involving minors this week. Kentrell Jourdan Mack Yates, 21, was found guilty Feb. 17 by a Washington County jury of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree sexual abuse. Made me so mad: Longview students accused of rape in varsity locker room appear in court The charges stemmed from two separate cases, which were consolidated for trial. According to prosecutors, Yates invited a minor to go swimming at an apartment complex in Washington County in June 2025. While at the pool, he convinced her to go into a private sauna where he proceeded to make sexual advances. Yates held the young woman in place as he sexually assaulted her. Eventually, she escaped and reported the incident to law enforcement. Close Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Breaking News Alerts During the investigation, detectives found a second victim of Yates who had conceived a child with him while a minor. Yates sentencing hearing is set for May 1. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Supreme Court struck down the Trump administrations global tariffs on Friday in a 6-3 ruling. The justices ruled that President Donald Trump doesnt have the authority to impose tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. While some Kansas lawmakers support the courts decision, others believe the ruling will harm local farmers and American manufacturing. Trump announces new tariffs, investigations after Supreme Court ruling Advertisement Kansas lawmakers reactions Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) via emailed statement: Todays Supreme Court decision is a win for Kansas families, workers, and small businesses who have been paying the price for reckless tariffs that raised costs at the grocery store, the gas pump, and the farm. The Constitution is clear: Congress not any one president has the authority to set trade policy. Ill keep fighting for smart, targeted trade enforcement that holds bad actors accountable without forcing hardworking Kansans to shoulder the cost of failed policies. Rep. Sharice Davids Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) via emailed statement: Im disappointed but not surprised by this decision. Even the Court was divided on the issue. President Trumps tariffs were delivering resultsbringing our trading partners to the table, securing ten trade agreements, and driving supply chains and manufacturing back to the United States. These tools were also advancing our national security interests, including pressuring countries like India to stop purchasing Russian oil. While this ruling is a setback, the President still has other authorities he can use to keep leveling the playing field for American workers and strengthening our economic and national security, while continuing to put America First. Sen. Roger Marshall Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) via emailed statement: Following this Supreme Court ruling, it is more critical than ever that we hold our trading partners accountable to their existing commitments and continue to champion policies that foster a truly competitive global marketplace. Kansas is home to world-class agricultural producers and aerospace manufacturers whose success depends on fair and reliable access to international markets. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am dedicated to securing long-term certainty through enforceable, comprehensive trade agreements that protect Kansans ability to trade in a free and fair manner. I applaud the Presidents success in obtaining trade commitments that encourage reciprocal trade, and I look forward to working with the Administration to further market access for growers and manufacturers in Kansass Fourth District. Rep. Ron Estes Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.) via emailed statement: Todays ruling from the Supreme Court regarding the limits of emergency powers is not surprising and will not be the final word on the tariff debate. I support President Trumps objective to secure more favorable trade agreements including the recently announced deals with India, Taiwan and Indonesia and want to ensure he has the appropriate authority to negotiate those agreements. The Court did make clear today that Congress has a role in these decisions, and I look forward to those discussions. Derek Schmidt 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. SUTTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) With FEMA denying Governor Phil Scotts disaster aid appeal to help the Northeast Kingdom recover from last summers flooding, officials in Sutton are holding out hope the state can step in to help them. But, if Vermont isnt able to give the town any money, they say theyre looking at a historically difficult five budget years ahead. Weve got about $630,000 worth of expenses from 2025 flooding that were on the hook for if they dont find us some money, said Patti McClure, Suttons Town Clerk. The first two years we were fortunate to get FEMA funding, but now not getting it this year, I mean, what if this happens again? You know? Its crazy. While the signs might not be as obvious now as they were in July, Sutton is still in a world of trouble following the floods. Although all but one of their roads have been repaired and reopened, that outstanding debt of $630,000 could hurt the towns taxpayers for years to come if it isnt reimbursed by some outside entity. According to McClure, Vermonts Recovery Office is reassessing the towns damage total, and one of Suttons local state representatives, Marty Feltus, is working to secure state funding for the town. But if shes not able to squeeze any money out of Montpelier in an already tight budget year, Suttons only remaining option would be to take out a five-year, low-interest loan from the Vermont Bond Bank, and work the repayment plan into their town budgets through 2031. That means Suttons less than 1,000 taxpayers would be burdened with an extra $126,000 every year, and the towns entire annual budget is usually only around $700,000. Its quite a bit to throw into our budget on the taxpeople, McClure said. Advertisement Its too bad the federal government wouldnt step in and, you know, do something, said Tim Simpson, a Sutton Selectboard member. This countrys going to have natural disasters somewhere in this country every year, and they should budget that in, you know? One other piece of hope the town could have is that Governor Scott has shown hes on board with the plan to help Sutton, which makes the chance of getting financial aid from the state a bit more likely. I feel for them, because its, you know, a million to two million dollars for a small community like that in the Northeast Kingdom is significant, Gov. Scott said on Wednesday, Feb. 11. But until then, its simply fingers crossed for the tiny Northeast Kingdom town, as its leaders try their best to stay positive. Theres a lot of elderly people, a lot of farmers, McClure said, talking about the towns tax base. Its just, its getting crazy to live here, and as these taxes keep going up and education taxes keep going up, and Its just crazy, yeah. 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. Some key world trade partners and national leaders embraced the Supreme Court's ruling on Feb. 20 that President Donald Trump has no authority to enforce sweeping global tariffs. The high court's decision to strike down the president's signature economic policy was met with hopes that it would help lower costs globally, and also in the United States. Trump said he was "deeply disappointed" with the high court's ruling. In response, the president said he would immediately impose 10% temporary tariffs to replace the emergency tariffs the court overturned. Meanwhile, Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's top official in charge of U.S.-Canada trade matters, said in a lengthy Feb. 20 post on X that the Supreme Court's ruling "reinforces Canadas position that the IEEPA tariffs imposed by the United States are unjustified." "Although Canada has concluded the best trade agreement with the United States among all its trading partners, we recognize that there is still much to be done to support Canadian businesses and workers who continue to be affected by the tariffs imposed under Section 232 on the steel, aluminum, and automotive sectors," LeBlanc said. As a result of the ruling, the federal government would have to refund about $175 billion in tariffs that were collected without congressional authorization, according to a Feb. 20 projection by the Penn Wharton Budget Model at the University of Pennsylvania. The Supreme Court ruled that Trump wasnt authorized to impose tariffs under IEEPA, the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The emergency tariffs account for about half of what the government collects in tariffs. "Unless replaced by another source, future tariff revenue collections will fall by half," the Penn Wharton Budget Model said. The Penn Wharton report said that Customs and Border Patrol provides public trade statistics, which are updated semi-regularly. The Penn report said CBP reported that it collected approximately $133.5 billion in tariffs under the IEEPA authority, according to its last update on Dec. 14. Trump tariffs ruling live updates: Watch President Trump, others address Supreme Court setback Canadian trade official supports SCOTUS ruling on tariffs LeBlanc's post on X comes two days after he's reportedly scheduled to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, "in the coming weeks" after a scheduled Canadian trade mission to Mexico. LeBlanc's announcement also came after a phone call he had with Greer after the U.S. trade czar publicly mentioned potential barriers to bilateral trade talks, including issues regarding Canadian imports of American wine and spirits. LeBlanc added in his Feb. 20 X post that Canada would still work to support businesses facing tariffs under other statutes that remain in place. "As relations between Canada and the United States undergo a period of transformation and we approach the first joint review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, we are working to create growth and opportunities on both sides of the border, while strengthening our collaboration with reliable trading partners and allies around the world," LeBlanc said. The U.S. Supreme Court as seen on a rainy Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court struck down the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs in a 6-3 ruling. EU monitoring Trump, still wants low tariffs The European Union said in a pair of posts on X it is closely watching the Trump administration's next moves after the Supreme Court decided to strike down the president's tariffs. "We take note of the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court and are analysing it carefully," European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Olof Gill said. "We remain in close contact with the U.S. Administration as we seek clarity on the steps they intend to take in response to this ruling," Gill said. In a second post, Gill added, "Businesses on both sides of the Atlantic depend on stability and predictability in the trading relationship. We therefore continue to advocate for low tariffs and to work towards reducing them." Separately, Bernd Lange, the chair of the EU parliaments international trade committee, wrote on X that the Supreme Court ruling was a positive signal for the rule of law. "Judges have shown that even (a) US president does not operate in a legal vacuum," Lange said. Advertisement He also wrote that "the era of unlimited, arbitrary tariffs" may soon "be coming to an end." Lange said the European Union's parliament "must now carefully evaluate" the ruling and its consequences. He said the EU will hold an emergency meeting Feb. 23 regarding the trade deal Trump made with them last year "in order to assess possible implications." The EU parliament has spent several months fully implementing the terms of the trade deal that would have lowered tariffs for U.S. and European businesses. However, what the global leaders are publicly saying and doing privately may be two different matters, as Trump still wants to impose tariffs, Rob Lalka, a business professor at Tulane University, told USA TODAY. "Although the Supreme Court is the law of the land, many of these tariffs are tied to other trade regulations and could be tied to other future actions taken by the White House and the administration," Lalka said. "Its important not to react to the final word, because I dont think it will be." Lalka said world leaders and trade partners should breathe too much of a sigh of relief. "Prices aren't going to go back to what they were before this, and the diplomatic relations arent going become automatically restored overnight like a wild dream we woke up from," Lalka said. "Americas reliability as a trade partner in terms of clarity and consistency wont be the same because nobody knows what tomorrow may bring." US Chamber of Commerce hails Supreme Court decision Despite possible murkiness, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce saw the Supreme Court's ruling as "welcome news for businesses and consumers." We encourage the administration to use this opportunity to reset overall tariff policy in a manner that will lead to greater economic growth, larger wage gains for workers, and lower costs for families," Neil Bradley, the chamber's chief policy officer, said in a statement. "Swift refunds of the impermissible tariffs will be meaningful for the more than 200,000 small business importers in this country and will help support stronger economic growth this year." Bradley said the chamber has been working with small and midsize businesses nationwide that have seen significant cost increases and supply chain disruptions as a result of the tariffs. The group filed an amicus brief in the case on behalf of small businesses suing the Trump administration. "We encourage the administration to use this opportunity to reset overall tariff policy in a manner that will lead to greater economic growth, larger wage gains for workers, and lower costs for families," Bradley said. Gavin Newsom and Rand Paul poke Trump California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Trump nemesis and possible 2028 presidential candidate, reposted a post on X from his press office's account, criticizing the president, and raised a probing question maybe on the minds of millions of Americans after the Supreme Court's tariff ruling. "CALLED IT! Trumps tariffs were ILLEGAL from day one," the post said. "An unconstitutional tax and now its dead. WHEN IS TRUMP GOING TO REFUND EVERY DAY AMERICAN PEOPLE THE $1,700 HE ILLEGALLY TAXED THEM?" Newsom, who spoke defiantly of Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month, later said in a separate X post on Feb. 20 that it is "Time to pay the piper, Donald." "Your tariffs were nothing more than an illegal cash grab that drove up prices, hurt working families, and wrecked longstanding global alliances," Newsom said. "Every dollar your administration unlawfully took needs to be immediately refunded with interest." Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who occasionally pokes at the Trump adminstration, also said in a post on X that "the Supreme Court struck down using emergency powers to enact taxes." "This ruling will also prevent a future President such as AOC from using emergency powers to enact socialism," Paul said. In another X post, Paul said that the Supreme Court makes plain what should have been obvious. "The power to impose tariffs is 'very clearly a branch of the power to tax.'" USA TODAY's Bart Jansen contributed This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canada, Europe react to Supreme Court ruling on Trump tariffs Smiling man sitting in car with open top on a beach with a surfboard in the back seat. Vincent Rives was in the market for a new car, but the process felt overwhelming. Car dealerships are notorious for hard-sell techniques and upselling the customer on everything from tires to floor mats. He was shopping for groceries at Costco when a flyer for the Costco Auto Program caught his eye. Could the great savings and customer experience you expect from Costco be transferred to buying a car? (1). Must Read Costco promised a fixed price and no haggling, which could turn a stomach-churning six hour ordeal into an easy one hour experience. It wasnt just the process that was easier either. Rives ended up going with the 2025 RAV4 hybrid that was listed at $48,540, but because he bought through the Costco Auto Program, it only cost him $36,720 a savings of over $11,000. His approach frames a larger trend in the automotive world: as prices and monthly payments remain near historic highs, buyers are increasingly willing to explore nontraditional paths to avoid haggling and unexpected costs. Heres how buying a car at Costco works, and what consumers are doing to find the best deals. How does Costco get good car deals for its members? You cant walk into your local Costco looking for cars on the top shelf. Though the retailer is famous for purchases in bulk, it doesnt actually sell cars. Instead, the program is a way for Costco to offer value to both its members and car dealerships by cutting out uncertainty for both parties. This is how it works. Costco members are serious about shopping and saving money. When you pay your $65 annually for a Gold Star Membership ($130 per year for an Executive Membership), you show youre committed to making Costco your go-to destination for great deals (2). Costco members are famously loyal, and the company knows your shopping profile. Thats valuable information for a retailer who has to spend large sums to attract the attention of someone like you. Armed with this information, Costco goes to local car dealers and offers to be a broker between a high-intent customer (you) on the condition that the deal shaves off some of their profit margin on the vehicle (3). Dealers accept slimmer margins because programs like Costcos can deliver sales volume while cutting what it costs to find a buyer. With dealerships often spending roughly $400 to $800 per vehicle sold on advertising, a membership referral pipeline can function like a built-in lead source that offsets those marketing costs (4). Rising costs and the pressure on monthly budgets Data from Kelley Blue Book showed that the average new-vehicle transaction price reached $50,326 in December 2025, which explains why middle-income shoppers feel priced out of the market or are afraid they will be forced to make significant compromises when theyre under the glare of a high-pressure sales person (5). Even when a buyer can technically afford the sticker price of a vehicle, the reality of financing is stretching household budgets to the limit. Reports from Experian indicate that average monthly payments for new cars have hovered around $748, while used car payments averaged $532 as of the third quarter of 2025 (6). For Costco Executive members, who get up to 2% cash back on purchases, the rebate on buying a $45,000 vehicle is another potential source of value. But beyond the raw numbers, many shoppers are desperate to avoid markups and surprise add-ons. Negotiating is a major pain point for most buyers, and dealerships often generate their highest margins through trade-in valuations, financing markups and back-end products like extended warranties or protection packages. For buyers like Rives, not having to worry about negotiating add-ons is worth it. Advertisement 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 Exploring alternatives to find the best possible deal On the other hand, skilled negotiators may be able to get a better price than the Costco deal, especially if they are financing the car. For example, if you are pre-approved for a loan, you can ask the dealer to match or beat that rate. Many dealers have access to automaker incentive program, which allow them to beat a banks rate, sometimes with as low as 0% financing (7). While Costcos club model is popular, it is only one option among several. AAA offers its own auto buying program that promises upfront pricing through a network of certified dealers. Sams Club provides a similar service powered by TrueCar, which often includes post-sale benefits for members (8, 9). Additionally, many credit unions, such as PenFed, pair their financing options with car-buying portals to give members a streamlined experience. These programs all share a similar goal of reducing negotiation fatigue through upfront offers (10). These programs all work in slightly different ways. Sams Club, for example, is more of an online marketplace than a club deal like Costcos. Nevertheless, buyers still have to do their homework with regards to dealer fees, additional products, and financing terms. These services reduce the hassle of the initial price search, but they do not replace the need for due diligence, especially since actual savings may vary. Practical steps for securing the best overall value To get the best result, shoppers should treat membership pricing as just one quote in a broader process. Before visiting a dealer, its a good idea to secure preapproved financing from an independent bank or credit union. Buyers should also request written all-in quotes that include all taxes and fees from at least two different dealerships to ensure the membership price is truly competitive before you visit the showroom floor. It is also helpful to compare a membership offer from Costco, for example, against other portals like those offered by AAA or Sams Club. Throughout the process, the focus should remain on the total cost over the life of the loan rather than just the monthly payment, as longer loan terms can often hide high interest costs. Membership-based car buying programs are useful tools for avoiding stress and occasionally securing significant savings, but they work best when paired with traditional research. The primary takeaway is not simply to join a club to buy a car, but to use every credible pricing channel available and verify the math before signing any contract. 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. Business Insider (1); Costco (2); WebProNews (3, 4); Kelly Blue Book (5); Experian (6); The Wall Street Journal (7); AAA (8); Sams Club (9); PenFed Credit Union (10) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. In a huge blow to the executive branchs authority over global commerce, the Supreme Court handed down a 63 decision today declaring President Trumps sweeping use of emergency powers to enact tariffs fundamentally illegal. The ruling immediately imperils the cornerstone of the administrations economic strategy, transforming Americas negotiator-in-chief into a leader stripped of his most potent leverage. This is because the majority of Trumps tariffs were deployed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which the administration used to justify a vast network of reciprocal tariffs applied to most trading partners under the pretext of a balance of payments emergency. Additionally, it levied distinct, targeted tariffs against Canada, China, and Mexico, citing a drug trafficking emergency. The Supreme Courts decisive ruling concluded that utilizing the IEEPA for these purposes was unlawful. Since Trumps Liberation Day, when he enacted most of these tariffs in April 2025, the U.S. Treasury has accumulated an astounding $240 billion in revenue from customs duties, according to a note by Capital Economics chief North America analyst Paul Ashworth. This figure represents a $180 billion increase compared with the same time frame in 2024. Based on 2024 import weights, Ashworth continued, the theoretical effective tariff rate skyrocketed from a mere 2% in 2024 to approximately 14%, but nine percentage points of this dramatic hike are directly attributable to the now-illegal IEEPA tariffs. With the tariffs struck down, the Treasury will face demands for massive refunds to importers. Current estimates suggest the refund bill could run to about $120 billion, representing a full 0.5% of U.S. GDP. While the Supreme Courts majority opinion did not explicitly outline a repayment protocol, dissenting Justice Brett Kavanaugh highlighted the looming administrative disaster. He noted that the court remained silent on whether, and if so how, the government should go about returning the billions of dollars, but he plainly acknowledged that the unprecedented process is guaranteed to be a mess. Ashworth also laid out Trumps playbook on re-creating most of the tariffs that were just struck down. In short: Its a lot more limited. Advertisement Trumps bad hand left to play Beyond the fiscal nightmare, the ruling fundamentally cripples Trumps bilateral diplomatic strategy. Ashworth predicted the president will be forced to pivot to Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. That particular law explicitly concerns the powers that Congress gives the executive branch in order to deal with large and serious balance of payments deficits, but its pretty restrictive, Ashworth said, capping the maximum tariff rate at 15% and limiting a tariff to just 150 days, unless Congress approves otherwise. This tariff must also be nondiscriminatory, setting one tariff rate for all trade partners. This means Trumps Liberation Day strategy is out the window, as he was using the IEEPA to set different rates for different partners, seemingly every day. Trump will no longer be able to honor many of the deals he has negotiated with individual nations, Ashworth explained. The administrations alternative legal avenues appear equally bleak. Trump may attempt to revive Section 338 of the antiquated 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which theoretically allows the president to hit discriminatory countries with tariffs of up to 50%, but Ashworth sees courts ruling that the explicit provisions of the 1974 Trade Act would take legal precedence. This leaves Trump reliant on older, more cumbersome statutory workhorses. He could turn to Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, for instance, which relies on national security justifications and has already been used extensively by his administration for product-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, semiconductors, and autos. He might also leverage Sections 201 and 301 of the 1974 Trade Act on anticompetitive grounds. Unfortunately for a president who favors swift, unilateral action, these statutes mandate notoriously time-consuming investigations before any tariffs can be legally applied. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the midterm elections. And based on voter anger about higher electricity bills, job-threatening AI technology, and shouldering the burden of tariffs that largely turned out to be illegal for much of the past year, its unlikely that a much more Democratic-leaning Congress would approve any tariffs after November. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com A couple enjoys their time off while on vacation. If the majority of American workers were to get their way, cash bonuses would become a thing of the past. A new study found that workers who receive extra vacation days generally feel more recognized and valued than those who were handed extra money, according to the Wall Street Journal (1). And experts say its not that paid time off is inherently better than cash, but that uninterrupted time away from work provides breathing room that allows people to recharge and enjoy life. Must Read The studys participants were asked to respond to the question of paid time off versus a cash bonus on a seven-point scale; the low end represented feeling more like a robot, while the high end represented feeling more like a human. Paid vacation time was given an average score of 5.4, while monetary bonuses were given a score of 5.04. While that difference may sound modest numerically, it represents a meaningful psychological shift, Sanford DeVoe, one of the studys authors who is also a professor at the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, shared with the WSJ. Its the difference between feeling neutral and feeling genuinely seen as a person. With todays economic uncertainty, return-to-office rules and rising levels of burnout, many workers seem to put flexibility and downtime ahead of one-off cash bonuses, but there are important financial implications for each option that workers should know. The financial implications of cash versus time off When weighing cash bonuses against paid time off, its worth looking beyond the surface. Both options are great, but they can affect your finances in different ways. Heres a breakdown of some of the financial implications. Bonuses are taxed differently than base pay The IRS treats most performance bonuses as supplemental wages. If paid separately, employers withhold 22% for federal income tax on bonuses or up to 37% if the bonus exceeds $1 million plus Social Security and Medicare withholdings. This means the amount of cash you end up with may be much less than the gross amount you were initially given (2). Paid time off isnt tax-free Paid time off (PTO) is taxed like regular income, which means taking time off doesnt trigger a big tax bite the way a lump-sum bonus can. The steady paycheck you receive during a vacation also doesnt change your overall tax bracket, whereas a cash bonus could potentially do just that (3). PTO is already part of compensation packages Government data shows that paid leave accounts for about 7.4% of total employer compensation costs on average, with vacation time making up a significant chunk of that percentage (4). Employers are focusing on PTO as a retention tool Research from the Society for Human Resource Management shows leave benefits arent just nice for employees to have. In fact, organizations see PTO as critical for well-being and employee retention, helping workers to avoid burnout and maintain a steady work-life balance (5). Advertisement 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 How workers can consider PTO versus bonuses Here are some questions you may want to consider to help frame your perspective around cash bonuses versus time off. Whats the tax impact of a bonus? Remember, bonus withholding often uses a flat supplemental rate (22%) rather than your usual pay period withholding rate. Are you in need of a break? If youre burnt out or struggling to unplug, extra PTO might improve your energy and productivity more than a one-time payout. Hows your job security and future earning potential? If youre planning on staying with an employer long term, negotiated PTO that accrues over time can be more valuable than a short-lived bonus. Do you live in a high-tax jurisdiction? Higher state and local tax rates can potentially make a large bonus less appealing when compared with the steady value of time off. When it comes to cash bonuses versus time off, there are always trade-offs to keep in mind. Cash bonuses can be helpful for paying down debt, increasing your savings or investing, but on the other hand, paid time off can lower stress levels and support both mental and physical health. For many workers, being able to rest without interruption can feel more meaningful than a big bonus check. Whether youre negotiating an offer, a raise or planning next years career moves, weighing the monetary and psychological implications of both options can help you make a choice that fits your finances and your lifestyle. 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. The Wall Street Journal (1); IRS (2); LegalClarity.org (3); U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (4); Society for Human Resource Management (5). This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. The Byers family raising the American flag in front of their new home. | Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com POCATELLO Celebrations of Americas 250th anniversary are coming to the Portneuf Valley. This year, on July 4, 250 years will have passed since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. To celebrate the occasion, Congress established the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission in July 2016 to oversee the momentous milestone. Cities across the nation will take part in celebrating the 250th anniversary, including Pocatello and Chubbuck. The City of Pocatello is forming a committee, the Pocatello America250 Ad Hoc Committee, to create a time capsule. And the City of Chubbuck passed a resolution at its council meeting Wednesday evening, officially expressing its intent to celebrate the anniversary as well. The deadline to apply for Pocatellos committee is on Friday, Feb. 20. This volunteer committee of nine will work to identify a location for the time capsule and items to be included, as well as plan the community celebration to dedicate the time capsule, a news release reads. The funds to put together this time capsule came from a state of Idaho grant. Advertisement People who are interested in applying before the day is finished can obtain an application at the Mayors office at 911 North 7th Avenue, visit the Advisory Committees link at pocatello.gov, or call (208) 234-6163. Meeting dates and times for the committee have yet to be determined, and the work will be completed by the end of July this year. The City of Chubbuck intends to celebrate the 250th anniversary at City Hall. Wendy Butler, the mayors assistant, is still planning the event, but she told EastIdahoNews.com that it would begin with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by speeches from the city council, and that they would serve food to attendees. And Bannock County will also be holding an anniversary celebration, scheduled to take place on Independence Day. Its website doesnt have many details, but invites potential vendors or sponsors to email vendors@bannockcounty.gov. EastIdahoNews.com will publish further details on these events as they become available. The post America250 celebrations coming to the Portneuf Valley appeared first on East Idaho News. Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls. | Daniel V. Ramirez, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS As the Artificial Intelligence industry continues to grow and data centers multiply, a local lawmaker is stepping up to shield residents from soaring electricity bills. At the moment, according to datacentermap.com, Idaho has only 17 data centers, with one planned in Idaho Falls. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Idaho National Laboratory is one of the locations the department has selected for U.S. Companies to build and power AI data centers on federal land. Over on the west side of the Gem State, Meta is looking to build a data center in Kuna, according to the Idaho Statesman. This new facility will be a 1 million-square-foot server farm and joins three smaller data centers built in Boise. RELATED | Meta, formerly Facebook, plans to build a big data center in Idaho. What we know Part of what makes Idaho unique is its energy costs for these types of data centers, which is a concern for a local legislator. Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, told EastIdahoNews.com that she plans to introduce legislation on investor-owned utilities and data centers. According to the Governors Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, there are five investor-owned utilities. Whats happening where you have all this demand thats coming for all these AI data centers, theyre going around the country (and) theyre shopping different states where the rates are the cheapest, Mickelsen said. Idaho has some of the cheapest power rates across the whole western part of the United States. Her concern is that these utilities may raise rates for current residents to accommodate the energy loads of the new data centers. Advertisement She said that the typical rate increase for utilities is between one and two percent, but those increases may double due to the rate of growth. According to the Idaho Capital Sun, Idaho Power one of the five investor-owned utilities expects the number of customers to rise from 648.000 to 867,000 by 2045. Along with major projects like Metas planned data center in Kuna, Idaho Power customers are expected to see rates increase. We want to make sure that growth is paying for growth, not existing Idaho citizens paying for growth from data centers where they might make billions of dollars, and leave Idahoans with the bill, Mickelsen said. Drivers Licenses, vehicles and fines Another piece of legislation Mickelsen is aiming to help address is a loophole in drivers license and traffic ticket laws. She said that years ago, when the Legislature was working on ways to address fines and a residents ability to get a drivers license, a piece of legislation did not outline a way for a county to enforce its ability to collect those fines. They pulled out the part that if you didnt pay your traffic tickets, your license would be suspended. So we have $23 million worth of money thats owed to counties right now that they cant collect on because they have no mechanism by which to have people force people to pay their fines and tickets, Mickelsen said. Asked about how this may have occurred, Mickelsen said that it was an issue that wasnt communicated to the Legislature until recently. Another aspect is ensuring that current and future residents who move to Idaho register their vehicles in Idaho. 135,000 vehicles a year are not getting registered in the state of Idaho. So were going to add a $75 penalty if they dont register it within 30 days of coming into the state, Mickelsen said. The issue here is that folks are looking for the cheapest state nearby to register their vehicles, but use them here in Idaho. Even though you might get something on the gas tax, theyre still not participating, because part of the money thats raised with your registration also funds our state police, Mickelsen said. The post Rep. Mickelsen looks to set guardrails on data centers and energy costs, clear up transportation laws appeared first on East Idaho News. Today's headlines: India, four arrests in Jharkhand for the murder of a woman accused of witchcraft, burned alive with her son. Deadly virus and bacterial infections have killed at least 72 tigers in Thailand. Chinese scientists have created an environmentally friendly water-based battery. US considers reopening embassy in Damascus after 14 years. UNITED STATES - CHINA Trump will travel to China from 31 March to 2 April 2026 for a highly anticipated meeting with Xi Jinping. The trip to China was announced shortly before the US Supreme Court overturned many of the tariffs on imported goods that the US president had imposed, including some against China. Trump immediately imposed a new global tariff of 10% to replace them. INDIA Four people have been arrested in Jharkhand on charges of burning alive a woman and her 10-month-old son, suspected of practising witchcraft. The woman's husband, who was also attacked, suffered severe burns and is in hospital. The police say they are looking for others involved. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, between 2000 and 2016, more than 2,500 people, mostly women, were killed in India on charges of witchcraft. THAILAND In recent weeks, a deadly virus and bacterial infection have killed at least 72 tigers at the private Tiger Kingdom zoo in northern Thailand. The Chiang Mai Provincial Livestock Office said tests had detected a highly contagious canine distemper virus - a highly viral infectious disease - and bacteria affecting the respiratory system. CHINA Chinese scientists have developed an long-lasting, environmentally friendly battery with organic electrodes and an electrolyte so safe that it can be used as brine for tofu. The water-based battery developed by the team is non-toxic and can be disposed of without posing any environmental risks, unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries. Water-based batteries eliminate the flammability risk of conventional batteries and can be more economical. SYRIA - UNITED STATES The Trump administration has informed Congress of its intention to proceed with plans to reopen the US embassy in Damascus, Syria, which was closed in 2012 during the country's civil war. A communication sent to congressional committees earlier this month informed lawmakers of the State Department's intention to implement a phased approach to potentially resume embassy operations in Syria. RUSSIA Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev told the Security Committee that in 2025, more than 72,000 foreign citizens who had committed crimes were deported from Russia, stating that the police could have identified many more offenders if they had had more financial resources, because unfortunately, we also need money to maintain order. CHINA - KYRGYZSTAN - UZBEKISTAN - TAJIKISTAN The first freight train carrying eight 40-foot containers set off on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan multimodal transport corridor, departing from Lanzhou station in China and arriving 18-20 days later at Dusanbe-2 station in Tajikistan, as announced by the press office of the Uzbek company Uztemirjul Container, one of the companies participating in the Utk International Logistics joint venture founded in China together with the Central Asian countries. by Nirmala Carvalho Fr. Arisher Joseph, principal of St. Francis School in Khunta Kheda, was detained and released on bail after being physically assaulted following accusations of inappropriate behavior with students. But many parents of the school are defending him, claiming it is an attempt to discredit the Catholic institution. Bishop Jesuraj: No one can take justice into their own hands; the incident must be properly investigated. Lucknow (AsiaNews) The St. Francis School in Khunta Kheda, in the Rampur district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, has been at the center of a heated confrontation for several days, involving families, civil authorities, and Church officials. The controversy was sparked by stillunverified accusations of inappropriate behavior against Fr. Arisher Joseph, a Catholic priest and founding principal of the institution. He was detained on 16 February and released the same day after being granted bail. Police intervened after angry parents gathered on campus and assaulted him before authorities were able to regain control of the situation. Fr. Arisher Joseph, a member of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance (TOR), was physically attacked by a group of adults who were not parents of the school but included individuals connected to other institutions. The police report states that the case came to light after parents noticed their children were hesitant and fearful about going to school. When questioned, many students reportedly said that Fr. Joseph called them individually to his office for mistakes or misbehavior in class. It is alleged that he touched them inappropriately, claiming it was a form of punishment to discipline them. Another group of parents, however, is defending the priest and completely rejecting the accusations. They argue that St. Francis School is known for its excellent educational standards and strict discipline, and that certain individuals, driven by personal interests or grudges, are attempting to discredit it. Speaking to the media, they stated that their children have received an education for many years in a safe environment on the same campus, and they have never had complaints about the principal or staff. According to them, publicly damaging the schools reputation without solid evidence is highly deplorable. They state that the truth behind the allegations against the principal should be made public, so that no innocent individual or institution is subjected to unnecessary psychological or social pressure. The parents also stressed that the administration should investigate the real motives behind these accusations and identify who might be orchestrating disruptions to the school environment behind the scenes. In their view, if anyone has a genuine concern, it should be addressed through legal and administrative channels, not through smear campaigns against the institution. The bishop of Meerut, Msgr. Bhaskar Jesuraj, told AsiaNews: This school is run by a religious order and is within the Diocese of Meerut. I was away on the day of the incident, but it appears to be a conspiracy linked to particular interests of nearby educational institutions. I was saddened to see the video of the attack on Fr. Francis; there are legal procedures to follow in the case of accusationsno one can take justice into their own hands. Moreover, antisocial elements keep a close watch on any missionary school operating in the area. 21 February 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Energy dependence has reached a level where even major powers can become strategically vulnerable. This dynamic is clearly illustrated by the gas trade between Europe and Russia. In 2019, prior to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Europe imported approximately 175 bcm of Russian gas. After the war began in 2022, imports declined sharply to around 75 bcm. Despite this significant reduction, Europe was unable to fully eliminate its dependence, as a substantial portion of its energy demand continued to be met by Russian supplies. As the war enters its fifth year, European institutions have announced plans to phase out remaining Russian gas imports. This trajectory underscores the importance of diversification in energy policy. In this context, the South Caucasus has gained greater strategic attention. Azerbaijan, whose economy has historically been centered on oil and gas production and exports, has increasingly emphasized diversification, both in export destinations and in energy sources. Alongside continued hydrocarbon exports, the country has expanded its focus on renewable energy development. Currently, Azerbaijan exports natural gas to 16 countries, 10 of which are European Union member states. At the same time, renewable energy initiatives are advancing. One of the most significant among them is the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project. The institutional framework for this initiative has gradually taken shape. In May 2024, the energy operators of Azerbaijan, Romania, Georgia, and Hungary signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture for the Black Sea Energy Project. This was followed in September by a shareholder agreement between Azerenerji JSC, Transelectrica SA, Georgian State Electrosystem, and MVM Energy to formally establish the Green Energy Corridor joint venture, which will be responsible for implementing the project. These developments indicate a structured, multilateral approach to the corridors realization. To better understand the broader implications of the project, AzerNEWS spoke with Tinatin Japaridze, Director of Geopolitics at Anadyr Horizon, a venture-backed predictive intelligence firm specialising in simulation-based geopolitical and market risk analysis. She previously led South Caucasus coverage at Eurasia Group. According to Japaridze, the Black Sea submarine cable represents not only an energy initiative but also strategic infrastructure. At approximately 1,195 kilometers, the high-voltage subsea cable is designed to transmit up to 1,000 MW of renewable electricity from Azerbaijan and Georgia to Romania, onward to Hungary, and ultimately into the wider European Union grid. From a benefits perspective, the project could contribute to supply diversification and renewable integration within Europe. For Azerbaijan and Georgia, it may create expanded access to European electricity markets and support the development of renewable energy sectors. Georgia could potentially strengthen its role as a transit country, while Azerbaijan is seeking to complement its hydrocarbon exports with renewable energy exports. However, the project also faces considerable challenges. Technically, it would be among the longest and deepest subsea power cables constructed to date, requiring specialized manufacturing and installation capabilities. Onshore grid infrastructure, particularly in Georgia, would require upgrades to accommodate variable renewable flows at scale. In comparative terms, the longest existing cable with similar capacity is the North Sea Link, a 750-kilometer interconnector between Norway and the United Kingdom. The Black Sea project would exceed this length. From a regulatory perspective, alignment between EU and non-EU frameworks will be necessary. This includes harmonization of permitting procedures, grid codes, and cross-border electricity trading rules, which requires sustained political coordination. Geopolitically, the Black Sea region presents a complex operating environment. Heightened regional tensions and militarization increase infrastructure-related risks. Subsea cables, as critical infrastructure, may be exposed to security vulnerabilities. Japaridze also noted that domestic political developments in Georgia and its relationship with Brussels may influence investor perceptions. As a transit country, regulatory alignment with EU standards is particularly relevant for market integration and financing considerations. She further observed that the broader regional balance of influence is shifting as Europe develops alternative energy corridors, which may alter geopolitical dynamics in ways that affect infrastructure risk assessments. Overall, the projects viability depends on the simultaneous management of engineering, regulatory, financial, and geopolitical factors, with long-term institutional coordination being central to its implementation. As Azerbaijan expands its green energy production, the key question whether there is sufficient market demand in Europe to support this growth remains outstanding. In this context, Azerbaijan has announced plans to add 8 GW of energy capacity by 2032, reflecting an effort to diversify its energy mix and expand its renewable portfolio, which could enhance prospects for supplying Europe with renewable energy. In Japaridzes assessment, European participation appears plausible, as the project aligns with EU objectives related to diversification and decarbonization. "Romania and Hungary are already directly involved in the governance structure, which may facilitate access to EU funding mechanisms. At the same time, Azerbaijans ability to export renewable electricity to Europe depends on two main factors: sufficient generation capacity and effective market integration. While wind and solar projects are currently under development, larger-scale deployment will be required to sustain exports. In addition, regulatory alignment, transparent trading mechanisms, and competitive pricing structures will be essential for successful integration into European electricity markets." European electricity demand is projected to increase significantly in the coming decades, reinforcing the relevance of long-term infrastructure planning. Domestically, Azerbaijan produced 28.4 billion kWh of electricity in 2024, of which 24.1 billion kWh met domestic demand and 1.4 billion kWh were exported. Imports totaled 70.7 million kWh. In the first nine months of 2025, production reached 21.8 billion kWh, with exports of 989.6 million kWh and imports of 145 million kWh. Renewable energy has begun to contribute more visibly to growth dynamics. The 230 MW Garadagh Solar Power Plant significantly increased solar generation following its commissioning. Additionally, the 1,880 MW 8 November Power Plant expanded overall generation capacity. After considering these factors, the question arises whether public-private partnerships could accelerate the project and which models have proven effective in similar cross-border energy initiatives. According to Japaridze, public-private partnerships (PPPs) can play a critical facilitating role in infrastructure projects of this scale. "The joint venture structure, involving transmission operators and governments from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary, reflects a coordinated approach that integrates both public authorities and corporate stakeholders," the expert commented. She also noted that experience from cross-border infrastructure projects in Europe indicates that PPPs are most effective when revenue models are clearly defined, risk allocation is transparent, and regulatory frameworks are stable and predictable. EU-backed infrastructure corridors have also demonstrated how public funding can de-risk early stages and crowd in private capital. For this project, EU designation and financial instruments materially improve its attractiveness to strategic investors, provided regulatory clarity follows, and also stability and security in the South Caucasus region is sustained, which is extremely important, Japaridze added. Supporting the project, the World Bank approved a $35 million loan under the Electricity and Renewable Energy Sources Program (ESPIRE) to finance the initial phase. This includes identifying the optimal corridor and conducting geophysical and geotechnical surveys of the Black Sea seabed. The corridor is scheduled to become operational by 2032, with an initial export capacity of up to 4 GW, to be implemented in phased stages. Electricity will be generated primarily from offshore wind farms in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, transmitted to Georgia via a High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link, and subsequently delivered to Romania and Hungary through the subsea cable. In 2023, Bulgaria expressed interest in joining the project, highlighting broader regional engagement in this initiative. Italy is also reportedly considering joining the project. Following other countries expressed interest in joining the project, it is essential to address the regulatory and legal hurdles necessary to ensure smooth operations and effective cross-border energy trading. Japaridze emphasized that multiple layers of regulation must be harmonized for the project to function effectively. "The subsea cable must comply with EU energy market rules, including grid codes, transparency requirements, and market operation standards. Cross-border electricity trading will require harmonized settlement systems, balancing mechanisms, and compatible trading platforms to enable efficient integration of power from non-EU producers into European markets," she said. The expert also pointed out that interconnection agreements between grid operators must clearly define procedures for congestion management, cost allocation, and dispute resolution. In addition, environmental permitting and maritime law compliance represent critical considerations, given the sensitivities associated with subsea construction. Addressing these regulatory and legal requirements early, while ensuring robust investor protections, will be essential for integrating the corridor into broader European energy markets, Japaridze noted. It should be noted that the project achieved a significant milestone in December 2025, when it was granted the status of a European Project of Mutual Interest, reflecting its strategic relevance for the EU energy landscape. It seems that the two Caucasian countries, Azerbaijan and Georgia, are positioning themselves to export green energy in a manner similar to their oil and gas exports. Japaridze highlighted that Azerbaijan and Georgia have a strong history of cooperation in large-scale energy infrastructure, demonstrating political will, strategic alignment, and institutional capability. There are clear reasons to believe this cooperation can extend into renewable energy. Institutional momentum is already visible through the joint venture managing the Black Sea cable, and EU involvement provides a stronger external anchor than previous projects had. Both countries share a clear economic interest in expanding export access, she explained. The expert also clarified the situation by highlighting the differences between the two types of energy. "At the same time, renewables introduce new technical and market complexities that oil and gas infrastructure did not face, including intermittency, grid balancing, and evolving market structures. Successfully replicating past infrastructure achievements will require investment not only in generation capacity, but also in modernized transmission networks, regulatory alignment, and sophisticated electricity trading frameworks," she elaborated. Clean electricity is a systems challenge, not just a production challenge, Japaridze emphasized. This corridor is about far more than power flows. It reshapes geopolitical and geoeconomic dependencies, redistributes influence, and embeds the South Caucasus more deeply into Europes energy future. Every new corridor reduces one dependency, and creates another, Japaridze said in conclusion. 21 February 2026 10:45 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijans Deputy Minister of Economy Rovnq Abdullayev took part in the 14th Meeting of Ministers of Economy and Trade of the Turkic States Organization (OTS) held in the city of Turkistan, Kazakhstan. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing the Ministry of Economy, the meeting was chaired by Kazakhstans Deputy Minister of National Economy Assan Darbayev. In his remarks, Deputy Minister Abdullayev highlighted the significant progress made in recent years in strengthening multilateral cooperation within the OTS. He emphasized that Azerbaijan continues to take important steps to deepen economic ties and facilitate mutual trade with all member states of the organization. He noted that the bilateral investment funds jointly established with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan have accelerated capital flows and supported the financing of industrial and investment projects. Abdullayev also stressed that the launch of operational activities of the Turkic Investment Fund will further contribute to regional economic integration. During the meeting, participants discussed deepening economic cooperation under the OTS, facilitating trade, promoting investment, advancing digital transformation, and enhancing partnerships in transport and logistics. Special attention was given to improving the efficiency of the Middle Corridor. Following the discussions, the ministers signed a Joint Communique and a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of trade among OTS member states. It was also decided that the 15th Meeting of OTS Ministers of Economy and Trade will be held in Azerbaijan in the second half of this year. On the sidelines of the event, Deputy Minister Abdullayev met with Turkiyes Deputy Minister of Trade Sezai Ucarmak. The two sides discussed expanding AzerbaijanTurkiye trade and investment cooperation, promoting non-oil exports, strengthening collaboration in digital trade, and other joint priorities. 21 February 2026 16:50 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Georgia has introduced a symbolic tariff for transporting oil products from Azerbaijan to Armenia, AzerNEWS reports, citing a statement from the Ministry of Economy of Georgia. The ministry noted that in early December 2025, Georgia facilitated a one-time, free-of-charge transit of Azerbaijani oil through its territory to Armenia. The subsequent shipment, however, was transported under the standard tariff, prompting dissatisfaction in Yerevan. The tariff issue became a central topic during a meeting in Yerevan between Georgias Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili and Armenias Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan. Khudatyan expressed gratitude to the Georgian side for its new decision, under which a symbolic transit rate was set for shipping Azerbaijani oil products to Armenia. According to the Georgian ministry, this step will significantly improve bilateral connectivity, increase Armenias transit flows, and strengthen Georgias role as a regional transport hub. The statement added that developing safe, reliable, and competitive transport routes remains one of Georgias top priorities. 21 February 2026 08:00 (UTC+04:00) NASA has released a detailed report on the failed Starliner mission, which resulted in two Boeing astronauts spending nine months aboard the International Space Station, far longer than the missions originally planned one-week duration. The report highlights critical disagreements between NASA and its long-time contractor over the safe return of astronauts to Earth and points to communication failures and unprofessional behavior, AzerNEWS reports. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed key findings at a press conference following the release of a 300-page report that outlines both technical and organizational shortcomings in Boeing's first manned Starliner mission, which concluded last year. He emphasized that while the Starliner spacecraft has design and engineering flaws that need correction, the most alarming issue identified was not hardware-related. Isaacman warned that ignoring these concerns could foster a culture incompatible with the safety standards required for manned spaceflight. Because of technical problems with the Starliner, NASA left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams aboard the ISS for nine months, effectively turning what was meant to be a short test mission into a prolonged and high-risk operation. The report details tense meetings between NASA and Boeing officials over the astronauts return. These discussions were marked by unprofessional conduct, defensive behavior, and ethically questionable argumentsfalling short of NASAs standards for constructive technical dialogue and crisis management. According to interviews with unnamed NASA officials conducted in November, early mission meetings were defensive, conflicted, and emotionally charged. One employee described the discussions as the most hostile environment I have ever experienced, noting that there was no clear process for resolving conflicts between teams, leading to strained relationships and emotional outbursts. Boeing, in response, expressed gratitude to NASA for the opportunity to participate in the mission and conduct a thorough review. The company stated that significant progress has been made in addressing Starliners technical issues and that organizational changes have been implemented to prevent similar problems in the future. Despite the missions setbacks, the prolonged stay of Wilmore and Williams aboard the ISS provided NASA with an unexpected opportunity to gather long-duration spaceflight data on human performance and spacecraft operationsinsights that could prove valuable for future lunar and Mars missions. 21 February 2026 09:31 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed that Kyiv will not withdraw from the government-controlled areas of the Donetsk region, describing the territory as a critical defensive line for the country. In an interview with Japans Kyodo News, he stated that despite ongoing negotiations with Moscow, Russia continues to demand the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all of Donbas. Zelensky also warned that Russias full-scale invasion has deepened military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. According to him, approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia, where they are gaining experience in modern hybrid warfare, including counter-drone operations. He noted that North Korean personnel were present during fighting in Russias Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces temporarily gained control of parts of the territory. The Ukrainian leader highlighted the growing security risks posed by this cooperation, suggesting that North Koreas access to advanced military knowledge could eventually threaten Japans security environment. Zelensky underscored Ukraines urgent need for additional air-defense systems, pointing to Japans production of Patriot systems under U.S. license. He noted that Japanese-made systems had previously been sent to the United States after Washington transferred equipment to Ukraine. Japan recently relaxed its long-standing restrictions on arms exports, allowing the shipment of non-lethal military supplies. Ukraine has already received items such as body armor and trucks, while Tokyo is considering easing further constraints, potentially including certain defense equipment. Zelensky stressed that air-defense systems are intended solely to intercept Russian missile and drone attacks, not for offensive use. In return, Ukraine could provide Japan with maritime drone technology, which has proven effective in limiting Russian naval activity in the Black Sea. In earlier remarks to Piers Morgan, Zelensky reiterated that Donbas cannot be surrendered, framing the issue as central to Ukraines sovereignty, values, and security doctrine. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Moscow holds the upper hand and is prepared to continue fighting for Donbas for up to two more years if necessary. Zelensky also dismissed reports in Russian media suggesting Moscow is seeking international recognition of occupied Ukrainian territories, calling such scenarios unrealistic. 21 February 2026 19:20 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more South Korea says it will closely follow the next steps of the U.S. administration on tariffs and trade policy after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down President Donald Trumps unilateral tariffs targeting multiple countries and industries, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media. In a statement on Saturday, the office of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said the ruling created new uncertainty in global trade relations. Although the 15 percent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. are now invalid under the courts decision, the administration has already announced a new 10 percent global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. She added that Seoul will closely monitor additional U.S. measures and the responses of major countries. Tensions escalated recently after Trump warned that tariffs on imports from South Korea could rise from 15% to 25% if Seoul did not fulfill its investment commitments in the United States. 21 February 2026 19:52 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The UK government is considering new legislation that would remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession, effectively preventing him from ever becoming King, AzerNEWS reports, citing the BBC. Defence Minister Luke Pollard told the BBC that such a step would be the right thing to do, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing police investigation. Andrew who remains eighth in line to the throne was stripped of his royal titles last October following intense scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. On Thursday evening, he was released under investigation after 11 hours in police custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has consistently and emphatically denied all allegations of wrongdoing. Officials say the proposed legislation would formalize his removal from succession, aiming to protect the integrity and public trust of the monarchy. If you want, I can also prepare a shorter LinkedIn-style summary. 22 February 2026 00:12 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Washington is weighing potential military action against Iran, with senior officials confirming that the Pentagon has presented President Donald Trump with a range of strike options amid escalating regional tensions. According to AzerNEWS, citing Axios, a senior Trump adviser said the Pentagon had offered a variety of options, including one scenario that would involve targeting Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who is widely viewed as a possible successor, as well as senior clerical figures. The suggestion underscores the gravity of the deliberations now under way inside the White House. International media outlets, citing two sources familiar with internal planning discussions, reported that a US strike on Iran could take place as soon as this weekend. Trump has also publicly acknowledged he is considering what he described as a limited strike, a formulation that suggests a more contained military operation rather than a broad campaign. Israels public broadcaster has likewise reported that a US attack is seen as increasingly likely, adding to mounting speculation that Washington may be preparing to intervene more directly in a volatile regional confrontation. The White House has not confirmed specific operational plans, but Trump has scheduled a high-level meeting with US Air Force Commander General Kenneth Wilsbach in the coming hours. The president also cancelled a planned weekend trip to Florida, opting instead to remain in Washington for consultations in the Oval Office. Such last-minute schedule changes have often preceded significant national security decisions. While officials caution that planning does not necessarily equate to imminent action, the combination of military briefings, regional alerts and media reports has intensified expectations of a potential escalation. The prospect of US strikes on Iran raises the risk of wider regional fallout. Tehran has previously warned that any direct attack on its leadership or territory would prompt retaliation against American interests and allies in the Middle East. Analysts note that even a limited strike could trigger responses from Iran-backed groups across the region, potentially widening the conflict. The deliberations also carry domestic political implications. A decision to launch military action would mark a defining moment in Trumps foreign policy, testing his administrations appetite for confrontation at a time of already heightened geopolitical instability. For now, officials insist that all options remain under consideration. But with reports pointing to accelerated planning and the president remaining in Washington for urgent military consultations, attention is fixed on whether the coming days will bring diplomacy or escalation. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Quality local journalism needs your support Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Subscribe today. Cancel anytime. Subscribe now for 99 Subscriber Sign In | Return Home A graduate of the Maplewood Institute in Pittsfield, Jessie Hainning Rupert became the honorary daughter of Massachusetts 34th regiment, and took up arms against the klan to defend its flag. GREAT BARRINGTON The arts are at the center of the ninth annual Du Bois Legacy Festival, a three-day celebration honoring civil rights activist and scholar W.E.B. Du Bois, who was born and raised in town. Woven into the three-day celebration are music, dance, theater and spoken word poetry as a way to continue uplifting Du Bois legacy and highlight what organizers describe as the four core values of the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee economic justice, civil rights, racial equity and education. "Those are the four values and we feel like doing it through the arts is a really powerful way that brings us together in community, and it's also healing," said Gwendolyn VanSant, CEO and vice chair of the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee and founder of the Multicultural Bridge organization. The weekend begins Saturday with Du Bois great-grandson, Jeff Peck, performing in W.E.B. Du Bois An American Hero at Monument Mountain Regional High School. The newly written play, created for a Berkshire audience, explores Du Bois life and his friendship with Albert Einstein, who supported his work. "I'm really excited about just how present the Du Bois family is," VanSant said. "That was one of the missions of our festival and I'm really excited that Jeff is here." In 2021, the Select Board unanimously declared Feb. 23 to be W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Day. Du Bois was born and raised in town, and went on to co-found the NAACP, write extensively about racial division, history and economics and the question of human freedom. "We really want to have Du Bois be a household name," VanSant said. VanSant noted that some festivals elsewhere in the country have been scaled back amid tensions surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In contrast, she said, Great Barrington has maintained funding for the event. "We are really proud that when the decisions needed to be made, our town kept the budget," she said. "They didn't reduce the budget, and they continued hosting the festival, so that's a real value choice that I see." The town also worked to relocate festival banners after changes to National Grids policies prevented them from being hung on utility poles along Main Street. This year, banners are displayed on municipal buildings, including Town Hall and the police station during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend through Black History Month. Participants are coming from out of town. Including representatives from Camp Atwater, a historic African American summer camp in Western Massachusetts with ties to the Du Bois family, and the Urban League of Springfield. "It's just meaningful to me that we're doing history right and really keeping the family at the center of this work and not getting appropriated in places that have less connection," VanSant said. All events are free and open to the public, except for Saturday's play. Sponsored tickets are available for youth and others who may not be able to afford admission to the play. "I think Great Barrington is really embodying the spirit and the value of Dr. Du Bois' work, and I'm really proud of that as the work that we've done as a committee and bring Dr. Du Bois home," VanSant said. Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Our Opinion Our Opinion: The longer official opacity continues on Hinsdale shooting, the more indefensible it becomes About 3,000 people have joined a march organised by far-right groups after a nationalist activist died from a beating in the French city of Lyon. French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm ahead of the tribute to Quentin Deranque, 23, who died of brain injuries in hospital last week. The demonstrations took place under heavy police scrutiny, with no major incidents reported. The incident that led to the death of Mr Deranque highlighted a climate of deep political tensions ahead of next years presidential vote in France. People take part in a march in Lyon, France (Laurent Cipriani/AP) This is a moment of remembrance and respect for this young compatriot who was killed, for his family and loved ones. That must come first. And then it is a moment of firmness and responsibility, Mr Macron said. Seven people have been handed preliminary charges. Advertisement The Lyon public prosecutors office requested that each of them be charged with intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy. Six of the accused were charged on all three counts. The seventh was charged with complicity in intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy. Mr Deranque was attacked during a fight 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. People have paid tribute to far-right student Quentin Deranque, 23, who died in Lyon during clashes between far-left and far-right militants (AP) Mr Macron said he will hold a meeting with ministers next week to carry out a comprehensive review of all violent activist groups that have links to political parties. He hinted that some groups could be dismantled. In the Republic, no violence is legitimate, he said. There is no place for militias, wherever they come from. We must be absolutely uncompromising. The main tribute to Mr Deranque took place in Lyon, where clashes between far-right activists and far-left groups have become frequent. Their fighting often takes the form of organised street battles in the city, sometimes involving groups of several dozen people. Lyons far-left-leaning militant groups are more recent and were created in reaction to the many far-right groups that have been present for several decades. The city is seen by intelligence services as the cradle of far-right activism in France. French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm (PA) Mr Deranques parents have also called for calm and will not take part in the tribute, which has not been banned by French authorities. The 23-year-olds death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly blaming the far-left France Unbowed party and its leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon. Advertisement Among the suspects is the parliamentary aide of a France Unbowed legislator who set up the anti-fascist group The Young Guard. There was a minutes silence before the start of the march. Many men dressed in black, some with their faces partially covered, joined the march. France Unboweds opponents accuse it of fomenting violence and tensions with its combative far-left politics. Melenchon has condemned the violence and insisted that his party bore no blame for the tragedy. Mr Melenchon stood for the presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022, but failed to advance to the decisive run-off round. He is preparing for another expected run next year, when Mr Macrons second and last term ends. France is holding municipal elections next month and right-wing political forces have been using the incident to demonise France Unbowed. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella has called for a common front against Mr Melenchons party. 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 Mr Melenchons party for the upcoming elections, as they did in the past. French president Emmanuel Macron has called for calm ahead of marches organised by far-right groups, after a nationalist activist died from a beating in Lyon. The incident that led to the death of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque highlighted a climate of deep political tensions ahead of next years presidential vote in France. Speaking at the Paris agriculture fair, Mr Macron said he will launch a review of violent activist groups, and urged everyone to remain calm before Saturdays tributes to Mr Deranque, who died of brain injuries in hospital last week. The demonstrations will take place under heavy police scrutiny. Mr Macron said: This is a moment of remembrance and respect for this young compatriot who was killed, for his family and loved ones. That must come first. And then it is a moment of firmness and responsibility. Advertisement Seven people have been handed preliminary charges. People have paid tribute to far-right student, Quentin Deranque, 23, who died in Lyon during clashes between far-left and far-right militants (AP) The Lyon public prosecutors office requested that each of them be charged with intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy. Six of the accused were charged on all three counts. The seventh was charged with complicity in intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy. Mr Deranque was attacked during a fight 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. Mr Macron said he will hold a meeting with ministers next week to carry out a comprehensive review of all violent activist groups that have links to political parties. He hinted that some groups could be dismantled. In the Republic, no violence is legitimate, he said. There is no place for militias, wherever they come from. We must be absolutely uncompromising. The main tribute to Mr Deranque was scheduled later on Saturday in Lyon, where clashes between far-right activists and far-left groups have become frequent. Their fighting often takes the form of organised street battles in the city, sometimes involving groups of several dozen people. The flashpoint took place in Lyon (AP) Lyons far-left-leaning militant groups are more recent and were created in reaction to the many far-right groups that have been present for several decades. The city is seen by intelligence services as the cradle of far-right activism in France. Advertisement Mr Deranques parents have also called for calm and will not take part in the tribute, which has not been banned by French authorities. The 23-year-olds death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly blaming the far-left France Unbowed party and its leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon. Among the suspects is the parliamentary aide of a France Unbowed legislator who set up the anti-fascist group The Young Guard. France Unboweds opponents accuse it of fomenting violence and tensions with its combative far-left politics. Melenchon has condemned the violence and insisted that his party bore no blame for the tragedy. Mr Melenchon stood for the presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022, but failed to advance to the decisive run-off round. He is preparing for another expected run next year, when Mr Macrons second and last term ends. France is holding municipal elections next month and right-wing political forces have been using the incident to demonise France Unbowed. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella has called for a common front against Mr Melenchons party. 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 Mr Melenchons party for the upcoming elections, as they did in the past. Searches are expected to continue at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors previous home as the Government vowed to consider removing him from the line of succession once police investigations have concluded. Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former UK prince is still eighth in line to the throne, and an Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew and prevent him from ever becoming king. Keir Starmers government will consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the Kings disgraced brother, the Press Association understands. Any changes to the line of succession would also require the agreement of other countries which share the UK monarch, including Australia, Canada and Jamaica. UK chief secretary to the Treasury James Murray told Sky News: The Government is considering any further steps that might be required, and were not ruling anything out. Advertisement But at this stage, it would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way. This weekend, the royal family will be attempting to conduct their duties as usual with the Prince and Princess of Wales expected to appear in public. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, then the Duke of York, and the Prince of Wales at Westminster Cathedral in 2025 (Jordan Pettitt/PA) On Thursday morning, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegations were made against him following the release of files related to paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. The former duke spent 11 hours in police custody on his 66th birthday before being released under investigation following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UKs trade envoy. Detectives continued to search Andrews former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire, on Friday. He has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. After his younger brothers arrest, the King said in a statement that the law must take its course and the police have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Charles attended the first show of London Fashion Week on Thursday, hours after Andrews arrest, where he did not respond when asked for his reaction to the news. During a visit to a concert in Westminster that afternoon, the Queen also did not reply to a question about her brother-in-laws arrest. Detectives continue to search Andrews former home Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire (Jonathan Brady/PA) Thames Valley Police, who are leading the investigation, are yet to receive any early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the allegation, it is understood. Detectives have asked Andrews former close protection officers to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during their service could be relevant to the investigation into Epstein and his associates. Advertisement The Metropolitan Police said it was working with counterparts in the US to establish whether London airports had been used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation. On Friday, the force said no new reports of alleged sexual offences have been made since the release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein by the US Department of Justice. Scotland Yard previously said it was looking into allegations Andrews protection officers turned a blind eye to his visits to Epsteins island, Little St James. Police are yet to identify any wrongdoing by close protection officers. Police officers at Royal Lodge, the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (Jonathan Brady/PA) Andrews primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, alleged she had sex with him during an orgy with underage girls on the Caribbean island. The former prince has previously vehemently denied all allegations made against him. The 14 Commonwealth countries where King Charles is head of state are Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. World Starmer to consider bringing in law to remove Andrew from line of succession Read more Before the stripping of his titles, Andrew had stepped down from public duties in 2019 after his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein. This meant he had already ceased to be an active counsellor of state, who can deputise for the monarch if he is overseas on an official trip or ill. But as counsellors of state are drawn for the line of succession, removing him from it would officially resolve any question over Andrew taking such a role. A law to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession will be considered by the Government after police finish investigating the Kings brother, it is understood. Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former Duke of York is still eighth in line to the throne. An Act of the UK Parliament would be required to remove him and prevent Andrew from ever becoming King. Keir Starmers government will consider introducing such legislation once the police have finished their investigation into him, the Press Association understands. Any changes to the line of succession would also require the agreement of other countries which share the UK monarch, including Australia, Canada and Jamaica. Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told Sky News: The government is considering any further steps that might be required, and were not ruling anything out. Advertisement But at this stage, it would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, then the Duke of York, and the Prince of Wales at Westminster Cathedral in 2025 (Jordan Pettitt/PA) It comes after Andrews arrest on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was held in custody for 11 hours before being released under investigation. Detectives continued to search Andrews former home Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire on Friday. He was held on Thursday morning after allegations were made against him following the release of files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. After Andrews arrest, the King said in a statement that the law must take its course and the police have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Andrew became the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested after being taken into custody on his 66th birthday over allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UKs trade envoy. Detectives continue to search Andrews former home Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire (Jonathan Brady/PA) Thames Valley Police, who are leading the investigation, are yet to receive any early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the allegation, it is understood. Detectives have asked Andrews former close protection officers to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during their service could be relevant to the investigation into paedophile financier Epstein and his associates. The Metropolitan Police said it was also working with counterparts in the US to establish whether London airports had been used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Advertisement On Friday, the force said no new reports of alleged sexual offences have been made since the release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein by the US Department of Justice. The force previously said it was looking into allegations Andrews protection officers turned a blind eye to his visits to Epsteins island, Little St James. Police are yet to identify any wrongdoing by close protection officers. Police officers at Royal Lodge, the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (Jonathan Brady/PA) Andrews primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, alleged she had sex with him during an orgy with underage girls on the Caribbean island. The former prince has previously vehemently denied all allegations made against him. The 14 Commonwealth countries where King Charles is head of state are Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. The King stripped his younger brother of his prince and Duke of York titles in October. He had already stepped down from public duties in 2019, after his disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein. This meant he had already ceased to be an active counsellor of state, who can deputise for the monarch if he is overseas on an official trip or ill. But as counsellors of state are drawn for the line of succession, removing him from it would officially resolve any question over Andrew taking such a role. Advertisement BusinessCompaniesAviation They get to board ahead of you - now their seats are holding up plane production Chris Zappone February 21, 2026 4:00am 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 luxury arms race at the front of planes may be contributing to chronic delays in the delivery of the aircraft themselves. A growing shortage of planes has many causes supply disruptions, a lack of engines and a delay in custom aircraft seats, which are being held up by more stringent certification requirements. Lufthansa Allegriss business class seating has been held up by the FAA approval process. This obstacle in part reflects airlines desire to find more ways to pamper business class passengers more comfortable seats with more features but also the need for regulators to ensure the new seating is safe. The seats arent made by aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing, but by a dedicated industry dominated by a few companies such as Safran and RECARO that work with airlines to install them when new planes are delivered. Regulators must certify the seats as a standalone object then for use in a specific aircraft. Advertisement With this arrangement, the road to more business class comfort has inadvertently created a barrier to delivery of more planes. Paris-based Safran, one of the worlds largest providers of aircraft seats, said the seat certification process, particularly for business class, has become significantly more complex and demanding in recent years due to innovation and the tightening of regulatory requirements. Lufthansas Allegris seating offers a variety of configurations. To address this, Safran Seats works closely with the authorities and anticipates changes in order to certify its products efficiently despite these increased challenges, a spokesperson said. In 2025, the company delivered 2600 business class seats 150 more than in 2024. Advertisement For now, Australian airlines have not been caught up in the latest stumble to delay delivery of planes. But with Qantas Group due to take delivery of 49 Airbus aircraft in fiscal years 2026-2027, including the Project Sunrise-customised A350-1000ULRs, the airline will monitor the situation closely. American Airlines business class flagship suites on the 787 with privacy doors, which required an exemption. American Airlines There are global supply chain challenges and evolving testing requirements that are having an impact on aircraft deliveries for airlines, said a Qantas Group spokesperson. We are continuing to receive new aircraft each month as part of our large fleet renewal program, and were working closely with aircraft manufacturers, suppliers and regulators to ensure our delivery schedule is maintained. The trouble with business seats is that as airlines design new configurations, such as side- or rear-facing seats or full lie-flat seats, complexity of the seating increases. Advertisement One hang-up has been the popularity of small privacy doors added to business seat pods. Related Article Updated Earnings season Like new: Qantas announces major upgrade along with $1.4b profit US Federal Aviation Administration rules prohibit any door between a passenger and an exit door from the plane for safe evacuations. American Airlines had to seek an exemption from the FAA for the privacy door on its flagship suites. United is seeking a similar carve-out for its A321 XLRs on order. Business seats routinely offer new types of charging stations, more stowage and personalised controls. The safety regulation requirements colliding with the wave of business class options has created the latest ripple in the industry-wide slowdown in plane deliveries - with an estimated global backlog of 17,000 aircraft. Advertisement Lufthansas refitted 787 Dreamliners were prevented from full certification by the FAA last year as it checked on how the seats were bolted to the cabin floor. In October, Lufthansa began to fly the 787s with 24 out of 28 business-class seats blocked off, or 85 per cent of their most profitable seats empty. This week, Lufthansa said all but three of the seats would be available for booking in April. Nothing now stands in the way of the approval of Allegris Business Class in the Boeing 787-9 with the exception of three seats in the second row of the compartment, the company said in a release. The specialised seat industry, which had in earlier times adopted a just-in-time inventory strategy relying on consistent, steady and small batches of parts being available for production, is finding its way in a new era of demand backlog. Advertisement Germany-based RECARO Aircraft Seating acknowledged that supply chain at parts makers were under challenge and expanding them needs careful management. There is huge market-growth due to significantly increased demand, said RECAROs global marketing director Monica Fischer, who added the company is experiencing and forecasting two-digit growth for the upcoming years. We have significantly increased manpower to successfully manage the growth and demand, Fischer said. But growth is complicated, too. Each seat configuration sought by airlines competing for business class passengers needs a separate certification, whether on an aircraft assembly line or as part of a retrofit program, she said. RECARO estimates the business class segment will be growing over the next five years by an average of 14 per cent against the global market growth for seats of about 10 per cent. Advertisement Related Article Aviation Qantas class war: Premium economy fliers to get first dibs at overhead bins The company has expanded its production with a facility in Poland and ramped up test seat production capacity by 60 per cent. The seat shortage compounds the pervasive shortfall of new aircraft being produced by Airbus and Boeing. As airline fleets age and the wait for new planes drags on, they have increasingly turned to cabin refurbishments. Qantas announced plans last year to refurbish its 42 Boeing 737s, even as it takes delivery of its domestic replacement, the A321XLR. The shortage of planes and seats has been so acute that Emirates took matters into its own hands and announced, late last year, a plan to build a seat production facility with Safran in Dubai. Advertisement The effort will seek to ensure that Emirates has no shortage of seats in coming years. Emirates and Safran want to have the factory open by the end of 2027 with the initial assembly of up to 1000 business class seats per year. So far, Australias airlines have not been greatly affected. Virgin said seats in its newly delivered Boeing 737 MAX-8 and Embraer E190-E2 aircraft seats were already certified. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement BusinessConsumer affairsCommercial architecture This homes robust exterior can withstand savage wildfires Stephen Crafti February 21, 2026 4:00am 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 a dirt road, lined with eucalypts and casuarinas on the NSW Central Coast, sits a simple house wrapped in fireproof materials. The architect designed homes location demands the highest level of bushfire control:a Bushfire Attack Level Flame Zone rating. So its wrapped in Firefly fireproof fabric and clad entirely in compressed fibre cement, a design answer to both strict council guidelines for fireproofing and the sites steep terrain. Jason Gibney, director of Jason Gibney Design Workshop, designed the flame-proof house on the NSW Central Coast. Justin Alexander What started out as a weekender/holiday retreat for a couple with two children morphed into a home that is shared 50/50 with their residence in Sydney. Just because its robust exterior can withstand Australias savage wildfires, doesnt mean the house isnt sensitively designed by its architect, Jason Gibney, a director of Jason Gibney Design Workshop. Advertisement Related Article Commercial real estate Barely standing, derelict cottage gets a sleek, minimal contemporary makeover Rather than the house being at its lands highest point, the 250 square metre building follows the lands contours. And the sites excavation was kept to a minimum, just a couple of metres to anchor it within the sandstone endemic to the area. The land, densely covered with eucalypts and casuarinas, overlooks Smiths Lake and is a half-hour drive from Foster. Our brief was to get as close to nature as possible, avoid clearing the site and not to simply put a suburban-style house on the property, says Gibney. The main bedroom has an outdoor shower in the enclosed courtyard. Justin Alexander Rather than a rectilinear floorplan, the design has been skewed. A central pavilion flanked by two other pavilions is connected by glazed links. At the core is an outdoor room, with a shared roof but no walls, which allows the concrete floor to be projected into its bush setting, akin to a viewing platform. Advertisement The idea was that the family felt like they were living in a tree house, says Gibney, pointing out the lake in the foreground and the mountain ranges beyond. The timber-framed structure is wrapped entirely in fireproof materials. Walls framing the two courtyards and even doors and shutters have a cement skin. When theyre all closed, the house is like a striking minimalist sculpture akin to the work of American post-war sculptor Donald Judd. Related Article Opinion Commercial real estate Cobalt blue, vermillion, bright yellow: How much colour really makes a great home? Stephen Crafti Money contributor Conceived as four pavilions finely threaded together, the house features the main bedroom and a guest bedroom at one end and the childrens bedrooms and a secondary living area at the other. The centre functions as the kitchen, dining and living area. There is a small study nook tucked behind the kitchen and a bathroom/guest powder room is nearby. While this arrangement isnt particularly unusual, certain moves challenge the usual orthodoxy. The main bedroom, for example, has an outdoor shower in the enclosed courtyard. Even the vanity is located within this courtyard beneath a broad eave. Advertisement Our clients use the guest powder room as their main bathroom, but tend to gravitate to the outdoors during the warmer months of the year, says Gibney, who included perforated steel screens that disappear into cavity walls to keep out flies and mosquitos but allow light to permeate. The timber-framed structure is wrapped entirely in fireproof materials. Justin Alexander Rather than being a hermitic house disconnected from the bush, the project, known as Among the Eucalypts, draws its owners and visitors outside to use the outdoors like other rooms. In contrast to the homes more robust shell, the interior is tactile and softer, lined completely with birch ply walls. There are expressed pine rafters across the ceilings. Unlike most kitchens, with stone or marble benches, here its simply Formply, a material used as a formwork to create concrete walls that can be purchased off the shelf. The floors are also concrete rather than dressed up with tiles or carpet. Gibney included a series of pathways that lead to built-in benches on platforms that heighten the sense of being within the bush rather than separate from it. We started with a fairly loose brief that wasnt prescriptive, which has now led from what was originally a retreat to ever increasingly a place they want to be in more and more, says Gibney. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Youve got less than a month to get your fix of golden cauliflower pies, great charcuterie, puffy gougeres and other examples of Blaze Youngs old-school brilliance at Nieuw Ruin. When Dimitri Rtshiladze opened Nieuw Ruin in mid-2021, his somewhat modest goal was to give Fremantle a neighbourhood bar serving weird wine and likeable snacks. Drinkers and diners had other plans and Nieuw Ruins food offering quickly went from co-star to headliner as guests set course for Freo with the express purpose of ripping into charcuterie, sprats, rollmops and other yesteryear favourites carefully resuscitated by Blaze Young, the then-emerging cooking talent stepping up in her first head chef role. Nieuw Ruin executive chef Blaze Young with recently departed head chef Stephen Chen. Since then, Nieuw Ruin has made a habit of quietly defying expectations, from hosting value-packed guest winemaker dinners to its steadfast focus on old-school cooking. (Over the past five years, Youngs cooking at Nieuw Ruin has referenced classic French cuisine, the sturdy flavours of Eastern Europe and even CWA nostalgia.) Its latest plot twist, however, mightnt prove as popular, with Rtshiladze announcing that Nieuw Ruins final service will be Sunday, March 15. Paulina Porizkova: As a model, you [were] an object a canvas to put products on to sell to other people. And so it was not the happiest of my time in life. The Czech-born star of the fashion world explains why shes resisted cosmetic surgery, and how shes happier than ever after finding love after the loss of her long-time husband, musician Ric Ocasek. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A This story is part of the February 22 edition of Sunday Life. See all stories . Is that the woman who broke down on social media? a friend asked when I mentioned I was interviewing Paulina Porizkova, the 1980s supermodel who was married to rock star Ric Ocasek of the Cars. Ill get to the breakdown later. The woman, Paulina, is sitting opposite me under sepia-toned light at a corner table in Londons Claridges Foyer restaurant. She is wearing a knitted Gabriela Hearst dress in cornflower blue, my favourite colour. It would look great on you, too, she replies generously when I compliment her outfit. It strikes me that Porizkova must under-compensate for her extraordinary beauty a lot. And she is extraordinary. Her hair, long and full, is a pearly melange of silver and blonde. Her skin, untouched by Botox or fillers, is luminous. Not in that perfect plasticine way thats 10 a penny in Hollywood. The glow is innate. Good genes play a significant part. An unlimited supply of Estee Lauder skincare must do, too. But theres something intangible at play here. She is happy. Its written all over her face. Porizkova, who turned 60 in April last year, signed on as Estee Lauders global brand ambassador earlier in 2025, a role she says feels like a gift, one she never knew she wanted, nor expected to be offered twice. She first posed for the beauty brand in 1988, a partnership that lasted seven years, making Porizkova a household name. I wonder if news of a rematch will set her back in the eyes of the 1.4 million Instagram followers who view Porizkova as a marketing-free zone. The beauty industry has been peddling youth for decades; joining their ranks is a spurious stance for someone who is a vocal anti-ageing objector. To its credit, Estee Lauder hired Porizkova not to propagate the narrative but to help change it. Also, the term anti-ageing is not Estee Lauders to cop to; its widespread, with deep roots in both beauty and medicine. Advertisement Still, Porizkova is unrelenting. When Lauder approached her for the gig, she laid her cards firmly on the table. Number one, I will not do anti-ageing anything, she told Vogue when recounting her first meeting with the beauty giant. So if you need that, Im walking out right now. They all went, We know, that is why we asked you. Being heard is validating to Porizkova. When I worked for Lauder in the 1980s, I was a model and as a model, you are an object, she recalls. You are a clothes hanger or a canvas to put products on to sell to other people. And so it was not the happiest of my time in life. Porizkova received widespread support after she publicly grieved after the death of her former husband, Ric Ocasek. Lukas Kimlicka/Headpress I was incredibly blessed to have such a fantastic career. But I didnt necessarily feel like I was important. All that was important was the way I looked. And, you know, as a young woman, it feels like half of you is being ignored. Its hard to reconcile that Porizkova was just 15 when she was whisked off to Paris to begin her modelling career at a time when fending off sexual advances from older male photographers was laughed off as part of the job. I didnt know the world should be any different. I thought, you know, that photographers greeting me in gaping bathrobes was just what you have to deal with. By 19 she had met her husband, rocker Ric Ocasek. He was 20 years her senior. But then Porizkova wasnt your average 19-year-old. She had already survived so much, including a highly publicised political storm. Born in then-Czechoslovakia to activist parents who fled to Sweden when she was three to escape the 1968 Soviet invasion, Porizkova was left in the care of her grandmother. She was eventually reunited with her mother and father but they divorced shortly after, a scar that left the nine-year-old pining for home and the maternal grandmother whod raised her, inducing her first panic attack, she writes in her 2022 autobiography, No Filter. Advertisement Porizkova is as candid about her lifelong battle with anxiety as she is about the pitfalls of ageing in a youth-obsessed culture a quality that has endeared her to an audience of midlife women battling the muddy waters of unrealistic beauty expectations. For me, its a very narrow blade; the balance is tricky, admits Porizkova, adding: I havent done anything to my face, which I think is pretty obvious. And its not that Im not tempted. Im tempted on a daily basis. There are so many things that I could do to make myself look a little younger. And then I keep reminding myself that theres nothing wrong with the way I look, besides society telling me that I should look younger. I was incredibly blessed to have such a fantastic career. But I didnt necessarily feel like I was important. Paulina Porizkova, Supermodel Porizkovas formative views on ageing were established early on when she lived and worked in Paris. There were these women in their 40s like Jane Birkin and Charlotte Rampling on the covers of Elle or Vogue wearing jeans and a little T-shirt, smoking a cigarette and, you know, a little worn looking, but very confident. And I thought, Oh, this is where Im headed. It seemed like something to look forward to, like Im going to level up in confidence and gain the cool factor. Because at 17 I wasnt cool, I was deeply insecure. In France, older women are seen as sexy. Not in America. Either theyre trying hard not to look their age or they disappear. You became invisible, she says wearily, having lived in the US for 43 years. Cosmetic surgery is off the table, though Porizkova is all for self-improvement. Im a big believer in exercise and, you know, healthy living in moderation. Exercise for Porizkova centres around ballroom dancing with her fiance, whom she cant mention without breaking into a smile. And strength training. Of course, post menopause, Ive been listening to all the advice on Instagram: Im in the gym now lifting weights, which is sort of fun, because I like the challenge. Advertisement Fun is a word Porizkova uses often during our conversation, mostly when talking about her partner, Jeff Greenstein, a writer she met in 2023, four years after losing Ocasek, her husband of 28 years. She contemplates that period of her life with piercing sincerity. It was the worst thing Ive ever been through. I felt utterly alone. I took to Instagram because I was so lonely. Because my friends couldnt come over and help me; nobody could come over. The things you think you can rely on like friendships or family were not available to me. The blows kept coming. Porizkova had been left out of Ocaseks will. They were separated but still living together and in Porizkovas eyes they had remained the best of friends. Then it was COVID and I was in menopause, she adds. The perfect recipe for the aforementioned breakdown. Related Article Exclusive Sunday Life Darcy Moore was single his whole adult life. A text to Dee Salmin changed everything For two years Porizkova sat in a tunnel of grief. I went from having fantasies of not waking up tomorrow and [yet] knowing that I cant do that; I have two children that are grieving and so I have to be strong. I have to be captain of the ship, even though the ship is sinking. I read every self-help book on the market, I was deep in therapy. Ultimately, the thing that helped me heal was the realisation that nothing lasts. So in some way, [what happened to me] has given me this sort of renewed zest and gratitude for when life is good. The good is happening now on all fronts and her relationship appears to be central to it. Was it hard to navigate a vast and impersonal online dating scene in ones second act? But for a brief fling with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin in 2021, it had been decades since Porizkova was single. Advertisement I feel like I need to write a whole book on middle-aged dating, says Porizkova. How do you find the person you should have been with all along but you couldnt have because you werent the person that you are now? she contemplates. Would I have seen the beauty of my mate 10 years ago? Probably not. I might have missed out. I might have just gone, Oh, he would be a lovely friend, because I misconstrued love and I think a lot of us do with passion; with the butterflies. What I discovered is that those butterflies are, in fact, a chemical attraction to what you already know. The worse your childhood was, the more likely you are to pick a shitty person, too. Because its like, Oh yeah, my parents, please love me. It takes a while to understand it. You have to outgrow it. You have to sort of step into your own shoes. Related Article Exclusive Sunday Life Pamela Anderson, 58, nearly missed her acting comeback. Then, her son made a discovery Before I depart, I ask for her favourite wellness practice. Can I say making love? she asks. I nod. Then Im going to say making love. It makes you look great. And this sums Porizkova up. On the one hand she is hell-bent on self optimisation. And equally, she doesnt take herself or her looks too seriously. Chasing youth takes a lot of f---ing time, and a lot of f---ing money. Im in the last third of my life. I might have 20 good summers left. Do I want to spend them in a dermatologists office trying to make this look younger? No, I want to enjoy my life. I want to have the best time. Something tells me she is doing just that. Advertisement Advertisement Updated NationalQueenslandCrime Man charged after ute rams Brisbane Synagogue in targeted attack Catherine Strohfeldt Updated February 21, 2026 3:20pm ,first published 10:52am 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 car has rammed into the gates of an inner-Brisbane synagogue on Friday night in what police called a targeted attack. Shortly after 7pm on Friday, a Toyota Hilux utility was driven towards the Brisbane Synagogue on Margaret Street, narrowly missing a passerby and knocking down the buildings gates. Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan said a 32-year-old Sunnybank man had been taken into custody within 90 minutes of the attack after tyre spikes were deployed and he was arrested outside the nearby Queensland Holocaust Museum. Loading It was definitely a targeted attack against the Jewish synagogue, Hogan said. Advertisement He said specialist counter-terrorism officers had been involved since the beginning of the investigation, but had ruled out the attack as an act of terrorism. I think what we need to keep in mind is there are a number of other contributing factors, including mental health and intoxication, that really need to be considered in this circumstance, Hogan said. The driver, Matt De Campo, was charged on Saturday with multiple offences, including committing serious vilification or a hate crime, driving dangerously, and possessing dangerous drugs. Police claimed De Campo made anti-Semitic remarks during an interview, and he represented himself when appearing in court on Saturday. Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies vice president Libby Burke said the representative body was deeply distressed by the incident. Advertisement This attack is not only an attack on my community, it is an attack on all of us, Burke said. Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies vice president Libby Burke. Catherine Strohfeldt A synagogue is a sacred space, a place of prayer, reflection and community. To see its gates viciously rammed is profoundly devastating and is not dissimilar to what we have seen throughout the globe vehicles used as weapons to kill and harm Jews. Burke called for stronger legislation to protect Jewish Queenslanders, and said there had been a meteoric rise in antisemitism over the past two years. Advertisement Hate-filled slogans and symbols create the environment in which violence becomes possible, she said. There must be clear consequences for those who seek to intimidate, to threaten or harm our community. The front gates of the Brisbane Synagogue were damaged on Friday night. Google Maps Dr Dvir Abramovich of the Anti-Defamation Commission said the attack was intimidation on wheels. We are told this is not being treated as terrorism. But when a synagogue is deliberately attacked, the label matters less than the impact, he said. Advertisement CCTV footage of the incident showed a person behind the gates, but police said they did not think the individual was being targeted by the driver. The footage, taken by surveillance on the synagogue, shows the utility slowing ahead of the gates, before reversing into the gates. I believe once you watch the video surveillance, its very clear that hes intended to do some damage to the gates, Hogan said. Theres certainly no indication ... that he attempted to enter the synagogue at all. Hogan said the 32-year-old was known to police and was arrested without incident after being followed by Polair. Advertisement Hes used his own motor vehicle, which greatly assisted the police in identifying who the person was, he said. Officers suspected the driver acted alone, and said there was no ongoing threat to the community. On Saturday, Premier David Crisafulli said he had spoken to police and leaders of Queenslands Jewish community. This is another signal as to why we have put strong laws before parliament to protect all people where they worship, he said. We are going through the process, and I fully intend to have them passed during the next sitting of parliament. Advertisement Police urged anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident to come forward. With Nine News Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. With details of a new high-speed rail line soon to be revealed, could this be the plan that actually gets up? Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A On October 28, 1983, Dr Paul Wild boarded a train in Canberra bound for Sydney where he was due for an afternoon meeting. The bespectacled astronomer and then CSIRO chairman was a rail enthusiast who grew up in England enraptured by its Great Western Railway (GWR) and idolising the brilliant engineer who designed it in the 1830s, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It had been three decades since Wilds last country train journey in Australia and, as he later recalled, he had high hopes for how things had improved on NSWs new and much publicised Express Passenger Train (XPT). But he was disappointed. With a leisurely pace and long stops at stations, the journeys overall time to Sydney was four hours and 37 minutes 20 minutes more than scheduled. Wild later calculated the average speed was 70.6km/h. After I flew home that night, I looked up an old reference book, he later explained. Had the XPT completed the run in an even four hours... it would have travelled at the same average speed, 81.6km/h, as the GWRs London to Bristol Express in 1851. Paul Wild as chairman of the Very Fast Train project in 1989. Kate Callas And so an idea was born, one which has burned brightly in the minds of generations of engineers, politicians and travel-weary Australians ever since: a high-speed rail network connecting Australias east coast. Today, there are more than 64,000 kilometres of high-speed rail lines in 22 countries, with another 16,000 kilometres under construction. China alone, in the decade to 2022, built 40,493 kilometres of high-speed rail enough to whiz between Brisbane and Melbourne 23 times at speeds up to 350km/h. Advertisement Not a metre of track has been laid in Australia. The train from Sydney to Canberra still takes four hours 7 minutes and Sydney to Melbourne is a bottom-numbing 11 hours. Yet the dream lives on. After decades of false starts, Australia is now arguably the closest it has ever been to embarking on a high-speed rail project. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected within days to release a business case for the first leg of an east-coast network. I think that it absolutely makes sense, he said last week. But will the $90 billion cost of a Sydney to Newcastle high-speed line prove insurmountable? And can high-speed rail ever work in a country as vast and sparsely populated as Australia? The Tokaido Shinkansen is launched in 1964 in Tokyo, days out from its hosting of the Olympics. Getty Images First, just how high is very high speed? The sight of a bullet train zooming past Mount Fuji is one of the most iconic images of modern Japan. Engineers first devised a dangan ressha (bullet train) in the 1930s, inspired by steam-powered locomotives breaking speed records of above 200km/h in Europe. By the 1950s, demand for train travel between Tokyo and Osaka, which took 6 hours, was overwhelming. The Japan National Railways proposed that with straight, dedicated tracks and more powerful trains, it could halve the commute. Advertisement The Tokaido Shinkansen (shinkansen means new trunk line) launched on October 1, 1964, just ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, slashing the trip to four hours then, a year later, to three hours and 10 minutes. (Today it takes 2 hours, at 285km/h.) Inspired, France opened the worlds second high-speed rail service, the Paris to Lyon TGV (train a grande vitesse, or train of very high speed) in 1981, with speeds of 260km/h. Most recently, nations with new lines have included Indonesia (Jakarta to Bandung at 300km/hr), Serbia (Belgrade to Novi Sad at 200km/h) and Morocco (Tangier to Kenitra at 320km/h). India is building its first high-speed line (Mumbai to Ahmedabad at 320km/h), which will use Japanese trains. French chef Paul Bocuse in 1981 with a high-speed TGV linking his home town of Lyon with Paris. Getty Images China has two-thirds of the worlds high-speed railways, with a rapid expansion serving as a symbol of its economic rise (as well as of the relative ease that authoritarian governments have in rolling out large infrastructure projects). Not all projects around the world go smoothly. Britains High Speed 2 (HS2) project from London to Birmingham, for example, has been bogged down in delays, cost blowouts and planning failures. In the US, a San Francisco to Los Angeles line due to open in 2020 has more than tripled in cost to $US120 billion ($170 billion) and the first section wont run until 2032; the Trump government last year cut a planning grant for a high-speed link between Dallas and Houston, saying if the project goes ahead it will have to do so without taxpayer funds. In any case, the International Union of Railways defines high-speed rail as a train system that travels at 250km/h or faster on new tracks, or existing tracks upgraded to accommodate trains of 200km/h or faster. Fast trains all use aerodynamic designs to reduce wind resistance. Motors are distributed under axles along the train rather than a front locomotive dragging the train forward. Modern sleepers, on which tracks rest, are made of pre-stressed concrete for optimal stability while track segments are welded into one continuous rail line (rather than segments of 25 to 50 metres) with long easy curves where necessary. A high-speed train in Shanghai on the first day of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday in May last year. Getty Images Getting this wrong can be disastrous. In 2013, 79 people were killed and 143 injured when a high-speed train derailed outside Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain after it rounded a bend at 190km/h double the 80km/h limit for that section of track. In that case, the Spanish train was using a hybrid train line with only some sections built for fast trains and others configured for regular trains. (Another high-speed rail disaster in Spain in January saw a train derail near Adamuz, in the south of the country, killing 46 people. An investigation is still underway.) Advertisement Despite these high-profile crashes, high-speed rail generally has a good reputation for safety. Japans Shinkansen has carried more than 10 billion passengers since it first opened without recording a passenger fatality. Related Article Rail Lessons for Australia on board the worlds fastest train It takes between 10 and 20 kilometres for a train to build up to a speed of 300km/h, at which point a kilometre will pass you by in just 12 seconds. In a minute, you will have travelled five kilometres. Chinas high-speed rail network is the fastest, at up to 350km/h, while most of those in Japan and Europe operate between 250km/h and 300km/h. Meanwhile, maglev or magnetic levitation trains use electromagnetic force to hover several centimetres above tracks. The first and only high-speed maglev running is the Shanghai Transrapid, which whisks passengers the 30 kilometres to Pudong International Airport in eight minutes and 10 seconds. Japan plans its own maglev between Tokyo and Nagoya that will make its Shinkansen trains look as if they are dawdling, but it will not open until 2035 at the earliest. Australias long-distance passenger trains have a top speed of 160km/h; the proposed new high-speed rail would double that. The Spirit of Progress, an air-conditioned, streamlined, all-steel steam locomotive that from 1937 ran from Melbourne to Albury, where passengers changed to a different train on different tracks to continue to Sydney until a standard gauge was introduced in 1962. Public Record Office Victoria Why does high-speed rail feel like deja vu in Australia? A perfect storm of ineptitude and arrogance among Australias colonial administrators in the 1840s led to NSW, Victoria and Queensland each building railway networks with tracks of different widths, making it impossible to link them up. Weve been paying for it ever since, says Phillip Laird, an honorary fellow at the University of Wollongong who has studied the potential for faster and high-speed rail in Australia for decades. Trains with fixed axle widths could not travel across state lines, hampering the use of rail to move people and goods around the country, says Laird, meaning more cars and trucks on our roads. A standard gauge line was finally built to Melbourne from Sydney in 1962, making it possible to travel between the two capitals in the same train for the first time. Advertisement It was in this sorry state of affairs that Paul Wild, the CSIRO boss, was inspired to develop his Fast Railway proposal in the mid-80s. The Commonwealth baulked at the cost and refused to fund a study into the idea a response Wild thought was typical of a country trapped in the stagnation of 19th-century thought. A couple of years later, transport group TNT, Japanese construction giant Kumagai Gumi, Elders IXL and mining giant BHP revived the proposal, and rebadged it the Very Fast Train. But the partnership fell apart due to competing interests and a refusal by the Hawke government give it favourable tax concessions. The project folded in 1991. The dream didnt stay dead for long. But a detailed proposal for a VFT between Sydney and Canberra, called Speedrail, in the 90s was eventually refused the extra $1 billion required to get it off the ground by the Howard government. Had the funding gap been plugged up then wed have high-speed rail from Central Station to Canberra Airport in 84 minutes, contends Laird. Theres a good chance it would have reached Melbourne by now. Then-transport minister Anthony Albanese releasing the final report of the High Speed Rail Study in Canberra in 2013. Alex Ellinghausen The current project is not Albaneses first high-speed-rail rodeo. As transport minister in the Gillard government, he ordered a study into high-speed rail along Australias east coast, which resulted in a $144-billion plan that also looped in regional stops including the Gold Coast and Shepparton and which was promptly wound up when the Abbott government came to power. We see this very much as a regional economic project which actually gives you far more benefits than just going from A to B fast. Albanese now has a second chance. He set up a High Speed Rail Authority in 2023 and committed $500 million to design and reserve a corridor for a Sydney-to-Newcastle high-speed rail line. The authoritys chief executive, Tim Parker, acknowledges there is healthy cynicism about an idea that has been kicked around for four decades. [But] theres a whole range of reasons why I think that now is the right time to do this, he told us. Advertisement These reasons include greater appreciation of the need to reduce transport emissions, he says, the need for economic development in regional cities, and even as a solution to the countrys chronic housing shortage. Its not just about getting from city to city really fast and going head-to-head with the airlines, Parker says. We see this very much as a regional economic project which actually gives you far more benefits than just going from A to B fast. An artists impression of business class on the new high-speed project between Sydney and Newcastle. High Speed Rail Authority Why is the project starting with Sydney-Newcastle? Four hours is the proposed high-speed-rail travel time between both Melbourne and Sydney, and Sydney and Brisbane. Sydney to Canberra would take 90 minutes (an hour faster than driving). But the rail authority says the whole plan, if backed, would be unlikely to come together until the 2050s. For now, with 15 million passengers a year already, the Sydney-Newcastle leg is the priority: its the busiest long-distance rail line in the country with trips taking between two hours and 15 minutes and three hours. A fast train, at the proposed 320km/h, would cut the journey to an hour. Novocastrians could commute to Sydney to work with relative ease. This is despite this section of the line being the trickiest piece of the puzzle. An estimated 115 kilometres in tunnels and 38 kilometres over bridges and viaducts would be built to navigate the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the Hawkesbury River and the hills along the route. The rail authority is proposing a two-year development stage to finalise its plans after which it would take 10 to 12 years to build from Newcastle to Sydney Central plus a few years more to reach Western Sydney International Airport all of which suggests a potential opening in the late 2030s. Parker believes that a significant share of the Sydney-Melbourne (1-hour) flight market would shift to trains. You actually add up the time to get to the airport, get through the airport, get at the other end and four hours is actually very, very competitive if its CBD to CBD, he says. An artists impression of the high-speed train between Sydney and Newcastle. High Speed Rail Authority Isnt Australia just not suited to high-speed rail? Sure, Sydney and Melbourne are home to a combined 10.9 million people whereas Tokyo and Osaka have a combined 57 million. But Parker argues that the Brisbane-Melbourne corridor, home to 21.5 million people today, will grow to 28.5 million by 2051 and already has a density of around 104 people per square kilometre more than Spain (95) and not far from France (124). Also were growing and theyre not growing as fast as us. This is why the time becomes right, he says. Related Article Exclusive Public transport Revealed: High-speed rail link to cost taxpayers up to $90b Professor Andrew McNaughton has worked at the highest levels of Britains fast-train network, including as technical director of the under-construction of the HS2 project in London. He has also looked closely at the prospects of fast trains in Australia. Hes enthusiastic about the potential for high-speed rail to link Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to regional cities within those states. But he pours cold water on the idea of linking our major capital cities at least for now. High-speed rail works best when you put people within an hour-and-a-half of each other, maybe two hours at the most, he says. People can go and work in other cities without having to shift their kids and everything, and companies have got access to a much bigger pool of people. The French town of Lille, for example, has transformed from an economic backwater to an absolutely thriving city, he says, after high-speed rail brought it within an hour of Paris. Firms have moved out to Lille, and theres lots and lots of high-end jobs, whereas before they were basically mining and warehousing When you bring those sorts of cities close to each other, you get economic growth. People can go and work in other cities without having to shift their kids and everything, and companies have got access to a much bigger pool of people. Old technology meets new at the train station at Lille in France. Getty Images This is the potential McNaughton saw for NSW when the Berejiklian government commissioned him to develop a high-speed rail strategy for the state in 2018. It would change NSW from being one mega-city and a few towns, frankly, to a much more balanced economy with people with a much better quality of life. Even if a Sydney-Melbourne fast train were to effectively replace air travel, McNaughton says its not enough to justify building it. Replacing planes with trains doesnt mean that Sydney and Melbourne grow [economically] any more than they would have done anyway. And even from an environmental perspective, McNaughton questions whether the carbon emissions saved from replacing air travel between Australias two largest cities would be greater than the emissions produced building the new railway. His advice? Get on with building smaller, state-based networks now and leave it to future generations to decide whether it is worth connecting them. The Australia Bureau of Statistics has forecast the countrys population to grow from 27.6 million today to between 34.3 million and 45.9 million by 2071. Urban planner Joe Langley says finding homes for all those people is the main question to consider when it comes to deciding if Australia needs fast trains. The main game is how we decide to spread the population over the next 50 to 100 years, says Langley, who worked on the 2011 federal study and is part of the Australian High Speed Rail Association. Related Article Explainer Aviation Cleared for take-off: Who keeps us safe in the skies? Our existing urban centres are packed. Weve got this fantastic regional environment where we can shift some of the population growth and make the cities and regional areas more productive, but we need some way for people to commute. Ultimately, Langley says, the biggest risk to the High Speed Rail Authority is what killed every previous fast-rail proposal: the enormous cost. He argues that so-called value capture taxes in place to collect a share of the massive increase in property values around new railway stations could cover a significant portion of construction costs. Londons new Elizabeth line, from Essex, east of the city, to Berkshire in the west, covered one-third of its project costs this way. After more than 40 years of proposals and pipe dreams, is Australia finally ready to embark on a high-speed rail journey? When the Very Fast Train project folded in 1991, its chief executive Alan Castleman bemoaned that as a nation, we are too inclined to look at the problems rather than the solutions. High-speed rail may promise some solutions. But with a price tag up to $90 billion for the Sydney-Newcastle leg alone, departure is far from guaranteed. Get fascinating insights and explanations on the worlds most perplexing topics. Sign up for our weekly Explainer newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsFederalAntisemitism A culture of tolerance: Frydenbergs hope for Bondi royal commission Paul Sakkal February 21, 2026 3:30pm 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 Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has called for a sharp focus on religious extremism when the royal commission on antisemitism starts on Tuesday, as Opposition Leader Angus Taylor seeks to shift the spotlight back to Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses handling of the Bondi massacre. After weeks of inflammatory political debate on immigration and attitudes within the Australian Muslim community, following the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil, Taylor told this masthead that serious questions need to be answered about warnings, preparedness and response, and why the Albanese government failed to act sooner. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor (right) during a visit to the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Friday. Joe Armao The former High Court justice running the probe, commissioner Virginia Bell, has in recent weeks met Jewish community leaders and other interested parties before an inquiry that Albanese was initially reluctant to establish after the Bondi massacre in which 15 people were killed. Major Jewish community groups, including Frydenbergs Dor Foundation, have come together ahead of the royal commission to co-ordinate on legal strategy. Advertisement Bell and the leading lawyer who will question witnesses, Richard Lancaster, SC, will give their opening remarks on Tuesday morning as they race to deliver a final report by the time of the first anniversary of the December 14 attack. Frydenberg, the former Liberal member for Kooyong who gave an impassioned speech advocating for a royal commission at a Bondi memorial in the days after the massacre, said there was lots of goodwill in the community that the inquiry would pave a path to a better Australia. Related Article Opinion Bondi shooting You have failed us: Josh Frydenbergs full speech at Bondi memorial We need to rebuild a culture of tolerance in our country with a special focus on the extremists in our midst who want to hurt and do harm to their fellow Australians, he told this masthead, saying the process would help prevent another terror attack like Bondi. [Extremists] can no longer be tolerated if we are going to turn a new page and create a safer and secure Australia for us all. Advertisement The Bondi killings, one of the deadliest attacks on Jews outside Israel in modern history, triggered a national conversation about antisemitism and extremism. Speaking on this mastheads Inside Politics podcast earlier this month, Albanese took a swipe at Frydenberg, who had expressed early concern about Bells appointment. Albanese said he did not regret the delay in calling a royal commission and repeated the claim that he was preparing to do so some time before he announced it, even though he was publicly arguing against it at the same time he claimed to be considering it. There was an attempt to secure political advantage perceived within 24 hours, and that, to me, is entirely inappropriate, Albanese said. I draw a big distinction between the engagement of some political figures and the response of the local community. Advertisement Support for populist right-wing party One Nation was rising before the attack, but polling for Pauline Hansons outfit overtook the Coalition in the weeks after it. The rise of the Queensland senator was tested last week as she received widespread condemnation for saying there were no good Muslims. Hansons top recruit, former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, showed signs of pressure trying to defend Hanson while not endorsing her inflammatory views. Albanese called the comments disgraceful. Taylor responded to Hansons comments for the first time on Friday, saying: I dont agree with Pauline Hanson in what she said. At a press conference at Melbournes burnt-out Adass Synagogue, which became a symbol of the spate of attacks on Jewish sites over the past two years, Taylor declined to use strong language to criticise Hanson, but distanced himself from her comments. What I believe in is that people who dont adopt and believe in our core values shouldnt come to our shores, whatever their race or religion, he said. Advertisement Taylor has also been focused on Labors management of the potential return of ISIS brides who travelled to Syria to join the same movement that allegedly inspired the Bondi attack. The true extent of Hansons support faces real-life tests in South Australian and Victorian elections this year, as well as a federal byelection in Sussan Leys seat of Farrer. On Friday afternoon, the Australian Federal Police said it had received reports of crime in relation to Hansons comments. Hanson was found guilty of racially vilifying Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim woman born in Pakistan, in 2024 when she said Faruqi should piss off back to Pakistan. The spike in Hansons polling has coincided with a surge in social media viewership of her content. Data provided by One Nation showed that in the 28 days to February 18, Hansons videos on Facebook and Instagram had been viewed 47 million times. The data from Meta showed viewers aged under 45 were mainly men, and mainly women for those 65 or older. The royal commission will re-enliven scrutiny on the Albanese government and its intelligence agencies, which will be questioned about their knowledge of the alleged shooters before the December attack, as well as NSW agencies including police whose presence was small at the Hanukkah event. Advertisement A question for Bell will be how much time and investigatory capacity she puts into exploring antisemitism in the media, universities and cultural institutions, where those with right- and left-wing views disagree on the nature of the problem. Whether the pro-Palestine protest movement created a permissive environment for antisemitism is likely to be a talking point, as is the question of whether Israels war in Gaza and escalating violence in the West Bank contributed to the rise in antisemitism. Advertisement PoliticsFederalAngus Taylor Opinion Migrants already sign on to Australian values, so what exactly is Angus Taylor proposing? Jacqueline Maley Columnist and senior journalist February 22, 2026 4:00am February 22, 2026 4:00am 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 question of how to surveille values is an interesting one, but before you get to it, you surely must ask yourself a preliminary question: what kind of values are we espousing when we propose to surveille values? The political week was saturated with discussion of Australian values, courtesy of the media push by Opposition Leader Angus Taylor to define his leadership around the lightning-rod issue of immigration, based on core values and Australian values. The issue was given greater cogency by reports that a group of Islamic State-linked women and their children are trying to leave the Al Roj detention camp in north-eastern Syria and return home. They have been treated with bipartisan pitilessness. Angus Taylor believes the number of people coming to Australia has been too high and the standards too low. Alex Ellinghausen In his inaugural press conference as Liberal leader, Taylor said his party would put Australian values at the centre of that [immigration] policy. If someone doesnt subscribe to our core beliefs, the door must be shut, he said. Advertisement In his subsequent media blitz, the line was oft-repeated. He told The Daily Telegraph in a video interview: If you dont believe in our core values, then you shouldnt be coming to this country. He told the Sunrise program: We believe in democracy, we believe that you need to obey the law, we believe in basic freedoms of speech and religion, and if people dont accept those things, they shouldnt come to our country, the door should be shut. In an extended interview with 7.30s Sarah Ferguson last Friday, just after he won the leadership ballot, Taylor recited his line again: We need to make sure we shut the door on people who dont adopt our core values and beliefs. The vast majority of Australians would surely agree with him, and with the broader principle that the country welcoming migrants is entitled to set requirements and standards as a condition of entry. Another line Taylor kept repeating was that, until now, the numbers of immigrants have been too high, and the standards too low. Advertisement The problem, to Angus Taylors eyes, must be that values are not embodied or respected by some migrants after they have arrived here. Bloomberg The latter assertion is quite the sideswipe to the millions of immigrants and their descendants already in the country (I suspect hes not referring to those of us with colonial convict heritage). What Taylor failed to mention, and what many interviewers failed to interrogate, was that migrants already sign an Australian values statement when they apply for any kind of visa, and aspirant citizens have to pass a citizenship test as well. The Australian values statement was introduced in 2007 by the late-stage Howard government before it was ousted by the Kevin07 juggernaut in November that year. It includes the principles of respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of religion, commitment to the rule of law, parliamentary democracy and equality of opportunity. It also includes the concept of the fair go, which is defined as encompassing mutual respect, tolerance, compassion for those in need and (again) equality of opportunity for all. Lastly, it says that English is the national language, as an important unifying element of Australian society. Advertisement These government-issued values align with the ones Taylor spoke of in his interviews. But if sign-on to these values is already part of the visa application process, then it follows that the problem is not that the values are not accepted every migrant in Australia has already agreed to them, as a condition of their entry. Related Article Opinion Political leadership The rise of Taylor and Hume is improbable. Its also farcical Shaun Carney Columnist The problem must be that the values are not embodied or respected by certain migrants once they have succeeded in getting here. They sign up to the values but disrespect them later. If this is the case, what is the remedy? The leaked Coalition immigration policy document published this week by The Age/Sydney Morning Herald proposed deporting migrants who contravene Australian values. Taylor and his frontbench, including the relevant shadow ministers, claim ignorance of that leaked migration policy, which was the work of former leader Sussan Ley, they say. But still, when asked about deportations, Taylor told Ferguson: If someone is not a citizen, and theyre temporarily here in this country, and its clear they dont adopt those core values, they should go. I dont think thats particularly controversial. Advertisement Ferguson asked how this would be achieved in practice. Was Taylor proposing more checking for example, social media checks? The intelligence agencies need to be looking at this very, very closely, he said. Frankly, we need to tighten up on this our intelligence agencies clearly need to be at the heart of that. Taylor said that people from higher risk regions would need more scrutiny. The work needs to be ramped up, he said. We need to get serious about this. Later in the exchange, Ferguson asked again if he was in favour of more checking. Advertisement Absolutely, Taylor said. We need to make sure our intelligence agencies are keeping an eye on whether people are acting in a way that is consistent with the beliefs Ive described. Related Article Opinion Political leadership No good Muslims? Pauline Hanson has removed her racism fig leaf and mulched it Waleed Aly Columnist, author and academic Taylor emphasised that the full details would be in the official Coalition immigration policy, to be unveiled soon. But what he seemed to be proposing was the policing, by intelligence agencies, not of threats to security as is their traditional role but of any contravention of Australian values. That would presumably include surveillance of speech and expression, in all its forms, in a similar vein to the Trump administrations approach to immigration, where migrants social media is scoured, for example. Advertisement This would be an extraordinary step-change in the role of our intelligence services, not to mention incredibly resource-intensive, though Taylor intimated that efforts would be focused on migrants from parts of the world where we are more likely to see people who are going to bring hate and violence to our country. The opposition leader ended the interview by noting that we have had a terrorist act on our soil and its absolutely right and proper that now is the time to say to our intelligence agencies that we have to get this right. It was the closest anyone from the conservative side of politics has come to suggesting that the Bondi massacre was partly the result of a failure of intelligence. But it was misleading in the context one of the perpetrators of the Bondi killings was Australian-born, and therefore presumably exempt from any heightened test for Australian values that the Coalition might propose. The other was an Indian migrant, who (as far as we know) showed no outward sign of rejecting Australian values, and whose country of origin is not a terror hotspot. Lets see what the Coalition proposes when it releases its immigration policy-proper in a few weeks. But it is worth noting the irony of policing the values of freedom and tolerance. Plenty of migrants to Australia could tell us how that played out in the home countries they left. Jacqueline Maley is a senior writer, author and columnist. A family home of 45 years in Bentleigh East sold at auction for $1.8 million on Saturday, after a tense bidding war between three keen buyers. The two-storey, four-bedroom converted bungalow at 4 Wallace Street, with a price guide of $1.5 to $1.6 million, was extended in 2000. While updated with a new kitchen, solar panels and water tanks, the original timber skirting and floorboards were preserved throughout. Woodards Bentleigh agent and auctioneer Ben Quigley said it had been a good campaign, with many interested bidders who all turned up on the day. Bidding started at $1.5 million, immediately hitting the $1.6 million reserve on the second bid. Advertisement Analysis WorldEuropeAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor Disgraced Andrews secret deals with Epstein pose a grim test for the King David Crowe February 21, 2026 12:35pm 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 London: An email to Jeffrey Epstein in October 2011 told the paedophile and financier that Prince Andrew was about to fly to China to visit three cities as well as Hong Kong. Most meetings by now are organised by me, wrote David Stern, a secretive businessman who was joining the trip. I stay in the background/hidden, just make the arrangements. That email, made public thanks to the US Congress and Department of Justice, is just one of thousands that shed light on the shadowy dealmaking surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, then known as Prince Andrew and the Duke of York. Mountbatten-Windsor appeared in the latest batch of Epstein documents looming over an unknown woman lying on the floor. Jonathan Raa/Sipa USA It also highlights the challenge for police in piecing together a mosaic from the files in the hope of proving that the former prince engaged in misconduct. Advertisement Weeks after the release of the latest files, new facts are still being discovered in the emails between Epstein and his network of political and business insiders. But a lot of this is emerging years too late. It will require an enormous effort, including full assistance from Buckingham Palace, to assemble a case that stands up in court. Stern was one of Epsteins closest business associates. He was also a top aide to the former prince. So he remained the middleman between the two long after the prince, as he was at the time, claimed to have cut off contact with the sex offender. Stern called Epstein boss in their emails and was assigned to help Sarah Ferguson, then the Duchess of York, try to avoid bankruptcy. He was also part of the Pitch@Palace scheme that Mountbatten-Windsor set up to connect investors with young companies. I am always on your team!! Stern told Epstein in 2016. He was on the dukes team too. That same year, he joined the board of the St Georges House Trust, a charity linked to the royal family. He gained incredible access for a man who seemed to come from nowhere. Advertisement In one message to Epstein, he could send happy snaps with Andrew and Sarah. In the next, he sent a raunchy photograph of a young woman with champagne. David Stern with then Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 2014. via US Department of Justice We are learning more about Stern thanks to an investigation by The Times into his past and an investigation by The Daily Telegraph of London into his deals in China. The full picture is yet to emerge, but Stern was chasing deals with companies such as Evergrande, the Chinese property company that collapsed under billions of dollars in debt. In the latest discovery in the files, the London Telegraph reports on a proposed deal sent from Stern to Epstein in 2013 to help Mountbatten-Windsor set up a 1 million company to share commissions for funds management work. It did not go ahead. The investigation is made more difficult by the way so many shielded the former prince for so long. The British media sought to find out more about what Andrew was doing as trade envoy, for instance, but were usually blocked. UK government files are littered with rejected freedom-of-information requests. At times, officials in the Foreign Office or trade agency refused to confirm or deny they had any documents to be released. Advertisement Buckingham Palace protected Queen Elizabeths favourite son too. The Epstein files include references to young women gaining access to the palace, or Epstein inviting his contacts to royal dinners, but the royal family has kept tight control of any information about what went on. This protected Mountbatten-Windsor when he was trade envoy from October 2001 to July 2011, and it continued when he ran the non-government Pitch@Palace network for many years afterwards, seeking deals around the world. Related Article Royal family UK signals plan to cut former prince Andrew from royal line of succession Political leaders did not want to confront awkward questions. Early in 2011, when there were serious revelations about Mountbatten-Windsor and his ties to Epstein, the reflexive response from the government was to back him as trade envoy. I, for one, believe that the Duke of York does an excellent job, said one minister, Ed Davey, in parliament. Now, as leader of the Liberal Democrats, he demands answers about the former prince. There was a shameful inertia among those in charge. It took months for Mountbatten-Windsor to step down from the trade post after the scandal first hit. Later, in 2019, he grudgingly stepped back from public duties after more revelations and a disastrous BBC interview. Then, last October, he volunteered to give up his titles. Advertisement Finally, the palace realised it had to take a tougher line. Two weeks after that voluntary move, King Charles III removed his titles and honours. Activists from the anti-monarchy group Republic at the entrance to Windsor Great Park and Royal Lodge. Getty Images The sluggish response now has a cost. Documents from the trade envoy years have probably been lost, and emails have been wiped. The police will have a tougher job because of the inaction when genuine concerns were aired. Former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson is under even more scrutiny for endorsing the prince for the trade post in 2001. One Epstein contact helped another. The King was clearly reluctant last year to be firm with his younger brother, and this may be understandable given what a rupture this has been for the royal family. Now, however, the King promises full and wholehearted support and co-operation for the police inquiry, and he will be judged by that pledge. Advertisement Advertisement A CARLOW woman who pleaded guilty to ten counts of theft was sentenced to six months in prison by Judge Geraldine Carthy at a hearing of Carlow District Court on 12 February. Tracy Doogue (23) of 15 Green Road, Carlow appeared via video link before Judge Carthy, who noted that the probation report for Ms Doogue unfortunately outlines the tragic history of the defendant. The author of the report identified factors such as peer association, addiction issues and unresolved trauma contributing to the likelihood of Ms Doogue reoffending. Anytime I have met Ms Doogue, she has been extremely polite and remorseful. I am structuring the sentence to assist Ms Doogue in going forward with her life, said Judge Carthy. Defence solicitor Joe Farrell said his client was willing to work with the services and find gainful employment. Judge Carthy noted the amount of offending behaviour and the fact that charity boxes worth at least 550 were stolen on at least three occasions were aggravating factors in this case. She sentenced the defendant to six months in custody for the theft of a charity box to the value of 350 from a newsagents in Carlow town on 19 July 2025. This was backdated to when she entered custody at the end of January. For her most recent offence of stealing 29.80 worth of goods from Munnellys service station on 7 January 2026, Judge Carthy sentenced Ms Doogue to ten months in custody, suspended for 24 months, to run concurrently with the other sentence. The suspension is on the condition that Ms Doogue attends probation services within 48 hours of her release, attend addiction counselling and employment services. I hope the sentence will shape her future, noted Judge Carthy. She took the eight other theft offences into consideration. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme A CARLOW man has been fined for carrying a passenger on an electric scooter in the town centre. Junio Costa (31) of 24 Dublin Street, Carlow appeared before Carlow District Court charged with using an electric scooter with the carriage of more than one person, contrary to the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations, 2024. The court heard that on 9 August 2025, Garda Walsh observed Mr Costa on Centaur Street, Carlow town using the e-scooter with more than one person on board. The garda took details from Mr Costa and issued him with a fixed-charge penalty notice, which subsequently went unpaid. Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted and fined the defendant 330, to be paid within 90 days. By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association More than 50 firefighters from Counties Armagh, Tyrone and Down are tackling a fire in Milford which broke out overnight. The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) say they were called to the blaze at a commercial premises on Ballyards Road in the County Armagh village at 3.45 am on Saturday morning. Crews from Armagh, Keady, Portadown, Banbridge, Dungannon, Newtownhamilton, Lisburn, and a water tanker from Pomeroy have been brought in to keep it under control. Local residents have been advised to keep windows and doors closed, and members of the public are asked to avoid the area to help firefighters focus on the incident. A spokesperson for the NIFRS said: We would like to thank the public for their patience whilst we dealt with the incident. New tariff plans by Donald Trump and protests over proposed SNA cuts make the front pages of Saturday's papers. The Irish Times leads with comments from Donald Trump, who has said the administration will impose an immediate 10 per cent global tariff, over and above normal tariffs already being charged. The Irish Examiner leads with protests due to take place across the country as the Government faces a second round of controversy next week over proposed cuts to special needs assistant (SNA) posts. The Irish Independent leads with Irish exporters facing fresh uncertainty and turmoil following Fridays decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down Donald Trumps tariffs. The Irish Daily Mail's front page is a whistleblower exposing hotel prices doubling for Bon Jovi concerts in Croke Park. The Herald leads with the children of a man who subjected them to decades of sexual abuse have told how their lives were blighted by their ordeal. The Irish Daily Mirror leads with an Irish charity boss who worked with the former Prince Andrew, calling him a "ghastly man". The Irish Daily Star leads with Noel Farrell (70) sentenced to 20 years in prison for the abuse of his son and four daughters. Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. Netflix has acquired I Am Frankelda (Soy Frankelda), a stop-motion feature from Mexican filmmakers Arturo and Roy Ambriz, with plans to release the film globally later this year. The deal marks a significant milestone for Latin American animation, as the film is recognized as the first entirely Mexican feature-length stop-motion production. Produced by the Ambriz brothers Mexico Citybased studio Cinema Fantasma, I Am Frankelda arrives with a significant amount of international buzz. The film recently earned a nomination for best independent feature at the Annie Awards, having previously screened at Annecy, Guadalajara (FICG), and Animation Is Film. The project, spun off from the Cartoon Network Quirino Award-winning series Frankeldas Book of Spooks, also boasts the backing of Guillermo del Toro, who served as a creative guide to the filmmakers. A longtime champion of stop-motion animation and co-founder of the studio/training facility El Taller del Chucho in his native Guadalajara, del Toro praised the film as a landmark in Mexican stop-motion animation and a true triumph of vision, tenacity and love for the craft. The Ambriz brothers have previously cited del Toro as a mentor and key influence on their work. Set in 19th-century Mexico, I Am Frankelda follows a gifted writer whose dark stories are dismissed, forcing her to suppress her voice. When she is pulled into her subconscious, the monsters of her imagination come alive, blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality. As she navigates a world of dreams and nightmares alongside the tormented prince Herneval, Frankelda must reclaim her power as a storyteller before darker forces seize control. The film features production design by Ana Coronilla and Bruce Zick, animation direction by Beto Petiches, and an original score by Kevin Smithers. Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. Jane Baer, a pioneering animator, producer, studio founder, and a founding member of Women in Animation (WIA), who worked continuously at the highest levels of American animation from the 1950s through the 1990s, died February 16, 2026, at her home in Van Nuys, California. She was 91. Baers career traced a rare, uninterrupted arc through animation history: from the hand-inked fine art of Disneys mid-century features, through televisions production-line years, and into the rapidly evolving hybrid era that peaked with Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a film on which she was intimately involved. Along the way, she quietly became a guardian of classical early-Disney-era technique, an animator trusted not only with drawing, but with organization, supervision, and the translation of tradition into new production contexts, working in all sorts of roles across the production pipeline. Born Jane Shattuck in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Baer showed artistic aptitude early and followed her father into illustration. She trained at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and, in 1955, entered Walt Disney Productions as an assistant animator. Her timing could not have been better, as Disney was deep into production on Sleeping Beauty, a film that demanded unprecedented graphic control and precision for its time. Working alongside members of the legendary Nine Old Men, Baer was trained to the studios highest standards of draftsmanship and performance-based animation. Sleeping Beauty (1959), now widely recognized as one of the most formally rigorous animated features ever produced, served as her apprenticeship in a system that prized clarity, discipline, and expressive restraint. Though her name would rarely appear before the title, Baer was part of a generation of artists who formed the backbone of Disney animation during its transitional decades. During this period, she met animator Iwao Takamoto, whom she later married. After leaving Disney in the early 1960s, Baer navigated a rapidly changing animation landscape as TV began playing a more significant role in the industry. She moved on to commercial and television work with Ed Graham Animation, and later spent time in Europe before returning to the United States, where she joined Pantomime Studios in the layout department, contributing to series such as Skyhawks and Speed Racer. She continued in layout at Filmation, working on shows including Aquaman and Journey to the Center of the Earth. In the mid-1970s, Baer returned to Disney and served as an assistant animator under Milt Kahl on The Rescuers, working on the villain Medusa. She went on to contribute to The Fox and the Hound, Mickeys Christmas Carol, and The Black Cauldron, films that bridged the studios aging classical workforce with a new generation looking to make their mark. By the early 1980s, Baer was also freelancing as a storyboard artist for Hanna-Barbera, including work on the original Smurfs television series, further expanding her influence across formative eras for both feature and television animation. In 1984, Baer entered a new phase of her career when she co-founded Baer Animation with her then-husband, animator Dale Baer. The studio quickly became one of the most respected independent animation houses in Hollywood, known for its adherence to classical standards at a time when the industry was increasingly looking to cut costs and corners, even and often at the expense of quality. One of Baer Animations defining achievements came with Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), on which the studio created the entire Toontown sequence. Jane Baer served as supervising character animator on Benny the Cab and played a central role in managing the extraordinarily complex integration of hand-drawn animation with live-action cinematography. Under her supervision, Baer Animation grew into one of the few fully self-contained independent animation facilities in the United States, housing departments for animation, digital ink and paint, compositing, sound recording, effects, and camera services. The studios camera department handled sequences of The Little Mermaid and The Prince and the Pauper, as well as work on FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Rover Dangerfield, The Swan Princess, and numerous Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera projects. Baer also served as animation producer or supervisor on a wide range of features, including Fletch Lives, Last Action Hero, The Beautician and the Beast, and Rover Dangerfield, and was the writer and executive producer of Annabelles Wish. She handled key sequences on The Lion King and was an animation producer on Tom & Jerry: The Movie. Following Dale Baers departure in the early 1990s, Jane Baer continued to run the studio independently, overseeing teams of 50 to more than 100 artists, until her retirement in the early 2000s. Beyond production, Baer was deeply involved in professional advocacy. She was a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The Animation Guild, and Women in Film. She was also a founding member of Women in Animation and later served on its advisory board, helping to create institutional support for women entering a historically male-dominated field. In her later years, Baer became a valued historian and mentor, appearing at festivals, panels, and classrooms to share firsthand knowledge of animations working methods across decades. She was featured in Mindy Johnsons Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disneys Animation, received the Golden Award honoring her 50-year career, and was awarded the Inkpot Award in 2002. She also appeared in the phenomenal documentary Pencils vs. Pixels (2023). Jane Baer is survived by her son Michael, his partner Beth, and extended family in Canada. Her legacy endures not only in the films she helped create but in the continuity of craft she preserved across five decades, carrying the rigor and unyielding standards of quality from Disneys golden age into an industry that often struggled to remember its fine art foundations. Mary Ellen Murphy departed this world on Monday, December 29, 2025, after battling a series of compounding illness. Even though her life was cut short, nothing can dim the light she shined to those whose path she crossed. Born in Terre Haute, In., she was immediately adopted by Carl and Louise Harper. Carl was a career Marine and that meant uprooting and traveling around the Southern U.S. Moving closer to family in Atlanta and later the suburb of Cedartown, Ga., before settling in The Scenic City of Chattanooga. Mary Ellen attended McBrien Elementary, East Ridge Middle and High School, where she graduated in the top of her class and went on to UTC on a full Chancellors Scholarship to receive her Masters Degree in Education and Leadership. Mary Ellen moved to Nashville and worked with the Governors Office and the Tennessee Legislation before returning home to teach. Mary Ellen was raised in the Baptist Church and later moved her membership to First Centenary United Methodist, where she was a founding member of the Oak Street Playhouse and made many lasting friendships. A little known fact was Mary Ellen was a very accomplished pianist, playing for pure enjoyment and rarely playing publicly. Mary Ellen went on to a full career at the USPS, where she was the Human Resources Officer hiring hundreds of postal employees and finally taking a position as the Postmaster of Monteagle and surrounding posts before retiring .She was a longtime volunteer of the March of Dimes, Chairman of the CFC, and gave of her time to many individuals and other charities. Mary Ellen was the smartest person I have ever known. She was beautiful and charming and extremely charismatic. Her blue eyes sparkled like a pool filled with southern charm and a fleck of hell fire. Mary Ellen never met a stranger and tried to treat others with respect and kindness. She was the life of any party she attended. With a quick wit and a gentle kindness that could sell dirt, or tell you to go to the devil and you somehow felt good about it. If you knew her then you have felt the warmth of the sunshine she radiated, and if you didnt you have missed out. I love you MEM as you loved me. Like no other. We always said, We have had the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows, not much middle ground. Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Louise Harper , two of the finest people I have ever known and her In-laws Bill and Hazel Murphy, whom we have missed dearly. She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Todd Murphy and their kiddles Rudy, Mr.Peabody and King Linus. Her family: Mary Murphy Tabb, Bill Murphy (Jan), and Nan Murphy; Eric Lundgren (Shely). Nieces and Nephews: Leah Tabb Henderson (Kevin), Jeffrey Tabb, Adam Murphy (Tiffany), Scott Murphy (Esther), Ben Murphy (Elizabeth), and Greats: Harlan, Brooke, Pierce, Hallie, and Max and many cousins. Her memorial service had to be postponed due to inclement weather. It has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, at First Centenary UMC, on McCallie Avenue in the Kate Lyle West Chapel. Visitation is at 1 p.m. with the service following at 2 p.m. It is hoped that if Mary Ellen ever touched your life you will attend. A private burial internment will happen at a later date next to her Mother, in Rose Hill Cemetery, Austell, Ga. Send flowers if you like, she loved flowers. But she loved her dogs more and a local donation to A Paw and A Prayer Dog Rescue, in her honor would be amazing. Arrangements 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. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will host a special ranger-led one and half hour tour and hike focusing on the capture of the forgotten regiments at Horseshoe Ridge during the Battle of Chickamauga. It will be held Sunday, March 1, at 2 p.m. The program will begin at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, followed by a car caravan to the hike's starting point. The hike will cover approximately one mile. The fight at Horseshoe Ridge is often remembered for the Army of Cumberland's courageous stand, but for Jacob Jones of the 21st Ohio Infantry and several other Federal soldiers, it was a different experience. Jones later recalled, "I witnessed one of the saddest sights of my life We could not help feeling forsaken." This hike will primarily follow a gravel path that winds over several hills, with some relatively flat, natural surface sections along the way. Wearing comfortable, supportive footwear, dressing appropriately for the weather, and bringing water is recommended. Join this opportunity to explore the terrain and gain insights into the events of 1863, especially with the lack of foliage providing clearer views of the ground. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present a talk at Moccasin Bend National Archeological District discussing the rise of Dragging Canoe, one of the Cherokee resistance leaders in 1776. It is set for Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. Parking for the program will be at the Gateway Site off Hamm Road (10 Hamm Road). Special Event signs will also be posted along Manufacturers and Hamm roads to help guide visitors to event parking. Tsiyu Gansini, or Dragging Canoe as he was known to English speakers, was the dynamic leader of a faction of the Cherokee who became known as the Chickamauga. Born during the tumultuous cultural clash between English colonists and the Cherokee in the mid-1700s, Dragging Canoe became a respected and feared leader who sought to save his people as the War of Independence erupted in 1776. This talk will explore Dragging Canoes rise to prominence. House safeguards religious liberty, sanctity of marriage The Tennessee House of Representatives today passed legislation by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, to preserve religious liberty and the sanctity of marriage in the Volunteer State. House Bill 1473 would clarify that private citizens and organizations are not bound by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or by the U.S. Supreme Courts 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized marriage between members of the same sex. The overwhelming majority of Tennesseans already affirmed what we have known for all of history: marriage is between one man and one woman, said Bulso. This legislation protects religious liberty in the Volunteer State by clarifying that private citizens can never be forced to recognize any other definition. Im grateful to my Republican colleagues for standing with me to defend the common-sense values that have shaped our state and nation. House Bill 1473 would prohibit the states Board of Judicial Conduct from disciplining or sanctioning judicial officers for declining to celebrate or officiate a marriage inconsistent with Tennessees traditional definition of marriage. The proposal bolsters the Volunteer States fundamental principle that the government cannot compel someone to act against their beliefs. The legislation recognizes that while Obergefell is the law of the land, it applies only to public actors, including the state and political subdivisions. Tennessee law defines marriage as between one man and one woman. In 2006, more than 81% of Tennesseans voted in favor of amending the Tennessee Constitution to add that marriage is between a man and a woman. In 2024, Tennessee Republicans approved legislation clarifying that any person may object to solemnizing marriages based on personal or religious beliefs. The Volunteer State consistently ranks among the best in the nation for protecting the religious liberties of residents. House Bill 1473 will now be considered in the Senate. If approved, it will take effect July 1. Immigration 2026: Reporting and verification bills advance Legislation aimed at increasing transparency on illegal immigration and ensuring illegal immigrants do not receive taxpayer-funded benefits advanced out of the Departments and Agencies Subcommittee this week. House Bill 1710, sponsored by State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, requires city and county governments to verify legal status of adults applying for public benefits, just like state agencies. Tennessee taxpayers deserve confidence that public benefits funded by their hard-earned dollars are going only to those who are legally eligible, Powers said. Key benefits would include TennCare, Families First (TANF), unemployment benefits, subsidized child care and housing assistance. If an applicant is found ineligible, the bill mandates reporting to immigration authorities and allows the state to withhold state sales tax revenue from local governments that fail to comply. House Bill 1711, sponsored by State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, requires law enforcement agencies and local governments to submit quarterly reports to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security detailing criminal and civil violations committed by illegal immigrants, including gang activity and detentions for entering or staying in the country illegally. This bill also requires the state to track and provide annual reports outlining the cost of public services provided to illegal immigrants, including K-12 education, public higher education, prisons, public hospitals and social services. The proposal establishes a Class A misdemeanor for any government employee or public official who knowingly fails to comply with the reporting requirements. This legislation brings transparency, accountability and ensures government officials do their jobs while protecting the interests of hardworking Tennesseans, Davis said. House Bills 1710 and House Bill 1711 are expected to be heard in the State and Local Government Committee in the coming weeks. Republicans unveil plan to rein in insurers, protect patients House and Senate Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a legislative health care package that aims to protect patients, ensure fair insurance billing practices and create better health outcomes. The slate of bills addresses growing concerns about insurance barriers that impact patient access to care. Republicans said the proposals provide stronger legislative protections to ensure patients receive timely, appropriate treatment without unnecessary delays or denials of life-saving procedures. The Patients First Act, House Bill 2619, sponsored by State Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, would create the Tennessee Commission of Insurance Review to increase fairness, transparency, and accountability in health insurance claim review practices. The commission would hear complaints, conduct investigations and enforce compliance involving health benefit plan determinations and insurer practices. It would also be authorized to adopt rules, issue subpoenas and carry out enforcement actions to ensure insurers comply with state law and policy requirements. The proposed legislation would establish oversight of artificial intelligence by requiring that coverage determinations involving AI be reviewed and approved by a qualified health care professional before a patients claim can be denied. Simply put, this bill is about putting patients first, said Howell. Tennesseans deserve transparency in their health insurance claim process. This legislation restores appropriate medical oversight and accountability by ensuring coverage decisions are medically grounded and contractually consistent. An insurance policy is a contract, and this legislation requires insurance companies to honor the policy they sold. Too often insurers are making medical decisions instead of doctors, and the result is insurance companies practicing medicine without a license. Other key legislation includes: Prior authorization and billing reform: House Bill 2579 by State Rep. Sabi Kumar, R-Springfield, reduces burdensome prior authorization requirements and requires denials to be issued by a licensed physician who has reviewed the patients medical history. It prevents mid-treatment authorization barriers and prohibits down-coding without full medical record review. Pharmacy benefit manager reform: House Bill 1959 by State Rep. Rick Scarborough, R-Oak Ridge, addresses conflicts of interest in pharmacy benefit management by preventing PBMs from using pharmacy ownership to set prices and steer reimbursements. This bill responds to audit findings showing reimbursement disparities that have contributed to pharmacy closures and reduced rural access. Prosthetics coverage for children: House Bill 406 by State Rep. Brock Martin, R-Huntingdon, expands coverage for medically necessary prosthetic and orthotic devices, particularly for children with limb differences. It also prevents arbitrary caps and restrictive definitions that limit access to custom-fit devices. Biomarker coverage for patients: House Bill 484 by State Rep. Brock Martin, R-Huntingdon, would mandate coverage of medically necessary biomarker testing supported by medical and scientific evidence. Step therapy elimination for cancer patients: House Bill 1956 by State Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, would end fail-first step therapy requirements for all cancer patients. It ensures timely access to prescribed cancer medications without insurer-mandated delays. Patients Right to Know Act: House Bill 2162 by State Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester, holds insurers accountable by requiring reporting on denials, prior authorization practices, payment timelines, and audit activity. Health Insurance Fair Practices Act: House Bill 1076 by State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, requires clinician oversight, disclosure of automated decision-making, same-specialty review, and clear standards for payment timelines and audits. This bill ensures fairness while preserving the spirit of the managed care system. Fair Pay Act: House Bill 29 by State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, requires insurers to use a fair and consistent reimbursement methodology when physician-level providers perform the same or similar covered services. It prevents payment systems from singling out one profession for unjust or non-standard services. Network adequacy reform: House Bill 1930 by State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, requires insurance plans to meet minimum network standards and increases transparency regarding physician network deficiencies. The proposal also strengthens the regulatory complaint process with clearer timelines and enforceable penalties. Proposals expand senior housing options, support caregivers Two bills by State Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, would cut government red tape and protect senior citizens and their caregivers in Tennessee. House Bill 1899 expands opportunities for seniors to remain in their communities by increasing the maximum number of residents allowed in Tier 1 homes for the aged from three to five. It would also increase the minimum number of residents in Tier 2 homes from four to six, providing greater flexibility to meet the needs of Tennesseans. House Bill 1495 supports caregivers by increasing the number of hours limited respite care services can operate without licensure from 12 to 16 per week. It also increases the number of adults that can be served simultaneously from 15 to 20. These services provide temporary relief to primary caregivers from normal caregiving duties and responsibilities. These proposals expand access to affordable housing and care options for older Tennesseans, helping them remain in the communities they call home, said Slater. At the same time, they will cut government red tape and provide greater flexibility for small businesses to better serve elderly residents across the Volunteer State. Residential homes for the aged support older adults by helping them secure permanent housing. They are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging and the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, based on tier. Larger Tier 2 homes are subject to additional regulations. Limited respite care services exempt from licensure are operated by or affiliated with religious organizations. They must be registered with the Tennessee Department of Human Services, not administer medications, and maintain records of adults attendance. House Bill 1899 advanced to the full Health Committee this week. House Bill 1495 is scheduled to be considered in the Health Subcommittee in the coming weeks. Parental rights protections advance through committee A proposal protecting Tennessee parents rights to raise their children consistent with their biological sex advanced out of the Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee this week. House Bill 2082, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, ensures parents cannot be accused of abuse or neglect for declining to affirm transgender ideology. It also prevents those decisions from being used against a parent in custody battles. The intent of this bill is to make sure the child makes no serious decisions regarding their biological sex until theyre 18 and can make those decisions on their own, while also protecting their parents rights to raise them consistent with their biological sex, Littleton said. The bill protects parents who use pronouns consistent with their childs biological sex, make medical or mental health decisions based on biological sex and decline medical or mental health services related to gender transition procedures. These actions alone cannot be used to remove a child from the home, file juvenile court petitions or terminate parental rights. The legislation comes as Democrat-led states like California and Minnesota have advanced policies to penalize parents who dont affirm their childs transgender ideology. House Bill 2082 is expected to be heard in the Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks. Proposal ensures homeless Tennesseans get proper support A Republican proposal will support homeless Tennesseans by ensuring adequate housing and support services before being relocated to a new city. House Bill 1671, sponsored by State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, would prohibit local governments from relocating homeless people to another jurisdiction without written consent from the receiving municipality. The proposal also restricts the use of public funds for relocation purposes unless the receiving jurisdiction has available housing and other necessary services. No local government should be relocating Tennesseans to unfamiliar places without transparency and coordination, said Rudd. This legislation protects the limited resources of communities across the Volunteer State by ensuring proper advance notification and approval. Homeless individuals deserve compassion, and this is a critical step in getting them the housing, support and resources they need. Jurisdictions impacted by violations of this measure could seek damages and injunctive relief against the local government that improperly relocated individuals, according to the legislation. House Bill 1671 advanced out of the Cities and Counties Subcommittee on Feb. 18 and will be considered by the State and Local Government Committee in the coming weeks. Public safety reform reins in third-party groups posting bail Legislation to rein in outside groups that repeatedly post bail for criminal defendants advanced out of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week. House Bill 1450, sponsored by State Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, establishes new limits on third-party entities that seek to post bail on someones behalf. The motivation for this bill is to promote safety in our communities More often than not, when individuals are bailed out by these organizations, they are less likely to reappear in court when they are supposed to and more likely to commit crimes while they are out, Baum said. Most third-party organizations would be required to receive court approval before posting bail for a defendant, according to this proposal. The bill also limits those outside groups to posting bail for no more than three defendants per calendar year and prohibits posting bail for the same defendant more than once in a year. Family members, employers and licensed professional bondsmen would not be affected. House Bill 1450 is expected to be heard in the Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks. Primary election integrity efforts move through House A proposal requiring voters to formally designate a political party affiliation when registering to vote advanced out of the Elections and Campaign Finance Subcommittee this week. House Bill 1159, sponsored by State Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mount Juliet, requires voter registration records to include a political affiliation or unaffiliated designation. Voters who do not select a party would be automatically recorded as unaffiliated. This bill would ensure only voters who have declared an affiliation with the party can vote in primary elections. If passed, voters could declare their party in the first primary election they participate in following this laws effective date. That affiliation would be permanently recorded. A primary is the partys election and they want members of their party to be voting on their nominee for the general election, Lynn told committee members. This bill also allows voters to change their party designation at any time using the standard voter registration update process. General elections would remain open to all eligible registered voters, regardless of political party. The Volunteer State ranks No. 1 in election integrity and continues to break voter turnout records, with a historic 3.08 million votes cast in the Nov. 5, 2024, presidential election. House Bill 1159 is expected to be heard in the State and Local Government Committee in the coming weeks. School nurses could receive pay boost if GOP bill passes One Republican lawmaker has proposed legislation to require school districts to classify certain school nurses as licensed personnel, similar to teachers, in an effort to boost their pay. House Bill 1675, sponsored by State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, would apply to any school nurse who is directly employed by the school district, is a licensed registered nurse (RN) and is certified by the National Board for Certification of School Nurses. It is difficult to retain a lot of those nursing positions and we want to make sure that we keep the people that are highly qualified in schools, Davis told the Education Administration Subcommittee this week. Starting pay for eligible nurses would match the base teacher salary at $50,000. Nurses with more experience or credentials would be paid accordingly. This legislation also has protections to ensure any school nurse who is already making more than this base salary but may not meet these specific requirements would not have their pay cut. House Bill 1675 is expected to be heard in the Education Committee in the coming weeks. Briefly Personal delivery devices: The House chamber on Thursday passed House Bill 1684, which allows personal delivery devices to operate on bicycle paths, road shoulders, parking lots, and curbs of roadways. Current law limits speeds to 10 miles per hour and only on sidewalks or pedestrian areas. To operate in the new areas, the speed limit must be 20 miles per hour or less. The legislation, sponsored by State Rep. David Hawk, R-Greenville, does not mandate the deployment of personal delivery devices, leaving decisions on implementation or restriction to local officials, as long as they comply with state law. The legislation, previously passed in the Senate, now heads to the governor for his signature. Prayer at school board meetings: A bill to codify a school boards right to open its meetings with a prayer advanced out of the Education Administration Subcommittee this week. The Tennessee Religious Freedom Act, or House Bill 1834, sponsored by State Rep. Rick Eldridge, R-Morristown, would allow school boards to open meetings with a voluntary prayer led by a board member if they choose. The bill does not require anyone in attendance to participate, and no one may be coerced or pressured into participating. The proposal aligns school boards with other legislative bodies that are permitted to open meetings with prayer, ensuring they are afforded the same opportunity. House Bill 1834 is expected to be heard in the Education Committee in the coming weeks. Financial records: The House of Representatives passed legislation this week to modernize how banks handle financial records in lawsuits. House Bill 1523, sponsored by State Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna, clarifies how customers are notified when their records are subpoenaed. If a bank reasonably believes a customer has died, it would not be required to notify the person, their estate or family members before releasing records. It requires that any released records be kept secure and confidential. House Bill 1523 now heads to Gov. Bill Lees desk for his signature. Fathers Day: The House on Thursday approved legislation recognizing Fathers Day in Tennessees Blue Book. House Bill 1481, sponsored by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, highlights the integral role of fathers in the home as sources of strength, integrity and perseverance. The proposal designates the third Sunday in June annually as Fathers Day, in line with the official national designation. Tennessee already recognizes the second Sunday in May as Mothers Day. Expedited court hearings for families: Legislation is advancing in the House to require an expedited court hearing when a parents arrest results in the loss of contact, custody or visitation with a minor child in the home. House Bill 2078, sponsored by State Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, requires a hearing within 15 days and renders the bond condition void if a hearing is not scheduled in that timeframe. The measure ensures children are not separated from their homes without a prompt, evidence-based judicial determination and places the burden on the government to justify continued separation. House Bill 2078 will be heard by the Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks. Nuclear energy: The House on Thursday approved a resolution celebrating the Volunteer States nuclear industry and the Tennesseans who have contributed to its success. House Joint Resolution 944, sponsored by House Majority Whip Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, highlights Tennessees outsized role in helping the nation secure peace and energy dominance through nuclear innovation. Gov. Bill Lee and the General Assembly have prioritized continued energy and supply chain investments to strengthen Tennessees nuclear industry. Victims of Communism Day: The Education Instruction Subcommittee advanced legislation this week requiring every public and charter school in Tennessee to recognize Victims of Communism Day on November 7 annually. House Bill 2089, sponsored by State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, requires at least 45 minutes of instruction for students enrolled in world history or geography courses on the hardships faced by victims of communist regimes. If students are not in class on November 7, the instruction must be provided the next time the class meets. The legislation would take effect in the 2026-27 school year. House Bill 2089 advances to the Education Committee. Energy freedom: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee this week advanced the Tennessee Energy Freedom Act, sponsored by State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County. The proposal ensures that Tennesseans have the right to engage in and invest in companies involved in certain activities related to coal, oil and natural gas. House Bill 2070 prohibits government or private parties from bringing an action to impose liability for covered emissions from covered activities, including exploration, production, transportation, sale, manufacture, refinement, combustion or other use of a specified energy source. The bill advances to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Child trafficking prevention: Legislation by State Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin, would require school districts across Tennessee to provide age- and developmentally-appropriate child trafficking prevention and awareness education as part of health education from kindergarten through 12th grade. This instruction is currently provided through Family Life Curriculum. House Bill 1527 allows qualified health care professionals or social workers to assist with instruction. House Bill 1527 now heads to the Education Committee. Public safety: Legislation by State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, to protect Tennesseans from being victims of theft advanced out of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week. House Bill 1668 establishes a Class A misdemeanor offense for knowingly traveling along the same path as another person leaving a financial institution or ATM with the intent to commit theft of their cash, also known as bank jugging. A person must have two or more criminal instruments that could be used in the commission of an offense. Burglarizing or robbing after jugging would increase the penalty to a Class D felony or Class B felony, respectively. House Bill 1668 now heads to the Judiciary Committee for consideration. Hunter education: Students across Tennessee could soon receive hunter education courses as part of physical education, health or safety instruction. House Bill 2588, sponsored by State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, allows public schools to offer hunting courses for students in grades 5 through 12. Instruction would be approved by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to ensure consistency with established hunter safety standards. The proposal will now be considered in the Education Committee in the coming weeks. BNA tunnel: The Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) unanimously approved a license agreement with Elon Musks Boring Company on Wednesday to construct the Music City Loop, which will connect Nashville International Airport to downtown. The Boring Company will pay MNAA $34 million in licensing fees over a 40-year period. No financial investment is required from MNAA, which estimates it could receive more than $300 million in operating fees over the same time period. The deal could help the airport to pay for a runway extension, another terminal and other improvements, according to MNAA President and CEO Doug Kreulen. February is Black History Month. In the past, in tribute to Black History Month, we have written on significant historical figures in the federal judiciary or important court cases that contributed to our understanding of Black History. This year, we will take a different tack. We will highlight the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and its role in the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s. THE JUDGES OF THE OLD FIFTH CIRCUIT At that time, the Fifth Circuit heard appeals from federal trial courts in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Floridathe very heart of resistance to racial equality, desegregation, and voting rights. (In 1981, the Fifth Circuit was split into two circuits and now includes only Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.) Following the Supreme Courts landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the promise of equal protection under the law faced massive defiance in the southern states, both from the populace and their officials. Governors stood in schoolhouse doors. Legislatures enacted defiant and evasive statutes. Local officials delayed, obstructed, and resisted desegregation. In the face of unequal treatment and state-sanctioned violence, there were protests, boycotts, and marches. People turned to the courts with lawsuits and, therefore, the federal judiciary became involved. Brave plaintiffsstudents, parents, ministers, veteransbrought cases at great personal cost. Lawyers advanced arguments rooted in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. And federal courts, most prominently the Fifth Circuit, ensured that those constitutional promises were made real. In that climate, the rule of law required more than words on parchment. It required judges willing to enforce constitutional guarantees in the face of hostility, social ostracism and scorn, and, at times, threats to their personal safety. Judges John Minor Wisdom, Elbert Tuttle, John Brown, and Richard Rivesoften referred to as the Fifth Circuit Fourwere among the judges whose names became synonymous with judicial integrity. They insisted that constitutional rights were not optional and that federal court orders were not mere suggestions. Through carefully written opinions grounded in precedent and principle, they translated the Supreme Courts broad declarations into enforceable mandates, ordered the desegregation of schools and universities, struck down discriminatory voting practices, and upheld the rights of peaceful demonstrators. One case decided by the Fifth Circuit during those years involved the admission of James Meredith to the University of Mississippi, thus ending racial discrimination at that school. The Court did so despite defiance even by the lower-court judge who was overseeing the case. State officials had been bragging about the obvious racial discrimination at the university, and the Court of Appeals had already recognized that discrimination in a prior ruling. Meredith v. Fair, 298 F.2d 696 (5th Cir. 1962). But the trial judge ignored all of that, and wrote: The proof shows on this trial, and I find as a fact, that there is no custom or policy now, nor was there any at the time [Merediths] application was rejected, which excluded qualified Negroes from entering the University. The proof shows, and I find as a fact, that the University is not a racially segregated institution. Meredith v. Fair, 202 F. Supp. 224 (S.D. Miss. 1962). The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals again overturned this ruling and, when the governor and other state officials defied its order to admit Meredith, held those officials in contempt of court. There are many other examples, both by the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and by some brave trial judges within the Fifth Circuit. The Fifth Circuit ordered the admission of Black students at the University of Alabama when Governor George Wallace attempted to prevent them from enrolling. District Judge Frank M. Johnson required Alabama officials to protect marchers after Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. District Judge Skelly Wright ordered the integration of New Orleans schools. In all, judges within the Fifth Circuit oversaw numerous cases requiring the desegregation of public colleges and elementary and secondary schools, the removal of racial barriers to voting, and the exercise of political and civil rights in the states within its jurisdiction. JUDGES MUST REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE CONSTITUTION AND RULE OF LAW The brave judges of the Fifth Circuit were parts of the very communities which opposed the decisions they were making. These judges knew how unpopular their decisions were and the opposition those decisions would face. They also knew that, as judges, they owed a duty of fidelity to the rule of law such that their decisions must be grounded in the Constitution and could not be mere acts of political will. They were not creating new rights or imposing their personal preferences. They were following Supreme Court precedents and enforcing the Reconstruction Amendments, the solemn commitments our country adopted after the Civil War promising equal protection and due process to all citizens, including those who were newly freed from enslavement. The Fifth Circuit applied the Constitution as written and as interpreted by the Supreme Court. In doing so, the Court demonstrated that the judiciarys independence is not an abstraction, but a necessity. At a time when popular majorities in several states opposed integration, courts fulfilled a vital constitutional role: ensuring that individual rights did not rise or fall with the tide of public opinion. The federal judiciary is designed precisely for such moments. Life tenure and salary protection are not privileges for judges to enjoy; they are protections for the people, enabling courts to uphold constitutional guarantees without fear of retaliation and regardless of public opinion. BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY The Fifth Circuits work also underscores an important truth about Black History: it is inseparable from American constitutional history. The struggle for civil rights was not simply a social movement; it was a constitutional reckoning. By protecting the rights of Black citizens, they were protecting the rights of all. Black History Month should remind us that progress often requires the steady application of principle amid controversy and opposition. The Fifth Circuits legacy is not one of triumphalism, but of duty. The judges did not claim perfection; they claimed duty, obligation, and jurisdiction. They heard the cases before them and applied the law as they understood it, mindful that the Constitution binds courts and citizens alike. CONCLUSION As we observe Black History Month, we honor not only the marchers and ministers, the students and strategists, but also the judges who ensured that the Constitutions guarantees were not hollow words. In the crucible of conflict, the Fifth Circuit was a bright and steady beacon proving that law, faithfully applied, can move us toward the high aspirations declared in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Curtis L. Collier United States District Judge Chair, Eastern District of Tennessee Civics and Outreach Committee Carrie Brown Stefaniak Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier Meghna Melkote Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier Alex Tritell Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier * * * That is a great summary of the fidelity to the Constitution by our judicial system in a very difficult time. The integrity of our judicial system is vitally important to all Americans. The courts uphold the Constitution even when political officials turn their backs on it. It is very disconcerting to me to hear criticism of the judicial system by those disappointed by some given decision. John L. Odom Ooltewah The Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, Kansas. | Photo credit: Wikipedia/ Nils Huenerfuerst Kansas lawmakers have voted to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto of legislation restricting access to certain public restrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex. Senate Bill 244 was rejected by Kelly last week, but the Republican-controlled Legislature moved swiftly to reverse her decision. The Kansas Senate voted 31-9 on Tuesday to override the veto, followed by an 87-37 vote in the Kansas House on Wednesday. Under the new law, public buildings must designate multi-occupancy private spaces according to sex. The governing body, or chief administrative officer if no governing body exists, of each public building shall designate each multiple-occupancy private space in such building for use only by individuals of one sex, stated SB 244. The legislation further provides that authorities "shall take every reasonable step to ensure an individual does not enter a multiple-occupancy private space that is designated for use only by individuals of the opposite sex. The bill outlines specific exemptions, including allowances for custodial and maintenance workers, emergency medical assistance, law enforcement activity, young children under age 9 accompanied by a caregiver and other limited situations. Supporters of the measure, including the religious liberty legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, praised the override as a step toward safeguarding privacy for women and girls. Women and girls shouldnt be forced to sacrifice their privacy and safety in the name of promoting gender ideology, said ADF legal counsel Sara Beth Nolan in a statement. Allowing men to invade womens most intimate spaces including changing rooms and restrooms compromises their dignity. SB 244 ensures that the private spaces of women and girls in government buildings are not open to men. It rightly prioritizes privacy and safety over ideology. Opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, criticized the legislation as discriminatory and harmful to transgender individuals. This discriminatory bill undermines our states strong constitutional protections against government overreach and persecution. It subjects people to unacceptable privacy violations and puts them in harms way, said ACLU of Kansas Executive Director Micah Kubic in a statement. Attendees gather at the Youth Evangelism Summit, held Feb. 67, 2026, at Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which drew a record 1,337 participants. | Photo credit: Facebook/ Kentucky Baptist Convention A statewide youth outreach event hosted by the Kentucky Baptist Convention reached its highest attendance to date, drawing more than 1,300 participants most of them teenagers to a two-day gathering focused on evangelism and discipleship. The Youth Evangelism Summit, commonly known as YES!, took place Feb. 67 at Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green. Organizers reported 1,337 registered attendees, marking the largest turnout in recent years and a sharp increase from the 199 participants recorded in 2019. The 2020 summit, held shortly before pandemic-related shutdowns, welcomed 264 participants. In 2023, attendance climbed to 828, followed by 1,207 in 2024 and 1,253 last year. The event featured a combination of large-group sessions and smaller breakout gatherings aimed at strengthening student ministry, evangelism strategies, worship and prayer. Youth leaders from across the state gathered to collaborate and share resources, while a dedicated YES! mobile app provided listening guides and materials for breakout sessions. Matt Flanagan, the Kentucky Baptist Conventions Children & Student Ministry Consultant, attributed the growth to what he described as spiritual momentum. I am grateful that the Lord is growing this event to help churches equip the next generation with the Gospel, Flanagan told The Christian Post on Wednesday. First, and foremost, we believe the Lord is growing the conference to equip more teenagers to know the Gospel, influence their culture, and go to their communities to reach people, he said. We are simply trying to help our churches accomplish this mission. Flanagan emphasized that the summits appeal does not rest on celebrity speakers or major music acts, but on practical ministry training. We did not focus on well-known speakers or bands, he said, describing the emphasis instead as equipping ministry, with student ministry leaders throughout our state who bring their competence in leading their church and multiply that through students across the state. The event comes amid broader conversations about the religious engagement of younger generations. While some observers have suggested that Gen Z and Gen Alpha may be reversing long-standing declines in religious affiliation, analysts have cautioned that there is not yet sufficient data to confirm a sustained revival. Flanagan, however, expressed optimism. I believe the Lord is doing a work within both Gen Z and Gen Alpha," he said. I believe it is more a movement of authentic faithfulness and love for Christ than a rediscovery of a past generations version of Christianity, he continued. I believe that our next generations are embracing Christ and recognizing His call to make disciples of all people. Home News CNN doc links 'Christian nationalism' to Kirk assassination, warns of classical Christian schools Quick Summary AI Summary CNN documentary links 'Christian nationalism' to Charlie Kirk's assassination. Leftist documentary warns about the influence of classical Christian schools. Experts claim Kirk's murder unified Christian nationalists and the Trump administration. 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 CNN has been repeatedly teasing an hour-long documentary this week about so-called Christian nationalism set to air March 8 on the network, which has prompted pushback for appearing to link an alleged rise in the ideology to Charlie Kirk's assassination last fall and warning about the influence of classical Christian schools. In multiple preview clips that have aired in recent days, CNN anchor and chief investigative correspondent Pamela Brown promoted "The Rise of Christian Nationalism," which she claimed was a "special project" that took her several months. The documentary aims to examine what she defined as "an ideology rooted in the belief that our country was founded as a Christian nation, and that our laws and institutions should reflect Christian values." CNN's Pamela Brown announces she's been working on a "special project" warn against "Christian nationalism" and portrays them as a radicalized threat to the country. She then launches into a report where she fears the assassination of Charlie Kirk uniting Christians and scoffs pic.twitter.com/1J63ta6EIO Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) February 17, 2026 Brown claimed "experts" in Christian nationalism asserted to her that Kirk's murder last September "was a pivotal moment for the movement, and an occasion where the tragedy of his loss unified Christian nationalists and the Trump administration as they honored him." One of the experts included Matthew Taylor, visiting scholar at the Georgetown University Center of Faith and Justice, who claimed that Kirk's memorial, which was attended by President Donald Trump and other prominent political figures, "radicalized" many American Christians into believing they increasingly face hostility in their own country. "The memorial was one of the most potent examples of this shift in our culture that we're experiencing right now, where a large segment of American Christians are being activated by these ideas; radicalized by these ideas that say that they are the persecuted ones and that they need to stand up for Christians' rights," he said. In another clip, Brown claimed that while Trump "has never explicitly said he believes the country should be a Christian nation," he is "aligned with Christian nationalists and wants their support, and after an assassination attempt during his campaign, Trump said he believes God saved his life so he can lead the country." Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson at Kirk's Turning Point USA, replied to Brown's promotional earlier this week by suggesting the true radicalism is coming from the political left and was made manifest by the actions of Kirk's alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson. Robinson allegedly had ties to Antifa and was in a relationship with a transgender-identifying "furry." "Consider this: so CNN does a piece talking about the radicalization of people at Charlie's memorial," Kolvet said. "Charlie was assassinated by a radical, by somebody that was animated, at least in part, by his love affair with somebody that was trans. And instead of burning down the country, like the real radicals did, we held vigils and memorials, and people bought Bibles, and they got baptized." "How is that a bad thing? What are we even talking about here?" Kolvet asked. CNN BACKLASH IS MOUNTING: They just announced a documentary covering the "rise of Christian Nationalism" in America, and it's not going how they expected it to go.@AndrewKolvet let the TRUTH about America's spiritual revival and the role Charlie Kirk has in it: "Consider this: https://t.co/moi2PwF17cpic.twitter.com/isO2nt4bHi Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) February 17, 2026 During another promotional for her documentary that aired Friday, Brown also went after classical Christian schools, showing a clip of her interview with David Goodwin, who wrote a book with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in 2022 and serves as the president of the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS). Goodwin confirmed to Brown that the goal of the ACCS is to promote "Christian civilization," and that they "are glad" when their graduates ascend to positions of political power and cultural influence. He applauded the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and expressed hope that the public school system would go away. The ACCS has ties to the Rev. Douglas Wilson, who pastors Christ Church (CREC) in Moscow, Idaho, and drew scorn for participating in a prayer service with Hegseth at the Pentagon earlier this week. CNN's Pamela Brown continued to bash Christian schools during Friday's The Situation Room. She tried to paint people who went/are attending Christian schools as something akin to Manchurian candidates pumped out by the schools with aims to fill positions of power in the U.S. and pic.twitter.com/QtDNemUlVR Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) February 20, 2026 Home News Trump's week in review: New refugee policy, Board of Peace meeting The past week saw multiple developments from Washington, including the president's sweeping tariff policy being struck down by the nation's highest court. President Donald Trump touted the importance of Christianity and efforts to protect Christians, while the administration drew pushback for its new refugee policy. Additional developments in the ongoing efforts to end unrest in Iran and Gaza also unfolded. Here are five highlights from the past week. Home Opinion Why I disagree that God is the God of 'second chances' God desires to make friends with people, even if they have offended Him. When the first humans transgressed, God immediately reached out and inquired, where are you (Gen. 3:9)? Jesus and the apostles emphasized that God always dealt personally, and they noted Him as the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob (Mark 12:26; Acts 7:32). Particularly, Abraham was called a friend of God (James 2:23). God has always taken personal interest in people, calling as at other times, Samuel, Samuel (1 Sam. 3:10). So God continues to invite people to come now and let us reason together ... though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Is. 1:18). Surely, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Yet God is gracious, and I believe that the beauty of His forgiveness can continue to be manifested in people. I dont need to convince anyone of the universal fact that people experience moral wrongdoing, actively and passively. Its not that we are made to feel guilty by someones criterion, or by some moral theory or even a religious dogma, but that we are inherently wired with a conscience that experiences undeniable right and wrong. Humans show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness (Rom. 2:15). Its interesting how cultural thought is always ready to finger-point the moral shortcomings of people, while being dismissive of the implicit appeal to objective moral law. Even when theorists speculate that people may be genetically predisposed to certain immoral behavior, the moral law is invoked to identify what is objectively immoral. So why should it be incredulous that in a world of objective moral brokenness God can remove a persons sins and create redemptive beauty? Whats so strange about it? Perhaps its really about a twisted belief that repentance will result in doing less life, whereas His grace actually provides new beginnings and genuine fulfillment. As the distinguished Harvard psychiatrist, Dr. Armand Nicholi, wrote about Gods grace, I know that he always offers forgiveness followed by the opportunity and the resources to start again. [1] Nicholis essay unpacked psychologically how Christ provides the inner resources that fulfill the beauty God intended. Sin causes emotional weight, and its removal by Gods forgiveness is characterized by inward peace; peace which is not a temporary or therapeutic fix. Neither is this peace a human fabrication, precisely because it doesnt originate from any human effort or initiative. The American deep Christian thinker, Jonathan Edwards, explained in his Religious Affections: These are principles which are of a new and spiritual nature, vastly nobler and more excellent than all that is in natural man.[2] The power of Gods grace is applied by His Spirit and the repentant experience a transition from the heavy burden of sin to the inward peace of forgiveness. I will never forget the first Sunday that I attended church as a Christian. I returned home with this beautiful sense of peace and emotional lightness that my burden of sin was removed by Jesus. Like the feeling one gets when carrying heavy luggage and then putting it down to relax at a vacation resort. What John Bunyans Christian said rhetorically in 1678 when encountering Gods grace has remained relevant: Must here the Burden fall from off my back? Must here the strings that bound it to me crack? Blest Cross! [3] Indeed, the experience of Gods forgiveness has transcended time, cultures, and persevered over philosophical and psychological oppositions throughout history. It's also beautiful how Gods work of grace strengthens the repentant to forgive themselves, for remorse can be burdensome. C. S. Lewis aptly commented in a personal letter to a friend, I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him. [4] I remember as a young Christian attending a Bible study where I learned for the first time that the great Apostle Paul was formerly Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted Christians. I honestly couldnt believe it. Then I realized that if Paul authored all of those inspired letters and taught the world about personal peace with God, then he must have surely forgiven himself. I then took great encouragement and completely forgave myself. When we are at peace with God and ourselves, its also much easier to forgive others. Finally, the beauty of Gods forgiveness is that its absolutely free. Thanks be to God, exclaimed Paul, for his inexpressible gift (2 Cor. 9:15)! So why is God so generous? Whats the catch? Whats in it for Him? Nothing at all. In fact, its expressive of how much He loves us unconditionally. Paul explained, God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). God desires that we be regenerated and walk in the path He intended for us, for to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Rom. 8:6). I disagree, however, that God is the God of second chances, because I believe that He is the God of innumerable chances, longsuffering and of great mercy. So even in this chaotic and rebellious world people are welcome to experience the beauty of knowing that as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Ps. 103:12). Notes 1. Hope in a Secular Age In Finding God at Harvard, ed. Kelly Monroe (Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 1996), 111-120. 2. (Multnomah Press: Portland, OR, 1984), 82. 3. The Pilgrims Progress (Barbour and Company: Westwood, NJ), 36. 4. The Quotable Lewis, Wayne Martindale & Jerry Root, eds. (Tyndale House Publishers: Wheaton, 1990), 221. In this article GOOGL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT CNBC's Arjun Kharpal sits down with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at the AI Impact Summit. Photo: Yolande Chee Yolande Chee India hosted one of the world's biggest AI events this week, but it was marred by chaos and confusion, apparently not the message it's trying to send as it strives to become a leading artificial intelligence player. Despite the drama, U.S. tech firms in particular couldn't resist the temptation of the Indian market, talking up the country's AI potential and making a number of announcements. I have been on the ground in New Delhi since Monday and I can honestly say that the AI Impact Summit has been one of the most challenging reporting assignments of my career. Traffic has been a nightmare more than usual in the Indian capital. There were times it didn't move at all. On Wednesday, I had events and interviews at three different hotels and getting the team around to these appointments on time was a real challenge. India hosted one of the biggest AI events in the world that was marred by some chaos and confusion. Photo: AI Impact Summit 2026 Arjun Kharpal At one point on Thursday, were weren't even sure if we'd be able to enter the Bharat Mandapam, the venue where the summit took place. That's because instructions were not clear on when media would be allowed in on Thursday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event. We eventually found out we could enter at 6 a.m. local time. When we turned up, security did not let us in until later, not before a crowd of media had gathered at the gates. Inside, security were giving out conflicting instructions. Several delegates expressed to me their frustrations over the organization of the summit. The event itself was marred by other controversies. Bill Gates, who was named in the Epstein files, was scheduled to give a keynote address. There was then uncertainty if he would even turn up. The Gates Foundation had said earlier in the week that he would give the speech, but then on Thursday said the billionaire had pulled out. Meanwhile, a university was reportedly kicked out of the summit for suggesting a robot dog they were showcasing was its own creation. A professor at Galgotias University told state-run broadcaster DD News that the robot, which was actually made by Chinese firm Unitree, was "developed" by the academic institution. India hosted one of the biggest AI events in the world that was marred by some chaos and confusion. Photo: AI Impact Summit 2026 Arjun Kharpal Online users called out the university, highlighting that the robot was made by a Chinese firm. The university denied claiming it had built the robot. "We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavor to make students learn AI programming and develop and deploy real-world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is [the] need of the hour," the university said, according to media reports. Indian IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw apologized on Tuesday for the "problems" on day one. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) takes a group photo with AI company leaders including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (C) and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei (R) at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 19, 2026. Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images Then, there was the hand-holding moment that went viral between two AI giants. Modi had delegates on stage with everyone holding hands. But OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei didn't do as they they'd been instructed, in a moment that instantly got scrutinized across social media. Altman later explained that he was "confused" and wasn't sure what he should be doing. Days earlier, Anthropic ran a Super Bowl ad taking digs at OpenAI's decision to test advertisements in ChatGPT. India's lure Despite all of these moments, the event pulled in a who's who of tech names from Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to Altman, all of whom talked up India's advantages from a huge talent pool to a large consumer market. "The excitement here, it's just been incredible to watch," Altman told me. These tech firms used the week to make announcements and form partnerships around India. OpenAI said it would be the first customer of Tata Consultancy Services' data center business. Google announced partnerships with researchers and education institutions for its Gemini artificial intelligence feature. Every CEO I spoke to praised India's tech development and focus. The government used the opportunity to tout India's potential as an AI hub saying the country was aiming to attract $200 billion in AI investment over the next two years. Even the blaring horns of the cars of New Delhi and the chaos of the Summit weren't enough to dampen the enthusiasm from big tech for India which continues to grow as a critical and attractive market for some of the world's largest firms. People are nostalgic for a simpler time without smartphones, social media and AI. Cat Goetze is dialed in. The 29-year-old in Los Angeles is the founder of Physical Phones, a Bluetooth-enabled landline phone business that's taken off in recent months. In 2025, her business brought in over $789,000 in sales, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. But like all "overnight" success stories, Goetze has been working at it for a while now. Call waiting Goetze says she first had the idea for a landline-style phone product in 2023 after spending the better part of the pandemic trying to reduce her screentime. She daydreamed about her childhood sharing a landline with her family. Cat Goetze is the founder of Physical Phones, a Bluetooth-enabled landline style phone. Tristan Pelletier | CNBC Make It "When I grew up, there was this booklet that the school sent out to all of the families in the school district that literally had all of the students' names and their home phone numbers," Goetze says. "I distinctly remember prank calling some of the other people in the school using that phone book." But when she looked into what it would take to actually install a landline in her home, including getting a new phone number and paying the $80 monthly service she was quoted, she set out to find a different way. As a creator, your job is really to kind of hold an antenna out into the zeitgeist and pick up on what people want creatively, spiritually, emotionally. Cat Goetze founder of Physical Phones "With my technical background, I thought to myself, it probably wouldn't be that difficult to just hook up a landline phone to my smartphone," says Goetze, who pursued an interdisciplinary major in science, technology and society at Stanford. "Then I started tinkering around and prototyping and figuring out a way to build that." In 2023, Goetze built a prototype of her first phone, a pink handset, and posted it to TikTok. At the time, she didn't have much of a social media audience, and the post got no traction or sales. "I was like, OK , whatever, that's fine. This was like a fun project," she says. "I wasn't really trying to make money off of it anyways." Two years later, in 2025, she'd gained a following for her online brand, CatGPT, where she discusses AI and digital wellness. She was also noticing more people talking about wanting to reduce their smartphone dependence. It reminded her of her landline phone prototype, so she posted about it again. That video from July 2025 went viral, getting over 8 million views across Instagram and TikTok. The product, officially branded Physical Phones, passed $120,000 in sales in its first three days. "As a creator, your job is really to kind of hold an antenna out into the zeitgeist and pick up on what people want creatively, spiritually, emotionally," she says. When she revisited the idea at just the right moment, "it took off." Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Christina Locopo | CNBC Make It Dialing up the business Physical Phones are battery-powered and connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth. Once connected, the landline acts just like your cellphone. If your phone rings, the landline will too, and you can carry out your call from the handset. To make an outbound call, you can use the landline set to directly dial the number. For most of us who no longer memorize phone numbers, you can also pick up the handset and dial star (*) to activate the voice assistant on your phone, like Siri, where you can direct it to dial a certain contact. The Physical Phone also works with audio calls from FaceTime and Whatsapp. Pre-orders for Physical Phones opened in July 2025 and fully funded the first round of production, covering things like warehousing, shipping, printing, hiring and "everything else that we needed to actually get the business off the ground," Goetze says. Physical Phones currently sells three styles of phones a handset, a wall mount and a rotary version that range in price from $90 to $110. Tristan Pelletier | CNBC Make It The business sources phones from a manufacturer in Asia, meaning it also lost a "whopping portion" of profits due to tariffs under the Trump administration's new policy, Goetze says. Goetze says working with a manufacturer was the hardest part of the process of launching Physical Phones because she'd never done it before and, as she learned, it can be time-intensive. "It's pretty draining, honestly, because what I underestimated before building Physical Phones was just how every single detail gets pored over for a hardware product," she says. It took two to three months to finalize the first Physical Phone, she adds. Goetze says her goal with the first round of orders was to deliver them to customers by December 2025 in time for Christmas. Shipping everything by cargo boat would have taken too long, Goetze says. The only way for them to meet their goal was to fly all the phones from the manufacturer in Asia to their warehouse in California by cargo plane. The endeavor cost the company nearly $74,000, which covered the international freight charge; customs entry fee; and delivery, service and administrative expenses. "It was a huge hit to our profit margin," Goetze says. "But I also think that it's those kinds of decisions where you really stand up for your customer and you show them how much you care." Cat Goetze posted a call for pre-orders of Physical Phones in July 2025. The business passed $120,000 in sales within three days. Tristan Pelletier | CNBC Make It Once they got all the phones to their warehouse, Goetze says she and her team "called in every single friend, family member, colleague, neighbor that I knew and basically asked anybody with a pair of hands to come to the warehouse and help us break down and ship all of these phones within 24 hours." Goetze says she and her team prepared 4,000 orders for delivery across the U.S. in December 2025. Ringing off the hook Physical Phones currently sells three styles of phones, including a handset, wall mount and rotary phone, which range in price from $90 to $110. To date, Goetze says the business has sold over 7,500 devices. Physical Phones made about $439,000 in profit in 2025, which Goetze says she reinvests back into the business for research and development for new models, and to hire for her small team of four. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Christina Locopo | CNBC Make It Goetze doesn't take a salary from Physical Phones and supports herself with earnings from her CatGPT media business, which includes branded content and content partnerships. She recently hired a CEO, Josh Silverman, who was brought on during the first round of production and now runs the business day-to-day. Looking ahead, 2026 is all about growing Physical Phones through potentially selling to retail, Goetze says. Cat Goetze is soon launching Cat Labs, a creator-first product studio where she plans to build new products, apps, websites and services. Tristan Pelletier | CNBC Make It JPMorgan Chase acknowledged for the first time that it closed the bank accounts of President Donald Trump and several of his businesses in the political and legal aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol, the latest development in a legal saga over the controversial practice of "debanking." The acknowledgment came in a court filing submitted this week in Trump's lawsuit against the bank and its leader, Jamie Dimon. The president sued for $5 billion, alleging that his accounts were closed for political reasons, disrupting his business operations. "In February 2021, JPMorgan informed Plaintiffs that certain accounts maintained with JPMorgan's CB and PB would be closed," JPMorgan's former chief administrative officer Dan Wilkening wrote in the court filing. The "PB" and "CB" stands for JPMorgan's private bank and commercial bank. Until now, JPMorgan has never admitted it closed the president's accounts, and would only speak hypothetically about when the bank closes accounts and its reasons for closing accounts. Emails and text messages to a spokesman for the bank were not returned. Trump originally sued JPMorgan in Florida state court, where Trump's primary residence is now located. JPMorgan Chase is looking to have the case moved to New York, which is where the bank accounts were located and where Trump kept much of his business operations until recently. Trump accuses the bank of trade libel and accuses Dimon himself of violating Florida's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. In the original lawsuit, Trump alleges he tried to raise the issue personally with Dimon after the bank started to close his accounts, and that Dimon assured Trump he would figure out what was happening. The lawsuit alleges Dimon failed to follow up with Trump. Further, Trump's lawyers allege that JPMorgan placed the president and his companies on a reputational "blacklist" that both JPMorgan and other banks use to keep clients from opening accounts with them in the future. JPMorgan has previously said it believes the suit has no merit. Debanking occurs when a bank closes the accounts of a customer or refuses to do business with a customer in the form of loans or other services. Once a relatively obscure issue in finance, debanking has become a politically charged issue in recent years, with conservative politicians arguing that banks have discriminated against them and their affiliated interests. "In a devastating concession that proves President Trump's entire claim, JPMorgan Chase admitted to unlawfully and intentionally de-banking President Trump, his family, and his businesses, causing overwhelming financial harm," the president's lawyers said in a statement. "President Trump is standing up for all those wrongly debanked by JPMorgan Chase and its cohorts, and will see this case to a just and proper conclusion." Debanking first became a national issue when conservatives accused the Obama administration of pressuring banks to stop extending services to gun stores and payday lenders under "Operation Choke Point." Trump and other conservative figures have alleged that banks cut them off from their accounts under the umbrella term of "reputational risk" after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Since Trump came back into office, the president's banking regulators have moved to stop any banks from using "reputational risk" as a reason for denying service to customers. This is not the first lawsuit Trump has filed against a big bank, alleging that he was debanked. The Trump Organization sued credit card giant Capital One in March 2025 for similar reasons and allegations. The case is ongoing. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on during an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem on Sept. 10, 2025. Comments by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee suggesting that Israel had a biblical right to much of the Middle East drew condemnation over the weekend from countries across the region, who called his remarks "dangerous and inflammatory." Huckabee, an evangelical Christian, has been a staunch supporter of Israel throughout his political career and a longtime defender of Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank land which the Palestinians seek for a state. Most countries view the Israeli settlements in territories captured in the 1967 war as illegal. Israel disputes this view and cites biblical and historical ties to the land. In an interview with Tucker Carlson that was conducted on Wednesday in Israel and aired on Friday, the conservative U.S. talk show host asked Huckabee about Israel's right to exist and about Jewish roots in the ancient land. Citing the book of Genesis, Carlson asked whether the modern state of Israel had a right to the lands promised in the Bible by God to Abraham, stretching from the Euphrates River to the Nile, covering much of the Middle East. In response, Huckabee said: "It would be fine if they took it all. But I don't think that's what we're talking about here today." Huckabee added: "We're talking about this land that the state of Israel now lives in and wants to have peace in, they're not trying to take over Jordan, they're not trying to take over Syria, they're not trying to take over Iraq or anywhere else. They want to protect their people." In response, a joint statement condemning Huckabee's comments was issued by the Palestinians and countries in the Middle East and beyond, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan. They said his comments were: "Dangerous and inflammatory remarks, which constitute a flagrant violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and pose a grave threat to the security and stability of the region." A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said Huckabee's comments did not reflect any change in U.S. policy and that his full remarks made clear that Israel has no desire to change its current boundaries. Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the interview or the reaction from countries that signed the joint statement. Even as stocks broadly rose this week, investors disproportionately piled into names such as Deere and Quanta Services . The major averages rose this week after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's emergency tariffs. The ensuing relief rally lifted stocks during Friday's trading session after the release of disappointing economic data earlier in the day. CNBC Pro used its stock screener tool to identify stocks that could be heading for a decline or a bounce based on their 14-day relative strength index reading, or RSI. Stocks with a 14-day RSI above 70 are considered overbought, meaning that a pullback could be on the horizon. On the other hand, a reading below 30 indicates that a stock is oversold and may soon be due for a potential rebound. The following table lists overbought stocks: One name that made the list was agricultural machinery manufacturer Deere, with an RSI of 78. Shares were up almost 10% on the week. The stock rose nearly 12% alone on Thursday after Deere posted raised its full-year net income guidance. The company also reported fiscal first-quarter earnings and revenue beats. Following the company's quarterly report, Morgan Stanley reiterated its overweight rating on the stock. Analyst Angel Castillo's $560 price target implies a downside of 15%. "We expect a positive stock reaction to a solid beat and raise, although ultimate performance will cue off commentary on NA Large Ag trends," Castillo wrote. Meanwhile, Jefferies' Stephen Volkmann stood by his hold rating and $475 price target, implying that shares could fall 28% from here. Another most overbought name this week was infrastructure services provider Quanta Services, up more than 5% on the week. The stock's RSI sits at 73. Still, investors stood by their bullishness on the name following its fourth-quarter earnings beat. Quanta Services also guided for full-year earnings that surpassed analysts' expectations, according to FactSet. On Friday, Bank of America analyst Sherif El-Sabbahy maintained his buy rating and hiked his price target to $610 from $500, implying upside of 10%. On the other hand, stocks in oversold territory this week include Blackstone and Apollo Global Management . Blackstone made the list, with an RSI of 27. Shares were were down more than 6% on the week. Fellow asset manager Apollo Global Management, which had an RSI of about 28, posted a weekly loss of more than 4%. Warsaw (AP) Five European nations have announced a new program to produce low-cost air defence systems and autonomous drones using Ukrainian expertise hard-won over the past four years of war against Russia.Fridays initiative of the E5 nations France, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy comes as one of many European efforts to bolster defence along their borders, like a drone wall with Russia and Ukraine to better detect, track and intercept drones violating Europes airspace.Both Moscow and Kyiv have cutting-edge drone warfare capabilities forged in the grim laboratory of war where battlefield innovations have rewritten modern battle tactics. Poland is already working with Ukraine on drone technology in joint military training programs and manufacturing projects.Those efforts were sparked by a spate of incidents in which Europes borders and airports have been tested by rogue drones. Russia has been blamed for some of them but denies that anything was done on purpose or that it played a role.The UK and our E5 partners are stepping up investing together in the next generation of air defence and autonomous systems to strengthen NATOs shield, said Luke Pollard, Britains minister for defence readiness and industry.We have some of the best kit on the entire planet for shooting down air threats. The problem is to be effective at shooting down relatively low-cost missiles, drones, and other threats facing us, he said. We need to make sure that were matching the cost of the threats with the cost of defence. Polands defence minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, said the group of countries signed an agreement to jointly invest in the production and procurement of drone-based strike capabilities as well as cheap drone defence systems in a program called Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms, or LEAP.Combat technologies and techniques are changing rapidly we must respond quickly and appropriately, Kosiniak-Kamysz said. We also signed a crucial commitment regarding the joint development of drone-based strike capabilities, low-cost joint production, and joint procurement of drone effectors, i.e, combat payloads, using artificial intelligence.When Russian drones entered Polish airspace in September 2025, Warsaw and its NATO allies used multimillion-dollar jets to respond to drones that cost thousands and that ended up crashing into the Polish countryside. Low-cost kinetic or electronic effectors would allow the detection and destruction of drones at a fraction of the price.Europe has scrambled to arm itself in the wake of US President Donald Trumps deep criticism of NATO, European defense spending and once iron-clad alliances. The EU has ramped up spending and is openly questioning even deeper military projects.Europes security is more uncertain than it has been in decades, said Kaja Kallas, the EUs foreign policy chief, citing Russian aggression, instability in the Middle East, China and a redefined alliance with the US. She said that the low-cost interceptor program exemplifies the European commitment to its own security.If we want to keep our country safe, we must strengthen our hard power. The good news is that we are already investing record sums in defence. Europe is stepping up. but its not about competing with NATO. Its about making Europe stronger within NATO. A stronger Europe makes the alliance also stronger. Yet the 32-nation military alliance has been shaken by Trumps second administration. Most recently, his repeated threats to seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and disparaging remarks about his NATO allies troops in Afghanistan drew another outcry.While tensions over Greenland have subsided for now, the infighting has seriously undercut the ability of the worlds biggest security alliance to deter adversaries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia has advised all Serbian citizens currently in the Islamic Republic of Iran to leave the country as soon as possible. In a statement, MFA Serbia said that due to increased tensions and the risk of a worsening security situation, all citizens of the Republic of Serbia in Iran are recommended to depart at the earliest opportunity. , . ???? ????https://t.co/6jh2NBasjm pic.twitter.com/OLK9uoeYNB MFA Serbia (@MFASerbia) February 20, 2026 Due to increased tensions and the risk of deteriorating security situation, all citizens of the Republic of Serbia currently in the Islamic Republic of Iran are advised to leave the country as soon as possible. Full statement: https://t.co/g2Bs8qivtu Grok (@grok) February 21, 2026 In another development, Australia has issued a strong travel advisory on Iran, urging its citizens not to travel. It said, "We continue to advise do not travel to Iran and leave Iran as soon as possible, if it's safe to do so." It said regional tensions remain high with an ongoing risk of military conflict, advising people to prioritise their safety, monitor developments and follow local guidance. While commercial flights are currently operating, authorities warned that the situation could change quickly due to recent airspace closures and flight restrictions. The advisory further stated that those who remain in Iran should be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period and ensure they have adequate supplies of water, food and medication. The development follows a major US military buildup in the Middle East, with Washington deploying additional aircraft, naval vessels and other strategic assets to the region. The expanded presence is aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran over its nuclear and missile activities, even as diplomatic efforts have yet to produce any meaningful breakthrough. Also Read: Iran, US meet for second round of nuclear talks in Geneva Earlier on Feb 19 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged its citizens in Iran to leave Iran immediately citing the potential for armed conflict.Also Read: Will US attack Iran? Poland tells citizens to leave immediately Polish citizens in Iran should leave immediately, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday citing the potential for armed conflict. He said, ""Please leave Iran immediately... and do not go to this country under any circumstances."Evacuation may no longer be possible in a matter of hours, he reportedly stated. Of all the threats to world peace there is one that terrifies just about everyone. It scares them in Washington. It scares us across Europe. It even frightens the Chinese and the Russians. There is no serious government in the world, believe me, that is remotely happy with the idea of the current Iranian regime acquiring a nuclear weapon. That is, of course, what the mullahs are now trying to do, and in spite of last years US-Israel attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, they could be far closer to the goal than we currently suppose. We know that the Iranians already have a large quantity of processed uranium. We think they could rapidly refine this so that it could be ready to be used in a warhead perhaps in a matter of weeks. We think it might be only months before they are able to fit that warhead to a viable nuclear device. It seems intuitively obvious that this must be true. The Iranians are brilliant and inventive people, with skilled scientists, and this is not exactly new technology. Atomic weapons have been around since the 1940s. The really extraordinary thing is that they have not done it sooner. Now they seem to be on the cusp. As Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says: We are running out of time. If the Iranians continue on their current path, they will rapidly be in a position to throw the world into strategic chaos. The ayatollahs would instantly be able to exert nuclear blackmail over their Sunni rivals, led by the Saudis, who would feel obliged to acquire nukes themselves. A nuclear Iran would be in a position to strike Israel, a country that Ayatollah Khamenei has likened to a cancerous tumour. Worst of all, the Iranians might start spreading nuclear weapons to their fanatical proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis. We are looking at a nightmare, a nuclear arms race in the most unstable part of the world, and a huge risk of fatal miscalculation. We must prevent it. Starmer has told Trump that the US cannot use the air base at Fairford. He is therefore making it more difficult for the US to achieve its objectives. He is effectively siding with the mullahs That is why President Trump has sailed his armada into the Gulf, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford not because he wants war, but because he wants peace. He needs to force the Iranians to negotiate, to forswear nuclear weapons and to step back from the brink. Sadly it looks as though the only way he is going to be able to get a new deal with Iran is at least to threaten the use of force, of strikes against selected targets. This isnt about regime change, or trying to conquer Iran. Everybody remembers the lessons of Iraq certainly Trump, who opposed that war. This is about using the threat of force to encourage the Iranians to do something that is profoundly in their own interests and the interests of the whole world, including Britain. It is therefore astonishing that the UK Labour Government is refusing to help. Starmer has told Trump that the US cannot use the air base at Fairford. He is therefore making it more difficult for the US to achieve its objectives, and to hold a stick over Iran. He is effectively siding with the mullahs. Of course the Americans will find a way round it. If it comes to it, and they have to launch aerial attacks on Iranian targets, their planes will doubtless find a way of making the whole trip from Missouri, perhaps refuelling in mid-air. But in sticking two fingers up to the White House, Starmer is sending the worst possible message at the worst possible time: that the UK under Labour can no longer be relied on. No wonder Trump is pulling the plug on Starmers deranged and costly plan to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Of course the Americans will find a way round it. If it comes to it, and they have to launch aerial attacks on Iranian targets, their planes will doubtless find a way of making the whole trip As Trump says, it is a huge mistake for Starmer to imperil the vital US-UK airbase at Diego Garcia. The crazy Chagos plan is now all but dead and the sooner Starmer recognises it, and saves the taxpayer 35billion, the better. When is Starmer going to grasp the reality that our security our nuclear umbrella depends on America? And not just our security, but the security of the whole of Europe, including Ukraine. Talk to the Ukrainian generals and they will tell you how much they still rely on American assistance. We are now approaching the fourth anniversary of that war, with the future of the heroic Ukrainians still in the balance. This is not the time to be snubbing entirely reasonable requests from Washington, for help with the rogue nuclear ambitions of Iran. For more than 100 years the chief geo-strategic function of the UK has been to keep the US committed to the safety of Europe and the rest of the world. We are fated by history, geography and the overwhelming facts of our national interest to be the chief custodians and advocates of the transatlantic alliance. So why is Starmer failing one of his most important functions as UK PM? Why is he sticking two fingers up to Trump? Perhaps it is because he thinks his political position is now desperate, and he can see the votes in Trump-bashing. Perhaps he is trying to play to the Labour base the keffiyeh-wearing Corbynistas. Perhaps he is thinking of the Muslim vote in the coming Gorton and Denton by-election. It is time to show that we are willing to help stop the Iranians getting the atomic bomb; that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the US; that we remain a reliable ally (RAF Fairford pictured) Possibly, but I think the main reason for this strategic blunder is that he is intellectually dominated by his frenziedly woke and anti-colonial Attorney General Richard Hermer, who has told him that the UK cannot be party to an attack on Iran unless that country poses an imminent threat to the UK. What tripe that man talks. This country has been here many times before, but the best comparison was Ronald Reagans 1986 request to Margaret Thatcher to use British bases to strike at Libya in retaliation for Gaddafis terrorist attack on US service personnel in a Berlin nightclub. Labour protested vehemently. They said that the UK was under no threat from Gaddafi, and that we should not get involved, even passively. Thatcher dismissed their complaints, and allowed the US planes to take off from Upper Heyford and Lakenheath. She allowed the US to use British bases to bomb Tripoli because she believed in our collective security, and in the paramount importance of the transatlantic alliance, and she was right. In fact, the case for supporting Trump now is arguably stronger than the case for backing Reagan 40 years ago. What could be a more imminent threat to Britain, and the world, than the mullahs getting their hands on a nuke in the next few months? This is by far Starmers biggest and potentially costliest foreign policy mistake so far. He needs to abandon this Hermerist nonsense, and preferably sack Hermer. It is time to show that we are willing to help stop the Iranians getting the atomic bomb; that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the US; that we remain a reliable ally. It is time for someone to pick up the phone to Washington and say that if there is an application to use UK bases, as part of the US negotiations with Iran, then that request will not be refused. That person must be Starmer. Apart from a brief hiatus in the mid-17th century, the British monarchy has survived intact for almost 1,000 years. There have been family feuds, the odd rebellion, even a few regicides. Houses and dynasties have come and gone, while cousins, siblings or grandchildren have sometimes succeeded when there were no surviving sons or daughters or the real heir apparent was deemed unsuitable. But through it all, the royal line has prevailed. Charles III can chart his right of succession back to William the Conqueror and has the family tree to prove it. Such continuity has brought huge benefits. Since this country became a constitutional monarchy, the sovereign has been the defining symbol of national unity. Ruling with the consent of parliament but rising above the hurly burly of partisan politics, successive kings and queens have been synonymous with Britishness; our heritage, liberties, culture and law. While much of the rest of the world was convulsed by revolution throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Britain remained a beacon of stability. And when tyranny threatened our freedoms, millions volunteered to fight for King and Country. With the arrest and utter disgrace of the Kings brother, many are suggesting the future of the monarchy is bleak. The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, seen here leaving a Norfolk police station, has thrown the stability of the monarchy into question King Charles attending the first day of London Fashion Week on the day of Andrew's arrest Republicans clamour for an elected president, and even those who see the virtues of the institution fear its image may have been tarnished beyond repair. This is unquestionably the most damaging royal crisis in a generation, arguably since the abdication of 1936. Not only is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor embroiled in squalid claims of sexual abuse, he also faces allegations of leaking confidential state documents when a UK trade envoy. His arrest and 11-hour interrogation by police on suspicion of misconduct in a public office was unprecedented for a senior royal and a day of unbearable ignominy. Whether innocent or guilty, theres no question Andrew has brought shame on his family. He allowed himself to become involved in a moral cesspit through his friendship with the worlds most notorious sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. There is no hope of public redemption for him regardless of how the investigation goes. The only honour he retains is his place in the line of royal succession. That, too, should be immediately removed. The question now is whether the monarchy can recover from such an agonising blow to its prestige. For all our sakes, we must hope the answer is yes. The Firm should have acted more quickly to disown Andrew, acknowledge that he had behaved appallingly and express sympathy with Epsteins victims. There are still difficult questions to answer. But before tearing down an institution that has served this country for a millennium, we must look at what would replace it. The likelihood would be an elected president drawn from whatever party happens to hold power at the time however tenuously. What a hostage to fortune that would be! This is not to say the royals can behave as they choose. They must be seen to have integrity and be motivated by public duty and a commitment to service. The Andrew scandal has undoubtedly stained his familys reputation, but with the nucleus of Charles, Camilla, William and Kate, most people believe the monarchy is in good hands. In the current maelstrom of bitter adversarial politics, the alternative doesnt bear thinking about. The monarchy is under threat. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could even bring down the whole house of cards. These are the opinions we read and hear every hour. I agree that things are bad for the monarchy. But I dont believe that the excesses of one greedy, entitled, and not very intelligent 66-year-old man constitute a good reason for getting rid of an institution that has served this country well. Republicans are having a free run. They tend not to declare their affiliations, and fly below the radar. Every time the noose tightens around Mountbatten-Windsor, they redouble their criticisms of this wretched man and call for more decisive action from the King. Monarchists must fight back. We arent fanatical in our allegiance. Most of us dont wave flags as royal carriages pass by, or drop to our knees if we see a member of the Royal Family a hundred yards away. We simply know that if we got rid of the monarchy, what came next would be far worse. Andrew is undeniably a disgrace and I can say that without being sure whether he is guilty of the specific accusations made against him concerning sexual misdemeanours or passing state secrets to his paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein. But does anyone suggest that the Labour Party should be abolished because one of its leading lights, namely Peter Mandelson, consorted with Epstein and has also been accused of passing government secrets to him? Of course not. I should add in a spirit of fairness that Andrew fought for his country as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot in the Falklands War. Its true that Mandy once described himself as a fighter not a quitter but all he was talking about was defending his own political career. Many families have their black sheep, and over the past century the Royal Family has had its fair share. Edward VIII, who gave up his throne for a divorced American and then consorted with Nazis, was one. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is another. I exempt Prince Harry, who is merely silly. Many families have their black sheep, and over the past century the Royal Family has had its fair share - including Edward VIII and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, writes Stephen Glover Charles has been commendably decisive when dealing with his brother's links to Epstein Join the debate Do YOU believe the monarchy still serves Britain well? Despite the occasional rotten apple, the modern Royal Family has been respectable and dutiful. Queen Elizabeth epitomised these qualities, and was widely loved and admired. The present generation is no different. King Charles has hardly put a foot wrong since acceding to the throne and, though ill with cancer, exemplifies service. The Queen plays her part well. Other members of the Royal Family go about their business quietly and diligently. In other words, Andrew is an aberration. If the rest of the Royal Family were cut from the same cloth living high on the hog, behaving as though the country owed them a living and ignoring standards of decency it would be impossible to defend the institution. But they dont behave in such a way. They are human, of course, and one or more of them may annoy us from time to time. But they do their duty. With William and Kate waiting reliably in the wings, the future would seem assured. Except that republicans sense their opportunity. Instead of admitting the truth, which is that Mountbatten-Windsor is about as unrepresentative of his family as it is possible to be, they hope to precipitate a full-blown constitutional crisis. Where are these republicans? In the Labour Party and the BBC and parts of the Press. For the most part, as I say, they dont declare themselves unlike a few outspoken, campaigning republicans, whose candour and honesty one can at least respect. There is a hard core of this sort of republican in the Parliamentary Labour Party MPs who prefix their oath of allegiance with additional words that distance them from the monarchy, and generally make no bones about their true feelings. By and large, though, Labour MPs who dislike the monarchy usually keep their beliefs to themselves for fear of outraging patriotic working-class voters. Labour, of course, hates the hereditary principle, which is why Tony Blair and Keir Starmer have between them deprived hereditary peers of the right to sit in the House of Lords. The monarchy challenges that prejudice. It is tolerated by Labour as long as it remains popular. But if that popularity begins to wane, as it seems to be doing as a result of successive revelations about Andrew, all bets are off. One of the most prominent critics of the disgraced ex-Prince is Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, who is often given a pulpit by an obliging BBC. She is continually upping the ante. Ms Maskell spearheaded a campaign demanding that Andrew should be deprived of his dukedom. That was duly done by the King. Now she is insisting that he should be removed from the line of succession. It looks as though that will be done, too. But it wont be enough. Shell be back for more. Some monarchists may draw comfort from the thought that at least the Prime Minister is on their side. Didnt he proudly brandish an invitation in front of Donald Trump for what he said was an unprecedented second State visit to Britain? That visit was politically useful to Starmer. I doubt he has any love for the monarchy. Indeed, in 2005 he was caught on camera saying: I got made a Queens Counsel, which is odd since I often used to propose the abolition of the monarchy. Starmer has zigzagged so many times on so many issues that its hard to believe he has a settled view on anything apart from the need to save his own skin. If I were King Charles, I wouldnt be confident of his steadfast and enduring support. Observe how the argument moves on. The King strips Andrew of all his titles and banishes him to Norfolk. But another round of criticism comes along. BBC interviewers were asking yesterday whether he shouldnt have done more sooner. Yet its not easy to act against your own errant brother for whom you may still have some affection. I would say that Charles has been commendably decisive. Nor do I think it fair to criticise the late Queen, who did so much for this country, for being over indulgent of Andrew, said to have been her favourite son. Wasnt she being a loving mother? Surely we can understand that. If you doubt that the republican cause is being surreptitiously advanced, look at a leader in yesterdays Guardian, the Labour Partys and the BBCs favourite newspaper. It urged that Parliament should now debate whether hereditary privilege can now exist with democratic accountability. This story isnt finished. There may be more distasteful revelations about Andrew. He could end up in court. If that happens, the apocalyptic forecasts of the monarchys demise will only intensify. Emboldened republicans will increasingly step out of the shadows. Those of us who support the monarchy still the majority of the British people, Im sure shouldnt remain silent. Andrews excesses arent characteristic of the Royal Family. The sins of one of its senior members shouldnt be allowed to bring the whole edifice crashing down. Most of us wouldnt want President Trump as our head of State, or that Napoleonic re-tread in Cuban heels, President Macron. Nor, if the position were merely ceremonial, would we cherish President Tony Blair or (no offence intended) President Theresa May. Were fortunate to have what weve got. It is the product of ages. Its not perfect, as nothing is in human affairs, but it works. If we hold our nerve, the monarchy will thrive long after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been forgotten. Before I left for the Gorton and Denton by-election, a Labour minister delivered the following upbeat message: Everyone thinks Nigel Farage is going to walk it. But I dont think he will. Manchester is different to the rest of the country. Weve got a serious organisation up there. It really isnt a Reform sort of seat. Five minutes after arriving, Im not so sure. Wayne is settling down for the Wolves versus Arsenal game. He wonders out loud how many British players are in the line-up. Bukayo Saka? How can you be British with a name like that, he queries. On paper this constituency, fused together from the city of Manchester and Tameside in the 2023 boundary review, should be a Labour citadel. The last time the party lost Gorton was 1931. The people of Denton havent voted anything other than Labour since its inception as a distinct seat in 1983. Nineteen months ago Andrew Gwynne who stepped down after the emergence in The Mail on Sunday of a series of WhatsApp messages in which he cruelly mocked his constituents won with more than 50 per cent of the vote. But that was before Sir Keir Starmer began to deploy his Medusa touch. Keir Starmer faces his main flanks collapsing simultaneously to Reform and the Greens This could spell disaster for Labour and the Prime Minister nationally, Dan Hodges writes It is difficult to think of a worse backdrop to a vital by-election for any governing party: Starmers decision to block Andy Burnham, Greater Manchesters favourite son, from standing in the seat, the Mandelson and Doyle paedophile friendship scandals and another shambolic U-turn over the local elections postponement. Andy, a retired oil pipe engineer, is one of Starmers former voters whose loyalty is being tested to destruction. Im basically a gobby socialist. he tells me. Ive always voted Labour. My family always voted Labour. If I voted anything else, my dad would leap out of his grave and give me a clip round the ear. But next week? Its either Labour or Reform. Why, I ask. Look, Ive been all round the world. Ive seen all sorts of people. I honestly dont want to intimidate anyone. But its gone too far. The rest of Europe is saying OK, thats enough immigration now. And were saying to everyone, Come on in. Gorton and Denton is essentially a picture postcard of British post-industrial decline. During the day it retains a real and vibrant community spirit. Gorton Markets Heaven Cafe is a thriving unofficial meeting hub, where residents gather to swap gossip and bemoan the weather. But in the evening when the tanning salons, vape shops and barbers that have replaced the mines and railways and textile mills pull down their shutters huge swathes of the area turn into a ghost town. Four miles from the centre of the nations third largest city, decay and neglect own the night. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and the party's candidate in Gorton and Denton, Matt Goodwin Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer takes a selfie with Zack Polanski and her supporters Beth, a single mother with three young children, has lived in the area all her life. And next Thursday she will be turning her back on the politicians she believes have turned their backs on her. I wont be voting, she tells me with a shrug. I cant. I havent got a home at the moment. How can you vote if you havent got a home? As you pass among Gortons tight red-brick terraces, a variety of issues are raised. The housing shortage that Beth has fallen victim to. Fly-tipping is also a big local concern. But if you keep the conversation going long enough, everything eventually returns to the same place. The housing crisis is perceived to be a direct result of the influx of migrants. Theres a hotel down the road packed with them, Im told. Similarly the fly-tipping. They put a load of bins out the other day, including clothes bins. But the migrants climb in and take the clothes out, someone else complains. After a couple of days in this vital by-election battleground, it quickly becomes clear that if this was solely a white, working-class constituency, Labour and Keir Starmers premiership would be toast. But the demographics of the seat make it a more complex contest. Gorton and Denton has a significant Muslim and African population. And for obvious reasons, here Reforms tough immigration stance finds few takers. But Labour is also deeply mistrusted. Partly because of a sense Starmer has failed to deliver the change he promised. And also because of his partys stance on the conflict in Gaza. With the result that the Greens are capitalising. Walking along the streets just off the main thoroughfare of High Road, you see several posters in the windows backing Zack Polanskis insurgents. Similarly, if you pop into any of the local migrant-owned businesses, you find significant Green support. Though not always for reasons directly related to national or international politics. Yeah, lots of people along here are voting Green, Zen, a butcher, tells me. Any particular reason, I ask. He laughs. Well, in the General Election I voted Labour. But the Green canvassers have come into my shop twice now. He holds up one of their leaflets. So if theyre helping my business, they get my vote. Labour ministers who have been canvassing in the seat tell me they believe their party is behind, but still in with a fighting chance. And as you travel across the constituency, you see clear evidence of Labours formidable Red Manchester Machine. Pulling off the ring road, youre met with a giant poster informing you all the polls show only Labour can beat Reform here. Several shops in the area carry large banners featuring the partys candidate, Angeliki Stogia, and her entreaty to vote for unity not division. And its possible that against the odds bookies have Labour a distant third behind the Greens and Reform she could prevail. Especially if the anti-Labour vote splits evenly between her two main challengers, leaving her free to sneak through the middle. But even the fragmentation of the Labour vote that might prove Stogias salvation locally could also spell disaster for her party and Prime Minister nationally. There is mounting evidence from both Gorton and Denton and the opinion polls that both of Labours main flanks are starting to collapse simultaneously. To the Greens on the Left and to Reform on the Right. And if that happens Starmer is facing a Tory-style wipe-out. As I drive out of Gorton I spot a piece of graffiti ghosted on to a nearby wall. Good Life it says, with a smiley face. From what Ive seen and heard over the past couple of days, whoever wins next Thursday will have their work cut out delivering it. Back in November, after Prince Andrew was de-brothered and unPrinced by the King, I warned that it wouldnt work. I said: It will just get worse. The revolutionaries have sought and got real blood. The King is defenceless. Well, what did I tell you? The whole thing is now beyond the Kings control, and I suspect it will eventually tear what is left of the monarchy to bits. Without respect and dignity, the throne is just an uncomfortable chair, and the crown is just a rather heavy hat. We are told that the Thames Valley Police (TVP) did not tell the King before they sent their celebrity squad to Norfolk to conduct their spectacular arrest. I believe this. And it was a needlessly melodramatic public humiliation of the kind British police now specialise in, having copied it from the USA. They cant yet parade Andrew in chains in an orange jumpsuit. Some ancient judge of the old school might argue that was prejudicial. But those pictures of the former prince, haggard in the back of a car after hours in custody, will do quite well. And what a change it must have made from not solving hundreds of burglaries in the actual Thames Valley. In the year to March 2025 there were 6,819 burglaries in the TVP area. Home Office Crime Summary figures show a positive outcome in just 733 of those cases. Charles is struggling to control the fallout from Andrew's links to Epstein, writes Peter Hitchens Still, congratulations to TVP on getting to Sandringham first. Lots of other forces have also been probing the Andrew case. How they must have gnashed their teeth on Thursday morning when they found that the boys from TVP had beaten them to it. I fully expect the police forces of Toytown, Trumpton and Dock Green to join in soon, perhaps on the basis that Jeffrey Epsteins plane once flew through their airspace. Well, jolly good. There are few things that are more fun for the authorities than pursuing the pariah of the moment. It all helps to take attention away from the burglaries and the epidemic drug-taking that they cant seem to handle. And when times are hard, its good for us to have someone we can really, really despise, being put through various sorts of shame and misery. But beware those who are keenest on this process are the anti-monarchists. They have long sought this moment. They know the trafficking of vulnerable girls and all the rest of the horrors of the Epstein empire, are also committed by the sort of people Left-wing anti-monarchists admire. But that is not the point. The point is to discredit and sweep away the old order. Britons like being locked up New Channel 5 drama The Curfew, in which all males are forced to stay indoors after dark If I had a hat, I would tip it to the Daily Mails TV reviewer, Christopher Stevens, for spotting something very important about the new Channel 5 drama The Curfew. This is set in a future Britain where hardline feminists have managed to impose a law forcing all males to stay indoors after dark, on pain of instant imprisonment. Absurd? Far-fetched? Well, it is until you remember that in March 2020 the Government successfully ordered us all to stay at home, and we obeyed. How did Letby cops manage media? Topped by a lurid picture of a grinning human skull, the publicity flyer urged police homicide investigators to buy tickets for a conference in Washington DC, at the enjoyable Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill Hotel. A publicity flyer from the US conference Non-members of the International Homicide Investigators Association (IHIA) could sign up for 440, including entry to a lengthy session (three hours and 20 minutes) on Operation Hummingbird UK Nurse serial killer investigation. This is of course the Lucy Letby case. The programme promised the participation of four of Cheshire Polices top officers, Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Evans, Detective Superintendent Simon Blackwell and Detective Sergeant Danielle Stonier. This was in August 2024. What did they say? Who paid? Cheshires Finest wont tell me, and nor will the IHIA. But the programme notes tend to support my view that spin-doctoring some of it at closed press conferences for selected journalists played a large part in the Letby prosecution. Attendees were promised discussion of management of the case through trial and verdicts. Also the strategic management of the investigation, media and stakeholders. I am not sure why a prosecution would need managing by the police, whose job is to impartially investigate alleged crimes and come up with evidence for the prosecution. And I really dont like the sound of strategic management of the media. Isnt that what Peter Mandelson did for Sir Anthony Blair? I love museums (many people say I belong in one) and one of my favourites is our own glorious National Gallery in London. But a peculiar thing has happened to it, making it less pleasant to visit. Almost all the gentlemens lavatories have been modernised so that they no longer have urinals, but instead have lockable cubicles. The result, predictably, is queues outside the gents, a previously unknown problem. I have always felt sorry for women, for having to suffer this all the time. But I cant see that imposing it on men helps women, or anybody else. The Gallery say: This reconfiguration of our toilet facilities enables us to make better use of the existing space while responding to demand, improving accessibility. Weirdly, they add: The decision to move to fully cubicle-based facilities was informed by maintaining physical distancing following Covid-19, which is surely over. Among their other justifications is this, which says much about Britain in 2026: Cubicles provide a private, enclosed space, which supports individuals who experience anxiety or prefer greater privacy. A wave of support is building behind BHL. As we advance through our transition from long-term hosting by the Smithsonian Institution to a new independent governance and hosting model, one message has become increasingly clear: our global community is stepping forward to strengthen and sustain the worlds largest open-access library of biodiversity literature. In response to BHLs Call for Support, we have received a range of commitments from institutions in multiple countries. These include significant institutional donations, major in-kind technical support and expertise, technical hosting, and new organisations joining the BHL Member Council. Today, we are delighted to announce the first of these new Members: the University of South Florida Libraries (USF). Welcoming the University of South Florida Libraries The University of South Florida Libraries has expressed strong interest in BHL for some time, and we are thrilled to welcome them as our newest BHL Member. Their decision to prioritise BHL as a key platform for sharing biodiversity-related content reflects a shared commitment to open science, global collaboration, and the long-term accessibility of biodiversity literature and data. The USF Libraries are delighted to join the BHL Members Council. As we continue to grow our collections in the areas of environmental and natural history, this initiative perfectly aligns with our areas of emphasis. We are committed to making these unique research materials openly accessible to ensure broader engagement and collaboration across the research community and the general public. Carol Ann Borchert, Senior Associate Dean, University of South Florida We are thrilled to welcome University of South Florida Libraries as a new BHL Member and look forward to them further enhancing the wonderfully rich and diverse collections held within BHL. We are also very grateful for their offer of technical support, and excited by the opportunities this new partnership presents. David Iggulden, Chair, BHL Executive Committee Rich Collections Supporting Natural History Scholarship USFs growing collections will substantially enrich BHL, particularly content from across Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. Highlights include: With a major digitisation programme underway, these collections will continue to grow, bringing new biodiversity knowledge into BHL for global use. Strengthening BHLs Technical Capacity USF will also contribute significantly to BHLs technical infrastructure during this crucial period of transition. Their proposed support includes significant Systems Support for MACAW (BHLs Metadata Collection and Workflow System) for three years, enabling them to: Join BHLs Technical Team Build redundancy for specialised system expertise Support documentation, training, troubleshooting, and virtual content harvesting Potentially undertake future development work This contribution directly enhances BHLs resilience, sustainability, and capacity for innovation. A Growing Community of Support Todays news marks the beginning of a series of positive developments that reflect deep community confidence in BHLs mission and future. Over the coming weeks, we will share additional announcements as our Call for Support commitments are finalised stay tuned. As we move into 2026, Im pleased to share that BHL remains fully operational and is moving into its next chapter with new partnerships and renewed momentum. In 2026 we will be operating independently under CLIR as our fiscal sponsor as we focus on long-term sustainability and growth. Kelli Trei, BHL Transition Director Global Support Through Public Fundraising BHLs transition has also been met with an extraordinary response from the public. To date, BHLs Transition fundraising has raised over USD 43,000 through more than 440 donations from supporters in 38 countries, reflecting the truly global reach and impact of the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Of this total, over USD 38,000 has been raised thus far through our #GiveBHLWings campaign, launched on 18 November 2025 to support BHLs transition to an independent and autonomous future beyond Smithsonian hosting from 1 January 2026. This campaign alone has attracted more than 370 donations from across the globe, demonstrating strong public confidence in BHLs ability to thrive independently and sustainably. This outpouring of public support strengthens the institutional commitments secured through the Call for Support and means BHLs future is being shaped by a broad, international community of partners, contributors, and supporters. How You Can Help BHLs transition is underway, and community support remains essential. You can help by: Sharing our story: spread the word about the #BHLTransition, our Call for Support, and the importance of open biodiversity literature. spread the word about the #BHLTransition, our Call for Support, and the importance of open biodiversity literature. Engaging your institution: if your organisation wishes to join BHL or offer support, we welcome enquiries. Please contact BHLs Transition Director, Kelli Trei: transitiondirector@biodiversitylibrary.org if your organisation wishes to join BHL or offer support, we welcome enquiries. Please contact BHLs Transition Director, Kelli Trei: transitiondirector@biodiversitylibrary.org Donating to our #GiveBHLWings fundraising campaign: every contribution strengthens our services, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability. Thank you for supporting the Biodiversity Heritage Library. With new members like the University of South Florida Libraries and more announcements to follow the future of BHL is bright and growing. If the monarchy is to survive, there is only one solution: King Charles must go. That might sound excessive, unprecedented even. But the current crisis engulfing the Crown is grave indeed. Andrew's arrest the police, unannounced, rousting the disgraced former prince from his bed at 8am is surely not the end of this scandal. It may only be the beginning. The revelations to come, the sordidness, the potential criminality and who else might be implicated pose an existential threat to the future of the British Royal Family. It's what William is said to have been warning about, to nearly no avail. Convincing his father to strip Andrew of his titles, which was formally announced on October 30, 2025, took an ultimatum. 'William absolutely loathes Andrew and has for years,' a well-placed source says. If the Prince of Wales had his way, 'he would have Andrew banished,' the source continued. 'He told his father: "It's either him or me." So, Charles had to step up and ice Andrew out.' To a point. The King has still allowed his brother to live, rent-free, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk which is where he was at the time of his arrest. If the monarchy is to survive, there is only one solution: King Charles must go. That might sound excessive, unprecedented even. But the current crisis engulfing the Crown is grave indeed. Andrew's arrest - the police, unannounced, rousting the disgraced former prince from his bed at 8am - is surely not the end of this scandal. It may only be the beginning. And all in the wake of newly released emails from Andrew's equally greedy, disgusting ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, calling the dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein 'the brother I have always wished for'. Along with other pleas to 'just marry me'. Or sharing the grubby detail that her daughter Eugenie was off on a 'shagging weekend'. Does Sarah seem ashamed in the wake of her ex-husband's arrest? No. Not in the least. She is, by all reports and in typical fashion, most worried about where she'll find her next sugar daddy to bankroll her utterly pointless lifestyle. 'Fergie has behaved like an absolute tramp throughout,' my source says. 'She's taken thousands from Epstein. She's up to her totters in it.' As for Andrew, this royal insider says the photo of the former prince taken Thursday night, looking traumatized after he was released from police custody, was a very real reading of his emotional state. 'Andrew is on watch,' the source says. 'He's an international pariah, and this [arrest] is just the trade envoy stuff.' And so the next question, the question that must be asked: What did the King know, and when did he know it? Charles has always been conflict averse. And the very Shakespearean twist here is that his avoidance, his unwillingness to make the hard decision swiftly and confidently, is what will likely cost him his legacy. As one former royal aide put it: 'Charles is now a lame duck.' Recall what the late Princess Diana said in her Panorama interview in 1995 one she was manipulated into giving under false pretenses, but one in which she spoke the unspeakable. Charles, she told the world, wasn't up to 'the top job'. At the time, her criticism was taken as the bitterness of a scorned wife. Thirty-one years on, Diana was right. There is a very good chance that the longer Charles maintains 'the top job', the worse this will get. If Andrew is charged and goes to trial, he will be prosecuted by the Crown. What if the former prince implicates Charles as part of his defense strategy? The King surely cannot be a witness in his own court. And the idea that Charles knew nothing of the Epstein affair truly strains credulity. Remember: Andrew was loaned $16 million by the Royal Family to help settle a lawsuit brought by the late Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was sex trafficked to Andrew. He has always denied wrongdoing. To put this crisis in American terms: If a major corporation say Apple or Starbucks was caught up in the Epstein files, to this length of time and degree of closeness, their CEO would be forced to resign, no matter how innocent he was. The Firm, as it's known, is also a big business. To survive, it is going to need a big resignation. The Firm, as it's known, is also a big business. To survive, it is going to need a big resignation. Charles would doubtless feel that to give up the throne would be to betray his people. But we are in a different world now, one in which abdication could very well be seen as the righteous thing, a sacrifice made for the good of the British people, the future of the monarchy, and most importantly, the victims. He must allow William younger, modern, more muscular in age and decision-making to ascend sooner than later. Recall William and Kate at that Trump state dinner resplendent, vibrant, beaming and dignified. They are the future. Kate has come through her cancer diagnosis with strength and class. Both she and her husband, according to a recent YouGov poll, are the most popular members of the Royal Family: William at 77 percent, Catherine at 74. The King might consider stepping aside before his popularity falls further. To right his legacy and change the narrative: All eyes would be on a cleansing, a changing of the guard, a Coronation of beauty, youth and the future. And it could be done elegantly. The King could wait a few weeks or months before citing his continued ill health. But Charles must give up his crown in order to save it. When Brinley Wyczalek came down with a smattering of winter bugs, her family expected her to bounce back quickly. The 18-month-old from Ohio had been diagnosed in 2024 with COVID and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), illnesses that commonly circulate after the holidays and can be particularly grim for young children who have yet to build up their immune systems. But Brinley was spunky girly girl, who loves everything pink and Paw Patrol. And when she recovered 'perfectly fine' from both viruses after about a week, and quickly returned to her normal self, her mother, Berlyn Wyczalek, thought little of it. Roughly six months later, however, Wyczalek found herself rushing her daughter to the doctor with a case of croup - an upper airway infection that mostly affects young children and causes shortness of breath and a harsh, barking cough. Wyczalek, who works as a respiratory therapist, insisted doctors perform a chest X-ray, which showed Brinley had an enlarged heart, medically known as cardiomegaly. She was born healthy with no pre-existing heart conditions. Doctors immediately transferred Brinley to Cleveland Clinic, where further testing revealed dilated cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart's chambers to thin and stretch out, making them grow larger. At just two years old, Brinley was in heart failure, meaning her heart could not pump enough blood to the rest of her body. Despite the condition usually causing difficulty breathing, issues gaining weight and bluish tints in the skin, Brinley had presented no warning signs. 'She was perfectly happy and fine, but then internally, [COVID and RSV] were attacking the heart, and we didn't know about it,' Wyczalek told the Daily Mail. 'Had she not gotten croup, I never would have taken her in. Who knows where we'd be? We probably would have been planning a funeral.' Brinley Wyczalek was just two years old when she was diagnosed with heart failure. Doctors believe one of two winter viruses was to blame Your browser does not support iframes. Doctors told Wyczalek and her husband, Travis, that either COVID or RSV led to myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart's muscle called the myocardium. Usually caused by infections, myocarditis is a rare complication of COVID, affecting about 0.2 per 1,000 patients, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Experts also estimate it occurs in between 0.1 and 1.4 percent of people hospitalized with RSV. Because both viruses occurred at the same time, Wyczalek said it is unclear which one triggered the myocarditis. Doctors believe the inflammation from myocarditis then led to lasting damage in Brinley's heart, resulting in dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. 'Our whole world basically got flipped upside down,' Wyczalek said. 'How can one little sickness do that?' When diagnosed early, heart failure can be significantly improved or reversed with medication. These typically include beta blockers to lower blood pressure and slow heart rate, ACE inhibitors that allow blood vessels to relax and lower blood pressure, and diuretics to reduce fluid buildup in the body, improving breathing and alleviating swelling. Brinley was able to spend about a year at home taking the oral medications in a bid to reverse her condition. But by October 2025, she was failing to gain weight, and the damage to her heart continued to progress. She was admitted to Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital on October 31, 2025, where she has remained ever since. Brinley is pictured above with her parents, Travis and Berlyn Wyczalek. Berlyn told the Daily Mail if she had not insisted on her daughter getting a chest X-ray when she had a bout of croup, the family likely would be planning a funeral Doctors believe Brinley suffered myocarditis from either COVID or RSV, which in turn resulted in heart failure In November 2025, she underwent a nine-and-a-half-hour surgery to be fitted with a Berlin heart - a type of ventricular assist device (VAD) used for children with severe heart failure. The open-heart procedure is meant to act as a 'bridge' for an eventual heart transplant, using a large external pump to help circulate blood and prevent further organ damage. While the implant itself is around the size of a small orange, the pump can be larger than a cooler or mini fridge. Brinley can only be disconnected from the pump for about 30 minutes at a time, leaving the once active preschooler bound to her hospital room. Brinley's condition has improved since being fitted with a Berlin heart. When she was first admitted to the hospital, her level of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), a hormone produced by the heart's ventricles to indicate pressure, was 35,000 picograms per milliliter (pg/ml), far higher than the typical 100 to 400pg/ml range. Now it hovers around 600pg/ml. She has also gained 15lbs since surgery. 'I think it's saved her,' Wyczalek said. However, the Berlin heart is not a permanent solution. Now four years old, Brinley is one of 1,200 US children on the waiting list for a heart transplant. Children in need of a heart transplant must receive the organ from a deceased child of similar size and the same blood type, giving Brinley and other kids a limited pool of donors compared to adults. 'It has to be a perfect match on all levels,' Wyczalek told the Daily Mail. 'So it could be any day, or it could be another 200 days. We don't know.' Brinley is pictured above with Cleveland Clinic therapy dog Trotter. She has spent more than 100 days hospitalized waiting for a heart transplant As Brinley waits for her 'hero heart,' her mother is encouraging other parents to trust their guts and advocate for cardiac screening for their children As Brinley waits for what she calls her 'hero heart,' she takes seven different medications including blood thinners to alleviate stress on her heart. She also receives daily physical therapy to keep her mobile and reduce recovery time after the transplant. Wyczalek said Brinley has been a 'rock star' throughout her ordeal and knows all of her nurses by name. 'She always asks, "When my new heart comes, will you bring me back to see all my friends?"' Wyczalek said. 'She keeps saying God is making her special heart and he's going to send it to her. She's meant to do great things.' Her hospital room is also completely decked out in her favorite color, pink, including decorations celebrating American Heart Month, which takes place every February. Brinley's family is raising money for medical expenses through a GoFundMe page. Wyczalek is now encouraging other parents to trust their guts and advocate for any medical tests they feel their children need, even for run-of-the-mill viruses like COVID and RSV. 'Viruses are scary, and they can do a lot of damage without being seen,' she told the Daily Mail. 'We have got to do routine cardiac screenings - these kids [often] don't have any symptoms.' A online forum for balding men has gone viral for members' stunning transformations, as men post before and after pictures of their newly-shaved pates. Subreddit thread r/bald was founded 15 years ago, as a supportive community for men with thinning hair. Today, it has more than 1.2 million weekly visitors, who all must obey the group's one simple rule: no bald-bashing. Instead, users upload pictures of them before and after shaving off their sparse comb-overs or receding hairlines, to unanimous support from other users. It may be one of the few corners of the internet where commenters aren't trying to troll or bully each other. But the positive response is also somewhat unsurprising; the posters almost universally do look transformed after ridding themselves of their thinning locks. And it's not just in the eye of the beholder. Research suggests that men with thinning hair who shave their heads are perceived as more dominant, confident, masculine and stronger than those with visible hair loss. One user of Reddit forum r/bald shows off his impressive transformation after shaving off his thinning hair In another, a user reveals the before and after shots of his newly-shaved head - to acclaim and support from commenters Studies from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania found that men with completely shaved heads were viewed as more powerful, often described as having a 'leadership' look. Men with shaved heads were also perceived as nearly an inch taller and up to 13 per cent stronger than their counterparts with hair. And while surveys show that a full head of hair is rated highly for attractiveness, a fully shaved head is preferred over a naturally balding head, which is ranked lowest in desirability. A 2025 survey of more than 2,000 British women revealed that bald men are actually seen as more attractive than hairy blokes. When asked about the features they find most attractive in men, women cited a bald head as the second hottest male attribute - right after a muscular physique. In fact, say experts, this may explain the appeal of hairless Hollywood heartthrobs like Jason Statham, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, and Vin Diesel. On subreddit r/bald, the transformations are incredible - and matched by an almost overwhelming surge of positivity from fellow group members. In one post, a handsome young man with a significantly balding pate posts a picture of him before and after shaving his head, captioned: 'Was it the right decision?' Another user shows off his new look after ridding himself of his receding hairline The comments below are unanimously positive. 'Excuse me, wtf is that glow-up?!' asks one Redditor. '100% the right call, welcome home brother,' writes another. Says a third: 'This whole comment section is probably the single greatest confidence booster any one person has ever received in all of history.' In another post on the thread, titled 'Tis done', a bearded man in grey glasses shows his hair loss transformation. 'I decided to go for it before the new year and am loving it. Thanks for the encouragement, yall. This community is something else,' he wrote beneath the post. 'Dude, you're hot,' wrote one commenter below, while others added that it was a 'wise decision'. Said another Redditor: 'I'm one of the women who has no idea how they ended up on this sub, but every time I see the before and after, I'm absolutely stoked for the OPs. Amazing.' Experts say that groups such as this are particularly beneficial for men who may be struggling with their self-confidence around their hair loss. It's something that many men worry about. But if you're losing your hair, don't panic - it might actually work in your favour. Pictured: Jason Statham This could explain the appeal of stars like Jason Statham, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson (right), and Vin Diesel (left) While baldness was once prized, in ancient Egypt, as a symbol of high social status and religious devotion, it doesn't carry quite the same reputation today. Nearly 6.5 million men in the UK will experience significant hair thinning by age 50. Yet surveys show more than 90 per cent of people experiencing hair loss report a negative stigma - perceiving it more as a 'disadvantageous disease' than a natural trait. And it's no surprise that men feel embarrassed about their balding. Hair loss is openly mocked in popular culture - with popular film or TV characters with thinning hair often portrayed as insecure, aging or villainous, like James Bond's Ernst Blofeld. As a result, more than a third of men with hair loss report feeling depressed - and a shocking one in five British men say they've contemplated suicide due to the distress it's caused them. Groups like r/bald, therefore, may help men feel less alone in struggling with negative feelings about their hair loss, says therapist Allyssa Powers. 'Many men are socially conditioned not to share vulnerabilities or struggles with other men,' she told the Daily Mail. 'F**k it fine, let's do this,' wrote one user, revealing his transformation from balding to freshly shaven 'It was time! I feel so good about it,' wrote this user, showing off his transformed hairline 'However, the online space makes it easier to be bold and the anonymity can also give these users a boost of confidence to share with an online community. 'It is a powerful thing to feel seen and accepted as you are. While it may seem silly to some, a lot of us do not get this type of positive reinforcement in our day to day lives. 'Many of us also hold the notion that commenting on someone's appearance is taboo or unkind and so it can be a topic that is never addressed in the real world. 'This kind of forum gives men the ability to gain perspective from other men in a low stakes environment and ultimately feel like they are apart of a community of people like them.' Adds BACP-registered Psychotherapist Sumeet Grover: 'When men are able to reassure and support one another online, it can feel emotionally validating and less lonely. 'Shame, and the fear of social judgement often sit at the heart of the difficulty in speaking openly face to face.' The subreddit's founder, an anonymous 40-year-old man from Philadelphia, said he was inspired to create the page after growing sick of his baldness being the butt of the joke. I created it as a therapeutic way for me to accept that I was losing my hair,' he told the Metro last year. This man transforms from a balding pony-tail wearer to rocking a slickly shaven pate 'Ive always had short hair, so it took me a little while to realise that with the little hair that I had, maybe I should take ownership and just decided to shave it and I loved it. I remember the date I did it really well because it was one of my best friends 21st birthday, and wed all gone out to the casino and had a big celebration. And that was the day that I thought What am I doing and I just finally accepted it. I was in my early twenties at this time and instead of being the butt of the joke with friends, I decided to make it a more meaningful thing. In 2011, r/bald was born, and the love started pouring in: I initially started with posts like bald guy of the week, sharing pictures of celebrities and spreading this message of dont let this get in the way of you being successful, and then it kind of took off from there. I can't wean myself off antidepressants. Ive been on them for years. Every time I try to stop, I have terrible side effects. What should I do? Coming off antidepressants can be very difficult. But with the right steps, most patients can safely stop taking the tablets. Antidepressants are daily drugs that can help combat mental health conditions including depression and anxiety. The most common are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which include fluoxetine, sertraline and escitalopram. For many, these tablets are not only safe and effective, but also life-changing. However, they are not without side-effects. When patients begin taking antidepressants, they are warned to watch out for sudden mood swings and suicidal thoughts. They may also experience nausea, headaches and agitation symptoms which tend to ease after a few weeks on the tablets. But some people will experience side-effects for as long as they take them, including difficulty sleeping and a low sex drive. For this reason, many patients will eventually decide to come off antidepressants usually after a depressive period has lifted. Coming off antidepressants is a trial-and-error process which takes time, according to Dr Ellie However, withdrawal symptoms are also common, with those who stop using the tablets reporting a wide range of issues. These can vary from dizziness, a fast heartbeat, strange dreams and even brain zaps, where patients experience an electric-shock like sensation in the head. The trick to managing such symptoms is to gradually reduce the daily dose over a series of weeks and months, always done with the help of a GP. They may suggest taking liquid SSRIs, as it is easier to slowly lower the dose as opposed to breaking up tablets. Coming off antidepressants is a trial-and-error process. Patients may find that, one week, they are able to reduce the dose and experience no side effects. But then, when they cut it further the following week, they are hit with unpleasant symptoms. In this situation, patients may need to temporarily up the dose before trying again at reducing it after a few weeks. Exercise and regular socialising are both thought to ease the burden of antidepressants, so I advise patients to come off the tablets during a period when they will have plenty of time to do both. I had a shingles vaccine a few years ago. Ive heard theres a better version now available on the NHS. Im 78. Should I get it? The new shingles jab is available to patients previously vaccinated against the condition in certain circumstances. Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster), which is usually caught in childhood and remains in the body for life. Later in life, as the immune system weakens, it can flare-up again, causing a painful rash known as shingles. Between 2006 and 2024, NHS patients were offered a vaccine called Zostavax to lower the risk of recurrence. In the past two years, the NHS has begun rolling out a more effective shingles jab called Shingrix. The two-dose vaccine is being offered to those turning 65 and those aged 70 to 79. People of any age with severely weakened immune systems can also access the jabs on the NHS. However, patients who have previously had Zostavax cant get Shingrix on the NHS unless they are immunocompromised, because Zostavax is likely to still provide these people with a decent level of protection. Patients can pay to have Shingrix in addition to Zostavax. But at around 500 for both doses, it is expensive. I get an upper thigh pain that radiates to the hip. It gets worse if Ive been sitting at my desk all day. What could be the cause? Pain in the hip that gets worse due to sitting may be a common condition called trochanteric bursitis. The bony bump on the outside of the thigh is called the greater trochanter. There are tendons flexible bands of connective tissue overlying this bone. In this area of the hip, there is also a fluid-filled sack called the bursa, which helps lubricate the joints. The tendons and bursa can become irritated, triggering pain. This is trochanteric bursitis. Most common in women between the ages of 40 and 60, it usually occurs due to pressure on the hips from sitting in one position too long. The pain can be felt in the hips, thighs and sometimes the buttocks. Certain movements such as climbing stairs, sitting cross-legged and getting in or out of bed can aggravate the symptoms further. Treatment for trochanteric bursitis can typically involve seeing a physiotherapist, who can provide exercises and stretches to make the muscles around the greater trochanter stronger and the affected tendons more resilient. Unfortunately, trochanteric bursitis can take anything between six months and a year to settle down completely. In the meantime, it might be worth taking over-the-counter painkillers to ease symptoms, plus staying active and avoiding sitting down for too long. Everyone's all bunged up - but it's not a cold A condition named sinusitis is affecting many at the moment - and the issue can last for weeks There's a blocked nose condition affecting dozens of my patients and its not caused by a cold or the flu. Its called sinusitis, where the lining of the sinuses the air-filled spaces behind the cheeks, forehead and eyes become inflamed. Along with stuffiness, symptoms can include headaches, yellow or green nasal discharge, a reduce sense of smell and even tooth pain. Its often triggered by an infection. However, it can then last for weeks sometimes even months. Many patients turn to nasal decongestant sprays. However, these can sometimes make symptoms worse. Instead, the best option tends to be salt sprays, such as Sterimar, which dont contain medicines and are simply meant to wash out the sinuses. Have you been left bunged up by sinusitis? How did you manage your symptoms? Please write in and let me know. Why your health data is amazing Im incredibly pleased that GPs will now be able to share the medical data of consenting patients with researchers. Two decades ago, half a million patients allowed their records to be used by the UK Biobank database. The aim was to use it to help find cures for diseases ranging from dementia to depression. While it was stuck in a bureaucratic quagmire for years, because it was unclear who was legally responsible for the data, thats now been cleared and I hope more people will sign up. All the information shared with UK Biobank is anonymised, meaning that patients cannot be identified. And the UK has a massive advantage in this field because we have a single health system, meaning all our data is in one place. Its time we made use of this. It could mean the next major breakthrough be it a cure for Alzheimers or osteoarthritis could happen in Britain. Do you have a question for Dr Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk 'You have to be very thin to wear white, said a famous Vogue fashion editor. To me. I had tried to make conversation in the lift (I later learned this was not acceptable behaviour) and enquired if she would be sporting the colour favoured by hip designer Rifat Ozbek this coming season. Even my gauche 19-year-old self understood from her withering tone that I wasnt svelte enough to wear the shade. It was 1994 and back then I was a size 10-12. In the normal world this passed as slim, but in 90s fashionland it was fat, fat, fat. Lucky I wasnt wearing white in the lift, but a bubblegum pink suit from Marks & Spencer I had bought in Birmingham for my two weeks work experience at the famous glossy. Playing dress-up in the Elle fashion cupboard This was all wrong, too. Id thought it had supermodel energy but knew from the moment I passed through the famous revolving doors of Vogue House in Londons Hanover Square, it was absolutely, irredeemably, wrong. The Hubba Bubba two-piece was my first style faux pas of many. At this point everyone in the office was in pared-back grey Prada V-necks and tailored black trousers. It was humiliating, but I was not deterred. Oh no! I threw myself into nailing a Vogue-acceptable wardrobe with the same determination a spawning salmon might launch itself at a weir. Jennifer Lopez in the iconic Versace Jungle dress, 2000 With hard work and tenacity (AKA pestering) I made it from Vogue to the Elle fashion cupboard. In this windowless 10ft by 6ft space I was surrounded by all the clothes that had just been shown on the international catwalks. From Galliano to Givenchy, Chloe to Anna Sui, Versace to Dolce & Gabbana. This was the epicentre of the magazine, where all the looks for fashion shoots arrived and were then to be returned, in pristine condition, once wed finished with them. My job was to make this happen seamlessly. I loved all the clothes, but when Tom Fords blue silk shirt and midnight blue velvet trousers look arrived from his 1995 Gucci collection the one worn by Kate Moss on the catwalk and Madonna at the MTV awards I was compelled to try it on. I had visions of me looking like a modern day Bianca Jagger. I waited until everyone had gone for their liquid lunches, locked the door and the trousers wouldnt go past my knees. I couldnt even get my arms into the sleeves of the shirt. Wearing a fateful Alberta Ferretti dress to a wedding, 1999 These clothes were cut to fit an eight-year-old. I felt gargantuan. But like a moth to the flame, this did not put me off. I began sporting Philip Treacy butterfly headpieces, Chloe jeans and Chanel caps, often while processing returns dockets. Or, more daringly, while making tea to match the colour my boss had marked on a Pantone chart. (Yes, really.) As my career progressed from intern to assistant to writer to stylist to director, I borrowed clothes to wear out out, often sanctioned. Sometimes not. I felt this was essential because fashion magazine salaries were more Primark than Prada, so if you wanted to look appropriately attired at fashion dinners and awards you shopped the cupboard. If it didnt fit, you made it. Shining in Sonia Rykiel, 1997 In the mid-90s, Gucci jersey cutout dresses were the bomb. Plein Sud did a (slightly) more accessible version. The one I tried on stretched to fit, had a very deep V neckline and clung to every curve. Wearing knickers was not an option because, well, VPL. I wore it to the Elle Style Awards and hit the dance floor with the models, editors, designers and celebrities and danced with abandon. Suddenly the male fashion director sprinted over, grabbed me by the wrist and hissed in my ear, I can see your bush! I looked down and it turns out my abundant muff (this was before Brazilians) had somehow worked its way through the fabric so when I stood side on in front of the disco lights everyone could see protruding fuzz. Mor-ti-fying. Meanwhile, extremely low-rise jeans were becoming essential daywear, thanks to Alexander McQueens bumsters. In practice, this meant my bottom crack was on display for the best part of a decade. I remember one old lady telling me, as I put some shopping in the car, that her husband was affronted by seeing so much of my backside. In hindsight, I can see his point. Going for bust on a photoshoot in the late 90s By 2000 I was styling the covers of Elle magazine and working with all the celebrities. There was Cameron Diaz (good sport, worried about her skin, as fun as she looks) and Elizabeth Hurley (incredibly polite and professional, dont call her Liz, prefers Concorde but will settle for seat 1A on British Airways and doesnt like showing her legs preferring trousers or gowns). However, Sarah Jessica Parker was the first big A-lister I worked with and to say I was winging it was an understatement. When she asked me if I could tape her boobs (surprisingly big for one so small) I had zero idea what she was talking about. A mischievous photographers assistant passed me gaffer tape and I proceeded to try (and fail) to create slings for her breasts with it while she politely looked on. Meanwhile, I was still cramming myself into too-small sample sizes for parties. At a Versace gala with Anna Friel in Los Angeles, I was allowed to borrow a corseted black dress. I could barely breathe but it gave me the heaving embonpoint of a Bridgerton heroine. At the bar an old man turned to me and said: Nice t*ts, can I buy you a drink? It was Jack Nicholson. Madonna in Gucci, 1995 That same year, I requested a jungle print, chiffon, slashed-to-below-the-navel dress from Versace for some celebrity shoot or other. Afterwards it was hanging on the rail and, as I had some fancy event to go to, I tried it on. It looked fabulous, so I thought why not? (Ah, the insouciance of youth. If I were to even contemplate wearing that today it would take me three days of body prep and temazepam). All of the dresss chiffon and jewellery was anchored on to a bodysuit that had poppers in the crotch. No underwear allowed. I went to the event and spent the night avoiding the labels PR, comedy capers style, as they had not expressly (actually, in no way at all) said I could wear the dress. The next day a request came into the office to Fedex it to New York now. No time for dry cleaning. A few days later, JLo broke the internet wearing it to the Grammys. So Jenny from the Block and I have shared a gusset. A gusset I hadnt so much as spritzed with Febreeze. Elle cover styled by Rosie featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, 2000 Surrounded by so many sheer fabrics, underwear as outwear and sky-high hemlines, I started to suffer from fashion blindness. Near nudity was normalised in fashionland. It was only when I wore an Alberta Ferretti dress that was largely made up of transparent chiffon to my boyfriends rugby mates wedding that I realised this attire was not acceptable in the real world. The groom said to my boyfriend: Er mate, I can see your birds t*ts. But this was nothing compared to my biggest fashion faux pas, which Ive left til last because it still makes me blush. In the fashion cupboard there was a totally see-through Blumarine dress. It was pale blue and sequined in a Gatsby-esque flapper style. It was so beautiful it made my heart ache. (Incidentally, JLo had worn this too.) I had yet another event to go to, so I bought a nude body from John Lewis in a very small size (it was all they had left and I was used to cramming myself into doll-size garments, so this was no obstacle for me). Yet again, it was fixed by poppers under the crotch. The do was, unusually, in the daytime. So: bright lights, high visibility. Elizabeth Hurley on an Elle cover styled by Rosie, 2001 There where hundreds there, tables of industry power players. As I left mine to go to the loo, weaving in and around the seats, I felt the body strain and, oh god, please no pop. In an instant the fabric sprang upwards, rising above my bellybutton, revealing my (still) untamed bush for all to see. I scurried towards the exit, my hands attempting to preserve some shred of decency. I was hyperventilating with shame but as I reached the doors, I hoped to find some sort of shelter the other side. No. I found myself in the hotel lobby being stared at by many Japanese tourists partaking in afternoon tea. I darted left hoping to find the powder room but instead found myself on a busy London street. I reached below my crotch and, with as much dignity as one in such a situation could muster, popped the body back together in full view of Park Lane traffic. Then I walked back in and inhaled my wine and mineswept most of everyone elses. After that I wore items I actually owned, mainly black, in the right size. And thanked god daily that there were no camera phones back then. The hotel The Andaz hotel Miami Beach only opened in May 2025, so it feels fresh and shiny. The rooms contain all the essentials, including Byredo toiletries, but tea-drinkers be sure to ask for a kettle. Most rooms have a balcony ones overlooking the beach offer a front-row seat for the sunrise over the sea. Theres no fighting for sun loungers with two heated pools, and the Ondara Spa is the place to relax. British Airways Holidays offers three nights from 949pp between 1 and 31 May 2026. The restaurants Dinner at the hotels restaurant, Aguasal, is worth it for elevated Mediterranean food (below). Visit Bayside for a strong selection of bars, restaurants and shops, plus one of the best pina coladas Ive ever had at La Canita. Donatella on Collins Avenue is the spot for a romantic low-lit Italian feast, and discover what Mexican food should really taste like at Bakan near Wynwood Walls. Havana 1957 is great for authentic Cuban food, including tamales and pork masitas. The beach Take a day to chill on South Beach: the sea is welcomingly warm, the sand clean and soft. Stroll along the coastal Boardwalk to pass through the Art Deco District and hit the famous Muscle Beach (for a workout, or merely to observe). Watersports are also on offer along the coast. Get the most out of the sun and sea by visiting Miami between January and May for optimal weather. Avoid June and July when its usually far too hot. The neighbourhoods Theres much more to Miami than the obvious Ocean Drive. Find photo ops aplenty at Wynwood Walls, the first open-air graffiti museum in the world. Little Havana Calle Ocho (8th street) in particular is a must-visit to enjoy the citys Cuban culture. Its full of shops where you can try Cuban coffee and cigars, and you can even watch a game among the seniors in the famous Domino Park. Coconut Grove is a hotspot for shopping and brunch. The tours Go for a ride on the Thriller speedboat tour (from 32), which goes up to 40mph and features amazing shoreline views of Downtown Miami, Miami Beach and Star Island mansions. The tour guide will point out the houses that belong to celebrities such as Oprah. Get to know Miami beyond its party reputation by exploring lesser-known but historic neighbourhoods such as Coral Gables and Coconut Grove (below) with Dragonfly Expeditions (from 49). The art scene Even if youre not into art, a walking tour with the Miami Design Preservation League (from 30) will have you admiring the city in new ways. It starts on Ocean Drive, where youll dip in and out of buildings, learning the history of art deco and its impact on Miami. Even British Airways has jumped on the art deco bandwagon with its renovation of the lounge at Miami Airport, part of a 7 billion project to transform its lounges. Return flights to London from 389. Friday was not a good day. I went down to put the washing on in my cellar, only to find it flooded due to the torrential rain. I now own an indoor pool. Next, Teddy went for Mini, who fell over in shock. Then, yet another email from Octopus: Based on your current prices and estimated use, your payments really should be around the 572.95 level, which is an unusually large change from what youre currently paying, which is 200 a month. I have an air source heat pump and a log burner! I didnt know it then, but worse was yet to come. I took Alice the spaniel for her usual off-lead walk along the river. Even I could hear the roar of the water as it swirled and dashed towards Durham. On the way back, I saw a tall young woman with a collie. She was repeatedly jabbing him in the neck with a choke chain. He was yelping. You are hurting him, I said to her. What you need is a halter. My trainer says its OK. She was lucky I wasnt with Nic, who would have punched her lights out. Im sick of witnessing animal cruelty, an almost everyday occurrence in the Yorkshire Dales. When my horses were at a livery yard, I would see girls and old women punching horses in the chest, just because they stamped a hoof to dislodge a fly. But then I realised I couldnt see Alice. I started shouting, Alice! Alice! And then I spotted her. She was struggling in the middle of the raging torrent of bubbling, crashing water, her little woolly head just above the waves. She was paddling but staying still. Alice!!!!! Alice!!!!! I hared down the riverbank. We are always reading about women who jump into frozen lakes after a dog, only for them both to die. Well, I was not going to allow Alice to perish alone. She saw me, her huge brown eyes worried, frantic. I waded into the icy water, my wellingtons filling up, weighing me down. In a flash I was reminded of a holiday in Jamaica when my future husband wore combat shorts with numerous pockets that quickly filled with seawater and sand and nearly drowned. Id laughed then. Not now. Up to my waist in icy, fast-moving water, stumbling on rocks, I was almost lifted off the ground. Ive never been a good swimmer. In primary school I had to wear my mums cap covered in plastic flowers as she couldnt afford to buy me a plain cream or black one; the other children laughed, pointed, called me Granny. Scuba diving off the coast of Mozambique, I was the only one to be tied by a rope to the boat; there were actual newborn babies in our party. Despite spending 26,000 on that holiday for me, my sister and my nephew, I realised I didnt like the thought of all that water over my head. Its true, though: when you think youre about to die, life, mistakes, loved ones flash through your brain. Alice started to paddle sidewards towards my screaming, and I lunged to grab hold of her harness. If shed been wearing her winter coat, which she always manages, Houdini-style, to escape, she would have drowned. I pulled her on to the bank and we both collapsed in a heap. All this time Ive been thinking Im about to lose Mini Puppy. I could so easily have lost Alice. Im always telling you how nervous I am, scared of wet leaves and steep steps, my email inbox, the postman, crossing the road, motorways, taxi drivers, colleagues, voicemails, WhatsApp, waiters, hotel receptionists. But when it really mattered? I was brave. I walked Alice the few steps home, rubbed her with Conran Shop towels and used a hairdryer, which she thought was great fun: her ears levitated, Dumbo fashion. She now resembles Sonic the Hedgehog. I smell of pond. Life truly can turn on a sixpence. No-moans Jones... what Liz loves this week One Dorset council's plea to the Government to allow it to issue higher parking fines risks a nationwide ripple effect that would send penalty charges across Britain soaring and 'bursting the dam keeping traffic fines to a reasonable level', the AA has warned. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has made a request to the Department for Transport to make temporary higher fines a permanent fixture. It comes after it saw a positive impact of doubling parking-related penalty charge notices (PCNs) along the coastal stretch from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head last August, which it said had 'made roads safer, reduced congestion and improved accessibility' in the popular tourist hotspot. During the month-long trial, the council issued higher tariff PCNs of 160 - on par with the highest fines issued in London - and 110 for lower tariff offences to more than 4,000 motorists over three weekends. The fines were halved if paid within a fortnight. This was more than twice the standard PCN amount of 70 and 50 respectively (again halved if paid within two weeks). It means the trial elevated the value of fines by up to 129 per cent. BCP Council received the greenlight for the trial after it had complained of roads becoming overrun by illegal parkers in previous summers as holidaymakers and day visitors flocked to nearby beaches along the popular southern coastline. The trial was considered a landmark case, with parking fines outside the capital remaining unchanged since 2008. But the AA has hit back at the authority's request to permanently impose higher fines. It warned that a blanket increase to local parking PCNs to 160 would be 'unacceptable' and risks other councils copying the policy to treat the nation's motorists as a cashcow. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has requested to permanently enforce parking fines of up to 160 after a one-month trial last summer to tackle illegal parking along coastal hotspots. The AA said it threatens a ripple effect of local authorities across the country more than doubling penalty charges. Pictured: Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset The trial not only saw an increase in fines for breaching car park rules - including misuse of disabled parking bays - and illegal parking on double yellow lines and grass verges but higher fees for releasing cars seized by the council. During August, drivers had to pay 280 for collect their impounded motors, up from the standard 105 rate. Meanwhile, storage fees for vehicles seized were increased from 12 per day to 55, with car disposal fees also doubled from 50 to 100. BCP Council has shared the results of the August trial with the DfT in a report published this week in the hope it will grant permission to make the measures permanent. The document suggests that illegal and irresponsible parking had dropped significantly during the trial period, with the council recording almost a 7 per cent decline in instances compared to the year previous. The local authority also suggested that the threat of higher fines had no impact on the number of people visiting the region, with millions still making the trip to the coastal stretch last summer. And the request to permanently hike fines to as much as 160 has already received public support. Some 59 per cent of residents have backed the calls for increased fines alongside 76 per cent of businesses, BCP Council claims. The council said the August 2025 trial of higher parking fines along the coastal stretch from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head had 'made roads safer, reduced congestion and improved accessibility' in the popular tourist hotspot During the month-long trial, the council issued higher tariff PCNs of 160 - on par with the highest fines issued in London - and 110 for lower tariff offences to more than 4,000 motorists over three weekends, up from 70 and 50 respectively BCP Council received the greenlight for last year's trial after it had complained of roads becoming overrun by illegal parkers in previous summers as holidaymakers and day visitors flocked to nearby beaches along the popular southern coastline Councillor Millie Earl said: 'Illegal parking blights our communities. 'It blocks roads, obstructs pavements, and prevents people with disabilities, parents with pushchairs, and emergency services from moving safely and freely. 'For years, we've been calling on the Government for stronger powers to tackle this behaviour, and with the support of our local MPs, we've been able to trial an approach that clearly demonstrates the need for permanent change. 'With the technology and infrastructure already in place from the trial, we are ready to make this permanent, which is why we're asking the Government to allow us to do just that - ensuring this sort of behaviour is properly deterred going forward.' Announcing the calls for 160 parking fines to become permanent, Cllr Millie Earl said: 'Illegal parking blights our communities. It blocks roads, obstructs pavements, and prevents people with disabilities, parents with pushchairs, and emergency services from moving safely and freely' The trial not only saw an increase in fines for breaching car park rules - including misuse of disabled parking bays - and illegally parking on double yellow lines and grass verges but higher fees for releasing cars seized by the council The AA told Daily Mail and This is Money that the authority's request to enforce 160 parking fines is an 'alarming overreach' Councillor Richard Herrett added: 'The report clearly shows that greater powers work and prompt a shift in behaviour, with less illegal parking, shorter journey times, and more than enough parking spaces just a short walk away from the beach. 'Making these powers permanent would mean safer roads for everyone, every day: keeping our communities accessible and traffic moving more freely.' He concluded: 'For too long, illegal and dangerous parking along our seafront roads has put lives at risk, obstructed emergency and resident access, and undermined the safety and enjoyment of our coastal spaces.' But the AA told Daily Mail and This is Money that the authority's request to enforce 160 parking fines is an 'alarming overreach'. Luke Bosdet, public affairs officer at the motoring organisation told us that all councils outside London would likely follow suit, triggering 'the dam holding parking fines to a reasonable level to burst'. In a letter sent to Councillor Earl on Friday, Mr Bosdet said the AA sympathised with the authority's plight of illegal parkers, especially during summer months, but said it opposed the request to increase fines because it 'does not believe the vast majority of visitors set off with the intention to block roads and dodge parking charges or fines'. Bosdet also pointed out that the request to increase fines is not targeted to 'rogue parking problem areas' but instead applies widely and at all times, not just peak visitor periods. As a result, drivers who genuinely fail to display a parking ticket correctly by error are at risk of getting stung for the full 160 fine. 'The AA has to consider the mistake element of parking offences, whether that is down to pay-by-phone not working or elderly drivers not understanding what they are supposed to do. These offences are very different from deliberately parking illegally,' Bosdet said. He also took issue with the council's suggestion that the 23.60 cost of 14 hours parking in the area was too close to the 25 discounted cost of fines, meaning there was little deterrent for driver considering parking illegally. 'That may be true but it is a situation that successive BCP councils have helped to create,' the AA spokesman said. 'Ramping up the cost of parking for summer visitors is not exclusive to Bournemouth but it has been taken to a level way above what most other resorts charge.' The AA also pointed to BCP Councils statistics regarding the trial, namely that it achieved a less than 10 per cent change in parking behaviour, suggesting it wasnt as successful as the council had attempted to present. 'The report claims that the trial thwarted an expected increase in offending, which I hope is true. However, the wider application of London-level fines to offences not directly connected to the specific summer parking problem will likely have distorted the results,' Bosdet said in his letter to the authority. Cllr Richard Herrett, portfolio holder with responsibility for commercial operations at BCP Council, responded to the AA with a response shared with Daily Mail and This is Money. 'Let's be clear: this trial was approved by the Secretary of State for Transport to see if it would reduce illegal and irresponsible parking, and it did just that. Its a shame that the AA have chosen to cherry pick statistics and highlight them rather than looking at the report as a whole,' Herrett said. 'Illegal parking doesn't exist only in the month of August - and our residents want tougher action to be taken all year round, not just across a handful of locations on a handful of dates. 'As councillors, illegal and dangerous parking around schools is consistently one of the top topics in our inboxes. 'We know that people keep coming back to enjoy the best of what we have to offer: the last thing they want, when they get here, is to be stuck behind illegally parked cars who have no regard for public safety or accessibility. 'This trial clearly demonstrates that illegal parking across our area has long been the result of irresponsible choices. 'Making higher rate PCNs permanent would mean safer roads and pavements for everyone, everyday: that seems a fair, reasonable solution to us, to residents, and to businesses across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole - its a shame the AA won't support that.' Luke Bosdet, public affairs officer at the AA told Daily Mail and This is Money that all councils outside London would likely follow suit if the DfT allows for the higher parking PCNs to be enforced. This will trigger 'the dam holding parking fines to a reasonable level to burst', he said Bosdet also pointed out that the request to increase fines is not targeted to 'rogue parking problem areas' but instead applies widely and at all times, not just peak visitor periods during the summer when holidaymakers and sun worshipers flock to Dorset beaches Increases to parking fines and residents' permits London parking penalty charges were hiked last April by Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, with the cost of PCNs increased by 30. Band A areas (higher-level charges) went up from 130 to 160, while Band B areas rose from 110 to 140. The change comes off the back of a request by London Councils - who represent the capital's local authorities collectively - to stop 'anti-social and obstructive parking' in the city. Elsewhere, Bath and North East Somerset Council has confirmed this week that it will press ahead with further consultation on plans to introduce vehicle size-based charges for residents' parking permits. The move would mean owners of large SUVs could pay more than those with small hatchbacks, with the tiniest motors also receiving discounts. Under the proposals, a vehicle's dimensions would be measured in square metres by multiplying its length by its width, excluding wing mirrors, with 11 different charging bands in total. The smallest cars, measuring up to five square metres, would qualify for a 20 discount on a first permit, while the motors with the largest surface areas of more than 14 square metres would face a maximum extra charge of 112.08 for a first permit and 308.22 for a second permit. According to the council's public consultation on the size-based charges, 50 per cent of residents supported the policy while 44 per cent opposed. Investment trust BlackRock Energy and Resources Income is very much overshadowed by its sister fund BlackRock World Mining it's a tenth the size and 12 years younger. Yet there is a lot to admire about the stock market-listed trust. Its overall performance numbers are better than World Mining over the past five years 139 versus 110 per cent but inferior over the past one and three years. And in terms of dividends, it is currently providing shareholders with a growing annual income, with dividend targets set in advance by the board. The payment target for the current financial quarter is 1.25p a share, equating to an annual income of 5p. If met, it would exceed last year's annual payment of 4.75p. By way of comparison, the income generated by World Mining is more haphazard. 'Income is an important part of what shareholders want from this trust,' says Tom Holl, who runs the 189 million trust with Mark Hume. 'Yet in terms of the dividend yield, it has come down in response to the trust's strong capital performance.' The shares are up more than 50 per cent over the past year, resulting in a current dividend yield of 2.6 per cent and a share price of around 1.84. But the biggest stand-out feature of the trust is its flexible approach to capturing returns, whether capital or income. In terms of investments, the managers are happy to invest in conventional energy companies (oil and gas producers) such as Shell and US-listed Chevron, which are currently top-ten holdings in the trust. These types of company account for just under a quarter of the fund's assets. Alongside these are investments in mining companies and businesses involved in the transition to clean energy. Respective exposure is just above 40 per cent and 35 per cent. The theme that currently excites Holl the most is the demand for electricity, sparked by the need for data centres to fuel the artificial intelligence boom. Opportunities, he says, abound, adding: 'Grid companies and electricity generation businesses were once considered low growth companies. But data centres and the drive towards electrification that energy transition demands are changing that. 'It's quite exciting, from an investment point of view.' The result is a top-ten stake in UK-listed energy provider SSE which it has built up over the past year. It also has a position in Elia Group, which is a grid operator in both Belgium and Germany. Key holdings in mining companies include UK-listed Glencore and Anglo American. Miners, says Holl, are big beneficiaries of the energy transition story as a result of the need for various metals for example, a mix of aluminium, copper, silicon and silver is used in the production of solar panels. On the income front, the trust gets most of it from dividends paid by the companies it invests in. But this is topped up by income from both holdings in corporate bonds and trading in options. 'It's about using the tools available to us as managers of an investment trust,' says Holl. The trust's shares trade at a small discount to the value of the underlying assets, in part a result of the board's strategy to buy back shares when the discount widens. Holl hopes in time that the trust can grow in size. 'We enjoy running it,' he says, 'and the board push us as investment managers all the time.' The fund's annual charges total 1.15 per cent and its stock market ticker and identification code are respectively BERI and B0N8MF9. EXCLUSIVE King Charles' state visit to US should be delayed until Iran war is over and 'tensions die down' between Trump and Starmer, Whitehall insiders say As the Biodiversity Heritage Library enters its new chapter following the completion of its transition to a new fiscal sponsor, it is important to acknowledge that BHLs biggest strength lies not in its platform, nor in its 63 million pages, but in its people. For nearly two decades, a small, deeply committed team has carried the responsibility of keeping BHL online, stable, and accessible to a global community. Much of that work happens behind the scenes, often invisible to the users who rely on BHL every day. Securing that expertise and institutional knowledge has been a central goal of the BHL transition. That goal has been achieved: this week marks the completion of staff transitions from the Smithsonian Institution to BHLs fiscal sponsor, the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). All of BHLs existing staff positions have been secured, preserving the leadership, institutional knowledge, and operational continuity that underpin BHLs work. Together, the BHL staff are responsible for implementing the Consortiums vision, mission, and strategic goals, under the direction of the Members Council and Executive Committee. As BHL moves forward, the people who know the organization best remain at its core. BHL is in excellent hands. Meet the BHL Team Colleen Funkhouser Managing Director (transitioning from BHL Program Manager) Since joining BHL in 2020, Colleen Funkhouser has provided steady, strategic leadership across BHLs programmatic, administrative, and financial operations. She brings deep expertise in library and nonprofit program management, and plays a central role in coordinating day-to-day operations across a complex, global consortium. In her role as Program Manager, Colleen has overseen financial management, contracts, compliance, reporting, and project coordination across BHLs global consortium. Her work has been especially critical during periods of disruption and change, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the departure of BHLs Program Director in 2024, and BHLs recent transition planning. Colleens calm, measured leadership has been central to effective crisis response, sustainability planning, operational restructuring, and the practical work of moving BHL into a new fiscal and organizational model. As she moves into the role of BHL Managing Director under CLIR, Colleen will continue to provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring that BHL remains stable, accountable, and well positioned for the future. Bianca Crowley Digital Collections Manager Bianca Crowley has worked on almost every aspect of the BHL collection. Starting as BHLs Collections Coordinator in 2009, she has facilitated the workflows, policies, and partnerships that make it possible for BHL to aggregate and steward biodiversity literature and archival materials from institutions around the world. As Digital Collections Manager and Chair of BHLs Collections Committee, Bianca works at the intersection of collections, copyright, metadata, and community practice. She supports a global network of partners by providing training and documentation, and ensuring that BHLs collection is as accessible, discoverable, usable, and comprehensive as possible. Bianca is an indispensable bridge between policy, technology, and practice. She led the development of BHLs Collection Development Policy and the Acknowledgment of Harmful Content, helping BHL respond thoughtfully and responsibly to its historical collections. Her deep knowledge of BHL systems and history, along with her steady stewardship of the collection, has been essential throughout BHLs growth and transition. Mike Lichtenberg Lead Software Engineer Mike Lichtenberg has been BHLs Software Engineer since 2007, making him one of the longest-serving members of the BHL team. Over nearly two decades, he has designed, built, and maintained the systems that underpin BHLs platform, transforming ambitious goals into reliable, scalable infrastructure. With more than 30 years of experience in software engineering, Mike brings deep expertise in application architecture, database design, and system integration. His work has supported everything from large-scale digitization workflows to data extraction, analysis, and reuse, enabling BHL to serve researchers, libraries, and biodiversity infrastructures worldwide. Mike has worked consistently across BHLs technical and non-technical teams, translating needs into solutions across nearly 20 years of BHLs technical evolution. Throughout the transition, his technical leadership and continuity have been critical to ensuring that BHLs core systems remain stable and robust as the organization plans for future infrastructure development. Joel Richard BHL Technical Coordinator Joel Richard has supported BHLs technical operations since 2009 and continues to play a vital role as BHL Technical Coordinator. Based at the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, where he serves as Head of Web and IT, Joel brings more than three decades of experience in software engineering, web development, and infrastructure design. Joel is the lead developer and maintainer of Macaw, BHLs content integration and metadata collection system, which has enabled millions of pages to flow into BHL from partners around the world. He has overseen the reliability and integration of BHLs technical systems, providing continuity and deep institutional knowledge across a complex, long-running technical platform. As BHL moves forward, Joel will continue to support BHL in his role as Technical Coordinator, ensuring technical stability and continuity. He remains a key part of BHLs operational ecosystem, and his long-standing commitment to BHL, alongside his broader advocacy for open and accessible infrastructure, will continue to shape and strengthen BHLs technical future. Kelli Trei BHL Transition Director Kelli Trei has played a central leadership role in guiding BHL through the most significant change in its history. Before taking on the temporary role of BHL Transition Director in mid-2025, Kelli served as Vice Chair of BHLs Executive Committee, providing strategic oversight and helping guide BHLs governance. As Transition Director, she has helped steer BHL from its long-standing administrative home at the Smithsonian Institution to a new operational model. She has worked closely with BHLs Secretariat, Executive Committee, and partners to ensure continuity, clarity, and stability throughout the process. In her professional role as Biosciences Librarian at the Funk ACES Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Kelli brings deep experience in supporting scientific research communities and understanding the information needs of scientists. That perspective has been invaluable during the transition, informing both strategic decision-making and the practical work of re-establishing BHLs administrative, governance, and operational foundations. Kellis long-standing commitment to BHLs mission has been a steady guiding force throughout the transition, helping position BHL for a confident and resilient next chapter. Nicole Kearney BHL Communications Director As BHLs Communications Director, Nicole Kearney is responsible for internal and external communications across the global consortium. Throughout the transition, she helped articulate complex change and maintain trust by shaping advocacy messaging, delivering regular transition updates, and leading BHLs fundraising campaign. Nicole also manages BHL Australia, where she oversees digitization operations, copyright clearance, contributor liaison, strategic planning, reporting, staffing, and stakeholder engagement. Under her leadership, BHL Australia has grown from four contributing organizations into a national consortium of 64. Nicole also chairs BHLs Persistent Identifier Working Group, which she established in 2020 to bring BHL content into the modern, linked network of scholarly research. A passionate advocate for open access and interoperable data, she works to ensure biodiversity literature remains discoverable, trackable, and connected. Looking Ahead The transition to CLIR secures BHLs staff, expertise, and operational capacity. The people who understand BHLs history, systems, and community are still doing the work. Core services continue, and BHLs relationships across its global community remain intact. BHLs future depends on infrastructure, governance, and funding, but it also depends on people. It depends on long-term commitment, deep institutional knowledge, and steady leadership. This team has carried that responsibility tirelessly and consistently, through growth, change, and uncertainty. As BHL looks ahead to the next phase of its development, we do so with confidence and gratitude. The foundations are strong, the people are in place, and BHL is well positioned to continue serving the global biodiversity community for years to come. Tesla's self-driving robotaxis are allegedly sparking chaos on the streets of Austin, Texas as they have been found to cause more than four times as many crashes than human drivers. A total of 14 crashes have been recorded in the eight months since the driverless cars debuted in June last year, according to a bombshell National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report. The number counts for almost two crashes per month since the vehicles were rolled out, even as the vehicles have been billed as the future of travel by CEO Elon Musk. Users have frequently complained of erratic driving, abrupt braking and reactions to inanimate objects while riding in the autonomous cars. The first crash reported just weeks into the rollout last July involved a 2026 Tesla Model Y that struck an SUV at about two miles per hour, and the initial report said it caused property damage but no injuries. But in December, the report was quietly updated to note that the crash had actually resulted in one hospitalization for minor injuries. No other details were available, as Tesla's crash reports are heavily redacted and specifics are often marked as 'MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION.' Tesla is the only major autonomous driving company to report its crashes like this, which limits public knowledge into the specifics of its accidents. From December to January, the automaker reported a further five accidents, including a robotaxi smashing into a bus that has sparked an investigation by the Austin Police Department. A total of 14 crashes involving 2026 Tesla Model Y robotaxis have been reported since last June in Austin, per a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report The bus crash was the only one of the 14 involving a robotaxi to be investigated by law enforcement. Among other crashes involving the futuristic cars include one in September, when a Tesla was reported to have struck a cyclist. The collision did not result in injuries, but did cause property damage, the NHTSA report said. That same month, the fastest recorded speed among the incidents was marked at 27mph, when a vehicle hit an animal crossing the roadway. Several other accidents vaguely described Teslas striking unspecified objects, generally at speeds less than 10 mph. At least seven of the crashes were reported to have taken place in cloudy weather. Tesla had previously warned that inclement conditions could limit availability of its self-driving service. The limited detail in Tesla's crash reports is a stark contrast to the other automakers listed in the NHTSA report - such as Waymo, Zoox and Avride - who provide detailed descriptions of crashes. For example, a Waymo report from December specified the streets involved and noted how the autonomous car 'activated its horn and hazard lights' before a separate vehicle 'continued to reverse' and crashed into it. On the other hand, Tesla reports from the same period include many redactions, hiding details about the moments before and after the crashes. Accidents involving the self-driving vehicles have included a robotaxi slamming into a bus and a collision with an SUV The vehicles have been billed as the future of travel by Elon Musk , but users have frequently complained of erratic driving, abrupt braking and reactions to inanimate objects while riding in the autonomous cars The vast majority of crashes occurred at intersections, on streets and in parking lots, with users saying the vehicles can struggle to analyze the road when faced with a large number of obstructions. Automakers are required under federal regulations to submit crash reports to the NHTSA. If the agency determines a vehicle has a safety defect, it can subsequently request a recall. Tesla first launched its robotaxi service in Austin in June 2025, starting with roughly a dozen vehicles that had accompanying human safety monitors seated in the front passenger seat. The automaker went on to debut vehicles with no human monitors by January, despite a number of crashes having already taken place. Early access was limited to a select group of vetted customers, including investors and fans, and the first invitations warned that the self-driving service 'may be limited or unavailable in the event of inclement weather.' At the time, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the automaker was approaching the robotaxis' rollout cautiously. 'We're going to be extremely paranoid about the deployment as we should be,' Musk said. 'It would be foolish not to be so we'll be watching what the cars are doing very carefully.' The least five Tesla robotaxi crashes were reported in December and January, according to the NHTSA Tesla initially launched its robotaxi service in Austin in June 2025, starting with approximately a dozen vehicles that initially had human safety monitors in the cars' front passenger seat Yet within a month of the rollout, the NHTSA said it had contacted Tesla about reports of its robotaxis making numerous mistakes, including driving on the wrong side of the road or making abrupt maneuvers. The agency said in a statement that it was gathering additional information and would then 'take any necessary actions to protect road safety.' Despite the already-reported accidents, Tesla began offering driverless rides without safety monitors in January after some testing the previous month. When Tesla decided to run the vehicles without human monitors in January, Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's vice president of AI software, said it was starting with just 'a few' vehicles to pilot the driverless tech. Today, Tesla's Austin fleet now includes about 44 vehicles, according to Electrek. However, the service is available for only about 19 percent of its operating hours. This means that only a limited number of robotaxis actually operate at any given time, which often leaves many riders unable to book trips. While the NHTSA report details 14 incidents, riders who have tried the driverless taxis have also complained of erratic driving throughout their trips, even if they did not collide with anything. Videos posted online show some robotaxis braking abruptly or swerving in response to objects in the road - with one passenger sharing a clip of a human monitor appearing to be asleep at the wheel as they passed through an intersection. Musk has predicted that the Cybercab, an autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals, will eventually become Tesla's highest-volume car Musk has suggested that Tesla is set to prioritize its driverless vehicles and shift its focus away from its existing car lineup. 'We're really moving into a future that is based on autonomy,' he said in January. That includes the Cybercab, a two-door car without a steering wheel or pedals that Musk has predicted will eventually become Tesla's most made vehicle. 'We're making big investments for an epic future,' he said. Musk has argued that self-driving vehicles will improve road safety - despite Tesla's repeated accidents since launching its robotaxi fleet in Austin. 'General transportation is going to be better served by autonomy as it will be safer and cheaper,' he said. Tesla touts its next generation robotaxi as a 'purpose-built fully autonomous vehicle,' though it is yet to announce a launch date. On Tuesday, the company said the first Cybercab rolled off the production line at its Austin factory, even as the vehicle is still waiting to be cleared by federal regulators. Tesla plans to expand its driverless car lineup into Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Las Vegas in 2026. The company already offers robotaxi rides in the Bay Area, but those are not fully autonomous since they still feature human drivers behind the wheel. The Daily Mail has reached out to Tesla and the Austin Police Department for comment. Australian weathermen have received vicious death threats after false claims of a feud sparked hateful trolling, sharing of personal information and violent messages. Higgins Storm Chasing founder Jeffrey Higgins shared an alarming Facebook post with his audience on Wednesday, saying he was 'feeling scared'. Mr Higgins, whose social media forecasting page is free for the public to view, claimed he and his family were receiving menacing messages. 'Multiple death threats, threats of violence and harm, including slicing my wife's throat open,' he wrote on Wednesday. 'Hate speech towards myself and staff on pages inciting others to conduct similar behaviour. Just the start of a long list - can't say it all right now. 'I'm very sorry but we are far from ok [at the moment]. Our situation is actually much worse than what you might think. 'Just need to find the support, strength, courage and right way or words to speak out and let the full honest truth be known. 'Trying really, really hard to keep it together and strong. Thank you, sincerely.' Higgins Storm Chasing founder Jeffrey Higgins shared an alarming Facebook post with his audience, saying he was 'feeling scared' after receiving hateful threats Mr Higgins (pictured left with colleague Thomas Hinterdorfer) told his followers one message included death threats towards him and his family One person allegedly threatened to slit his wife's throat He said he has reported the threats to police Fellow social media forecaster David Taylor said he has also been the victim of horrific bullying, threats and trolling. On his webpage Brisbane Weather, he had included some personal details for followers to share their wild weather experiences. But in a petty act of intimidation, those details were posted on the classifieds website Craigslist, which had sparked a series of unsolicited, suggestive messages. He also received an email confirming that someone had registered him for 'Gay Porn Tube' without his knowledge. He addressed the ordeal on Wednesday, the same day as Mr Higgins, with a statement about the 'inappropriate threats and violence'. 'Brisbane Weather has been receiving death threats, and sadly, our business phone number and email have been exploited - used in ads and other malicious ways,' he wrote. 'This is disgusting, and it's unacceptable. To the people doing this - stop. Grow up. It's not just a page; it's a family, and we're here to stay. 'I've been made aware that another weather page is also facing similar abuse. I don't care about any rivalry - no page deserves this.' Fellow social media forecaster David Taylor (pictured) has also been the victim of horrific bullying, threats and trolling in the last few weeks Messages to Mr Taylor (pictured) showed his personal details had been shared in four Craigslist listings that promised users a 'good time' It is understood the ordeal for both weathermen began when speculation circulated earlier in the year that they were feuding. But Mr Taylor strongly denied any war of words and told the Daily Mail he stood with Mr Higgins against the 'crap' Text messages and emails, seen by the Daily Mail, revealed strangers had approached Mr Taylor for a 'good time', citing four listings posted on Craigslist. The weatherman said the listings were fake. Others sent threatening messages, asking if he had 'ever seen it rain blood', referring to him as a 'cuck', and calling him a 'flog of a weatherman'. Mr Taylor told the Daily Mail he and his family were staying 'low and safe' after the threats began at the end of January. He said he reported the comments to police on three occasions: January 30, February 11 and February 18. Mr Higgins declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail, adding that the matter had been referred to police. It is understood the ordeal for both weathermen began when speculation circulated last month that they were feuding. The Courier Mail published audio in January which it claimed captured Mr Taylor berating Mr Higgins. It alleged Mr Taylor said his fellow social media forecaster was 'attacking him', then added 'I hope he f***ing drowns in that'. But in conversation with the Daily Mail this week, Mr Taylor strongly denied any feud, stating he stands with Mr Higgins. 'I don't have anything against Mr Higgins and have no contact with him currently,' he said. 'It's the media and certain people who love pushing something that's not there and I see Mr Higgins is being threatened as well. 'I stand with him on this crap.' Joh Bailey salon at the centre of nasty message to bride A celebrity favourite Sydney hair salon figurehead has broken her silence after scathing comments about a bride's wedding day hairdo went viral when they were accidentally sent to the bride herself. Marilyn Koch, co-founder and matriarch behind renowned Double Bay hairstylist Joh Bailey, spoke out after the hurtful messages were read by newlywed Jessica Leis. Ms Leis had used the salon to style her bridesmaids for the luxury wedding at La Gemme Estate, a French chateau in the NSW Southern Highlands, late last month. Ms Koch believed she was privately messaging staff in a group chat after Ms Leis hired the salon for her bridal party, but not for the bride's own hair. But the bride was still in the group chat. When approached by the Daily Mail at her flagship salon on Thursday, Ms Koch distanced herself from the scandal. 'Darling, we don't speak about our clients, that's our company policy,' she said. 'We love our clients and we don't speak about them. We're not getting involved, we run a good, healthy business. We're busy, we love our clients... that's it.' The saga came to light after a friend of Ms Leis shared a TikTok captioned: 'POV: Your hairdresser forgot to remove you from the group chat on your wedding day' New bride Jess Leis is seen getting her hair done by Dom Pelli When approached by the Daily Mail at her Double Bay flagship on Thursday, salon matriarch Marilyn Koch (pictured) distanced herself from the scandal Bride Jess Leis and her 11 bridesmaids pictured at her wedding at La Gemme Estate, a French chateau in the Southern Highlands, late last month She included screenshots in the video which appeared to show a photo of the bride followed by a string of catty remarks. 'Have you ever? Worst hair!' the message read. 'They missed out! Idiots. The husband looks awful also xx.' Another stylist chimed in with a disparaging comment about the bridesmaids' dresses. 'Those dresses are so w***y yum,' the message read. Ms Leis replied with a pointed 'thanks' and a kissing-face emoji. The tone of the chat quickly took a sharp turn with Koch trying to heal any rift. 'All look happy that's the best thing,' she replied. 'What we think doesn't matter. Thanks for all your efforts.' Joh Bailey was responsible for doing the bridesmaids' hair while bride Jess Leis (pictured) was styled by Dom Pelli Groom Jay Fink was close to tears after learning he too was a victim of the nasty messages that went viral on social media 'Darling we don't speak about our clients, that's our company policy, we love our clients and we don't speak about them,' Marilyn Koch told the Daily Mail Groom Jay Fink, the co-founder of popular cafe S'WICH in Bondi and Redfern, was unaware he was also criticised in the messages exchange. 'Was I? Yeah, I don't want to get involved,' he told the Daily Mail on Thursday. He was later seen engaging in an emotional phone call, understood to be with his newlywed wife, and was seen with his hands covering his mouth in shock. Hairstylist Dom Pelli, who was behind Ms Leis and her mother's hair for the big day, has since taken to social media to address the scandal. 'It was sad to see this hairdresser has rubbished my work and the worst hair she had ever seen, that cut me up a little bit,' he said on his TikTok account. 'We had one job to do, hers was to do the bridesmaids, mine was to look after the bride and the mum.' He said the bride had engaged his services because of his expertise in that area. 'I do this every weekend,' he said. 'I've worked hard to find my place in the bridal industry. The nasty messages found their way to TikTok and have since gone viral Marilyn Koch is the right-hand woman to salon icon, Joh Bailey Jay is the co-founder of popular sandwich shop S'WICH in Bondi and Redfern 'Most of the brides I do aren't my clients - they're not reaching out to their hairdressers, they're reaching out to someone in bridal.' Since the message scandal, Ms Leis, who works nearby at a local medical practice, is now believed to have switched to a rival Double Bay hairdresser for her regular styling The newlyweds had married at a lavish ceremony with 11 bridesmaids dressed in yellow floor-length gowns, neck tie and oversized bows at the back. The bride wore a strapless lace gown with a lace veil and a corset back by Velani Couture. The pair spared no expense on their big day, hiring After The Rock wedding planners, currently the go-to planners for Sydney's elite. The Green Partys candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election faces allegations of hypocrisy for jetting off on foreign holidays and co-owning homes worth over 1m. Hannah Spencers Instagram account also shows the environmentally conscious prospective MP posing next to what appears to be a petrol car emblazoned with campaign slogans. Ms Spencer, 34, is the leading left-wing candidate against Reform UKs Matt Goodwin, a former university academic turned GB News presenter. Labour - defending the seat previously held by Andrew Gwynne who stepped down after being part of a WhatsApp group which exchanged messages mocking voters - is expected to lose heavily in Thursdays vote. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was blocked from standing by the partys National Executive Committee and Angeliki Stogia, a local councillor, has been selected instead. Ms Spencer announced her candidacy with a press release declaring: Greens pick local plumber to win Gorton and Denton. Hannah Spencer, 34, is vying against Reform UK to win the Denton and Gorton by-election Hannah Spencer poses on the steps of a tram in San Francisco on trip to the US in 2014 Green Party candidate Ms Spencer also travelled to Valencia, in Spain, in 2016 She told locals: Ive lived in the constituency and still work here. So I know the issues and what people want to change. But while Denton and Gorton contains some of Greater Manchesters most deprived neighbourhoods with incomes 25pc below the national average, Ms Spencer owns two houses in Greater Manchesters most affluent postcodes with her former biochemist partner Dr Stephen Holman. Separately, her social media account shows numerous long and short-haul holidays. Trips documented on social media include Amsterdam in 2018, separate Spanish trips to Valencia and Barcelona in 2016 and a trans-Atlantic jaunt in 2014 to New York and San Francisco. The same year, she also travelled to Hungary. In another social media post from February 8, Ms Spencer poses next to a car covered in the Green Partys logo and campaign slogans however the vehicle appears not to be an eco-friendly electric or hybrid model but a Turbo petrol-powered Vauxhall Astra. Meanwhile, in a 2016 Instagram post mocking the Brexsh*t referendum result, Ms Spencer described how she joked with a customer that leaving the European Union would make life more expensive. Youre all gonna pay more for me to come and fix your toilet, she wrote, accompanied by the hashtag #worldsmostexpensiveplumber. Residents in the former Gorton and Reddish seat, a major part of the Denton and Gorton constituency created after a reorganisation voted to leave the EU by 61.4pc to 38.6pc. Posing in Amsterdam, Ms Spencer on yet another foreign trip in 2018 Ms Spencer poses beside what appears to be a petrol-powered car with campaign slogans Ms Spencer, standing in a constituency with many Brexit supporters, joked in 2016 that leaving the EU would push up her prices using a profane play on the word 'Brexit' Ms Spencer and Dr Holman were living in a smart terraced home in affluent Sale, and splurged 750,000 on another property less than five miles away in Altrincham 18 months ago. Voters in Gorton spoke of their disappointment at the Green Party candidate's hypocrisy over her love of flying and foreign holidays. They also criticised her for owning two homes when many were struggling with the cost of living. Grandmother Irene Baxter, 77, said: It's pretty outrageous. How can she stand for a party that wants to clamp down on air travel when she jets all over the world herself? I was going to vote for her as I've had it with Labour and all their lies. But she seems to be like the rest of them. Airport worker Paul Hall, 43, said: I liked the sounds of her as she's a local. She came across as a down-to plumber. But to find out she's got lots of money with two homes is outrageous. How can she stand as a Green candidate when she loves air travel and jetting off around the world? She's a hypocrite. Self-employed Mike Kerr, 49, said: She shouldn't stand as an MP if she doesn't do what she preaches. Neighbours living close to Ms Spencer and her husbands new home in Altrincham said the couple have not moved in but had been seen working on the property. One said: It's looks worse now than when they first bought it. It looks abandoned now and is really scruffy. Everyone is wondering what is going on with it. Locals were unimpressed by Ms Spencer's love of travelling and air travel. Pensioner Jim Hughes, 71, said: I thought the Greens were all about the environment not polluting the planet with long haul flights. It's a shame as she seems such a nice, down-to-earth woman. Another neighbour said: It's not a good look when you see her jetting off to San Francisco and New York, especially when the Green Party preaches about protecting the environment. Given the Altrincham house has been empty for so long, one local queried whether Ms Spencer and her partner paid stamp duty for the address as their main home, or as a second property, which would attract a higher rate. Opponent Mr Goodwin is a former politics professor at the University of Kent and before that was a politics lecturer at the University of Nottingham. Although born in Watford, the 45-year-olds family moved to Greater Manchester where his parents took roles as senior NHS bosses. Reform UK's Matt Goodwin launches his campaign in Denton and Gorton with Nigel Farage He and his ex-wife - who have a young daughter - used to own a 900,000 house in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Divorced Mr Goodwin has publicly stated he will move to the seat if he wins. The Green Party revealed Ms Spencer has split from her partner but remains co-owner of the properties. It did not respond to questions about the stamp duty. A Green Party spokesperson said: 'Ms Spencer has split from her partner but remains on the paperwork for the houses. said: 'Hannah Spencer is a real life, working class, human being. That is why she is proving so popular with voters in Gorton & Denton. 'The Green Party doesn't believe people should be deprived of transport or holidays. 'We do believe in making public transport easier to use by bringing the railways back into public ownership and improving bus services. 'We also want to see a frequent-flyer levy introduced for the tiny percentage of people who use planes like personal taxis. 'Hannah's ex-partner worked hard to save up and put down the deposit on an uninhabitable building that is in the process of being renovated. 'Hannah's name is currently on the paperwork and, like many people who have gone through a similar process will know, it can be complex and takes time to untangle personal financial and living arrangements.' Australia should not be in the business of helping Islamic State fellow travellers find their way back to Australian streets. That is the core of what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week when asked about the so-called ISIS brides and their children attempting to leave camps in northern Syria. Albo bluntly made it clear that his government will do nothing to assist their return, and the mothers 'made this decision' and 'put their children in this position'. He's exactly right, and the politics of inhibiting their return is obvious and simple. Albo is undoubtedly reflecting the feelings of the majority of Australians, especially in the wake of the Bondi terrorist massacre perpetrated under the banner of ISIS. However, the how-to policy guide Albo is drawing on, simply saying 'we won't help', isn't quite the same as promising 'they won't come'. Mainstream Australians would prefer that the latter assurance was given. At issue is whether it can be done, legally and morally. The brides and their children are still Australian citizens, even if the women made the choices they did and their kids have never even been to Australia. One of the most infamous photos from the ISIS conflict - Australian terrorist Mohammed Elomar wields beheaded heads... he was killed in an airstrike in 2015 Albo has said the government will not help so-called ISIS brides and their children return to Australia 'But he how-to policy guide Albo is drawing on, simply saying 'we won't help', isn't quite the same as promising 'they won't come'. Mainstream Australians would prefer that the latter assurance was given,' writes Peter van Onselen If someone is an Australian citizen, the Commonwealth's power to permanently bar their entry is constrained. That's why Home Affairs has reached for a rarely used tool: temporary exclusion orders, rather than a blanket ban. Reuters reports that these orders can exclude certain citizens aged 14 and above for up to two years on security advice. The obvious follow-up question is how 'temporary' is temporary if governments keep renewing the exclusion? Given the circumstances and the timing right now, if the exclusions can be legally renewed, I say do it. Because the alternative is sleepwalking into a situation where people who chose a terrorist state, who lived under its rules, and who were part of its social ecosystem, can land at an Australian airport and dare authorities to deal with them after the fact. We aren't talking about naive backpackers who made a bad romantic choice. We are talking about adults (by and large) who left a safe, wealthy, liberal democracy and travelled to live in a territory controlled by an organisation that executed, enslaved, raped, beheaded and broadcast its propaganda as recruitment theatre. They opted into that, almost universally with eyes wide open to the brutality being committed, because they agreed with the radical cause. They only want out now because the project collapsed. There can be no guarantee that they are converts who have seen the error of their extremist ways. There is a tendency, pushed by activists and echoed by parts of the political left, to reframe this as a humanitarian story about women and children. It's emotionally potent, but it's also deliberately evasive. My former colleague on The Project, Hamish Macdonald, used that line of questioning when interviewing the PM, even claiming that Labor is going harder than the previous Coalition government did. Macdonald invoked the Morrison government's 2019 repatriation of ISIS orphans, and pressed the argument that Australian children should therefore come home this time too. The ISIS brides were named on Friday. They included Aminah Zahab, whose son convinced her and other family members to go to Syria Albo rightly slapped down the false equivalence with a pretty obvious retort: 'We can't bring the children back without their mothers'. That is not heartlessness, it's realism. Further, they are not Australian kids in the ordinary sense. Many have never even been here. They were born into, or raised inside, a radicalised ISIS set-up. The likelihood is that many are the children of ISIS fighters, men who joined a movement explicitly committed to mass murder. That doesn't make the children guilty, of course. But it does make the security and integration challenge categorically different from a normal child welfare case. And Australia is allowed to weigh that reality up when deciding whether to build a government-run pathway to assist in their return. Nor should anyone pretend that this debate exists in a vacuum. Australia has just been through the Bondi Beach terror massacre, which police have described as ISIS-inspired, and which involved homemade ISIS flags. In that environment, when social cohesion is fragile and extremist content circulates faster than institutions can respond to, the last thing any responsible government should do is import foreseeable risk and then feign surprise if it metastasises. So what can actually be done? Firstly, stop providing practical assistance. The PM's position, that the Commonwealth will not facilitate their return, should be treated as the minimum baseline. 'The PM's position, that the Commonwealth will not facilitate their return, should be treated as the minimum baseline' There should be no government coordination whatsoever, no quiet repatriation lanes, no sympathetic bureaucratic workarounds that contradict public statements by the politicians in charge. If they cannot travel without Australian help, that is the consequence of their own decisions. Second, the government must use all the tools and loopholes already on the books. Temporary exclusion orders exist for a reason. They are designed for terrorism-related risks. If the legal threshold is met, use them and do it consistently, not selectively. Next, be ruthless about prosecutions and post-return controls if anyone does make it back. The 'full force of the law' can't just be a slogan. Charges must be laid where the evidence permits. Control orders must be used as a workaround where convictions aren't possible. The government shouldn't indulge those who plead victimhood after years of complicity because the public has had enough. The government has publicly emphasised the ideological threat and the security agencies' advice. Treat that advice as operational, not performative political theatre. Labor also needs to tighten passport and document processes so that civil rights don't become a bureaucratic escort service. The public reporting around this episode has included the uncomfortable detail that some of these people appear to have had Australian travel documents issued already. If the law compelled that then parliament should revisit the circumstances and re-write the laws. At the very least, passports should be cancelled wherever lawful, and any re-issuing of passports should be treated as an exceptional act requiring senior sign-off and security clearance, not a default administrative response that allows politicians to throw their arms in the air and claim it had nothing to do with them. The first duty of the Commonwealth isn't to rescue a small number of citizens (including some who have never set foot here) from the consequences of their ideological choices. It is to protect the rest of us from the dangers those appalling choices can bring home The hardest part, which needs to be looked at seriously, is how to legally cancel their citizenships altogether, to bring this matter to an end. There is a popular instinct that supports rendering them stateless if need be. Especially in the aftermath of Bondi. The problem is that the law doesn't currently give Canberra a clean, broad power to do that. Under the current citizenship cessation framework described by Home Affairs, a court can order cessation only where the person is a dual national, aged 14 or over, convicted of serious offences, and the conduct shows repudiation of allegiance. That is not a tool for rendering single-passport Australians stateless, unfortunately. And Australia is constrained by international obligations aimed at preventing statelessness. If our top legal scholars can find a way around that, it's time we look into it. The law has never been an exact science. There are plenty of states around the world, including liberal democracies, that are prepared to take on the supposedly unimpeachable idea of canceling the citizenships of sole nationals. The first duty of the Commonwealth isn't to rescue a small number of citizens (including some who have never set foot here) from the consequences of their ideological choices. It is to protect the rest of us from the dangers those appalling choices can bring home. Sarah Ferguson checked herself into the most expensive wellness clinic in the world as details about her close friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein ruined her, the Daily Mail can reveal. The former Duchess of York, 66, fled the UK as she and her ex-husband became embroiled in the growing Epstein scandal which culminated in his arrest on Thursday. While Andrew was photographed repeatedly in Windsor and then on the Sandringham estate, Ms Ferguson has not been seen in public since her fleeting appearance at her granddaughter Athenas Christening at St Jamess Palace on December 12. This prompted global speculation about where the former royal has been living - and the Daily Mail has now established that, for much of the time, she has been sheltering in a famous Swiss clinic. Fergie secretly took refuge in the world-renowned 13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, over a month ago. A Swiss source told the Daily Mail: Sarah left for Zurich just after Christmas, and stayed until the end of January. She always feels at home at Paracelsus, and knows shell get love and attention there, as well as expert health treatment when shes feeling at her most vulnerable. The lakeside clinic offers several different month-long recovery programmes for ultra-wealthy clients. Individuals will have access to 15 medical experts, as well as a chauffeur and a private chef. Fergie's low profile over the last six months has sparked speculation about her whereabouts. On September 16, 2025 she attended the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral with Andrew Sarah Ferguson pictured arriving at Clarence House on December 12, 2025 for the christening of her daughter Beatrice's baby Athena - the last time she has been seen in public Fergie secretly took refuge in the world-renowned 13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, (pictured) over a month ago Another friend in Switzerland told the Daily Mail Ms Ferguson - a regular Paracelsus client - was said to have been absolutely crushed by the email exchanges being publicly released. The friend said: Sarah has built up a strong relationship with Paracelsus, so it was the obvious place for her to get away from everything. Following the prolonged stay at the clinic, thought to have lasted several weeks, the globe-trotting former royal is subsequently thought to have spent time in both the French Alps and the United Arab Emirates. Following the release of millions of the so-called Epstein files by the United States Justice Department, Ms Fergusons entangled relationship with the financier became clear. Emails revealed that the former duchess and her beleaguered ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, had kept up their close friendship with the paedophile even after he was first convicted of procuring a minor for prostiution. Embarrassing emails showed her begging Epstein to help pay off her mounting debts, even asking him to employ her as his house assistant as she desperately needed cash - despite knowing he was still under house arrest in Florida for child prostitution. In another email, she issued a grovelling apology for publicly denouncing him, claiming it had only been to protect her career as a childrens author, telling him he had been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend. The most damning evidence, however, revealed that she took her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to have lunch with Epstein five days after his release. It is perhaps unsurprising then that Ms Ferguson took to Paracelsus, which has been described as a sanctuary where individuals can receive the highest standard of care, free of judgement, according to its founder, Jan Gerber. The lakeside clinic offers several different month-long recovery programmes for ultra-wealthy clients. Pictured: The 13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic Individuals have access to 15 medical experts, as well as a chauffeur and a private chef. Pictured: The Paracelsus Recovery Clinic The former duchess has previously visited the clinic and was involved in its promotional work last year. Pictured: The Paracelsus Recovery Clinic The former duchess has previously visited the clinic and was involved in its promotional work last year where she appeared in a social media video with Mr Gerber. Throughout the conversation, she describes how the traumatic experiences surrounding her childhood and being in the public eye, combined with her cancer diagnosis, led her to seek mental health support. She went on to allege that she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while at the clinic. Following the conversation in June, she wrote on Facebook: I recently spent time at Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich, a clinic known for its discreet, bespoke care for those facing complex mental health and addiction challenges, to learn more. What I found was not only a centre of clinical excellence, but a place of deep humanity. She later added while speaking with the Daily Telegraph: I am not embarrassed to reveal the clinic offered me a sanctuary, renowned as it is for its bespoke, cutting-edge treatment for those grappling with mental health and addiction issues particularly those whose struggles are often hidden behind the facade of a public role. Paracelsus treatment is one client at a time, as a team of at least 15 experts, including doctors, therapists and nutritionists, create a space where you can feel safe, understood and fully supported. The clinic specialises in the treatment of a number of conditions, including addiction, burnout, depression, anxiety and trauma and is widely considered the most expensive wellness clinic in the world. It charges around 110,000 for a three-day comprehensive check-up or 350,000 for a one-month residential programme, which is fully customised. Celebrities, oligarchs, and royalty who stay here are given top-tier treatment and access to the best addiction treatment providers anywhere, the clinic boasts on its website. Clients stay in a penthouse with lake views and have access to concierge and limousine services as well as a personal chef, butler, and an on-site therapist. The most damning evidence revealed that Fergie took her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to have lunch with Epstein five days after his release (the trio pictured together in 2017) Andrew is pictured leaving Aylsham police station in Norfolk shortly after 7pm on Thursday The costly nature of the clinic, however, begs the question of how Ms Ferguson, who over the years has suffered from various money woes, could pay for her stay. The former duchess last week openly told friends in the UAE, where she is currently residing: I need to get back to work. I need money. Yet the fact that Ms Ferguson appears in an endorsement on the Paracelsus website - published just days ago - where she said her stay showed her mental health knows no boundaries, suggests the visit could have been free. Fergie has also repeatedly promoted the clinic on her own social media pages, such as Facebook and Instagram. She added: It affects individuals across all walks of life, and it is imperative that we continue to break down the barriers of stigma and silence. As a society, we need to foster an environment where seeking help is seen as a strength, not a weakness. Insiders say she has since been sofa-surfing on a global scale relying on her daughters to help her keep a low profile by piggy-backing on their work and social arrangements. She travelled to Doha to be with Eugenie, who was at an Art Basel event in Qatar, then flew to Florida with her son-in-law Edo Mapelli-Mozzi as he attended a design conference in Palm Beach. She moved on to a French ski resort to get her head together with friends then thought to have hopped over to Switzerland to Eugenies ski holiday in Gstaad last week. A source told The Mail on Sunday: Sarah is sofa-surfing on a global scale by moving around every few days and deliberately not telling people where she has been staying until shes left the location. She is paranoid her location will be discovered so is moving frequently. She notifies friends of her last location only once she has safely moved on to the next. She wants to avoid being photographed. The girls would hate for their mother to be seen looking startled and fraught like former prince Andrew. She is understood to be already scouting around for a new PR team to represent her as she plans her return to the UK, however, some friends are sceptical she would be able to restart her life here. Royal author Andrew Lownie, who wrote a damning book on the scandal-hit couple, believes that multi-millionaires in Dubai and the surrounding countries of Bahrain and Qatar will probably be bankrolling Fergie already. He said: In Britain, neither Sarah nor Andrew will be socially accepted again, whatever they try to do or wherever they go. But in the Middle East, no one will care about what they have got up to. There are people there - royalty, politicians and business types - whom Sarah can quite happily sponge off and who will be happy to bankroll both of them. These types of people in the Middle East simply couldnt care less what Sarah has done. And even if she doesnt have her title of the Duchess of York anymore, she will still be seen as royalty and treated as such - and she knows it. Paracelsus Recover in Zurich has been approached for comment. Sarah Ferguson has also been approached for comment. Britain's unemployment benefits capitals have been mapped as new data shows up to 14 per cent of working-age adults who are required to look for work are receiving handouts in parts of the country. Tens of thousands of adults across swathes of Birmingham are receiving state payouts despite being fit to work. Some 12,000 people in the constituency of Birmingham Perry Bar alone are on Jobseeker's Allowance or in receipt of Universal Credit, but are required to look for employment, figures from the House of Commons library show. This equates to 14.5 per cent of the local population aged 16 to 64, almost four times the national average of 3.8 per cent. Seven out of the top eight constituencies in the rankings are in the West Midlands city, with Bradford West sneaking in at number seven, where around 7,800 adults - 9.4 per cent - receive the same benefits. All of the benefits capitals of Britain are located in England, with the first non-English constituency, Glasgow East, coming in at 83rd with just 5.6 per cent of the fit working population receiving benefits. The top 20 include areas of Birmingham, London, Bradford and Walsall. At the other end of the scale, constituencies Westmorland and Lonsdale, Wetherby and Easingwold and York Outer have just 1.4 per cent of the adult population on these benefits. It comes after the Labour government was accused this week of creating a 'jobless generation' of young people, with almost one in six young adults not in work. Your browser does not support iframes. Tens of thousands of adults across swathes of Birmingham are receiving state payouts despite being fit to work Yardley in Birmingham is the fourth ranked area in the UK in terms of how many adults are seeking unemployment benefits while being fit to work The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds surged to 16.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2025 the highest level since early 2015, according to the Office for National Statistics. And the overall rate of unemployment has risen to a five-year high of 5.2 per cent. Some 1.69 million people signed on to receive Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit with work requirements at the start of the year, a rise of almost 30,000 on December 2025. In addition to those on benefits who are seeking work, data last year revealed that some 3.7 million Britons are on Universal Credit with no work requirements. This marked a rise of one million since Sir Keir took office, sparking outrage among critics of the ballooning welfare bill. And with those off sick expected to cost the economy 67 billion by 2029-30, the government is facing having to make tough decisions to balance the books. The overall welfare bill is expected to rise from 140 billion to 177 billion by the end of the Parliament after Labour's U-turn on planned cuts to the number of people eligible to receive PIP and other disability payments last year. The Daily Mail previously visited the UK's unemployment benefits capital, Birmingham, where in some areas more than 64 per cent of households claim Universal Credit. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Receiving UC does not automatically mean a someone is unemployed, with the benefit also supporting those in lower-paid jobs. In the Ladywood constituency, which has the second-highest rate of fit adults on unemployment benefits nationally, Mat Jabatesh, 32, told the Daily Mail how she has been unemployed for three years and is having to live in a hostel with her four children. She said: 'I've been searching for a job, I don't have any job. I've been going to the job centre, I go online, I tried to apply on Indeed, I don't get any job. 'I don't claim any benefits. The housing matter has become so difficult for me, I'm trying to get some accommodation but it's difficult for me, I don't know where to go.' Before she was out of work she was a care assistant, but she says now 'there's no job opportunities' in the area. 'There's no jobs. Life is becoming more difficult for everyone. It's not only me, everybody is suffering. 'There's a lot of homeless people on the streets and there's a lot of people who are being financially, emotionally and physically affected. 'You see people who don't have jobs and they're going mental, physically and spiritually. People are just becoming more frustrated and there's a lot of sick people because you can't get a GP appointment. 'Everything is becoming so difficult now.' Basant Singh, 40, has been looking for a job for two years and receives housing and child benefits, but says the payments are not enough to live off. Join the debate Do YOU back reform of Universal Credit? Rachel Reeves is facing renewed pressure over Labour's economic plans today after unemployment rose to a five year high He said: 'It's the lack of jobs and people are not skilful enough for them. 'Where this government is going wrong is they're letting newcomers come in and go straight on benefits. They look well but just want money from the government. 'I was born and bred in England and I'm 40 and I'm struggling to get a job. 'Two years I've been out of work. I've worked all over, at the market, at Birmingham Airport, lots of retail work. 'But there's no jobs. Also it's all done online now with so many people applying for the same jobs. And people's experience is not even getting first priority.' Labour's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves is being blamed by the opposition for rising unemployment due to Budget measures, including the 25billion annual rise in National Insurance contributions and increasing minimum wage for young people. Tory shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: 'These figures show the impact of a ''zombie government'' with no plan for growth. 'Labour's Jobs Tax, economic uncertainty and their red tape Employment Rights Bill are holding back hiring, creating a jobless generation.' Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: 'We must urgently turn our attention to the UK's unemployment problems. 'At the end of last year almost one-in-six young people who wanted to work couldn't find a job. Unemployment risks climbing even further in 2026. 'Getting youth unemployment down in this country along with the share of young people who aren't in education or training either must be a top priority for 2026.' They were awards given to The Beatles at the peak of their fame - but have been out of sight for 60 years. Now the gongs, including one for their 1966 smash hit Paperback Writer a number one in both the UK and US charts are to go under the hammer this coming week. The commemorative discs are described as 'real rarities' and experts predict they'll be a hit with collectors - each selling for over 10,000. The 7-inch silver disc for Paperback Writer was presented to the band by a weekly music paper in 1966 after the single's huge success. The catalogue description released by Surrey-based Ewbanks Auctioneers, states: 'The Beatles received this award for the hit single 'Paperback Writer' released on the Parlophone label 10th June 1966, from the (then) prominent British weekly music paper 'Disc' (later Disc and Music Echo)'. Ewbanks said the award came 'at a pivotal point in the band's career, marking the end of live shows and touring and becoming a more experimental studio based creative powerhouse, a time when Brian Epstein's influence was fading, Beatle Boots, suits and head shaking were all in the past'. However, it was 'a time that many consider the peak of their artistic career'. The mounted award is estimated to fetch up to 10,000. The second award, a mounted gold disc, was given by the Recording Industry Association of America, which represented major US record labels. Silver disc given to the band in 1966 by British weekly music paper 'Disc' for Paperback Writer Gold disc given by the Recording Industry Association of America to commemorate the success of the 1964 US album Meet The Beatles! It was handed out in recognition of the success of Meet The Beatles!, the US title for the first Beatles album, released on the Capitol Records label in 1964 and which reached No.1 for 11 consecutive weeks. Millions of Americans rushed out to buy the album after seeing the band on the epoch-making Ed Sullivan Show. The award, estimated to sell for up to 12,000, commemorates 'The Sale Of More Than One Million Dollars Worth Of The Capitol Records Long-Playing Record Album 'Meet The Beatles!' Roag Best, half-brother of Pete Best, drummer for the Beatles in their early years between 1960 and 1962, and who advises The Beatles Museum in Liverpool, believes the newly unearthed awards will be a hit with collectors. He said: 'These are awards hidden away for years. Collectors will like them for sure.' Auctioneer Andrew Ewbank said: 'Beatles memorabilia is more sought after than that of any other rock and pop band. 'These awards are real rarities and are associated with key moments in the Band's early years. 'Paperback writer is considered to be one of their greatest hits, so this is especially significant.' The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, as the band took US by storm Ewbanks said it was unable to reveal what had happened to the two awards in the intervening decades, who had care of them, or the identity of the seller. The auction, on Thursday, also includes more than 300 pages of official documents detailing the break-up of the band. The documents, showing how Paul McCartney was pitted against his fellow band members in the famous 1970-71 legal action as the band broke up, reveal numerous fascinating details The portfolio, originally compiled by The Beatles' advisors and legal representatives, relates to the high-profile 1970s London High Court case during which McCartney applied to dissolve the musicians' business partnership. Paul McCartney had disagreed very strongly with John, George, and Ringo over the appointment of Allen Klein, who died in 2009, as a replacement manager for The Beatles following Brian Epstein's death in 1967. Concerned by Klein's lack of financial management, Paul employed his own accountants who, with the legal representatives, had begun to uncover a trail of confusion and lack of accountability on the part of the group's management. The copy documents recorded events in the courtroom, minutes of meetings between the legal and financial representatives of all parties, and detailed the numerous factors attributed to the break-up, including the dispute over Klein. McCartney sought to remove Klein as manager, and sue his fellow group members and Apple Corp. Included within the bundle of copy documents is a nine-page copy of the original 1967 Deed of Partnership between The Beatles Limited of 23 Albemarle Street, London, with facsimile signatures of the four Beatles to pages 8-9, noted in a later document as the first written instrument of partnership there had been. Documents relating to court case during the Beatles' split: James Paul McCartney versus John Ono Lennon, George Harrison, Richard Starkey, and Apple Corps Ltd, 1970-1971. Copies of Writs also appear, as issued to John Ono Lennon of Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, (sued as John Winston Lennon, now at The Regency Hotel, New York, USA), George Harrison of Friar Park, Henley-On Thames, Richard Starkey of Round Hill. Highgate, London, and Apple Corps of 3 Savile Row, London, W1. Minutes of meetings recorded by the representing lawyers and advisors as they unravelled the complex affairs of The Beatles shed light on the mess that the band found themselves in. One dispute arose over who was paying for Apple Studios, Maclen Music [John and Paul's separate joint company] or Apple Records? The original contract was for Maclen to pay for the first studio when Paul and John were most likely to use it '. . . Now there are two studios . . . Paul knows nothing of the new one'. An ABKO Industries Inc. meeting at 3 Saville Row, on April 22, 1971, had a tense and heated atmosphere when discussions included suggestions that George Harrison sell out his interest in Apple and Paul McCartney be expelled from the partnership . . . 'Between 3 and 4pm. The three Beatles, Howard and Klein returned to Savile Row . . . They were very depressed.' A Draft Order, dated January 26, 1971, ordered Klein to deal chronologically with his introduction to the Beatles in Jan/Feb 1969 . . . and give a full record of all sums received by ABKO or himself in respect of the Beatles and explain ways in which McCartney had benefitted from his intervention. The documents also reveal that when Pete Best left the group and Ringo Starr joined, no written agreement was recorded or filed. The documents also show the band needed to agree what steps to take to protect The Beatles Limited and the individual group members when it came to past and future tax liabilities, and their royalties for film and music rights. A Deed of Partnership between band members is included in the papers being auctioned Minutes of a meeting between legal representatives discussing The Beatles' tax affairs in 1971 And they addressed Ringo Starr's disagreements pertaining to The White Album, when he felt so alienated that he temporarily left the band. Further tensions and disputes between The Beatles over film rights and clips used for Hey Jude, Revolution, and Magical Mystery Tour also had to be sorted out. Meanwhile Paul McCartney's dispute relating to the film and record release of Let It Be was also an issue. Most worrying of all to the lawyers at the time, however, was Allen Klein and his company ABKCO Music and Records Inc.'s chronic failure to produce accounts, now being demanded by the Inland Revenue. Comments in the minutes also addressed the extraordinary complex legal arrangements that, among other concerns, gave rise to the question 'where is the money?' They also provide a fascinating first-hand account of the legal challenges each of The Beatles faced after the death of their manager Brian Epstein in 1967. Mr Ewbank said: 'This is an extraordinary record of the greatest rock and pop band ever. 'It is particularly important in two ways: in recording the fall-out that was commonplace in the early days of modern music when musicians were naive about business and often exploited by those who managed them; and in providing a highly reliable detailed source of the dynamics within The Beatles and what drove them. As such, these are vital historical documents.' The documents are being sold as a single lot with an estimate of 3,000-5,000. Millions of Americans are fleeing densely populated states in search of rural pastures new with one midwestern state proving most popular. South Dakota saw the largest net migration gain last year, according to data from the US Census and self-storage software firm Stora. The Mount Rushmore State welcomed 11,000 more residents than it lost in 2025, with many attracted by its low property prices and income-tax free living. Experts say the trend fits with broader migration patterns across the US as Americans increasingly ditch urban cities for rural zones. In total, almost 15 million Americans relocated to a different state over the course of the year, the analysis found. Cost of living was cited as the leading factor behind the relocations. About 88 percent of movers said they were seeking to save money, while 76 percent said access to outdoor amenities and rural lifestyle benefits influenced their decision. 'Particularly among young people, there has been an upward trend in movers to rural areas driven by people seeking a better quality of life and a chance to save money,' Stora CEO Gavin Shields told Fox News Digital. Stora said flexible work has been the ultimate catalyst, allowing young professionals to keep their big-city salaries while trading cramped apartments for wide-open spaces and financial independence. New migration analysis shows millions of Americans are bypassing major urban hubs and instead planting roots in some of the countrys most sparsely populated states such as South Dakota Stora CEO Gavin Shields said remote work options has been the ultimate catalyst for young professional to move to rural areas 'It's no longer just about the house, but about having financial freedom, the ability to buy your own property that comes at a more affordable price, and lower cost of living,' Shields said. According to The Motley Fool, home prices in South Dakota remain below the national average, with the typical home valued between about $300,000 and $330,000 in 20252026. Despite its relative affordability, the state has seen strong price growth in recent years. Cities such as Sioux Falls experienced sharp increases, including a roughly 37 percent surge between 2021 and 2022, as demand accelerated. Other states with strong net migration gains included Vermont, Nebraska, Mississippi and Alaska. However, not all rural states experienced growth. North Dakota saw the largest net population loss, with more than 13,000 residents leaving the state. South Dakota has emerged as the movement's biggest winner, netting 11,000 new residents. This 4 bed 2 bath house in Pierre, South Dakota is on the market for $239,900 States with higher living costs continued to see more residents leave than arrive, with Colorado posting one of the largest net losses, along with Massachusetts and Illinois, where average home prices remain above the national average. Shields said the expansion of remote and flexible work arrangements has contributed to the trend by allowing workers to relocate without changing jobs or salaries. 'The rise of flexible working has been another catalyst, allowing thousands to leave their expensive city lifestyle, while still maintaining their career and salary,' he said. Stora was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Northern Ireland. Twenty-six years may have passed since Julie Maughan's daughter Heather died but the pain never goes. 'It's post-traumatic stress, isn't it, where you flash back? You are there and it's quite visceral. It's hard to put into words,' says the 58-year-old. Some of Julie's memories of that time - 'which was like a bomb exploding in our family' - are hazy and confused. Some horrifically vivid, however. She remembers Heather, just eight years old, being gently lifted by the nurses after the life support machine was turned off and placed across her parents' laps to die. Afterwards? 'They took her away and it was pure shock. I remember thinking, 'Thank you for that. We will go then?' It was surreal. We went on holiday a family of four and came home a family of three.' How can a perfectly healthy little girl go on a family holiday to the seaside in Devon and not come home again? Heather Preen should be a household name; her death - and her broken father Mark's death, by suicide, years later - a national scandal. Some mothers who have lost a child in brutal circumstances never want to be reminded of how their child suffered. Julie has always needed to go there 'to understand'. Heather contracted the pathogen E. coli O157 while playing on the beach in Dawlish with big sister Suzanne, who was ten. While commonly associated with food poisoning, the bacterium can also be present in contaminated water. Julie had selected the resort carefully: 'The beach had a Blue Flag [meaning it was clean and safe to swim] which was why I picked it.' Yes, the family, from Birmingham, had noticed 'yucky' water, which had toilet paper dotted through it, flowing from a pipe. 'I didn't know the term 'combined sewage outlet' then,' she says. It had made a puddle which Heather had to leap over - and fell in. Over the next few days, Heather became increasingly ill, first with explosive diarrhoea, then bleeding from the rectum. Julie thought she had done everything right - first taking advice from the pharmacist then taking Heather to a local GP. Julie Maughan's (pictured) daughter Heather died after contracting E. coli from swimming in the sea in Devon Heather (pictured) contracted the pathogen E. coli O157 while playing on the beach in Dawlish with big sister Suzanne, who was ten She packed Mark and Suzanne off to continue their holiday activities and 'stayed at the chalet with Heather, telling her we would play games'. She pauses, weeping: 'I didn't realise that, even then, Heather was dying. Her body was shutting down.' E. coli O157 is not always fatal but in rare cases it can lead to a kidney failure called haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Even after Heather was rushed to hospital by ambulance after a second visit to the GP, she had no chance. 'I do want people to know what it does,' Julie says. 'It 'liquifies' the organs. I will never forget them showing us a brain scan and where you'd normally expect to see squiggles, there was nothing, just pure white.' Now, finally, the story of Heather Preen - and others like her - is being told. Dirty Business, a three-part Channel 4 factual drama, looks set to spark the same sort of anger over water pollution - and how the water companies are regulated - that ITV's Mr Bates Vs The Post Office did for the Horizon scandal. Why was merry hell not created about this at the time of Heather's death? People tried. Julie tried. She remembers confronting environmental health officials, once a food source had been ruled out, begging them to close the beach. She was consistently told this was not an option, as South West Water moved quickly to rule out sewage as the cause - a position the company has maintained. Heather could have contracted E. coli from dog poo, her family were repeatedly told. 'I would have noticed if she'd stepped in dog poo,' her mother insists. While no link was proved between Heather's death and the raw sewage that was confirmed on that beach in Dawlish, at her inquest it was revealed that there had been 14 complaints about the sewage there, and that the E. coli outbreak had also resulted in five other cases, including one where three children were hospitalised. But while Julie took it as 'a win for Heather' when the coroner ruled her daughter had died from misadventure rather than natural causes, giving evidence at the inquest was 'traumatic'. In the drama, Mark is subjected to what can only be described as interrogation by lawyers for South West Water over his statement about the puddle Heather fell in, and the toilet roll fragments in it, suggesting he couldn't have seen what he thought he saw. 'He was devastated,' Julie remembers. 'I'd worried that he would become angry and I told him 'keep it together - stay calm', but they really laid into him. They implied it was his fault, challenging him about the toilet roll. I couldn't understand why it was so adversarial. It was very 'them and us'. We only wanted to know the truth about how Heather died and for us it was a public health issue. Julie Maughan as a young mum with her daughters Heather (left) and Suzanne (right). While no link was proved between Heather's death and the raw sewage that was confirmed on that beach in Dawlish, at her inquest it was revealed that there had been 14 complaints about the sewage there Heather (in the boat) with sister Suzanne and her father Mark. Julie is finally able to look at pictures of Heather and her dad playing together and remember the happiness 'because she was full of joy' 'I think they [the water company] thought I was going to sue them. I've always said I didn't want their money. I stand by that. This wasn't about money. I'm not accusing them of killing Heather. 'It was about stopping this happening to another family, about getting them to acknowledge that there was a danger. 'That's still my greatest fear, that I will one day get the call from some devastated family who have lost a child. Because there but for the grace of God.' What an extraordinary woman Julie Maughan is. The issues she has been shouting about for years are of the utmost importance but talking about them is like consistently ripping off a scabbed-over wound. She apologises for crying during our interview but it's astonishing that she has maintained the composure she has. Because when that 'bomb' exploded, every single member of the Preen family was affected. She recalls that in the aftermath of Heather's death 'poor Mark' got the brunt of the questions from police and environmental health investigators. 'Where did you go, what did you eat? I think he shielded me from that side. It was Mark who sat with Heather all night in the chapel of rest.' As Julie says: 'Heather was a casualty but so was Mark, so was I, so was Suzanne. She lost her sister and her best friend. Then she lost her dad.' Even after Heather was rushed to hospital, she had no chance. 'I do want people to know what it does,' Julie says. 'It "liquifies" the organs. I will never forget them showing us a brain scan and where you'd normally expect to see squiggles, there was nothing' Heather on her birthday with her mother, sister and grandmother. Heather is still everywhere in their home. Julie has kept all the shells her youngest gathered up on that final holiday. She tells how she and Suzanne buy a new bauble for 'Heather's Christmas tree' every year The Preens' marriage had never recovered from Heather's death. While she 'went in one direction' - poring over scientific papers about water pollution, trying to raise public awareness - Mark turned inward. 'He [just] couldn't cope. The depression hit. He was drinking heavily. He was carrying this guilt. I wonder if I didn't put too much pressure on him.' For years they stayed 'together but not really together'. 'It was for the sake of Suzanne, because I didn't want her to have to deal with her parents splitting up on top of everything else. But by the time she was doing her GCSEs, it was obvious things were bad.' Mark moved out and things for him spiralled further downwards. 'I couldn't reach him but I was angry with him, too. I remember saying, 'You have lost a daughter but you have another daughter who needs to live. Don't waste your time with her. Life is precious. You, of all people, know that.' In 2016, aged 55, Mark took his own life. That scene in the drama is graphic, difficult to watch even for a stranger. How on Earth must it have been for Julie? 'I was shocked,' she nods. 'I took a sharp intake of breath. But I think it was right to include it. This is what that bomb under us did. It came out of nowhere but it went on and on and on.' All in all, Dirty Business is a devastating watch, one you will find yourself thinking of every time you paddle in the sea, walk by a river or even drink a glass of tap water. The Preen family's tragedy is just one strand woven into the story of how two Cotswold neighbours - Peter Hammond and Ash Smith - became 'sewage sleuths', investigating why their once-clear local river was now a murky grey. They are 'the heroes of this whole thing,' says Julie. Hammond, a retired professor of computational biology, and Smith, a retired detective, used hidden cameras, Freedom of Information requests and AI models to uncover sewage dumps on an industrial scale all over the country. Meticulously researched, the drama traces what happened to the water industry once it was privatised in 1989, then again after regulation was eased when David Cameron was prime minister. Julie and her daughters. As Julie says: 'Heather was a casualty but so was Mark, so was I, so was Suzanne. She lost her sister and her best friend. Then she lost her dad' Heather with her father Mark. Heather's death fractured Julie and Mark's relationship and he later moved out, taking his own life in 2016 The bottom line is: investment dropped and water companies extracted billions in profits. The drama raises troublesome questions about the cosy relationship between the Government regulators of the water industry and the water company bosses, and draws largely on information provided by whistleblowers. There's a shocking scene where inspectors are told that they will no longer be required to examine certain incidents of pollution - it will be up to the companies themselves to effectively self-regulate. And issues remain. In 2024, Thames Water dumped raw sewage into waterways for a jaw-dropping 300,000 hours. And last May, it was fined a record 122.7million after it was judged to have broken rules over sewage treatment and paying out dividends. Yet just last month it was found to have dumped raw sewage into the River Mole in Surrey. Despite soaring bills, Thames Water is mired in debt - 17.6billion in December - in part blamed on money being taken out of the company in loans and dividends. Julie cannot fathom why our water is in any way connected to profit. As she puts it: 'I thought it then and I keep saying it now - water is a life source. The water companies should never be run for profit. I would like to sit down with Keir Starmer and say, 'Stop this ball rolling, NOW.' In response to publicity around Dirty Business, South West Water has said: 'We haven't yet been given access to review the programme, so can't comment on what will be aired in connection with Heather's death in 1999. However, the tragic death of a child is devastating and our thoughts remain with the family affected. 'Bathing waters are subject to stringent testing, real-time monitoring and public reporting. The bathing water at Dawlish Warren was tested as part of the investigations at the time by Environmental Health and samples were clear of E. coli.' Finally, the story of Heather Preen - and others like her - is being told. Dirty Business, a three-part Channel 4 factual drama, looks set to spark the same sort of anger over water pollution as Mr Bates Vs The Post Office did for the Horizon scandal Somehow, Julie and Suzanne have survived the bomb that went off in their family. Julie went on to complete the degree she was taking when Heather died and has since remarried. Suzanne, now 37, also went to university and has grown into 'a woman I am just in awe of - she's a rock-solid person'. Heather is still everywhere in their home. Julie has kept all the shells her youngest gathered up on that final holiday. She tells how she and Suzanne buy a new bauble for 'Heather's Christmas tree' every year. And she says her daughter's 'energy' is still with her. 'I don't know what she would look like as grown woman - that was denied me - but I still feel her. It's that energy I cling to. And miss. I desperately miss it.' At first, Julie refused to cooperate with the Channel 4 drama but it was the idea that Heather had been forgotten about that forced her to reconsider. She's now glad she did - partly because she knows 'this is a public health issue', and partly because it allowed her to make peace with Mark, finally, understanding why he sought the way out that he did. 'I was so angry with him for so long but watching Tom [McKay, the actor] play him made me see things differently. I told Tom I'd had a moment when I watched his scenes. I realised the guilt Mark would have been carrying. I think I understood more.' She is finally able to look at pictures of Heather and her dad playing together and remember the happiness 'because she was full of joy'. 'She used to scamper into our bed when her dad was making me a cup of tea. If he was giving me a hug, she'd squeeze into the middle of us.' This drama will be an education for those who think the issue of water pollution is something for only scientists and campaigners to worry about. 'I want to sit down with the Prime Minister and make sure he is aware how it affects every one of us,' says Julie. What does she think Heather would make of her continued quest, painful though it is? 'I think she'd be saying, 'Come on, Mum. Let's just get this done.' Dirty Business is available to watch and stream on Channel 4 at 9pm on Monday. A British mother whose detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) infuriated liberals is a schemer who got what was coming to her, according to her ex-husband. Lauren Jane Morris's former spouse James Mellen spoke to the Daily Mail Friday, nine days after the mother-of-three, 38, was arrested in Spokane, Washington. Morris, originally of Burton-on-Trent in England, first moved to Montana aged 15 when her father Steve married an American woman named Kay. Mellen told the Daily Mail that Steve and Kay then split up. He said that caused visa issued for Morris. 'Lauren was meant to go back with (her dad), but she didn't. I don't think she knew she was here illegally, but as soon as we found out, we married two months later. Mellen said he believed that: 'We didn't get married for the visa.' He continued: 'We had our daughter already and wanted to be a family, but we knew we needed to get married. 'I was working two minimum wage jobs just to live and get pay for her visa. But as soon as she got her visa left me.' Mellen said, explaining his change of opinion on Morris after their marriage ended. Mellen met Morris while at high school. They wed in 2007 after the birth of their first child, with Morris obtaining her permanent residency (green card) in 2009. The couple went on to have another child, but their marriage went off the rails amid Morris's alleged cheating and they split in 2014. Lauren Morris met her now-ex James Mellen in high school and they fell madly in love. They got married in October 2007, shortly after the birth of their first child. The family is seen in 2009 Lauren Jane Morris, seen in 2009, was born in Burton Upon Trent, a town in Staffordshire, England and moved to Montana with her father and stepmother when she was 15 Mellen then moved to Wyoming for work, while Morris remained in Montana to study. But Mellen claims that did not go as planned. 'I was giving her $600 a week to support our kids, which is way more than any court would make me pay,' he said, but Morris was seemingly struggling as a single mom. 'She told me it was difficult to maintain the kids and do her schooling.' Mellen says Morris failed to take her studies seriously. Morris called him up and told him to come collect their two children, he said. Mellen quit his job that day, drove to Montana to get them and had custody of them for several years. Morris eventually quit college, moved to Washington state and decided she wanted custody of their oldest child, her ex-husband said. Mellen granted her wish with the stipulation that she held down a job and got an apartment. Things were good at first, but Mellen said Morris's behavior became quickly concerning and Mellen was forced to seek custody again. Morris demanded he let their child stay with her and when he refused, hit him with a retaliatory lawsuit, Mellen claimed. She sued Mellen and Casey Duncan, who served as her immigration co-sponsor, for immigration financial support in 2021. Lauren Morris on her wedding day in October 2009. Her former husband said she dumped him as soon as she got her green card Morris and Mellen share two children together, both of whom he has full custody of. She is pictured during her second pregnancy She alleged the pair did not provide her any financial support, which she claimed she was legally entitled to under the visa agreement, the complaint said. Morris alleged her highest annual income between 2014 and 2020 was her 2014 earnings of $9,883. Her lowest reported wage was $1,999 in 2020, the filing stated. The case was dismissed with prejudice in October 2021, with Morris's attorneys stating that she, Mellen and Duncan 'amicably resolved this matter through negotiated resolution.' Mellen told the Daily Mail that the agreement saw him pay Morris $25,000, but he got full custody of their children and a restraining order to keep her away. Since then, Morris has been convicted of assault five times, as well as criminal trespassing and violating a restraining order, public records show. These assaults voided her green card, the terms of which ban holders from committing any crimes, and ultimately led to her detention by ICE, federal government officials say. She gave birth to another child, a 16-month-old girl, with a new partner and has not seen the children she had with Mellen for many years, he says. When Mellen told his two children that their mother had been detained by ICE, their oldest was a 'bummed' but their second-born 'didn't care,' he said. 'If anyone deserves this, it would be her. Her conduct, the way she treated her two kids for all these years, I've just washed my hands of her,' Mellen said. Lauren Jane Morris, 38, was taken into custody by ICE agents outside the Spokane County Courthouse on February 11. Her family claims she was detained in front of her 16-month-old daughter (pictured together) Morris's family has hit out at her ICE detention, telling local TV station KING 5 that she is a lawful permanent resident whose daughter is an American citizen 'She has no respect for the law or for anything but herself. Everything she did was out of greed and for herself.' He said he has 'no sympathy' for her situation and claims she knew that deportation could be the consequence of her breaking the law. 'This is the bed she made for herself. She knew, from all the visa applications we did, that she wasn't allowed to get in trouble or get felonies. She knew she would lose her [residency],' he added. It's hard for me to be sympathetic towards her. As a parent, I would do anything to help my kids, care for my kids, and you can't do that from jail.' Morris's family has hit out at her ICE detention, telling local TV station KING 5 that she is a lawful permanent resident whose daughter is an American citizen. Her loved ones claimed she was apprehended in front of her toddler after leaving a probation meeting related to a since-rescinded restraining order. ICE, however, disputes their narrative. 'On February 11, ICE conducted a targeted vehicle stop and arrested Lauren Jane Morris, an illegal alien from the United Kingdom who has five assault convictions,' a spokesperson told the Daily Mail. 'Her most recent sentence of 24 months was ordered by the Spokane County Superior Court August 6, 2024. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. 'Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, if you break the law, you will face consequences.' Morris is being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. An ICE spokesperson told the Daily Mail she will 'remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings' Morris is being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, detainee records showed. She has an immigration hearing in Tacoma next Thursday, February 26. Anti-ICE critics have also rushed to Morris's defense. Local TV station KING 5 has been accused of playing down Morris's lengthy criminal history. The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red radio criticized the outlet during its Friday morning broadcast, accusing it of framing stories in a way that favors detainees. 'This is what they do. Perhaps, even with the details of five convictions, some would not support removal,' Rantz told his listeners. 'Perhaps the apparent fifth conviction is what turned the womans life around. But its very obviously pertinent information that KING 5 couldnt be bothered to report.' The drink-driving wife of a wealthy Oklahoma lawyer has been released from prison after just 73 days despite her crime leaving a 20-year-old woman in a coma. Sarah Polston, who is married to tax attorney Rod Polston, was sentenced to eight years in jail after admitting to striking Micaela Borrego's vehicle with her car in 2023. However, she was released Thursday morning from the Dr Eddie Warrior Correctional Center thanks to a law designed to alleviate prison overcrowding. Under the policy, convicted DUI drivers can be eligible for early release with a GPS tag if they meet certain criteria such as having no prior criminal record. The judge's decision also came after Polston's lawyer noted that she paid $5 million to Borrego's family in insurance. However, Borrego's heartbroken mother, Krista Borrego, told News4 that Polston's early release has only added to their trauma. 'It just feels very privileged. This is not normal,' she said. Speaking about her daughter, she added: 'She has a severe speech impediment. 'She still has to go to physical therapy and occupational therapy. Her life is forever changed, and she should not be the only one suffering the consequences of Sara Polston.' Sara Polston was released from prison on Thursday after 73 served and will now be under electronic monitoring in her home after pleading guilty to a DUI in October Micaela Borrego (pictured), 20, was left in critical condition - locked in a weeks-long coma that would ultimately rob her of the ability to speak, eat and walk Borrego's mother, Krista Borrego, was left outraged by Polston's release, describing it as 'privileged.' Borrego suffered horrific injuries when Polston barreled into her vehicle while traveling at 66mph in a 25mph zone in her massive Cadillac Escalade through Norman, Oklahoma City, in February 2023. At the scene, authorities measured Polston's blood alcohol content at 0.158 percent - almost twice the legal limit, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by KFOR News. Last October, Polston pleaded guilty to a DUI charge, and told the court in December that she has changed for the better since the incident. Polston's attorney requested her sentence be suspended, and noted a $5 million payment to Borrego's family as well as Polston's community service and rehabilitation toward sobriety, KFOR reported. A judge sentenced Polston to 15 years in prison, and all except eight were suspended, according to the outlet. Cleveland County District Attorney Jennifer Austin was also frustrated with the decision to grant the DUI driver early release. 'This is not what the law intends: that a victim can almost be killed and 70 days later, they're released. We have to do better. This is not okay,' Austin said. Austin discovered 21 other offenders release under similar circumstances, but said their offenses were much less severe. 'I looked at what some of those were, trafficking in drugs, possession with intent, burglaries of autos, not cases that had true victims, that their lives were changed forever,' she told the outlet. In a statement to KFOR, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections said that the Global Positioning Satellite Program allows eligible inmates to be reintegrated under 'strict supervision.' On February 7, Polston was on her way to pick up her children when she stopped at a liquor store along the route. She allegedly ran several stop signs before colliding with Borrego at the fourth (pictured) Polston is married to renowned local tax attorney Rod Polston (pictured), and together, the couple live in Norman with their children Borrego (pictured) has since been transferred to an outpatient facility. Polston is scheduled to be sentenced in December The statement cited home confinement, work release and community-based treatment as elements of the program. 'Participants remain in the agency's custody, are continuously monitored and supervised by Probation and Parole officers, and violations can result in reincarceration. Eligibility is limited to those convicted of qualifying offences with no disqualifying criteria,' the statement said. 'Most must be serving 10 years or less and complete at least 30 days at a minimum-security facility. Individuals serving longer sentences may qualify when they are within three years of their projected release date.' The statement added that all inmates evaluated for the program must meet certain needs and their incarceration details are reviewed. 'Following that review, case managers develop a recommended case plan tailored to the individual's needs and eligibility.' The ODOC wrote that Polston had no disqualifying criteria, no prior criminal record and a 'successful history of treatment and community service,' and was therefore eligible. The Population and Classification unit approved the placement on February 11, according to the ODOC. 'We anticipated that she would be in custody for 24 months, which would be the quarter that she is required to serve by law until she's eligible for parole,' Austin said. Borrego's heartbroken mother told the outlet: '[the judge] gave her eight years, and with the stroke of a pen, the DOC [Department of Corrections] was able to unravel that.' Tesla has been forced to fork out almost $250 million to the family of a woman who was killed when a Model S vehicle struck her and her boyfriend while on Autopilot. Naibel Benavides Leon, who was 22, died from the impact, while her partner, Dillon Angulo, suffered serious injuries during the crash in Key Largo, Florida, in April 2019. The driver, George McGee, admitted that he was bending down to pick up his phone before the electric vehicle smashed into the couple's parked car. However, McGee said his 2019 Tesla Model S was driving in 'Autopilot,' and the car's feature failed to brake before the fatal collision. Benavides Leon's family sued Tesla and the driver, but their case was consolidated with a criminal indictment in 2024 and moved to federal court with a jury. The trial marked a setback for Elon Musk's vision of advancing self-driving cars and contributed to a precedent for holding vehicle manufacturers accountable. Jurors ruled in favor of the family last August, but attorneys for Tesla filed a motion for a new trial, arguing there was not enough evidence to support the assertion that the car's Autopilot function caused the crash. However, US District Judge Beth Bloom upheld the jury's decision on Friday, awarding $200,000,000 to be split between Angulo and Benavides Leon's family, with an additional $19,470,000 to Benavides Leon's family, and $19,470,000 to Angulo. Naibel Benavides Leon, 22, pictured left, was killed in the crash. Her boyfriend, Dillion Angulo, pictured right, survived with significant injuries A devastating crash in 2019 claimed the life of a young woman and altered a young man's life forever. A Tesla, pictured above after the collision, smashed into the couple's parked car Angulo (far right) and Benavides Leon's family sued the Tesla driver, George McGee, and Tesla for the incident. McGee settled but the lawsuit against Tesla went to trial last year. Angulo is pictured with Naibel Benavides Leon, his girlfriend's sister, outside of court Bloom said the evidence presented in last year's trial supported the jury's decision that Tesla was in part at fault for the crash. The judge's decision has finally closed the years-long case that has plagued a grieving family since the devastating accident. The horror evening unfolded when Benavides Leon and Angulo pulled over on the side of the road to watch the stars near Key Largo, Florida on April 25, 2019. McGee was driving his Tesla, and video footage from the car's front camera showed him blowing through a red light at nearly 70mph. McGee then crashed into the couple's parked vehicle, throwing Benavides Leon 75 feet. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Angulo broke multiple bones and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He attended the trial against Tesla and walked into the courtroom with a limp. In a 60 Minutes interview from October, Angulo recalled the harrowing moments of the crash. He said he could not even speak to paramedics when they arrived, adding that he 'should've been dead' from his injuries. Attorneys for the family argued that Tesla's Autopilot feature contributed to the crash. The company's representation disputed that claim, arguing that Autopilot does not prevent reckless driving. Angulo is pictured August setting up a roadside memorial for his girlfriend A federal judge reaffirmed the massive payout on Friday. The decision marks a potential setback in Tesla CEO Elon Musk's vision for driving automation. Pictured above is a file photo of Tesla Model S vehicles Lawyers for Angulo and Benavides Leon argued that the Tesla McGee was driving was not fully tested for safety and 'was not designed to be used on roadways with cross-traffic or intersections,' the lawsuit states. Plaintiffs cited 56 alleged incidents of issues with the Autopilot system, arguing: 'Tesla chose to continue profiting from the sales of their defective vehicles and software systems rather than heed warnings from government agencies, experts, and other car companies.' 'While McGee was reaching for his phone, the vehicle detected a stop sign, a stop bar, the roads edge, a pedestrian, and a parked Chevrolet Tahoe, but the Vehicle did not provide McGee with any audio alert or other warning of the obstacles and never engaged its emergency brakes,' court documents said. 'Shortly after the crash, McGee called 911, telling the operator: Oh my God, I wasnt looking," "I dont know what happened. I ended up missing the turn. I was looking down," and "I dropped my phone. Oh my God,"' the document added. Angulo suffered a traumatic brain injury and several broken bones from the crash. He spoke about the harrowing night in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia and is pictured above in a wheelchair after the accident Angulo recalled the fateful night in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia last October, pictured above McGee told officers that he had been using the Autopilot feature and expected it to avoid the crash. He testified in the trial last July, telling the jury that he thought Autopilot would assist him if he made a mistake, the New York Times reported at the time. 'It didnt warn me of the car and the individuals and hit the brakes,' McGee added. A separate civil suit was filed against McGee, but the Tesla driver previously settled with Angulo and his girlfriend's family. Lawyers for Tesla argued that Autopilot does not prevent 'reckless drivers.' Defense attorney Joel Smith argued in his opening statement: 'Hes rummaging around for his phone and he runs through the intersection. 'This can happen in any car, at any time. This is not about Autopilot.' Benavides Leon lost her life in the crash. She was sitting in a parked car admiring the stars when the Tesla struck her vehicle Tesla CEO Elon Musk has boasted about the car's Autopilot features. The recent decision affirming evidence supporting the feature's shortcomings presents an obstacle for Tesla's goal of automation. Musk is pictured at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in November The case represents a significant obstacle in Musk's vision for revolutionizing self-driving cars. Lawyers with the firm, Wood Smith Henning Berman, called the case 'one of the largest products liability verdicts ever rendered against an automaker in Florida.' An attorney representing Angulo and Benavides Leon's family said in a statement to the Daily Mail that his clients were happy with the court's decision to affirm the payout. 'From day one, Tesla has refused to accept responsibility for its obvious role in this deadly crash and many others like it across the country. Even after a jury verdict based on overwhelming evidence, Tesla continues to deny its responsibility for these highly preventable tragedies,' the statement read. 'There is a reason the federal government has called Tesla an industry outlier, and why Tesla was forced to issue a recall affecting every vehicle it manufactured. Tesla placed Autopilot on American roads before it was ready and before it was safe, while leading the public to believe the technology was far more capable than it actually was and implementing some of the weakest safeguards in the industry.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Tesla's representation for comment on the recent court decision. A Wisconsin elementary school teacher has been arrested for allegedly using cocaine while at work. Laurie Laubenstein, 58, faces a misdemeanor cocaine possession charge, along with a sentencing enhancement for having an illicit substance at a school, a designated drug-free zone. Laubenstein taught at Lincoln Elementary School in New London and someone close to her tipped off police to her alleged cocaine use on February 12, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WBAY-TV. The tipster told a school resource officer that they saw Laubenstein frequently going into the bathroom with her purse. They also claimed they found bloody tissues and white powder in the bathroom, according to the complaint. The tipster said they told the school principal, who did not take the issue seriously, according to police. The day after the tipster raised their concerns to the school resource officer, he visited Laubenstein's classroom and said he found her looking anxious. He checked the bathroom and found white powder he later took to the New London Police Station. The powder was tested and identified as cocaine. Laurie Laubenstein, a 58-year-old elementary school teacher in Wisconsin, has been arrested and charged with cocaine possession The school resource officer came back to her classroom on February 12 with a drug-sniffing dog. She was discovered to have cocaine in her purse and coat pocket, police said. When Laubenstein was interviewed by police, she told them she had started using cocaine in August. She also admitted to police that she used cocaine the day she was searched. She said she used it in the classroom and in the teacher's lounge bathrooms. Laubenstein said she always cleans up after herself and never intended to put students in danger, according to police. The school district sent a letter to parents informing them of Laubenstein's arrest, while also stating that their children were never in danger. According to a criminal complaint, she admitted to police that she used cocaine while at work at Lincoln Elementary School (pictured) in New London Since it's her first offense, Laubenstein faces a year in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000 if convicted. Because the alleged possession was on school grounds, the court may decide to impose additional penalties on top of that. This could include 100 hours of community service. Laubenstein is scheduled to appear in court on March 17. The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Stephen Conway, has been suspended following a safeguarding complaint. Newly installed Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally temporarily removed him from his position after a complaint was made to the Church of Englands national safeguarding team. The Church of England said on Friday that Conway, who is also a member of the House of Lords, had been suspended while a 'safeguarding complaint' was investigated. It also said the complaint had been passed onto the 'relevant authorities'. Allegations were first made against Conway at the end of January. The Bishop of Grantham, Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, has been drafted in to fill the bishop's role while Conway is suspended, according to a statement posted to the Diocese of Lincoln's website. The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Stephen Conway, has been suspended by the newly installed Archbishop of Canterbury Newly installed Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Conway (pictured) has vowed to take safeguarding more seriously It read: 'The Bishop of Lincoln, The Rt Revd Stephen Conway, has been suspended from ministry while a complaint made to the National Safeguarding Team is responded to according to House of Bishops Code of Practice. 'This includes referral to the appropriate statutory authorities. 'The Bishop of Grantham, The Rt Revd Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, will be performing the function of the Diocesan Bishop during this period. 'Support is in place for those affected and there will be no further comment while the process is ongoing. 'We understand that this will be a deeply unsettling time. The Diocesan Safeguarding Team is available for anyone who wishes to contact them.' Conway was formally installed as the Bishop of Lincoln in November 2023, having previously been the Bishop of Ely. He was named in the 2024 Makin Report, the independent review into the systemic cover-up of child sexual abuse within the Church of England, which resulted in the resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury. The review suggested that Conway failed to rigorously follow up on information he was given in 2013 by a victim about abuses committed by the prolific abuser John Smyth. Dame Sarah, meanwhile, committed days ago to taking safeguarding more seriously than the Church had done in the past, where she said it had 'fallen tragically short'. She told the General Synod last week: 'Safeguarding is a fundamental, non-negotiable responsibility, sharpened by our past failings and shaped by the work we still have to do. 'I am committed to bringing an approach of seriousness and focussed direction to all matters relating to safeguarding in all contexts in the church.' The Daily Mail has contacted the Bishop of Lincoln for comment. Jacinta Allan has refused to share details on what she and Daniel Andrews discussed during a 'catch up' just weeks after he was seen posing with dictators in China. The current Victorian Premier's annual disclosures of her ministerial diary were published on February 11. Among the business council and religious group leaders she met with in 2025, there was a vague reference to a sit-down with Andrews. On October 2, a meeting with the subject line 'Hon Daniel Andrews AC' was mentioned, with the pair the only attendees. The purpose of the meeting was listed as: 'general catch up'. When questioned about the meeting, Allan stopped short of providing any further detail, including whether they had discussed Andrews' trip. 'I'm not going to comment on any meetings that I have with any individuals,' she told reporters on Thursday, The Herald Sun reports. 'I meet regularly with a whole range of former premiers, former ministers from both sides of politics.' Jacinta Allan's annual disclosure of her ministerial diary revealed she met with former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews in October 2025 for a 'catch up' Andrews' decision to then pose for a 'family photo' with dictators such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian triggered condemnation across the political spectrum back home (pictured, top right) She added: 'Let's remember we're only talking about this because I brought transparency to the ministerial diary process.' Daily Mail has contacted Allan's office regarding what was discussed. Opposition Attorney-General James Newbury also questioned whether the meeting was evidence that Andrews 'still has a leadership role in the Labor government'. Andrews was part of a select group of current and former world leaders invited to watch a 10,000-strong military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on September 3 last year. In extraordinary footage, he was filmed being greeted by President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan during a red carpet procession. His decision to then pose for a 'family photo' with dictators such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian triggered widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum back home. Andrews later released a statement defending his decision to accept the invitation. 'I've said for years that a constructive relationship with China our largest trading partner is in Australia's national interest and hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs depend on it. That hasn't changed,' he said. The meeting came just a month after Andrews' controversial visit to China (pictured) 'And just so there's no confusion I have condemned Putin and his illegal war in Ukraine from day one. That's why he banned me from Russia last year.' Andrews' meeting with Allan preceded his shock admission to Monash Clayton Hospital in Melbourne's south-east shortly before Christmas. The 53-year-old was reportedly in a 'very bad way' amid speculation he suffered some kind of stroke. Sources told The Herald Sun earlier this month that the former premier had experienced a neurological episode. Some said they were informed he had experienced issues with movement and speech, while others said he was making a steady recovery. Meanwhile, plans are also underway to make Andrews the fifth premier to be given a permanent statue cast in bronze. But the proposal was contested by 12,644 Australians in a petition tabled in the state parliament, with many Victorians still angered by his government's heavy-handed imposition of the world's longest Covid lockdowns. Police investigating Nancy Guthrie's disappearance are considering the theory that multiple people were involved in her abduction. This new direction in the probe comes as the Pima County Sheriff's Department continues working to identify the masked person that appeared on Nancy's doorbell camera the night she disappeared nearly three weeks ago. 'Investigators are not ruling out the possibility that more than one person may be involved,' Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo said in a statement seen by the Daily Mail on Friday. Nancy, the mother of NBC 'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on January 31 after being dropped off by a family member at her home near Tucson, Arizona. Police believe the 84-year-old was taken against her will during the early hours of February 1. After she failed to show up at a friend's home that day, her family reported her missing. The search has now dragged into its 20th day with no definitive breakthroughs, although multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are working the case. Nancy's neighbors in the Catalina Foothills, a suburban community northeast of Tucson, have given the Pima County Sheriff's Department access to surveillance video of the area around her house, Carillo said Friday. Carillo also said DNA analysis is underway on biological material that was recovered. Blood found at the scene was already determined to belong to Nancy. The Pima County Sheriff's Office considers it a possibility that multiple people were involved in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie Police are still working to identify the suspect that was captured on her doorbell camera during the early morning hours of February 1, the day Nancy disappeared Earlier this week, police said gloves found two miles from the scene matching those worn by the suspect in the doorbell camera video did not match anyone in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). CODIS contains nearly 27 million DNA profiles, with more than 19 million of them coming from convicted offenders. 'Investigators are currently looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options for DNA evidence to check for matches,' the Pima County Sheriff's Department said on Tuesday. 'CODIS is one option of many databases that are available.' Police can submit the DNA profile to publicly available DNA databases. Companies like Ancestry.com or 23andMe do not allow law enforcement to upload data on their websites to search for matches. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News on Tuesday that the DNA authorities currently have may belong to the suspect, who has been described as a 59 to 510 male. He was seen with a distinct gun holster and an Ozark Trail backpack from Walmart. Investigators are also hoping Nancy's pacemaker will eventually lead them to her. The device, which regulates one's heartbeat, was disconnected from an app on her phone at 2:28am. This was shortly after the suspect was seen on her doorbell camera. Nanos has previously said that the pacemaker still has six or seven years of battery life based on information he was provided by the manufacturer. The company that made the pacemaker has been working with police to help detect any possible signals the device could be emitting. President Donald Trump, who has commented on the case multiple times, appeared to suggest on Thursday that Nancy's kidnappers may have killed her so the pacemaker would be disabled. Police investigating Nancy Guthrie's disappearance are considering the theory that multiple people were involved in her abduction. (Pictured: Savannah and Nancy Guthrie) Nancy's home (pictured on Friday) is still a crime scene and investigators have searched it multiple times since her disappearance Signs and flowers from neighbors remain outside the residence as of Friday. The search has dragged into its 20th day 'I didn't like where they were talking about going after the pacemaker. And, you know, before they even started going after it, they're coming and reporting it. So if, in fact, they could do it that way, the person would say, "Well, I'm not going to let that happen," right? So bad things would happen,' he said on Air Force One. He continued: 'I can't imagine why they would have done that, just in terms of strategies. One little piece, I don't know.' Trump also said the media needs to report on additional subjects other than Nancy's disappearance, while acknowledging that it's a 'very sad situation'. Nanos has been criticized extensively for how he has handled the investigation so far. Among other things, he has been accused of being imprecise with his language when updating the public. He also took down crime scene tape around Nancy's home multiple times, potentially contaminating the area since journalists were let in at one point. The Daily Mail was the first to report that the sheriff's department failed to deploy its fixed-wing Cessna aircraft to search the area around Nancy's home immediately after she was reported missing. The aircraft, equipped with high-resolution thermal imaging cameras capable of scanning vast swaths of desert terrain, remained on the tarmac for roughly half a day, sources close to the sheriff's department told the Daily Mail. There was a staffing shortage that left the department without qualified pilots to fly the plane a shortage people familiar with the situation blamed directly on Nanos. Drugs including crack cocaine and heroin should be legalised for recreational use because they 'enhance human relationships', according to the Green Party's official policy. Zack Polanski's party plans to create a 'direct partnership' between the Government and South American drug cartels to introduce a 'sustainable supply of coca and cocaine' to Britain, it adds. Newly unearthed policy proposals show the Greens want to see cocaine drinks brought to the high street and Class A drugs including ecstasy and psychedelics sold at nightclubs and music festivals. The policy adds that children 'starting in primary school' should be taught how to take drugs safely in Personal, Social and Health Education (PHSE) lessons to 'enhance the safety of all who use drugs'. The plan to legalise drugs comes despite the policy proposing a simultaneous crackdown on alcohol and tobacco - including heaping more tax on beer and cigarettes to 'reflect the cost of harm caused by alcohol use on society'. The internal Green policy, seen by the Mail, states that heroin and crack cocaine should be legalised because 'adults should be free to make informed decisions about their own drug consumption'. It adds: 'The Green Party recognises that in the majority of cases the limited use of drugs for recreational purposes is not harmful and has the potential to enhance human relationships and human creativity.' Labour last night slammed the proposals and claimed that 'Zack Polanski's blueprint for a drug-ridden Britain would turn children's playgrounds into crack dens'. Zack Polanksi's party plan to create a 'direct partnership' between the Government and South American drug cartels Crack cocaine, heroin and the date-rape chemical GHB could all be legalised under the Greens But the Green leader hit back at the 'desperate lies from a desperate Labour Party that knows it's about to lose' an increasingly fraught by-election in Greater Manchester next week. While some of the policy makes uncontroversial proposals, including increasing funding for drug treatment centres, it also suggests legalising cocaine, heroin, ketamine, MDMA and even date-rape drug GHB. And the Greens plan to grant licences for 'not-for-profit cooperative' Cannabis Social Clubs and make crack cocaine and methamphetamine 'available on NHS prescription'. The document adds that a Green government will 'introduce direct partnerships between the UK government and coca farming co-operatives in main areas of production, notably parts of South America' to introduce 'a sustainable supply of coca and cocaine' to Britain. Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said the policy would 'unleash a drugs epidemic across Britain that would see our parks and playgrounds turned into crack dens'. She added: 'Let's be clear about what that would mean: lives shattered, anti-social behaviour through the roof, and public drug use running rife. It's deeply irresponsible to even suggest this.' It comes as a new poll put Labour on track to finish third in next week's Gorton and Denton by-election behind the Green Party and Reform UK. Some 22 per cent in the constituency intend to vote Green on February 26, 20 per cent said they would vote Reform, and 18 per cent plan to vote for Labour, according to the poll of 452 people. The poll, which was conducted by Omnisis, showed the contest remains on a knife edge, with 27 per cent of respondents saying they were still undecided. Mr Polanski has welcomed the poll as 'huge' but both Labour and Reform have sought to downplay the findings, with one source branding it a 'dud' due to the small sample size. A Green source said the drug policy is different from the party's manifesto, which is costed, but conceded that it is a 'long-standing policy and aim' of the party. Mr Polanski described Labour's claims on the policy as 'desperate lies' and said the Green Party has a 'specific manifesto commitment to 'preventing children accessing drugs'. He added: 'If Labour cared about people as much as they did smearing political opponents, they would back Greens' call for a national commission on drugs to see how we can reduce the harm drugs cause.' Polanksi has been mocked for a party political broadcast that harnessed 1950s working-class stereotypes in a bid to woo voters in Greater Manchester Don't talk down to us! Party leader mocked for 'working class North broadcast' Zack Polanski has been mocked for a political broadcast that harnessed 1950s working class stereotypes in a bid to woo voters in Greater Manchester. The footage depicts the Green Party leader in a pastiche working class living room complete with bakelite radio in which he says he hopes viewers enjoy Corrie. The 43-year-old vegan uses the video to rail against billionaires who own far too many of our politicians. The video comes ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election next week, in which the Greens are hoping to pounce on Labours unpopularity. Critics have branded the broadcast patronising, while former Labour MP Simon Danczuk said: Not having dared venture into the Denton part of the constituency, theyve recreated a room based on how they think white working class people live. A Labour source said: Zack can try to cosplay as a normal person all he likes. Voters will be more interested in his plans to legalise Class A drugs that would devastate communities than whether or not he likes to watch Corrie. Donald Trump reacted with outrage last night after the US judges threw out his 'beautiful' tariff plan but warned those celebrating 'won't be dancing for long'. In a ruling that could have major consequences for world trade, the Supreme Court said President Trump had exceeded his authority by imposing his 'Liberation Day' tariffs last year without Congressional approval. Mr Trump said he was 'ashamed' of the ruling, adding that America's highest court had been 'swayed by foreign interests'. But he vowed to find another route to maintain tariffs. Speaking at an emergency press conference at the White House last night, Mr Trump said the judges who threw out his plan were 'a disgrace to our country'. But he said he was already working on 'alternative' methods for protecting US industry, saying that 'even stronger methods are available to me'. He said that 'foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic' at the court's ruling. In a blunt warning, he added: 'They are dancing in the streets but they won't be dancing for long.' Mr Trump said he was imposing an immediate '10 per cent global tariff over and above existing tariffs', as well as examining other protectionist measures. President Trump holding up a board displaying reciprocal tariffs for countries on his self-proclaimed 'Liberation Day' in April last year Trump during an emergency press conference at the White House on Friday, where he said he was 'ashamed' of the Supreme Court ruling, adding that America's highest court had been 'swayed by foreign interests' Join the debate Will Trump's new global tariffs help protect US jobs, or simply fuel trade wars and harm consumers? Some experts claimed that the US may now have to refund more than 130billion to firms that paid the tariffs following Liberation Day in April last year. But Mr Trump suggested he was ready to fight any compensation claims in the courts for years. The ruling only affects the so-called 'reciprocal' tariffs imposed on individual countries, including the 10 per cent levied on British imports. It does not impact the targeted tariffs on sectors such as steel and cars, which could not be expanded. Downing Street was last night scrambling to calculate the likely impact on trade and relations. A Government spokesman said: 'The UK enjoys the lowest reciprocal tariffs globally, and under any scenario we expect our privileged trading position with the US to continue. We will work with the US administration to understand how the ruling will affect tariffs for the UK and the rest of the world.' Last night, Kemi Badenoch welcomed the ruling, saying tariffs are 'bad for both sides'. The Tory leader, who served as trade secretary in the last government, said: 'The UK is a trading country. So overall, this is good news for us. Let's hope it holds.' Mr Trump's tariffs stunned world leaders last year and threw global markets into turmoil as he claimed the US economy had been 'looted, pillaged and raped' for years. But the Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority, yesterday ruled by six to three that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act used to bring in the blanket measures 'does not authorise the President to impose tariffs'. Carsten Brzeski and Julian Geib, analysts for ING, warned that US tariffs are 'here to stay' but with 'new legal foundations and a messy transition period'. They added: 'Europe should not be mistaken, this ruling will not bring relief.' Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's police protection officers have been ordered to tell detectives everything they know. Scotland Yard last night told staff closest to the disgraced former prince to 'consider carefully anything they saw or heard' while working for him. Questions have been asked about what Andrew's taxpayer-funded security may have witnessed, and potentially turned a blind eye to, during time he spent with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Previous inquiries have drawn a blank but the Met last night put pressure on current and former officers as they investigate allegations made in the wake of the Epstein Files release. On another extraordinary royal day: Andrew stands to be cut from the line of succession with ministers readying legislation for when any police investigations are finalised. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, was said to be in 'the depths of despair' as others expected the authorities will look to speak to her as a potential witness soon. The King could be forced into footing the legal bill for his brother to defend himself against the allegations. The ex-duke's former lawyer, known as 'Good News Gary', is masterminding his strategy once again. Creepy pictures of Andrew playing with a 'boob ball' with a toddler emerged. Officers are today expected to continue searching Andrew's former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, following his arrest on Thursday morning, his 66th birthday. Questions have been asked about what Andrew Mountbatten WIndsor's (pictured) taxpayer-funded security may have witnessed, and potentially turned a blind eye to Police officers patrolling Royal Lodge. On Friday night Scotland Yard told staff closest to the disgraced former prince to 'consider carefully anything they saw or heard' while working for him Thames Valley Police released the former Duke of York under investigation 11 hours after picking him up at his new home on the royal Sandringham Estate, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Andrew has faced allegations of passing potentially confidential and sensitive documents to Epstein while working as a UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. The Met said last night it was continuing to look into the Epstein Files, but said it had 'separately' started the process of 'identifying and contacting former and serving officers, who may have worked closely, in a protection capacity' with the ex-prince. In a statement, the force said: 'They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during that period of service may be relevant to our ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist us.' They refused to confirm how many current and former staff members had been identified, and how many had been contacted to date. It comes after an unnamed former senior Met protection officer this week told LBC Radio that members of its Royalty and Specialist Protection (Rasp) unit - officers who accompany high-profile people on public events and are with them at close quarters - may have 'wilfully turned a blind eye' during visits to Epstein's private island, where multiple women said they were abused. The former officer said there were 'real concerns' in the late 1990s and early 2000s that the 'royal protection team became too close to their principals', and staff were 'terrified' of being demoted. Police have yet to identify any wrongdoing by protection officers. Scotland Yard also said no new allegations have so far been made 'regarding sexual offences said to have occurred within our jurisdiction'. Thames Valley Police released the former Duke of York under investigation 11 hours after picking him up at his new home on the royal Sandringham Estate, on suspicion of misconduct in public office A separate report made to Thames Valley Police alleges a woman in her 20s was trafficked by Epstein to Andrew for sex at Royal Lodge in 2010. The force are assessing the claims. Andrew has previous denied claims by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre that she had sex with him three times - in London, New York and on Epstein's private island. West Yorkshire Police yesterday became the tenth UK force to announce it was assessing the contents of the three million pages of Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice. Meanwhile, former prime minister Gordon Brown, who also served as Chancellor during Andrew's decade as an envoy, said he had passed a 'five-page memorandum' to the Metropolitan, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and other UK police constabularies following Andrew's arrest. He said the document 'provides additional information to that submitted last week where I expressed my concern that we secure justice for trafficked girls and women'. Detectives have been reviewing allegations against Andrew after files suggested he shared reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore with Epstein. Andrew has denied wrongdoing over his Epstein links but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. The King said that 'the law must take its course' and the police have his 'full support and co-operation'. News / National by Stephen Jakes Journalist Gideon Madzikatidze has been remanded in custody until 23 February 2026 after briefly appearing before Harare Magistrate Ruth Moyo on 20 February 2026. He was arrested on 18 February and detained at Harare Central Police Station. Madzikatidze faces two charges: contravening Section 7(1), as read with subsection 4(b), of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06] for allegedly providing a broadcasting service without a licence; and cyberbullying as defined under Section 164B of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].The State alleges that between 15 and 16 December 2025, Madzikatidze unlawfully conducted internet broadcasting services through a Bulawayo24 News website without the required licence.On the second count, prosecutors claim he intentionally posted a data message on the Bulawayo24 website alleging that the GeoPomona boss bribed journalists and editors to evade scrutiny. The State argues the message was intended to intimidate, harass, bully, and cause substantial emotional distress to GeoPomona Waste Management Company and its chief executive officer.His lawyer, Godwin Giya, told the court they could not immediately apply for bail due to a heavy roll. The bail application is set to be heard on Monday, 23 February 2026.Meanwhile, MISA Zimbabwe reminded journalists that if they are injured, detained or arrested while on duty, they can call the organisations 24/7 SOS hotline on 0784 437 338 for legal or medical assistance.Dont forget to save the number in your phone for emergencies, MISA said. A German business consultant who acted as an intermediary between Jeffrey Epstein and the former Duke of York has resigned from the University of Cambridge's business school. David Stern stepped down with 'immediate effect' after the Judge Business School was asked about his relationship with the disgraced financier. Details emerged as emails revealed Mr Stern, 48, appeared to suggest to Epstein that he should invest in music company EMI as the industry 'related to P' a derogatory term Epstein used to refer to women. Epstein replied that he was interested, according to the BBC, saying: 'Do we need help Mandelson?' Lord Mandelson denies any suggestion that he was aware of Epstein's sex crimes and said he didn't discover the truth until after the paedophile's death in 2019. Mr Stern's name appears 7,461 times in the Epstein Files, where he refers to himself as a 'soldier', and the child sex offender as his 'general'. The men appeared to share sexually explicit messages with Mr Stern known as the 'man in the palace', keeping Epstein up to date with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's movements. The relationship continued following Epstein's release from prison in 2009 after he admitted procuring a girl under the age of 18 for prostitution, the messages indicate, and continued until at least 2017. Epstein also tried to broker a lucrative deal with an American investment firm that would have netted Andrew a 1million advance, emails between him and Mr Stern appear to show. David Stern (left) smiles in a photograph released by the US Department of Justice, alongside Sarah Ferguson (centre) and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (right) Mr Stern's name appears 7,461 times in the Epstein Files, where he refers to himself as a 'soldier', and the child sex offender (pictured) as his 'general' According to the emails released by the US Department of Justice, the former prince would have also received a 40 per cent cut of future profits in the link up with Cantor Fitzgerald, with the same amount going to the firm and the remaining 20 per cent to Mr Stern, according to one proposed version. The plan to use Andrew's connections to introduce 'asset management firms, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors and high net worth individuals', reported by the Daily Telegraph, was discussed by Epstein and Mr Stern in autumn 2013 almost three years after the then-Duke of York claimed to have severed ties with the billionaire. A 2014 birthday message seemingly from Mr Stern to Epstein had a photograph of an unknown young woman having champagne poured on her. Communications about Andrew included one from 2011, with Mr Stern apparently writing: 'I am going with PA to China on 23 October... I stay in the background/hidden.' He was appointed in January 2018 to the advisory board of Judge Business School. But he resigned with 'immediate effect' after the school was approached by business magazine Private Equity News about his relationship with Epstein. A JBS spokesman said 'David Stern has resigned from the advisory board of Cambridge Judge Business School with immediate effect', and did not confirm whether it previously knew about the ties between the two men. Mr Stern was contacted for a statement. OpenAI employees raised concerns about posts made by the transgender shooter who attacked a school in Canada months before the deadly rampage unfolded, it has emerged. Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, opened fire on students inside the library of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia on the afternoon of February 10, police said. The shooting ended with the tragic deaths of a female teacher, along with three girls and two boys aged between 13 and 17, while 25 more were injured. Van Rootselaar's mother and brother were also found dead at their home beforehand. Yet, there were warning signs dating back to the summer. Van Rootselaar allegedly described a series of graphic scenarios involving gun violence to ChatGPT for several days in June, sources told the Wall Street Journal. The concerning content was flagged by an automated review system and alarmed around a dozen employees at OpenAI, with some believing it indicated potential escalation into real-world violence. According to those familiar with the matter, several employees escalated the troubling content to leaders and urged them to alert Canadian law enforcement, the outlet reported. However, OpenAI decided against reporting Van Rootselaar to law enforcement. A spokesperson for the AI company told the Journal that they banned her account, but decided her comments didn't meet the requirements for further escalation. Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, opened fire in the library at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia on February 10, killing one teacher and five students In June, Van Rootselaar was allegedly telling ChatGPT a series of graphic scenarios involving gun violence over a number of days, concerning multiple Open AI employees Children were led out of the school after the shooting as authorities attended the scene The company said in a statement to the outlet: 'Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy.' According to the Journal, OpenAI claimed to train their software to discourage users from committing acts of real-world violence, and any indication of such behavior is directed to be reviewed by humans. The escalation to law enforcement is weighed against the risk of privacy concerns and the potential distress for the user and their family should police become unnecessarily involved. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX which recently integrated with xAI, wrote on X that he found the news of OpenAI's lack of action 'troubling.' The RCMP explained that Van Rootselaar began identifying as female six years ago, aged 12, and said there had been multiple call-outs to her home related to her mental health over the years. Archived posts on social media were uncovered of Van Rootselaar posing at the gun range and claiming to have created a bullet cartridge using a 3D printer. Van Rootselaar, who stopped attending school four years ago at the age of 14, even had to be 'apprehended for assessment' under the country's mental health act at one point. 'Police have attended that residence in the past, approximately a couple of years ago, where firearms were seized under the Criminal Code,' said Dwayne McDonald, Deputy Commissioner of British Columbia RCMP. The 18-year-old murdered her mother and brother before killing eight people in the second-deadliest school shooting in Canadian history 'I can say that at a later point in time, the lawful owner of those firearms petitioned for those firearms to be returned, and they were.' Sources told the Daily Mail that Van Rootselaar lived at the home with three relatives. Liam Irving said Van Rootselaar's mother and younger brother were well known in the Tumbler Ridge community and were 'good friends' of his family. 'There's not one person in this town right now that's not affected by this,' he told the Western Standard. An emergency alert was issued to Tumbler Ridge residents around 1.20pm local time on the afternoon of February 10, warning of an active shooter in the area. An urgent lockdown alarm sounded in the hallways shortly after 1.30pm, instructing students and staff to barricade the doors. 'Once people sent me some photos, it definitely set in what was actually happening,' the student said. 'They [the photos] were disturbing, just showing blood and things like that. Thats when it all really set in.' Van Rootselaar seen pictured happily gripping a rifle The secondary school, which enrolls 175 students, and its elementary school, was closed for the rest of the week. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a social media post that he was devastated by the shooting. 'I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens,' he wrote. Carney's office said he has suspended a planned trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia and Munich, Germany. He was set to announce a long-awaited defense industrial strategy in Halifax on Wednesday before heading to Europe for the Munich Security Conference. David Eby, the province's premier, told reporters he had spoken to Carney after what he called the 'unimaginable tragedy'. 'I know it's causing us all to hug our kids a little bit tighter tonight,' he said. 'I'm asking the people of British Columbia to look after the people of Tumbler Ridge tonight.' British second-home owners could find the door slammed shut on their Mediterranean dream under radical new plans being thrashed out in the Balearic Islands. Lawmakers in Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza are set to debate a proposal that would block non-residents from buying property if they have not lived on the island for at least five years. The bill, tabled by Left-wing party Mes per Mallorca, comes amid mounting fury over soaring house prices and the relentless march of tourism. Around 90,000 homes across the Balearics are already owned by foreign nationals - some 16 per cent of the housing stock. British buyers remain a powerful force in the Spanish property market, with nearly 12,000 homes snapped up by UK purchasers in 2024 alone, according to Idealista. Foreign buyers accounted for 13.8 per cent of all sales last year - almost 97,300 transactions, a record high for non-Spainards. Lluis Apesteguia, an MP for Mes per Mallorca, insisted that 'extraordinary measures were necessary' after the islands welcomed 19 million visitors last year. He said: 'We have to prioritise the houses that are for living in not for those who want to speculate and continue with this game of Monopoly.' Around 90,000 homes across the Balearics are already owned by foreign nationals - some 16 per cent of the housing stock. (Pictured: Stock image, Mallorca) People march during a protest against overtourism in the Balearic island of Mallorca, Spain, Sunday, June 15, 2025 'Mallorca is not for sale' reads a protest banner held by a girl in a march against housing prices and the impact of tourism on the residents of the Balearic Islands, in Palma, Mallorca, Spain, April 5, 2025 Activists are also preparing to ramp up the pressure. Campaign group Menys Turisme Mes Vida, which staged mass anti-tourist protests last summer, says it will return to the streets, blaming second-home owners for pricing locals out of hotspots including Barcelona and the Balearics. Supporters argue the crackdown could set a precedent across Spain, mirroring rules in Denmark that require UK-born buyers to have lived there for five consecutive years before purchasing property. But critics say the plan is legally flawed. Sebastia Sagreras, of the centre-Right People's Party (PP), warned EU regulations meant the proposals 'cannot be fulfilled' and confirmed his party would vote against them. Marc Pons, of the Left-wing Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), which supports caps on visitor numbers, said the government could 'not rely solely on this solution to the problems', even if it helped slow price rises. It is the latest attempt by Spain to rein in foreign buyers. Last year, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged a tax of up to 100 per cent on properties bought by non-residents from outside the EU, promising it would tackle the country's deepening housing crisis. The measure has yet to pass parliament and has drawn criticism from those who say it could drive prices even higher as overseas purchasers rush to beat any new rules. The pressure is acute in the Balearics, now among Spain's most expensive regions. Tourists sit in a restaurant as people protest against overtourism in the Balearic island of Mallorca, Spain, Sunday, June 15, 2025 Dozens of people during a demonstration against tourist overcrowding, at the peace park, on 27 September, 2024 in Ibiza Demonstrators hold a cardboard cruise boat during a protest against mass tourism and housing prices in Palma de Mallorca, on the Balearic island of Mallorca on June 15, 2025 The average price of a 90-square-metre home has rocketed to 403,000 up sharply from 248,000 in 2020. Ferran Rosa, an MP in the Balearic parliament, said: 'Housing is certainly the largest problem for Mallorcans, as prices have been rising for years and more and more houses are devoted to non-residential uses. 'Our plan is to ensure that houses are used for living, rather than "tourist" uses, considering second homes for non-residents a tourist use. 'In this respect, we base our bill in similar regulations existing across the EU that intend to guarantee the right to housing.' A Labour minister accused of paying a PR firm to smear journalists was facing fresh questions about his role in the scandal last night. Josh Simons is facing a Cabinet Office investigation over a controversial probe he ordered into a damaging newspaper article while in charge of think-tank Labour Together. American PR firm APCO Worldwide produced a confidential report into a 2023 Sunday Times story revealing that Labour Together had failed to disclose 730,000 in donations when it was run by Morgan McSweeney, later Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff. Mr Simons has previously dismissed claims he commissioned it as nonsense. But leaked details of the contract yesterday confirmed APCO was asked to investigate the sourcing, funding and origins of the article, as well as planned work by two freelance journalists who provided source material. In a confirmation letter to Mr Simons, the firm promised to provide a body of evidence that could be packaged up for use in the media. It said it would use human intelligence to help compile the report, alongside forensic accounting and digital forensics investigation. The 58-page report, which cost the think-tank 36,000, is said to have portrayed two reporters as part of a Russian campaign to sabotage Sir Keirs reputation and included pages of deeply personal and false claims about one of them, Gabriel Pogrund. Josh Simons (pictured) is facing a Cabinet Office investigation over a controversial probe he ordered into a damaging newspaper article while in charge of think-tank Labour Together Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in September last year. The Labour Together think tank supported Starmer's Labour leadership bid Mr Simons has claimed he was surprised and shocked by APCOs decision to include information on Mr Pogrund, as it had extended beyond the contract. And leaked emails yesterday confirmed that Mr Simons passed the findings of the inquiry to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) suggesting that it investigate whether the think-tank had been the subject of a Russian hacking operation. The revelations will pile pressure on Mr Simons, who is already facing calls to resign. And privately, some senior Labour figures believe Mr Simons will struggle to survive the scandals fallout. Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesman Lisa Smart said she was appalled by the reported smear tactics. APCO has said it is undertaking a detailed internal review of the project. An adviser to Donald Trump had some choice words for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker after the Democrat tried to troll the president over the Supreme Court's tariff ruling. Pritzker wrote a letter to Trump demanding he issue refunds to the people of Illinois now that the court has ruled the trade policies unconstitutional, attached with an invoice for $8.6billion. The liberal governor and heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune even threatened 'further action' if Trump didn't pay up. Alex Bruesewitz, one of the president's longest-serving advisers, hit back at Pritzker after reporter Natasha Korecki posted details of the invoice on social media. 'Hey @natashakorecki, could you or any reporter please ask fat-a** @JBPritzker about his cousin who just had to resign from Hyatt after his close ties with Epstein were exposed?' The governor's cousin Thomas Pritzker announced earlier this week that he is stepping down from the corporation's board of directors over his admitted association with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment. In the letter to Trump, Pritzker wrote: 'Your tariff taxes wreaked havoc on farmers, enraged our allies, and sent grocery prices through the roof. This morning, your hand-picked Supreme Court Justices notified you that they are also unconstitutional.' An adviser to Donald Trump had some choice words for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (pictured) after the Democrat tried to troll the president over the Supreme Court's tariff ruling Pritzker wrote a letter to Trump demanding he issue refunds to the people of Illinois now that the court has ruled the trade policies unconstitutional, attached with an invoice for $8.6billion He then demanded Trump refund the people of Illinois $1,700 per family, with more than five million households in the state, totaled out to $8,679,261,600. 'This letter and the attached invoice stand as an official notice that compensation is owed to the people of Illinois, and if you do not comply, we will pursue further action,' he added. The invoice, captioned by Pritzker with the words 'cut the check,' was even marked: 'Past Due Delinquent.' Trump claimed earlier Friday that he found a little-known trade law to re-implement his sweeping tariffs, set to take effect in just days, after he launched a bitter attack against the Supreme Court for ruling his trade policies unconstitutional. 'It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday evening. Trump previously threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which grants the president the power to impose temporary tariffs. The trade law was implemented to address short-term emergencies and does not enact long-term trade policies. The tariffs can remain in effect for only 150 days without congressional approval. Trump's decision marks the first time a president has invoked Section 122. Alex Bruesewitz (pictured right), one of the president's longest-serving advisers, hit back at Pritzker after reporter Natasha Korecki posted details of the invoice to social media. The White House shared that the temporary import duty will take effect on February 24 at 12.01am EST. The tariff does not apply to a wide range of goods, including energy products, natural resources, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, some electronics, some vehicles, certain aerospace products, informational materials, and accompanied baggage. Food products, including beef and tomatoes, will be exempt to minimize impacts on the average consumer. The global tariff also excludes products from Canada and Mexico due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canada and Mexico have the lowest effective tariff rate globally. The countries will still be taxed on steel, aluminum and non-USMCA compliant goods. Certain textiles and apparel are also exempt under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement. 'The Supreme Courts disappointing decision today will not deter the Presidents effort to reshape the long-distorted global trading system that has undermined the economic and national security of our country, and contributed to fundamental international payment problems,' the White House said on the tariffs. The president also launched a scathing accusation - that the justices who struck down his signature tariffs are being 'swayed by foreign interests.' Pritzker (pictured) demanded Trump refund the people of Illinois $1,700 per family, with more than five million households in the state, totaled out to $8,679,261,600 In his seething condemnation, Trump said that some conservative justices are 'not loyal' like those appointed by Democratic presidents and accused them of going against the US Constitution. He lamented that the decision is nonsensical, claiming that the court admitted he can do anything he wants as president other than slap down tariffs. 'I'm allowed to destroy the country, but I can't charge them a little fee,' Trump complained. 'I can do anything I want to do to them, but I can't charge any money.' Three conservative justices joined all three liberals on the panel to rule against Trump on Friday, handing down a 6-3 decision that rebuked one of the president's biggest economic proposals of his second term. Despite the Court's rightward lean, two justices that Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett joined Chief Justice John Roberts to rule against him. It marked a rare moment of consensus among conservative justices to go against the president. Meanwhile, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the third Trump Supreme Court appointee, penned the dissent. He was joined by fellow conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. 'The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing and I'm ashamed of certain members of the Court. Absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what's right for our country,' the president said in the press briefing room. 'It's my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests and a political movement that is far smaller than people would ever think,' he added. Trump also spun the legal defeat into a win, saying that now he has a greater ability to regulate trade. 'While I am sure that they did not mean to do so, the Supreme Court's decision today made a President's ability to both regulate trade and impose tariffs more powerful and more crystal clear rather than less,' he said. 'I don't think they meant that.' Inmates have been given their own alarm clocks to wake them up gently each morning rather than having a prison officer bang on their cell doors. The move is part of an initiative to reduce violence in jails with hopes prisoners will be less likely to wake up in a 'bad mood' and go on to harm another inmate or staff. The calmer approach to early mornings is being trialled on a wing at scandal-hit HMP Wandsworth in south London, the prison where Daniel Khalife mounted his high-profile escape and where prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was filmed having sex with an inmate. Similar methods have already been introduced at jails in Scandinavia and the United States. HMP Pentonville, a Category B men's prison in north London, is also taking part in the project. The introduction of alarm clocks, which will give prisoners more autonomy over when they wake up, is part of a 10-month trial that launched seven weeks ago. The initiative will also give 120 inmates more time out of their cells with a wider range of activities on offer as an alternative to being locked up for up to 22 hours a day. Inmates have been given their own alarm clocks to wake them up gently each morning rather than having a prison officer bang on their cell doors. Pictured: HMP Wandsworth Daniel Khalife, pictured, launched a high-profile escape from HMP Wandsworth Pictured: A man celebrates as he is released from HMP Wandsworth where a new scheme trialling alarm clocks has been introduced Some of the prison officers taking part in the trials at HMP Wandsworth and HMP Pentonville were flown to Sweden for five days of specialist training, The Telegraph has reported. They will be expected to spend more time talking to the inmates about their personal problems and encouraging them not to reoffend. Natasha Porter, the founder of Unlocked Graduates, a charity which is supporting the scheme, said: 'It sounds small, but often in really big prisons where you don't have many staff, the way the prisoners are woken up in the morning is key on door to the metal, going ding, ding, ding, a kind of loud banging, 'get up, free flow in 15 minutes'. 'There's shouting, it's aggressive. And actually, if you are woken up in that way, you're much more likely to start the day in a bad mood, to be violent, to be confrontational. 'And what we saw in Sweden was that they just try to be quiet when they wake people up by not shouting at them.' Prisoners taking part in the trial have been allocated to the units at random, rather than as a reward for good behaviour. Their performance in the trial will be monitored by academics at Kings College London who will assess whether violence among inmates is reduced. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'We're determined the criminal justice system creates better citizens, not better criminals. 'We will continue to look at what works including evidence from overseas to improve safety, reduce reoffending and protect the public.' The move is the latest in Labour's programme of soft justice that has seen nearly 50,000 criminals freed from jail early. Figures from the Ministry of Justice published in January show 48,931 offenders were let out of prison onto the streets between September 2024 and September 2025. Your browser does not support iframes. The scheme led to distasteful scenes of lags popping champagne corks outside prison gates, as some vowed to be life-long Labour voters as a result of being freed early. Some freed inmates committed new offences within hours. The programme was launched to free up space in the jails, with justice secretary Shabana Mahmood claiming the justice system would grind to a halt if nothing was done. Those jailed for sex crimes, terrorism and serious violent crimes carrying more than four years in jail are excluded from the early release terms. But violent offenders sentenced to less than four years can be freed early, including killers convicted of manslaughter. A previous scheme introduced by the former Tory government letting inmates out up to 70 days early led to 13,325 offenders being freed over 11 months, one third of the rate being let out by Labour. Senior military figures last night urged Sir Keir Starmer to put national security first and let Donald Trump use British bases for an attack on Iran. Downing Street has refused the US permission to launch air strikes from bases in the UK and overseas. That message was reiterated by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper last night when she met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C. She told her counterpart that Britain favoured diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran. With Tehran saying it will have a nuclear deal draft ready in a few days, former top brass last night joined the Conservative Party in criticising the Governments view after Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge said Irans nuclear programme poses a grave threat to Britain and our allies. Rear Admiral Chris Parry, a retired Royal Navy officer, said: At a time when our US ally needs to be reassured of Britains staunch opposition to brutal regimes and about its access to the Chagos Islands and [UK-US military base] Diego Garcia, our Government is proving unreliable and weak. Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe said: We absolutely should let the US use UK bases in launching targeted strikes against Iran. It would be madness not to. The Americans can use Diego Garcia anyway, as it is a joint base, but we should be actively supporting. President Trump was particularly keen to use RAF Fairford in Suffolk and Diego Garcia, the British overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime in Tehran. But following a diplomatic tit-for-tat over the future of the Chagos Islands, which includes Diego Garcia, the Prime Minister has blocked US plans. The row follows UK concerns over the legality of the air strikes the US is minded to launch. Were these to be illegal under international law, the UK could be accused of facilitating an illegal act. Keir Starmer, pictured here at a Q&A in Wales this week, has refused to let America use British military bases for an attack on Iran US President Donald Trump is keen to use Britain's military bases in Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford in Suffolk to stage an attack Diego Garcia, pictured here, is part of the Chagos Islands, which have been at the centre of a diplomatic tit-for-tat between the UK and US The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on what it describes as ongoing operational matters. Asked yesterday whether he was considering strikes on Iran, President Trump said: I guess I can say I am considering that. He has ordered one of the largest US military build-ups in the Middle East for decades, including two aircraft carriers. But UK forces are not expected to be involved. While former Army intelligence officer Phil Ingram suggested the PM was influenced by human rights lawyers, such as Attorney General Richard Hermer, who prefer to say no rather than finding a justification to say yes. In recent days, six US intelligence-gathering aircraft have flown to Saudi Arabia from bases in Europe, including RAF Mildenhall, while F-22 Raptor stealth jets have left Virginia in the US. In a bid to prevent being attacked, Iran has reached out to its ally Russia and pledged to pursue further negotiations with the US over the dismantling of its nuclear enrichment programme. On Thursday, President Trump has said Iran has ten, 15 days, pretty much maximum to reach a deal, or face really bad things. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said yesterday: The next step for me is to present a draft of a possible deal to my counterparts in the US. I believe in the next two, three days, that would be ready. Ms Coopers US talks with Mr Rubio also touched on the UKs agreement to hand sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory, home to the Diego Garcia base, to Mauritius. President Trump publicly criticised the deal earlier this week. Two more charged after flurry of arrests this week A man and a teenage boy have been charged over the alleged shooting of a former NRL premiership star outside a suburban home. Former Canterbury and Wests Tigers winger Matt Utai was taken to hospital after being shot multiple times outside his home in Greenacre, in southwest Sydney, as he was about to drive to work on Tuesday morning. The 2004 NRL premiership star was caught in the crossfire of his son Iziah Utai's alleged criminal associations and escalating gang conflict, detectives believe. Police arrested a 25-year-old Marsden Park man and 15-year-old boy in Emerton on Friday night. Both the man and teen were charged with shooting with intent to murder and participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity. The pair were refused bail to appear before court on Saturday. Shots were also fired at a home in outer western Sydney about 12.45am on Wednesday before a firebombing was carried out in Guildford West, near Parramatta, hours later. A woman in her 50s who was inside the first home was uninjured. Former Canterbury and Wests Tigers winger Matt Utai was taken to hospital after being shot multiple times outside his home in Greenacre, in southwest Sydney on Friday Police arrested a 25-year-old Marsden Park man and 15-year-old boy in Emerton on Friday Both the man and teen were charged with shooting with intent to murder and participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity All incidents were targeting the Utai family, police said. Utai had surgery after being left with serious leg wounds from the attack and has since been transferred to a different hospital where he remains in a serious condition. An additional four people have been charged over the spate of attacks, including a 19-year-old man accused of picking up the gunman and a 16-year-old alleged to have handled the weapon. Both face counts of being an accessory after the fact to a shooting with intent to murder. Utai starred in the 2004 NRL grand final, scoring two tries as his Bulldogs knocked off the Sydney Roosters. His former club said it was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the shooting. The New Zealand and Samoa international played 167 NRL games, joining the Wests Tigers in 2011 and spending three seasons with the club. A former newspaper executive accused of asking a private investigator to hack phones yesterday branded the allegations against him a litany of lies. Paul Henderson, ex-investigations editor and news editor at The Mail on Sunday, told the High Court it was grotesque to claim he commissioned Gavin Burrows to target Prince Harry and Sir Elton John among other celebrities. He denied telling the private investigator (PI) to hack phones, track vehicles, place bugs or blag information. Mr Burrows purportedly admitted carrying out unlawful information gathering for the Daily Mail and The MoS but has since said the apparent confession was false and his signature forged. Associated Newspapers, publisher of both titles, also denies that its journalists commissioned PIs to hack voicemails, intercept landline calls and blag the claimants private information, and described the allegations as preposterous. Mr Henderson, who worked at both newspapers during a 50-year career in journalism specialising in serious investigations and foreign assignments such as tracking down the Lockerbie bomb suspect in Libya, called the claims surreal. He described Mr Burrows disputed confession as a litany of lies and told the court: I would like the claimants in this action to know I never did any of this. He added: These lies are being used against me on matters I would never, ever have got involved in. Prince Harry at the High Court in January 2026 He said he was contacted by Scotland Yard during its phone hacking investigation and told he was potentially a victim of convicted private detective, Glenn Mulcaire. The court heard Mr Mulcaire admitted attempting to hack targets within the company to get information for other newspapers. Mr Henderson was shown a pitch memo said to set out Mr Mulcaires services, and said: These are very, very serious allegations and a very, very serious so-called menu of illegal acts. I would not have got involved. He added: If anybody had suggested something like that to me, I would have ended the meeting and I would not deal with them again. But this has never happened. The trial continues. Donald Trump's anger at the Supreme Court's decision to rule his tariff policies unconstitutional could influence his decision to call for a military strike in Iran, according to a former White House official. The president, who has been going back and forth on the issue with advisors for days as the military sends dozens of air and sea crafts to the region, is heavily focused on his legacy. Trump, 79, has sought to make a deal that would prevent Iranian nuclear enrichment in recent weeks, but has found the regime in Tehran resistant. Former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross - who served during the president's first term - believes that Trump is now more likely to strike the Middle Eastern country following the blow to his most significant second-term policy. 'I don't think he can take this loss and then be seen as backing down on Iran,' Ross told The Wall Street Journal. However, despite the success of recent targeted military actions in Iran and Venezuela, a White House official told the WSJ Trump still prefers diplomacy over war. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment. On Thursday, it appeared he was leaning toward targeted and limited strikes on the regime as opposed to a full-scale war. Advisors believe the targeted attacks would help sway the Islamic Republic into making a nuclear deal. The strikes would aim to decimate only military and government sites as a first step, the Journal reported. Donald Trump's anger at the Supreme Court's decision to rule his tariff policies unconstitutional could influence his decision to call for a military strike in Iran Trump has tried to make a deal that would stop Iranian nuclear enrichment in recent weeks but has still found the regime in Tehran resistant. Pictured: training exercises between Iran and Russia Speaking at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday, the president warned the US could bomb Iran if a deal isn't reached within 10 days. An official in the region said the tactic would likely push Iranian officials out of negotiations for a 'significant period.' If it doesn't work, Trump could then strike regime facilities in an attempt to oust the entire leadership. While Trump has been 'repeatedly presented' this plan by senior aides, discussions in the Oval Office have largely focused on a larger plan of attack. 'Only President Trump knows what he may or may not do,' White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told WSJ. Trump bragged on Thursday about bringing 'peace to the Middle East,' but then subsequently threatened that if Iran doesn't make a meaningful peace deal 'bad things [will] happen.' 'We may have to take it a step further, or we may not. Maybe we're going to make a deal..,' Trump said of breakdowns in nuclear talks. 'You're going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days,' he added. Trump last directed strikes in Iran over the summer. On June 19 the White House set a two-week window for the president to decide between whether to continue talks or take action. Trump would target only military and government sites as a first step to get Iran to agree to a favorable deal and could potentially start 'within days.' Pictured: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Naval units from Iran and Russia carry out to simulation of rescue a hijacked vessel during the joint naval drills held at the Port of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz Three days later, he launched Operation Midnight Hammer where the US Air Force and Navy attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran. Trump has repeatedly said he wants to be the president that ends wars, but the meeting of the newly formed board comes after the US military significantly built-up air and naval assets in the Middle East in recent weeks. This included moving aircraft carriers, fighter jets, submarines and other resources to the region. Iran nuclear talks stalled after the recent round of negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland where the Middle Eastern nation requested more time with little-to-no breakthrough. On Friday, the president was forced to improvise after the Supreme Court struck down his signature trade policies. 'It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday evening. Trump previously threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which grants the president the power to impose temporary tariffs. The trade law was implemented to address short-term emergencies and does not enact long-term trade policies. Trump could eventually go after regime facilities in an attempt to oust Ayatollah Ali Khameni (pictured) The tariffs can remain in effect for only 150 days without congressional approval. Trump's decision marks the first time a president has invoked Section 122. The White House shared that the temporary import duty will take effect on February 24 at 12.01am EST. The tariff does not apply to a wide range of goods, including energy products, natural resources, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, some electronics, some vehicles, certain aerospace products, informational materials, and accompanied baggage. Food products, including beef and tomatoes, will be exempt to minimize impacts on the average consumer. The global tariff also excludes products from Canada and Mexico due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canada and Mexico have the lowest effective tariff rate globally. The countries will still be taxed on steel, aluminum and non-USMCA compliant goods. Certain textiles and apparel are also exempt under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement. The president also launched a scathing accusation - that the justices who struck down his signature tariffs are being 'swayed by foreign interests.' In his seething condemnation, Trump said that some conservative justices are 'not loyal' like those appointed by Democratic presidents and accused them of going against the US Constitution. He lamented that the decision is nonsensical, claiming that the Court admitted he can do anything he wants as president other than slap down tariffs. 'I'm allowed to destroy the country, but I can't charge them a little fee,' Trump complained. 'I can do anything I want to do to them, but I can't charge any money.' Three conservative justices joined all three liberals on the panel to rule against Trump on Friday, handing down a 6-3 decision that rebuked one of the president's biggest economic proposals of his second term. News / National by Stephen Jakes Bulawayo City Council has warned residents of possible water supply interruptions following power outages affecting the Umzingwane catchment area in Matabeleland South. In a notice, Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the outages occurred on Thursday, 19 February 2026, at both the Umzingwane and Inyankuni pump stations.The outage is due to lightningrelated faults affecting the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company supply infrastructure. ZETDC teams are currently on the ground working towards the restoration of power supply to both pump stations, Dube said.He added that the Rochester and Cowdray Park pump stations on the Nyamandlovu Aquifer supply line had also been experiencing intermittent electricity supply.Dube warned that the loss of power would affect adherence to the citys watershedding programme and could result in interruptions to water supplies.The City of Bulawayo wishes to apologise to its valued consumers for the inconvenience likely to be caused, he said. A highly-experienced lawyer was installed by federal judges on Friday as the top prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia, an office recently helmed by MAGA darling and ex-beauty queen Lindsey Halligan. However, just hours into James Hundley's post as US Attorney, he was unceremoniously fired by the Department of Justice. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the move in a scathing social media post. He reposted a CBS reporter's post about Hundley's appointment and wrote: 'Here we go again. [Eastern District of Virginia] judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, youre fired!' Federal law states that US district judges do have the power to appoint prosecutors in this scenario. Halligan was appointed to a 120-day interim term by Attorney General Pam Bondi at the public urging of President Donald Trump, who thought his former personal lawyer would pursue prosecutions against his political opponents. In a November 24 ruling, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie questioned Halligan's ability to serve as prosecutor, and her cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Currie said the attorney general is only allowed one 120-day appointment in any particular US attorney's office, which was already used on Halligan's predecessor, Erik Siebert. Siebert was fired by Trump for choosing not to prosecute Comey and James. James Hundley, who was appointed Friday by federal judges on Friday as the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia, was fired hours after he took the oath of office Hundley, who has 35 years of litigation experience, was set to replace Lindsey Halligan, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer who was illegally appointed as the US Attorney according to a judge Therefore, Halligan's appointment was illegal from the start, Currie said, which meant her indictments against Comey and James were invalid. Currie said from that point forward, the new US Attorney would either have to be chosen by his fellow judges, or the Trump administration would have to advance a permanent, Senate-confirmed candidate. After Halligans departure in January 2026, which followed a judges accusation that she had been 'masquerading' in the role for months, the Trump administration did not name a successor. That's why the district court stepped in and chose Hundley, a litigator with more than 35 years of experience, as the next interim US Attorney. An order penned by the district's chief judge, Hannah Lauck, said Hundley graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 1989, after which he went on to serve as a prosecutor in Fairfax County for six years. He then co-founded a law firm, which has 'a prominent criminal and civil litigation practice'. The order also stated that Hundley has successfully argued cases in front of the Supreme Court. Hundley's near-immediate firing is the second time the Department of Justice has sacked a prosecutor appointed by judges. Last week, Donald Kinsella was dismissed by the White House as interim US Attorney for the Northern District of New York. Kinsella was chosen by the judges of that bench to replace John Sarcone III, a Trump ally who like Halligan, was deemed to be serving in the position unlawfully. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Hundley's firing with a social media post Hundley's firing came a week after Donald Kinsella was similarly sacked from the top job at the Northern District of New York. He was there to replace temporary appointee John Sarcone III, another Trump ally The ongoing tug of war between the federal judiciary and the executive branch continued on Friday with the Supreme Court striking down Trump's sweeping global tariffs In a statement to the Daily Mail, Hundley did not criticize Trump for firing him and heaped praise on the attorneys working in the Eastern District of Virginia. 'It was a great honor to be appointed by the Court,' Hundley wrote in an email. 'Ive been practicing law in Virginia for many years and have always held the Court and the United States Attorneys Office in the highest regard. I would have welcomed the opportunity to support the attorneys and the staff of this outstanding Office as well as the law enforcement officers they work with.' Hundley continued: 'The difficult work they do on a daily basis to protect our community is critically important. Despite my dismissal by the President, I will continue to support our country and its justice system in any way I can.' Kinsella hinted to Law.com in an interview on Thursday that he likely won't go against the White House's decision to cut him loose. 'It's not important what my position is. It's not about me. There's a statute that authorizes the judges to fill the position, and the president hasn't nominated anyone,' Kinsella said. 'The judges decided that they wanted to fill the position. That's their prerogative. And the White House apparently believes that the president can fire the US attorney, so that's what they did.' 'I don't want to get involved in all the controversy,' he added. Even beyond Hundley's sensational hiring and firing, Friday was a day defined by the ongoing battle between the federal judiciary and the executive branch. Trump's sweeping global tariffs were struck down in a 6-3 decision by the Supreme Court, which has had a conservative majority thanks to Trump himself. That fact certainly wasn't lost on him when he raged against Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, two conservative justices who voted to invalidate the tariffs. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump illegally levied many of the tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts (pictured with Trump on March 4, 2025) wrote the majority opinion 'What happened today with the two United States Supreme Court Justices that I appointed against great opposition, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, whether people like it or not, never seems to happen with Democrats,' Trump wrote Friday evening on Truth Social. 'They vote against the Republicans, and never against themselves, almost every single time, no matter how good a case we have.' The majority decision was penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, who said Trump did not have the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs. The Trump administration has long pointed to a section in IEEPA that grants the president the power to regulate imports in times of national emergencies. Trump cited two national emergencies: the influx of illegal immigrants and drugs into the US and large trade deficits with other nations. The Supreme Court did not weigh in on whether these were legitimate crises, it only ruled that IEEPA itself did not grant the president the authority to impose tariffs. 'The President asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,' Roberts wrote. 'IEEPAs grant of authority to regulate . . . importation falls short. IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties.' Trump signed an executive order hours after the Supreme Court decision that instituted a new 10 percent global tariff under a new law. This new import tax can only remain in effect for 150 days without congressional approval. An American citizen was shot and killed by a federal agent last March, nearly a year before two Minneapolis residents died at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was fatally shot in South Padre Island, Texas, on March 15, 2025, according to newly-released documents by the watchdog organization American Oversight, viewed by the Daily Mail and first reported by Newsweek. The 352-page release was published by American Oversight and included several 'significant incident' reports by ICE never before seen by the public. An incident report from last March revealed that an American citizen was shot by an ICE officer after allegedly striking an agent in a Blue Ford four-door vehicle. Martinez was apparently driving the vehicle and came into contact with federal agents conducting immigration enforcement operations while working with the South Padre Island Police Department. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in the report that multiple officers gave commands for the vehicle to stop and surrounded the Blue Ford. 'The driver accelerated forward, striking a HSI special agent who wound up on on the hood of the vehicle,' the incident report stated. One of the agents then discharged 'multiple rounds at the driver through the open driver's side window.' Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, pictured above in an undated photo, was fatally shot by an ICE agent on March 15, 2025, according to newly released documents Rachel Reyes, pictured right, said that her son, Ruben Ray Martinez, pictured left, was a hardworking young man and disagreed with DHS's characterization of his death DHS said Martinez struck a federal officer before he was shot and killed. His family has disputed that claim. Martinez is pictured on the far left in the above photo with family members Martinez was transported to a hospital in Brownsville and later pronounced dead. The incident report redacted his name but identified him as a US citizen. Local media covered the incident at the time as an 'officer-involved shooting.' Newsweek identified Martinez through the local coverage. South Padre Island City Manager Randy Smith previously told local news outlets that officers were not the ones who fired their weapons. DHS confirmed the shooting in a statement, adding the Ford driver 'intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigations special agent.' 'Upon witnessing this, another agent fired defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public,' the statement added. DHS added that the agent who was allegedly run over sustained a knee injury and was taken to the hospital. DHS said the Texas Department of Public Safety Ranger Division was investigating the incident. The Daily Mail has reached out to the department for an update. The department told Newsweek that the investigation is still active and that no other information is currently available. Martinez's death was reported on at the time as an 'officer-involved shooting.' It has now come to light that Martinez was the sole victim, and the officer was a federal agent Martinez's death comes almost a year before two Minnesota residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by ICE Martinez's mother, Rachel Reyes, confirmed to the New York Times that her son was the victim of the ICE-involved shooting. She disputed DHS's account of events and characterized her son as a hardworking young man with no history of trouble with the law. 'He was a good kid. He doesnt have a criminal history. He never got in trouble. He was never violent,' Reyes said in a phone interview with the publication. Martinez's family maintained that he was complying with instructions from law enforcement officials before he was shot. Martinez's mother said he had just celebrated his 23rd birthday when he was killed Reyes added that she didn't 'appreciate' DHS's characterization of her son and said the incident report made the events 'sound different' than what her family was initially told. 'What theyre saying is different from what they told the family, so thats adding insult to injury,' she said. Alex Stamm, the family's attorney, told the New York Times that eyewitness accounts of the shooting were inconsistent with ICE's internal report. The attorney demanded a 'full and fair investigation' and asked why federal officers were present at the scene of a traffic collision. Martinez's family said in a statement to the Times: 'Since Rubens death a year ago, all we have wanted is justice for him, and we have struggled with the silence surrounding his killing. 'Now, the country is in crisis and, terribly, heartbreakingly, other families are enduring what we have.' Martinez's death was reported on by local news at the time as an 'officer-involved shooting.' Newly released documents have revealed that the incident involved federal agents at a traffic stop Reyes told the Associated Press that her son had just celebrated his 23rd birthday and had driven with a friend from San Antonio to South Padre Island to celebrate. She said Martinez worked at an Amazon warehouse, and liked playing video games and hanging out with his friends. 'He was a typical young guy. He never really got a chance to go out and experience things. It was his first time getting to go out of town. He was a nice guy, humble guy. And he wasnt a violent person at all,' Reyes added. She told the publication that she was informed her son was killed by a federal agent a week after his death. Martinez was from San Antonio and worked at an Amazon warehouse An investigator with the Rangers told Reyes that video footage contradicted ICE's internal report and that the case would be presented to a grand jury for potential criminal charges. Federal officials have not publicly released any information on video evidence of the shooting. US Representative Joaquin Castro, who represents Martinez's home city of San Antonio, has called for an investigation into the fatal shooting. Castro called the killing an 'organized cover-up' in a virtual news conference on Friday, as reported by Texas Public Radio. The newly-revealed incident report underscores months of heightened tensions between local officials and federal agents as DHS and ICE carry out immigration enforcement raids across the country. Minnesota mom-of-three, Renee Good, 37, was killed by an ICE agent named Jonathan Ross on January 7 in an eerily similar incident. She was in her vehicle while federal agents conducted immigration enforcement operations. As she drove away in her SUV, the agent opened fire, and she died from a gunshot injury to the head. DHS defended officers in the incident and even branded Good a 'domestic terrorist,' however, video footage of the shooting cast doubt on the Trump administration's characterization of events. Alex Pretti, pictured above, was killed on January 24 after a confrontation with an ICE officer. Disturbing video footage captured the shooting and quickly went viral online The killings of two Minnesota residents launched a wave of protests across the country demanding that ICE agents scale back operations, with some even calling for the agency to be abolished. Pictured above are demonstrators in Utah two days after Pretti's death The newly released documents suggest that ICE has killed more US citizens than originally believed. The agency has been under tense criticism with protests erupting across the country. Anti-ICE protesters in Austin, Texas are pictured above on January 30 Geoffrey Alpert, a police use-of-force expert, told the Associated Press that both instances were unusual because federal officers are trained not to stand in front of a moving vehicle. 'You dont stand in front of the car, you dont put yourself in harms way,' he explained. ICU nurse Alex Pretti, also 37, was killed on January 24 after a tense exchange with federal officers on the street. Witnesses and video footage show Pretti attempting to protect others from the agents before the violent encounter occurred. Similarly, DHS has defended the agents in the shooting, arguing that they were acting in self-defense because Pretti was carrying a gun. Martinez's mother accused the federal agents in her son's case of not giving him a chance, adding that their use of force was 'excessive.' 'They could have done anything else besides that. Its like they shoot first and ask questions later,' she added. Martinez's death means at least six individuals have been killed by ICE since Trump assumed office last year, according to AP. Confronting footage has captured the moment a synagogue was rammed by a ute. Officers say the Toyota Hilux utility knocked down the gates to The Brisbane Synagogue on Margaret Street, shortly after 7pm on Friday. The driver fled the scene before being taken into custody a short time later. No one was injured during the incident. Police said a 32-year-old Sunnybank man was expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime. He is also accused of dangerously operating a vehicle and possessing dangerous drugs and utensils for their use. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has described the alleged attack as concerning and says Jewish Australians would be feeling deeply distressed by the incident. 'I have spoken to Jewish leaders, as well as police, and I want to assure Queenslanders we are taking this seriously,' he wrote on social media. A man has been charged after a car was used to ram the gates of a large city synagogue Officers say the Toyota Hilux utility knocked down the gates to The Brisbane Synagogue Tradesman are pictured examining the gate after it was knocked down on Friday night A 32-year-old man was expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime after the incident at the synagogue 'This is another signal as to why we have put strong laws before parliament to protect all people where they worship.' 'We are going through the process and I fully intend to have them passed during the next sitting of parliament.' An inquiry into the proposed legislation has been told multiple stakeholders were not consulted before the bill was drafted. The Federation of Islamic Councils, the Islamic Council of Queensland and the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland all told the state's parliamentary committee for justice, integrity and community safety that they had been bypassed. Under the laws, Queensland's attorney-general would have the power to outlaw certain phrases, with public utterance subject to two years imprisonment. Police say their investigation into Friday evening's apparent attack is ongoing. The Australian government has vowed to respond accordingly after US President Donald Trump used a little-known trade law to reimplement his sweeping tariffs, set to take effect in just days. The US Supreme Court ruled Trump's trade policies unconstitutional on Friday in a landmark 6-3 ruling. He then became the first president to invoke Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows Congress to permit Trump to levy tariffs of up to 15 per cent for up to 150 days to fix 'fundamental international payments problems'. 'It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a global 10 per cent Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. Tariffs can only stay in place for 150 days without congressional approval. The White House said that the temporary import duty will take effect on February 24. It's been 10 months since the US imposed a 10 per cent 'baseline' reciprocal tariff on most goods imported from Australia, a move Prime Minister Anthony Albanese branded at the time as 'not the act of a friend'. Certain Australian exports remain subject to larger duties under other US laws, including steel, aluminium, cars, vehicle parts and upholstered furniture. Donald Trump used a little-known trade law to reimplement his sweeping tariffs after the US Supreme Court ruled his trade policies unconstitutional While one expert believes the new global tariffs are unlikely to have a major impact for Australia beyond existing US trade policy measures, ongoing uncertainty is not desirable Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell vowed to continue to lobby against tariffs in the wake of Trump's latest move. 'Australia believes in free and fair trade,' he told Daily Mail in a statement on Saturday. 'We have consistently advocated against these unjustified tariffs. 'We are working closely with our Embassy in Washington to assess the implications and examine all options.' Monash University economist Professor Robert Brooks believes the global tariffs are unlikely to have a major impact for Australia beyond existing US trade policy measures. But he admitted that the ongoing uncertainty is not desirable for global trade and the international economy. 'The 10 per cent rate is consistent with the base rate on many countries and those who have trade deals,' Professor Brooks said. 'There is also the issue that these tariffs are only temporary (150 days) without congressional action. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell vowed to continue to lobby against the 'unjustified' tariffs Another expert said that while tariffs may not hit every Australian business directly, the uncertainty will impact on them 'Such action by Congress is complex in the current political climate in the US. The most significant impact is the ongoing uncertainty about the settings of US trade policy.' 'In general, uncertainty is undesirable for both consumer confidence and business investment.' Michigan Professor Justin Wolters, who is a visiting professor at the University of NSW believes there will be tariffs on products rather than countries going forward. EY partner and global trade Oceania leader Luke Branson said that while tariffs may not hit every Australian business directly, the uncertainty will impact them. 'That's why I've been spending so much time tracking and monitoring these developments - because business leaders are already carrying the burden of uncertainty, and staying up to date is critical to making confident decisions in an increasingly volatile global market,' he told the Australian Financial Review. Australian businesses could see a refund after Trump's tariffs were deemed illegal. EY Australia modelling shows Australian exporters would be owed more than $1.4 billion in refunds collectively if the tariffs were struck down. However, the onus would be on Australian exporters to seek refunds. Some Australian exports remain subject to larger duties under other US laws, including steel and aluminium 'Legal analysts are doubtful about the powers under this particular legislation providing the president the authority to impose tariffs,' Mr Branson told the ABC. 'This particular statute allows the president to regulate imports but it doesn't explicitly say that the president can impose tariffs.' He also warned that the Trump administration will likely seek to avoid paying back exporters. 'There's a lot of talk by legal analysts in the US that the president might impose other measures under other legal avenues, lawful legal avenues that he has used in the past, to basically backdate tariffs so that he doesn't have to provide refunds,' Mr Branson said. Conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch appeared to directly address the president that appointed him when he ruled that Trump's tariff program was unconstitutional. Gorsuch joined fellow Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett, Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal judges in delivering a fatal blow to the president's signature second term policy. Hidden in the ruling appears to be a direct lecture from Gorsuch to Trump about how Congress needed to be involved in future trade endeavors, anticipating the president's anger. Gorsuch began his summation by saying that he was addressing it to 'those who think it important for the Nation to impose more tariffs.' He acknowledged that 'todays decision will be disappointing' to the likes of President Trump but that he must use the legislative process. 'Yes, legislating can be hard and take time. And, yes, it can be tempting to bypass Congress when some pressing problem arises. But the deliberative nature of the legislative process was the whole point of its design,' he wrote. Through that process, the Nation can tap the combined wisdom of the peoples elected representatives, not just that of one faction or man. He believes that America's system is the greatest because it gives the highest percentage of its citizens a shot at dictating how the country is run. Conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch (pictured) appeared to directly address the president that appointed him within his ruling that Trump's tariff program was unconstitutional Hidden in the ruling appears to be a direct lecture from Gorsuch to Trump about how Congress needed to be involved in future trade endeavors In all, the legislative process helps ensure each of us has a stake in the laws that govern us and in the Nations future.' Gorsuch then delivered what appeared to be a final, withering shot at Trump. For some today, the weight of those virtues is apparent. For others, it may not seem so obvious. Trump has continued to criticize Gorsuch and Barrett, slamming the pair in a Truth Social post Friday night. 'What happened today with the two United States Supreme Court Justices that I appointed against great opposition, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, whether people like it or not, never seems to happen with Democrats,' he said. 'They vote against the Republicans, and never against themselves, almost every single time, no matter how good a case we have.' Trump joked that 'at least I didn't appoint' Chief Justice Roberts, who he called the ringleader. The three conservative justices joined all three liberals on the panel to rule against Trump on Friday, handing down a 6-3 decision that rebuked one of the president's biggest economic proposals of his second term. Join the debate Do YOU back the Supreme Court's decision? He acknowledged that 'todays decision will be disappointing' to the likes of President Trump but that he must use the legislative process Gorsuch joined fellow Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett, Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal judges in delivering a fatal blow to the president's signature second term policy Despite the Court's rightward lean, it was a rare moment of consensus among conservative justices to go against the president. 'I think it's embarrassment to their families,' Trump said specifically of his picks Gorsuch and Barrett ruling against his policy. Meanwhile, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the third Trump Supreme Court appointee, penned the dissent. He was joined by fellow conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. As Trump tore into the Court, Wall Street celebrated a stock market spike that resulted from the tariff ruling. In the majority opinion, penned by Roberts, the court said Trump did not have the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to impose tariffs. Trump had used the law as a legal footing for his widespread tariff policy, which he boasted would enrich the nation. An estimated $175 billion in tariff revenue is at stake, according to the Penn-Wharton Budget Model, Reuters reported. On April 2, he celebrated 'Liberation Day,' announcing reciprocal tariffs on nations around the globe - even on uninhabited islands. Judge Neil Gorsuch kisses his wife Louise as Donald Trump nominates him to the Supreme Court during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House January 31, 2017 The president used the justification that there was a national emergency due to trade deficits and national security threats. As he entered office last year, he imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China over fentanyl flooding into the U.S. Trump also used tariffs to threaten other countries, such as dangling a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports due to the country continuing to buy Russian oil. But Roberts, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, wrote in the ruling that if Congress had intended to allow the president the 'distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs, it would have done so expressly - as it consistently has in other tariff statutes.' The Chief Justice said that the president must 'point to clear congressional authorization' to justify his extraordinary assertion of the power to impose tariffs.' 'He cannot,' Roberts said. For months, Trump has publicly pushed the high court to rule in his favor, even flirting with coming to the Court's chambers to watch oral arguments. 'If we don't win that case, we will be a weakened, troubled financial mess for many, many years to come,' Trump said in October. 'I don't even know if it is survivable. That's why I think I'm going to the Supreme Court to watch it. I've not done that. And I've had some pretty big cases.' President Donald Trump holds up his list of reciprocal tariffs imposed on 'Liberation Day' on April 2, 2025 Trump ended up not viewing oral arguments, which critics suggested could have raised constitutional questions related to the separation of powers. But the president had the benefit of a conservative majority, having appointed three Supreme Court Justices in his first term - Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. 'In essence, the Court today concludes that the President checked the wrong statutory box by relying on IEEPA rather than another statute to impose these tariffs,' Kavanaugh wrote in his dissent. The decision also said Trump could seek Congressional authorization. Trump still retains a Republican majority in the House and the Senate, ahead of this year's midterm races. Still, he'd likely need to strike a deal with Senate Democrats to get any tariff legislation across the line. While the Court gave the administration those avenues to explore, it did not deal in the decision with how to handle tariff refunds. That battle will likely play out in the lower courts. Meanwhile, Trump responded to the ruling by finding a little-known trade law to reimplement his sweeping tariffs, set to take effect in just days. 'It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday evening. The US Supreme Court building is seen at sunset in Washington DC on February 20, 2026 Trump previously threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which grants the president the power to impose temporary tariffs. The trade law was implemented to address short-term emergencies and does not enact long-term trade policies. The tariffs can remain in effect for only 150 days without congressional approval. Trump's decision marks the first time a president has invoked Section 122. The White House shared that the temporary import duty will take effect on February 24 at 12.01am EST. The tariff does not apply to a wide range of goods, including energy products, natural resources, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, some electronics, some vehicles, certain aerospace products, informational materials, and accompanied baggage. Food products, including beef and tomatoes, will be exempt to minimize impacts on the average consumer. The global tariff also excludes products from Canada and Mexico due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canada and Mexico have the lowest effective tariff rate globally. The countries will still be taxed on steel, aluminum and non-USMCA compliant goods. Certain textiles and apparel are also exempt under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement. A single mother has been identified as the woman who was allegedly killed outside her home by her neighbour in front of his young daughter. Melonie McKay, 53, was allegedly struck by a ute in the driveway of her Seston Street home in Reservoir in Melbourne's north shortly after 7.30pm on Friday. Neighbour Luke Rainey, 44, was later charged with murder and refused bail when he appeared in court on Saturday. Police allege that Rainey deliberately ran down the mother-of-three following a neighbourhood dispute. It's understood that his teenage daughter was also in the vehicle at the time, reports the Herald Sun. Ms McKay's home remained a crime scene on Saturday, where devastated family members broke their silence. Son Trent told reporters that he felt 'numb' in the wake of her death. 'I don't know what to do or feel - I had a cry with my younger sister,' he said. Melbourne mother-of-three Melonie McKay was allegedly run down and killed in her driveway on Friday night Police allege that father-of-two Luke Rainey intentionally rammed into Ms McKay with his ute Ms McKay's sister added that the mum-of-three had 'meant the world' to her children and family. 'As a single parent, she knew unwavering strength and dedication in caring for her daughter, who faced severe mental health challenges,' she said. 'Her love and resilience in the face of adversity were truly inspiring. 'The loss of her life to violence has been absolutely devastating, not just to us, but especially to her three children, they've lost a mother who was their constant source of strength, love, and guidance.' A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for the funeral. 'My cousin was the most caring and beautiful person who did not deserve to lose her life,' Carly McKay wrote. 'Her three beautiful children are now left without their mum. 'I would really appreciate any donation to help lay my beautiful cousin to rest.' It's understood the mother-f-three had lived there for 15 years A crime scene was established at the home, where a ute was seen covered with police tape During his court appearance via videolink, Rainey is reported to have looked depressed and solemn. 'I got two kids,' he was heard saying. Rainey did not apply for bail and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on July 1. More than 60 attack aircraft were captured on satellite imagery on Friday at a US base in Jordan, in the latest sign that Trump is planning to strike Iran. Dozens of aircraft were seen parked at the base, known as Muwaffaq Salti, according to flight tracking data reviewed by the New York Times. The 60 aircraft are about triple the number of jets that are normally stationed there. At least another 68 cargo planes have also landed at the base since Sunday. Satellite imagery also revealed several drones, helicopters, F-35 stealth jets, and new air defenses have landed at the base. Anonymous Jordanian officials told the Times they hope negotiations will prevent military action in the region, but that American planes are deployed at the base as part of a defense agreement between the two countries. Donald Trump has alluded to striking Iran in the coming days, telling reporters on Friday that he was considering military action to pressure Iranian officials to negotiate the terms of the country's nuclear program. White House sources previously told the New York Times and CNN that the US was prepared to strike Iran as early as this weekend. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, Trump said that the US would 'maybe' make a deal with Iran. Satellite imagery viewed by the New York Times revealed an increase in aircraft and cargo planes at a base in Jordan known as Muwaffaq Salti, pictured above Donald Trump has alluded to military strikes against Iran if current negotiations are not met. He is pictured above answering questions from reporters on Friday Satellite images from January revealed a number of aircraft at the Jordanian air base 'Youre going to be finding out over the next, maybe, 10 days,' he added. Trump later said the maximum timeline was 15 days. Indirect negotiations between Iranian and US officials in Geneva reportedly lasted about three and a half hours on Tuesday, according to CNN. Iran's top negotiator said both sides agreed upon a 'set of guiding principles, while a US official said there were 'still a lot of details to discuss.' A European diplomat briefed on the negotiations told the Washington Post that Iran is not willing to negotiate on its right to enrich uranium, which is the most-used fuel for nuclear power. The diplomat added that Trump's decision to increase military support in the region was reassuring to some officials, but noted that there was concern over an 'extended conflict,' adding it would be 'bloody.' 'And it could bring more countries, either deliberately or by miscalculation, into the war,' the diplomat said. A US official speaking anonymously also told the Washington Post that Trump's top national security advisors met in the Situation Room on Wednesday to discuss Iran. Karoline Leavitt told reporters the same day that Iran was expected to provide additional information on negotiations 'in the next couple of weeks.' Your browser does not support iframes. 'Im not going to set deadlines on behalf of the president of the United States,' she added. Leavitt said that diplomacy was always the president's 'first option,' but didn't rule out military action, adding there were 'many reasons and arguments' supporting a strike against Iran. Sources briefed on the military operations have also previously told multiple publications that the Olympics pose a roadblock for potential military action. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of War and the White House for comment. It is up to the Prince and Princess of Wales to save the Royal Family with pressure 'falling squarely' on their shoulders to rebuild its 'integrity' after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, experts have said. The detention of the King's younger brother on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office represents the biggest crisis to hit the royals in modern history. William and Kate, as the future of the monarchy, will now need to set out their vision for the institution over the next 50 years in a bid to save its reputation following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Accusations over Andrew's links to Epstein have plagued the family for years and finally came to a head with the release of files from his estate by the US Department of Justice. Some appeared to show the eighth-in-line to the throne sharing sensitive information during his time as a trade envoy. With the former prince's approval rating at a record low over his relationship with the convicted paedophile, crisis consultant Mark Borkowski has said William and Kate face having to somehow 'establish the integrity of the royal family'. He added: 'Really, what do William and Kate do? What do their generation do with the crown, with all its soft power, its affairs of state, it's beginning to feel a little bit like a European monarchy. 'The pressure on William to communicate what the royal family is going to be over the next 50 years falls squarely on his shoulders. 'The heavy weight of this burden on the Royal Family's reputation lies with William and Kate and what they're going to do.' The Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known to be Andrew's biggest critics behind closed doors, made clear this week they supported the King's statement that 'the law must take its course' in relation to William's uncle The Princess of Wales has a net approval rating of 74 per cent, latest polling shows, compared to Andrew's three per cent The Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known to be Andrew's biggest critics behind closed doors, made clear this week they supported the King's statement that 'the law must take its course' in relation to William's uncle. The statement, which came just two hours after Andrew's arrest by officers from Thames Valley Police was confirmed, was unprecedented in the history of the Royal Family and came uncharacteristically quickly. The couple have been in lockstep with the King's decisions to distance the Royal Family from Andrew, with Charles first stripping his brother of his titles last year. Charles revealed the police would have his 'wholehearted support and co-operation' and expressed his 'deepest concern'. 'I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,' he said. 'What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. 'Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. 'As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.' Join the debate Can William and Kate restore trust in the monarchy? Andrew is pictured leaving Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk shortly after 7pm on Thursday following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office A police officer stood on Royal Lodge's grand patio on Friday, as searches at Andrew's former home entered a second day It is understood the Prince and Princess were fully supportive of the statement, although neither William nor Kate have addressed recent events head on. William has already said 'change is on my agenda' when he comes to the throne, but he may have to open himself and the monarchy up to greater scrutiny as long-held attitudes towards the Royal Family die out. As they lead the monarchy into the future, public opinion is all-important, with its authority ultimately founded on the support and goodwill of ordinary men and women. The deference towards members of the monarchy who live in palaces, are chauffeured to events and have personal fortunes, has persisted for centuries and helps sustain them. But the arrest, and possible prosecution, of one of its senior members threatens all that. And as far as popular opinion is concerned, Andrew is not exactly in the public's good books. Following years of allegations around sexual abuse and now misconduct, his approval rating fell to a record low of three per cent, a YouGov poll found last month - before his arrest. In contrast, Prince William's is the highest of the family at 77 per cent, with his wife's close behind on 74 per cent. A new poll this week found that 82 per cent of Britons now believe Andrew should be removed from the line of succession, while just six per cent say he should remain in it. Worryingly for King Charles, although two in five believe he has handled the crisis well, one in three say he has handled it badly - and 58 per cent say the family as a whole has reacted too slowly to revelations about the former duke's relationship with Epstein. Your browser does not support iframes. Andrew could recuse himself, although that seems unlikely, meaning the Government would have to use an Act of Parliament. It would require agreement from the 14 Commonwealth nations which still have the King as their head of state. Andrew Bowie, a senior Tory MP, said it would be 'the decent thing' for Andrew to now voluntarily give up his place in the line of succession. 'I think it would be the decent thing,' the shadow Scotland secretary said. 'Of course, if he's found guilty of this, I think Parliament would be well within its rights to act to remove him from the line of succession. 'But, let's remember, he's not been found guilty of anything just yet he has yet to be charged with anything.' The longer the row runs on, the more questions the monarchy will no doubt face. Broadcaster David Dimbleby said that some members of the Royal Family 'behave like people who are spoiled by entitlement'. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World At One programme on Friday, he added: 'Not all of them, Princess Anne, a paragon of virtue, wonderful, it's not universal. A YouGov poll revealed that four out of five Britons (82%) believe Andrew should be removed from the line of succession. Just one in 20 (6%) said he should remain Aerial pictures show the scene at Royal Lodge, on the Windsor estate, on Thursday after Andrew was taken into custody 'But they're lost in that world, nobody's saying "come on pull yourselves together, do this, do that".' And the events of the past few days could see MPs and peers formally discussing the issues around Andrew's friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Labour peer Lord Foulkes told the World at One: 'I think there is now a clear expectation that there ought to be much more scrutiny.' The politician said he has contacted MP Liam Byrne, chairman of the Business and Trade Commons Select Committee to 'look' into Andrew's work as a trade envoy but conceded it may be difficult now the police are investigating. The former Duke of York was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office after an early raid on his Sandringham home on Thursday on his 66th birthday. He looked visibly shocked as he left Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk that night after more than 11 hours in custody having been processed like a 'common criminal suspect'. Officers from Thames Valley Police descended on Wood Farm at 8am and spent the day searching the Norfolk property, as well as the Royal Lodge in Windsor. Searches there will continue until Monday. Detectives are probing Andrew's conduct as a trade envoy for the UK, after emails in the Epstein Files suggested he may have shared confidential information with his paedophile friend, including reports of his official visits and potential investment opportunities. After serving for 22 years in the Royal Navy, he became the UK's special representative for international trade and investment in 2001. He stepped down in 2011 amid the furore over his friendship with Epstein. Emails released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore. One email, dated November 2010, appeared to be forwarded by Andrew five minutes after being sent by his then-special adviser Amir Patel. Another, on Christmas Eve 2010, appeared to send Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Experts have also suggested that the search of properties linked to the former prince may allow detectives to widen any investigations into claims of any sexual offences. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to his relationship with Epstein or claims of sexual offences. Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on a major Russian missile plant. The attack was confirmed by the governor of the remote southern Russian region of Udmurtia on Saturday, who said the strike had significantly damaged a site in his region. 'A site in Udmurtia has come under attack from drones. There has been damage and [injury] as a result,' Alexander Brechalov said in a video posted on Telegram. Unofficial Ukrainian military blogs said Ukrainian-made long-range Flamingo drones had attacked a plant manufacturing missiles, including a short-range Iskander missile and intercontinental Topol-M missiles, in Vinotkinsk, about 900 miles from Ukraine. Footage shows the plant after the Flamingo strike, in which a large column of smoke can be seen floating towards the sky. The unofficial Russian Telegram channel SHOT, which often quotes contacts in the security services, said residents of Votkinsk reported hearing at least three explosions and the humming of drones. Russian military blogs also reported an attack that triggered a fire at a gas processing plant in the southeastern Russian city of Samara. Flamingo missiles have a range of 1,865 miles and a 2,535lb warhead, and have been likened to unmanned jets and were deployed along with Liutyi military drones. Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on a major Russian missile plant Unofficial Ukrainian military blogs said Ukrainian-made long-range Flamingo drones had attacked a plant manufacturing missiles Your browser does not support iframes. The Flamingo is the centrepiece of Ukraine's new missile technology, developed to counter Putin's endless war. The rockets are capable of hitting deep inside European Russia and even western Siberia. Russia's capital city, Moscow, is conveniently within range. Serial production of the missile is underway in the Carpathian Mountains, say reports, and its first combat use was in the summer, though details of its deployment are scarce The Flamingo is not subject to Western vetoes on its use to strike targets inside Russia, as is the case with missiles supplied by the US, Britain and France. It is reportedly resistant to Russian electronic warfare jamming. It has been described in Russia as resembling the Soviet jet UAV Tu-143 Reys and the German cruise missile V-1. In a separate blow to the Kremlin, Ukraine has made large territorial gains on the frontline. Footage shows the plant after the Flamingo strike, in which a large column of smoke can be seen floating towards the sky The Flamingo is the centrepiece of Ukraine's new missile technology, developed to counter Putin's endless war A rescuer walks in front of an apartment building hit by a Russian air strike in the town of Komyshuvakha, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine February 20, 2026 In this handout photograph taken and released by the press service of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces on February 8, 2026, local residents stand next to burnt-out cars in the courtyard of a damaged residential building following an air attack in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine 'I won't go into too many details, but today I can congratulate our army first and foremost - all the defence forces - because as of today, 300 [square] kilometres have been liberated,' said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, Ukraine's Energy Minister on Friday said that he expects new strikes by Russian forces as repair crews proceed with repairs to damage to electricity and heating networks inflicted by previous attacks. Denys Shmyhal, writing on Telegram after a daily meeting devoted to energy issues, said crews were making progress as weather conditions had improved, with overnight temperatures now a few degrees below freezing. 'At the same time, we have information about the enemy preparing new strikes on the energy sector,' Shmyhal said, without providing further evidence. 'Therefore, the task for all services is not only quick restoration but also maximum readiness for the next challenges.' Russian missile and drone attacks have caused serious damage to Ukraine's energy systems, with a series of nighttime strikes leaving hundreds of apartment buildings without heating or power. Shmyhal said 200 repair crews were operating round the clock in Kyiv, which had borne the brunt of a wave of attacks in the past few weeks. Repair work was also proceeding in the Black Sea port of Odesa, where energy facilities were hit this week and in frontline regions. A woman had all her limbs amputated after contracting a devastating case of sepsis from what is believed to be a dog lick. Manjit Sangha, 56, spent 32 weeks in hospital and suffered several cardiac arrests with medics almost certain she would die. Doctors believe that her sepsis could have been caused by something as innocuous as a lick from her dog on a small cut. Mrs Sangha has been in hospital since July last year, but after being discharged from Moseley Hall Hospital in Birmingham on Wednesday, she admitted she is still coming to terms with her quadruple amputation. 'It's difficult to explain the experience. Losing your limbs and your hands in a short time period is a very big thing,' she told the BBC. 'It's very serious and not to be taken lightly.' After feeling unwell on a Sunday afternoon, she was found unconscious the morning after, with her feet cold and her lips blue and was also struggling to breathe. Her husband, Kam Sangha, 60, said his 'mind was all over the place' and was asking himself 'how can this happen in less than 24 hours?'. Manjit Sangha, 56, has been in hospital since July last year, but after being discharged from Moseley Hall Hospital in Birmingham on Wednesday, she admitted she is still coming to terms with her quadruple amputation. Doctors believe that her sepsis could have been caused by something as innocuous as a lick from her dog on a small cut During Mrs Sangha's time in intensive care at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, her heart stopped six times 'One minute on a Saturday she's playing with the dog, Sunday she's gone to work, Monday night she's in a coma,' he said. During Mrs Sangha's time in intensive care at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, her heart stopped six times. Sepsis occurs when the body's immune system reacts to an infection by attacking its own organs and tissues. Around 50,000 sepsis-related deaths occur in the UK each year, according to the UK Sepsis Trust. As Mrs Sangha's condition spread through her body, both of her legs below the knee, as well as both of her hands, had to be amputated. She also had her spleen removed, as she also battled pneumonia and gallstones. Mr Sangha, a distribution worker at Screwfix, has been off work for seven months to support his wife, who he describes as 'so strong'. 'She proved us wrong every single day with what she's been through,' he added. The couple, who celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary in the hospital, is now fundraising for advanced prosthetics as well as raising awareness of the dangers of sepsis. They have raised more than 27,000 through a GoFundMe webpage and fundraising at Screwfix. Mrs Sangha, a former pharmacy worker, is now determined to walk again and to return to work. 'I've sat down in my chair and my bed enough. It's time to walk now,' she said News / National by Stephen Jakes A 22yearold Mberengwa man, Macdonald Ncube, has been sentenced to an effective 17 years in prison by the Zvishavane Regional Magistrates Court after being convicted of rape and robbery. The court heard that on 1 January 2026, at around 2200 hours, Ncube targeted the home of a 25yearold woman while her husband was away at work. The victim was sleeping with her threemonthold baby when he forcibly entered the bedroom.Armed with an okapi knife and a hunting torch, Ncube attacked the woman while she was still in bed, stabbing her once in the chest and once in the left thigh. Under threats to kill her, he raped her.After the assault, he further intimidated the victim with the knife, demanded money and robbed her of US$50 before fleeing.The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) described the incident as a calculated and predatory attack on a vulnerable woman inside her own home. The use of a lethal weapon to inflict injury and instil lifethreatening fear was cited as a major aggravating factor.NPAZ said it remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of genderbased violence and violent crime face the full force of the law. A British influencer who allegedly tried to kill her husband by drugging his wine after pressuring him to get life insurance has been pictured. Amanda Jeffrey, 45, was arrested on suspicion of poisoning her businessman partner Victor in Majorca on Wednesday. Police detained the author, who has almost 400,000 Instagram followers, only a few months after she gushed about her husband in a post celebrating their wedding anniversary. Images published by Spanish media show Ms Jeffrey in handcuffs being escorted into a courthouse in Palma on Thursday by two police officers. Earlier this year, Victor was admitted to the hospital for three days, where tests determined that he had tranquilisers in his system. On release, he went to the police station alleging his wife had poisoned him on January 10. Recounting the moment he alleges he was drugged, Victor told officers: 'She filled two wine glasses and told me: "Drink from this one, my glass, it has more".' After tasting the drink, he complained it tasted bad, according to Spanish news outlet Ultima Hora, but claimed that Ms Jeffrey insisted he finish it all. Amanda Jeffrey was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of poisoning her husband in Mallorca. She is pictured here being escorted in handcuffs by two police officers Ms Jeffrey is pictured here with her husband Victor, who she is suspected of poisoning Victor subsequently fell into a deep sleep and was admitted to the hospital, where tests came back saying he had ingested a significant quantity of two types of sedative drugs. When questioned by the medical staff, he denied taking anything. Victor had a will and had named his brother as executor, but Ms Jeffrey had allegedly been pressuring him to take out life insurance policies, according to a statement he gave to the police's Family and Women's Unit, which took charge of the investigation. Following her husband's allegations, Ms Jeffrey was brought before a court in Palma on Thursday evening, where the judge released her with a restraining order. In Spain, such orders often prevent the person under investigation from going within 200 to 500 metres of the alleged victim and communicating with them. She is yet to make any public comment on the allegations. Ms Jeffrey is a Spanish national but has a British parent, the Daily Mail understands. She is a respected English teacher and author and has made regular appearances on Spanish talk shows, through which she has amassed a large social media following. The Brit often shares videos on her platform of herself teaching English. In 2014, she made a documentary called 'Mallorca No Es Magaluf' (Majorca Is Not Magaluf), exploring the island's authentic culture in an attempt to move away from the stereotypes often associated with the tourist destination. She is a respected English teacher, writer and TV personality living on the Spanish island She has also written columns for an English-speaking local newspaper, the Majorca Daily Bulletin. Her arrest comes just months after she gushed about her husband in an Instagram post celebrating their wedding anniversary. Sharing a picture of herself in a white dress holding her husband's hand, Ms Jeffrey captioned the post: '6 years married. Still standing. Still loving. Still us. Through sickness and in health...Always. Forever. Us.' Police are understood to still be investigating the case. The couple live in Palma and have a young son together. As the home of the Bronte sisters, the picturesque Yorkshire village of Haworth and the windswept moors that surround it have long been a place of pilgrimage for lovers of literature. But now, after the release of the much-hyped Hollywood version of Wuthering Heights, a tidal wave of tourists has begun descending onto its tiny cobbled streets. Despite mixed reviews, the bodice-ripping reinvention of Emily Bronte's dark romance appears to be inspiring a new generation of fans - with a procession of social media influencers leading the charge. Local traders told the Daily Mail how they are drawing up plans for an unprecedented influx of day-trippers and holidaymakers from around the world - which experts estimate will bring in well over one million visitors by the end of the summer. Not everyone seems happy. There are mutterings of 'overtourism' while the village's steep and narrow streets have long been plagued with parking chaos and traffic gridlock. One local historian has also highlighted how some bewildered visitors have shown up assuming the village - which is home to 6,259 residents - is 'not real' believing it to be 'some sort of Disneyland'. So-called 'set-jetters' may be disappointed to find not one scene of the new blockbuster starring Australian actors Margot Robbie and Jason Elordi was shot in Haworth which sits eight miles from Bradford in West Yorkshire. And there was no place in the movie for the 'wily, windy moors' that inspired Emily and her sisters Charlotte and Anne to write their classic novels. As the home of the Bronte sisters, the picturesque Yorkshire village of Haworth and the windswept moors that surround it have long been a place of pilgrimage for lovers of literature. Pictured: Friends Rebecca Goult, Florence West and Beth Hickling-Moore take a selfie on Haworth's Main Street on their visit from London But now, after the release of the much-hyped Hollywood version of Wuthering Heights, a tidal wave of tourists (pictured) has begun descending onto its tiny cobbled streets Despite mixed reviews, the bodice-ripping adaptation (pictured) of Emily Bronte's dark romance appears to be inspiring a new generation of fans - with a procession of social media influencers leading the charge Director Emerald Fennell instead used the wild landscapes of the North Yorkshire Dales as the backdrop for her portrayal of Heathcliff and Cathy's tempestuous and doomed love affair. Yet that doesn't appear to have put anyone off. One of the first to arrive after the movie hit cinema screens over Valentine's weekend was TikTok influencer Molly Roberts. The fashion and beauty content creator had flown into London from Ireland for the premiere where she got to meet Robbie and other members of the cast - while trying to read the 1847 Gothic masterpiece for the first time. Before heading off Molly, 28, told her 155,000 followers: 'I have no idea who is who because they all have the same names and I am looking up the meaning of every other word and I have to listen to the audio book at the same time - but so excited for the movie.' Molly went on to enjoy 'a gorgeous day out' in Haworth whose must-see attractions include the Bronte Parsonage Museum - the former home of the sisters which now holds the world's largest collection of family manuscripts and personal items. Even the local curry house in Haworth is called the Bronte Balti and by the end of the day Molly had visited a number of the village's curiosity and gift shops. As the 'invasion' began, shopkeepers told how they are welcoming their new visitors with open arms at a time when many businesses in the region are battling for survival amid Britain's cost of living crisis. Hayley Smith, who runs the artisan Riddle and Rind cheese shop in Haworth's historic Main Street, told the Daily Mail: 'We have been besieged by TikTok-era visitors. At one point, there were 30 or 40 up and down the street doing videos and asking questions. 'People who have read the books will come anyway but when it starts going onto the silver screen it is like Harry Potter. 'It has led to a tourism increase and I think it will in the future when people who have watched the film say 'Oh yeah we will go to that place'. 'Let's just hope they don't realise they did not film it here. They built a set up on the moors. I thought it was a bit strange. ' While Bronte purists may balk at Fennell's raunchy and loosely-based interpretation of Bronte's Gothic classic, Hayley, 55, insists the movie can only be 'a good thing'. She added: 'There is a lot of conversation. There are two parties. Some people are open minded and want to see the film, knowing it's not true to the original. 'It is like a modern interpretation, Others have slated it because they are not wearing the period dresses. 'But overall, it is good for Howarth because it is bringing people to the area - not just literary people.' Jasmine Colgan, 23, of Writers Bloc Eat Drink and Dream bar, said: 'It has led to an increase in tourism - including a lot of Americans and Chinese visitors. Local traders told the Daily Mail how they are drawing up plans for an unprecedented influx of day-trippers and holidaymakers from around the world. Pictured: L-R Joanna Williams, her niece Freya and her daughter Esme-Rose on a visit to Haworth from Hull Rather than filming on the West Yorkshire moors, where the book was set, director Emerald Fennell instead used the wild landscapes of the North Yorkshire Dales as the backdrop for her portrayal (pictured) of Heathcliff and Cathy's tempestuous and doomed love affair Regardless, experts estimate its popularity will bring in well over one million visitors to the Bronte sisters' home village of Haworth (pictured) by the end of the summer But not everyone seems happy. There are mutterings of 'overtourism' while the village's steep and narrow streets have long been plagued with parking chaos and traffic gridlock. Pictured: Visitors on Haworth's Main Street One local historian has also highlighted how some bewildered visitors (pictured) have shown up assuming the village - which is home to 6,259 residents - is 'not real' believing it to be 'some sort of Disneyland' One of the first to arrive after the movie hit cinema screens over Valentine's weekend was TikTok influencer Molly Roberts, whose must-see attractions include the Bronte Parsonage Museum (pictured), the former home of the Bronte sisters Even the local curry house in Haworth is called the Bronte Balti (pictured) and by the end of the day Molly had visited a number of the village's curiosity and gift shops The village also boasts a business called The Original Bronte Stationary Store (pictured), on the site of a Victorian store where Charlotte Bronte, is said to have bought her writing paper and arranged to sell copies of Jane Eyre As the 'invasion' began, shopkeepers told how they are welcoming their new visitors (pictured) with open arms at a time when many businesses in the region are battling for survival amid Britain's cost of living crisis Hayley Smith, who runs the artisan Riddle and Rind cheese shop in Haworth's historic Main Street, told the Daily Mail: 'We have been besieged by TikTok-era visitors'. Pictured: A campervan stationed in a car park in Haworth Meanwhile, Jasmine Colgan, 23, of Writers Bloc Eat Drink and Dream bar, said: 'It has led to an increase in tourism - including a lot of Americans and Chinese visitors'. Pictured: The Haworth village sign Sian Alison, who owns a boutique shop on Main Street selling handcrafted jewellery and Italian leather handbags, told how the movie was 'making a difference' to local footfall. Pictured: Tourists on the village's Main Street 'A lot of people have come to do the walks. I am from Haworth. I live just down the street so I am local and can see it has brought a lot of people in. 'Normally, January to March is the quietest period. A lot of shops normally close during the week. 'But because of the film coming out we have got quite an influx of people. So some businesses have opened up earlier. 'We are normally only open from Thursday to Sundays in winter but have opened up more because of the film and the school holidays. 'Being called Writers Bloc, we have all the typewriters all over the place. We encourage people to write poems and pop them in the post box 'We have had discussions about the film as well.' Sian Alison, who owns a boutique shop on Main Street selling handcrafted jewellery and Italian leather handbags, told how the movie was 'making a difference'. She said: 'The inspiration for the film was here. 'A lot of people are coming in and talking about it. I have not seen it - I am going on Saturday. 'They are calling it a classic film. There is quite a buzz about it, which is great. My husband does the local ghost walks. So we love it.' Julia Swann, of The Original Bronte Stationary Store, said: 'I have had a lot of people coming in asking about the Brontes and the film so it has had a very positive effect. 'It seems to be a younger age group than usual. This one is causing a bit of a stir because it is a bit raunchy. It is definitely having an impact.' The shop is on the site of a Victorian store where Charlotte Bronte, is said to have bought her writing paper and arranged to sell copies of Jane Eyre. Graham Stephen, 60, of the Origin8 gift shop, told how fresh interest began to build up after Christmas - at a time when traditionally visitors to the village tail off. He said: 'New faces have been coming around to see the place. For us, it is mainly people from Europe and China.' Sharon Dargue, 54, of the Spooks of Howarth magic shop, described last weekend as 'incredibly busy'. She said: 'It was amazing. 'We have got people asking about the film and being curious. So it is good. 'It does not matter that none of it was filmed here. It is the association with the Brontes.' Kira Terry, who runs the Modo & Co souvenir shop said she was looking forward to the boom continuing into summer. Kira, 29, said: 'I have noticed the customers coming in are staying around some more. 'I have had customers come in who are staying and focused on the Bronte products. I know it has always been popular and there are quite a few holiday cottages.' Meanwhile local resident Michelle Blackler, 50, was taking the influx in her stride. Michelle said: 'I am used to it. I've grown up with it and tend to avoid tourism like the plague. I keep myself to myself.' Local tourist chiefs also welcomed the latest developments. Sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell's brother has spoken out in support of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, claimed his sister is 'on the right side of history' and described paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's victim Virginia Giuffre as 'a monster'. Ian Maxwell, 69, launched a shameless defence of his British socialite sister, 64, who is currently languishing in a US jail cell having been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for child sex trafficking and other sex offences. Speaking on the same day that the former prince was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Mr Maxwell acknowledged his behaviour was 'sleazy' but hit out at the Royal Family for leaving him 'completely isolated'. Describing Andrew, 66, as a 'single man', he said: 'What he did or didn't do with various women was sleazy, humiliating for him and embarrassing for the royals. But there he is, kicked out of his home, completely isolated and unlike Ghislaine, he doesn't even have a supportive family.' He noted that the ex-duke hasn't been charged with any sexual offence as he seemed to criticise the Royal Family for not providing Andrew with enough support. It comes after Andrew was stripped of all his royal titles and privileges over his links with convicted paedophile Epstein, before being evicted from his 30-room mansion Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. On Thursday he was arrested at his new home, Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, and held for around 11 hours before being released. Turning to his sister, Mr Maxwell seemed to maintain her innocence in the interview with the Telegraph, describing her as Epstein's 'fall guy'. Ghislaine Maxwell's brother said Andrew's behaviour might have been 'sleazy' but that he is a 'single man' and hit out at the Royal Family for not offering him enough support (pictured: Andrew with accuser Virginia Giuffre and Maxwell) Ghislaine Maxwell (left) is pictured with her parents, Robert and Elisabeth Maxwell Ian Maxwell (pictured), 69, has launched a shameless defence of his sex offender sister Ghislaine in which he said she was on 'the right side of history' The businessman and son of publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell claimed Ghislaine 'would be free' if Epstein, who died in a New York prison cell in 2019, was still alive, adding that her trial was not fair. Epstein's former lover was found guilty of five sex offences, including trafficking underage girls, in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in jail. She has since attempted to appeal her convictions multiple times without success. Although her brother accepted that many young women were harmed by Epstein, he continues to argue that many were over the age of legal consent and therefore 'have agency'. Epstein has been accused of having girls as young as 14 trafficked around the world - with the help of Ghislaine - for him and others to sexually abuse. Mr Maxwell even went as far as to claim that 'feminists' should support his sister because of her 'abysmal' treatment. 'I believe my sister is on the right side of history,' he added. The businessman also branded Andrew's most prominent accuser, Virginia Giuffre, a 'monster' and claimed she lied about being sexually abused. Join the debate Do YOU believe Maxwell is rewriting history? Maxwell, 64, was convicted of sex trafficking of minors and other offences at a trial in 2021 Ghislaine Maxwell wrote a draft statement which she sent to the paedophile financier Epstein, confirming that she had introduced Andrew to Giuffre when she was a teenager Andrew reached a reported 12million out of court settlement with Ms Giuffre in 2022, in which he admitted no wrongdoing. She maintained that she had been trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell and forced to have sex with the then-duke on three occasions when she was 17, including in Ghislaine's London townhouse and on the financier's private island. Ms Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, aged 41, leaving behind three children. 'I know who the monster is here and it's not my sister, it's Virginia Giuffre and her falsehoods that have had devastating ramifications for Ghislaine,' Mr Maxwell said. 'I didn't shed a tear when she died.' As for his sister's future, Mr Maxwell vowed to continue fighting to have her convictions overturned - and suggested she could write 'an amazing book' about her experiences. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein. In his infamous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019, he denied ever meeting Ms Giuffre and implied a photograph of the two of them together might have been doctored. But emails from the latest Epstein files contradict his claims. The Daily Mail revealed earlier this month how sex offender Maxwell stated 'for the record as fact' that she had not just introduced Andrew to Ms Giuffre, but the image was taken in her home that same night. Maxwell's brother claimed she was the 'fall guy' for Epstein after he died while awaiting trial in 2019 Ms Giuffre (pictured) died by suicide in April 2025, aged 41, leaving behind three children In a series of 2015 emails released in a tranche of more than three million Epstein-related documents, disgraced socialite Maxwell had sent him an email asking for his approval. She had drafted a statement designed to hit back at claims in the press, which stated: 'In 2001 I was in London when (redacted) met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew. 'A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family.' In the body of the email, she added: 'I am stating for the record as fact,' before continuing: 'Prince Andrew came to my house to visit me - (redacted) was in the house and they did meet.' It is believed the redactions refer to Ms Giuffre. Sky Roberts, Ms Giuffre's brother, told BBC Newsnight that the correspondence 'truly does vindicate' his sister. 'It shows that not only was she not lying this entire time, even though many people across multiple countries indicated that she was, she was telling the truth.' Defence Minister Luke Pollard has become the first senior Minister to back calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the line of succession as police continue to search the Royal Lodge. A convoy of unmarked police vehicles arrived at the gates to Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Andrew's former home, this morning as searches are expected to continue over the weekend and into Monday. It comes as pressure mounts for Andrew to be removed from the line of royal succession as the Labour MP, Mr Pollard, said it was the right thing to do when he was only a heartbeat away from the throne as eighth in line, regardless of what the result of the police investigation was. Speaking last night, he confirmed that the government was actively considering introducing legislation to take away his right of succession once the police investigation into him had been concluded. Being able to set out very clearly what the standards are that we as a nation expect and what are those British values that we can be proud of points in the direction that it is the right thing to stop someone who can potentially be a heartbeat away from the throne, he told BBC Radio 4s Any Questions programme. Mr Pollard said he hoped the proposals would enjoy cross party support and it was right that it is something that only happens when the police investigation concludes. An Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew along with the support of the 14 Commonwealth countries where the King is Head of State, including New Zealand, Canada and Australia, where legislation would also be needed. Last night, Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray confirmed that the Government was considering any further steps that might be required', and are not ruling anything out. Andrew is pictured being driven away from Aylsham Police Station on Thursday following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office An Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew along with the support of the 14 Commonwealth countries where the King is Head of State, including New Zealand, Canada and Australia, where legislation would also be needed (Pictured: Andrew and King Charles at the Duchess of Kent's funeral last year) Police search at Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire continues into its third day A convoy of unmarked police vehicles arriving at the gates to Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park first thing this morning 'But', he told Sky News, 'At this stage, it would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way'. On Thursday evening, he was released from police custody after 11 hours of questioning on what was his 66th birthday after his sensational early morning arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He became the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested. He was questioned by Thames Valley Police over allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UKs trade envoy. Meanwhile, Royal Lodge in Windsor was still being searched today by police with vehicles coming and going from the estate where Andrew lived, in the 30-room mansion, from 2004 until recently. Yesterday, more than 20 vehicles were seen parked at the property, although it was not known whether they were all connected to the investigation and searches. Sir Keir Starmer's Government is set to consider introducing legislation to remove Andrew from succession once police have finished their investigation into the King's disgraced brother. The Government's proposal comes ahead of Parliaments return on Monday and after some MPs, including the Liberal Democrats and SNP, signalled their support for such legislation. Liberal Democrats party leader Sir Ed Davey said it would be 'intolerable' for Andrew to succeed to the Crown. Your browser does not support iframes. He said: 'It's not as remote as some people think - if you look at a few tragedies.' 'So we have to take action. Clearly, we want to make sure that action in no way prejudices the police investigation. That's absolutely critical.' 'You've got to remember the victims of Epstein and the people who went to his island, those women and girls. They should be at the forefront of our minds as we think about these things' Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Layla Moran told the BBC today that she had tried to put forward a backbench Bill yesterday to remove Andrew from the line of succession but that it would need to be put forward in government time. If you cant be a prince then you shouldnt be king,' she said. 'There is a bizarre quirk of the way the line of succession works where Andrew could still become king and there would be protests in the streets if that happened and that would be the end of the monarchy. Speaking on Radio 4s Today programme, she called for an independent public inquiry into who knew what when about what the Epstein Files have shown. Other MPs are said to believe that formal legislation is not required because Andrew is too far removed from the throne to be a concern. However, supporters of the legislation point out that it is feasible that although he is only eighth in line, he could become a Regent to William's children in extreme circumstances if anything were to happen to both King Charles and Prince William. He was stripped of his titles last October by King Charles over his ties to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, but remained in the line of succession. He had stepped down from public duties back in 2019 over allegations about his friendship with Epstein, in the wake of his disastrous Newsnight interview. But pressure has grown for further action following continued allegations about Andrew after the further release of documents and photographs from the Epstein Files. It is understood that Thames Valley Police are yet to receive any early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the allegation. In a separate review, the Met last night called on Andrews former security and close protection officers to come forward and reveal what they know about Andrew and Epstein, particularly about his activities on the late financiers island. Detectives asked them to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during their service could be relevant to the investigation into Epstein and his associates. The force has previously said it was looking into allegations Andrews protection officers turned a blind eye to his visits to Epsteins island, Little St James. Andrews primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, alleged she had sex with him during an orgy with underage girls on the Caribbean island. Police are yet to identify any wrongdoing by his close protection officers. The Met said it was also working with US counterparts to look at whether flights into London airports had been used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation. It also confirmed that no new reports of alleged sexual offences had been made since the release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein by the US Department of Justice. Ten police forces are currently looking into or considering investigations into Andrew. Buckingham Palace has not publicly commented on the government's plans to remove Andrew from the line of succession, but a Palace source said: The matter of removing Mr Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession is purely a matter for Parliament and, of course, we would never get in the way of that or oppose the will of Parliament. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. This weekend, the Royal Family will be attempting to conduct their duties as usual with the Prince and Princess of Wales expected to appear in public. After Andrews arrest, the King said in a statement that the law must take its course and the police have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Charles attended the first show of London Fashion Week on Thursday, hours after Andrew's arrest, where he did not respond when asked for his reaction to the news. During a visit to a concert in Westminster that afternoon, the Queen also did not reply to a question about her brother-in-law's arrest. Activists who were accused of engaging in a 'Jew hunt' as they went door-to-door asking people to boycott Israeli products said they did not intimidate people and only handed out leaflets. Member of the Sheffield Apartheid-Free Zone (AFZ) Jon Cowley told the Sheffield Tribune: 'The only people we're interested in are those who are generally supportive of Palestine but not yet involved and don't know what they can do to help. 'If someone isn't interested in the boycott, we say "sorry to bother you" and move on.' The group said they would never ask someone about their religion and insisted that it was not their aim to persuade people who said they were a Zionist. Members of AFZ, including Mr Cowley, were intercepted by campaigner Jean Hatchet and her partner last Sunday who labelled the canvassers 'Jew hunters'. The altercation turned ugly as Ms Hatchet and her partner yelled 'Jew Hunt' at the trio of men. One of the men appeared to headbutt Ms Hatchet's partner. Mr Cowley told the Sheffield Tribune that they were accused of 'door knocking to identify Jews, having them on a list and [targeting] them' by Ms Hatchet. He called those accusations a 'conspiracist fantasy'. Pro-Palestine activists got into an altercation with people who accused them of 'Jew hunting' in Sheffield last weekend Police say they are investigating multiple reports of assault. They are also enquiring whether video footage of the incidents was 'edited'. The Sheffield AFZ is one of a number of grassroots groups that have sprung up seeking to encourage people not to support Israeli businesses amid the country's ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza. But critics say that groups like these may actually encourage antisemitism - or leave Jewish people frightened if they are confronted on their own doorsteps. Jonny Feldman, a member of Sheffield Jews Against Israeli Apartheid, a different group, told the Sheffield Tribune that he understood Jewish people may feel uncomfortable if campaigners came to their door. He said: 'I accept that that's what they may feel but they only need to tell us to go away and we will go away.' Activists from AFZ said that they planned to knock on doors in Sheffield and ask residents to sign a pledge to boycott Israeli-grown fruits and vegetables. They also had posters to give out that people could display in their windows if they wished. A member of AFZ told the Sheffield Tribune: 'We often find people are already boycotting and delighted that people are coming round and asking about it. 'The online response doesn't reflect the one we get on the street.' Jean Hatchet's partner (pictured) carried a sign that read 'no tolerance for Jew hatred' Mr Cowley added to the Sheffield Tribune: 'We hoped if we kept quiet and did nothing, it would die down. But clearly it won't.' Ms Hatchet - who is not Jewish - told the Daily Mail this week that she and her partner went to find the doorknockers after being alerted to their activities on social media. She later shared multiple videos of the confrontation online. Some were filmed on her phone, while others were captured on her partner's body-worn camera, which appeared to be worn underneath a jacket. She said at the time: 'We thought we'd go down there and see what they were doing. 'That was the only intention we had, to see if it was as bad as it looked and sounded. 'We found these guys in the street and as you can see in the video it was a few questions about what they were looking to do. 'They were handing out leaflets that they were targeting a specific set of people [Jews] even if they weren't naming them. 'One of the men stood on the path and he headbutted her. We began shouting what we thought they were doing, which was "Jew hunt", trying to embarrass them into leaving, which worked. Ms Hatchet says that she convinced the activists to retreat by loudly accusing them of a 'Jew hunt' in the streets 'They packed up and headed off down the street. We were walking behind them when one of them grabbed the sign from my partner. She reached to grab it and she was assaulted. She has put that to the police.' The AFZ activists say they are advocating for a boycott of Israeli products because Israel 'thrives on international support'. A leaflet it makes available online reads: 'When we choose not to buy Israeli goods, it hits them where it hurts most - their economy. Boycotts have worked before. 'They were a powerful factor in ending South African apartheid and together we can make them a success again.' However, Ms Hatchet is convinced that the group deliberately marks out homes that do not show support for the boycott after they visit them. 'It makes no real difference what they think they are doing. They are taking addresses of people who don't agree with their point of view,' she added. There is no evidence that the AFZ have a list of people who do not agree with their protest. She added: 'We have GDPR in this country. They are not a political party. They aren't governed by a private company. They're overstepping a mark.' South Yorkshire Police says it is investigating reports that a man was assaulted and that a person was the victim of a religiously motivated assault in Woodseats, Sheffield on Sunday morning. NPT Inspector Amy Mellor said: 'I am aware that videos about yesterday's incident in Woodseats are circulating on social media, and that some of these may have been edited. Our officers are working hard to understand the full circumstances. 'I know that residents may be concerned, and I would like to reassure you that our officers have been in the area over the weekend and will be back today to provide reassurance to the community. If you have any concerns, please speak them, they are there to support you.' This is the ex-wife of the British co-founder of online fashion group Asos, who fell to his death from the 17th floor of his Thai apartment. Ploy Kringsinthanakun, 43, was married to Quentin Griffiths, 58, for five years, and he was found dead outside the building where he lived in the resort of Pattaya, a seaside city south of Bangkok, on February 9. The tragedy came amid an alleged ongoing dispute with his Thai ex-wife, who accused him of fraudulently selling land and shares worth 500,000 belonging to a company they operated together. But Ms Kringsinthanakun, 43, today made clear that she played no role in his death, which occurred just days before their next scheduled court appearance. She told The Sun: 'I had absolutely nothing to do with his death. How could I kill him? How would I know anything about it? I live in Bangkok - I wasn't in Pattaya.' When officers arrived at Griffiths' condo, they found two open bottles of wine and a bottle of water. A police source said: 'Officers arrived at the scene and it was confirmed that Quentin was dead. An ambulance took his body to the hospital for a post-mortem examination. 'The CCTV inside the building was checked. The only person who went into the room was Quentin, so we do not believe there was anything suspicious.' ASOS co-founder Quentin Griffiths, 58, mysteriously plunged from the 17th floor of his condominium in Pattaya (pictured in 2008) Ploy Kringsinthanakun, 43, said she played no role in Quentin Griffiths' death Ms Kringsinthanakun's social media shows her with her ex-husband in various locations around the world A post-mortem examination did not reveal any evidence of foul play. Last January, the British national was reportedly arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and questioned by detectives after Ms Kringsinthanakun alleged he had forged documents to sell land and shares in the business without her knowledge. Mr Griffiths denied the allegations and insisted every business transaction was done lawfully. He was released after questioning, but the investigation was continuing at the time of his death, according to reports. Ms Kringsinthanakun's social media shows him with two young children in various locations around the world, including Swiss ski resorts, Paris and Bournemouth, where his family are thought to live. She describes herself online as a digital creator and appears to live in a suburb in Bangkok - video footage posted on her Facebook account shows images of Bangkok, and she wrote:' I love Thailand.' Reports in Thailand said his ex-wife had accused him of stealing the money from a company they operated together. Pictures on her social media show her and Mr Griffiths with the two children a boy and a girl enjoying luxury holidays and always travelling First Class and staying at five-star hotels. Other images show her shopping for shoes and clothes in high-end stores, and the last picture Mr Griffiths appears in is taken in 2021 when he was at what is believed to be his daughter's birthday party. Ms Kringsinthanakun describes herself online as a digital creator Mr Griffiths and Ms Kringsinthanakun pictured with their two children While in another picture taken during lockdown, a masked Mr Griffiths is seen with his two children, also masked, as they buy toys in a toy shop. In further pictures, she and Mr Griffiths are also seen with their children helping out an orphanage in Pattaya. A friend who messages and says 'Cute family' is told 'Thank You' by his ex-wife with a heart emoji. Mr Griffiths' exact cause of death will not be determined until a full postmortem is complete, but police sources say a bottle of alcohol and legal papers were found scattered in the apartment. A police source told the Daily Mail: 'The door was double-locked from inside and there appeared to be no signs of a disturbance.' Last year, Mr Griffiths was also reportedly arrested and questioned by detectives after his wife alleged that he had forged documents to sell land and shares in her business without her knowledge. Mr Griffiths denied the allegations and was released after questioning. The investigation was continuing at the time of his death, according to reports. Emergency services are said to have found the millionaire's body on the ground below his balcony (pictured: the building where Mr Griffiths lived) A source close to the family told The Sun: 'It's a real mystery. The phrase 'suspicious circumstances' has been used, but we just don't know yet.' Griffiths helped launch Asos in 2000 alongside Nick Robertson and Andrew Regan, and remained there until 2005. The company grew into a 3billion global retailer, with the Princess of Wales and Michelle Obama among those to have worn its own-label designs. A former advertising executive, he stepped down as marketing director after four years. He later made 15million from share sales in 2010 and received a further stock windfall in 2013. He later sued his accountants at BDO, saying he had been given the wrong advice on how to avoid tax on the sale. The bungled advice, he claimed, ended up costing him more than 4million in tax on the sales of more than 10million of shares in Asos and Achica, an online retailer he also co-founded. The father of three then moved to Thailand around 2007. After divorcing his first wife, he married a Thai woman and had a son and a daughter. The couple separated several years ago. In a statement, Asos said: 'We're saddened to hear about the passing of Quentin, one of our original co-founders. 'He played an important role in Asos's earliest days, and we're forever grateful for his contribution. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.' A FCDO Spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.' The Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has lashed out at Nigel Farage and Reform UK accusing them of 'dividing' people and sharing 'Trump's admiration of Vladimir Putin'. Sir Ed's comments came today as he spoke out against the rise of Reform UK, equating their vision to a UK version of 'Trump's America', and claimed the Liberal Democrats had 'proudly' led opposition to the US president in the UK. And Sir Ed, who was said just a month ago to be losing support among his own MPs for his 'over cautious approach' said his party regarded 'Trump's behaviour and beliefs with horror' while he accused Mr Farage of seeing the US president as 'an inspiration, a role model' not 'as a threat, not as a danger'. As many as half of the Lib Dems' 72 MPs are said to be disillusioned with his leadership despite his record general election result for the party in 2024. Many believe he has failed to cut through against parties including Reform and the Greens leading to them trailing in the polls. One said last month: 'Morale is low. No one is saying get rid of Ed. But what they are saying is that those around him need to move with significant pace towards the development of a national story for the party to tell. We need to be a bit more serious about being the third party.' But in a sign he is fighting back against criticism that he is failing to engage in the debate at home, he told his party's Scottish conference in Edinburgh that 'we cannot let Trump's America become Farage's Britain'. Hitting out at Reform, he said: 'They want to divide people, not bring people together.' The Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has lashed out at Nigel Farage and Reform UK accusing them of 'dividing' people and sharing 'Trump's admiration of Vladimir Putin' Sir Ed's comments came today as he spoke out against the rise of Reform UK, equating their vision to a UK version of 'Trump's America' He also claimed that Mr Farage and Reform 'look to Trump's America, with private healthcare, loose gun laws and increasing authoritarian rule' and 'want to bring all that to Scotland and the UK'. Sir Ed also told the conference that rival parties including Labour, the Tories and the SNP 'have all, in their own ways, contributed to Farage's rise'. He said Labour had 'promised change' before adding 'it hasn't turned out that way' and accusing them of creating 'a mess' while he claimed the Conservative Party 'destroyed people's trust in politics with the endless slew of scandals'. Turning on the SNP, as he spoke from their homeland, he said people and businesses in Scotland has been 'doubly let down' as they had been affected by 'failing Conservative and Labour governments in Westminster' as well as a 'failed SNP government here in Holyrood'. Sir Ed said that the SNP, who have been in power since 2007, had 'been in government for far too long'. 'They have been embroiled in their own series of scandals and failing even to get the basics right,' he said. 'Letting people down, on the NHS, on social care, on education, on the economy and the environment, on the cost of living. And the ferries fiasco.' Scottish leader Alex Cole-Hamilton told the party conference yesterday that the Liberal Democrats were the 'antidote to Reform'. Mr Davey also suggested the UK Government should sue US President Donald Trump for $100billion dollars for the damage caused to the UK by trade tariffs Elsewhere, Mr Davey suggested the UK Government should sue US President Donald Trump for $100billion dollars for the damage caused to the UK by trade tariffs. The Lib Dem branded Mr Trump the 'most dangerous, damaging US president of modern times' as he welcomed a 'brilliant' decision by the US Supreme Court on Friday which struck down trade tariffs imposed by the president last April. In the wake of that decision, Sir Ed told the conference that the UK Government should now take legal action against the White House. Speaking at the event in Edinburgh, the Liberal Democrat said: 'My advice today to Keir Starmer is to sue Donald Trump for $100bn dollars for the damage he has caused to Scotland and our country. 'It's the only language he understands.' The Liberal Democrats leader had 'long said Keir Starmer's approach is wrong' when it comes to relations with the US and Mr Trump. 'You can't kowtow to a bully,' he argued, adding he did not think the Prime Minister had 'achieved anything in his trade negotiations' with the US. Sir Ed insisted: 'I would take a different view, I would sue Donald Trump for the damage he has caused to our economy, to jobs, to businesses, to investment, to the cost of living.' Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has said: 'We cannot let Trump's America become Farage's Britain'. Pictured: Reform UK's Nigel Farage with US President Donald Trump last year He praised Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for having 'stood up' to the US president, as he argued the UK should be looking to strike trade deals with different countries as an alternative to doing business with Mr Trump. 'The UK Prime Minister should not yield to a bully,' Sir Ed said. 'He should look at trade deals with our partners in Europe, a new EU-UK customs union, and with other countries, Commonwealth countries like Canada, so we have alternatives.' It came as the Liberal Democrats leader used his conference speech to mount a fierce attack on the US president, accusing Mr Trump of 'using trade tariffs as a weapon for whatever crazy idea comes into his mind'. This, Sir Ed insisted, is 'causing enormous damage to jobs, growth and the cost of living here in the UK, in his own country, and around the world'. A former Goldman Sachs CEO has revealed his stunningly simple yet harsh advice for those looking to climb the ladder of success. Lloyd Blankfein, 71, came from a working-class Brooklyn background before eventually becoming the top financier at one of the world's biggest banks in 2006. Now the native New Yorker, who has an estimated net worth of $1.7billion, has three words of advice for those looking to excel in the corporate world. 'Suck it up,' he told The Wall Street Journal ahead of the release of his memoir, Streetwise: Getting to and Through Goldman Sachs. Blankfein advises loyalty to employers, building longevity and a reputation rather than job-hopping to the top. He insists that competent workers will always land on their feet and even advised a fake it until you make it approach. 'Regardless of title, if you do a good job and youre capable, the world finds you,' he told the outlet. 'And the other thing is, I just acted like I was in charge. I made a joke out of it. A trader asked me: "Do I have to listen to you?" and I said: "Im not sure myself, but thats your risk."' Lloyd Blankfein, 71, said his advice to those wanting to advance in the corporate world is to 'suck it up' Blankfein, pictured at his high school graduation, grew up in the projects of Brooklyn before eventually leading one of the world's biggest banks 'Sometimes its just inexplicable or those higher up making the decisions dont know you well enough,' he continued. 'So my advice to people during these times is just do your job and show they were wrong and act like youre unperturbed by it, even though you are perturbed by it. I obviously was perturbed by it, but I acted like I wasnt.' He eventually became the boss in 2006, having even worked through his cancer diagnosis, which he had received three years prior, while running the bank. Now, he's retired, and he and his wife, Laura, spend their winters in the warm Miami air before heading back to New York's metropolitan area, where they have a Bridgehampton home valued at $15.8million. 'Cancer must have affected me, but I dont think it was the reason,' he told WSJ of his retirement. 'It could have been a delayed reaction. My cancer was over in 2016. I left at the end of 2018. I became CEO in the middle of 2006. I had one halcyon year and then it never really abated.' The Harvard Law School-educated financier started his career doing corporate tax at a New York firm before jumping to J. Aron & Co, a trading firm that had been acquired by Goldman, in 1982. Six years later, he was named a partner at Goldman and strengthened their foreign exchange business. Blankfein led the bank during the 2008 recession and also through his cancer diagnosis in 2015 with his wife Laura by his side He and his wife now spend their winters warming themselves in Miami, where they have an apartment He previously owned a home (pictured) in Bridgehampton, New York, but has since moved further down the same street to a home estimated to be worth $15.8million By 2002, he was the vice chairman of Goldman. Despite his high position, he was offered improvement advice on his performance review, which noted that he needed 'better listening skills' and needed to be 'less dominant in meetings.' The review, which is featured in his memoir, also called him 'adversarial and intimidating' and as someone who has the 'tendency to micromanage.' But the review didn't curtail Blankfein's ascension at the company, because the next year he became the COO and president of Goldman Sachs. In 2006, he was named chairman and CEO after Hank Paulson left to be the US treasury secretary. One of Blankfein's biggest obstacles was leading the bank through the 2008 recession. After more than a decade at the helm, he retired in 2018. David Solomon succeeded him and continues to run the bank today. A little-known New York wine merchant who took on Donald Trump's tariffs in the Supreme Court is celebrating his win by popping open a bottle of red. Victor Schwartz, 67, became the face of the battle to strike down the president's controversial tariffs when he sued the government last April. Schwartz has owned VOS Selections in Manhattan since 1987 and feared the tariffs would devastate his small business. He argued that the US President lacked the authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval, becoming one of the few dissenting corporate voices to publicly oppose the fees. On Friday, the US Supreme Court ruled in Schwartz's favor and rebuked Trump's policy. 'It takes a little match to start the fire,' he told CNN. 'I'm not going to feel badly about that. I'm going to feel proud about that.' Schwartz said that he felt like the 'last line of defense' when he challenged Trump's sweeping tariffs. 'It was one thing to join the case,' he told the outlet. 'But then to be the lead plaintiff really gave me pause.' Victor Schwartz, pictured with his daughter Chloe, filed a lawsuit last April against US President Donald Trump arguing that he could not impose tariffs without Congress' approval Trump's tariffs were struck down by the US Supreme Court on Friday, although the US President later signed an executive order imposing a new ten percent global tariff He said he planned on celebrating his win by opening an old bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The wine importer said his legal battle with the US President has led to threats and heightened security measures. 'I am under constant attack through text, email and I can't stop it,' Schwartz said. He added: 'It's a little ugly. I guess it could be uglier. We keep our doors locked at the office.' Schwartz described the economy as 'very unhealthy' as a result of the Trump administration's shifting tariff policies. 'We had to go through every item in our book over since Liberation Day, I think, at least four times,' he said. Schwartz estimated that he has paid six figures in tariffs since April 2, when Trump announced the sweeping so-called reciprocal tariffs. 'We can't just raise our prices, and we just can't pay it, unlike big companies that can just write a check,' he said. Schwartz owns wine importer VOS Selections in Manhattan and said he felt like the 'last line of defense' against the tariffs He said the lawsuit was not political and called the Supreme Court's decision 'a win for all American businesses and all American consumers' Schwartz's lawsuit - filed with the nonprofit Liberty Justice Center alongside other plaintiffs - detailed how he bought wines from Argentina, France, Spain, Mexico, Morocco or South Africa. He argued that Trump's measures, which impacted all of those countries, could be 'particularly severe' for his business and consumers. However, it remains to be seen how the Supreme Court's ruling will affect Schwartz's company. After Trump's tariffs were struck down, the US President announced he had signed an executive order imposing a new ten percent global tariff. The White House said the move invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, and Trump added on Truth Social that the tariffs would be effective 'almost immediately.' Those tariffs can only last for 150 days and any extension would require congressional approval. 'We try to tamp down our fear but still recognize the challenges of what's out there,' Schwartz said. He called the question of getting a refund on the struck down tariffs 'pretty clear.' Trump announced the global tariffs in April 2, which was coined Liberation Day. Schwartz estimated that he had paid six figures tariffs since then 'The highest court in the land has ruled that these particular tariffs, as they were put upon us, were illegal,' he told MS NOW. 'In that sense, there's no question the government needs to return that money.' The Supreme Court did not determine if or how the government should provide refunds, however. Still, the wine importer said his successful case had addressed what he called a 'really bad business decision on the part of the administration'. He said the tariffs 'created chaos,' driving up prices and lowering profit margins. Schwartz insisted that his decision to challenge Trump's policy was 'just not a political thing'. 'I hear from people widely across the political spectrum how much they hate these tariffs,' Schwartz said. 'How they never expected this administration to do something of this nature.' He called the Supreme Court's ruling 'a win for all American businesses and all American consumers'. 'When justice prevails, when you're on the side of what's right, and it's clearly correct, it's an amazing feeling,' he said. The Daily Mail has reached out to Schwartz for further comment. Bill Maher ripped into Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan for their 'ironic' stance on Western civilization as he fumed it proves they 'don't know what the f*** America is about'. The comedian took aim at two of the country's biggest pop stars, branding them 'kids' and accusing them of trashing the West while cashing in on its rewards during Friday's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. 'Don't ask Billie Eilish or Chappell Roan about what the Western values are, because they'll say it's about oppression,' the late-night host said. 'But it's not about oppression. It's about rule of law. It's about respect for minorities. It's about democracy. It's about scientific inquiry,' he added. 'These are all good things that came from the Western world. I wish that schools would teach that again.' His remarks came just weeks after music's biggest names hit the red carpet at the 68th Grammy Awards, where artists such as Eilish used the global stage to blast President Donald Trump and his administration. Eilish's Wildflower won Song of the Year, and she and her brother Finneas used their acceptance speech to speak out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) proclaiming, 'No one is illegal on stolen land'. 'It's just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now and I just feel really hopeful in this room and I feel like we need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting,' Eilish said earlier this month. Bill Maher ripped into Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan on Friday's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, claiming their 'ironic' stance on Western civilization proves they 'don't know what the f*** America is about' Eilish's Wildflower won Song of the Year at the Grammy's earlier this month, and she and her brother Finneas used their acceptance speech to proclaim, 'No one is illegal on stolen land' 'Our voices really do matter and the people matter,' she added. 'F*** ICE is all I have to say, sorry.' Chappell Roan has also repeatedly blasted the US government in front of packed arenas, most recently during a California show where she praised Los Angeles as the city 'that took care of me'. 'And it's only my duty to take care of it. F*** ICE forever,' Roan shouted, igniting a wave of cheers from the crowd. In his blistering opening, Maher ridiculed the 'kids' for misunderstanding 'what the f***' Western civilization means, claiming they've reduced it to 'Western means white, and white means bad'. He argued that atrocities aren't exclusive to white history, noting that people of color have committed them as well - particularly highlighting the Japanese before and during World War II, as well as Genghis Khan. The Japanese invasion of China from 1937 to 1945 was marked by extreme violence, driven by a ruthless quest for territory, resources and military dominance. As one of history's most savage wars, it was defined by mass killings, horrifying atrocities and systematic rape, with sexual violence reported in 4,000 to 80,000 cases, according to EBSCO. Chappell Roan has also repeatedly blasted the US government in front of packed arenas, most recently during a California show where she said 'F*** ICE forever' Maher ridiculed the 'kids' for reducing the meaning of 'Western' to 'white, and white means bad.' He also argued that atrocities aren't exclusive to white history Maher highlighted the Japanese invasion of China from 1937 to 1945 (pictured), which was defined by mass killings, horrifying atrocities and systematic rape, with sexual violence reported in 4,000 to 80,000 cases Maher also brought up Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire - the largest contiguous empire in history - and one of history's most ruthless conquerors. The late-night host, admitting he could go 'on and on' about history's brutalities, claimed that 'the left is very down on America and very down on the West'. 'It's ironic because the West has also given us everything that makes your life good here,' Maher said, adding that schools no longer teach these facts. Roan's antiICE rant last month prompted DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin to snap back at the star with a blistering statement to TMZ. 'Pink Pony Club is good. Pedophiles are bad. That's who we're getting off of our streets. Get a grip,' she said. However, earlier this month, Roan made headlines again after leaving the Wasserman talent agency, following the mention of its founder, Casey Wasserman, in the latest release of the Epstein files. The late-night host also mentioned Genghis Khan (pictured), founder of the Mongol Empire - the largest contiguous empire in history - and one of history's most ruthless conquerors 'It's ironic because the West has also given us everything that makes your life good here,' Maher said, adding that schools no longer teach these facts She revealed her departure from the agency on Instagram, declaring she has a 'duty to protect her team' and insisting that 'meaningful change in our industry requires accountability'. 'No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values,' she said. In a September 2024 interview with Rolling Stone, Roan revealed that she turned down a White House Pride invitation to protest US actions in Gaza. Her outspoken views on wars, drag bans, and limited health-care access for trans people and those seeking abortions have, she told the outlet, caused her to 'hate both sides'. 'Im pretty, "F*** the government, and f*** everything thats going on right now",' she said with her middle fingers in the air. 'I dont have a side because I hate both sides, and Im so embarrassed about everything going on right now,' she added. The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Roan and Eilish for comment. News / National by Staff reporter The Harare City Council has announced that a recent resurgence of bed bugs in Mbare suburb has now been brought under control following a rapid response by health authorities.In a statement, council confirmed that a re-infestation had been detected in several residential blocks - including Nenyere, Matererini, Matapi, Shawasha and the Mbare hostels - despite a successful control programme carried out last year."The City of Harare wishes to inform residents that a bed bug re-infestation has been detected in Mbare despite a successful control programme implemented last year," reads part of the statement.Council attributed the outbreak to the circulation of imported second-hand clothing, commonly known as "mabhero", which may have carried bed bugs and their eggs into residential areas.Health officials believe the pests were reintroduced into the flats through infested garments and household items.In response, the City Health Department launched a targeted fumigation programme beginning on February 19, 2026, covering all affected blocks and surrounding areas."The City Health Department is urgently responding through a targeted chemical application programme in all affected blocks and nearby areas from the 19th of February 2026. The operation aims to protect public health and prevent further spread," the statement said.Authorities have urged residents to fully co-operate with fumigation teams by granting access to their rooms, removing clutter and old furniture, pulling beds and wardrobes away from walls, washing bedding and clothing before spraying, and ensuring children are kept away during the process.Council warned that failure to comply may result in action being taken against non-co-operative residents, as non-compliance poses a risk of continued infestation in neighbouring rooms and blocks.The local authority said it will continue monitoring the situation to prevent further outbreaks and safeguard public health. Britain's most dangerous prisoner has pledged to 'expose his unlawful sentence' as it is confirmed he will have his ninth parole hearing. Charles Bronson, now 73, has spent over five decades in custody, after being first jailed back in 1974 aged 21 for armed robbery and regularly making the national headlines for his dramatic prison escapades. Now, the Parole Board have confirmed that Bronson will be given an oral hearing in the coming months, where he could be invited to make his plea for freedom. Bronson has told Sky News in a letter that he intends to 'expose this unlawful sentence and treatment', saying: 'It's now gone on for far too long, it's become a total joke.' The confirmation is a hopeful development for Bronson, one of Britain's longest-serving and infamous prisoners, as it will mean a fuller examination of his suitability for release. Bronson, from Luton, had his sentence extended to life after repeated violent events, including hostage-taking, prison escapes, and grievous bodily harm. In one notorious incident in 1997, he was jailed for seven years on top of his existing sentence after he took three prisoners hostage at Belmarsh high security prison in south east London. After barricading himself in with them, Bronson threatened to eat one and then demanded a helicopter to Cuba - as well as an axe, a sub-machine gun, a cheese sandwich, and an ice cream. The siege only ended after he cut himself with a razor. Charles Bronson (pictured) has spent periods detained in various high-security psychiatric hospitals including Rampton, Broadmoor, and Ashworth The 73-year-old (pictured), from Luton, has spent most of the past 50 years behind bars - and largely in solitary confinement - since he was first jailed aged 21 in 1974 But it has now been 12 years since Bronson last received a violent conviction, and Bronson has said he feels that his treatment under the justice system has been 'unlawful' and 'denies (him) progress'. In his letter, Bronson also wrote: 'I am 23 years over my tariff. I am forever denied progress. 'I am forever kept in solitary. They won't even take me off Cat A.' The most recent review into Bronson had been under consideration 'on the papers' - a stage where written evidence is assessed by the parole board and collects reports from prison officials, psychologists and probation staff. This week however, the Parole Board concluded that the case should progress to an oral hearing, where evidence will be tested in person and look more thoroughly at Bronson's current risk levels before determining whether he can be safely released into the community. Alternatively, Bronson could be moved to an open prison or a lower category wing with other prisoners to see how he copes. It would be a stark difference for the prisoner, who has been in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day for 37 years on and off. Gurdeep Singh, Bronson's solicitor, told Sky News: 'Mr Salvador is delighted with the fact he has been progressed to a full hearing but he is under no illusions - this is just the start of the fight for his release. 'He wants to show the world he is not the person he was, he hopes to convince the panel that he is a changed man intent on living a simple life in the outside world. Bronson (pictured), born as Michael Gordon Peterson, was initially only handed a seven-year sentence - but has since done more time for a series of violent offences inside Over the years, the convict (pictured, in 1997) has taken 11 hostages in nine different confrontations with guards, which culminated in him holding a prison art teacher captive for 44 hours in 1999 - and saw him handed a discretionary life sentence 'He has high hopes he can see his 95yr old mother this year.' Bronson, born as Michael Gordon Peterson, was initially only handed a seven-year sentence in 1974 - but has since done more time for a series of violent offences inside. Over the years, he has taken 11 hostages in nine different confrontations with guards, which culminated in him holding a prison art teacher captive for 44 hours in 1999. It saw him handed a discretionary life sentence, with a minimum term of three years, in 2000 - and it is this which he is still serving now. During this time, the Parole Board, the independent body in charge of determining if prisoners can be released, has repeatedly refused him freedom. Throughout his more than half century of imprisonment, he has undergone a staggering eight parole reviews, with the latest taking place in 2023. Bronson was the first prisoner to formally ask for a public hearing after rules changed in 2022 in a bid to remove secrecy around the parole process. His solicitor made the application on his behalf in February last year. This week, in a potentially historic move, the panel is evaluating the latest application for release by Britain's most violent prisoner. Pictured: Bronson arriving at court for an appeal in 2004 He said Bronson felt 'directly responsible' for this rule change, after having long fought for it, giving him a 'legitimate expectation' of a public hearing. But the Parole Board refused in May last year, saying this 'does not give him any legitimate expectation that his subsequent hearings will be held in public'. Bronson's solicitor had also argued a private hearing, contrary to his client's desires, could cause the prisoner 'undue emotional stress' - but the board disagreed. The lawyer also said 'there is a public interest in increasing understanding' in the Parole Board's work. The board acknowledged the introduction of public hearings would help do that. But it said they are 'expensive and time-consuming', adding: 'Unless and until the board is provided with the necessary funds to carry them out in more cases it must be selective in the holding of a public hearing only where it is likely to increase public understanding of the process or will benefit the public or victims in some other way.' Bronson reacted to the board's decision at the time by saying he would have nothing to do with 'the farcical jam roll', meaning 'parole'. 'What are they afraid of? The truth getting out?,' he said, adding: 'Sacked the legal team!'. A new solicitor appears to have achieved the rescheduling of the review to this week. Andrew's security team have been seen stocking up on lager and noodles after driving him home from the police station. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, 66, was arrested on Thursday morning by officers at his Wood Farm home in Sandringham on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and was released pending further investigation the same day at about 8pm. His security team were sent out on a shopping trip for the essentials today - Madri beers and pot noodles. The two men - incidentally the same security officers who were pictured driving a shell-shocked Andrew back to Sandringham after his 11-hour stint in police custody - were seen carrying Sainsbury's and Tesco's bags this afternoon. The bodyguards left Wood Farm on Saturday morning to do a supermarket run in King's Lynn, Norfolk, while the former prince remains holed up at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. They appeared to be carrying two boxes of beer under their arms and supermarket groceries, including Soba Chilli Cup Noodles, which cost around 2, and a large pack of Madri Excepcional Premium Lager Beer, which retails for 14.75 at Tesco. Andrew was detained by officers for Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office for around 11 hours on Thursday. Accusations over Andrew's links to Epstein have plagued the family for years and finally came to a head with the release of files from his estate by the US Department of Justice. Andrew's security team were out stocking up on the essentials today - Madri beers and pot noodles The two bodyguards sent to the supermarkets were the same pair that drove Andrew back to Sandringham after his arrest on Thursday Among the groceries were Soba Chilli Cup Noodles, which cost about 2, and a large pack of Madri Lager Beers Andrew pictured leaving Aylsham police station in Norfolk shortly after 7pm on Thursday Some appeared to show the eighth-in-line to the throne sharing sensitive information during his time as a trade envoy. Officers are expected to continue to search Andrew's former Royal Lodge home in Windsor until Monday as they gather potential evidence against the former prince. A convoy of unmarked police vehicles arrived at the gates to Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Andrew's former home, on Saturday, marking the third day of police raids. Police vehicles were coming and going from the estate where Andrew lived in the 30-room mansion from 2004 until recently. On Friday, more than 20 vehicles were seen parked at the property, although it was not known whether they were all connected to the investigation and searches. It comes as pressure mounts for Andrew to be removed from the line of royal succession, as Labour MP Luke Pollard said it was the right thing to do when he was only a heartbeat away from the throne as eighth in line, regardless of what the result of the police investigation was. Speaking last night, Mr Pollard confirmed that the government was actively considering introducing legislation to take away his right of succession once the police investigation into him had been concluded. Being able to set out very clearly what the standards are that we as a nation expect and what are those British values that we can be proud of points in the direction that it is the right thing to stop someone who can potentially be a heartbeat away from the throne, he told BBC Radio 4s Any Questions programme. A Waitrose van was also pictured dropping off goods outside the Sandringham Estate today, as the driver stopped to speak to officers stationed outside The van entered the property where Andrew had relocated following his departure from Royal Lodge in Windsor Police officers are seen at the gates of Andrew's former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor Mr Pollard said he hoped the proposals would enjoy cross party support and it was right that it is something that only happens when the police investigation concludes. An Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew along with the support of the 14 Commonwealth countries where the King is Head of State, including New Zealand, Canada and Australia, where legislation would also be needed. On Friday night, Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray confirmed that the Government was considering any further steps that might be required', and are not ruling anything out. Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Layla Moran told the BBC today that she had tried to put forward a backbench Bill yesterday to remove Andrew from the line of succession but that it would need to be put forward in government time. If you cant be a prince then you shouldnt be king,' she said. 'There is a bizarre quirk of the way the line of succession works where Andrew could still become king and there would be protests in the streets if that happened and that would be the end of the monarchy. Speaking on Radio 4s Today programme, she called for an independent public inquiry into who knew what when about what the Epstein Files have shown. Other MPs are said to believe that formal legislation is not required because Andrew is too far removed from the throne to be a concern. However, supporters of the legislation point out that it is feasible that although he is only eighth in line, he could become a Regent to William's children in extreme circumstances if anything were to happen to both King Charles and Prince William. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on his birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office (Pictured: Andrew leaning over a young woman in a photo released as part of the Epstein files) Police outside Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Andrew was held A group of police officers in plain clothes arrived at Wood Farm on Thursday morning, as Andrew was taken into custody He was stripped of his titles last October by King Charles over his ties to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, but remained in the line of succession. He had stepped down from public duties back in 2019 over allegations about his friendship with Epstein, in the wake of his disastrous Newsnight interview. But pressure has grown for further action following continued allegations about Andrew after the further release of documents and photographs from the Epstein Files. It is understood that Thames Valley Police are yet to receive any early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the allegation. The daughters of a woman mauled to death by XL Bully dogs have hit out at the animals' 'arrogant' owner - who is now facing jail over the fatal attack. Esther Martin, 68, from Woodford, east London, suffered 'dozens and dozens' of bites from two adult animals and eight puppies on the afternoon of February 3, 2024. She had travelled to the home of her aspiring rapper son-in-law, Ashley Warren, 41, in Jaywick, Essex, to mind the pets while he filmed a music video in the capital. But the pensioner, who had a limp, arthritis and two hip replacements, was overwhelmed by the animals' combined roughly 30-stone weight. She was pronounced dead at the scene, where a child was also present, just two days after the dog breed was made illegal in England and Wales. Warren, now of Addlestone, Surrey, was found guilty of owning or being in charge of one of the dogs and possessing a knife at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday. He will be sentenced on April 1, also for the unrelated weapons offence, making him the first to be prosecuted under the XL Bully ban. And now Ms Martin's remaining daughters, who lost their sister and Warren's partner in 2021, have slammed their brother-in-law for his irresponsibility. Esther Martin (pictured), 68, from Woodford, east London , suffered 'dozens and dozens' of bites from two adult animals and eight puppies on the afternoon of February 3, 2024 She had travelled to the home of her aspiring rapper son-in-law, Ashley Warren (pictured, at home, with one of his dogs, in police bodycam footage), 41, in Jaywick, Essex, to mind the pets while he filmed a music video in the capital And now Ms Martin's remaining daughters (pictured), who lost their sister and Warren's partner in 2021, have slammed their brother-in-law for his irresponsibility. Pictured: L-R Kelly Fretwell and Sonia Martin-Coppen Sonia Martin-Coppen, 49, told the BBC: 'Who would deserve to be ripped apart by two dogs, knowing that's what is happening?' Her mother had previously raised concerns about the large size and breed of the dogs, as well as the fact they were banned. She had also worried they were 'not under control' and often jumped up at people, Ms Martin-Coppen said. 'We are not talking small animals. We are talking pure muscle, pure power, untrained, cooped up in a small house,' she explained. Her sister, Kelly Fretwell, noted their frail, 5ft 3ins mother, who 'waddled' when she walked, was no match for the animals, who left her with a catastrophic bleed. 'It didn't take a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist to know that she was not a fit and able person [to care for the dogs],' she said. CCTV footage shown to the jury captures screams coming from the small property on Hillman Avenue, with dogs barking 'in a frenzied state', at around 3.30pm. The animals were so aggressive that when police officers arrived, they were forced to Taser them through a smashed window, instead of immediately entering the house. The bullies had not been walked for four weeks before the attack, cooped up in what was described as 'impoverished' conditions by a dog behaviour expert. And prosecutors noted Warren had not tried to obtain an exemption certificate for his pets, which would have allowed him to keep them legally despite the ban. Existing owners of the breed were permitted to apply for the document before the legislation came in. Ms Martin-Coppen said the dogs, including the adult animals, Beauty and Bear, should have been rehomed. 'Mr Warren's arrogance is what caused this. It's not lack of knowledge - he knew the law was coming in,' she said. He had been in a relationship with another of Ms Martin's daughters, Claire, for 14 years, before her sudden death five years ago, aged 29. Paying tribute to their mother, her remaining children remembered her 'infectious laugh' and sense of humour. Tragically, they said she had, at the time of her death, only just been starting to feel better after losing her daughter. Warren denied being the owner of a dog which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place. But he was found guilty by a majority verdict of 11 to one after a two-week trial. The offence carries a maximum jail term of 14 years. The defendant, who wore a grey tracksuit in court, was acquitted of being in charge of another dog which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place. Judge Jeremy Johnson told him: 'I am going to grant you bail. You should be under no illusion that it is inevitable that I will pass on you a sentence of imprisonment. 'It's very important you attend court on the sentencing date and very important you keep in touch with your lawyers and stay in contact with the probation service. Warren was told he had to surrender his passport and was not allowed to leave the country between now and sentencing. After the hearing, Ms Martin's brother, Charles Tarsey, said: 'I'm very happy with the verdict.' Warren, who had sat with his head bowed during parts of the trial, declined to comment as he left the court. Opening the case earlier this month, prosecutor Chris Paxton KC said the attack was 'an accident waiting to happen'. He explained Ms Martin had mobility issues, a lack of dog training and 'little to no experience' of being left alone with them for a prolonged period time. 'Ashley Warren expected Esther to be able to handle and control these two adult XL Bully dogs, as well as their eight puppies, with the weight, size, power and unpredictability they possessed, with no or minimal training,' he told the court. 'Given Esther's age and her mobility issues, as well as other factors, Esther was clearly not a fit and proper person to look after these ten dogs in that situation but, no doubt, members of the jury, it suited this defendant to have her do so, so he could pursue his own agenda that day. 'It was, you may think, a tragedy waiting to happen, given the imbalance that arose between 68-year-old Esther, short in stature, and the towering power of these banned XL Bully dogs.' He added: 'Such was the ferocity of the dogs that police officers and emergency services were unable to enter the home until the police deployed and used their tasers.' An officer who went to the property said the dogs were 'in a frenzied state' and 'formed the view it was not safe to enter the house, believing that [police] were at risk of death or serious injury if they tried to enter', the prosecutor told jurors. Sonia Martin-Coppen, 49, told the BBC: 'Who would deserve to be ripped apart by two dogs, knowing that's what is happening?'. Pictured: Bodycam footage of some of Warren's dogs Warren, now of Addlestone, Surrey, was found guilty of owning or being in charge of one of the dogs and possessing a knife at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday. Pictured: Bodycam footage of Warren's arrest He will be sentenced on April 1, also for the unrelated weapons offence, making him the first to be prosecuted under the XL Bully ban. Pictured: Warren arriving at court in August 2024 The defendant's friend, Lee Poole, had arrived before emergency services and saw the two dogs attacking Ms Martin. He smashed a window at the property but was unable to enter because the animals were out of control. A child in the house bravely hit the dogs with a broom to try and stop them attacking Ms Martin, the court was told. The gruesome scene unfolded moments after Ms Martin tried to separate two puppies that had been fighting, leaving one with a bloody ear. During the commotion, the child said the female XL Bully, Beauty, and the male, Bear, knocked over a suitcase that was holding a door closed in a bedroom where they had been left and ran into the room. In a recorded interview with police, the child said: 'Beauty and Bear knocked the suitcases over because the puppies had got into a fight. 'The dogs have got out and the dogs have started barking they think something has happened to the pups because she's [Beauty's] protective of the pups.' Ms Martin told the child, who can't be identified for legal reasons, to grab a broom to push the pups apart - something they had done before, the jury heard. 'As soon as I got it to [her], Beauty ran and jumped on the [pen] gate and pushed Bear and [he] has hit [Esther] and she's hit her head. 'She was bleeding from the head, said the child, who added Ms Martin had injured herself on the handle of a kitchen cabinet and called out 'help me'. 'I tried to get the broom and I started to get the dogs so I could put them back in the room, then once they were in the room I could call [for help].' But the child eventually left because they feared they would be injured. They ran into their room to grab their mobile phone and ran outside to call for help before the front door blew shut, locking them out. Ms Martin had only been left alone to look after the dogs 'for short periods' previously, when Warren and his then-girlfriend, Jade McSeveney, popped out to the shops. Warren had admitted struggling with the pets in a message he sent four days before the fatal attack to Ms McSeveney, who had moved out by that point. 'Dogs got to go by Monday. Your half [Beauty and half the pups] or will have to go to RSPCA because too much for me,' he wrote. Ms McSeveney replied: 'You coming for your half dogs? Too much for me now.' In a message on the day of the attack, the defendant sent another text which said: 'I need you to go round to the house to look after the dogs. 'I need you round there straight away. They're attacking Esther.' The defendant was aware of the XL Bully ban, which had been widely covered in the press in the months prior, the court was told. Police had visited the property 11 days earlier after a dispute between Warren and Ms McSeveney about ownership of Beauty. In bodycam footage shown to jurors, Warren was seen telling an officer 'it's a shame about the laws' and 'my boy's got papers already'. Lawyer Mr Paxton said: 'If that was a reference to an exemption certificate, that was a lie.' The bullies were seen playing in the footage as the defendant told the officer the public perception of the breed was 'mad to me'. He added: 'These dogs are so friendly it's unbelievable, it's like I've only seen them ever attack people when [they're attacked].' Warren continued: 'You get them little poodles that come up to you and go rah, rah, rah, you know - they're more aggressive.' Jurors heard that on January 1 that year, Warren told his landlord, Barry Gordon, that police were aware he kept XL Bullies. He also lied to Mr Gordon by saying he had applied for a licence, the court heard. Mr Paxton said a police dog handler who later visited the tiny chalet-style bungalow found it too messy and small for the two large adult dogs and the litter of puppies. The police constable noted a blood and bite-mark covered wooden broom near the sofa, no dog toys, and that Bear's long claws 'suggested to him that the dogs do not get walked often', the prosecutor added. Ms Martin (pictured) had previously raised concerns about the large size and breed of the dogs, as well as the fact they were banned She had also worried the animals (pictured) were 'not under control' and often jumped up at people. Pictured: Bear, left, and Beauty, right Her daughter said: 'Mr Warren's [pictured] arrogance is what caused this. It's not lack of knowledge - he knew the law was coming in' Ms Martin had looked after the dogs four or five times previously but had told other people she was scared of them and had thought of reporting Warren for having them. Ten officers, some in riot gear including helmets and shields, arrived at the house after she was attacked but were unable to save her. She was declared dead after she was taken out of the house. A post-mortem examination found she had been bitten on the front and back of her arms, as well as on her torso, legs and head. In other footage shown in court, Warren could be seen on a previous occasion running up the road outside the house and returning carrying Bear after he escaped from the house. The defendant, who was on bail, had denied being the owner of a dog, namely Bear, which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place. He also pleaded not guilty to being in charge of female Beauty when she caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place. The prosecution explained Warren accepted he owned Bear and was in charge of Beauty who was pregnant with Bear's pups and who he had been housing, feeding and looking after. He also accepted both dogs were dangerously out of control in his house. But the defendant denied the charges on the grounds he reasonably believed Ms Martin was a 'fit and proper person to be in charge' of them. Warren was also convicted by a majority of 11 to one of having a bladed article without good reason or lawful authority at Clacton railway station on the same day. He argued it was a prop in the music video he had been making that day in London. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the Essex Police investigation, said: 'I am pleased that we have been able to ensure Ashley Warren has been held accountable but I know that no verdict will ever bring Esther back. 'I know her death has had, and continues to have, a huge impact on her family, and my thoughts are with them today as they continue to grieve the loss of their mother. 'Esther's death was a needless tragedy and one that has affected the whole community in Jaywick. 'These animals we were able to prove were large, powerful, and difficult to control. 'Esther died in the most horrific of circumstances and Ashley Warren is culpable for her death. 'Our investigation established Warren was illegally owning the dogs, keeping them in poor conditions and struggling to look after them. 'He knew Esther well. He would have been aware of her mobility and health issues, and that if he struggled to control the dogs, she definitely would do too. 'His assertion that Esther had looked after the animals before was disingenuous because he knew she had never cared for them without another adult present. 'He selfishly took advantage of her good nature and left her with dangerous animals. That decision, ultimately, cost Esther her life.' US military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage, which could see Donald Trump targeting individual leaders and pursuing regime change in the Islamic Republic. Two US officials warned of the military's potential next steps in Tehran if Trump gives the go-ahead to intervene militarily. The warning comes after Trump on Thursday gave Tehran a deadline of 10 to 15 days to make a deal to resolve their longstanding nuclear dispute or face 'really bad things' amid a US military buildup in the Middle East that has fueled fears of a wider war. Asked on Friday if he was considering a limited strike to pressure Iran into a deal, Trump told reporters at the White House: 'I guess I can say I am considering' it. Asked later about Iran at a White House press conference, Trump added: 'They better negotiate a fair deal.' Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said on Friday he expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days following nuclear talks with the United States this week. Following indirect discussions in Geneva this week with Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Araqchi said that the sides had reached an understanding on the main 'guiding principles,' but that did not mean a deal was imminent. Araqchi, in an interview on MS NOW, said he had a draft counterproposal that could be ready in the next two or three days for top Iranian officials to review, with more US-Iran talks possible in a week or so. President Donald Trump answers questions during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran on January 9 Military action would complicate efforts to reach a deal, he added. After the US and Israel bombed Iran's nuclear facilities and some military sites in June, Trump again began threatening strikes in January as Tehran crushed widespread protests with deadly force. Referring to the crackdown on Friday, Trump said there was a difference between the people of Iran and the country's leadership. He asserted that '32,000 people were killed over a relatively short period of time,' figures that could not immediately be verified. 'It's a very, very, very sad situation,' Trump said, adding that his threats to strike Iran had led the leadership to abandon plans for mass hangings two weeks ago. 'They were going to hang 837 people. And I gave them the word, if you hang one person, even one person, that you're going to be hit right then and there,' he said. The US-based group HRANA, which monitors the human rights situation in Iran, has recorded 7,114 verified deaths and says it has another 11,700 under review. Hours after Trump's statements on the death toll, Araqchi said that the Iranian government has already published a 'comprehensive list' of all 3,117 killed in the unrest. US Air Force F-22s in the UK, on the way to the Middle East to support B-2 bombers, pictured at RAF Lakenheath on Friday Demonstrators march from Whitehall to the Iranian Embassy in London, calling for a regime change in Iran. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands detained in the uprising against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's rule. Picture date: Saturday February 21, 2026 Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands detained in the uprising against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's rule. Pictured: Demonstrators march from Whitehall to the Iranian Embassy in London on Saturday 'If anyone doubts the accuracy of our data, please speak with evidence,' he posted on X. Araqchi gave no specific timing as to when Iranians would get their counterproposal to Witkoff and Kushner, but said he believed a diplomatic deal was within reach and could be achieved 'in a very short period of time.' United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated concerns about heightened rhetoric and increased military activities in the region. 'We encourage both the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue to engage in diplomacy to settle the differences,' Dujarric told a regular news briefing at the U.N. During the Geneva talks, the United States did not seek zero uranium enrichment, and Iran did not offer to suspend enrichment, Araqchi told MS NOW, a U.S. cable television news network. 'What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran's nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever,' he said. He added that technical and political 'confidence-building measures' would be enacted to ensure the program would remain peaceful in exchange for action on sanctions, but he gave no further details. 'The president has been clear that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them, and that they cannot enrich uranium,' the White House said when asked about Araqchi's comments. Boris Johnson has called for the UK and its allies to 'put boots on the ground' immediately in Ukraine to 'flip a switch' in Vladimir Putin's head. The former Prime Minister said there is no reason why we cannot deploy non-combat troops now to support Ukraine if we planned to do it anyway as eventual peacekeepers. Johnson, who was PM when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago, also admitted he had regrets about not doing more to help Ukraine. He said: 'If we can have a plan for boots on the ground after the war, after Putin has condescended to have a ceasefire, then why not do it now?' He said the government's current plan to form a 'coalition of the willing' with its allies to provide forces to preserve peace and stability in Ukraine, was not enough because it would only happen if a peace deal was struck. And he agreed it would 'flip a switch' in Putin's head if instead of waiting for a ceasefire 'which of course puts all the initiative, all the power in Putin's hands', UK and other European allies' forces should go to safe parts of Ukraine now. 'There is no logical reason that I can see why we shouldn't send peaceful ground forces there to show our support, our constitutional support for a free, independent Ukraine,' he added. Last year, Putin warned any allied troops deployed would be 'legitimate targets but Johnson said it was not Putin's decision but Ukraine's. The former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is no reason why we cannot deploy non-combat troops now to support Ukraine if we planned to do it anyway as eventual peacekeepers. Johnson, who was PM when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago, also admitted he had regrets about not doing more to help Ukraine Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on a major Russian missile plant 'That is a political thing. It's about whether Ukraine is a free country or not. If it's a vassal state of Russia, which is what Putin wants, then obviously it's up to Putin to decide who comes to his country. If it's not, then it's up to the Ukrainians.' And he said the West had 'enabled' the original invasion and could have prevented it altogether if it had heeded Putin's increasing aggression and had not failed to act when he annexed Crimea in 2014 during David Cameron's premiership. Claiming 'the general ambiguity of the Western position' had harmed Ukraine, he said: 'If we'd had clarity and simplicity about Ukraine, rather than endless fudge and obscurity, we could have saved that, we could have prevented that invasion.' In an in-depth interview with the BBC to be broadcast tomorrow, he also criticised the caution 'which had cost lives and delays over helping the Ukrainians which had played into Putin's hands. 'We've always delayed needlessly,' he said. 'We've then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it's always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin. 'I mean, the one person who suffers from escalation is Putin.' Interviewed alongside the former head of the military, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who called on the government to 'resolve' its promise made at the Nato summit last year to spend 3.5 per cent of national income on defence by 2035, he told Laura Kuenssberg: 'The failure to do anything in Crimea was tragic' and went on to suggest Putin had become increasingly 'emboldened' by what he would have seen as Western weakness. 'I think Putin was emboldened by a Western failure in Syria to punish Assad for using chemical weapons,' he told in an interview to be broadcast tomorrow morning. 'I think Putin was further emboldened in February 2022 by what he'd seen in Afghanistan, and a sort of general sense that the West was on the back foot. 'He'd seen those appalling pictures of Americans being forced to flee Afghanistan and the UK pulling out as well, and that really did embolden him.' Unofficial Ukrainian military blogs said Ukrainian-made long-range Flamingo drones had attacked a plant manufacturing missiles A rescuer walks in front of an apartment building hit by a Russian air strike in the town of Komyshuvakha, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine February 20, 2026 Johnson and Sir Tony also agreed Western allies had been too slow to act when Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, in the early days of the war, and during the many months it has often taken for the allies to agree to send the weapons requested by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Sir Tony described the allies' approach as 'incrementalism' and said Ukraine felt it was 'too slow and it's deeply frustrating - these tensions have existed all the way through'. And Johnson, who was foreign secretary and prime minister for some of the period, admitted: 'I do think we should have done more.' He warned that Putin 'would just keep going' unless he saw some evidence of the West's 'determination' to end the war. 'The real problem is, with Ukraine, that Putin does not yet believe, or he has not yet been convinced, that the West regards it as an overwhelming strategic objective for Ukraine to be a free and independent European country. 'That's the problem we're in. It's that fundamental lack of resolve.' Meanwhile, calling on Sir Keir Starmer to honour his 'international commitment' to increase defence spending, Sir Tony said: 'The reason for that commitment was because there is a war in Europe. Russia is weak, but dangerous. We have made that commitment. Nato is challenging us. Where is our plan?' And he warned: 'We need to invest in each of those in order to assure our nation that we will continue to be safe in the 2030s. That's why we had a defence review. 'That's why Nato galvanised around an operational plan and the need for more spending, and that has to be resolved.' President Donald Trump has announced plans to increase tariffs on imports from all countries to 15 per cent as he railed against his 'ridiculous' defeat at the US Supreme Court. He said on Saturday he will hike the temporary 10 per cent, which he imposed after the Court ruled against his signature tariff program based on an economic emergency law, to a maximum 15 per cent. Infuriated by the court's ruling, Trump on Friday ordered an immediate 10 per cent tariff on all imports, in addition to any existing tariffs. The law allows him to impose a levy of up to 15 per cent for 150 days, although it could face legal challenges. During that period, his administration will work on issuing new and 'legally permissible' tariffs, he said. Posting on Truth Social this afternoon, the US president called the court's decision 'ridiculous' and 'extraordinarily anti-American'. 'Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been "ripping" the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,' he wrote. 'During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again - GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!!' It is the latest stage of a bitter attack on the Supreme Court which, despite having a 6-3 conservative majority, ruled his previous tariff legislation was unlawful by the same margin of majority. President Donald Trump has announced plans to increase tariffs on imports from all countries to 15 per cent as he railed against his 'ridiculous' defeat at the US Supreme Court The new 'temporary' tariffs will be issued under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, and will be the first time that this has been invoked. The tariffs can remain in effect for only 150 days without congressional approval. Yesterday The White House said that the temporary import duty will take effect on February 24 at 12.01am EST. It was confirmed the tariff does not apply to a wide range of goods, including energy products, natural resources, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, some electronics, some vehicles, certain aerospace products, informational materials, and accompanied baggage. Food products, including beef and tomatoes, will be exempt to minimize impacts on the average consumer. On Friday the president claimed that the justices who struck down his signature tariffs are being 'swayed by foreign interests'. In his seething condemnation, Trump said that some conservative justices are 'not loyal' unlike those appointed by Democratic presidents and accused them of going against the US Constitution. He lamented that the decision is nonsensical, claiming that the Court admitted he can do anything he wants as president other than slap down tariffs. On Friday the president claimed that the justices who struck down his signature tariffs are being 'swayed by foreign interests' at a White House press conference (pictured) Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch (upper left) ruled with the liberal wing of the Court against President Donald Trump. Justice Brett Kavanaugh (second from right), a Trump appointee, wrote the dissent. Chief Justice John Roberts (center, first row) penned the ruling President Donald Trump holds up his list of reciprocal tariffs imposed on 'Liberation Day' on April 2, 2025 'I'm allowed to destroy the country, but I can't charge them a little fee,' Trump complained. 'I can do anything I want to do to them, but I can't charge any money.' Three conservative justices joined all three liberals on the panel to rule against Trump on Friday, handing down a 6-3 decision that rebuked one of the president's biggest economic proposals of his second term. 'The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing and I'm ashamed of certain members of the Court. Absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what's right for our country,' the president said in the press briefing room. 'It's my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests and a political movement that is far smaller than people would ever think,' he added. Two justices that Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett joined Chief Justice John Roberts to make up the trio of conservative judges to rule against him, alongside the three liberal ones on the court. It is thought the decision places an estimated $175 billion in tariff revenue at stake. The latest twist comes after Trump's 'Liberation Day' on April 2, when he announced reciprocal tariffs on nations around the globe - even on uninhabited islands. The president used the justification that there was a national emergency due to trade deficits and national security threats. In their ruling, the judges did not say that tariffs could not be introduced but decided that Trump had used the wrong legislation to do so. A German publishing group which supports a united Europe has launched a bid to buy the Eurosceptic Telegraph newspaper. Axel Springer is backing an attempt by Dovid Efune, the owner of US news website the New York Sun, to strike a last-minute deal to purchase the historic British broadsheet - despite negotiations being at an advanced stage for DMGT, the owners of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, to acquire the title. News of the bid broke just hours after Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, gave permission for RedBird IMI, the owners of The Telegraph, to sell security over its newspaper to DMGT for 500million - the same amount offered by the Springer consortium. Axel Springer, which owns the Welt and Bild newspapers, backs a United Europe and requires its German employees to sign a written commitment to principles which include support for the right to existence of the State of Israel and the US-European alliance. While employees of its non-German outlets such as Politico and Business Insider, do not have to sign, the chief executive of the Berlin-based company, Mathias Dopfner, has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying the principles 'are like a constitution, they apply to every employee of our company' and employees who disagreed 'should not work for Axel Springer, very clearly'. News of the Axel Springer bid broke just hours after Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, gave permission for RedBird IMI, the owners of The Telegraph, to sell security over its newspaper to DMGT for 500million - the same amount offered by the Springer consortium Chief executive of the Berlin-based company Mathias Dopfner is pictured in July 2023 Other backers for the consortium are understood to include David Smith, the broadcasting tycoon and Baltimore Sun owner, and Jeremy Hosking, the hedge fund boss who finances Lawrence Fox's Reclaim political party, as well as another unnamed British individual. The consortium said: 'We believe our proposal is in the best interests of the seller, The Telegraph, its staff, readers and the wider British public. 'Our commitment to securing the best possible outcome for all parties in this long and winding saga has never wavered.' DMGT agreed a 500million deal for The Telegraph in November last year; earlier this month Ms Nandy said that she had issued a public interest intervention notice over concerns that the acquisition warranted investigation on public interest and competition grounds. The media regulator Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority must report back to Nandy by June 10. The Telegraph has been in limbo since Redbird IMI tried to buy the newspapers in 2023. The deal was ultimately blocked by the government, over fears of foreign state influence over a British newspaper, leading Redbird to seek approval under a revised structure that would cap IMI's involvement at 15 per cent. It later withdrew its bid in November, and in December asked Ms Nandy to transfer its interest in the newspapers to DMGT. The proposed acquisition by DMGT would bring The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph under the same umbrella as the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Metro and The i Paper. DMGT has said The Telegraph would remain editorially independent, as are all DMGT titles. Mr Dopfner is a vocal supporter of artificial intelligence (AI), telling staff last year that they were now obliged to use the technology in their reporting and that his new mantra was 'embrace AI or die'. Mr Efune has previously sought financing from parties including the family office of Leon Black, the Wall Street tycoon brought down by his status as one of Jeffrey Epstein's biggest clients. Last night, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said of the prospect of a pro-Brussels media giant owning The Telegraph: 'I have said throughout that foreign money should not be used to buy The Telegraph, be it Chinese, Middle Eastern or even from the EU.' Wealth taxes are the latest levy catching the eye of John Swinney. Its hardly a surprise theyd tax the ground we walk on if they could. While they try to hoodwink the public into thinking a wealth tax could generate millions more for the economy, the reality is it could see businesses leave the country, unemployment rise and people become poorer. It could cause ordinary people to face rising tax bills just because they own their own home or have worked hard to save for a pension. Like rent controls, which, far from fixing housing emergencies, make them worse and increase costs, the effects are often the opposite of the aim. For a start, any attempt to tax assets has to decide what they are. The SNPs definition of wealth would no doubt include mansions, yachts, works of art and other things associated with the super-rich. It might, though, also include the family home, shares and the value of someones pension pot. Or cars or furniture or, for that matter, stamp collections and grandmas jewellery. Thats all too likely, because John Swinney never saw a tax he didnt like the look of. His government has already imposed the highest income tax in the UK. It has brought in taxes that have failed to bring in the revenue anticipated because of their dampening effects on growth. Just the other day, Sir Tom Hunters foundation slammed the Nationalists tax regime as a disincentive for investment and growth. Its why we lag behind other parts of the UK. The tax gap puts firms at a competitive disadvantage, drives up costs and makes it harder to attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs and others essential to increase productivity and growth. Scottish Conservatives finance spokesman Craig Hoy says wealth taxes could make ordinary people poorer The impact is not confined to the rich. Many workers are already hit by huge marginal income tax rates. Nurses, teachers, police officers and other middle earners are being clobbered and, incredibly, the SNPs plans to freeze thresholds mean workers on the average wage will be dragged into the higher rate by the end of this decade. These are the people Finance Secretary Shona Robison characterises as those with the broadest shoulders suggesting any new wealth tax would quickly hit those with relatively modest assets. Imposing additional bands, while hammering Scottish workers and businesses, doesnt bring in much more revenue, since people change their behaviour as a result something even SNP ministers have admitted. It has also been confirmed by independent experts. At this weeks finance committee, one of them described the trivial differences in the lower bands as ludicrous, while warning that those caught in the higher rates would soon start negotiating on the basis of net pay. If individual employees make that calculation, you can be sure trades unions have it at the centre of their negotiating plans. Thats bad news for the SNP government, which spends a huge proportion of its budget on public sector pay. The SNP believes there is no alternative to higher taxes, though, because it has made no effort to rein in the spiralling benefits bill which will hit nearly 10 billion by the end of the decade. Labour and Reform also support increased welfare spending. The Scottish Conservatives are the only party that opposes this tax-and-spend consensus. John Swinneys refusal to tackle this unaffordable public spending is hitting working Scots in the pocket. Its fuelling his relentless search for new taxes. A search which may soon result in those of relatively modest means being redefined as wealthy. Middle-class Scots face the threat of a new attack on their finances as the SNP pushes ahead with plans for a controversial wealth tax. The Mail on Sunday can reveal Nationalist ministers are actively exploring a radical type of tax that could force people to pay an annual charge based on the value of the assets they own, such as their homes, savings, pensions and even art, antiques and jewellery. The revelation follows an SNP Budget last month which will force 100,000 more Scots into paying higher rates of income tax and which also proposed a new mansion tax on higher-value homes. Although an annual wealth tax has never been introduced in the UK, different versions exist in several countries, including Norway, where an annual 1 per cent levy is charged on anyone with assets worth more than 132,000. The Scottish Government confirmed it is exploring what further wealth taxation could look like for Scotland. However, critics lambasted the plan and called on the SNP to find ways of cutting government spending rather than creating new ways to tax hard-working households. They also said a wealth tax would ultimately prove self-defeating as many of the richest Scots would simply choose to flee the country to avoid the punitive charge as has happened elsewhere. Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: Given the SNPs addiction to raising taxes, its no surprise they are contemplating a wealth tax. Theyve already imposed the highest income tax in the UK and hammered households and businesses with rising bills that have failed to produce the promised revenues. Homeowners could find themselves paying more taxes under the new plans Pensions could be part of the wealth tax calculations High value items like jewellery could also count towards someone's overall wealth Its not clear what a wealth tax would entail, but it would deter exactly the entrepreneurs and aspirational people essential for economic growth. Wealth tax was the subject of fierce debate last year when Left-wingers urged the UK Labour Government to introduce the new levy to help plug a black hole in the national finances. Although Chancellor Rachel Reeves ruled out the move, claiming instead she would prioritise economic growth, the SNP party conference in October voted for a wealth tax for Scotland. Now Scottish ministers are actively exploring possible options, appointing a market research company to assess the opportunities, challenges, and practical considerations associated with introducing wealth taxation in Scotland. The private firm will examine academic research and evidence from think-tanks, and also provide analysis of relevant international examples of wealth taxation. Under the current system in Scotland, people pay tax on money as they earn it (income tax) and also on certain assets when they are either bought (the LBTT property tax) or sold (capital gains tax). Wealth tax is fundamentally different as it levies a charge based on the value of the assets owned by individuals, even if those assets are neither bought nor sold. The key question for a government setting a wealth tax is just how wealthy does someone need to be before the tax is applied? When asked last week, the Scottish Government said it was too early to discuss potential thresholds for paying wealth tax. However, the Scottish Greens, who also back a wealth tax, have argued it should apply to anyone with assets worth more than 1 million. This would include tens of thousands of Scots if property, savings and pensions are all taken into account. The Greens manifesto calls for a 1 per cent annual wealth tax for millionaires, adding: This will be a tax on all wealth and assets above the 1 million threshold, including property, land, pensions and other assets. Mr Hoy warned it was likely that a new SNP wealth tax would hit even middle-income households. He said: The SNPs former coalition partners, the Greens, want a new tax on total assets of more than 1 million. That sounds a lot but if it were to include peoples houses, pension pot and savings it would snare a lot more than just the super-rich. He said Finance Secretary Shona Robison already thinks workers like nurses, teachers and police officers are among those with the broadest shoulders, so any new tax is likely to hit strivers with relatively modest assets. In Norway, a recent increase in the level of the wealth tax is estimated to have prompted more than 30 billionaires and hundreds of other wealthy individuals to leave for Switzerland. A campaign against the tax last year featured a song which went viral on social media and contained the lines: Dont come to Norway, we will tax you till youre poor and when you have nothing left, we will tax you a little more. In France, a wealth tax was scrapped in 2018 amid claims it raised minimal revenue because so many wealthy residents had fled. In Scotland, Ms Robisons Budget froze the threshold for higher, advanced and top bands of income tax, meaning 106,000 extra Scots will be dragged into paying the top three rates in 2026/27. She also introduced a new mansion tax on homes worth more than 1 million while announcing measures that will see the benefits bill leap 6.5 per cent to 7.2 billion. The Scottish Government said: We are exploring what further wealth taxation could look like for Scotland, understanding the opportunities and challenges this may offer our tax system, and the steps needed to progress towards this broadening of tax options. Nigel Farage has accused the British government of attempting to thwart a mission to get aid to a group of Chagossians on a deserted island. The Reform UK leader flew to the Maldives this week with the intention of boarding an aid boat to Ile du Coin, one of the Chagos Islands, where a four-strong 'advance party' is seeking to resettle their former homeland. Vital supplies including food and medicine have been gathered to help the men, who hope to block the transfer of the Chagos Islands from Britain to Mauritius by establishing a permanent base. But Mr Farage claims the UK government has been bending over backwards to prevent him boarding the boat and completing the 24-hour aid mission to the islands - which remain a British territory. It is understood the vessel will now make the roughly 300-mile trip without Mr Farage, and that he will return to the UK on Saturday night. Recording a video from the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, Mr Farage claimed the government had 'search parties out trying to find me', and said he does not understand Starmer's 'obsession with getting rid of the Chagos Islands'. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Mr Farage said this evening: 'The British Government has made every effort to prevent me heading towards the Chagos Islands. They have asked the Maldives government to stop me from leaving here and setting foot on the boat. This was information conveyed to me by a senior figure in the Maldives government. 'I cannot believe such an attempt has been made to stop a British citizen from reaching British territory. My source told me the British were "very concerned" about me and wanted to know why I was here.' Nigel Farage recording a video in the Maldives, from where he had hoped to join a mission to take aid to Chagossians attempting to resettle Ile du Coin Chagossian first minister Misley Mandarin (L) and his father (R) have been granted a temporary right to stay on Ile du Coin after returning this week Eviction papers demanded the group of four left the island, but a judge has since temporarily blocked the notice The Foreign Office said this week it remains 'illegal and unsafe to enter the outer Chagos Islands without a valid permit'. The UK government has drawn up a controversial plan to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, almost 60 years after islanders were forcibly removed to make way for a British-America military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands. The islands are currently owned by Britain, and under the terms the UK would lease back Diego Garcia in order to maintain the military base. Over the course of a century, the deal would cost the UK around 35billion - which also includes funding for development in Mauritius. Given America's stake in the base, backing from the White House is seen as essential to getting the deal over the line, but President Trump's flipflopping position appears to have settled firmly against it. Last week, he urged Starmer not to 'give away Diego Garcia', and previously branded it an 'act of great stupidity'. Between making those comments, however, the President said he understood the deal was the best he [Starmer] could make, so his true feelings are somewhat difficult to assess. There is also potent opposition from Chagossians themselves, some of whom have vowed they would 'rather die' than accept transfer to Mauritius. Among the opponents are the Chagossian First Minister Misley Mandarin and three other islanders, who landed on the deserted Ile du Coin and declared they were resettling there. Donald Trump has urged Keir Starmer not to 'give away Diego Garcia', though his position on the deal has proven erratic Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised for attempting to stop native Chagossians resettling, and urged to the let the US use Diego Garcia to stage an attack on Iran They have been living in tents since landing on Monday, and said they expected more arrivals imminently - with the hope that a permanent settlement would complicate the plan to transfer the islands to Mauritius. Mr Mandarin's father, 74-year-old Michel Mandarin, was removed from the island when he was 14, and is among the foursome to have returned. The advance party was served with eviction papers from the UK government on Wednesday, delivered by a British patrol boat. They were told they if they did not leave the island, they faced a three-year prison sentence or 3000 fine. However, the legislative attempt to turf them out was halted by a judge on Thursday. Justice James Lewis, handing down his ruling from a flight 25,000ft in the air, issued a temporary block on the eviction notice. Mr Lewis, who is the chief justice of the British Indian Ocean territory, said: 'It follows that I grant a temporary injunction against the enforcement of section 12 notices. 'This injunction will remain in place for seven days to allow the defendants to file a response.' The joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which is strategically located near to the Middle East The largest of the Chagos islands, Diego Garcia (pictured),would be leased back from Mauritius under the Chagos deal Misley Mandarin, right, and his father as they arrived on the archipelago in defiance of the British governments exclusion zone this week In a 'Declaration of Returning', the group on Ile du Coin said: '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.' In response to being handed the eviction papers, Mr Mandarin said: 'This is really appalling, we have been exiled from our homeland for more than half a century. 'Now, having this vessel service 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 Labour is 'doing Mauritius's bidding' by 'threatening Chagossians with prison sentences or crippling fines for landing on the Islands'. Some have suggested that Labour's attempt to evict the islanders are unlawful. James Tumbridge, who is the acting attorney general for the Chagos government under Mr Mandarin, said: 'This injunction gives a proper chance to understand when a deportation is appropriate. 'My clients are native Chagossians seeking to return peacefully to their homeland. We welcome the clarity and fairness reflected in today's decision.' The resettlement project was condemned by the Foreign Office, which described it as an 'illegal, unsafe stunt'. Starmer has also been criticised for refusing to let Donald Trump use British bases, including Diego Garcia, to stage attacks on Iran. Rear Admiral Chris Parry, a retired Royal Navy officer, said: At a time when our US ally needs to be reassured of Britains staunch opposition to brutal regimes and about its access to the Chagos Islands and [UK-US military base] Diego Garcia, our Government is proving unreliable and weak. This week, the Daily Mail revealed that a 'great friend' of Keir Starmer pocketed a share of an 8million pot for his work on the Chagos deal. Phillippe Sands KC acted as chief legal council to Mauritius between 2010 and 2024, and led a group of legal teams that were allocated the cash from the Mauritian state budget. 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'. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said this week: 'It remains both illegal and unsafe to enter the outer Chagos Islands without a valid permit. '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 action is not the way to achieve that. 'The vessel does not pose any security risk to Diego Garcia.' The Foreign Office was approached for further comment in the wake of Mr Farage's accusations. News / National by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today lead thousands of young Zimbabweans in commemorating National Youth Day at Igava Vocational Training Centre in Marondera, Mashonaland East, with more than 30 000 youths expected to attend the annual event.Observed annually on February 21 - a public holiday - National Youth Day celebrates the contribution of young people to Zimbabwe's political, social and economic development while providing a platform for engagement on empowerment, employment and nation-building initiatives.This year's celebrations, running under the theme "Youth Agenda for Transformation", will bring together youths, Government officials, development partners and captains of industry to deliberate on programmes aimed at advancing youth development.A major highlight of the 2026 commemorations will be the ground-breaking ceremony for Igava Vocational Training Centre - a flagship legacy project designed to strengthen technical skills development, youth service training and economic participation.President Mnangagwa is also expected to preside over the establishment of a Vocational Training Centre Business Unit under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, which will serve as a hub for practical youth training initiatives.On Thursday, Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire, accompanied by Daniel Garwe, Anxious Masuka and Itayi Ndudzo, toured the venue to assess preparedness.Minister Machakaire said preparations were nearly complete."I want to assure the nation that we are now 99 percent complete in terms of preparations and by tomorrow (Friday) we will be receiving youths for our special event on Saturday," he said."On the day, President Mnangagwa will conduct the ground-breaking ceremony for the Youth Service in Zimbabwe and the Vocational Training Centre, where we intend to establish one of the biggest national youth training centres here in Marondera."He said the initiative aligns with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises youth skills development."We have more than 2.3 million youths who are neither in education nor employed. This is part of the solution. With the youth service training centre, we will equip them with skills, provide orientation on national values and prepare them to participate meaningfully in the economy," he said.Minister Machakaire added that logistical arrangements were being scaled up in response to overwhelming interest."We are expecting more than 30 000 people from across Zimbabwe. We are increasing transport logistics as the requests indicate even higher numbers," he said."As the host province, Mashonaland East, we are delighted to say we are set and ready to host a successful National Youth Day at Igava on February 21, 2026," said Adv Ndudzo."I can say, without any fear of contradiction, that we are on course to deliver the best ever National Youth Day celebration, on account of the record number of people we expect to grace the occasion. The province is ready and it is all systems go."In a separate interview, director of communication and advocacy in the Ministry of Youth, Ranson Madzamba, said the commemorations are designed to give youths a voice in shaping policies that affect them."This is indeed a day where the youths get to interact among themselves as well as with policymakers to deliberate on various issues to do with youth empowerment and development," he said.Mr Madzamba added that Government ministries, departments and development partners will mount exhibitions showcasing programmes targeted at supporting young people."Government ministries, departments and various development partners will be exhibiting, meeting the youths and exploring various activities or initiatives they have to support them. This is also a great platform where we are taking the youth empowerment strategy to the youths," he said.A job fair organised by the Public Service Commission will form part of the programme, offering young people an opportunity to explore employment prospects within Government.The hosting of National Youth Day continues to rotate among provinces as part of Government's decentralisation drive.Previous celebrations were held in Masvingo and Bulawayo, where legacy projects were established at Mushagashe and Jairos Jiri Vocational Training Centres respectively.The rotational approach seeks to promote balanced regional development and ensure that youth empowerment opportunities are accessible across all provinces. John Swinney is continuing Nicola Sturgeons legacy of SNP secrecy and it is corroding public trust in Scotlands politics, Tory leader Russell Findlay has said. Mr Findlays attack followed a rousing speech to the Scottish Conservatives conference in Edinburgh today, where he hit out at the SNPs approach to scrutiny. He pointed to the latest row over Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC giving First Minister Mr Swinney advance notice about charges facing his partys former chief executive, Peter Murrell and said it exemplified the partys corrosive culture of secrecy. Mr Findlay told The Scottish Mail on Sunday: Their instincts are never to be open and transparent with people, they are always to conceal. Its corroding trust in Scotlands politics and public institutions. The SNP cannot change, its too deeply ingrained in the way they operate. Mr Findlay also highlighted the looming court battle between the Scottish Government and the Information Commissioner over what he has dubbed the Sturgeon files documents relating to the botched investigation of former First Minister Alex Salmond, and what his successor, Ms Sturgeon, knew about it. He said: Scotlands information watchdog is taking John Swinneys government to court because they are refusing to release papers that clearly should be in the public domain relating to the Scottish Governments investigation into allegations of misconduct against Alex Salmond. That botched probe ultimately cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay speaks to party members at conference. John Swinney has been accused of continuing Nicola Sturgeon's legacy of secrecy Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain came under fire for alerting the First Minister to details of Peter Murrell's court case before the public The public have a right to know exactly what Nicola Sturgeon knew about the investigation and why she pressed ahead with it. He added: What do the SNP want to hide? We see the same culture of secrecy under John Swinney, who was tipped off a month early by the Lord Advocate about the charges facing Peter Murrell. He didnt share that information with the public but the first thing he did was send it to his chief spin doctor. The whole episode smacks of corruption. In his speech Mr Findlay said NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had adopted the Nationalists attitude of secrecy over the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital scandal. He added: Only towards the end of a 30 million public inquiry did they start telling the truth. Thats 30 million of your cash wasted on lawyers. It should have been spent on frontline care if only the health board had not adopted the SNPs culture of secrecy. He also pledged to give every council tax payer a Conservative cashback boost of 200 if he was to become First Minister. Mr Findlay said: We would turn the Scottish governments annual underspend into a taxpayer dividend. Based on last years underspend, this surplus would provide every household in Scotland with an estimated 200. Scottish police officers are struggling to cope with horrific daily scenes like murder, child abuse and car crashes due to the constant strain on the force, according to rank-and-file representatives. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents frontline officers, said the pressure officers are under combined with a lack of support is having a disastrous impact on them and their loved ones. A survey of almost 700 staff, shared exclusively with the Scottish Mail on Sunday, revealed how officers struggle to cope after harrowing daily events with 93 per cent of officers saying their job is having a negative effect on their lives. David Threadgold, SPF chairman said: Officers at every level of Police Scotland are struggling to cope with what theyre witnessing on a daily basis. It has always been the case that officers have to respond to calls that are often horrific - murders, abuse cases, car accidents, the death of children, but previously they felt supported by their organisation, would have time to decompress, could take their rest days and wouldnt be constantly overworked by increasing demand with reducing resource. The issue were now seeing is that due to the fall in police officer numbers, the rising sickness absence levels and the fact our capacity is being squeezed so much by demand from health-related calls, officers are at breaking point. The SPFs survey asked 628 officers of constable, sergeant, inspector and chief inspector rank of their experiences working on the force and the impact it has on their lives. Officers gave heartbreakingly candid replies, with 92 per cent believing policing had a negative impact on them, but two thirds (67 per cent) had never been given training or support to manage the trauma they experienced or help to identify signs of trauma in their colleagues. Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell One officer said: I attended a call where a three-year-old child was killed by a driver, CPR was attempted but did not work. I will never forget the childs face. I have a child and that night I went home, kissed my child who was asleep and drank alcohol alone. Another added: A vehicle evaded my road closure and struck a pedestrian sending them high into the air. They landed directly in front of my police vehicle. I still feel guilty because I was unable to stop the traffic and the noise of the impact still lives with me today. I still patrol the route daily According to the survey, officers who did take up the forces support services called Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) found the service unhelpful. Officers who had been referred said TRiM was like a tick-box exercise with no value at all. One officer stated: The process was a sergeant speaking to me but having to leave halfway through our talk as she was running late for something else. I received no follow up with regards to counselling and had to take my own steps to get counselling. Another said TRiM was full of empty platitudes and didnt make me cope or feel better at all. Officers have to deal with horrific incidents and the aftermath of brutal crime scenes Asked if they would agree that Police Scotland was proactively dealing with the trauma associated with being in the force, a staggering 87 per cent said No. Most officers (95 per cent) also said they believed the forces strategy to have a thriving workforce by 2030 was not on track, with one officer commenting: We are not a supportive organisation, and a culture of mistrust is prevalent as everyone appears to be out for themselves. Absence levels are at an all-time high and the stretched workforce is at breaking point. Mr Threadgold said: While information on health and wellbeing may be available, the reality is that training courses are almost exclusively delivered online with content that doesnt translate to the real world. Our officers are in dire need of support. That comes with being properly resourced, properly paid and allowed to focus on the delivery of policing. The current model will only continue to see officer absence rise, an exacerbation of the retention crisis now beginning to have such an impact and a continued feeling that officers are not a priority for their own organisation. This has to change. A Police Scotland spokesman referred to Chief Constable Jo Farrells comments to the Scottish Police Authority last week, where she said: Our people are our greatest asset and policing can only succeed if they are physically and emotionally healthy and motivated to serve the people of scotland. Building a thriving workforce is a key pillar of our vision and part of that is provding better support services like the employee assistance programme, expanding our trauma risk management service and delivering more Lifelines courses. At the same time its crucial we provide the equipment and facilities which can improve experiences such as bodyworn video and better quality working environments, and that we focus our investment on strengthening and supporting the frontline. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had dinner with a Saudi millionaire whose family has been historically linked to the 9/11 hijackers where they discussed plans to invest in Sarah Fergusons brand, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Astonishing emails in the Epstein Files show that Andrew and his former wife Ms Ferguson secretly met with the businessman, before arranging for the friend to meet Jeffrey Epstein. The dinner took place in London in 2010 when Andrew was trade envoy but it was not one of his official engagements. The Saudi entrepreneur, Adel Ghazzawi, now lives in Dubai but his family once owned and lived in a luxury home in Florida which, according to a 2002 declassified FBI report, was frequently visited by the al-Qaeda terrorists ahead of the devastating attacks. There is no evidence suggesting Mr Ghazzawi was aware of their plans, or to suggest that the former Duke and Duchess of York knew of these connections. But in an email sent to Epstein in January 2010, Ms Ferguson said: My friend Adel Ghazzawi is in New York, and I would love for you to say Hello He had dinner with Prince Andrew and I last night and we both thought you should meet. She went on to explain that Mr Ghazzawi was on a flight to New York from London and that she wanted Epstein to discuss very interesting investment opportunities with him as he was a big investor. She added: He wants to invest into me and my brand going forward. Mothers Army included! While it is unclear whether Mr Ghazzawi eventually invested in Ms Fergusons company Mothers Army or her brand, further emails show that he did meet with Epstein that same week, which was organised by the Duchesss assistant. Mr Adel Ghazzawi told the Mail: 'In 2011 the FBI issued a public statement in response to wrong and inaccurate US media reports concerning members of my family. Its statement said: 'At no time did the FBI develop evidence that connected family members to any of the 9/11 hijackers and there was no connection found to the 9/11 plot.' 'These are the simple facts and I hardly think my father would have subsequently have been allowed to become, like me, a proud citizen of the USA, had they been otherwise.' After the meeting, Epstein emailed Mr Ghazzawi to ask for any deals you think are unique, copying in Ms Ferguson who replied: Ok. Briefing David today too. The family of Saudi entrepreneur, Adel Ghazzawi, once owned and lived in a luxury home in Florida which was allegedly frequently visited by al-Qaeda terrorists ahead of the attacks Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his former wife Sarah Ferguson secretly met with the Saudi businessman, who was previously linked to the 9/11 hijackers David is understood to be David Stern, a businessman who acted as a go-between for Andrew and Epstein as well as a senior advisor to the former Duke. According to news reports, an initial FBI report found that Mr Ghazzawi's family had connections to the 9/11 hijackers, but no criminal action was ultimately pursued. His father, Esam Ghazzawi, was a money manager for the Saudi royal family at the time of the attacks and FBI documents much later revealed that two 9/11 terrorists had spent time at his property in Sarasota, Florida, while taking flying lessons in nearby Venice. Mr Ghazzawi is now 55 and resides in Dubai where he owns a luxury beach club. His sister, Annoud, and her husband, Abdulaziz Al-Hijji, lived at the property before the couple left suddenly two weeks before the September 2001 attacks. Years later, a Florida law enforcement report said that the couple left with the power still on and three cars left at the property, adding: They left behind valuable items, clothing, jewellery and food in a manner that indicated they fled unexpectedly without prior preparation or knowledge. The FBI disavowed their original report in 2014, and officially maintains that it found no evidence linking Ghazzawis family to the 9/11 plot. However, despite a 2021 order by President Joe Biden to declassify certain 9/11-related investigative documents, lawyers for the families of the victims maintain that the FBI continue to redact information about individuals at the centre of the dispute. The MoS approached Andrew and Mr Ghazzawi for comment. A spokesman for Ms Ferguson declined to comment. BrewDog's founder is to plough 10million of his own money into a rescue bid to save the troubled brewery after it was put up for sale amid years of losses. James Watt, who calls himself the 'world's worst boss' and is married to reality TV star Georgia Toffolo, is assembling financial backing from external investors to buy back the Scottish brewer. He stepped down as CEO in May 2024 following a series of allegations about the work culture and his behaviour in the role, but retains a 22 per cent stake in the business. Insiders said Mr Watt has told prospective partners he would contribute around 10million of his personal wealth to a potential buyout. He is believed to be keen to acquire BrewDog in its entirely, although the exact terms of the deal he is proposing remain unclear, Sky News has reported. BrewDog's price tag is thought to be far lower than its once-mooted 2billion valuation. Mr Watt's proposal comes amid concerns that more than 200,000 people who ploughed their own money into BrewDog could lose out if the company is sold. The company's so-called 'Equity For Punks' scheme enabled beer lovers to own a tiny slice of the brewery and enjoy discounts and other perks. BrewdDog founder and former CEO James Watt married Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo last year Martin Dickie and James Watt (pictured right) founded BrewDog in 2007 Mr Watt got engaged to Georgia Toffolo in 2024, shortly after he stepped away from BrewDog amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour The company raised around 75million overall from the sale of shares to customers between 2009 and 2021. However, it is understood that if a deal is brokered by Mr Watt it could preserve their stakes, with around a fifth of the company owned by the 'punks' carried over. Mr Watt would subsequently hold about half the firm and his backers the rest, The Times has reported. Last Saturday, it was revealed that BrewDog had been put up for sale, with AlixPartners asked to find a buyer for the business or its assets. The sale process comes amid tough conditions for independent brewers, with the group behind Black Sheep recently being sold through a pre-pack administration. BrewDog was founded in 2007 by Mr Watt and Martin Dickie who frequently courted controversy with the brand's marketing campaigns. In 2017, TSG Consumer Partners took a 21 per cent stake in BrewDog in a deal which implied a unicorn valuation of at least $1billion. Since then, however, BrewDog has continued to face mounting losses, closing a string of bars and axing chunks of its workforce. Last year, the company lost 37million on turnover of 357million. BrewDog trades from 72 bars globally, including in London and Las Vegas. It employs roughly 1,400 people, and boasts a four per cent share of the UK off-trade grocery market by value. The Brewdog founders embarked on ambitious PR stunts - including buying an entire forest that was to be funded by beer sales Mr Watt (right) founded the firm in 2007 alongside his friend Martin Dickie (left), from a garage The company produces five of the top eight UK craft beer brands, including Hazy Jane, Wingman and Lost. Its four breweries - at Ellon in Scotland, as well as sites in the US, Australia and Germany - could be sold separately from the rest of the group, depending on the progress of the AlixPartners-run process. Five years ago, BrewDog was rocked by allegations made by dozens of former employees that it operated 'a culture of fear'. They claimed staff were overworked, told to ignore health and safety guidelines and assaulted or harassed by senior staff - and that many PR stunts, including the Elvis name changes, sending beer to Putin and pawternity leave, were essentially myths. 'BrewDog was, and is, built on a cult of personality,' the group said, claiming the responsibility for the company's 'rotten culture' rested with Watt. Six months later, the BBC broadcast a devastating documentary in which several former workers from across the world made serious allegations about Mr Watt's behaviour. Among the allegations were that he kissed a drunk customer, that female staff were given advice on how to avoid unwelcome attention from him, and that some were even scheduled to be off when he was expected to visit their venues. Mr Watt stepped down as CEO in May 2024 following a series of allegations about the work culture and his behaviour in the role, but retains a 22 per cent stake in the business BrewDog also sought to position itself as an environmentally conscious brewery - though eventually dropped its claim to be 'carbon negative' (pictured: its Waterloo bar) One bar worker in Ohio, Katelynn Ising, said she recalled telling new female members of staff: 'Hey, just so you know, James Watt's coming to town. Don't always do your hair and makeup that day, like don't catch his attention.' He was even accused of taking female patrons on private tours of BrewDog facilities, some of whom, it was claimed, were intoxicated. Staff at an Ohio bar claimed to have seen him kissing a drunk customer. Watt denied any allegations of being inappropriate, but later said he would sometimes go on 'dates' in America and apologised for making anyone 'uncomfortable'. 'I hugely regret anyone feeling in any way uncomfortable around me, as the programme set out,' he later wrote on the Equity for Punks forum. However, he hit out at what he called 'false rumours and misinformation', and complained to broadcast regulator Ofcom about the BBC's film. Ofcom upheld none of his claims. By 2023, there was a cloud over BrewDog, even as it unveiled plans to triple the size of its bars and hotel estate to 300 venues by 2030. The foundations made shaky by the open letter were weakened further by the BBC's revelations - and by 2024 Watt had stood down as CEO, staying on as the ambiguously titled Captain. A BrewDog spokesperson said: 'As with many businesses operating in a challenging economic climate and facing sustained macro headwinds, we regularly review our options with a focus on the long-term strength and sustainability of the company. 'Following a year of decisive action in 2025, which saw a focus on costs and operating efficiencies, we have appointed AlixPartners to support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business. 'This is a deliberate and disciplined step with a focus on strengthening the long-term future of the BrewDog brand and its operations. 'BrewDog remains a global pioneer in craft beer: a world-class consumer brand, the number one independent brewer in the UK and with a highly engaged global community. 'We believe that this combination will attract substantial interest, though no final decisions have been made. 'Our breweries, bars and venues continue to operate as normal. We will not comment on any further speculation.' Nearly 30 million Americans are under weather alerts as a massive winter storm careens toward the East Coast prompting a rare blizzard warning to be issued in New York City. The storm is expected to bring some of the most severe weather to eastern Massachusetts, stirring up strong winds in places such as Cape Cod and Nantucket where isolated gusts could reach over 70mph. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for the Big Apple, Long Island and portions of the Hudson Valley. Residents in Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania have also been warned to brace for arctic conditions. In the Big Apple, where the heaviest snowfall is expected, accumulations could begin from 7pm Sunday and last to noon Monday, per the National Weather Service. Forecasters are predicting 13 to 20 inches of snow in parts of the city as a result of an incoming bomb cyclone. They have issued the the first blizzard warning issued for New York City since March 2017 as a result. Officials warned that travel would become 'dangerous, if not impossible' with power outages and downed tree limbs likely due to the snow and winds. The storm could also trigger moderate coastal flooding of up to 2.5 feet potentially affecting the Hudson River. Vehicles parked near the water may be at the risk of flooding, the weather service said. 13 to 18 inches of snow were predicted to hit New York City, although the National Weather Service warned that could be more The heaviest snowfall in New York City was expected between 7pm Sunday and noon Monday, with locals placed under an unusual blizzard warning The unusual blizzard warning was issued as officials warned the storm could continue to strengthen and drive snowfall totals even higher. Forecasts predict the systems pressure to intensify rapidly, forming what is known as a bomb cyclone or an Arctic hurricane. In an even stronger storm scenario, Central Park could receive up to 21 inches of snow, while JFK and Newark airports could see as much as 23 inches. The odds of that outcome were placed at around 25 percent by New York City Emergency Management on X. If the projections hold, the storm would bring the citys heaviest snow since February 1, 2021, when 14.8 inches fell. This weekends massive snow storm is predicted to initially develop off the coast of the Carolinas and then move northward along the coast. The National Weather Service has also upgraded southern Delaware and the Jersey Shore to blizzard warnings. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency starting noon Sunday ahead of what she called a 'severe' storm. Join the debate Should cities do more to protect vulnerable people during extreme winter storms? Your browser does not support iframes. Central Park could even see up to 21 inches of snow in a stronger scenario for this weekend's winter storm In Connecticut, officials activated the states emergency management plan to assist residents in need during the storm. Officials in Delaware urged residents to limit travel to 'emergencies only' and advised anyone who must venture out to carry a 'winter survival kit' due to the storms severity. Some communities in Pennsylvania declared states of emergencies, although the state was yet to do so as of Saturday afternoon. Washington DC and Philadelphia are forecast to be hit before the storm eventually reaches New York. Boston has also been issued a blizzard warning through 7am Tuesday. Major travel disruptions, likely lasting days, are likely at airports across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The New York City Emergency Management service warned that blizzard conditions typically cause widespread flight cancellations, delays, and ground stops at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. Delays were expected at regional airports in wake of the snow storm, with New York City authorities already warning that cancellations and delays were typical after blizzard condition Authorities warned that travel would become 'dangerous, if not impossible' given the likely power outages and downed tree limbs The latest storm arrives just weeks after a separate system blanketed the city, with the snow just having melted in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said officials were better prepared this time. During the previous storm, at least 18 people were found dead outdoors. In response, Mamdani has resumed homeless encampment sweeps across all five boroughs. He said the Department of Homeless Services would now lead the sweeps, rather than the New York City Police Department. These are the horrifying last moments before a drink-driver deliberately rammed a truck off the road at 60mph in a high-speed hit-and-run, killing their cousin's four-year-old son and leaving the tot's father paralysed. Peter Maughan died after suffering severe and devastating injuries to his head, chest and abdomen. He was thrown from a pick-up truck on the A2 in Kent just before 9.30pm on June 1 last year. Earlier this week, Owen Maughan, 27, and his father Patrick, 54, were found not guilty of murdering Peter after drinking 25 bottles and pints of lager between them before the fatal crash. Footage now released by the Crown Prosecution Service shows the father and son chasing down the car Peter was in along with his mother Hayley Maughan, father Lovell Mahon - who was driving - and one-year-old sister Annarica Maughan. The court heard that Owen, Hayley's cousin, and his father were racing after the family in 'fury'. He was accused of using his truck as a weapon while being actively encouraged by his father to do so. In the footage, a man can be heard shouting 'pull in then' followed by another clip of Hayley Maughan saying 'please watch this, look he's still doing it'. The drivers could be heard screaming at each other as they travel along the A2 in Kent, with one saying to the other he would fight him, adding 'give me one minute'. Owen Maughan (pictured with his father Patrick) was accused of using his truck as a weapon Pictured: Both pick-up trucks drive side by side on the A2 in Kent, moments before the fatal collision which killed four-year-old Peter Maughan Four-year-old Peter Maughan was killed when he was thrown from the Ford Ranger Wildtrak as it rolled off the road The CPS also released dashcam footage from another vehicle showing the two pick-up trucks levelling up along the motorway at the time of the argument. The victims' vehicle manages to accelerate away before the father and son catch up with them. Owen Maughan accepted responsibility for Peter's death in the high-speed hit-and-run but denied intending to cause serious harm to any of the occupants in the youngster's parents' Ford Ranger Wildtrak. He told Maidstone Crown Court in Kent that when he clipped the vehicle driven by Peter's father Mr Mahon, he simply wanted to 'nudge' it and never meant to cause the tragic consequences that unfolded. Aware from the start of the trial that he had admitted Peter's manslaughter, jurors acquitted the 27-year-old of the more serious offence after deliberations lasting more than 17 hours. Also cleared of Peter's murder was Maughan's 54-year-old father Patrick. The pair are respectively the cousin and uncle of Peter's mother Hayley Maughan. He had been the front seat passenger in Owen's vehicle - again a Ford Ranger Wildtrak - when it hit Lovell Mahon's 4x4 on New Barn Road in Southfleet, Kent. Prosecutors said both defendants were 'in a fury', having angrily and aggressively pursued the family. Lovell Mahon (pictured in the green t-shirt) was paralysed in the crash and may never walk again Patrick Maughan, 54, pictured outside court, was found not guilty of murder Pictured: Hayley Maughan and Lovell Mahon and their children Peter and then-one-year-old sister Annarica Maughan Peter Maughan's mother Hayley Maughan is pictured outside Maidstone Crown Court in Kent Owen Maughan was accused of using his truck as a weapon while being actively encouraged by his father to do so during the chase was along the A2. Owen accepted that, during a call with Hayley's brother Jason, he had threatened 'I'm going to ram them' - just seconds before a clunking noise was heard and the phone line disconnected. But in his evidence to the jury he denied allegedly saying 'We don't give a f***' - and maintained that the tragic event was never intended and his father was not responsible in any way. As well as being cleared of murder, the defendants - who are Hayley Maughan's cousin and uncle - were also acquitted of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Mahon, who was left paralysed after the horror smash. The jury also returned not guilty verdicts for each in respect of two offences of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Hayley and Annarica. Patrick was, however, found guilty of Peter's manslaughter and inflicting GBH to Mr Mahon. These were charges his son had previously admitted along with causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Mr Mahon. The verdicts were returned with Peter's parents sitting in court for the first time. During the three-week trial, the court heard Owen Maughan had pulled on to the wrong side of the road when he rammed the rear offside of Mr Mahon's truck with the front nearside of his vehicle. Owen Maughan accepted responsibility for Peter Maughan's death in the high-speed hit-and-run on June 1 last year, but denied intending to cause serious harm The impact caused the vehicle to rotate out of control and then roll up to three times. Peter, who was affectionately known by loved ones as Peter Rabbit, was thrown out of the truck from his rear seat and died from what were described as 'severe and devastating' head, chest and abdomen injuries. The jury heard the injuries were unsurvivable, even with immediate medical care, and some bore characteristics reminiscent of tyre tread marks - possibly consistent with being run over or crushed during roll-over. His father was also ejected from the Ranger and sustained multiple fractures and brain trauma, leaving him in a wheelchair and unlikely to walk again. Miraculously, the court was told, Hayley and her daughter escaped with minor injuries. At the time of the pursuit and subsequent collision, the family of four was heading home to Southfleet following a visit to Pepe's restaurant in Maidstone. Owen and Patrick Maughan were also on their way home to Darenth in Kent after a six-hour drinking session in Rochester, during which they downed as many as 25 bottles and pints of lager between them. Jurors heard it was by chance that the parties' paths crossed that evening and the reason for trouble to erupt within the space of six minutes still remained unclear. Peter suffered severe and devastating injuries to his head, chest and abdomen and would not have survived even if he had received immediate medical attention, jurors were told Although the families had not spoken for years, there was no ongoing feud, and a disagreement between Hayley Maughan and Owen's sister Nicole Maughan at the school gates a few weeks earlier had been resolved, it was said. Owen Maughan, a married father of three whose youngest child was born a few months after his arrest, will be sentenced at a later date, as will his father. Judge Oliver Saxby did not request reports to consider dangerousness but said he needed to know more about their 'backgrounds and motivations'. Remanding the pair back into custody, he told them: 'These, you well know, are serious offences. I need more information about you before I am in a position to pass sentence. 'But, you will know, it will be a lengthy sentence that I am obliged to pass.' Judge Saxby also thanked the jury for the care they had taken on an 'upsetting case', adding: 'It would have taken its toll, I have no doubt.' He also remarked on the dignity shown by those present in the courtroom in support of the victims and the defendants. Before the jurors had retired on Monday to consider their verdicts, Judge Saxby had directed them that in order to convict Owen Maughan they had to be 'sure' his intent was to cause really serious harm when he rammed the Ford Ranger. Lovell Mahon (right, pictured with his late son Peter) suffered multiple fractures and brain trauma in the crash, leaving him unlikely to walk again It did not matter whether he knew how many occupants were in the vehicle or their identities. In the case of Patrick Maughan, the jury was told the issues to consider were encouragement and intent. Evidence at trial included video and audio recordings made by Hayley herself on her phone of her family being allegedly 'harassed and terrified' for several minutes by the defendants along the A2 from Cobham until the Pepperhill junction at Northfleet. Lorry dashcam footage also captured about three minutes of the chase, showing the vehicles changing lanes, braking heavily and pulling up alongside each other. The clips filmed by a frightened Hayley Maughan on WhatsApp showed the Maughans's vehicle closely on their tail as well as aggressive exchanges through the Ranger windows. She then sent the footage and voicenotes to her mother, providing a running commentary and detailing her panic and fear. Later, when she spoke to police, she described Patrick Maughan as being red in the face, 'revving up' his son 'like a volcano ready to explode' and making the situation '10 times worse'. She said she could see him 'frothing' at the mouth and Owen Maughan biting his tongue 'in temper'. Patrick Maughan, 54, was found topless and lying under a floral duvet at his sister's home in Berkshire when police arrived to arrest him She told officers: 'We were in fear for our lives. We begged them, we told them that, it's on video camera. We told them that the children were in the motor. 'It wasn't an accident. They knew what they were doing. They had enough time to think.' The court heard that it was just a few seconds after she filmed her husband shouting 'children in this motor' to the Maughans as the vehicles pulled alongside each other at the Pepperhill junction that the fatal crash occurred. But, instead of pulling over to help, the defendants sped off from 'the carnage they had created', said the prosecution, driving through debris scattered in the road and with a child's pushchair that had fallen from the rear of the rammed truck wedged under their chassis. They headed towards Longfield, stopping briefly so Patrick Maughan could rip off the front number plate in what was alleged to be a bid to cover their tracks. The pair then continued for several miles to Plantation Road in Hextable where they abandoned their Ranger, visibly damaged to the front nearside and still with the buggy jammed underneath. Owen, a builder by trade with no previous convictions, fled to Manchester while his father went to his sister's in Berkshire. Both were arrested within two days. Owen returned to Kent to hand himself in to police on June 2 while Patrick was detained on June 3 after he was found by officers in bed, heavily intoxicated. Owen Maughan accepted responsibility for the death of Peter Maughan (pictured) in a high-speed hit-and-run on June 1 last year - he admitted manslaughter then was cleared of murder Maughan Snr also lied about not having a phone and, when his device was discovered, he refused to give the PIN so it could be examined. The court heard police have been unable to access it since. Although they each gave 'no comment' interviews, Patrick Maughan provided two prepared statements in which he denied any intent to cause death or really serious harm, or having 'planned or conspired' to do so. He did not give evidence at trial but his son told the jury he had simply wanted to put a dent in the Ford Ranger so Mr Mahon would pull over for a fist fight at the side of the road. At times crying in the witness box, he said that on his journey home that evening he had recognised the vehicle as one commonly used by travellers and, as he pulled up alongside, Mr Mahon was acting aggressively towards him, waving a fist. They had not met before and it was his father who told him who the driver was, explained Maughan Jnr. He agreed he tailed him to 'annoy' Mr Mahon, there was 'arguing back and forth' between the trucks, and he and his dad were 'upset'. But Owen Maughan maintained he had not heard Mr Mahon shouting that there were children in his vehicle, which had tinted rear windows, and did not know any child was present. Regarding the call with Jason Maughan, although he accepted saying he would ram them, he denied he also remarked, as alleged, 'We don't give a f***'. Tributes were left beside the A2 near Gravesend in Kent following the tragedy on June 1, 2025 Owen Maughan also told the jury that what happened that night had 'nothing to do with' his father. The court heard that none of the seatbelts or child seat restraints in Mr Mahon's Wildtrak were in use. With the latter, the attached harnesses were at their minimum setting for the smallest of children. On the question of force used, a forensic collision expert said it was her opinion it 'probably fell' between minor and moderate. It was said that Mr Mahon's Ranger's restraint control modules (RCM) - a computer safety system designed to react in the event of a collision or anticipation of a collision - was activated but not as a result of the impact from the defendants' vehicle itself. Nor did the collision activate the RCM on Owen Maughan's Wildtrak, the jury was told. Prosecutor Richard Jory KC told the court in his closing speech that the accused had 'acted together' in ramming the other vehicle and that it was 'hard to separate' them in terms of culpability. Furthermore, he said Owen Maughan had 'demonstrably lied' in court about events and 'shouldered the blame' out of loyalty to his dad. However, Tyrone Smith, defending Owen Maughan, argued there was no 'direct evidence' of his client's intent when he hit the other Wildtrak. Peter's father Lovell Mahon suffered multiple fractures and brain trauma in the collision, leaving him in a wheelchair and unlikely to walk again He asserted that what was in everyone's minds when they turned into New Barn Road was simply 'an anticipation of a fist fight in the traditional traveller way'. Mr Smith also told the court that although the defendant's actions in the aftermath were 'pretty outrageous and cowardly', they did not prove his intent. Charles Langley, for Patrick Maughan, said the alcoholic had gone drinking that day as he did every Sunday and by the time he headed home with his son was drunk. But he asserted in his closing speech that the prosecution had not produced any direct evidence his client said or did anything in encouragement of his son, and that neither 'mere presence' nor the circumstantial evidence were enough to convict him. Mr Smith said the decision by Owen Maughan to ram may have been a 'split second' one in which Patrick Maughan had no time to encourage or foresee what happened. Accepting the defendant's actions in the aftermath were 'appalling and cowardly', Mr Langley said they were consistent with 'a father trying to protect his son'. At the trial's start, Patrick Maughan also faced offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving - but the jury was discharged by the judge from returning verdicts on those two counts. The US ambassador to Israel has come under fire over comments he made about Israel's right to own land in the Middle East amid mounting tensions with Iran. Mike Huckabee made the controversial remarks during an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. Carlson stated that, according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham are entitled to land that today encompasses much of the Middle East. In response to whether Israel had a right to that land, Huckabee said: 'It would be fine if they took it all'. The Republican added that Israel was not seeking to expand its territory and has a right to maintain security on the land it legitimately holds. 'It was somewhat of a hyperbolic statement in that, you know, if that's what you feel like that we're talking about, but it isn't,' Huckabee said when pressed by Carlson. 'We're talking about this land that Israel, the state of Israel, now lives in and wants to have peace in. They're not trying to take over Jordan. They're not trying to take over Syria.' But Huckabee's words provoked a heated international response, drawing rebukes from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States. US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, suggested Israel has rights to lot of land in the Middle East based on the Bible Huckabee told Tucker Carlson that the descendants of Abraham are entitled to land that today encompasses much of the Middle East, but said the Jewish nation isn't trying to expand its borders Carlson meanwhile has been accused of anti-Semitism after the combative interview in which he made a series of fiery claims to Huckabee, including ventilating unsubstantiated claims about Epstein's ties to Israel. Carlson has always denied anti-Semitism. The interview came as tensions between the US and Iran continue to heat up, with suspicions rising that America will strike the neighboring Middle Eastern country soon. The US has sent more than 60 attack aircraft to a military base in Jordan, satellite images showed on Friday. The fleet is triple the size that is normally stationed there. Another US fleet was seen at a Portugal air base on Saturday. The three countries have been had odds before, including last year's 12-day war, where the US and Israel bombed Iran's key nuclear and military sites. Donald Trump has alluded to striking Iran again in the coming days, telling reporters on Friday that he was considering military action to pressure Iranian officials to negotiate the terms of the country's nuclear program. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry described Huckabee's comments as 'extremist rhetoric' and 'unacceptable,' and called for the US State Department to clarify its position. Egypt's foreign ministry called his comments a 'blatant violation' of international law, adding that 'Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands.' 'Statements of this nature - extremist and lacking any sound basis - serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions,' the League of Arab States said. Join the debate How should the US balance its support for Israel with outrage from Arab nations over territorial claims? Huckabee's comments drew international ire from the already heated Middle East, as it is expected President Donald Trump will issue a strike against Iran in the coming days The US has sent more than 60 attack aircraft to a military base in Jordan, satellite images showed on Friday. The fleet is triple the size that is normally stationed there Satellite images from January revealed a number of aircraft at the Jordanian air base There was no immediate comment from Israel or the United States. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and Huckabee for comment. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has not had fully recognized borders. Its frontiers with Arab neighbors have shifted as a result of wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements. During the six-day 1967 Mideast war, Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula as part of a peace deal with Egypt following the 1973 Mideast war. It also unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Israel has attempted to deepen control of the occupied West Bank in recent months. It has greatly expanded construction in Jewish settlements, legalized outposts and made significant bureaucratic changes to its policies in the territory. Trump has said he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank and has offered strong assurances that he'd block any move to do so. Palestinians have for decades called for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with east Jerusalem its capital, a claim backed by much of the international community. Huckabee has long opposed the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people. In an interview last year, he said he does not believe in referring to the Arab descendants of people who had lived in British-controlled Palestine as 'Palestinians.' Middle Eastern leaders have called on the US to clarify its position on Israel, which is led by Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured), after Huckabee's comments In the latest interview, Carlson pressed Huckabee about his interpretation of Bible verses from the book of Genesis, where he said God promised Abraham and his descendants land from the Nile to the Euphrates. 'That would be the Levant, so that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. It would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq,' Carlson said. Huckabee replied: 'Not sure we'd go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land.' Israel has encroached on more land since the start of its war with Hamas in Gaza. Under the current ceasefire, Israel withdrew its troops to a buffer zone but still controls more than half the territory. Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw further, though the ceasefire deal doesn't give a timeline. After Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted at the end of 2024, Israel's military seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Israel said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border. And Israel still occupies five hilltop posts on Lebanese territory following its brief war with Hezbollah in 2024. Sir Keir Starmer was on Saturday accused of drawing up plans to sack Wes Streeting for allegedly plotting to take his job. The Prime Minister faced claims he wanted to fire the Health Secretary but bring back former deputy PM Angela Rayner despite accusations she too had designs on his position. But the so-called plan, which emerged ahead of Thursday's crucial Gorton and Denton by-election, was condemned by one Labour MP as a 'punishment beating disguised as a reshuffle' to distract from Labour's potential defeat in the polls. Another said Sir Keir would be 'quite mad' to fire Mr Streeting and thereby provoke a genuine leadership challenge which he narrowly swerved earlier this month. One Labour MP said: 'We're hearing he wants to show strength and get shot of Wes. And to curry favour with more Left-wing MPs, he'd bring Angie back. He's always said he wants her back.' Another added: 'Keir wants to sack Wes but he wants to wait until Angie's clear of her tax row. However, he's also being told he can't hang around and should get on with that now.' It is barely two weeks since the PM staved off immediate threats to his leadership following the growing controversy to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite his known links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Sir Keir was left severely weakened after his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney quit over the Mandelson row, while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar openly called on the PM to resign. Sir Keir Starmer (right) was accused of drawing up plans to sack Health Secretary Wes Streeting (left) for allegedly plotting to take his job The PM's so-called plan to fire the health secretary has been condemned by one Labour MP as a 'punishment beating disguised as a reshuffle' to distract from Labour's potential defeat in the polls. Pictured: the pair together during a visit to University College London Hospital in 2024 The Prime Minister recently received a public vote of confidence from the Health Secretary (pictured), following mounting calls for his resignation during the Peter Mandelson crisis And party insiders insisted he survived only because neither Mr Streeting nor Ms Rayner were ready to mount a challenge and would prefer to let the PM take the blame for this week's potential by-election disaster and the May elections. Ms Rayner is awaiting the outcome of an HMRC investigation into the alleged 40,000 of unpaid stamp duty on her new 800,000 flat in Hove that forced her to resign from the Cabinet last year. Her supporters privately predict she will be 'exonerated' by the investigation for making an 'inadvertent error' over the tax bill. Separately, critics of Mr Streeting said his leadership hopes were now damaged by his former links to Lord Mandelson. He has denied they were close friends. Only last November, the Health Secretary angrily denied claims he was manoeuvring against Sir Keir, and his supporters last night denied renewed claims he was plotting against the Prime Minister. Downing Street last night dismissed claims the PM wanted to sack Mr Streeting as 'utter nonsense' and 'not the view of the PM or anyone in Number 10'. The Number 10 source added: 'Wes is doing a great job as Health Secretary, cutting waiting lists to their lowest level in three years.' Thousands of people have marched on the streets of France in support of a nationalist student who was beaten to death by a suspected ultra-left mob as he tried to protect a group of feminists. Quentin Deranque, 23, died on February 12 after he was repeatedly kicked and punched on the ground by the masked and hooded young men, believed to be members of the 'Antifa' or anti-fascist movement. His killing followed clashes between radical left and far-right supporters on the sidelines of a demonstration against a politician from the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party in Lyon. The suspects now charged in connection with the attack were all affiliated with an organisation called La Jeune Garde (The Young Guard), which used to provide security for LFI before it was banned last year. Mr Deranque's killing has put France on edge with a 3000-strong crowd - many wearing black and some covering their faces - descending on Lyon today. Some were carrying flowers and placards bearing pictures of Mr Deranque and placards with the words 'justice for Quentin' and 'the extreme left kills' on them. The majority of the people that attended are believed to have been from a mixture of small traditionalist, Catholic, nationalist and far-right groups. Quentin Deranque, 23, died on February 12 after he was repeatedly kicked and punched on the ground by masked and hooded young men Protesters hold a banner reading 'Justice for Quentin' during a march in tribute to him on Saturday An alleged video of the attack was broadcast by TF1 television Authorities had deployed heavy security, including drones, amid fears of further clashes at the protest. French President Emmanuel Macron also urged 'everyone to remain' calm. He said the government would meet next week to discuss 'violent action groups' in the wake of Mr Deranque's killing, which has further ignited tensions between the left and right in France. In particular, a torrent of condemnation has come down on the main party on the radical left, La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), which has 70 MPs in the National Assembly. For the past 50 years, it has been accepted by most of the French political establishment that the only parties ostracised for their links to extremism lay on the far right. This included the National Front and its successor the National Rally (RN), run by Marine Le Pen. But the events of the past few days could turn this on its head, potentially marking a significant development ahead of Frances 2027 presidential election. Today's march in Lyon went ahead without violent clashes between police and protesters. Some residents living along the route hung signs from their windows reading 'Lyon is antifa' or 'Love is greater than hate'. Authorities had deployed heavy security, including drones, amid fears of further clashes at the protest People paid tribute to the student at the protest in Lyon on Saturday; nationalist and far-right activists were said to be among the attendees Protesters hold a banner reading 'The far left kills' as they take part in a march in Lyon Mourners first gathered in the church frequented by Mr Deranque and his portrait was hung from the administrative headquarters of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. One of the rally's organisers, Aliette Espieux, a former spokesperson for the anti-abortion movement, said she wished for a 'peaceful tribute'. According to the Deranque family's lawyer, Fabien Rajon, his parents would not take part in the rally, adding they hoped would go ahead 'without violence' and 'without political statements'. Several ultra-right-wing groups, including Mr Deranque's nationalist Allobroges Bourgoin faction, had nonetheless heavily publicised the march on social media, stoking authorities' concerns of unrest. Ahead of the rally, some residents barricaded the ground floor windows of their apartments in fear. 'At my age, I'm not going to play the tough guy. If I have to go out somewhere, I'll avoid the places where they're marching,' said Lyon local Jean Echeverria, 87. 'They'll just keep fighting each other, it'll never end. Between the extreme of this and the extreme of that, it's non-stop,' he added. People hold a banner reading 'Goodbye mate' as they take part in a march in Lyon Aliette Espieux, a former spokesperson for the anti-abortion movement, takes part in a march in tribute to Mr Deranque The event went ahead despite calls from Lyon's left-wing green mayor, Gregory Doucet, and LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard for the state to ban it The event went ahead despite calls from Lyon's left-wing green mayor, Gregory Doucet, and LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard for the state to ban it. But Interior Minister Laurent Nunez declined to call off the rally, arguing that he had to 'strike a balance between maintaining public order and freedom of expression'. Mr Deranque's death has provoked a reaction from US President Donald Trump's administration, with State Department official Sarah Rogers on Friday branding the killing 'terrorism' and claiming that 'violent radical leftism is on the rise'. That came a day after Macron pushed back at comments by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the death, suggesting she refrain from commenting on France's internal affairs. Six men suspected of involvement in the fatal assault have been charged over the killing, while a parliamentary assistant to a radical left-wing MP has also been charged with complicity. For years Prince William has laboured under a misunderstanding. Fiercely opinionated in private, his public pronouncements have been measured, even evasive. This has contributed to a view that while passionate about issues that move him, he remains at times a reluctant actor on the royal stage. It would be a mistake, however, to interpret these misgivings as weakness. As the crisis over his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor deepens, any lingering doubts that William lacks the resolve to deal decisively with events that now threaten the very existence of the monarchy and his place in it must surely be reassessed. However, much time remains to his father as King, the Prince knows Charless reign will forever be soiled by the institutions response to and fallout from the Andrew affair. Among figures close to the Royal Family, there is a view that the slate can never entirely be wiped clean until there is a change at the top. In other words, when William, along with Catherine, comes to the Throne. As a team they have already proved themselves, doing so much to rebuild the image of the Royal Family shattered by Prince Harrys exit from royal life and the wounding barbs he directed at his brother and sister-in-law. Not only are they the most popular royals with 74 per cent of Britons having a positive opinion of them, according to YouGov they are also blessed with a natural ability to connect with the public, reminiscent of Williams late mother. They come across as united, devoted to one another and each protective of the other. If there has been any criticism, it is that their glad-handing and winning smiles are no more than a professional performance. There is a view that the slate can never entirely be wiped clean until there is a change at the top. In other words, when William, along with Catherine, comes to the Throne But this week a fascinating insight into their steeliness emerged in a new biography of the couple which revealed how they ruthlessly cut off their friendship with ITV News at Ten anchor Tom Bradby, a once-close confidant who was invited to their 2011 wedding as a personal guest. According to the writer Russell Myers, the break was because Bradby had helmed a documentary with Harry and Meghan during their 2019 tour of South Africa which gave the Sussexes their first platform to unveil their grievances. It was in this film that Harry disclosed he and his brother were on different paths. It was during the same explosive interview that Meghan told Bradby that she was surviving rather than thriving in the Royal Family. Speaking of the unbearable pressure of life in the spotlight she laid bare her profound unhappiness insisting it was no longer enough for her to just survive it. William thought the participation of Bradby had let him down and took the view that the film had crossed a line. Myers claims in his book, William And Catherine The Intimate Inside Story: On his return from Africa, Bradby contacted William to say he was concerned about Harrys well-being. A source said William was furious that, as he saw it, Bradby had taken Harrys side. He told Bradby he would speak to Harry to ensure he was OK but ended the conversation abruptly. This was said to have left the prince feeling betrayed and severely let down. Myers continues: He considered Tom a friend and Harry was close to him, too, but [William] never thought [Bradby] would take a side like he did. One of the sticking points for William was that Bradby, who conducted the princes joint engagement interview with Kate, appeared unwilling to quiz Harry or Meghan about what was going on inside the royal household. William was said to be perplexed at Bradbys willingness to be a conduit for Harry and Meghan. At the time, rumours were multiplying about Meghans alleged bullying and shoddy treatment of royal staff. Myers quotes a source as saying: Tom knew full well what Meghan was accused of and chose not to raise it in the documentary, while she ran roughshod over the family. As far as [William] was concerned, the friendship was over there and then. This was not the only time William has demonstrated his implacable character. Take the episode in January 2021, when he confronted a photographer near his Norfolk home, Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate. The Prince knows Charless reign will for ever be soiled by the institutions response to the Andrew affair (William, Kate and Andrew at the Duchess of Kent's funeral last year) The footage of what followed, leaked online, showed the future king was incandescent. You were out here looking for us, he told the intrusive cameraman, accusing him of stalking his children. Off camera, Kate is equally direct: We are out for a bike ride with our children, we saw you by our house. Some around the Prince of Wales tell us that this is not an aberration but part of a pattern. Household staff, royal aides, even family members, tread lightly around William, mindful of his mood swings before raising sensitive issues. He can be fiery, occasionally difficult to handle. Even Palace switchboard operators are careful about which calls they put through. On one occasion, an official, acting on the Kings orders, was instructed to obtain Williams written acknowledgment of the security risks of flying his entire family in one helicopter. William point-blank refused. His colourfully worded reply was said to have been reported directly back to the King. Theres no question that William knows his mind as illustrated by whats become known as the kilt issue. Despite holding the Scottish title Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles, William chooses not to wear one, as his father does when North of the border. The King has suggested it would help cottage industries in the Highlands. William will not budge. These then are not the instincts of a man who yields to others. And nowhere is this clearer than on the Andrew saga. After the former princes catastrophic BBC Newsnight interview in 2019, William demanded immediate action, reportedly insisting that Andrew shouldnt be anywhere near the family under any circumstances. What separates William from his father is not his short fuse King Charles has one, too but his refusal to let it go (Left to right, Andrew, King Charles, William, Queen Camilla, Kate and Prince Harry) With that in mind his visible discomfort at his uncles presence during the funeral of the Duchess of Kent last year speaks volumes. Sidling up to his nephew on the steps of Westminster Cathedral, he attempted to engage him in conversation. William, conscious of the watching media, barely acknowledged him but his face darkened. Sources later described him as boiling with anger at the crass intervention. As the Daily Mail reported yesterday, matters came to a head at the 2022 Order of the Garter ceremony when William threatened to withdraw from the event if Andrew, a fellow Garter knight who loved parading in his regalia, dared to turn up. The Prince of Waless intervention, which forced Andrew to stand aside, undoubtedly saved the family from further embarrassment. Only last year he appeared to suggest that the late Queen and by implication his father had moved too slowly in dealing with the escalating crisis. It was also recognition that the issue was no longer a family crisis but a dynastic one. Confined by protocol and by respect for his grandmother, he offered a careful but pained critique of how matters relating to his uncle had been handled historically. In other words, the Queens deep affection for a wayward son may have delayed more decisive action. Of course, he was also mindful of other sensitivities, such as Andrews mental well-being. Surely though with the monarchy on the ropes these impulses are needed more than ever. What separates William from his father is not his short fuse King Charles has one, too but his refusal to let it go. The King tends to simmer down and forget what ever enraged him, quickly, apologises and moves on. William is different. As a source close to the King puts it: The Prince of Wales doesnt have the same forgiving attitude. In such unprecedented times, these may be vital qualities. This uncompromising attitude applies particularly to the brother to whom he was once so close. William will never, ever forgive Harry for what he has done, says a figure who knows him well. In many ways, Prince William is assuming the role of his late grandfather Prince Philip, as the family enforcer, now. He draws lines and holds them, says the friend. Philip would have recognised the instinct entirely and backed it. Which is why there was some disappointment with Williams statement distributed before he travelled to Saudi Arabia last week, his first on-the-record intervention on the Epstein crisis. Issued on his behalf by Kensington Palace, it contained no mention of his uncle by name and critics said it was vague, smacking not of leadership but rather of damage control. The clamour for transparency will not be silenced by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors arrest. If anything, it is likely to increase (Andrew with ex wife Sarah Ferguson at the funeral last year) It felt that a moment that cried out for a personal intervention had been missed. The clamour for transparency will not be silenced by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors arrest. If anything, it is likely to increase. The demand for answers about what the royals knew is coming not just from the victims of Jeffrey Epstein but also from the public. The longer the truth is hidden, the greater the chance that it will fall to William to deal with matters. It is unlikely to be the only obstacle that must be overcome if the royals are to reset their relationship with their subjects. Central is the widespread exasperation at Andrews continued presence in the line of succession. He is currently eighth. Somewhere there is a file at Buckingham Palace where this very issue was pored over more than 25 years ago. Charles was fleshing out his ideas for a slimmed-down monarchy and among suggestions put forward by courtiers at the time was slashing the line of succession. It would end with the monarch, his or her heir and their family. In those days it meant the line ending with Harry. During Queen Elizabeths lifetime, the proposals were quietly forgotten and allowed to gather dust. Now it is front and centre if the royals wish to regain public affection. Instead of a never-ending line of princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses, the list of those in line to the throne would stop with Williams three children. Not only would Andrew be removed (and his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie) but so too would Prince Harry. No wonder there is private talk among supporters of the Royal Family that this could represent an opportunity for the Windsors to regroup and renew. Of course, should anything happen to William before Prince George reached his majority, there would need to be contingencies. Princess Anne would be the most popular and credible choice disciplined, experienced, trusted and entirely without vanity. Prince Edward could also be in the frame. But Annes long record and public standing make her the strongest candidate and bridge to a young kings 18th birthday. It would mean a monarchy that was leaner in structure and clearer in purpose. More importantly it would be more aligned with the country it serves. Charles may not have the opportunity to act. William, however, might be the man to seize it. Robert Jobson is author of The Windsor Legacy News / National by Staff reporter All female inmates in Zimbabwe's prisons who have served at least one-third of their custodial sentences - excluding those convicted of specified serious offences - are set to be released under a newly gazetted Presidential Clemency Order.Under Clemency Order No. 1 of 2026, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has granted a full remission of the remaining sentences of qualifying female and juvenile offenders and directed the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) to begin implementing modalities for their release.The clemency, issued in terms of Section 112(1)(a) and (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, was announced by Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Vimbai Nyemba in the Government Gazette published on Friday."A full remission of the remaining period of imprisonment is hereby granted to all convicted female inmates, save for those convicted of specified offences," reads part of the order.According to the proclamation, beneficiaries must have served at least one-third of their sentence as at the date of gazetting.Juvenile offenders - defined as inmates under the age of 18 - will also receive full remission of their remaining sentences, provided they have served at least one-third of their custodial term and are not convicted of specified crimes. Age determination will be based on birth certificates or dental age estimation.Specified offences excluded from the amnesty include murder, treason, rape and other sexual offences, armed robbery, carjacking, public violence, trafficking in persons and unlawful possession of a firearm.The clemency further extends to several other categories of prisoners.Inmates serving effective sentences of 48 months and below who have completed at least one-third of their sentence will be released, provided they were not convicted of specified offences.Terminally ill inmates certified by a Correctional Medical Officer or Government Medical Officer will also be freed, excluding those convicted of specified crimes. The Government Gazette directs correctional authorities to liaise with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to ensure continuity of medical care after release.Prisoners aged 60 years and above who have served at least one-third of their sentence will also benefit from full remission, unless convicted of specified offences. Similarly, inmates held in open prisons qualify under the amnesty.The order further grants remission to inmates who have served at least 20 years of a life sentence, including those whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. The 20-year period includes time previously served under a death sentence before commutation or alteration on appeal.Visually impaired or physically challenged inmates who cannot be adequately catered for in correctional facilities will also be considered for release if they have served at least one-third of their sentence and were not convicted of specified offences.However, certain categories of inmates are excluded from the clemency. These include prisoners previously released on amnesty, those serving sentences imposed by a Court Martial, and inmates with a record of escaping from lawful custody.Offenders convicted under statutes such as the Electricity Act, Postal and Telecommunications Act, Public Order and Security Act, Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, Railways Act and Copper Control Act are also excluded, along with those convicted of conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit the listed specified offences.The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service is expected to begin processing eligible inmates in line with the provisions of the Clemency Order. The King may be forced to foot the legal bill for his brothers defence following his dramatic arrest. Charles is adamant that no cost should fall on the public purse as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces allegations of misconduct in public office. Insiders say while it is hoped and expected the former prince would find most, if not all, the money himself, the monarch is determined that no taxpayers money should be used in terms of legal aid, if the situation comes to it. It could theoretically bring about a situation where Andrew, should he eventually be charged, would appear in a court administering justice in the name of the King, with the monarch privately picking up the tab. Since the ex-prince agreed to be stripped of his titles and leave Royal Lodge last autumn, it is believed the King has, with the heaviest of hearts, re-instated his brothers annual stipend from his personal fortune and funded his move to Sandringham. He had stopped the allowance previously paid by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, in a bid to smoke Andrew out of Windsor. Sources have suggested the former Duke of York has very little in the way of personal funds, and reports that he has been living on family bequests are wide of the mark. One insider remarked dryly last night that Andrew is not currently a man of limitless resources. They stressed that no discussions have yet taken place about how Andrew is going to find the money to fund his defence team. It may even be the case there are constitutional complications for the King in helping out his brother for a case prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service. The King may be forced to foot the legal bill for his brothers defence following his dramatic arrest. Pictured: Charles attends the first day of London Fashion Week on Thursday Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaves Aylsham Police Station after he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office This is all yet to be determined, they said. However they confirmed that Charles is also resolute that, as in all aspects of his disgraced brothers life, the costs of defending himself should not be a burden on the state. A source said: Everything is yet to be determined but foremost in the Kings thinking is that [Andrew] shouldnt be a burden on the state or any third party. In a world of imperfect outcomes, its the least imperfect outcome. Buckingham Palace was yesterday still reeling from Andrews sudden arrest at Wood Farm, his temporary Sandringham home. The King was not informed by police in advance of the raid. Officials have re-iterated the Kings historic and deeply personal message on the matter yesterday, in which he expressed his deepest concern at the turn of events and his full and wholehearted support and cooperation for the full, fair and proper process of investigation. Charles said starkly: Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. While insiders acknowledge these are challenging times, there is a determination not to flinch and get cracking on with the job. This includes a slew of public engagements in the coming weeks, hosting a state visit from the President of Nigeria next month and a politically-delicate state visit to the US in April. Palace officials say they will not offer a running commentary on the ongoing criminal investigation but re-iterated their willingness to cooperate. Its a difficult time but [it is hoped] there is a public awareness that, in the difficult world we find ourselves in, the King has behaved with tremendous leadership, foresight and judgement, a source said. Mostly people seem to understand that at the heart of this lies a King trying to do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time. Another added: It is a very difficult situation for them as a family and as an institution. The King is a man who thinks deeply and feels powerfully, and he has thought and felt on the situation and taken the appropriate action at the appropriate time. Princess Anne epitomised her brothers keep calm and carry on mantra as she continued with her public engagements on Friday in Sheffield. She did not respond when a reporter shouted: Your Royal Highness, how do you feel about your brothers arrest?. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors sensational arrest this week has raised myriad legal questions about the monarchy, the British constitution and how any prosecution or trial might play out. Here, four legal experts give their verdicts... Andrew Tettenborn, professor of law at the University of Swansea Professor Andrew Tettenborn Ultimately, of course, the decision of whether to charge Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and with what offences rests with the Crown Prosecution Service. In a case of such magnitude, the paperwork will almost certainly end up on the desk of the Director of Public Prosecutions himself, Stephen Parkinson (a job formerly held by one Sir Keir Starmer). If he is charged, Andrew will face a momentous decision with no easy outcomes. Plead guilty and he would see his name blackened forever. Plead not guilty and he would endure a lengthy jury trial, with all the attendant publicity and embarrassment to the Royal Family that would entail. One thing is for sure: he can expect no favours. The King has cast him out of the royal fold and, in the face of such intense public interest and even fury, the Establishment cannot be seen to bend the knee in any way. He will face justice like any common man and rightly too. Joseph Kotrie-Monson, executive director at Mary Monson Solicitors - a nationwide criminal defence specialist Defence solicitor Joseph Kotrie-Monson Andrew has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office one of the areas in which our firm specialises. About 40-60 cases of the offence are recorded by the courts every year, and we work on perhaps a quarter of them. It is a common law offence which means its grounded in case law, made by judges, rather than Parliamentary legislation. As a result, although the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, it typically attracts far less severe sentencing than sexual offences typically two or three years in prison for low-end cases. To me, it is interesting that Andrew is apparently being targeted for misconduct in public office instead of any sexual offences. He has long denied these, but there is serious public concern at the appearance of the pictures and emails as a result of the release of the Epstein files, and because of the 12million payout the Royal Family made to Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, of course without admitting liability. This weeks arrest ensures that there is an appearance of Andrew being held to account while, it seems, not being investigated for sexual offences. In that sense, the damage to him, and by extension the Royal Family, has so far been contained. Sir Vernon Bogdanor, professor of government at Kings College London and the author of The Monarchy and the Constitution Professor Sir Vernon Bogdanor The trial of R. v Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would undoubtedly go down in the history books. Yes, it would be a matter of great personal sorrow for the Royal Family but it would also show the world how robust our constitution is. No one is above the law, not even the monarchs own brother. I find that strangely heartening. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has not, of course, been charged, and he firmly protests his innocence. But he has undoubtedly caused huge reputational damage to the institution and there are already calls for him to be removed from the line of succession (he is currently eighth in line to the throne). That would require an Act of Parliament not just in Britain but also in the 14 other realms of which the King is Head of State. This would take time, to say the least. Above all, this crisis should not be used by republicans to attack the monarchy. A glance at events around the world shows that elected heads of state are by no means immune from corruption. In France, Nicolas Sarkozy has been in prison, and many think that Jacques Chirac should have been. The ex-president of South Korea has just been jailed for life for masterminding an insurrection, while many in America believe that Donald Trump has been corrupt. Does anyone really think we would be better governed by a retired politician? Steven Barrett, barrister, author and broadcaster Barrister and broadcaster Steven Barrett The prospect of Andrew being tried in open court raises the very real possibility that King Charles may be called upon to give evidence. This would present a fascinating and historic constitutional conundrum. Lawyers often say that no monarch can be called into the witness box in a court case, or indeed prosecuted for any crime, under the ancient principle of sovereign immunity. But I would argue that, these days, there is a clear constitutional separation between The Crown and the man or woman who wears the crown. (This distinction is made real in the annual State Opening of Parliament, when the Crown arrives in its own carriage 20 minutes before the King himself.) I suspect that if it came to it, therefore, the King could testify in court if he chose to although it seems impossible that he would ever be compelled to. If anything marks out the House of Windsor from some of its historical predecessors, it is their pragmatism. They have always had a keen ear for public opinion. If the King believed that testifying in court could somehow rescue the institution of the monarchy, I have little doubt that he would do it. The once-thriving city now holds the unenviable title of the highest foreclosure rates in the country. A place previously celebrated for its role in American history and industry has become a landscape of abandoned homes and shuttered businesses. Trenton, New Jersey, is facing a harsh reality. High foreclosure rates are a red flag, signaling a crumbling economy where stagnant wages, disappearing jobs, and plummeting property values leave entire communities struggling. In a city like Trenton, where foreclosures are spiking, the consequences go beyond individual families losing their homes - it's a sign of widespread financial instability that undermines neighborhoods and weakens the tax base, making recovery even more challenging. 'When a metro leads the country in foreclosure rates, it typically reflects financial strain among a segment of homeowners rather than a collapse in prices,' Redfin's chief economist Daryl Fairweather told the Daily Mail. 'In Trenton, affordability pressures - including taxes and the overall cost of living - are likely stretching some households thin.' In January 2026, US foreclosure filings hit 40,534, marking a 32 percent jump from last year even as they dipped slightly from December, according to data from ATTOM. Trenton stood out with the nation's worst foreclosure rate among major cities - one in every 1,087 homes faced a filing. Other cities languishing include Florida's Punta Gorda, North Carolina's Fayetteville, and Vallejo in California, highlighting pockets of the country where homeowners are feeling the squeeze. Trenton, New Jersey, is facing a harsh reality. The once-thriving city now holds the unenviable title of having the highest foreclosure rates in the country A place previously celebrated for its role in American history and industry has become a landscape of abandoned homes and shuttered businesses Jim Murray, New Jersey realtor Despite its modern-day struggles, Trenton once played a pivotal role in America's early history. It was there that George Washington made his iconic crossing of the Delaware River in 1776, securing a crucial victory in the Revolutionary War. For a time, Trenton even served as the nation's capital, a symbol of political significance during the fight for independence. In its industrial heyday, the city was renowned for its booming ceramics industry and played a key role in steel production, fueling the nation's growth. But as manufacturing jobs disappeared, Trenton's vibrant downtown became a shadow of its former self. Today, the city stands as a stark reminder of what happens when the heart of industry fades away - empty factories and abandoned storefronts marking the slow, painful decline of a place that was once a symbol of American promise. 'To put it in simple terms, New Jersey does not make it easy to thrive as a property owner,' local realtor Jim Murray told the Daily Mail. 'Property taxes continue to increase, the cost of living in the state continues to increase while at the same time the states policies do not create a job creating environment.' Real estate markets are unique to each area, Murray explained, adding, 'I don't feel this trend is widespread.' Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, explained that Trenton's elevated foreclosure rate in January was partly influenced by a single, large multifamily foreclosure that was recorded across multiple units. 'When large properties are filed this way, each unit is counted separately, amplifying the data impact,' he told the Daily Mail. Despite its modern-day struggles, Trenton once played a pivotal role in America's early history. It was there that George Washington made his iconic crossing of the Delaware River in 1776, securing a crucial victory in the Revolutionary War Trenton stood out with the nation's worst foreclosure rate among major metros - one in every 1,087 homes faced a filing A vintage souvenir linen postcard circa 1941 depicts a number of historic landmarks and monuments of the industrial New Jersey city Daryl Fairweather, Redfin's chief economist Still, Trenton's housing market is facing challenges beyond high foreclosure rates. Overall, the metro's real estate market offers affordable home prices compared to nearby cities. 'Sales activity has slowed notably,' Fairweather said. 'Though some of that may be due to cold January weather, which can temporarily dampen buyer demand.' With an average house price of approximately $343,000 - well below the statewide average of $556,000 - property values are continuing to decline, eroding homeowners' equity and prompting potential buyers and investors to question the reasons behind the downward trend. However, many properties are either abandoned or in poor condition, contributing to blight and reducing overall property values. The lack of new investment in certain areas has left parts of the city stagnating. While there are affordable homes, limited demand and slow growth make it difficult for the market to thrive. Rising crime rates and safety concerns in some neighborhoods deter potential buyers and investors, too. Trenton is the third most dangerous city in New Jersey, according to January's rankings from security company Reolink. Many of Trenton's properties are either abandoned or in poor condition, contributing to blight and reducing overall property values Rising crime rates and safety concerns in some neighborhoods deter potential buyers and investors (pictured: police entering a home in Trenton) Indeed, New Jersey's capital city remains plagued by crime, with the latest data revealing 1,160 violent crimes and nearly 3,000 property crimes per 100,000 residents. While shootings dropped slightly last year, aggravated assaults and break-ins remained steady. Car parts have become a hot target, with thefts jumping 40 percent as thieves creep under parked cars after midnight. Aside from crime, economic decline over the past several decades has left large parts of the city struggling with poverty, unemployment and abandoned properties. Further, Trenton's school system has faced ongoing challenges, with some of the lowest test scores and graduation rates in the state. Trenton - despite its status as New Jersey's capital - stands in stark contrast to other major cities in the state including Newark and New Brunswick, where sellers still hold the upper hand and home prices remain stable, making these areas some of the few in the country with a resilient housing market. Vermont's push to make its cities eco-friendly and carbon-free has met with disaster as officials have just found their new fleet of electric buses cannot run in the cold. An $8.1 million project by Green Mountain Transit (GMT), the public transportation agency serving Burlington and surrounding areas, has gone bust. All five EV buses were deemed a fire hazard and unable to hold a charge in Vermont's frigid winters. The new buses have now been parked outdoors, out of service, and covered in snow thanks to issues with the welding in the battery components that could lead to overheating and a potential explosion. Moreover, the manufacturer of the buses, New Flyer, has said that the defective batteries will need to be replaced, but a fix for the Vermont fleet could take up to two years to complete. As of 2024, GMT was providing 2.7 million rides annually in Vermont's Chittenden County, which includes major cities like Burlington and Colchester. Over the last year, residents relied on GMT for roughly 7,300 rides each day. Vermont has been a Democratic stronghold for decades, voting 'blue' in every presidential election since 1992. The state's senior US senator, Bernie Sanders, has been a major advocate for radical changes to America's energy policies, aimed at combating climate change and ending the use of fossil fuels. 'Vermonter here - we are governed by the stupidest people in the nation,' one local resident posted online. 'Stupidity reigns supreme in Congress. So much money has been wasted to support EV in areas where it just was not a good idea,' another critic wrote. A Green Mountain Transit electric bus used in Vermont. The entire fleet of these is now unable to drive because their batteries are unable to charge in the cold Critics have continued to slam Vermont's green initiatives that target greenhouse emissions and carbon footprints across the state, noting that local emissions have actually gone up over the last two decades while the rest of the US has gone down. Larry Behrens, the spokesman for energy workers advocacy group Power the Future, told the Center Square: 'Taxpayers were sold an $8 million "solution" that cant operate in cold weather when the home for these buses is in New England.' Until the batteries are replaced, New Flyer issued a software update that limits charging. Each bus battery can now only charge up to 75 percent capacity and only when the temperature is above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Here is the problem: an extremely cold winter across New England has led to very few days that have even been above freezing. In fact, Burlington has only had eight days with a recorded high temperature at 41 degrees or higher since December 1, 2025, according to AccuWeather. Vermont unveiled the EV buses in the summer of 2024 in a push to use state and federal grant money to combat climate change and meet local lawmakers' vision of reducing carbon emissions. However, one cold winter has put the entire taxpayer-funded project on ice, and GMT's own executives have said they're struggling to find enough buses to keep service going for commuters. GMT General Manager Clayton Clark told the Vermont Daily Chronicle: 'Its been literally down to our last bus, where if we have another bus that breaks or some other accident that happens, you know, we would have to start canceling service.' Join the debate Should taxpayers be footing the bill for green projects that fail in real-world conditions? US Senator Bernie Sanders (Pictured) has granted his state millions in funds aimed at fighting climate change, including converting to EV buses which cannot run in the cold Due to the potential for electric buses to catch fire, Clark added that GMT cannot even keep them in their garage because the public transportation company does not have the proper fire safety equipment to handle this type of blaze. The problem with the five electric buses stems from their batteries being recalled in November 2025 due to a manufacturing defect that can cause the power cells to rupture and ignite. The batteries can overheat because a key metal connector inside, called a busbar, was not welded strongly enough during manufacturing. Over time, this weak spot can break apart or separate slightly, causing sparks and building up dangerous heat right at that spot. That heat can then spread and damage nearby parts of the battery, causing a 'thermal runaway,' where the battery experiences uncontrolled heating, potentially leading to smoke, fire, or in extreme cases, a fiery explosion. Multiple scientific studies have noted that electric vehicles struggle to perform at the same level they do in the summer months or in warmer regions where snow is rare. A 2025 report in the journal Energy Conversion and Management revealed that EVs were unreliable for cold-weather areas because their batteries age up to three percent faster each year - shortening their lifespan. In very cold weather, EVs were also found to use a lot more electricity per trip than they do in mild or warm weather, using an extra 4.5 to 17kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy for the same distance driven - raising their carbon footprint. Green Mountain Transit has been forced to turn back to diesel buses, which the state's green initiative tried to phase out Despite Vermont being known as a major winter destination for skiers and snowboarders, officials in the heavily left-leaning state started the phasing out of diesel-powered public transportation in 2019. Six years ago, Sanders announced a $3million grant to kickstart the switch to electric buses, stating it would help Vermont reduce local air pollution, improve public health, and combat climate change. In 2020, Governor Phil Scott claimed: 'We know nearly half of the emissions that contribute to climate change come from the transportation sector, which is why efforts like this are so important.' However, the embarrassing bus problems have drawn fierce backlash and mockery from critics who claim politicians put green initiatives and climate change advocacy ahead of common sense engineering in the annually snowy state. A blind psychic may have predicted President Trump's decision on Thursday to disclose secret records on aliens and a major encounter with UFOs. Baba Vanga, who allegedly foretold 9/11 and the Covid pandemic, was a Bulgarian mystic and clairvoyant who became a cult figure among conspiracy theorists after several of her eerie pronouncements came true, including some occurring decades after her death. In the wake of the president's historic order to release all government files, a prediction by Baba Vanga has resurfaced that claimed humans would make first contact with aliens in November 2026. The late psychic is said to have foreseen a 'massive spacecraft' entering the planet's atmosphere, providing undeniable proof of extraterrestrial life, but its intentions were never revealed. Baba Vanga left no written records of her predictions. Most of the accounts have come from her niece, Krasimira Stoyanova, or other followers who heard and wrote down her alleged visions after she died in 1996. However, her followers have been accused of misinterpreting what she said, and skeptics have noted that many of Baba Vanga's visions have not turned out to be right, including one predicting a UFO appearing over a major sporting event in 2025. Until recently, the US government and the Pentagon have both claimed there has never been any physical evidence suggesting UFOs or aliens exist. That changed when former President Barack Obama sparked wild speculation during a February 14 interview, where he declared that aliens were real. Trump quickly slammed the comments, claiming Obama had revealed 'classified information.' Baba Vanga (Pictured) was a Bulgarian mystic and clairvoyant who became a cult figure among conspiracy theorists after being credited with predicting the 9/11 terror attacks and Covid pandemic Trump's announcement directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon to disclose anything 'related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).' Thursday's bombshell followed multiple reports that the president also has a written speech already prepared for a press conference this year, which will focus on what the US government knows about the existence of extraterrestrial beings. Some interpretations of Baba Vanga's prophecy said the giant alien craft's appearance in November will set off World War III, as the clairvoyant warned of rising tensions between major global powers, including China, Russia and the US. She also allegedly had visions of the distant future involving Earth's ties to alien life, including claims that human societies would begin building underwater cities with the aid of extraterrestrials in 2130. Baba Vanga also reportedly predicted humans would make contact with more aliens in 2288, and that the ability to time travel would be invented that same year. Born in 1911 as Vangeliya Pandeva Dimitrova, she was a famous blind Bulgarian mystic, clairvoyant, and herbalist known as the 'Nostradamus of the Balkans.' She lost her sight at age 12 after being caught in a tornado, an event that coincided with the emergence of her purported psychic abilities. Baba Vanga made numerous prophecies, often vague, about natural disasters, political shifts and future technologies, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed over 230,000, the election of Obama in 2008, and the rise of the Islamic terror group ISIS in 2010. On February 19, President Trump (Pictured) ordered the Secretary of War and the Pentagon to release all documents related to investigations on the existence of UFOs and alien life Baba Vanga allegedly predicted that a 'massive spacecraft' would be seen entering Earth's atmosphere in November 2026, marking first contact with aliens Her track record as a seer of future events rivaled the centuries-old reputation of Nostradamus. She has also been credited with predicting the destruction of the Russian submarine Kursk, which sank in the Barents Sea in 2000, and seeing the terrorist-controlled planes striking New York's Twin Towers a year later on September 11. Baba Vanga reportedly said: 'Two metal birds will crash into American brothers, and blood will spill.' The clairvoyant even foretold her own death correctly, allegedly telling her followers she had dreams she would die on August 11. Baba Vanga did in fact die of cancer on August 11, 1996 at the age of 85. Despite her reported track record of accurate visions, some predictions of global destruction over the last two decades have failed to materialize. Baba Vanga is said to have predicted a nuclear war taking place between 2010 and 2016. She also allegedly foretold that Europe would be deserted by 2016 after many years of widespread fighting and chemical attacks. The psychic added that several world leaders would be assassinated that same year. While many believe her prediction of a strange UFO being seen over a televised sporting event in 2025 never came true, conspiracy theorists have claimed it actually did and NASA has withheld the evidence. Some on social media alleged that the 'new light in the sky' Baba Vanga saw was the passage of the mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which could be seen from Earth as it made its closest pass on December 19, 2025. A U.S. Air Force pharmacist and his husband allegedly scammed the Pentagon out of $3million and used the money on high-end cars. Federal prosecutors claimed that Richard Stefon Ramroop, 35, and his spouse, Manuel George Madrid, 32, stole millions in taxpayer money to fund a 'luxurious lifestyle' that included a Porsche Cayenne SUV and $200,000 BMW 7-Series. Ramroop and Madrid have been charged with conspiracy to commit theft of government property, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. Trouble: Richard Stefon Ramroop allegedly defrauded the Pentagon of more than $3million with his partner Ramroop, a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, allegedly used his job at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, to order 'thousands of medical devices' and resell them with Madrid for personal profit. The couple allegedly carried out the scheme from January 2022 through December 2025, using an ordering system paid for by the U.S. government through the Department of War. Prosecutors claimed Ramroop bought more than $3million worth of medical devices 'using funds belonging to the United States' to commit the fraud. The devices were shipped to the air base, where Ramroop and Madrid allegedly 'stole' them and repackaged them for resale. In total, the couple allegedly received more than $11million from their scheme, per an indictment filed last Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Lifestyle: This Porsche Cayenne was one of the vehicle allegedly purchased Involved: This 2024 BMW i7 bought for about $195,400 was also mentioned Prosecutors said the couple used the fraudulent millions to effectively finance a lavish new life in Tucson. 'When a servicemember abuses their position for personal gain, it erodes trust in the tax system and harms the very citizens they have sworn an oath to protect,' Jarom Gregory, an IRS acting special agent in charge, said. Most of Ramroop and Madrid's purchases went towards what prosecutors called 'luxury vehicles'. That included a new 2024 Porsche Cayenne SUV valued at about $141,450 and a new 2024 BMW i7 SUV bought for about $195,400. Their full collection also included a 2025 Ford F-150 Raptor, 2025 Mini Cooper S Convertible, 2025 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2026 BMW X7 Alpina XB7, and a 2026 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum. The vehicles were allegedly paid for using the 'fraud proceeds from the medical device sales.' Ramroop and Madrid also splashed out slightly more than $1million in February 2024 to buy a four-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion on 4.9 acres of land, according to prosecutors. Home: Ramroop and Madrid allegedly spent more than $1million in February 2024 on a four-bedroom, five-bathroom house in Tucson The resale scheme made up 'nearly 90 per cent' of Ramroop and Madrid's income during the period it was carried out, the indictment said. Ramroop served at Davis-Monthan Airforce Base and was responsible for ordering medical supplies and prescription items at Davis-Monthan Airforce. However, his armed forces salary of roughly $231,000 only made up about eight per cent of his income. The indictment detailed how the fraud was allegedly carried out at the airbase. In one instance on December 15, Ramroop used the Department of War ordering system to purchase about $24,000 worth of blood glucose monitors. He loaded the boxes into his Ford Raptor the following day and drove to a gas station, per the indictment. Ramroop then allegedly switched vehicles with an unnamed man who took the devices to his home. The resale scheme made up 'nearly 90 percent' of Ramroop and Madrid's income during the period it was carried out, the indictment said. Ramroop served at Davis-Monthan Airforce Base and was responsible for ordering medical supplies and prescription items at Davis-Monthan Airforce. However, his armed forces salary of roughly $231,000 only made up about eight percent of his income. The indictment detailed how the fraud was allegedly carried out at the airbase. In one instance on December 15, Ramroop used the Department of War ordering system to purchase about $24,000 worth of blood glucose monitors. He loaded the boxes into his Ford Raptor the following day and drove to a gas station, per the indictment. Ramroop then allegedly switched vehicles with an unnamed man who took the devices to his home. Job: Ramroop was tasked with ordering medical supplies and prescription items at Davis-Monthan Airforce, where he worked since 2016 The maximum penalty for each of Ramroop and Madrid's counts ranges from five to 20 years in prison. If convicted, Ramroop and Madrid will have to forfeit their vehicles and home, according to the indictment. Those assets were seized by law enforcement during a search warrant executed on January 15. About $1.2million from bank accounts belonging to the couple has also been seized. The indictment added that that jewelry, watches, shoes, bags, memorabilia and luxury clothing were subject to forfeiture, as well. 'Every dollar taken through fraud is a dollar denied to the mission it was meant to support,' Timothy Courchaine, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, said. He added: 'The U.S. Attorney's Office and our federal and local law enforcement partners will hold accountable any individual who profits illegally at the expense of the American people.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Sean McNally and Efthymios Katsarelis, Ramroop and Madrid's respective attorneys, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tucson for comment. Mel B took a walk on the wild side as she flashed her leopard print bra at the Natasha Zinko show during London Fashion Week. The Spice Girl, 50, turned heads in a dark green and blue tartan bathrobe-style dress featuring a balloon design skirt with 'Happy Late Birthday' written on the back. And when she reached the end of the runway, she opened the coat to show off her animal print bra before sticking her tongue out. Bold: Mel B flashed her leopard print bra on the catwalk during London Fashion Week Spice Up Your Life! She stuck her tongue out as she revealed her animal print underwear beneath the tartan bathrobe-style dress Covering up: The back of her outfit featured the words 'happy late birthday' Mel paired the look with light blue fluffy studded heels and a chunky pearl necklace featuring the word 'Lucky'. And her daughter, Phoenix Brown, was there to cheer on the star, and looked stylish in a tartan skirt with a navy satin cami top. Mel later walked back down the runway, this time with designer Natasha by her side. The pair also posed for photos together backstage. Fun: Mel appeared to be having a blast as she strutted down the catwalk Support: Mel's daughter, Phoenix Brown, was on hand to support the star The designer and her design: Mel B later walked back down the runway joined by designer Natasha with the pair posing for selfies backstage It comes as it was reported that plans for a Spice Girl reunion have been axed amid growing tensions between the girl band, Mel, along with Victoria Beckhan, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Mel C, and Emma Bunton were set to mark the band's 30th anniversary with a special Netflix project. But insiders claim Geri, 53, is on the fence about whether to sign on amid growing tensions between her and Mel B. Scary Spice was notably absent from Emma's 50th birthday party last month, with the other three members of the band attending. Brandi Glanville had to endure surgery to remove leaking and ruptured breast implants that had plagued her for years and caused facial disfigurement. One published image showed the gooey, torn and ripped remnants of Glanville's breast implant in the surgeon's hands. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr Ariel Ourian was also pictured holding up one of the new implants into the light. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Out there: Brandi Glanville been seen in new photos from the delicate procedure Tough: The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star has endured three years of problems Inside Edition aired a segment featuring Glanville's breast implant removal surgery. Glanville 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 better condition. Then she discovered the real source of the problem was a breast augmentation she underwent in 2007. She went under the knife again to have the implants taken out in what Inside Edition called 'life-saving surgery.' Help: She was guided into a room by a medical staffer holding her IV bag Treatment: Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr Ariel Ourian inspected the problem Not good: Dr Ourian said Glanville's ruptured breast implant was in awful condition Procedure: Dr Ourian suctioned out the leaked silicone from her body Replacement: Dr Ourian gave Glanville a set of 'fresh, new implants' 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 Dr Ourians medical establishment 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 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.' Looking ahead: Brandi was comforted before the surgery Positive: She is on her way to reclaiming her health after a few difficult years 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.' She 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.' Up in the Arctic Circle, remote Greenland much discussed of late thanks to President Donald Trumps desire to own it has long held a mystique. Most of the territory is covered by an uninhabitable, permanent ice-sheet and, despite being the worlds largest island, its population is a mere 56,000, most of whom are native Inuit. We know from news stories that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and the autonomous territory plus the Danes alike want nothing to do with Trump, preferring to run their own affairs. Yet in this scary new world order, the future is hard to predict. What is certain, however, is that this fascinating destination has never been easier to reach. A year ago, a new international airport opened serving its capital Nuuk on the south-west coast, so you can now fly direct from Copenhagen or Reykjavik. Greenland lacks connecting roads, so cruising the coast is the best way to explore. Im joining the new 490-passenger MS Fridtjof Nansen at Nuuk for a two-week voyage. Warm welcome, chilly setting: Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, can be easily accessed via Copenhagen, or Reykjavik Ahoy: Travel writer Jo Kessel embarked on a two-week cruise in the country All aboard: Taking a ride on the MS Fridtjof Nansen, Jo discovered the magnificent scenery Highlights include experiencing Inuit culture, kayaking off-the-beaten-track, spotting wildlife (polar bear sightings are possible) and wilderness hikes. Before we set sail, however, I investigate Nuuk. Nearly half of Greenlands population lives here, and theres a frontier feel. A cluster of colourful clapboard houses is sprinkled along the coast and the main supermarket trades Danish produce in Danish krone. The MS Fridtjof Nansen features an observation deck plus a pool, hot tubs and running track. My spacious cabin has blackout curtains to keep out the midnight sun plus sleek Scandi-chic decor. Were going in the summer (occasionally T-shirt weather, mainly layers required) heading north to the ice fjord of Ilulissat, where I wake to find our ship encircled by towering icebergs. Scientists believe that the iceberg that sank the Titanic had drifted from here. You can admire the fjord from a mile-long boardwalk. Here, a strange sound turns my head its a whale a few yards away, making blowhole exhalations. Greenland offers nature at its rawest, most awe-inspiring and unpredictable. One moment its sunny, the next it snows even in August when you can enjoy a riot of wildflowers, including beautiful roseroot and yellow poppies. New pals: Jo befriended local grandmother Cecilia, who gave her a warm welcome Glacier grandeur: The natural scenery in and around Greenland is majestic Whale, hello there! Wildlife watching tours are a popular activity among tourists We explore on guided hikes, kayaks and in small Zodiac boats, spotting seals, more whales and seabirds. My favourite experience is kaffemik, an Inuit tradition whereby visitors are invited into local homes. At Qaqortoq (population 3,000), gran Cecilia welcomes me for coffee and apple pie. Language is a barrier so photos do the talking, with her showing pictures of her daughters wedding. Greenland is a special place. I only hope the White House is just posturing. But in case not, my advice is to go now. Cecil: The Lion And The Dentist Channel 4 Rating: Eleven years have passed since the world was gripped and appalled at the killing of Cecil the African lion by an American trophy hunter. Thought to be the worlds biggest lion at the time, Cecil, with his unusual black mane, was the star of the show at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. Tourists visited hoping to catch a glimpse of this magnificent creature. As safari photographer Sharon Stead says, He was a poser. He liked to strut his stuff and knew how beautiful he was. 11 years ago, the world was appalled by the killing of Cecil the Lion by an American trophy hunter A new Channel 4 documentary, Cecil: The Lion And The Dentist, offers both sides of the divisive story Crossbow-hunting specialist Dr Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota in the US, had been set to add an African lion to his collection The only problem was that some tourists didnt just want to marvel at Cecil in his natural habitat, they wanted to kill him. These wealthy, foreign trophy hunters were willing to pay anything up to 70,000 to fulfil their sadistic ambitions. Cecil was protected in the National Park, but if he strayed too far in the wrong direction, onto common land, he became fair game and thats exactly how he met his end. This thorough and revealing documentary details the disturbing killing of Cecil by Dr Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota in the US. A crossbow-hunting specialist, Palmer had already shot all 29 of the big-game species that make up the so-called North American 29, including the illegal killing of a black bear, and was set on adding an African lion to his collection. The reason we know so much about Cecil is that he was being tracked by conservationist Brent Stapelkamp as part of an Oxford University study into threats facing the lion population. This documentary offers both sides of a very divisive story. Theo Bronkhorst, the professional hunter who guided Dr Palmer, argues that trophy hunting brings thousands into the economy. Stapelkamp insists none of the vast sums reach impoverished locals, and instead go straight into Swiss bank accounts. Arthur Cary directs the two-hour documentary, exploring both the build up to and aftermath of Cecil's killing When Sharon Stead heard of Cecils death, she worked with a local journalist to identify his killer and expose him to the world, an action she believes led to her camp being deliberately set on fire. So for a brief spell in 2015 Palmer became world famous and a victim of cancel culture before the phrase was even coined. It was the classic villain story, everyone hates dentists, says Stapelkamp. Directed by Arthur Cary, the two-hour programme is utterly captivating and heartbreaking as it delves into the build-up to Cecils slaying and the fallout that followed. Did the worldwide outrage at Cecils death result in a change? Hardly. We hear hundreds of African lions have since been killed by trophy hunters, including Cecils son Xanda. As for the dastardly dentist, although he declined to appear, we learn that hes still trophy hunting with his crossbow. That the film, all these years on, can make the viewer feel the same blind fury at the futility of Cecils death is quite something. News / National by Staff reporter Businessman Wicknell Chivayo has gifted musician Jah Prayzah's mother, Amai Shirley Danai Mukombe, a brand-new vehicle in recognition of the role she played in raising one of Zimbabwe's most celebrated artists.Chivayo said Amai Mukombe should visit Victor to collect her 2026 Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD6 4x4, valued at US$78 000. According to him, the vehicle has been fully paid for and is ready for collection.He also requested that her son, award-winning musician Jah Prayzah, accompany her when she goes to receive the car.In addition to the vehicle, Chivayo said he will deposit US$20 000 into Amai Mukombe's bank account to assist with fuel and other personal expenses.The gesture has drawn attention on social media, with many praising the recognition of parental support behind successful public figures. Jessy Potts has been slammed by Love Island All Stars viewers after she branded Lucinda Strafford 'fake' in her post exit interview. The bombshell, 27, and Tommy Bradley, 22, were voted the least compatible couple by the public and were dumped from the South African villa during Friday night's episode. After being told to pack her clothes, Jessy appeared furious over the decision and told Belle Hassan that she thought the public were 'gullible b*****s'. Her upset continued to show during her exit interview with Maya Jama as she admitted that she had history with Lucinda before she started the show and so was wary of forming a friendship when she entered the villa. During the chat, Maya asked Jessy to clarify why she had argued with Lucinda in the villa. Jessy told the host: 'I didn't go in there expecting to have an issue. I have had my reservations about Lucinda for a long time. Jessy Potts has been slammed by Love Island All Stars viewers after she branded Lucinda Strafford'fake' in her post exit interview The bombshell, 27, and Tommy Bradley, 22, were voted the least compatible couple by the public and were dumped from the South African villa during Friday night's episode 'I think I came out the first time and we were with the same management and we went on some brand trips with the people I want in my circle and around me, they need to be the type of people I trust. And she isn't someone that I trusted.' Maya asked Jessy to elaborate to which she said: 'I think she is a very fake person.' Jessy confessed there wasn't a particular reason why she felt like this, but claimed she had heard Lucinda say things behind her back. She said: 'I heard things. I heard that she had been saying behind my back and I've witnessed her talking about people behind their back, then she acts like their friend. 'So I didn't come in here with any animosity, or any idea that it would kind of kick off or have tension between us.' Jessy then agreed with Maya when she asked if she acted the way she did because she made a judgement of her on the outside. This interview sparked outrage from viewers who claimed 'her mask had slipped' after calling the public all 'gullible b*****s'. One penned: 'Jessy mask slipping once again! Hope Maya tells her exactly what we all think of her'; After being told to pack her clothes, Jessy appeared furious over the decision and told Belle Hassan that she thought the public were 'gullible b*****s' During the chat, Maya asked Jessy to clarify why she had argued with Lucinda in the villa This outraged viewers as they said her mask has slipped after she acted upset over Helena expressing concern over Jessy's intentions with Tommy and for calling the public all 'gullible b*****s' While hundred flocked to social media to criticise her, some resonated with her comments as one penned: 'Jessy was right thoughyall are gullible for thinking Lucinda is a victim 'And this is why Jessy leaving now. Talking about gullible b*****s lmaooo yet we saw through your fake a*s and Belle and Samie, hopefully youre next.' 'Ah Jessy. Bitter til the bitter end #Loveisland #LoveIslandAllStars' 'Jessy is so fake pls we cba see right through you babe' 'So the last few days Jessy was extra friendly with Lucinda and now on her exit interview shes back to bad mouthing her again . The jokes write themselves at this point' While hundreds flocked to social media to criticise the TV personality, some resonated with her comments as one penned: 'Jessy was right thoughyall are gullible for thinking Lucinda is a victim'. 'According to Jessy, Lucinda is fake'. Tensions started to fray in the villa when Lucinda stole Sean Stone from Belle, who gave her a dressing down, with the tables then turning as Belle made a play for Scott, despite him being coupled up with Leanne Amaning. Lucinda was quick to call out Belle over her antics, dubbing her a 'hypocrite' and pointing out 'double standards' for having lashed out at her over the same actions. Jessy stepped in on the row as she explained how Lucinda felt 'vindicated' by Belle's actions - as Whitney Adebayo slammed both women for their 'lack of morals'. Things took another turn for the worse when Lucinda's recoupling speech appeared to take aim at Belle once again, hinting at one of the Islanders being 'not genuine'. Lucinda and Belle were seen clashing again, with Belle hitting back: 'I dont want to speak to you, my issues Ive dealt with, theyre none of your business.' Jessy stepped in again, but her father soon gave her a firm reality check when he told her the arguments were 'not a good look' during a video call earlier in the week. Love Island All Stars fans are convinced Belle Hassan and Harrison Solomon are 'faking' their romantic connection. Many viewers have pleaded the couple to 'drop the act' as they approach the final on Monday night. The pair coupled up soon after Scott van-der-Sluis rekindled things with Leanne Amaning after he got to know Belle. Harrison initially had Belle and Sher Suarez in his 'top two' when he entered the villa as a bombshell. Yet fans are claiming the pair 'won't last' and will 'break up' as soon as they leave the villa. Taking to X on Friday night, viewers wrote: 'Belle and Harrison are not a thing', Love Island All Stars fans are convinced Belle Hassan and Harrison Solomon are 'faking' their romantic connection Many viewers have pleaded the couple to 'drop the act' as they approach the final on Monday night 'Watching Belle pretend theres something with Harrison is so funny', 'the questions literally whos the least compatible couple, there is only one answer and its belle and harrison', 'Belle and Harrison are not a thing. They wouldnt even be friends for real so I cant even say that. Theyll follow each other on IG and comment support on each others posts now and then but thats about it. I wish theyd drop the act.', 'Harrison and Belleplease were not buying what you're selling', 'Harrison and Belles connection just doesnt feel genuine to me, its just forced because theres nobody else' During Friday night's episode, Jessy Potts was slammed by Love Island All Stars viewers after she branded Lucinda Strafford 'fake' in her post exit interview. The bombshell, 27, and Tommy Bradley, 22, were voted the least compatible couple by the public and were dumped from the South African villa during Friday night's episode. After being told to pack her clothes, Jessy appeared furious over the decision and told Belle that she thought the public were 'gullible b*****s'. Yet fans are claiming the pair 'won't last' and will 'break up' as soon as they leave the villa 'Harrison and Belleplease were not buying what you're selling', fans commented on X Her upset continued to show during her exit interview with Maya Jama as she admitted that she had history with Lucinda before she started the show and so was wary of forming a friendship when she entered the villa. During the chat, Maya asked Jessy to clarify why she had argued with Lucinda in the villa. Jessy told the host: 'I didn't go in there expecting to have an issue. I have had my reservations about Lucinda for a long time. 'I think I came out the first time and we were with the same management and we went on some brand trips with the people I want in my circle and around me, they need to be the type of people I trust. And she isn't someone that I trusted.' Maya asked Jessy to elaborate to which she said: 'I think she is a very fake person.' Jessy confessed there wasn't a particular reason why she felt like this, but claimed she had heard Lucinda say things behind her back. She said: 'I heard things. I heard that she had been saying behind my back and I've witnessed her talking about people behind their back, then she acts like their friend. 'So I didn't come in here with any animosity, or any idea that it would kind of kick off or have tension between us.' Jessy Potts has been slammed by Love Island All Stars viewers after she branded Lucinda Strafford 'fake' in her post exit interview on Friday The bombshell, 27, and Tommy Bradley, 22, were voted the least compatible couple by the public and were dumped from the South African villa during Friday night's episode Jessy then agreed with Maya when she asked if she acted the way she did because she made a judgement of her on the outside. This interview sparked outrage from viewers who claimed 'her mask had slipped' after calling the public all 'gullible b*****s'. One penned: 'Jessy mask slipping once again! Hope Maya tells her exactly what we all think of her'; 'And this is why Jessy leaving now. Talking about gullible b*****s lmaooo yet we saw through your fake a*s and Belle and Samie, hopefully youre next.' 'Ah Jessy. Bitter til the bitter end #Loveisland #LoveIslandAllStars' 'Jessy is so fake pls we cba see right through you babe' 'So the last few days Jessy was extra friendly with Lucinda and now on her exit interview shes back to bad mouthing her again . The jokes write themselves at this point' While hundreds flocked to social media to criticise the TV personality, some resonated with her comments as one penned: 'Jessy was right thoughyall are gullible for thinking Lucinda is a victim'. She may have grown up on camera but this 80s child star isn't opposed to doing some rather unglamorous yard work. An actress who starred in the sitcom Family Ties and shared the screen with Hollywood legends Diane Keaton and Albert Finney was spotted tending to her yard on Monday. Now 52, this star was just a young girl when she got her start before nabbing the role of Jennifer Keaton opposite Michael J. Fox in Family Ties. While she has embraced a private life as an adult, she did dabble in reality television with stints on Celebrity Fit Club and Celebrity Wife Swap. Clad in a sporty all-black look with a glamorous coat of eye makeup, this actress wasn't afraid of rolling up her sleeves - at least figuratively - to keep her house looking picture perfect. Can you guess who this star is? This child star who famously starred in Family Ties was spotted doing a bit of yard work at her Los Angeles home on Monday She clearly isn't afraid of rolling up her sleeves - at least figuratively - to keep her home looking picture perfect If you guessed Tina Yothers, you were right! Yothers was spotted cleaning up the front of her Los Angeles home with the help of a variety of rather intimidating tools. She used a leaf blower and water hose to tackle the sidewalk while a weed wacker was brought in to remove any pesky vegetation. Yothers is best known for her role as the lovable Jennifer Keaton on Family Ties alongside Michael J. Fox. She also played a Laker Girl in a 1990 made-for-TV movie and Tonya Harding in a comedic short film called Spunk. This star even graced the screen alongside Hollywood legends Diane Keaton and Albert Finney in the 1982 drama Shoot The Moon. Yothers kicked off her acting career at just three years old, landing roles in television commercials before moving on to bigger projects. Her first film appearance came in the 1981 TV movie The Cherokee Trail, followed by a role in Shoot the Moon. Join the debate What's YOUR take on Yothers' career change? If you guessed Family Ties star Tina Yothers, you were correct! Yothers played a Laker Girl in the made-for-TV movie The Laker Girls But on Monday she was taking part in the rather unglamorous task of cleaning up her home Shoot the Moon was a drama directed by Alan Parker, starring Finney, Keaton, and a young Yothers. The film follows the unraveling marriage of George (Finney) and Faith Dunlap (Keaton), whose separation and affairs devastate their children. Set in Marin County, California, the title refers to the card game Hearts, symbolizing a desperate attempt to reclaim control, much like the characters' struggles with their own lives. However, it was Tina's portrayal of Jennifer Keaton, the fun and feisty younger daughter on the hit sitcom Family Ties, that made her a household name. The main cast included Fox as Alex, Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross as his parents Elyse and Steven, Justine Bateman as his sister Mallory, Tina as Jennifer, and Brian Bonsall as Andrew. In another sign of just how serious the cleaning was, a wheelbarrow was seen upended by the wall Yothers, pictured center, starred opposite Justine Bateman and Michael J. Fox in the comedy In 2023, Yothers reunited with her co-star at the A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson's gala Yothers, pictured 2011, dyed her hair black and started the band Jaded with her brother after Family Ties ended The show, which ran from 1982 to 1989, became a staple of 80s television, winning numerous awards. It even nabbed three consecutive Emmys for Michael J. Fox as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. After the series ended in 1989, Yothers made a bold transformation, chopping off her long blonde locks, dyeing them black, and launching a music career with her brother Cory in a band called Jaded. She even took the stage in a musical about the life of adult film star Linda Lovelace, but largely stepped away from the spotlight in favor of a more private life. Despite her retreat from fame, Yothers made a few notable appearances on reality shows, including Celebrity Fit Club and Celebrity Wife Swap in 2012. She also made a brief return to the limelight in 2013 with a memorable appearance on What Not to Wear. Yothers has been married to Robert Kaiser since August 2002. They have two children together, a son named Jake and a daughter named Lilly. Hailey Bieber is Vogue Australia's March cover star, coinciding with the launch of her Rhode products in the country. The 29-year-old model-turned-entrepreneur appears on three cover variations, including one showcasing the fashionista in a lush, pale pink, Mugler fur coat. Another cover shows the star, who is married to Justin Bieber, donning a massive sea foam green YSL gown with ruffles. The magazine feature entails Bieber answering questions posited by her inner circle. Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Tate McRae, and several other high-profile figures contributed to the interview. It comes after earlier this month Bieber traveled to Sydney to unveil Rhode as she expands her billion-dollar business. Hailey Bieber is Vogue Australia's March cover star, coinciding with the launch of her Rhode products in the country The magazine feature entails Bieber answering questions posited by her inner circle The accompanying photo spread includes stunning snapshots taken by photography duo Luigi and Iango. One image sees the mom-of-one who shares son Jack, 18 months, with her husband donning a geometric, sheer Blumarine dragonfly top with low-rise black pants. The Pilates regular shows off her toned abdomen in the look, while also flaunting a pristine nude manicure and her diamond engagement ring. Her other fingers are adorned in bands from Tiffany & Co. Jenner asks in the piece: What do you hope people will understand about you five years from now that they dont understand today? 'Im always trying to come from a place of love, understanding and sweetness as much as I can, and I wish people understood my character a lot more. 'I think its hard to try to have people understand you at all when they dont want to, but I wish people would be able to just, maybe, see my vulnerability and my humanness more,' Bieber answered in part. She lamented, 'There are so many things I wish people understood about me today.' The 29-year-old model-turned-entrepreneur appears on multiple cover variations, including one in which she dons a massive sea foam green YSL gown with ruffles Bieber recently revealed that her 2022 health scare prompted her to create Rhode. The model founded the popular skincare brand shortly after she suffered a mini stroke and underwent heart surgery. Speaking on Jake Shane's Therapuss podcast, she said: 'I think that situation made me a little bit extra hyper aware of my body, a little bit more nervous about things and staying on top of them. 'I've just always been really focused and fascinated on health, and it was also kind of what led me to want to do Rhode. My obsession with skincare also comes from my obsession with medicine.' The beauty previously opened up about her health ordeal right after it happened, when she was informed by doctors that she'd suffered a blood clot on her brain. She said on her YouTube channel at the time: 'We were in the middle of talking and all of a sudden, I felt this really weird sensation that kind of like, traveled down my arm from my shoulder all the way down to my fingertips, and it made my fingertips feel really numb and weird.' The star initially tried to move her fingers to understand what was wrong. But when she tried to respond to a question from her husband, she wasn't able to. The accompanying photo spread includes stunning snapshots taken by photography duo Luigi and Iango She recalled: 'Justin was like, "Are you OK?" And I just didn't respond because I wasn't sure and then he asked me again, and when I went to respond, I couldn't speak. 'The right side of my face started drooping. I couldn't get a sentence out. Everything was coming out - not even jumbled - just like, couldn't get the words out.' They both concluded she'd suffered a stroke. However, they were subsequently told that it was something else entirely. The model - whose symptoms were only temporary - explained: 'It's like having a ministroke. 'It definitely feels like having a stroke, except my body was able to resolve it pretty quickly and then I didn't have any more issues for the whole rest of the day and the whole rest of the time that I was in the hospital.' Jules Neale was all smiles on Friday as she shared glowing photos of her 36th birthday celebration. The former WAG appeared to be having the time of her life without ex-husband Lachie Neale as she slipped into a stunning yellow dress and celebrated with friends. Jules and Lachie, 32, made headlines in December for their very public split, after she accused him of 'betrayal' amid rumours he had an affair with her friend Tess Crosley. However, it would appear the mother-of-two is putting their bust-up behind her as she surrounded herself with close pals on her big day this week. The blonde beauty sported a big smile as she posed for photos, flaunting her figure in a summery yellow dress. Putting on a leggy display in the short frock, Jules appeared to be enjoying a few beverages at a ritzy restaurant in her hometown, Perth. Jules Neale was all smiles on Friday as she shared glowing photos of her 36th birthday celebration At one point, she was gifted a small pink cake covered in red love hearts, as well as a bunch of pink and white balloons. Another photo taken later in the evening showed Jules posing with her laughing friends as they showed the cake had been half-eaten. Jules has moved back to Perth following her split from Lachie, taking their two young children, Piper, four, and Freddie, one, with her. She appeared to be living her best life following their separation, recently sharing a video montage which showed her moving forward. One of the most telling parts of the video, that shows Jules is truly healing, is footage of her ex-husband Lachie. While there appears little hope for reconciliation for the couple, she included him in the video spending time with their two children. It seemed to be a preview of what life will be like as single parents in the coming years and months. The clip also included plenty of fun moments with their children, wine with friends and enjoying the beautiful Perth coastline as part of her healing. The former WAG appeared to be having the time of her life without ex-husband Lachie Neale, 32, as she slipped into a stunning yellow dress and celebrated with friends Jules and Lachie made headlines in December for their very public split, after she accused him of 'betrayal' amid rumours he had an affair with her friend Tess Crosley However, it would appear the mother-of-two is putting their bust-up behind her as she surrounded herself with close pals on her big day this week However, Jules also included one candid moment where the emotion of the split struck, appearing to have been crying and showing the pain is still very real. Jules and Lachie split in November after she posted to Instagram that the Brisbane Lions star had 'betrayed [her] in the most unimaginable way'. Lachie later admitted their split was a result of his actions, after rumours swirled about an affair with Jules' former friend Tess Crosley. The footy player did not go into specifics, but admitted the couple had separated. 'I understand the interest in my personal life, but these are personal matters and I won't be answering any questions on that topic today,' he said. 'I can confirm though with regret that Jules and I have now separated. 'While I won't go into specifics I can say that I have let my family down and I apologise for my actions that have let down those that are closest to me. 'And for that I am deeply sorry.' The blonde beauty sported a big smile as she posed for photos, flaunting her figure in a summery yellow dress At one point, she was gifted a small pink cake covered in red love hearts, as well as a bunch of pink and white balloons Mel B flashed her leopard print bra as she walked the runway at the Natasha Zinko show during London Fashion Week. The Spice Girl, 50, showed off her catwalk prowess as she took to the runway for the Natasha Zinko show at 26 Leake Street on Friday. Mel put on a striking display as she wore dark green and blue tartan coat-style dress featuring a balloon design skirt with 'Happy Late Birthday' written on the back. As she got to the end of the runway, Mel B pulled open the coat to show off her leopard print plunging bra before sticking her tongue out. She paired the ensemble with light blue fluffy studded stilettos and a pearl chunky necklace with the word 'Lucky'. Scary Spice was supported at the event by her daughter Phoenix Brown, who wore a tartan skirt with a navy satin cami top. Mel B flashed her leopard print bra as she walked the runway at the Natasha Zinko show during London Fashion Week on Friday The Spice Girl, 50, showed off her catwalk prowess as she took to the runway for the Natasha Zinko show at 26 Leake Street on Friday Mel B later walked back down the runway joined by designer Natasha with the pair posing for selfies backstage. Her appearance comes days after it was reported the Spice Girls reunion plans have been axed amid growing tensions between the girl band. Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Mel B, Mel C and Geri Halliwell-Horner were set to mark the band's 30th anniversary with a special Netflix project. But insiders have claimed Geri, 53, is on the fence whether to sign on amid growing tensions between her and Mel B. Scary Spice was notably absent from Emma Buntons 50th birthday party last month, with the other three members of the band in attendance. Mel B was also recently missing as the other Spice Girls members reunited at Victoria's home for a low-key singalong to Viva Forever over dinner - it was later revealed she was on her honeymoon in Mauritius with husband Rory McPhee. An insider told The Sun: 'Their fans will be devastated. The drama has been in development for years but producers wanted to work in unison with the band. It just hasnt got to the point where the streamer has felt able to commission it. 'It doesn't mean it wont happen at some point in the future, but a big drive behind making the show was that it aired to celebrate the landmark anniversary. She put on a striking display as she wore dark green and blue tartan coat-style dress featuring a balloon design skirt with 'Happy Late Birthday' written on the back As she got to the end of the runway, Mel B pulled open the coat to show off her leopard print plunging bra before sticking her tongue out She paired the ensemble with light blue fluffy studded stilettos and a pearl chunky necklace with the word 'Lucky' Scary Spice was supported at the event by her daughter Phoenix Brown, who wore a tartan skirt with a navy satin cami top Mel B later walked back down the runway joined by designer Natasha with the pair posing for selfies backstage 'Now all hopes of that happening have been snuffed out.' Suzanne Mackie, producer of royal drama The Crown, was developing the project, with a script being written by Jack Rooke, who won a Bafta for Channel 4 comedy Big Boys. A documentary on the band, whose debut single Wannabe was released in June 1996, was also supposed to be in the works with Netflix, but that is so far unconfirmed. Daily Mail have contacted Netflix and The Spice Girls representatives for comment. Earlier this month, Victoria finally rejoined the Spice Girls on Instagram for a singalong after refusing to go on tour in 2019. Amid the furore over her family fallout with eldest son Brooklyn, 26, Victoria joined the group to sing at her London home - 30 years after the band first got together. Mel B recently said she is keen for the band to get back together and teased fans by 'liking' a comment about the prospect of a reunion. While the ladies sang their harmony, Victoria's son Cruz strummed away on the guitar, while his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, sat at the table and the family's personal chefs watched on through glass doors from the kitchen. Her appearance comes days after it was reported the Spice Girls reunion plans have been axed amid growing tensions between the girl band Victoria Beckham , Emma Bunton , Mel B , Geri Halliwell-Horner and Mel C were set to mark the band's 30th anniversary with a special Netflix project Showing the funny side of the family, son Romeo, 23, commented underneath: 'Sounds like theyve done something like this before', to which Cruz responded: 'they kinda sound like little mix no?'. Victoria has been dropping hints that she might do something with the band, uploading a clip of herself singing a live acoustic version of one of their biggest hits. And David Beckham, 50, appears to have caught Spice Mania as he posted a love heart to his wife on the new video, which comes after it was revealed that Brooklyn has removed tattoo tributes to his parents, including the word 'Dad' on his arm. The ladies have been teasing the fact that something is in the pipeline for some time. Mel C appeared on Good Morning America in November to promote her ninth album Sweat and was grilled if the Spice Girls would come back together. Crossing her fingers, she said: 'I remain optimistic. It's our thirtieth anniversary next year. We toured in 2019, we did a few stadium shows in the UK and it was incredible. 'We're just so proud of the legacy that we have and we have fans now from new generations are just loving the Spice Girls so I would like to get back on stage with the girls. We're talking and we're seeing what opportunities are out there. The thing that stops us is we feel so precious about it, we want to make sure it's the right thing and agree on the right thing.' Mia Goth is reportedly hoping that her estranged husband Shia LaBeouf checks himself into rehab following his New Orleans arrest after a bar brawl this week. The 32-year-old star's split from the Transformers actor was also recently revealed, with the separation occurring last year following nine years of marriage. The pair additionally share daughter Isabel, three. In the early hours of Tuesday, LaBeouf was involved in a physical altercation during the Mardi Gras Festival, with video showing the Hollywood star headbutting another man outside a bar. He also allegedly used a homophobic slur repeatedly during the heated confrontation. A spokesman for the New Orleans Police Department told the Daily Mail that he is now facing two charges of simple battery. Sources told TMZ in an article published on Friday that Goth wants Labeouf to enter rehab to help manage his alcohol use. The insiders claimed that the actor's behavior has been happening for years now, with the recent altercation bringing it publicly to light. Mia Goth, 32, is reportedly hoping that her estranged husband Shia LaBeouf, 39, checks himself into rehab following his New Orleans arrest after a bar brawl this week; seen in 2014 in London In the early hours of Tuesday, LaBeouf was involved in a physical altercation during the Mardi Gras Festival, with video showing the Hollywood star headbutting another man outside a bar; mugshot seen above While Goth and LaBeouf have split, the Frankenstein actress still has love for her ex and wants him to continue to be a part of their daughter's life, the outlet's source claims. The Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Goth and LaBeouf, but did not immediately hear back. Leading up to his New Orleans arrest, the star had police visits to his residence in Los Angeles before his separation from Goth five months earlier, TMZ reported. Back in November 2024, law enforcement had responded to a 'husband and wife' disturbance of the peace call. TMZ claimed that during the call, an 'uncooperative female' had told her husband 'just go,' with a male additionally heard cursing in the background. No formal report was filed at the time but a spokesperson for the Pasadena City Public Information Office confirmed to the outlet that the incident involved those residing at the home. And then last year in August 2025, police officers received a call in regards to a stalking incident. The caller had told officers that an 'old friend' was 'mentally ill and she thinks she is married to Shia LaBeouf.' The insiders claimed that the actor's behavior has been happening for years now, with the recent altercation bringing it publicly to light; seen in 2019 in Beverly Hills While Goth and LaBeouf have split, the Frankenstein actress still has love for her ex and desires him to still be a part of their daughter's life; Goth seen in January in Beverly Hills Leading up to his New Orleans arrest, the star had police visits to his residence in Los Angeles before his separation from Goth five months earlier, TMZ reported; Goth and LaBeouf seen in 2014 in L.A. It was also claimed by the caller that the woman was 'murderously angry with him, appears to be stalking him and is going to his home.' It is not known if the Hollywood actor had been informed of the alleged stalking incident or the call that was placed. A source told the Daily Mail that Goth separated from Labeouf five months ago - after the estranged couple tied the knot in 2016. Two years later, they filed for divorce before later reconciling. Their daughter was welcomed to the world in March 2022. On Thursday, LaBeouf was seen on a three-hour stroll in New Orleans while also running errands. Only days earlier, the actor had been arrested in the early hours of Tuesday after a physical altercation. According to the New Orleans Police Department, officers were called to Royal Street around 12:45 a.m. following reports of a disturbance involving two adult male victims. Eyewitnesses alleged LaBeouf became increasingly aggressive at a business and was escorted out by staff, at which point he allegedly struck one man multiple times with closed fists. Authorities said the situation escalated when LaBeouf returned to the scene and allegedly assaulted the same victim again before punching a second man in the nose. On Thursday, LaBeouf was seen on a three-hour stroll in New Orleans while also running errands (seen above) Witnesses reportedly attempted to restrain him until police arrived. LaBeouf was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries before being booked into Orleans Parish Prison. He was charged with two counts of simple battery. 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. 'The victims reported that LaBeouf left, but then came back, acting even more aggressive.' 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. According to the New Orleans Police Department, officers were called to Royal Street around 12:45 a.m. following reports of a disturbance involving two adult male victims The star was charged with two counts of simple battery following the altercation; seen in 2024 in Cannes '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. The actor also allegedly using homophobic slurs during the incident, according to a police report obtained by The Daily Mail. The report claims that during the altercation, LaBeouf allegedly used a homophobic slur 'multiple times.' 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; seen in 2019 in Hollywood In the narrative section of the report, officers wrote that at one point LaBeouf allegedly stated: 'These f****ts put me in jail. I'm a Catholic.' The police report also noted that LaBeouf allegedly directed the slur toward the victims 'multiple times' throughout the incident. Authorities said LaBeouf was transported to Touro Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries before being booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. LaBeouf was later released on his own recognizance and has not publicly commented on the allegations outlined in the police report. Coleen Rooney has reportedly signed a multi-million-pound deal with international high-street retailer Primark following her jungle success on I'm A Celebrity. The TV personality, 39, finished as runner-up to McFly star Danny Jones on the 2024 series and is said to have been inundated with lucrative offers from fashion brands eager to cash in on her popularity. However, she has chosen to stay true to her roots by teaming up with affordable fashion giant Primark in a deal signed last year. She has reportedly created a stylish capsule collection with the retailer, which is set to launch in March. A source told The Sun: 'Coleen is so proud to be a working mum and she wanted to keep things affordable for her fans. 'She didnt just sign for the cash, it was because she felt aligned with Primarks values. Coleen Rooney has reportedly signed a multi-million-pound deal with international high-street retailer Primark following her jungle success on I'm A Celebrity (pictured 2025) The TV personality, 39, finished as runner-up to McFly star Danny Jones on the 2024 series and is said to have been inundated with lucrative offers from fashion brands eager to cash in on her popularity 'Coleen is super proud with the clothes shes worked on with Primark. Its got a real athleisure feel. Primark thinks it will fly off the shelves.' Another insider added that Coleen worked closely on the entire collection, which has been designed for 'working mums just like her' and blends style with practicality. Daily Mail has contacted Coleen's representative for comment. As one of the UK's most recognisable WAGs, it's no surprise that Coleen was one of the richest names in I'm A Celeb's 2024 lineup. Married to former England star Wayne, the mother-of-four was reportedly paid an eye-watering 1.5 million salary, the most ever given to a star in the show's history. Coleen and Wayne boast an enormous 200 million fortune between them, with the former contributing 19 million to their wealth. The Liverpool-born WAG has also had an extensive TV career that dates back to 2006, and in 2008, she starred in her own series, Coleen's Real Women. Coleen has also produced a bestselling exercise video, and was previously paid 3million to front a fashion campaign by George at Asda. However, she has chosen to stay true to her roots by teaming up with affordable fashion giant Primark in a deal signed last year. She has reportedly created a stylish capsule collection Coleen and her husband Wayne boast an enormous 200 million fortune between them, with the former contributing 19 million to their wealth (both pictured 2025) Meanwhile, she has also published several books, including her autobiography Welcome to My World in 2007. Following her Wagatha Christie libel trial in 2022, it was also revealed that Rebekah Vardy would have to pay 90 per cent of Coleen's legal costs, said to be up to 1.5million. In 2019, Coleen publicly accused Rebekah of leaking information from her private Instagram account to the media, which she denied, before suing for defamation. After a well-publicised legal battle, the judge sided with Coleen and ordered Rebekah to pay a large part of her legal bills. The WAG, 42, agreed to pay 1,190,000 of Coleen's legal bill, plus was ordered to pay a further 212,266 in assessment costs, after sensationally losing their high-profile libel case. This took the total Rebekah must pay to at least 1,402,266.20. Daily Mail understands she has already paid some of the bill, including 800,000 four years ago and 100,000 last year. Gordon Ramsay said he 'doesn't go for that nepo baby stuff' as he got emotional while helping daughter Tilly buy her first set of chef whites. The celebrity chef appeared on The Graham Norton Show on Friday where he spoke about his new Netflix series, Being Gordon Ramsay. Gordon, 59, was joined on the sofa by Charli xcx, actors Benicio del Toro and Jennifer Garner while Foo Fighters gave a performance. As the group watched one scene from his show, where Gordon is seen helping Tilly pick out her first chef whites, he shared his opinions on the 'nepo baby' branding. Gushing over Tilly's cheffing skills, Gordon appeared to get choked up as he recalled how she went off to cookery school in Cork before returning to London to work with him - but insisted: 'I always say, I'm not a big fan of that Nepo stuff.' Ahead of showing the clip, Graham said: 'There are some very sweet moments with you as a dad. And we've got a clip. This is you with Tilly and Tilly is off to presumably... she's in catering school now.' Gordon Ramsay said he 'doesn't go for that nepo baby stuff' as he got emotional while helping daughter Tilly buy her first set of chef whites As the group watched one scene from his show, where Gordon is seen helping Tilly pick out her first chef whites, he shared his opinions on the 'nepo baby' branding Gordon replied: 'Just finished. Yeah, she didn't want to work in any my restaurants, sadly. So she went off to Ballymaloe [in County Cork]. 'Yeah, she spent an amazing time there to train to come back to the fold.' Graham then showed the clip of Tilly getting her first chef whites in the documentary after completing her cookery course. Gordon was seen getting emotional as Tilly tried on the chef whites and he showed her how to button them up. 'Let me take a picture,' proud dad Gordon says, before he got emotional and added: 'I cannot believe you like that. I'll send it to mum. 'My little girl's got all cheffy. Ahhh. I'll send it to family. Incredible.' Speaking of his pride on the red couch, Gordon said: 'I always say, I'm not a big fan of that Nepo stuff. I always said from day one, find your passion, understand your worth, and don't follow. Create your own individuality. 'So from a police officer to a Royal Marine Commando to a chef and to Holly in fashion, they have found their true passion. Gushing over Tilly's cheffing skills, Gordon appeared to get choked up as he recalled how she went off to cookery school in Cork before returning to London to work with him Gordon replied: 'Just finished. Yeah, she didn't want to work in any my restaurants, sadly. So she went off to Ballymaloe [in County Cork]' Gordon, 59, was joined on The Graham Norton Show by Charli xcx, actors Benicio del Toro and Jennifer Garner as well as a performance from Foo Fighters 'Let me take a picture,' proud dad Gordon says, before he got emotional and added: 'I cannot believe you like that. I'll send it to mum Ahead of showing the clip, Graham said: 'There are some very sweet moments with you as a dad. And we've got a clip' The comments come after Brooklyn Beckham unfollowed Gordon on social media. The chef had waded into the family feud and reminded him to 'remember where you came from' The celebrity chef was subsequently unfollowed by Brooklyn on social media (pictured) Gordon had provided David and Victoria's eldest son with some of his earliest culinary training 'And so I never wanted to put the pressure on the team with Ramsey's kids in the restaurant and tread on eggshells and so I said "tills don't take this wrong way, but go off and learn from somebody else at an incredible cookery school, and then come back to the fold established and try and show the old man something". 'Yeah, and she's done just that.' The comments come after Brooklyn Beckham unfollowed Gordon on social media. The chef, who had provided David and Victoria's eldest son with some of his earliest culinary training, had waded into the family feud. Brooklyn blocked Gordon - a close family friend and Harper's godfather - after he advised Brooklyn not to 'forget where he came from' and suggested his 'infatuation' with his actress wife Nicola Peltz is behind the ongoing rift. The Beckhams and Ramsays have been friends since the early 2000s when both families relocated to the United States, where David and chef Gordon continued their respective careers in football and television. Now based in the United States with his actress wife - the daughter of billionaire businessman and investor Nelson Peltz - Brooklyn recently outlined his desire to distance himself from his family in a six page Instagram statement, filled with lurid allegations. These include the incredible claim that Victoria hijacked his first wedding dance with Peltz and 'danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone' - an allegation Ramsay, who attended the wedding, has dismissed. But Gordon believes the 'penny will soon drop' for the influencer, with whom he maintains a strong bond, and insists both David and Victoria have been outstanding parents to Brooklyn and his three siblings. 'Brooklyn and I have messaged a little bit, our relationship is solid. I love him his heart is incredible,' he told The Sun. 'But its hard, isnt it, when youre infatuated? Love is blind. Its easy to get up on that rollercoaster, and get carried away. But it will come back. 'Ive seen first-hand just how good parents they are. David as a dad is just incredible. Theyve both put so much energy into their kids, and I know just how many times theyve got Brooklyn out of the s***. 'I think its going to be a matter of time before Brooklyn takes a good look at himself and understands just what his parents mean to him.' Ramsay, himself a father of six with wife Tana, also advised the Los Angeles based influencer to 'remember' where he came from. 'Hes desperate to forge his own way, and I respect that from him. Its such a good thing to do,' he said. 'But remember where you came from. And honestly, one day youre not going to have your mum and dad, and you need to understand that. That penny will drop.' Elsewhere on the episode, Gordon spoke about the 'pressure' of filming with his family for the Netflix documentary It comes after Adam Peaty's estranged mother Caroline claimed her 'loving and positive' scenes had been cut amid ongoing feud (Adam pictured with his mum and dad Mark) Elsewhere on the episode, Gordon spoke about the 'pressure' of filming with his family for the Netflix documentary. The six-part show follows the TV chef as he juggles home life with his new business empire ahead of daughter Holly's 2025 wedding to Olympian Adam Peaty. The couple tied the knot at Bath Abbey in December amid a bitter feud which saw the swimmer's mother Caroline, 60, disinvited and sister Bethany the only relative in attendance. Caroline is shown briefly in the show during her son's engagement party but has claimed her 'loving and positive' speech to the couple was cut out. Gordon said: 'I think it's an important insight a 360 into the pressure and the family time. I wanted that to come across, and I think it does beautifully'. Adam's cousin, Krystal Peaty took to social media on Thursday, to claim she was cut from the scene, with Caroline responding in the comments. Taking to her Instagram, Krystal shared a picture of her TV as she watched the engagement party scene, writing: 'I was here in person, guess I didn't make it on Netflix for my minute of fame. How will I sleep at night?' Adam's mum replied to the post, and hinted she won't be watching, asking: 'Did they film my speech Krystal? I bet they didn't because it was 100% full of love and positivity x.' 'I haven't watched it all to be honest but no I haven't see you and you look blurred out xx,' Krystal added. It was previously revealed how Caroline would still feature in the new series despite formally requesting to be edited out from the final cut amid the fall out with her son, with her briefly shown at the bash. The party was filmed for Being Gordon Ramsay months before Adam was first reported to have fallen out with his family. Following the show's release, Caroline took to social media on Wednesday to share a post which said: 'Parents often focus on growth, correction and outcomes. Grandparents focus on being. '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.' Eric Dane's grieving widow Rebecca Gayheart was pictured for the first time since the actor's death at 53. Gayheart, 54, cut a somber figure while visiting the Los Angeles house where Dane had been living at the time of his death. The actress, who has reportedly been left 'shattered' after watching Dane 'deteriorate so rapidly', was spotted leaving the property in a beige trench coat and with glasses shielding her eyes. Gayheart was pictured following news that Dane's friends launched a GoFundMe for his and Gayheart's teenage daughters Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13. The actor's death was announced on Thursday, less than a year after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Dane met Gayheart in 2003, and the pair married less than a year later in Las Vegas. They separated in 2018 but called off their split in 2025 and remained married until Dane's death. Eric Dane's grieving widow Rebecca Gayheart, 54, was pictured for the first time since the actor's death at 53 Gayheart cut a somber figure while visiting the Los Angeles house where Dane had been living at the time of his death Earlier on Friday it emerged that Dane secretly recorded his 'last words' to the girls for a Netflix release after his death. Friends of Dane, who was catapulted to fame after starring as the heartthrob McSteamy on Grey's Anatomy, launched a GoFundMe on Friday, to help support his daughters. As of Friday afternoon, the fundraiser had raised $7,705 of its $250,000 goal. 'It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of Eric Dane after a hard-fought battle with ALS, leaving behind his devoted wife, Rebecca, and his two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,' a description on the fundraiser read. 'Following his diagnosis, Eric became a passionate spokesperson for the ALS community, using his voice and platform to advocate for fellow patients and to push for greater awareness.' 'Even as his own health declined, he remained deeply committed to helping others facing the same devastating disease. As his illness progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, Eric's friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs.' 'Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Eric's wonderful daughters.' In the months before his death, Dane recorded an interview for Netflix in which he left a deeply personal message for his two daughters. In the wake of his death, Netflix added the new documentary to its library, giving fans an intimate look at Dane's final reflections. The 50-minute film, titled Famous Last Words: Eric Dane, was recorded in secret with the understanding it would only be released posthumously, according to reports. The actress was spotted leaving the property in a beige trench coat and with glasses shielding her eyes She was pictured following news that Dane's friends launched a GoFundMe for his and Gayheart's teenage daughters Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13 Dane met Gayheart in 2003, and the pair married less than a year later in Las Vegas. They separated in 2018 but called off their split in 2025 and remained married until Dane's death In November, Gayheart spoke about guiding their daughters through Dane's battle with ALS on the Broad Ideas podcast 'He is our family. He is your father,' she told them after Dane revealed his diagnosis in April. 'We show up, and we try to do it with some dignity and some grace and just get through it' Still, she said at the time that her relationship with Dane was 'super complicated' 'We've been separated for eight years. The kids live with me 100 percent of the time,' she said The actor's death was announced on Thursday, less than a year after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease; He is pictured November 2025 Toward the end of the interview with Gwyneth Paltrow's husband Brad Falchuk, Dane addressed his daughters directly: 'Billie and Georgia, these words are for you. I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried.' He continued, 'Overall, we had a blast, didnt we?' Dane went on to explain that he wanted to share four final lessons he had learned from his illness and asked them to listen closely. First, live now, right now in the present. It's hard, but I learned to do that, Dane said. For years, I would wander off mentally, lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt. I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself. "I shouldn't have done this. I never should've done that." No more. Dane said that 'out of pure survival,' he was forced to stay in the present. 'Second, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well. But fall in love with something,' Dane said. 'Find your passion, your joy. Find the thing that makes you wanna get up in the morning.' He told his daughters he'd found his love for acting at their age and urged them to pursue their passions fully. Third, choose your friends wisely. Find your people and allow them to find you, and then give yourselves to them, the dad of two said. The best of them will give back to you. No judgement. No conditions. No questions asked. Friends of Dane, who was catapulted to fame after starring as the heartthrob McSteamy on Grey's Anatomy, launched a GoFundMe on Friday, to help support his daughters In the months before his death, Dane recorded an interview for Netflix called Famous Last Words: Eric Dane in which he left a deeply personal message for his two daughters; Seen with his daughters in 2024 Gayheart and Dane pictured with their daughters in 2017 Dane said he was profoundly grateful to the friends who 'stepped up' during his illness. 'Just show up. And love your friends with everything you have. Hang on to them. They will entertain you, guide you, support you and some will save you, he said. Finally, fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight, he said. Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit. So when something unexpected hits you, and it will, because that's life, fight and face it with honesty, integrity and grace, even if it feels or seems insurmountable. I hope I've demonstrated that you can face anything. You can face the end of your days. You can face hell with dignity. Fight girls, and hold your heads high, he continued, his voice breaking. Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words. In November, Gayheart spoke about guiding their daughters through Dane's battle with ALS on the Broad Ideas podcast. 'He is our family. He is your father,' she told them after Dane revealed his diagnosis in April. 'We show up, and we try to do it with some dignity and some grace and just get through it.' Still, she said at the time that her relationship with Dane was 'super complicated'. The heartthrob actor rose to fame as Dr. Mark 'McSteamy' Sloan on the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy; pictured in 2005 still 'We've been separated for eight years. The kids live with me 100 percent of the time,' she said. 'There's been lots of just stuff, other stuff, but I try to stay optimistic about it all.' 'I'm trying to learn from it and [be a] role model for them [for] how to go through something like this, which is really hard,' she added. 'I dont know if Im doing it well or if Im doing it in the wrong way or the right way. Im just showing up. Im showing up, and Im trying to be there for them. I guess time will tell.' News / National by Staff reporter The Katrin Hagemann, Ambassador of the European Union to Zimbabwe, has reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to deepening cooperation with the country, highlighting priorities such as arrears clearance, debt restructuring, and expanding trade and investment links.Speaking at her first media engagement in Harare, Hagemann underscored the EU's intent to build a trust-based, forward-looking partnership across key sectors. She described the EU as a "steadfast and reliable partner," noting that the recent decision by the EU Council to lift restrictive measures on individuals and entities while keeping the arms embargo in place reflects growing diplomatic confidence in Zimbabwe."The European Union reiterates its commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Zimbabwe and to strengthening a partnership built on trust, mutual respect and shared interests," Hagemann said. "We look forward to continued engagement that delivers tangible benefits for both Zimbabwe and the EU."Trade and investment featured prominently in her remarks. The EU remains one of Zimbabwe's largest trading partners, providing duty-free, quota-free access to all 27 Member States. However, only about 200 Zimbabwean companies currently export to Europe, leaving significant room for growth."Reaching the symbolic milestone of US$1 billion in trade is possible," Hagemann said, emphasising the need for stability, predictability, and strong governance to encourage private sector expansion and investor confidence.The Ambassador also highlighted renewed momentum in the Structured Dialogue on Arrears Clearance and Debt Restructuring, describing it as crucial for Zimbabwe's re-engagement with international financial institutions. She praised ongoing cooperation with local authorities, including her role co-chairing the Governance Track alongside the Ministry of Justice.Beyond economic matters, Hagemann drew attention to the EU's wide-ranging development support in Zimbabwe, spanning agriculture, climate action, biodiversity, governance, health, and youth and women's empowerment. Key initiatives include infrastructure support under the Global Gateway Strategy and the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam, a cornerstone of the country's electricity supply.Looking ahead, Hagemann expressed her desire to engage directly with communities across the country."I want to listen, to learn and to understand the hopes and aspirations that drive Zimbabweans forward," she said.She also reiterated the EU's solidarity with the people of Ukraine, stressing the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and condemning Russia's invasion as a violation of the United Nations Charter. Scott Wolf and estranged wife Kelley Wolf reunited with their three kids amid their ongoing divorce. On Friday the 57-year-old actor and the former Real World star, 49, appeared on Instagram to share a family photo with their brood: sons Jackson, 16, and Miller, 13, and daughter Lucy, 11. The family of five enjoyed a trip to Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Both Scott and Kelley shared similar photos on their respective pages with the same caption: '2/20/2026. Healing. Thank you @unistudios for an epic day at the park! So much fun!' The Doc star filed for divorce from Kelley in June, and a string of scandalous events followed including his filing a restraining order against her and later dropping it. Speaking to People about the reunion, Wolf reiterated: 'We are healing.' Scott Wolf and estranged wife Kelley Wolf reunited with their three kids amid their ongoing divorce The estranged couple pictured in December 2018 Both Scott and Kelley shared similar photos on their respective pages with the same caption He added, 'We are committed to being honest, authentic, and loving to ourselves, to each other, and for our children. We thank everyone for their love and support.' An insider with close knowledge also told the outlet, 'As always, these two are being so loving about this entire process. 'Although there is no way to know the future of their relationship yet, they remain committed to loving each other and their family, with their children being put before everything else, like always.' On June 9 Scott filed to divorce Kelley, who he married in May 2004. Kelley was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold at a Utah hospital days later after a friend expressed concern for her mental health. That same month, he filed court documents in Utah asking for a restraining order against Kelley, entering a declaration with the court, Us Weekly reported at the time. He dropped the order the following month. Then in August the former MTV star was arrested for alleged online harassment and doxxing of friends and family members, including her husband. She was charged with one count of electronic communications harassment and two counts of electronic disclosure of personal identifying information, all misdemeanors. On Friday the 57-year-old actor and the former Real World star, 49, appeared on Instagram to share a family photo with their brood: sons Jackson, 16, and Miller, 13, and daughter Lucy, 11 The Doc star filed for divorce from Kelley in June, and a string of scandalous events followed including his filing a restraining order against her and later dropping it Scott gained temporary sole custody of their kids, in addition to a protective order against Kelley. The order outlined that she was prohibited from having direct or indirect contact with Scott or the children. She subsequently violated the order and was charged with another misdemeanor. Kelley voluntarily entered a mental health treatment facility in September, sharing during a court hearing, 'My brother is taking me. It's fantastic. It's a great place. I recommended it all the time as a mental health professional myself, so September 12, I will be there for a month. I hope that helps.' In a show of unity in October, Scott wished Kelley a happy birthday on his Instagram. A Utah court later honored Scott's request to drop his temporary protective order against Kelle. On January 1 the actor reflected on 2025, writing in an Instagram caption: 'Grateful for the hardest year of my life. The curriculum was brutal for those I love most. There was suffering, learning, growing, loving, laughing, crying. Mostly learning and growing. 'In other words, life. I think we passed. I love my people more than ever. I love people more than ever. I love my work more than ever. So the hardest year brought the most love. Life indeed. Wishing you all a 2026 full of love.' Timothy Busfield has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual contact with a child in a New Mexico court case, the Daily Mail can confirm. The 68-year-old former West Wing actor was indicted by a grand jury on February 6 and accused of touching two children on the set of The Cleaning Lady while filming in Albuquerque between November 2022 and spring 2024. Days later, on February 10, he pleaded not guilty, according to court records. The following day, February 11, Busfield waived his arraignment and court appearances for all pretrial proceedings. His request was granted by Judge Joseph Montano on February 18. The Daily Mail has reached out to Busfield's representatives for comment. Timothy Busfield has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual contact with a child in a New Mexico court case; seen in February 2020 The 68-year-old former West Wing actor was indicted by a grand jury on February 6 and accused of touching two children on the set of The Cleaning Lady while filming in Albuquerque between November 2022 and spring 2024; seen on January 20 A witness list was issued on February 13 and includes multiple people from Busfield's past stretching as far back as 1991. His legal team will attend a March 10 hearing scheduled at 8:30am. People was the first to report the star's plea. One of the alleged victims told a forensic child interviewer that Busfield touched his 'private areas' on set when he was seven years old, according to a criminal complaint. The boy alleged the abuse happened five or six times between sets. He claimed Busfield assaulted him again when he was eight years old, claiming it happened three or four times. The boy's twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but he did not specify where and didn't say anything because he didn't want to get in trouble, the complaint said. The charges come one month after Busfield was arrested for the alleged crimes. He has since denied the allegations, and his attorneys have argued the accusations are part of a revenge plot manufactured by the boys' parents after the children lost their roles in the TV series. The charges were brought against the star by a grand jury in Bernalillo County and the case will be prosecuted by the Special Victims Unit, district attorney Sam Bregman announced earlier this month. Busfield's wife Melissa Gilbert has staunchly defended him since the sex abuse allegations came to light in January; the couple seen in 2020 Busfield, seen in 2020, waived his arraignment and court appearances for all pretrial proceedings Busfield was arrested and booked in January after a warrant was issued for his arrest in New Mexico and he turned himself in. Before turning himself in, he called the allegations lies in a video shared by TMZ. 'I'm going to confront these lies. They're horrible. They're all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys, and I'm going to fight it,' he insisted. But Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch called evidence of abuse against the Hollywood veteran 'strong and specific' during a January 20 court hearing. Brandenburg-Koch also said witnesses expressed fear about potential retaliation and professional harm. 'The boys' allegations are supported by medical findings and by their therapist,' the ADA said. 'Their accounts were specific and not exaggerated.' Busfield's wife Melissa Gilbert recently announced that she will be returning to work following a brief hiatus to 'gather my strength' amid her husband's child sex abuse charges. In a video uploaded to social media earlier this week on Monday, the actress shared that she will resume her duties as Chief Creative Officer at her lifestyle brand Modern Prairie. Gilbert recently announced that she will be returning to work following a brief hiatus to 'gather my strength' amid her husband's child sex abuse charges; seen in 2023 in Monaco 'As many of you know, I stepped away for a little while to focus on my family,' she explained in an Instagram clip 'As many of you know, I stepped away for a little while to focus on my family,' she explained in an Instagram clip. 'It was time I needed, time to be present, to tend to what matters most and to gather my strength in a season that has not been easy. Family is everything to me, and during this incredibly difficult time, I leaned into that truth fully.' She then gave a special shout out to her own family at Modern Prairie and sent gratitude for their 'encouragement' as well as 'steady presence.' Gilbert later added that she will still focus on her 'commitment' to the 'journey that lies ahead for my family. 'That remains steadfast, that remains my heart. But it is important for me to step back into this work. It strengthens my mindset, it gives me purpose, it reminds me of who I am beyond hard days.' Gilbert later added that she will still focus on her 'commitment' to the 'journey that lies ahead for my family' Last month on January 20, Busfield had been released from custody. At the time, Gilbert could be seen sitting inside the courtroom as the judge announced that Busfield would be released on his own recognizance (seen above) In conclusion, the star expressed that she is 'so proud to walk forward with you, so let's get back at it together.' Last month on January 20, Busfield had been released from custody. At the time, Gilbert could be seen sitting inside the courtroom as the judge announced that Busfield would be released on his own recognizance. The actress tearfully reacted as she clasped her hands together and whispered, 'Thank you, God.' Kimberley Garner has never struggled for male attention but has she finally found Mr Right? The former Made In Chelsea star revealed her new relationship when she posted a video of her locked in a passionate kiss with a mystery beau on a beach in the Maldives. Kimberley, 35, who previously dated trader William Claeyssens de Tena, is refusing to name her new man, yet shes clearly smitten as he inspired her swimwear brand. She told Eden Confidential: I am in a new relationship but its early days. We met through friends over the summer [last year] and we started dating three months ago. The swimwear designer said her boyfriend has already been making a positive change in her life and has inspired some of the menswear designs in her rebranded unisex label which is now called Sunday. Kimberley Garner has never struggled for male attention but has she finally found Mr Right? The former Made In Chelsea star posted a video online of her locked in a passionate kiss with a mystery beau on a beach in the Maldives She added of the brand: 'Its like a his-and-her concept. Its a cute, fun thing to do. My boyfriend loves wearing the designs.' Last month, Kimberley posted a carousel of stunning pictures to her Instagram and revealed to fans that she has changed the name of her swimwear range, Kimberley London, as part of new rebranding strategy. She wrote: 'Feels amazing to announce that Kimberley swimwear to be named Sunday Swimwear. 'A name Ive dreamed about since the inception of this brand that finally turned into reality. 'Im beyond excited for this new chapter and cant wait to show you the new artistic direction for the brand. Stay tuned. @sundayswimwearofficial.' She first launched her swimwear line in 2013, a year after appeared on the third season of Made In Chelsea, and it has flourished over the years. Despite now enjoying success as a swimwear designer, Kimberley previously revealed how she used to pretend to be an intern when she first started the business, because no one took her seriously. However, the property heiress insisted she's more than just the face of her line and is involved with every aspect of creating her sell-out swimwear range. Kimberley, 35, who previously dated trader William Claeyssens de Tena, is refusing to name her new man, yet shes clearly smitten as he inspired her swimwear brand The swimwear designer said her boyfriend inspired some of the menswear designs in her rebranded unisex label which is now called Sunday She previously told the Daily Mail: 'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business. 'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself. It became very successful overnight.' She explained: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice. 'No one would take me seriously or realise it was my company. So, I pretended to be the intern! 'I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company. When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.' Kimberley first stepped out with her handsome trader partner William for the first time at the Chain of Hope Gala Ball in November 2024. They were last pictured together in January 2025 although it is unknown when they broke up. Speaking exclusively told the Mail on Sunday, Kimberley confirmed her relationship status in November 2024. 'We met through friends just last week, so this is our second date,' she added. Prior to William, Kimberley was dating financier Andreas Anthis from the summer of 2023, but the pair broke up in April 2024 last year with Kimberley calling it the 'right decision'. The reality star previously dated her MIC co-star Richard Dinan. Daisy Ridley looked in good spirits as she stepped out with her husband Tom Bateman in London this week. The actress, 33, wrapped up in a knee-length black coat which she wore over khaki trousers and a dark top. Letting her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders, she completed her look with a pair of brown boots. Fellow actor Tom, 36, wore a green jacket over a navy shirt and matching trousers. He is best known for appearing as Bouc in the Agatha Christie adaptations Murder On The Orient Express and Death On The Nile. He also starred in fantasy drama Da Vinci's Demons. Daisy Ridley looked in good spirits as she stepped out with her husband Tom Bateman in London this week The actress, 33, wrapped up in a knee-length black coat which she wore over khaki trousers and a dark top Daisy and Tom have been dating since 2017 and first sparked engagement rumours when he was spotted with a ring on his wedding finger in 2019. Last year, Daisy's staggering film industry earnings were revealed. She rose to fame in 2015 portraying Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. The Daily Mail's Richard Eden disclosed that Daisy accumulated profits of almost 14 million for the business through which she channels her earnings. She set up Fawks Ltd in 2015, the year she first starred in Star Wars and reported a 730,000 profit for the year. There was no salary disclosed for Daisy, who used to pull pints before getting her big acting break. She grew up in Londons Maida Vale with her photographer father, Christopher Ridley, and banker mother, Louise Fawkner-Corbett. After her breakthrough role in Star Wars, Daisy co-starred in the film Chaos Walking in 2021 opposite Tom Holland. Daisy rose to fame in 2015 portraying Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker She has also leant her voice for animated film Peter Rabbit in 2018 and the video game Twelve Minutes in 2021. Returning to science fiction films, Daisy had leading roles in Chaos Walking in 2021, independent drama Sometimes I Think About Dying in 2023, and psychological thriller The Marsh King's Daughter in 2023. Last year she also portrayed Gertrude Ederle in the biographical drama Young Woman and the Sea. Tabitha Willet flashed her growing baby bump in a crop top as she headed out for dinner in London on Friday. The pregnant Made In Chelsea star, 34, who is expecting a child with her new fiance and wealthy heir, Harry Hoare, wore a top emblazoned with her work 'mother.' Tabitha completed her look with a pair of loose fitting low-slung jeans and topped it off with a glamorous makeup palette. She enjoyed Italian food, Daphne's Restaurant, and posed for a series of snaps at the table. The TV personality captioned the Instagram update: 'Pasta baby.' Tabitha revealed towards the end of last year that they were expecting a baby together and also planning to get married at the start of 2026. Tabitha Willet flashed her growing baby bump in a crop top as she headed out for dinner on Friday. The pregnant Made In Chelsea star, 34, who is expecting a child with her new fiance and wealthy heir, Harry Hoare, wore a top emblazoned with her work 'mother' Last week, Tabitha shared a sweet birthday tribute to her fiance Harry on her social media page - as she declared 'no-one has a bigger heart than you'. The Made In Chelsea star posted a selection of snaps of her rarely-seen partner. Harry has occasionally featured on Tabitha's Instagram page since the couple announced their engagement and pregnancy late last year. However, he was front and centre in her latest update, as she dedicated the whole post to her 'sweet man' who she said it was a 'privilege' to love. The array of images were taken throughout their relationship, which is thought to have begun around the beginning of last year. The snaps showed the loved-up couple on holiday together and with her daughter Ottilie, four, who she shares with her ex Fraser Carruthers. Alongside the post, she wrote: 'Harry appreciation post. Happy birthday sweet man. No one in the world has a bigger heart than you and it is one of lifes biggest privileges to hold it in my hands for safe keeping. I love you x.' The update comes days after Tabitha revealed that she is expecting a baby boy with Harry, as she prepares to welcome her second child. Tabitha completed her look with a pair of loose fitting low-slung jeans and topped it off with a glamorous makeup palette Last week, Tabitha shared a sweet birthday tribute to her fiance Harry on her social media page - as she declared 'no-one has a bigger heart than you' Alongside the post, she wrote: 'Harry appreciation post. Happy birthday sweet man. No one in the world has a bigger heart than you and it is one of lifes biggest privileges to hold it in my hands for safe keeping. I love you x' The snaps showed the loved-up couple on holiday together and with her daughter Ottilie, four, who she shares with her ex Fraser Carruthers She announced the news on her Instagram page by sharing a black and white bump snap, alongside the words: 'We're having a...' The next slide, which was taken in colour, showed Tabitha stood against a backdrop of blue flowers, announcing that she was due to give birth to a son. Tabitha received a wealth of congratulatory messages in the comments section of the post from her friends and family following the happy news. The announcement featured pictures of her daughter, but her husband-to-be Harry wasn't included. Scotty T is said to 'rely on handouts from his mother to stay afloat' as his bleak yearly income from OnlyFans and club appearances was revealed on Friday. The Geordie Shore star, 37 - real name Scott Timlin - is best known for appearing in Geordie Shore from 2012 to 2019 and winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2016. During an appearance at Southwark Crown Court, in which he admitted to illegal posts on Instagram promoting foreign exchange trading, his income was laid bare. Laura Miller, representing Scott, told the court he has earned about 34,000 in the last year, including a 5,500 handout from his mother 'to get through the day to day'. She said: 'There's the Instagram world and there's reality. As often said there is the Instagram world and the reality.' 'Mr Timlins bank statements make it very clear the lifestyle he lives in the public eye is not the lifestyle he actually does live.' Scotty T is said to 'rely on handouts from his mother to stay afloat' as his bleak yearly income from OnlyFans and club appearances was revealed on Friday During an appearance at Southwark Crown Court, in which he admitted to illegal posts on Instagram promoting foreign exchange trading, his income was laid bare Laura said he has some OnlyFans income, but makes most of his money, since the end of Geordie Shore in 2019, from appearances at clubs and bars. 'He now relies extensively on the promotional world being paid to attend bars and nightclubs for events. 'His opening and closing bank balances make for bleak reading,' she explained before adding that he relies on extra money sent by his mother. Scotty T's representative declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail. Scotty was previously declared bankrupt in 2019 at the County Court in Newcastle after his company, Scotty T Ltd, went bust after owing creditors 182,983. Seven reality stars and influencers including including Lauren Goodger, Yazmin Oukhellou and Eva Zapico also admitted to illegal posts on Instagram promoting foreign exchange trading on Friday. They have all admitted breaking the law when acting as so-called 'finfluencers'. They urged their 'significant' number of Instagram followers to sign up to an account offering FX trading tips, Southwark Crown Court heard, despite having no qualifications or authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Laura Miller, representing Scott, told the court he has earned about 34,000 in the last year, including a 5,500 handout from his mother 'to get through the day to day' Laura said he has some OnlyFans income, but makes most of his money, since the end of Geordie Shore in 2019, from appearances at clubs and bars The FCA launched the landmark criminal prosecution against the reality stars in summer 2024, accusing them of making social media posts plugging FX trading signals while unregulated. Love Island star Eva Zapico pleaded guilty in October 2024, and another two Love Islanders, Rebecca Gormley and Biggs Chris, admitted the charges against them last year. On Friday, Sally-Ann Hales KC lifted reporting restrictions on the guilty pleas and sentences passed. It came as Scotty, Love Island's Clayton and another Towie alumni Oukhellou entered their own guilty pleas to the charge of communicating an invitation or inducement to engage in investment opportunities. She took the step after an application by the press, noting that social media is 'awash' with posts promoting FX signals and trades with little indication of how they are controlled or regulated. 'There is a public interest in reporting of this matter,' she ruled. In October, Scotty shared that he had welcomed a baby boy with a university student, saying his child was 'the most important thing in [his] life'. Prue Leith has said she 'didn't want to overstay her welcome' as she opened up about her decision to quit the Great British Bake Off. The television personality, 85, announced she was stepping back from Bake Off in January and it has since been confirmed Nigella Lawson will take her place, and will join co-judge Paul Hollywood when the new series begins filming in April. Speaking to the Telegraph, Prue said: 'Ive never wanted to overstay my welcome in anything. 'Just like you dont want to stay too long at a dinner party, I think its important to leave while youre happy and enjoying it and people arent fed up with you.' Prue also offered her advice to new host Nigella when asked what her pearls of wisdom are. 'Just enjoy it, because youll never have a nicer job', she added. Prue Leith, 85, has said she 'didn't want to overstay her welcome' as she opened up about her decision to quit the Great British Bake Off It has since been confirmed Nigella Lawson will take her place, and will join co-judge Paul Hollywood when the new series begins filming in April The TV chef, who replaced former show judge Mary Berry in 2017, explained her departure at the time in an interview with The Spectator. She said: 'I have been dithering for years about when to stop judging The Great British Bake Off. 'When I joined nine years ago, I thought, since I was in my mid-seventies, that I'd be lucky to manage two years. 'At that age, my mother was deaf as a post and away with the fairies, believing her son was her father and that her cat was the one she'd had 40 years before. 'But my marbles stayed more or less in place and there seemed no good reason to give up a job I loved. 'Finally, though, the desire to work less and play more got to me. Bake Off and its offshoots such as The Great American Baking Show and even the Christmas specials are all filmed in the summer, which has meant I could never have a summer holiday.' Prue explained that a recent getaway to Madagascar was what finally convinced her that it was time to move on. 'I suddenly realised that if I don't give up Bake Off, I'll never again have a holiday in the south of France, in Italy, in Spain, or even in Cornwall or Scotland,' she said. Prue said: 'Ive never wanted to overstay my welcome in anything. 'Just like you dont want to stay too long at a dinner party, I think its important to leave while youre happy and enjoying it and people arent fed up with you' Nigella will takeover from Prue and star alongside Paul Hollywood, Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding Expressing her desire to 'reorganise my life a bit', she went on: 'I've made truly great friends. It has been a joy to work in such great company. 'I find it irritating when businesses insist their staff are all just one happy family. But that tent does seem to create an atmosphere of enjoyment, friendship and mutual support. 'But in the end, I persuaded myself that at 86, it was time I jumped before I was pushed. 'In all my conversations over the past two years with the bosses of Love Productions, which makes the programme, they've always insisted I was doing a great job and could stay as long as I like. 'And I know I'd enjoy it if I stayed. But I do want to reorganise my life a bit. Ideally, I'd like to work in winter and play in summer.' Nigella previously admitted being daunted by the big shoes she had to fill, following two 'great dames' in Prue and Mary. She said in a statement: 'I'm uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now. Of course it's daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I'm also bubbling with excitement. 'The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it's a National Treasure and it's a huge honour to be entrusted with it.' Jennifer Garner looked elegant in a leggy ensemble as she attended a photocall for series two of The Last Thing He Told Me in London on Saturday. The actress, 53, wore a cream boucle mini skirt which she paired with a matching jacket that buttoned down the front. She completed her outfit with a pair of classic stiletto heels and styled her hair into loose waves. Jennifer looked sensational as she posed for a series of photos at Claridge's Hotel to celebrate the thriller's latest instalment. For the series, she reprises her role as Hannah, a woman searching for her husband Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) after his sudden disappearance in the series based on Laura Daves No. 1 New York Times bestseller. Season two raises the stakes as Owen suddenly reappears after five years on the run, leaving Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey (Angourie Rice) scrambling to reunite their family before old secrets catch up with them. Jennifer Garner looked elegant in a leggy ensemble as she attended a photocall for series two of The Last Thing He Told Me in London on Saturday The actress, 53, wore a cream boucle mini skirt which she paired with a matching jacket that buttoned down the front Jennifer recently said that her children think she is 'fully cringe.' The actress has three kids, Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13, with her ex, fellow Hollywood megastar Ben Affleck, 53, but the trio find their mother 'embarrassing.' When asked on The Jennifer Hudson Show what she does to gain 'cool points' from her kids, she said: 'I am fully cringe. I am only embarrassing.' Garner recently asked her offspring if they are planning to watch the second season of her latest Apple TV+ series, The Last Thing He Told Me. The response was not welcoming. She said: 'I asked my kids if they were going to watch this season of the show [season 2], and they were like, "Do you need us to?" 'But I mean, kids don't want to see their parents in ... right? They don't want to see us cry, or see us have a romantic scene, or anything. We're just embarrassing.' However, Garner admitted being on Hudson's show will have landed her some 'cool points' as she is starring opposite Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau - who played Jamie Lannister in the HBO fantasy drama. Jennifer looked sensational as she posed for a series of photos at Claridge's Hotel to celebrate the thriller's latest instalment That's because Garner admitted her son Samuel is 'really into Game of Thrones right now.' No word on how the children feel about their father Affleck or former stepmother Jennifer Lopez. Last month, Garner described her kids as 'so cool,' but she told how her parenting style has changed since her children stepped into their teenage and adult years. The actress has three kids, Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13, with her ex, fellow Hollywood megastar Ben Affleck , 53, but the trio find their mother 'embarrassing' Affleck, who used to be married to Jennifer Lopez, seen at The Rip New York premiere on January 13 She told Marie Claire UK: 'Parenting now has shifted. It's more about parenting with a button on my mouth. 'You have to let them grow up and make their choices. You don't get to control it.' Garner also told how she is 'so proud of how they walk through the world, and proud of them for trying hard.' But the Alias star admitted it is 'the hardest thing' navigating the spotlight being on her family. She said: 'Not hard in the grand scheme of what is hard in the world, but tricky for me and tricky for my family.' Night Manager actor Hugh Laurie has been dragged into a bitter row over Zionism after he paid a heartfelt tribute to Israeli television producer Dana Eden, who was found dead in a hotel room in Athens last weekend. Mr Laurie posted condolences on X to the late Ms Eden, the co-creator and producer of the hit Apple TV+ spy thriller series Tehran, in which he starred as Eric Peterson, a South African nuclear inspector. In his tribute, the star called death 'a terrible thing' and described Eden as 'brilliant, funny, and an exceptional leader.' However, what began as a memorial post for Ms Eden quickly spiralled into a polarised debate over Zionism. Mr Laurie, who starred in Season 3 of Tehran and was due to appear in the upcoming season, initially wrote: 'Dana Eden, who co-created and produced "Tehran", died on Sunday, seemingly by her own hand. It's a terrible thing. She was brilliant, and funny, and an exceptional leader. Love and condolences to all who knew her.' Pro-Palestine activists seized on the post and accused Laurie of being a 'Zionist.' Tehran itself has faced criticism from anti-Israel activists who accuse it of promoting pro-Mossad narratives. Laurie addressed the backlash, saying: 'Nothing I have ever said or done could lead a sane person to believe that I am a Zionist. However. If someone exults in the death of a friend of mine, yes, I will block them. If you wouldn't do the same in my position, you can f*** off too.' His response prompted further condemnation from pro-Israel and Jewish commentators. Hugh Laurie as Eric Peterson in Apple TV's Tehran, which was co-created and produced by Dana Eden Mr Laurie described Ms Eden, pictured, as 'brilliant, funny, and an exceptional leader' following her death After facing backlash for his tribute to Ms Eden, a furious Hugh Laurie ask 'why does no one understand English any more? I have not spoken or written a word that would indicate pro or anti Zionism' EastEnders star Tracey Anne-Oberman was among those to criticise Laurie for wanting to distance himself from any support for Zionism as the row continued to simmer. She posted on X: 'What do you think being a "zionist" is, Hugh? You don't have to pass a political purity test on this.' As the online attacks continued, Mr Laurie responded: 'God almighty, why does no one understand English anymore? 'I have not spoken or written a word that would indicate pro or anti Zionism. That's what those words mean. Blimey.' Ms Eden, 52, was found dead in a hotel in the Greek capital, Athens, on Sunday, February 15, a Greek police official confirmed. Initial indications suggested that the Israeli producer had taken her own life, and there was no suspicion of foul play. She was in Greece for the filming of the series' fourth season, which stars Oxford actor Hugh Laurie. Laurie joined Apple TV+ spy thriller Tehran in Season 3 as Eric Peterson, a South African nuclear inspector. Maya Jama looked nothing short of sensational as she posed up a storm for a series of stunning Instagram shots on Saturday. The Love Island host, 31, who recently jetted back to South Africa to film hit spin-off Love Island: All Stars, showcased her incredible curves in a figure-hugging black cut-out dress. The sexy number boasted a plunging neckline, statement side cut-outs and a sculpted silhouette that accentuated her enviable figure. Looking radiant as ever, Maya styled her short brunette bob in a voluminous bouncy blow-dry as she posed ahead of filming the popular dating show. Channelling old Hollywood glamour, she completed the look with a flawless, glowing makeup palette. The presenter is preparing for the final week of Love Island: All Stars, which is set to wrap on February 23 and spent last week at home catching up with her loved ones. Maya Jama looked nothing short of sensational as she posed up a storm for a series of stunning Instagram shots on Saturday The Love Island host, 31, who recently jetted back to South Africa to film hit spin-off Love Island: All Stars, showcased her incredible curves in a figure-hugging black cut-out dress The TV star has had a busy time of late jetting between London and South Africa, where she is presenting the show. She spent Valentine's weekend with her footballer boyfriend, Ruben Dias, in the UK, who presented her with a giant bouquet of roses. The presenter documented her celebrations in a string of snaps on her Instagram Stories, as they headed out for a lavish dinner. While Maya and Ruben enjoyed many of the traditions celebrated by couples on Valentine's Day, the trip also included an unlikely trip to B&Q. Sharing a glimpse of their Valentine's Day dinner, Maya joked she and Ruben were channelling their inner 'Picasso' by drawing at the dinner table. The star joked the Manchester City star was 'Picasso number two,' as she showed off his art skills. The couple then paid a visit to B&Q, where Ruben picked up a saw to cut the stems off her vast bouquet of roses. The couple have been dating since 2024, but only confirmed their romance publicly in April last year. The sexy number boasted a plunging neckline, statement side cut-outs and a sculpted silhouette that accentuated her enviable figure. The presenter is preparing for the final week of Love Island: All Stars, which is set to wrap on February 23 and spent last week at home catching up with her loved ones Maya and her boyfriend Ruben shared a glimpse of their romantic Valentine's Day weekend on Sunday after celebrating the day together The presenter documented her celebrations in a string of snaps on her Instagram Stories, as they headed out for a lavish dinner On Valentine's Day, Maya shared a snap of the enormous bouquet of red roses that Ruben had given her And their relationship seems to be going from strength to strength, with Maya candidly admitting this week that the only reason she still lives in the UK is for Ruben. Speaking on her Instagram stories, she said: 'There is something about me abroad compared to me in England, and she's a better human. 'I think everyone is, but also love a little stroll, I love a bike ride. England, shook to ride a bike, to walk around for too long on my own. 'All the signs are leading to she needs to live in a warm country. If you think about it, technically my jobs are all abroad anyway.' She had captioned her video update: 'I'm not gonna leave yet, really, but I am only in England for my man at this point.' News / National by Staff reporter Zanu-PF spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa has claimed that opposition Members of Parliament are aligned with the ruling party on the contentious Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3, which seeks to extend the tenure of President Emmerson Mnangagwa beyond the constitutionally stipulated two terms.The bill aims to rewrite the 2013 Constitution to prolong both the presidency and Parliament, effectively suspending the 2028 general elections that would mark the end of Mnangagwa's current mandate. The move stems from resolutions adopted at a recent Zanu-PF party conference prioritising an extension of the octogenarian leader's tenure.Despite objections from opposition parties and civil society, Mutsvangwa insisted there is "a common consensus between all the parties in Parliament" on the bill."So far we are very happy that there is a common consensus between all the parties in Parliament as to what concerns this bill. There are some discordant voices, but they are discordant voices which are outside Parliament and most of them is the usual crowd which has an inborn attitude against Zanu-PF. They do not want Zanu-PF to be in power, particularly miffed that our President made it to become the leader of Zimbabwe and they make all sorts of noises," he said.The amendment also contains provisions that would allow traditional leaders, currently prohibited from engaging in politics under the existing constitution, to participate in political activities.Legal experts, however, maintain that any amendments to the constitution must be subjected to a public referendum before being enacted into law.Mutsvangwa expressed confidence that the bill will pass easily in the Parliament of Zimbabwe, which is dominated by Zanu-PF."This resolution number one we are very confident as a party that it will sail through Parliament, and it is not peculiar to Zimbabwe. Even President Trump is looking at how he could also get an extension of his term or possibly run again for a third term," he said. Eric Dane's shattered girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff shared her memories of him Saturday, two days after his death at 53 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dane, 53, who shot to fame on Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan aka 'McSteamy,' announced less than a year ago that he had been diagnosed with the illness, which is known colloquially in America as Lou Gehrig's disease. The rare, incurable degenerative condition impairs the nervous system over time and causes the muscles to increasingly suffer from paralysis. Although Dane split from his wife Rebecca Gayheart in 2017, they remained friendly co-parents to their daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, and never finalized the divorce, which they called off altogether just before he revealed he had ALS. Gayheart remained a stalwart source of support for him amid his final decline but they continued to date other people, with Dane involved with model Shirtcliff. Now Shirtcliff, 42, has shared a heartbreaking string of photos and videos memorializing the time she shared with Dane in the last year of his life. Eric Dane's shattered girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff shared her memories of him Saturday, two days after his death at 53 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); pictured last June Shirtcliff shared a string of snaps on her Instagram, including this tender moment with her late boyfriend She included pictures of him breaking out his unmistakable charming smile, including while having a tattoo applied and sharing a laugh with her. Shirtcliff also shared a video of her driving him through what appeared to be a desert as they sang the classic Dire Straits song Money for Nothing together. Dane could be seen holding his last girlfriend close and planting an affectionate kiss on one of her temples as they posed together at a set of steps. In a heartwarming video that closed out Shirtcliff's tribute, a little girl was seen setting up his pose for a photo that she would snap of him. Shirtcliff was at Dane's side when he walked what turned out to be his final red carpet last June 18 in Los Angeles, eight months before his death. A source then said their joint appearance 'blindsided' his previous girlfriend Priya Jain, inasmuch as Dane had 'never broken up' with her, via Page Six. However an insider has now shared that during 'the months leading up to Eric's passing Priya and Eric reconnected their relationship as friends.' Jain was supposedly astonished at how fast Dane's condition had deteriorated as she 'didn't think it would happen this quickly,' the source told Us Weekly. Now Shirtcliff, 42, has shared a heartbreaking string of photos and videos memorializing the time she shared with Dane in the last year of his life Dane could be seen holding his last girlfriend close and planting an affectionate kiss on one of her temples as they posed together at a set of steps She included pictures of him breaking out his unmistakable charming smile, including while having a tattoo applied He was also pictured sharing a laugh with her In a heartwarming video that closed out Shirtcliff's tribute, a little girl was seen setting up his pose for a photo that she would snap of him Dane, 53, who shot to fame on Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan aka 'McSteamy,' announced less than a year ago that he had been diagnosed with ALS She was 'so sad and devastated,' according to the insider, who added that Jain was 'grateful' that his daughters 'exist to keep his memory alive.' Dane's friends set up a GoFundMe to help provide for his children in the wake of his death, and by Saturday morning over $183,000 of the $250,000 goal had been raised. A source has revealed Johnny Depp had attempted to 'ease the financial burden' by allowing Dane to stay at one of his homes during his ALS battle. 'He was living basically rent-free in one of the homes Johnny owns above the Sunset Strip. He told Eric to pay whatever he could or couldn't for rent,' the source told Page Six, adding that Dane as a result had 'one less thing to worry about.' He had sharply declined after his diagnosis, using a wheelchair, losing the use of his right arm and pulling out of a public appearance last month citing the 'physical realities' his illness had forced him to face. Nevertheless Dane, whose recent work includes playing the father of Jacob Elordi's character on Euphoria, insisted as recently as December that he would keep acting. 'I still have my brain and I still have my speech,' he said on a virtual panel for IAMALS.org. 'I'm not about to concede my purpose for some disease.' Eric Dane's widow Rebecca Gayheart shared a string of family photos of him in the wake of his death Thursday aged 53 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dane, 53, who shot to fame on Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan aka 'McSteamy,' announced less than a year ago that he had been diagnosed with the illness, which is known colloquially in America as Lou Gehrig's disease. The rare, incurable degenerative condition impairs the nervous system over time and causes the muscles to increasingly suffer from paralysis. Although Dane split from Gayheart in 2017, they retained a close bond as they raised their daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, and never finalized the divorce, which they called off altogether just before he revealed he had ALS. Gayheart remained a stalwart source of support for him amid his final decline, even as they continued to date other people, and he explained they still 'deeply' loved each other in his posthumously released final interview for Netflix. Now she has offered fans a string of glimpses into their life together with their daughter, ranging from the time of their romance to their life as devoted co-parents. Eric Dane's widow Rebecca Gayheart shared a string of family photos of him in the wake of his death Thursday aged 53 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) One photo showed Gayheart and Dane in the early years of their relationship, lounging blissfully with Billie, who was still a toddler Another was of Dane marking what appeared to be one of his later birthdays with two cakes, as Gayheart and their daughters gathered lovingly around him One photo showed Gayheart and Dane in the early years of their relationship, lounging blissfully with Billie, who was still a toddler. Another was of Dane marking what appeared to be one of his later birthdays with two cakes, as Gayheart and their daughters gathered lovingly around him. Gayheart and Dane were pictured as a young couple beaming in front of their Christmas tree, one of their little daughters scooped up in her mother's arms. Dane's friends set up a GoFundMe to help provide for his daughters in the wake of his death, and by Saturday morning over $183,000 of the $250,000 goal had been raised. A source has revealed Johnny Depp had attempted to 'ease the financial burden' by allowing Dane to stay at one of his homes during his ALS battle. 'He was living basically rent-free in one of the homes Johnny owns above the Sunset Strip. He told Eric to pay whatever he could or couldn't for rent,' the source told Page Six, adding that Dane as a result had 'one less thing to worry about.' He had sharply declined after his diagnosis, using a wheelchair, losing the use of his right arm and pulling out of a public appearance last month citing the 'physical realities' his illness had forced him to face. Nevertheless Dane, whose recent work includes playing the father of Jacob Elordi's character on Euphoria, insisted as recently as December that he would keep acting. Gayheart and Dane were pictured as a young couple beaming in front of their Christmas tree, one of their little daughters scooped up in her mother's arms Dane, 53, who shot to fame on Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan aka 'McSteamy,' announced less than a year ago that he had been diagnosed with the illness He secretly recorded a final message for his daughters to be released posthumously in a Netflix special entitled Famous Last Words: Eric Dane 'Billie and Georgia, these words are for you: I tried,' he said while speaking directly to the camera, acknowledging: 'I stumbled sometimes, but I tried' He urged his daughters to 'live in the present,' sharing that he had been 'lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt' 'I still have my brain and I still have my speech,' he said on a virtual panel for IAMALS.org. 'I'm not about to concede my purpose for some disease.' He secretly recorded a final message for his daughters to be released posthumously in a Netflix special entitled Famous Last Words: Eric Dane. 'Billie and Georgia, these words are for you: I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried, he said, speaking directly to the camera. 'Overall, we had a blast, didnt we?' Dane then shared the four lessons he had learned over the course of his life that he wanted to impart to his daughters before he died. First, live now, right now in the present. It's hard, but I learned to do that, he said. For years, I would wander off mentally, lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt. I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself. "I shouldn't have done this. I never should've done that."' However he ultimately declared: 'No more,' a change in mindset that he characterized as a decision he made out of pure survival'. He encouraged his daughters to 'fall in love,' adding 'Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well,' and clarifying he meant: 'Find your passion, your joy' His third dictum was to 'choose your friends wisely,' to 'find your people and allow them to find you and then give yourselves to them' His fourth and final exhortation was to 'fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity,' inasmuch as 'I hope I've demonstrated that you can face anything' He added: Second, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well. But fall in love with something, Dane said. Explaining that he had discovered acting at around his daughters' age, he said: Find your passion, your joy. Find the thing that makes you wanna get up in the morning. His third dictum was to 'choose your friends wisely,' to 'find your people and allow them to find you and then give yourselves to them,' inasmuch as the 'best of them will give back to you. No judgement. No conditions. No questions asked.' Sharing his gratitude for the friends who stepped up when he became ill, he urged his daughters: Just show up. And love your friends with everything you have. Hang on to them. They will entertain you, guide you support you and some will save you.' His fourth and final exhortation was to 'fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight.' Dane told Billie and Georgia: Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit. So when something unexpected hits you, and it will, because that's life, fight and face it with honesty, integrity and grace, even if it feels or seems insurmountable. The San Francisco-born actor's voice broke as he reflected: I hope I've demonstrated that you can face anything. You can face the end of your days. You can face hell with dignity. Fight girls, and hold your heads high.' He concluded by saying 'Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words. James Van Der Beek's widow is paying respects to Hollywood icon Eric Dane following his passing at age 53 - just over a week after losing her own spouse. Kimberly Van Der Beek paid tribute to Eric with a photo capturing happier times their families shared together. She wrote a message sending her love to Eric's wife Rebecca Gayheart and recalled a bittersweet memory of James and Eric's friendship. 'RIP @realericdane We love you @rebeccagayheartdane. Will miss our guys laughing at Christmas parties together,' she captioned the post. The photo captured the Van Der Beeks posing alongside Eric, Rebecca, and their two daughters at the 16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball, a gala benefitting those seeking meaningful employment. It is a cause that has clearly resonated with both Eric and James, who have attended the gala in previous years - and were even photographed together. James Van Der Beek's widow, Kimberly Van Der Beek, is paying tribute to the late Eric Dane Pictures show James and Eric attending the ball back in 2014 and 2007 as they shared the spotlight with their spouses. Dane's death was announced on Thursday, less than a year after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. ALS is 'a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord' and can 'cause loss of muscle control,' per Mayo Clinic. Dane announced his diagnosis with the disease last year in April. James died at age 48 on Wednesday, February 11 following a journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer. The Dawson's Creek star left behind wife Kimberly and their six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4. Kimberly announced her husband's passing on Instagram, writing: '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. She uploaded a photo of the Van Der Beeks and Danes at the 16th Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball in 2017 The couples also attended the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball back in 2014 James attended the same gala with his then-wife Heather McComb back in 2007, and posed for a photo with the Danes along with actress Soleil Moon Frye The couple renewed their wedding vows in the days leading up to his passing 'For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.' In the days leading up to his passing, James and Kimberly renewed their wedding vows. '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 told People. 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. Washington doesn't usually give away money with no strings attached - but that is what the new 'Trump Accounts' created under July's tax overhaul are offering American families. Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill is a provision that gives eligible children a $1,000 government-funded investment account. But families do not receive it automatically. Parents must opt in when filing their federal tax return. If they do not make the election during tax season, the $1,000 will not be deposited. An online portal is expected to launch by summer 2026, but for now tax season is the key moment to act. The government sends the $1,000 directly to a participating provider - which could be a bank like Chase or Wells Fargo, or a brokerage such as Fidelity and ETrade - which then opens an account in the child's name. And for some families, that initial deposit may be just the beginning of the free money. Several mega-wealthy donors have pledged billions to support the program. Michael Dell - the founder of the computer giant that bears his name - promised $6.25billion to fund accounts for 25 million under 10s. Ray Dalio - founder of Bridgewater, the world's biggest head fund - pledged $75 million to support more than 300,000 children in Connecticut. Rapper Nicki Minaj appeared with President Donald Trump during the program's launch and said she would offer hundreds of thousands of dollars for the children of her fans. Your browser does not support iframes. President Trump was joined on stage by Nicki Minaj who pledged to provide contributions for the children of her fans. Parents must opt in when filing their federal tax return. If they do not make the election during tax season, the $1,000 will not be deposited (stock image) In addition, dozens of big businesses, including Bank of America and IBM, have pledged matching contributions for staff who enroll their children. Families can also add their own money - up to $5,000 per year - until the child turns 18. At that point, the child takes control of the account. They can withdraw the funds or keep them invested on a tax-deferred basis, similar to a retirement savings account. 'I think this is a great vehicle,' Derek Reisfield, co-founder and original chairman of MarketWatch, told the Daily Mail. 'When you start investing at birth, you are giving that money decades to grow. That is incredibly valuable.' He added that families who can afford to contribute should strongly consider doing so - especially if their employer offers matching funds. The Trump Accounts website promotes eye-catching projections about what long-term investing could achieve. Under its most aggressive example, a family contributing the maximum $5,000 a year, on top of the initial $1,000, could see the balance swell to as much as $13 million by age 55. The website points out: 'Estimates are for illustration only, and are based on an account opening at birth with $1,000 opening deposit and are derived from historical S&P 500 averages. Actual results may differ and are not guaranteed.' Michael Dell (left) - the founder of the computer giant that bears his name - promised $6.25billion to fund accounts for 25 million under 10s. Dell is pictured alongside his wife Susan HOW TO CLAIM File a US federal income tax return for the year you want to enroll your child. During filing, fill out IRS Form 4547 to elect enrollment. The account is not created automatically. Provide the child's legal name, Social Security number and date of birth. $1,000 is sent to an approved bank or investment provider, which opens the account in the child's name. An employer, local business or charity may choose to match or add to the government's $1,000. Parents can contribute up to $5,000 per year until the child turns 18. At age 18, the child gains control. Funds can be withdrawn or left invested on a tax-deferred basis. For now, enrollment is via tax filing. An online portal launches in 2026. Advertisement But it is not far-fetched. It relies on a powerful force in finance: compound interest. It also counts on the US stock market continuing its stellar performance. Daily Mail analysis shows the example assumes annual returns of roughly 10.5 per cent, close to the S&P 500's average over the past 50 years. There is no guarantee markets will deliver that performance over the next half century. Reisfield ran a more conservative scenario and still found the results compelling, thanks to what he called 'the miracle of compound interest'. 'If you contribute $5,000 a year and it grows at 6 per cent, by age 55 I get about $1.36million,' he said. In simple terms, compound interest means you earn returns not just on the money you put in, but on the growth from previous years as well. Over time, those gains begin generating gains of their own. In the early years, growth appears modest. But as decades pass, the compounding effect accelerates. By middle age, the account can snowball far beyond the original contributions. Even families who never add another dollar after the initial $1,000 deposit would still benefit from decades of compounding. Coming back to the projections on the official website, the original $1,000 could grow to about $6,000 by age 18, $15,000 by age 27 and roughly $242,000 by age 55. President Donald Trump launched the Trump Accounts campaign on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Experts say the most important step is enrolling in the first place - and that moment comes when filing your tax return. In the frequently asked questions for kids, the website notes: 'Once you start earning income, you can make contributions to your own account. This is a great way to develop good savings habits early in life.' Experts are clear that any amount of saving is better than nothing, especially as Americans increasingly carry credit card debts rather than assets. 'We need to emphasize saving more and more in America,' Reisfield said. 'So, I think this is fantastic - especially if companies are going to contribute as part of an employee benefit.' Africa Energy Corp. (CVE:AFE Get Free Report)s stock price rose 18.8% on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$0.25 and last traded at C$0.19. Approximately 140,108 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 473% from the average daily volume of 24,461 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.16. Africa Energy Stock Up 12.5% The company has a quick ratio of 28.20, a current ratio of 0.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.69. The firm has a market capitalization of C$86.25 million, a PE ratio of -1.28 and a beta of -0.16. The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$0.13 and its 200-day moving average price is C$0.14. Africa Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Africa Energy Corp. operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in South Africa and Namibia. The company focuses on potential gas condensate development on Block 11B/12B offshore in South Africa. It also holds interest in the Block 2B offshore the Republic of South Africa. The company was formerly known as Horn Petroleum Corporation and changed its name to Africa Energy Corp. in March 2015. Africa Energy Corp. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Africa Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Africa Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Altai Resources Inc. (CVE:ATI Get Free Report) dropped 75% on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$0.02 and last traded at C$0.02. Approximately 131,995 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 9% from the average daily volume of 144,891 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.08. Altai Resources Trading Down 62.5% The company has a market capitalization of C$1.68 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.50 and a beta of 1.82. The firms 50 day simple moving average is C$0.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.05. Altai Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Altai Resources Inc operates as a natural resource exploration and development company in Canada. The company explores for oil and natural gas, and gold properties. It holds a 50% interest in the Malartic gold property which consists of six map designated claims covering an area of 127.6 hectares located in the Malartic Township, Val d'Or area, Quebec; and a 50% interest in the Cessford oil property covering an area of 240 acres located in the Cessford area of Southern Alberta. Altai Resources Inc was incorporated in 1955 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Altai Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altai Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Valuation and Earnings This table compares California International Bank, N.A. and BANCORP 34s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio California International Bank, N.A. $5.09 million 7.03 N/A N/A N/A BANCORP 34 $54.19 million 1.88 $7.86 million $1.06 14.07 Get California International Bank N.A. alerts: BANCORP 34 has higher revenue and earnings than California International Bank, N.A.. Institutional and Insider Ownership Profitability 6.5% of BANCORP 34 shares are owned by institutional investors. 7.4% of BANCORP 34 shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. This table compares California International Bank, N.A. and BANCORP 34s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets California International Bank, N.A. N/A N/A N/A BANCORP 34 14.51% 4.02% 0.38% Risk and Volatility California International Bank, N.A. has a beta of -1.04, meaning that its share price is 204% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BANCORP 34 has a beta of 0.18, meaning that its share price is 82% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary BANCORP 34 beats California International Bank, N.A. on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About California International Bank, N.A. (Get Free Report) California International Bank, N.A. provides various banking products and services to personal and business customers in California. It offers checking accounts, savings and investment products, loans, ATM and debit cards, payment processing solutions, and online banking services. California International Bank, N.A. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Westminster, California. About BANCORP 34 (Get Free Report) Bancorp 34, Inc. operates as the holding company for Bank 34 that offers various banking products and services to individuals and businesses in the United States. It accepts various deposit products, such as savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, demand and time deposits, NOW accounts, and individual retirement accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company also provides term, working capital, construction, USDA, small business administration, equipment, assisted living and skilled nursing, renewable energy and solar equipment, and commercial real estate loans; and small to medium size business and business acquisitions financing; lines of credit; multi-family finance; and employee stock ownership plans, HOA lending, and investor pools of single family rentals. In addition, it offers credit and debit cards; safe deposit boxes; treasury management products; and merchant card processing, cash management, e-banking, mobile and online banking, bill payment, and merchant capture services. The company operates through its network of full-service branches in Scottsdale and Arizona, as well as Alamogordo and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Bancorp 34, Inc. was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Receive News & Ratings for California International Bank N.A. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for California International Bank N.A. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coloplast A/S Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:CLPBY Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $7.62 and last traded at $7.65, with a volume of 36598 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.73. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Coloplast A/S to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold. Get Coloplast A/S alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Coloplast A/S Coloplast A/S Stock Up 1.5% The companys 50 day moving average is $8.40 and its 200 day moving average is $8.95. The company has a market cap of $17.22 billion, a PE ratio of 28.30, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. Coloplast A/S (OTCMKTS:CLPBY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 6th. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. Coloplast A/S had a net margin of 14.35% and a return on equity of 27.87%. As a group, analysts predict that Coloplast A/S Sponsored ADR will post 0.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Coloplast A/S Company Profile (Get Free Report) Coloplast A/S is a global developer and manufacturer of medical devices and services focused on intimate healthcare. The company specializes in solutions designed to assist individuals with chronic medical conditions, aiming to improve quality of life through innovative products. Coloplasts offerings span ostomy care, continence care, wound and skin care, and interventional urology, targeting patients who require long-term support and specialized treatments. In its ostomy business, Coloplast provides pouches, skin barriers and accessories for patients who have had surgical procedures to divert bodily waste. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Coloplast A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coloplast A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Distil Plc (LON:DIS Get Free Report) shares shot up 16.5% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 0.12 and last traded at GBX 0.12. 4,778,606 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 42% from the average session volume of 8,176,112 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.10. Distil Stock Performance The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 0.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 0.14. The stock has a market cap of 2.26 million, a P/E ratio of -1.39 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 2.74 and a current ratio of 2.78. Distil Company Profile (Get Free Report) Distil Plc, together its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and sale of spirits. The company offers its products under various brands, including RedLeg Spiced Rum, Blackwoods Vintage Gin, Blackwoods Vodka, Blavod Original Black Vodka, TRVE Botanical Spirit, and Diva Vodka. It markets and sells its products in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Spain, Australia, and Russia. The company was formerly known as Blavod Wines and Spirits plc and changed its name to Distil Plc in April 2014. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Distil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Distil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A number of firms have modified their ratings and price targets on shares of Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP) recently: 2/16/2026 Eagle Materials had its underweight rating reaffirmed by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.. They now have a $215.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $230.00. 2/3/2026 Eagle Materials had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $232.00 to $224.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 2/2/2026 Eagle Materials had its price target lowered by analysts at DA Davidson from $225.00 to $210.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 2/2/2026 Eagle Materials was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a hold rating to a strong sell rating. 1/31/2026 Eagle Materials was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a sell rating. 1/29/2026 Eagle Materials had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $251.00 to $241.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 1/20/2026 Eagle Materials had its equal weight rating reaffirmed by analysts at Stephens. They now have a $245.00 price target on the stock. 1/20/2026 Eagle Materials was downgraded by analysts at Stephens from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating. They now have a $245.00 price target on the stock. 1/8/2026 Eagle Materials had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $233.00 to $232.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 1/1/2026 Eagle Materials was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating. 12/29/2025 Eagle Materials had its hold (c+) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. Eagle Materials Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. Eagle Materialss payout ratio is currently 7.57%. Get Eagle Materials Inc alerts: Eagle Materials Inc (NYSE:EXP) is a Dallas, Texasbased manufacturer of building materials serving construction and heavy industry markets across the United States. The companys primary products include portland and masonry cements, gypsum wallboard, lightweight aggregate, paperboard packaging, and roofing granules. These product lines support a wide range of end usesfrom residential and commercial buildings to infrastructure projects and industrial applications. Since its spin-off from a major homebuilding company in 2004, Eagle Materials has grown through targeted facility expansions and strategic acquisitions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Eagle Materials Inc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eagle Materials Inc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. News / National by Staff reporter The Government of Zimbabwe has unveiled a new digital platform aimed at overhauling the appointment of board members across public entities, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and merit-based selection.The initiative, spearheaded by the Corporate Governance Unit (CGU), invites qualified Zimbabwean professionals to submit their CVs for inclusion in the Corporate Governance Management Information System (CG-MIS) National Board Member Database. This centralised pool will serve as the source for prospective board appointments."All qualified Zimbabwean professionals are invited to submit their CVs for inclusion in the CG-MIS National Board Member Database," reads part of the official notice. Professionals who previously applied under the old system are required to re-apply through the new portal, as the database is being rebuilt to ensure uniformity and integrity of records.The CG-MIS platform is designed to modernise corporate governance in State enterprises and public institutions, replacing previous manual systems. Inclusion in the database forms part of a broader process to enhance oversight, professionalism, and performance within parastatals.The CGU emphasised that the initiative supports ethical, transparent, and competence-based board appointments, and encourages professionals from diverse fields to seize the opportunity to serve the nation at board level.Applicants are required to register and submit their credentials online via the CGU portal, which will act as the central hub for all future public entity board appointments. Experian plc (LON:EXPN Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2,324 and last traded at GBX 2,519.67, with a volume of 21084340 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,530. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on EXPN. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 4,600 price target on shares of Experian in a report on Thursday, November 20th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 4,300 price target on shares of Experian in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a GBX 4,000 price objective on shares of Experian in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Experian from GBX 3,907 to GBX 3,824 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Experian has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of GBX 4,181. Get Experian alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Experian Experian Stock Up 2.4% Insider Activity at Experian The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 109.43. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 3,040.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 3,409.27. The company has a market cap of 24.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.72. In other Experian news, insider Mike Rogers acquired 1,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 2,556 per share, with a total value of 40,896. Corporate insiders own 0.63% of the companys stock. Experian Company Profile (Get Free Report) Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and software. We also assist millions of people to realise their financial goals and help them to save time and money. We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agrifinance, insurance, and many more industry segments. We invest in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and to innovate. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Experian Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Experian and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Fortis Inc. (TSE:FTS Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the eight analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, three have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$75.65. A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Fortis from C$79.00 to C$80.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on Fortis from C$79.00 to C$80.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Fortis from C$72.00 to C$70.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Desjardins lifted their price target on shares of Fortis from C$79.00 to C$81.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, National Bank Financial increased their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$68.00 to C$72.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Get Fortis alerts: Read Our Latest Report on FTS Fortis Trading Down 0.5% Shares of TSE FTS opened at C$76.99 on Wednesday. Fortis has a 1-year low of C$61.32 and a 1-year high of C$78.07. The company has a market cap of C$39.06 billion, a PE ratio of 22.64, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 142.31. The company has a 50-day moving average of C$72.65 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$71.21. Fortis (TSE:FTS Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported C$0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$3.08 billion for the quarter. Fortis had a net margin of 14.53% and a return on equity of 7.48%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Fortis will post 3.3419913 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Fortis Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Investors of record on Sunday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $2.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Fortiss payout ratio is 73.09%. Fortis Company Profile (Get Free Report) Fortis owns and operates 10 utility transmission and distribution assets in Canada and the United States, serving more than 3.4 million electricity and gas customers. The company has smaller stakes in electricity generation and several Caribbean utilities. ITC operates electric transmission in seven U.S. states, with more than 16,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines in operation serving a peak load in excess of 23 gigawatts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fortis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hill & Smith PLC (LON:HILS Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 2,380 and last traded at GBX 2,377.48, with a volume of 39889 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,355. Analysts Set New Price Targets HILS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Shore Capital Group reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Hill & Smith in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 2,530 target price on shares of Hill & Smith in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hill & Smith has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 2,601.67. Get Hill & Smith alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on HILS Hill & Smith Stock Performance About Hill & Smith The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.30, a current ratio of 2.20 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market capitalization of 1.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.40 and a beta of 1.31. The firms fifty day moving average is GBX 2,254.31 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 2,172.90. (Get Free Report) Our purpose is to create sustainable infrastructure and safe transport through innovation. Hill & Smith PLC is an international group with leading positions in the supply of infrastructure products and galvanizing services to global markets. Through a focus on leading positions in niche markets we aim to consistently deliver strong returns and shareholder value. Supplying to, and located in, global markets the Group serves customers from facilities in Australia, India, Sweden, the UK and the USA, building a presence in international markets, where countries are upgrading or improving their infrastructure as their economies grow. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Hill & Smith Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hill & Smith and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF (NYSEARCA:AXJV Get Free Report)s share price were down 0.4% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $33.63 and last traded at $33.67. Approximately 600 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 3,339 shares. The stock had previously closed at $33.80. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF Trading Down 0.4% The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $33.67 and a 200 day simple moving average of $33.67. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Finland ETF (BATS:EFNL Get Free Report) were up 0.8% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $51.44 and last traded at $51.38. Approximately 5,527 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 10,195 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.97. iShares MSCI Finland ETF Stock Up 0.8% The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.50. The firm has a market cap of $30.83 million, a P/E ratio of 15.40 and a beta of 0.83. Get iShares MSCI Finland ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EFNL. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI Finland ETF in the first quarter worth about $2,870,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Finland ETF by 40.5% during the third quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 64,826 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,775,000 after purchasing an additional 18,682 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Finland ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $670,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Finland ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $247,000. Finally, Zacks Investment Management purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Finland ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $227,000. iShares MSCI Finland ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI Finland ETF (EFNL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Finland IMI 25\u002F50 index, a market-cap-weighted index of Finnish all-cap stocks. EFNL was launched on Jan 25, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Finland ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Finland ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kunlun Energy (OTCMKTS:KLYCY Get Free Report)s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $10.8950, but opened at $10.20. Kunlun Energy shares last traded at $10.20, with a volume of 285 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Zacks Research raised Kunlun Energy to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Kunlun Energy alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on KLYCY Kunlun Energy Price Performance Kunlun Energy Company Profile The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $9.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.47. (Get Free Report) Kunlun Energy Company Limited is a China-based energy company engaged primarily in the exploration, production, distribution and sales of natural gas and crude oil. As a publicly traded entity on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the OTC Markets under the ticker KLYCY, the company focuses on developing upstream reserves in key basins across northwest China, including the Tarim, Junggar and TurpanHami basins. Kunlun Energys upstream activities are supported by a combination of proprietary drilling technologies and strategic partnerships that enable it to target both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources. In its midstream operations, Kunlun Energy has established an extensive pipeline network that links its production areas to major consumption centers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Kunlun Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kunlun Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Mitsubishi Electric Co. (OTCMKTS:MIELF Get Free Report) dropped 7.6% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $34.70 and last traded at $34.70. Approximately 183 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 89% from the average daily volume of 1,613 shares. The stock had previously closed at $37.5535. Mitsubishi Electric Trading Up 4.3% The company has a market cap of $81.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.50 and a beta of 0.63. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $32.73 and a 200 day moving average of $28.68. Get Mitsubishi Electric alerts: Mitsubishi Electric Company Profile (Get Free Report) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (trading OTC as MIELF) is a diversified Japanese multinational manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment. Established in 1921 as part of the broader Mitsubishi group, the company is headquartered in Tokyo and has grown into a global supplier of products and systems for industrial, commercial, infrastructure and consumer markets. The companys operations span a wide range of businesses including power and energy systems, factory automation and industrial machinery, building systems such as elevators and escalators, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, transportation systems including railway and traffic control solutions, and space and defense-related products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Nevsun Resources (NYSEAMERICAN:NSU Get Free Report) fell 0.2% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $4.44 and last traded at $4.44. 25,500 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 71% from the average session volume of 87,058 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.45. Nevsun Resources Stock Down 0.2% The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $4.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.44. Get Nevsun Resources alerts: Nevsun Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Nevsun Resources is a Canadian base and precious metals exploration and production company specializing in copper, gold, zinc and silver assets. The company has historically focused on advancing high-grade projects through feasibility, permitting and construction to bring sustainable mining operations into production. Its expertise spans resource definition, metallurgical optimization and mine development, with an emphasis on de-risking projects and delivering shareholder value through operational excellence and strategic partnerships. The companys flagship asset was the Copler gold and copper mine in eastern Turkey, which began commercial production in 2011. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nevsun Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nevsun Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of 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. Northern Dynasty Minerals Trading Down 0.8% The company has a market capitalization of $733.44 million, a PE ratio of -10.92 and a beta of 0.08. The stocks 50-day moving average is $2.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.67. Get Northern Dynasty Minerals alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Northern Dynasty Minerals Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. bought a new position in Northern Dynasty Minerals in the second quarter worth approximately $17,117,000. GAM Holding AG bought a new stake in Northern Dynasty Minerals during the 2nd quarter valued at $3,752,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 100.6% in 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 period. XTX Topco Ltd grew its position in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 232.7% during the 2nd quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 636,134 shares of the mining companys stock worth $852,000 after buying an additional 444,950 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals during the 2nd quarter worth $335,000. 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Northern Dynasty Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Dynasty Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC Get Free Report) CAO Michael Hardesty sold 147 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $732.98, for a total value of $107,748.06. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 2,525 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,850,774.50. The trade was a 5.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Northrop Grumman Stock Performance Shares of Northrop Grumman stock traded down $14.14 on Friday, reaching $722.73. The stock had a trading volume of 743,365 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,082,273. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.10. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $639.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $602.75. The stock has a market cap of $102.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.38 and a beta of 0.04. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $437.83 and a fifty-two week high of $745.55. Get Northrop Grumman alerts: Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The aerospace company reported $7.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.97 by $0.26. The firm had revenue of $11.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.61 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 9.97% and a return on equity of 25.57%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $6.39 EPS. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 EPS for the current year. Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend Institutional Trading of Northrop Grumman The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd will be paid a dividend of $2.31 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 23rd. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. Northrop Grummans dividend payout ratio is presently 31.72%. Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Soundwatch Capital LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the second quarter worth about $6,457,274,000. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $491,985,000. Capital World Investors lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 39.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 3,434,041 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,958,151,000 after buying an additional 970,029 shares during the period. J. Stern & Co. LLP boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 56,920.9% in the 4th quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP now owns 421,955 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $240,603,000 after buying an additional 421,215 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 11.8% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,933,061 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,466,472,000 after buying an additional 308,680 shares in the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In NOC has been the subject of several research reports. Truist Financial reissued a hold rating and issued a $623.00 price objective (down from $688.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $685.00 to $750.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. TD Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $630.00 to $690.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, February 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, December 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Northrop Grumman presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $693.60. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on NOC Northrop Grumman Company Profile (Get Free Report) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is a leading U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, builds and sustains advanced systems, products and technologies for government and commercial customers. Formed through the combination of Northrop and Grumman businesses in the 1990s, the companys portfolio spans manned and unmanned aircraft, space systems, missile defense, radar and sensor systems, and integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions. The companys work includes airframe and platform manufacturing, space hardware and satellite systems, advanced mission systems and cybersecurity services, as well as logistics, sustainment and modernization programs. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Northrop Grumman Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northrop Grumman and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. News / National by Staff reporter A recent study from South Africa has raised concerns about a hidden health risk in everyday menstrual products. Researchers found that some sanitary pads and panty liners may contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) - compounds that interfere with hormones - potentially increasing long-term health risks, including cancer.The study, led by Janine Blignaut and colleagues at the University of the Free State, examined 16 pad brands and seven panty liner brands sold in South Africa. Using chromatographic analysis, the team tested for 20 different EDCs, including phthalates, parabens, and bisphenols, calculating potential exposure from daily use.Shockingly, every product tested contained at least two chemicals capable of disrupting hormonal activity, with some carrying multiple compounds. Phthalates were found in all panty liners and half of the pads, while bisphenols appeared in 100% of pads and 75% of liners. Parabens were present in 85% of pads and 75% of liners.EDCs, sometimes called xenoestrogens, mimic estrogen in the body. Excess estrogen activity has been linked to increased breast cancer risk, fertility problems, early puberty, ovulation disorders, thyroid disruption, and skin reactions. Given that menstrual products come into prolonged contact with sensitive tissues over decades, the potential for cumulative exposure is significant.Menstrual products are multi-layer absorbent items, often containing additives such as plasticizers and preservatives to improve flexibility, durability, or antibacterial properties. Some studies have even detected traces of toxic metals and volatile compounds in pads and liners.For Zimbabwean women, the findings are particularly relevant. Zimbabwe imports roughly 8689% of its sanitary products from South Africa. In 2022 alone, the country imported $37.4 million worth of pads and related products. Local production shortages mean reliance on imported products is high, making exposure to these chemicals widespread.EDCs can be absorbed through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation. While daily exposure may seem low, repeated use over years can allow these chemicals to accumulate in the body, potentially affecting reproductive health, liver function, and hormone balance.The study underscores the need for regulatory scrutiny and safety standards in menstrual products. For Zimbabwean women, awareness is key. Understanding the potential risks can help guide safer product choices, encourage advocacy for stricter regulations, and support local production of safer alternatives.While pads and liners are essential for menstrual hygiene, this research reminds consumers that health and safety should be just as important as comfort. Women are encouraged to read product labels, support local innovations, and demand safer menstrual care options. Shares of Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO Get Free Report) were down 5.6% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $62.68 and last traded at $63.8630. Approximately 7,037,466 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 42% from the average daily volume of 12,186,780 shares. The stock had previously closed at $67.64. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have issued reports on OKLO. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d) rating on shares of Oklo in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Oklo in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $122.00 price objective on shares of Oklo in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Wedbush restated an outperform rating on shares of Oklo in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Finally, William Blair reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Oklo in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Oklo currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $103.20. Get Oklo alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on OKLO Oklo Price Performance Insider Activity The stock has a market cap of $9.98 billion, a P/E ratio of -118.26 and a beta of 0.76. The firms fifty day moving average price is $81.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.39. In related news, CEO Jacob Dewitte sold 60,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.45, for a total value of $4,467,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 748,197 shares of the companys stock, valued at $55,703,266.65. This trade represents a 7.42% 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. Also, CFO Richard Craig Bealmear sold 9,726 shares of Oklo stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.93, for a total transaction of $748,221.18. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 196,913 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,148,517.09. The trade was a 4.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 1,750,590 shares of company stock worth $152,068,284. Insiders own 18.90% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Oklo Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in Oklo by 71.8% in the third quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 7,102,234 shares of the companys stock worth $792,822,000 after acquiring an additional 2,968,981 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Oklo by 33.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,593,468 shares of the companys stock worth $1,294,179,000 after purchasing an additional 2,901,909 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Oklo by 454.5% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,138,658 shares of the companys stock worth $119,743,000 after purchasing an additional 1,752,946 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Oklo by 195.9% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,248,425 shares of the companys stock valued at $125,906,000 after purchasing an additional 1,488,482 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp raised its holdings in shares of Oklo by 61.0% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,474,993 shares of the companys stock valued at $387,914,000 after buying an additional 1,316,867 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.03% of the companys stock. About Oklo (Get Free Report) Oklo, Inc is a California-based energy technology company specializing in the design and development of advanced nuclear microreactors. Headquartered in Fremont, the firm focuses on small modular reactor (SMR) technology that leverages fast-neutron fission and liquid-metal cooling to deliver carbon-free power. Oklos core objective is to bring compact, factory-built reactors online within a decade, offering a low-footprint alternative to traditional large nuclear plants. The companys flagship product, the Aurora microreactor, is a 1.5-megawatt electric (MWe) fast reactor cooled by a sodium alloy. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Oklo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oklo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report) dropped 5.5% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $147.39 and last traded at $148.0040. Approximately 29,233,491 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 9% from the average daily volume of 26,787,381 shares. The stock had previously closed at $156.54. Oracle News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Oracle this week: Get Oracle alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and set a $375.00 target price on shares of Oracle in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Oracle in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Oppenheimer reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of Oracle in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. HSBC reiterated a buy rating and set a $382.00 target price on shares of Oracle in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Citigroup restated a market outperform rating on shares of Oracle in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-five have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $290.97. Oracle Trading Down 5.5% The businesss 50-day moving average price is $178.98 and its 200-day moving average price is $228.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $425.23 billion, a PE ratio of 27.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.28, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, December 10th. The enterprise software provider reported $2.26 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.62. The firm had revenue of $16.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.19 billion. Oracle had a net margin of 25.28% and a return on equity of 70.60%. Oracles quarterly revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.47 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Oracle Corporation will post 5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Oracle Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 9th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 9th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. Oracles dividend payout ratio is currently 37.59%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Oracle news, insider Mark Hura sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $196.89, for a total value of $2,953,350.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 234,077 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,087,420.53. The trade was a 6.02% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Naomi O. Seligman sold 2,223 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.61, for a total transaction of $437,064.03. Following the transaction, the director owned 25,596 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,032,429.56. The trade was a 7.99% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 72,223 shares of company stock worth $13,689,064. 40.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ORCL. Swiss National Bank grew its position in Oracle by 7.6% during the second quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 5,093,200 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $1,113,526,000 after buying an additional 360,000 shares during the period. Patton Fund Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Oracle by 626.1% during the 3rd quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. now owns 11,537 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $3,245,000 after acquiring an additional 9,948 shares during the period. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Oracle by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC now owns 32,937 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $7,201,000 after acquiring an additional 1,515 shares in the last quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC grew its holdings in shares of Oracle by 45.3% in the 2nd quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 3,723 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $814,000 after acquiring an additional 1,161 shares during the period. Finally, Meeder Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Oracle by 8.4% in the 3rd quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 40,946 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $11,516,000 after acquiring an additional 3,184 shares during the period. 42.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Oracle (Get 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 Articles Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pan African Resources PLC (LON:PAF Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 153.20 and last traded at GBX 149.40, with a volume of 11015219 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 145.80. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have recently commented on PAF. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 154 target price on shares of Pan African Resources in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price objective 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. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 157. Get Pan African Resources alerts: Read Our Latest Report on PAF Pan African Resources Trading Up 2.9% 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 firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 130.67 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 100.26. The stock has a market capitalization of 3.38 billion, a PE ratio of 23.26, a P/E/G ratio of 8.95 and a beta of 0.89. (Get Free Report) Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pan African Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pan African Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Noble Gas (NYSE:INFY Free Report) had its price objective reduced by Stifel Nicolaus from $19.00 to $17.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a hold rating on the technology companys stock. A number of other brokerages also recently weighed in on INFY. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on American Noble Gas from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of American Noble Gas in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of American Noble Gas from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Noble Gas currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $17.32. Get American Noble Gas alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on American Noble Gas American Noble Gas Stock Performance NYSE INFY opened at $14.62 on Wednesday. American Noble Gas has a twelve month low of $14.19 and a twelve month high of $30.00. The stock has a market cap of $59.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.98, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.98. The firms 50 day moving average price is $17.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $17.14. American Noble Gas (NYSE:INFY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The technology company reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.01. American Noble Gas had a return on equity of 30.60% and a net margin of 16.16%.The company had revenue of $5.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.11 billion. On average, research analysts forecast that American Noble Gas will post 0.74 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Noble Gas Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of INFY. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new stake in American Noble Gas in the first quarter worth $239,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of American Noble Gas by 79.9% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 54,978 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,003,000 after buying an additional 24,426 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in shares of American Noble Gas by 6.4% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 63,155 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,153,000 after buying an additional 3,804 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.20% of the companys stock. About American Noble Gas (Get Free Report) Infosys Ltd. is a digital services and consulting company, which engages in the provision of end-to-end business solutions. It operates through the following segments: Financial Services, Retail, Communication, Energy, Utilities, Resources, and Services, Manufacturing, Hi-Tech, Life Sciences, and All Other. The company was founded by Dinesh Krishnan Swamy, Senapathy Gopalakrishnan, Narayana Ramarao Nagavara Murthy, Raghavan N. S., Ashok Arora, Nandan M. Nilekani, and S. D. Shibulal on July 2, 1981 and is headquartered in Bangalore, India. Read More Receive News & Ratings for American Noble Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Noble Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CWAN Get Free Report) insider Subi Sethi sold 76,689 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.44, for a total value of $1,797,590.16. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 365,490 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,567,085.60. This represents a 17.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Subi Sethi also recently made the following trade(s): Get Clearwater Analytics alerts: On Wednesday, December 31st, Subi Sethi sold 7,344 shares of Clearwater Analytics stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.08, for a total value of $176,843.52. On Thursday, January 1st, Subi Sethi sold 25,646 shares of Clearwater Analytics stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.09, for a total transaction of $617,812.14. Clearwater Analytics Trading Down 0.1% Shares of Clearwater Analytics stock traded down $0.03 during trading on Friday, reaching $23.30. The companys stock had a trading volume of 10,028,900 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,593,130. The company has a quick ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. has a 52-week low of $15.73 and a 52-week high of $31.90. The firms 50-day moving average is $23.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $20.90. The company has a market cap of $6.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -166.39, a PEG ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.66. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Clearwater Analytics News Summary A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CWAN. Intech Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Clearwater Analytics by 46.4% in the second quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 157,281 shares of the companys stock worth $3,449,000 after purchasing an additional 49,845 shares in the last quarter. Future Fund LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Clearwater Analytics in the 2nd quarter worth about $732,000. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Clearwater Analytics by 28.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 190,950 shares of the companys stock worth $4,188,000 after buying an additional 41,800 shares during the period. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC increased its stake in shares of Clearwater Analytics by 20.4% in the 2nd quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 384,634 shares of the companys stock worth $8,435,000 after acquiring an additional 65,141 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank lifted its position in Clearwater Analytics by 8.2% during the 2nd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 447,996 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,825,000 after acquiring an additional 33,896 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 50.10% of the companys stock. Here are the key news stories impacting Clearwater Analytics this week: Positive Sentiment: Significant institutional backing remains large managers (Vanguard, Wellington, T. Rowe, plus a new Starboard stake) have recently increased or established positions, which supports longerterm demand for the stock. MarketBeat CWAN overview Significant institutional backing remains large managers (Vanguard, Wellington, T. Rowe, plus a new Starboard stake) have recently increased or established positions, which supports longerterm demand for the stock. Neutral Sentiment: DA Davidson reaffirmed a neutral rating with a $24.55 price target (only modest upside from current levels), signaling analyst views are cautious/steady rather than bullish. DA Davidson note via TickerReport DA Davidson reaffirmed a neutral rating with a $24.55 price target (only modest upside from current levels), signaling analyst views are cautious/steady rather than bullish. Neutral Sentiment: Coverage of Q4 results and key metrics is mixed earnings writeups (Zacks, SeattlePI, Yahoo valuation pieces) highlight some operational momentum but leave room for interpretation vs. estimates, so the report did not clearly swing sentiment. Zacks Q4 earnings coverage Coverage of Q4 results and key metrics is mixed earnings writeups (Zacks, SeattlePI, Yahoo valuation pieces) highlight some operational momentum but leave room for interpretation vs. estimates, so the report did not clearly swing sentiment. Negative Sentiment: Large insider sales by top executives on Feb. 1718: CEO Sandeep Sahai, CTO Souvik Das, CFO James Cox, CRO Scott Erickson and another insider each sold substantial blocks (~tens to hundreds of thousands of shares), trimming ownership by doubledigit percentages this volume can pressure nearterm sentiment even if sales are preplanned. SEC filing (example CEO sale) Large insider sales by top executives on Feb. 1718: CEO Sandeep Sahai, CTO Souvik Das, CFO James Cox, CRO Scott Erickson and another insider each sold substantial blocks (~tens to hundreds of thousands of shares), trimming ownership by doubledigit percentages this volume can pressure nearterm sentiment even if sales are preplanned. Negative Sentiment: Kaskela Law announced an investigation into whether the recently proposed shareholder buyout price is fair, which raises legal/transactional risk and could complicate or reprice the deal for investors. Litigation or a negotiated raise in price would be material. GlobeNewswire: Kaskela investigation Wall Street Analyst Weigh In CWAN has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $36.00 target price on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a report on Monday, December 22nd. DA Davidson reissued a neutral rating and set a $24.55 price objective on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a research note on Thursday. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Clearwater Analytics from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, November 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Oppenheimer downgraded shares of Clearwater Analytics from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $27.21. Get Our Latest Research Report on CWAN About Clearwater Analytics (Get Free Report) Clearwater Analytics LLC is a global provider of web-based investment portfolio accounting, reporting, and analytics solutions. The companys software-as-a-service platform automates complex processes involved in investment data aggregation, reconciliation, valuation, and regulatory reporting. Serving institutional investorsincluding insurers, asset managers, corporations, government entities, and asset ownersClearwater Analytics enables clients to optimize performance visibility, risk management, and operational efficiency. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Clearwater Analytics has grown its global footprint with offices across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Clearwater Analytics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clearwater Analytics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teijin Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TINLY Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $11.43, but opened at $10.6050. Teijin shares last traded at $10.6050, with a volume of 1,598 shares trading hands. Teijin Stock Performance The stock has a 50 day moving average of $9.22 and a 200 day moving average of $8.81. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The company has a market capitalization of $2.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.99 and a beta of 0.07. Get Teijin alerts: Teijin (OTCMKTS:TINLY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported ($0.14) earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $1.36 billion for the quarter. Teijin Company Profile 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Teijin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teijin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tenaz Energy Corp. (TSE:TNZ Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as C$44.32 and last traded at C$43.90, with a volume of 26199 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$42.58. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, National Bank Financial upped their target price on shares of Tenaz Energy from C$52.00 to C$66.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Tenaz Energy presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$66.00. Get Tenaz Energy alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Tenaz Energy Tenaz Energy Stock Down 2.2% Tenaz Energy Company Profile The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.56, a quick ratio of 2.77 and a current ratio of 1.43. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$32.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$26.66. 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Tenaz Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tenaz Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Vodafone Group Public Limited (LON:VOD Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 116.85 and last traded at GBX 116.55, with a volume of 81201563 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 115.65. Analyst Ratings Changes VOD has been the subject of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Vodafone Group Public from GBX 140 to GBX 150 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Vodafone Group Public from GBX 62 to GBX 71 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, UBS Group restated a sell rating and issued a GBX 82 price objective on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of GBX 94. Get Vodafone Group Public alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Vodafone Group Public Vodafone Group Public Trading Up 0.0% About Vodafone Group Public The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.88. The stock has a market capitalization of 27.04 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.98, a P/E/G ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 0.54. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is GBX 104.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 93.95. (Get Free Report) Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company. We serve over 355 million mobile and broadband customers, operating networks in 15 countries with investments in a further five and partners in over 40 more. Our undersea cables transport around a sixth of the worlds internet traffic, and we are developing a new direct-to-mobile satellite communications service to connect areas without coverage. Vodafone runs one of the worlds largest IoT platforms, with 215 million IoT connections globally, and we provide financial services to around 92 million customers across seven African countries managing more transactions than any other provider. From the seabed to the stars, Vodafones purpose is to keep everyone connected. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com follow us on X at @VodafoneGroup or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vodafone Group Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vodafone Group Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Walker River Resources Corp. (CVE:WRR Get Free Report) shot up 24.7% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.49 and last traded at C$0.48. 628,056 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 560% from the average session volume of 95,194 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.39. Walker River Resources Stock Performance The firm has a market capitalization of C$29.69 million, a PE ratio of -57.00 and a beta of 1.75. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$0.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.27. Walker River Resources Company Profile (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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Walker River Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walker River Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for Simpson Manufacturing (NYSE: SSD): 2/12/2026 Simpson Manufacturing was upgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating. 2/11/2026 Simpson Manufacturing had its price target raised by analysts at DA Davidson from $190.00 to $200.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 2/10/2026 Simpson Manufacturing was given a new $222.00 price target on by analysts at Robert W. Baird. 2/10/2026 Simpson Manufacturing was given a new $200.00 price target on by analysts at Stephens. 1/21/2026 Simpson Manufacturing had its hold (c+) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 1/21/2026 Simpson Manufacturing was given a new $190.00 price target on by analysts at DA Davidson. Simpson Manufacturing Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 2nd. Simpson Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is presently 14.06%. Get Simpson Manufacturing Company Inc alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Philip E. Donaldson sold 2,375 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.16, for a total value of $399,380.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,086 shares in the company, valued at $1,023,421.76. This represents a 28.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock. Simpson Manufacturing Co, Inc, through its Simpson Strong-Tie brand, is a leading global supplier of structural building products. The company specializes in the design, testing, manufacture and supply of connectors, anchors, fasteners and lateral systems that enhance the safety and performance of wood, concrete and masonry structures. Its product portfolio also includes repair and strengthening systems, concrete reinforcement and high-performance adhesives used in residential, commercial and industrial construction projects. Founded in 1956 by Barclay Simpson in Oakland, California, Simpson Manufacturing has grown from a single product business into a diversified manufacturer with worldwide operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Simpson Manufacturing Company Inc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Simpson Manufacturing Company Inc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. News / National by Staff reporter The Municipality of Gwanda is moving forward with plans to construct a diversion road aimed at reducing congestion in the town's central business district (CBD) and supporting rapid urban expansion.Mayor Thulani Moyo confirmed that the local authority has begun planning a bypass that will divert heavy traffic away from the CBD, accommodating population growth and modernisation."We have since been considering this project as part of our 2026 planning. The town is expanding and we must ease traffic congestion," Moyo said.The proposed road is expected to benefit over 400 households in surrounding areas and provide motorists travelling from Beitbridge to the industrial zones with an alternative route that avoids the CBD. The bypass is likely to pass through Jacaranda and Pina before linking with other key routes.Moyo cited Petersburg as an example of how bypass roads can transform traffic flow, noting that Petersburg now channels traffic outside the town before reconnecting with the main highway. "That is the target, that Gwanda intends to replicate a similar model to support long-term growth," he said.The project will be funded using municipal resources, though equipment such as a bulldozer is still required to begin roadworks. Once groundwork is completed, surfacing and other construction processes will follow.The bypass will also link directly to the Dolfanten medium-density suburb, which is currently being serviced, and to the Spitzkop Hlalani Kuhle residential stands, managed by a contractor. Mayor Moyo emphasised that the initiative will create improved connectivity for residents in newly developing areas while positioning Gwanda for sustainable growth. Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY Get Free Report) Director James Calvin Orourke purchased 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The shares were bought at an average price of $25.35 per share, with a total value of $101,400.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 28,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $726,556.35. The trade was a 16.22% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Weyerhaeuser Stock Performance Weyerhaeuser stock traded down $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $25.29. 5,068,733 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,669,337. The stock has a market cap of $18.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 57.47 and a beta of 1.03. The firms 50 day moving average is $25.42 and its 200 day moving average is $24.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 1.29. Weyerhaeuser Company has a 52-week low of $21.16 and a 52-week high of $31.66. Get Weyerhaeuser alerts: Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.09) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.13) by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.58 billion. Weyerhaeuser had a net margin of 4.69% and a return on equity of 1.50%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.11 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Weyerhaeuser Company will post 0.78 EPS for the current fiscal year. Weyerhaeuser Announces Dividend Hedge Funds Weigh In On Weyerhaeuser The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be paid a $0.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 10th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Weyerhaeusers payout ratio is 190.91%. A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WY. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in Weyerhaeuser by 27.5% during the 3rd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,881,226 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $46,636,000 after purchasing an additional 405,575 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its position in Weyerhaeuser by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,322,728 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $57,278,000 after buying an additional 46,207 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Weyerhaeuser by 2.7% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,675,994 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $91,128,000 after acquiring an additional 97,769 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its position in shares of Weyerhaeuser by 40.6% during the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 2,904,893 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $72,012,000 after acquiring an additional 838,229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intact Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Weyerhaeuser in the third quarter worth about $3,406,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.99% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on WY. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a report on Friday, December 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Weyerhaeuser from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Zacks Research upgraded Weyerhaeuser from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on Weyerhaeuser from $31.00 to $30.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, UBS Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $28.88. View Our Latest Analysis on WY Weyerhaeuser Company Profile (Get Free Report) Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) is a leading integrated forest products company whose core businesses are timberland ownership and forest products manufacturing. The company owns and manages large tracts of timberland and harvests, processes and sells wood and wood-derived products used primarily in residential and industrial construction. Its manufacturing operations produce a range of building materials, including lumber, engineered wood products and wood panels, alongside fiber-based products that serve multiple commercial applications. Founded in 1900 by Frederick Weyerhaeuser and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the company has a long history in the North American forest products industry. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Weyerhaeuser Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Weyerhaeuser and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. purchased a new stake in Miami International Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MIAX 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 purchased 25,650 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,033,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Miami International during the third quarter worth approximately $17,684,000. Coastal Bridge Advisors LLC bought a new position in Miami International during the 3rd quarter valued at $3,083,000. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new position in Miami International during the 3rd quarter worth $10,065,000. Caldwell Investment Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Miami International in the 3rd quarter worth about $27,056,000. Finally, Atlas Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Miami International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $881,000. Get Miami International alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts recently commented on MIAX shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Miami International from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on Miami International from $43.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Miami International from $32.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Wall Street Zen lowered Miami International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, January 17th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Miami International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 1st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $47.20. Miami International Price Performance Shares of Miami International stock opened at $40.39 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.29 billion and a PE ratio of 2,019.45. Miami International Holdings, Inc. has a twelve month low of $28.63 and a twelve month high of $51.38. The businesss 50 day moving average is $43.07. About Miami International (Free Report) Miami International (NYSE:MIAX) is a U.S. exchange holding company that operates electronic trading venues and provides market infrastructure for listed options and related products. Its primary business activities include operating regulated exchanges, delivering market data feeds, and offering trading technology and connectivity services designed for professional traders, broker-dealers, and market makers. The company focuses on low-latency execution, order matching, and the operational controls required to support high-volume, automated trading strategies in listed derivatives. Products and services provided by Miami International include fully electronic order matching engines, transmittable market data and feed products, colocation and connectivity solutions, and tools for risk management and regulatory compliance. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MIAX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Miami International Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MIAX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Miami International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Miami International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Agri Bank China (OTCMKTS:ACGBY Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Thursday . 27,322 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 2% from the previous sessions volume of 27,975 shares.The stock last traded at $17.20 and had previously closed at $17.27. Agri Bank China Trading Up 1.3% The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $17.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $243.73 billion, a PE ratio of 6.45 and a beta of 0.07. Get Agri Bank China alerts: About Agri Bank China (Get Free Report) Agricultural Bank of China (trading OTC as ACGBY) is a major state-owned commercial bank headquartered in Beijing that provides a broad range of banking and financial services. As one of Chinas largest banks, it offers services to corporate, institutional and retail clients, with a particular historical focus on serving agricultural and rural customers alongside urban and corporate markets. The bank operates a large domestic branch network and maintains an international presence through branches and representative offices. The banks product and service mix includes corporate lending, trade finance, project finance and cash management for businesses, together with deposit, mortgage, consumer lending and wealth-management products for individual customers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Agri Bank China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agri Bank China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raiffeisen Bank International AG increased its position in shares of AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME Free Report) by 10.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 48,610 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,583 shares during the quarter. Raiffeisen Bank International AGs holdings in AMETEK were worth $9,093,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AMETEK during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AMETEK in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of AMETEK by 129.7% during the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 170 shares of the technology companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. SouthState Corp increased its holdings in AMETEK by 47.4% in the second quarter. SouthState Corp now owns 202 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in AMETEK during the 3rd quarter worth about $39,000. 87.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get AMETEK alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently commented on AME shares. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of AMETEK from $198.00 to $215.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Melius Research set a $235.00 target price on AMETEK in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Wall Street Zen cut AMETEK from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. Barclays increased their price objective on AMETEK from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $245.00 price target on shares of AMETEK in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AMETEK currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $243.00. AMETEK Price Performance AMETEK stock opened at $233.59 on Friday. AMETEK, Inc. has a 12 month low of $145.02 and a 12 month high of $239.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.49 billion, a PE ratio of 36.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $217.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $199.27. AMETEK (NYSE:AME Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The technology company reported $2.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.07. AMETEK had a return on equity of 16.55% and a net margin of 20.00%.The firm had revenue of $2 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.94 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.87 earnings per share. AMETEKs quarterly revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. AMETEK has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.850-1.900 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 7.870-8.070 EPS. Equities analysts predict that AMETEK, Inc. will post 7.15 earnings per share for the current year. AMETEK Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. This is an increase from AMETEKs previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. AMETEKs payout ratio is presently 19.38%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Thomas C. Marecic sold 14,310 shares of AMETEK stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $202.11, for a total transaction of $2,892,194.10. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 42,589 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,607,662.79. This trade represents a 25.15% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Thomas M. Montgomery sold 6,388 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.05, for a total value of $1,309,859.40. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 22,116 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,534,885.80. This represents a 22.41% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 137,088 shares of company stock worth $27,212,340. 0.57% of the stock is owned by company insiders. More AMETEK News Here are the key news stories impacting AMETEK this week: Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple near-term EPS estimates for AMETEK, increasing Q1Q4 2026 quarter forecasts (Q1 to $1.89, Q2 to $1.96, Q3 to $1.99, Q4 to $2.12) and pushing FY2026 to $7.97 above recent consensus implying better-than-expected near-term earnings momentum. MarketBeat AMETEK coverage Zacks Research raised multiple near-term EPS estimates for AMETEK, increasing Q1Q4 2026 quarter forecasts (Q1 to $1.89, Q2 to $1.96, Q3 to $1.99, Q4 to $2.12) and pushing FY2026 to $7.97 above recent consensus implying better-than-expected near-term earnings momentum. Positive Sentiment: Zacks also bumped 20272028 forecasts (FY2027 to $8.42 from $8.23; FY2028 to $9.14) and lifted several 2027 quarterly estimates (Q1Q4 2027), signaling an improved multi-year earnings trajectory that supports valuation expansion for a stock trading at a premium multiple. MarketBeat AMETEK coverage Zacks also bumped 20272028 forecasts (FY2027 to $8.42 from $8.23; FY2028 to $9.14) and lifted several 2027 quarterly estimates (Q1Q4 2027), signaling an improved multi-year earnings trajectory that supports valuation expansion for a stock trading at a premium multiple. Neutral Sentiment: Valuation context: a recent Benzinga piece providing P/E ratio insights may be useful for investors assessing whether the upgraded earnings justify AMETEKs current premium multiple. P/E Ratio Insights for AMETEK About AMETEK (Free Report) AMETEK, Inc is a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices that serves a broad range of industries. Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, the company designs and produces precision instruments, electronic measurement devices, specialty sensors, and electric motors and motion control systems. Its product portfolio includes analytical and monitoring instruments, calibration equipment, power supplies, embedded electronics, and industrial motors and drives used for critical applications. The company operates through two primary business platforms an electronic instruments group focused on analytical, test and measurement and sensor products, and an electromechanical group that supplies motors, actuators, and related power and motion solutions. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AME? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AMETEK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AMETEK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Annaly Capital Management Inc (NYSE:NLY Free Report) by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 60,589,075 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 1,887,629 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 0.09% of Annaly Capital Management worth $1,224,505,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in Annaly Capital Management in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Annaly Capital Management in the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Annaly Capital Management in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Annaly Capital Management in the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC increased its position in Annaly Capital Management by 41.6% during the third quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 1,688 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 496 shares during the last quarter. 51.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Annaly Capital Management alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have weighed in on NLY shares. Argus upgraded shares of Annaly Capital Management to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. JonesTrading increased their target price on Annaly Capital Management from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Annaly Capital Management from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on Annaly Capital Management from $23.25 to $25.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $24.11. Insider Activity In related news, CFO Serena Wolfe sold 16,536 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.14, for a total transaction of $382,643.04. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 173,081 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,005,094.34. The trade was a 8.72% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Steven Francis Campbell sold 28,225 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.12, for a total value of $652,562.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 204,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,727,831.92. This represents a 12.13% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.22% of the companys stock. Annaly Capital Management Trading Up 0.2% NYSE:NLY opened at $23.02 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.28, a PEG ratio of 7.06 and a beta of 1.24. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $23.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $22.00. Annaly Capital Management Inc has a twelve month low of $16.59 and a twelve month high of $24.52. Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.02. Annaly Capital Management had a return on equity of 15.80% and a net margin of 34.02%.The firm had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $567.67 million. On average, analysts predict that Annaly Capital Management Inc will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current year. Annaly Capital Management Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were paid a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.2%. Annaly Capital Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 100.72%. About Annaly Capital Management (Free Report) Annaly Capital Management, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in generating income through investment in mortgage-related assets. The companys core business activities include the acquisition, financing, and management of a diversified portfolio of agency and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and other real estate debt instruments. Annaly seeks to profit from the spread between the interest earned on its mortgage investments and its cost of funds, as well as from capital gains realized through active portfolio management. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in New York City, Annaly has grown to become one of the largest mortgage REITs in the United States. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Annaly Capital Management Inc (NYSE:NLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Annaly Capital Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Annaly Capital Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BKV Corporation (NYSE:BKV Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $31.51 and last traded at $31.0250, with a volume of 163559 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $29.98. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently commented on BKV. KeyCorp reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $34.00 price objective on shares of BKV in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of BKV in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Susquehanna upped their target price on shares of BKV from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of BKV from $33.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of BKV from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $31.86. Get BKV alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on BKV BKV Price Performance The stock has a market cap of $3.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.35 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.83. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $28.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $25.10. BKV announced that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Thursday, December 18th that allows the company to repurchase $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to buy up to 3.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Institutional Investors Weigh In On BKV Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. SBI Okasan Asset Management Co.Ltd. acquired a new stake in BKV in the 4th quarter valued at $52,000. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey boosted its stake in shares of BKV by 37.9% in the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 4,246 shares of the companys stock valued at $102,000 after purchasing an additional 1,166 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio bought a new stake in shares of BKV in the 3rd quarter worth about $278,000. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BKV during the 4th quarter worth about $1,509,000. Finally, Cooper Creek Partners Management LLC bought a new position in BKV during the 2nd quarter valued at about $8,215,000. BKV Company Profile (Get Free Report) BKV Corporation engages in the acquisition, operation, and development of natural gas and NGL properties. It is also involved in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Denver, Colorado with additional offices in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania and Fort Worth, Texas. BKV Corporation, LLC operates as a subsidiary of Banpu North America Corporation. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BKV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BKV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) by 65.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 254,212 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 100,713 shares during the quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Brookfield Asset Management were worth $14,463,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its position in Brookfield Asset Management by 1,270.6% during the 2nd quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 466 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 559.5% during the second quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 521 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 442 shares during the period. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management during the second quarter valued at $39,000. Assetmark Inc. increased its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 95.9% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 807 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Brookfield Asset Management by 93.3% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 831 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 401 shares during the last quarter. 68.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Brookfield Asset Management alerts: Brookfield Asset Management Trading Up 1.1% Brookfield Asset Management stock opened at $50.60 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $82.88 billion, a PE ratio of 33.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.40. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. has a 12 month low of $41.78 and a 12 month high of $64.10. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $52.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $54.91. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. Brookfield Asset Management Increases Dividend Brookfield Asset Management ( NYSE:BAM Get Free Report ) (TSE:BAM.A) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $0.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.06. Brookfield Asset Management had a net margin of 51.59% and a return on equity of 29.67%. The firm had revenue of $1.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.40 billion. Analysts anticipate that Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. will post 1.7 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $0.5025 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This is a positive change from Brookfield Asset Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. This represents a $2.01 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.0%. Brookfield Asset Managements dividend payout ratio is presently 132.24%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on BAM. Morgan Stanley set a $63.00 price objective on Brookfield Asset Management in a report on Tuesday. Loop Capital set a $60.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Brookfield Asset Management from $67.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $74.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Asset Management and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $63.65. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Brookfield Asset Management About Brookfield Asset Management (Free Report) Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager headquartered in Toronto, Canada, that specializes in investments in real assets and related private equity and credit strategies. The firm acquires, manages and develops assets in sectors such as real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, seeking long-term value through active asset management and operational improvements. Brookfield structures and manages commingled funds, listed partnerships and separate accounts for institutional and retail investors. The companys products and services include fund management across equity and debt strategies, direct asset ownership and operations, property and facilities management, and capital markets solutions. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Asset Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Asset Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF Get Free Report) and F & M Bank (OTCMKTS:FMBM Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings. Dividends First Commonwealth Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.54 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. F & M Bank pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. First Commonwealth Financial pays out 37.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. F & M Bank pays out 32.8% 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. First Commonwealth Financial has increased its dividend for 9 consecutive years. F & M Bank is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Get First Commonwealth Financial alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for First Commonwealth Financial and F & M Bank, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score First Commonwealth Financial 0 3 4 0 2.57 F & M Bank 0 0 0 0 0.00 Profitability First Commonwealth Financial currently has a consensus price target of $19.75, suggesting a potential upside of 7.37%. Given First Commonwealth Financials stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe First Commonwealth Financial is more favorable than F & M Bank. This table compares First Commonwealth Financial and F & M Banks net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Commonwealth Financial 20.88% 10.43% 1.30% F & M Bank 14.23% 11.72% 0.85% Volatility & Risk First Commonwealth Financial has a beta of 0.81, indicating that its share price is 19% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, F & M Bank has a beta of 0.29, indicating that its share price is 71% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation & Earnings This table compares First Commonwealth Financial and F & M Banks revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio First Commonwealth Financial $729.51 million 2.62 $152.30 million $1.46 12.60 F & M Bank $78.92 million 1.43 $11.23 million $3.17 10.00 First Commonwealth Financial has higher revenue and earnings than F & M Bank. F & M Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than First Commonwealth Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional & Insider Ownership 72.6% of First Commonwealth Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 3.8% of F & M Bank shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.2% of First Commonwealth Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 11.6% of F & M Bank shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary First Commonwealth Financial beats F & M Bank on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks. About First Commonwealth Financial (Get Free Report) First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides various consumer and commercial banking services in the United States. Its consumer services include personal checking accounts, interest-earning checking accounts, savings and health savings accounts, insured money market accounts, debit cards, investment certificates, fixed and variable rate certificates of deposit, mortgage loans, secured and unsecured installment loans, construction and real estate loans, safe deposit facilities, credit cards, credit lines with overdraft checking protection, IRA accounts, and automated teller machine (atm) services, as well as internet, mobile, and telephone banking services. The company's commercial banking services comprise commercial lending, business checking accounts, online account management services, payroll direct deposits, commercial cash management services, and repurchase agreements, as well as ACH origination services. In addition, it offers various trust and asset management services; auto, home, and business insurance, as well as term life insurance; and annuities, mutual funds, and stock and bond brokerage services through a broker-dealer and insurance brokers. The company was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania. About F & M Bank (Get Free Report) F & M Bank Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Farmers & Merchants Bank that provides financial products and services to consumers and businesses in Virginia. The company offers commercial and individual demand and time deposit accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, internet and mobile banking services, and drive-in banking services. It also provides construction loans, including residential, and land acquisition and development loans; commercial real estate loans; business loans; consumer loans, such as personal loans, automobile loans, deposit account loans, installment and demand loans, and home equity loans; residential mortgage loans; credit cards; dealer finance; farmland loans; multi-family loans; and commercial and industrial loans. In addition, the company offers brokerage services and commercial and personal insurance products. Further, it originates conventional and government agency sponsored mortgages; and offers title insurance and real estate settlement services. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Timberville, Virginia. Receive News & Ratings for First Commonwealth Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Commonwealth Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Element Fleet Management (OTCMKTS:ELEEF Get Free Report) is anticipated to release its results before the market opens on Tuesday, February 24th. Analysts expect Element Fleet Management to post earnings of $0.3360 per share and revenue of $317.79 million for the quarter. Element Fleet Management Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:ELEEF opened at $25.03 on Friday. Element Fleet Management has a 52-week low of $18.59 and a 52-week high of $27.57. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $25.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $26.10. Get Element Fleet Management alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have issued reports on ELEEF. Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating on shares of Element Fleet Management in a report on Thursday, November 13th. National Bank Financial reissued an outperform rating on shares of Element Fleet Management in a research report on Monday, October 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and three have given a Buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy. About Element Fleet Management (Get Free Report) Element Fleet Management (OTCMKTS:ELEEF) is a leading global fleet management company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It provides comprehensive fleet leasing and management solutions for corporate and public sector clients, aiming to optimize vehicle acquisition, utilization and disposal strategies. The company focuses on delivering customizable programs that enhance operational efficiency and reduce total cost of ownership for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles across diverse industries. Elements service portfolio encompasses full-service leasing and financing, maintenance management, policy administration, telematics and data analytics, fuel management and end-of-lease remarketing. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Element Fleet Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Element Fleet Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Free Report) had its price objective boosted by Evercore from $112.00 to $128.00 in a report released on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $109.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. BNP Paribas Exane reduced their price objective on PPG Industries from $113.00 to $112.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Berenberg Bank lowered their price objective on PPG Industries from $131.00 to $110.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Zacks Research upgraded PPG Industries from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $118.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, PPG Industries presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $125.93. Get PPG Industries alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on PPG Industries PPG Industries Stock Performance NYSE PPG traded up $2.32 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $126.57. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,838,604 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,387,991. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $113.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $107.09. The firm has a market cap of $28.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.16. PPG Industries has a 52 week low of $90.24 and a 52 week high of $133.43. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.57 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.77 billion. PPG Industries had a return on equity of 22.67% and a net margin of 9.93%.The companys revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.61 EPS. PPG Industries has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.700-8.100 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that PPG Industries will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. PPG Industries Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be paid a $0.71 dividend. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. PPG Industriess payout ratio is currently 40.92%. Insider Transactions at PPG Industries In other news, CFO Vincent J. Morales sold 78,095 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.00, for a total value of $10,230,445.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Chancey E. Hagerty sold 2,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.59, for a total value of $260,077.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 8,477 shares in the company, valued at $979,856.43. The trade was a 20.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 115,217 shares of company stock valued at $14,771,523 in the last quarter. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On PPG Industries Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PPG. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of PPG Industries in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Dorato Capital Management bought a new stake in PPG Industries during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV increased its position in PPG Industries by 900.0% in the 4th quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 250 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of PPG Industries in the third quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of PPG Industries during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Institutional investors own 81.86% of the companys stock. PPG Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) PPG Industries is a global supplier of paints, coatings and specialty materials that serves industrial, transportation, consumer and construction markets. Founded in 1883 as the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, PPG has evolved from its origins in glass manufacturing into a diversified coatings and materials company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company develops and manufactures a broad array of products used to protect and enhance surfaces, from consumer paints to highly engineered coatings for demanding industrial applications. PPGs product portfolio includes architectural and decorative paints, automotive original equipment and refinish coatings, industrial coatings for machinery and equipment, protective and marine coatings, aerospace and defense coatings, and packaging coatings and materials. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for PPG Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPG Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. News / National by Staff reporter Nine commuter omnibus drivers and conductors have been arrested in a sweeping crackdown on reckless driving in Harare's Central Business District (CBD) after they were caught on camera mounting pavements and endangering pedestrians.The suspects - Innocent Vera (31), Archford Dhlamini (34), Justice Mukucha (23), Isaac Danzvara (30), Moses Mandimutsira (17), Ashley Kandonga (30), Trymore Nyakabau (29), Liberty Kudzange (34) and Leo Zuze (34) - were taken into custody on Friday.Authorities said the group was filmed driving onto pavements while attempting to evade police patrols, placing members of the public at serious risk. In one incident near an embassy office along Speke Avenue, clients were forced to take cover as a commuter omnibus sped past.Harare provincial police spokesperson Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the arrests, stating that law enforcement officers have intensified operations across the city."We have deployed police officers on every street to tackle this menace," he said. "The drivers were captured on various CCTV cameras, which led to their identification and subsequent arrest."Inspector Chakanza reiterated the police's zero-tolerance approach to reckless driving, warning that authorities will continue targeting operators whose actions endanger public safety.The suspects are currently detained at Harare Central Police Station and are facing charges of reckless driving and endangering public safety. Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES Get Free Report) EVP John Moreira sold 7,800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.90, for a total transaction of $576,420.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,269 shares in the company, valued at $3,197,579.10. This trade represents a 15.27% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Eversource Energy Trading Down 0.1% NYSE:ES opened at $73.59 on Friday. Eversource Energy has a 52 week low of $52.28 and a 52 week high of $75.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.65. The firms fifty day moving average is $69.00 and its 200-day moving average is $68.69. The firm has a market cap of $27.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 0.77. Get Eversource Energy alerts: Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The utilities provider reported $1.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $3.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.94 billion. Eversource Energy had a net margin of 12.49% and a return on equity of 11.18%. Eversource Energys revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.01 earnings per share. Eversource Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.800-4.950 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Eversource Energy will post 4.75 earnings per share for the current year. Eversource Energy Increases Dividend Key Headlines Impacting Eversource Energy The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 5th will be given a dividend of $0.7875 per share. This represents a $3.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 5th. This is a positive change from Eversource Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Eversource Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 68.93%. Here are the key news stories impacting Eversource Energy this week: Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo upgraded Eversource, which can support the stock by attracting buyers and validating earnings/growth expectations. Article Title Wells Fargo upgraded Eversource, which can support the stock by attracting buyers and validating earnings/growth expectations. Positive Sentiment: BMO Capital Markets expressed a positive view that the stock price is expected to rise another bullish analyst note that can help demand. Article Title BMO Capital Markets expressed a positive view that the stock price is expected to rise another bullish analyst note that can help demand. Positive Sentiment: Mizuho published commentary expecting the stock to rise (separate from its hold stance in another report), which can lend incremental support from discretionary buyers. Article Title Mizuho published commentary expecting the stock to rise (separate from its hold stance in another report), which can lend incremental support from discretionary buyers. Neutral Sentiment: Mizuho also reiterated a Hold rating in a different note a neutral stance that suggests limited conviction to drive big moves. Article Title Mizuho also reiterated a Hold rating in a different note a neutral stance that suggests limited conviction to drive big moves. Negative Sentiment: Scotiabank cut FY2026 and FY2027 EPS estimates (FY26: from $5.02 to $4.86; FY27: from $5.30 to $5.16), kept a Sector Underperform / $63 target and issued a sell downward revisions and a low target can pressure the stock and investor sentiment. Article Title Scotiabank cut FY2026 and FY2027 EPS estimates (FY26: from $5.02 to $4.86; FY27: from $5.30 to $5.16), kept a Sector Underperform / $63 target and issued a sell downward revisions and a low target can pressure the stock and investor sentiment. Negative Sentiment: Two insiders executed large openmarket sales on Feb 19: EVP John M. Moreira sold 7,800 shares at about $73.90 (SEC filing) and director John Y. Kim sold 6,000 shares at about $73.57 (SEC filing). Large insider sales especially when they materially reduce ownership can be read negatively by the market even if proceeds are for diversification. Moreira SEC Filing Kim SEC Filing Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have issued reports on ES. Janney Montgomery Scott upgraded Eversource Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $79.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, November 24th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Eversource Energy from $69.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Eversource Energy from $75.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Scotiabank decreased their price target 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. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Eversource Energy has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.90. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ES Institutional Trading of Eversource Energy Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ES. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 8.9% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 16,149 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,003,000 after buying an additional 1,319 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP raised its holdings in shares of Eversource Energy by 40.8% in the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 30,988 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,925,000 after acquiring an additional 8,984 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Eversource Energy by 115.1% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,497 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $92,000 after acquiring an additional 801 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its position in Eversource Energy by 27.8% in the 2nd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 4,146 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $275,000 after acquiring an additional 901 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stephens Inc. AR boosted its stake in Eversource Energy by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 43,962 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,797,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.99% of the companys stock. Eversource Energy Company Profile (Get 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Eversource Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eversource Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Garner Asset Management Corp increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 75.5% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 11,489 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,943 shares during the period. Garner Asset Management Corps holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $1,295,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Westfuller Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Exxon Mobil during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Clayton Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Exxon Mobil in the third quarter valued at about $40,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1,595.2% during the third quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 356 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares in the last quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 121.8% in the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 366 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 201 shares during the period. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 95.8% in the third quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 370 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 181 shares in the last quarter. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Insider Activity In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,230 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.18, for a total transaction of $481,851.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 20,354 shares in the company, valued at $3,036,409.72. The trade was a 13.70% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 14,230 shares of company stock valued at $1,888,421. Company insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on XOM. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on Exxon Mobil from $144.00 to $142.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $158.00 to $156.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Barclays upped their target price on Exxon Mobil from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Mizuho set a $140.00 price target on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $140.59. Get Our Latest Analysis on XOM Key Stories Impacting Exxon Mobil Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week: Exxon Mobil Trading Down 2.6% Exxon Mobil stock opened at $147.12 on Friday. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a 1 year low of $97.80 and a 1 year high of $156.93. The firms 50-day moving average is $132.29 and its 200-day moving average is $120.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.15. The company has a market cap of $613.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.99, a PEG ratio of 15.66 and a beta of 0.39. 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 earnings per share 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 business had revenue of $80.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $77.98 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.67 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current year. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 61.58%. 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fiera Capital Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Pembina Pipeline Corp. (NYSE:PBA Free Report) (TSE:PPL) by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,073,818 shares of the pipeline companys stock after buying an additional 120,272 shares during the quarter. Fiera Capital Corp owned about 0.18% of Pembina Pipeline worth $43,402,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Pembina Pipeline by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 14,760 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $551,000 after acquiring an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. MAI Capital Management lifted its holdings in Pembina Pipeline by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 10,664 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $400,000 after purchasing an additional 302 shares during the last quarter. Midwest Professional Planners LTD. boosted its position in Pembina Pipeline by 1.9% during the second quarter. Midwest Professional Planners LTD. now owns 16,890 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $634,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC boosted its position in Pembina Pipeline by 2.5% during the third quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 13,000 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $526,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares during the period. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its holdings in Pembina Pipeline by 0.6% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 56,339 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $2,278,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.37% of the companys stock. Get Pembina Pipeline alerts: Pembina Pipeline Price Performance Shares of Pembina Pipeline stock opened at $43.65 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.41. Pembina Pipeline Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $34.13 and a fifty-two week high of $44.60. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $39.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $38.92. The company has a market cap of $25.36 billion, a PE ratio of 21.82 and a beta of 0.68. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on PBA. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating on shares of Pembina Pipeline in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Pembina Pipeline from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Pembina Pipeline in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, TD Securities cut shares of Pembina Pipeline from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Pembina Pipeline presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $60.00. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Pembina Pipeline Pembina Pipeline Company Profile (Free Report) Pembina Pipeline Corporation (NYSE: PBA) is a North American energy infrastructure company that develops, owns and operates midstream assets that transport, store and process hydrocarbons. Its core business focuses on the transportation of crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and condensate, along with gas processing, fractionation, storage and related marketing services. Pembina serves producers, refiners and other energy companies by providing pipeline capacity, terminal services and midstream solutions that link upstream production to downstream markets and export facilities. The companys asset base is concentrated in Western Canada, including major operations in Alberta and British Columbia, and it also has operations and commercial activities that extend into the United States. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pembina Pipeline Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pembina Pipeline and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fiera Capital Corp increased its stake in shares of Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Free Report) by 86.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 297,951 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock after purchasing an additional 138,081 shares during the period. Fiera Capital Corps holdings in Uber Technologies were worth $29,190,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Foster Group Inc. raised its stake in Uber Technologies by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 3,364 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $330,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the period. Sage Rhino Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 4.2% in the third quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 2,740 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $268,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Uber Technologies by 3.3% during the third quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 3,504 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. Advisors Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 6,398 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $627,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Emergent Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Uber Technologies by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Emergent Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 17,361 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $1,701,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.24% of the companys stock. Get Uber Technologies alerts: Insider Activity at Uber Technologies In other news, insider Tony West sold 3,125 shares of Uber Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.50, for a total value 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 position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 3.84% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Uber Technologies Stock Up 1.1% UBER stock opened at $73.76 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $151.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.66, a P/E/G ratio of 6.67 and a beta of 1.21. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $60.63 and a twelve month high of $101.99. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $79.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $88.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.79 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $14.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.32 billion. Uber Technologies had a net margin of 19.33% and a return on equity of 43.63%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 20.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.21 EPS. Uber Technologies has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.650-0.720 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 2.54 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $122.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Roth Mkm set a $105.00 price objective on Uber Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Melius Research set a $73.00 target price on Uber Technologies in a research report on Monday, January 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $125.00 price target on Uber Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $99.00 to $92.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-three have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Uber Technologies has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $104.61. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Uber Technologies 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Uber Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Uber Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Monaco Asset Management SAM lowered its position in Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FET Free Report) by 40.0% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 30,000 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 20,000 shares during the quarter. Monaco Asset Management SAMs holdings in Forum Energy Technologies were worth $801,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of FET. Bailard Inc. grew its holdings in Forum Energy Technologies by 5.3% in the third quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 13,800 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $369,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its position in shares of Forum Energy Technologies by 166.7% in the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,616 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 1,010 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System acquired a new position in Forum Energy Technologies during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in shares of Forum Energy Technologies by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 13,908 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $280,000 after purchasing an additional 1,127 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Man Group plc grew its holdings in Forum Energy Technologies by 12.0% during the 2nd quarter. Man Group plc now owns 13,275 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $258,000 after buying an additional 1,426 shares during the last quarter. 65.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Forum Energy Technologies alerts: Key Headlines Impacting Forum Energy Technologies Here are the key news stories impacting Forum Energy Technologies this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat FET reported adjusted EPS of $0.41 (vs. $0.36 consensus) and revenue of $202.2M (vs. $190.5M), showing a recovery from the prior year and giving investors confidence in demand. Read More. Q4 results beat FET reported adjusted EPS of $0.41 (vs. $0.36 consensus) and revenue of $202.2M (vs. $190.5M), showing a recovery from the prior year and giving investors confidence in demand. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Upward FY2026 revenue outlook management set revenue guidance of roughly $800M$880M, above consensus (~$793.7M), implying modest topline growth and supporting valuation rerating. Read More. Upward FY2026 revenue outlook management set revenue guidance of roughly $800M$880M, above consensus (~$793.7M), implying modest topline growth and supporting valuation rerating. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Cashflow targets and marketshare gains management outlined a 6% revenue growth target for 2026 and a $55M$75M freecashflow target, signaling improved cash conversion that can fund buybacks/debt reduction. Read More. Cashflow targets and marketshare gains management outlined a 6% revenue growth target for 2026 and a $55M$75M freecashflow target, signaling improved cash conversion that can fund buybacks/debt reduction. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Large share repurchase in 2025 the company repurchased ~11% of shares outstanding last year, which reduces float and boosts EPS leverage if results continue improving. Read More. Large share repurchase in 2025 the company repurchased ~11% of shares outstanding last year, which reduces float and boosts EPS leverage if results continue improving. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Management commentary the earnings call/transcripts expand on growth drivers (market share, product mix) and capital allocation priorities; useful for gauging sustainability but not an immediate catalyst by itself. Read More. | Read More. Management commentary the earnings call/transcripts expand on growth drivers (market share, product mix) and capital allocation priorities; useful for gauging sustainability but not an immediate catalyst by itself. Read More. | Read More. Negative Sentiment: Profitability still mixed despite the beat, trailing metrics show slim or negative margins and limited ROE in some reports; execution must continue to convert revenue into sustained net profit. Read More. Forum Energy Technologies Stock Performance NYSE:FET opened at $57.63 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $655.81 million, a P/E ratio of -64.75, a P/E/G ratio of 4.03 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 firms 50 day moving average is $42.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.86. Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $12.78 and a fifty-two week high of $58.80. Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE:FET Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The oil and gas company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.05. Forum Energy Technologies had a positive return on equity of 2.35% and a negative net margin of 1.22%.The firm had revenue of $202.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $190.50 million. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth FET has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Zacks Research upgraded Forum Energy Technologies from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Forum Energy Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of Forum Energy Technologies in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Forum Energy Technologies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Forum Energy Technologies Forum Energy Technologies Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FET? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FET Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Forum Energy Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Forum Energy Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP lifted its position in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 55.6% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,112 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 755 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLPs holdings in Deere & Company were worth $966,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its stake in Deere & Company by 30.6% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 364,103 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $185,143,000 after purchasing an additional 85,351 shares during the last quarter. Csenge Advisory Group raised its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 84.9% in the third quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 7,440 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,402,000 after buying an additional 3,416 shares during the period. MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH purchased a new stake in shares of Deere & Company in the second quarter worth approximately $3,615,000. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,678 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,379,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd purchased a new position in Deere & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at $4,550,000. 68.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Deere & Company alerts: Deere & Company Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:DE opened at $662.74 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $522.56 and a 200 day moving average of $491.27. The company has a quick ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. The company has a market capitalization of $179.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 1.02. Deere & Company has a 52 week low of $404.42 and a 52 week high of $674.19. Deere & Company Dividend Announcement Deere & Company ( NYSE:DE Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.90 by $0.52. The business had revenue of $9.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.50 billion. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 18.93% and a net margin of 10.29%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.19 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Deere & Company will post 19.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were issued a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Deere & Companys payout ratio is currently 36.53%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have weighed in on DE. Wolfe Research increased their target price on Deere & Company from $520.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $480.00 to $460.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 19th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Deere & Company from $460.00 to $500.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $467.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an outperform rating 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 given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Deere & Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $607.20. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Deere & Company Trending Headlines about Deere & Company Here are the key news stories impacting Deere & Company this week: Insider Activity In other news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares of Deere & Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $510.00, for a total value of $6,120,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 20,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,603,920. The trade was a 36.59% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO John C. May II sold 41,472 shares of Deere & Company stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $501.49, for a total transaction of $20,797,793.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 117,970 shares in the company, valued at $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. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 64,578 shares of company stock valued at $32,471,682. Insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock. Deere & Company 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GCT Semiconductor (NYSE:GCTS Get Free Report) and Valens Semiconductor (NYSE:VLN Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and risk. Profitability This table compares GCT Semiconductor and Valens Semiconductors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get GCT Semiconductor alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GCT Semiconductor -1,010.20% N/A -198.45% Valens Semiconductor -44.38% -23.12% -18.88% Risk and Volatility GCT Semiconductor has a beta of 1.23, meaning that its stock price is 23% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Valens Semiconductor has a beta of 0.26, meaning that its stock price is 74% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio GCT Semiconductor $3.89 million 18.85 -$12.38 million ($0.77) -1.67 Valens Semiconductor $57.86 million 2.66 -$36.58 million ($0.29) -5.19 This table compares GCT Semiconductor and Valens Semiconductors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. GCT Semiconductor has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Valens Semiconductor. Valens Semiconductor is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than GCT Semiconductor, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for GCT Semiconductor and Valens Semiconductor, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GCT Semiconductor 2 0 2 0 2.00 Valens Semiconductor 1 0 1 0 2.00 GCT Semiconductor currently has a consensus price target of $3.50, suggesting a potential upside of 172.37%. Valens Semiconductor has a consensus price target of $3.00, suggesting a potential upside of 99.34%. Given GCT Semiconductors higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe GCT Semiconductor is more favorable than Valens Semiconductor. Institutional and Insider Ownership 28.1% of GCT Semiconductor shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 33.9% of Valens Semiconductor shares are owned by institutional investors. 5.4% of GCT Semiconductor shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 58.9% of Valens Semiconductor shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary GCT Semiconductor beats Valens Semiconductor on 7 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About GCT Semiconductor (Get Free Report) GCT Semiconductor Holding, Inc., operates as a fabless semiconductor company, designs, develops, and markets integrated circuits for the wireless semiconductor industry. The company provides RF and modem chipsets based on 4G LTE technology, including 4G LTE, 4.5G LTE Advanced, and 4.75G LTE Advanced-Pro. It also develops and sells cellular IoT chipsets for low-speed mobile networks such as eMTC/NB-IOT/Sigfox, and other network protocols; and 5G solutions. Its products and solutions are used in smartphones, tablets, hotspots, CPEs, USB dongles, routers, and M2M applications. The company sells its products directly or indirectly through distributors to original equipment manufacturers and original design manufacturers primarily in Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan, Europe, North America and South America. The company was formerly known as Global Communication Technology, Inc. GCT Semiconductor Holding, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. About Valens Semiconductor (Get Free Report) Valens Semiconductor Ltd. engages in the provision of semiconductor products for the audio-video and automotive industries. The company offers HDBaseT technology, which enables the simultaneous delivery of ultra-high-definition digital video and audio, Ethernet, USB, control signals, and power through a single long-reach cable. It also provides audio-video solutions for the enterprise, education, industrial, digital signage, industrial, and medical markets. In addition, it offers automotive chipsets that support advanced driver-assistance systems, automotive data solutions, infotainment, telematics, and backbone connectivity. The companys product series include VS100, VS2000, VS3000, VS6000, VS7000, Valens USB and power extender, Valens VS6320, USB 3.2 Gen1 extension chipset, VA6000, and VA7000. It has a collaboration with iCatch Technology to develop a 360-degree multi-camera videoconferencing solution. The company operates in Israel, China, Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, Germany, Hungary, and internationally. Valens Semiconductor Ltd. is headquartered in Hod Hasharon, Israel. Receive News & Ratings for GCT Semiconductor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GCT Semiconductor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HighTower Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 7.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 72,772 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 5,804 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLCs holdings in Digital Realty Trust were worth $12,587,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 233,569 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $40,379,000 after acquiring an additional 15,569 shares during the last quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management boosted its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 37,575.7% during the 3rd quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management now owns 271,265 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $46,896,000 after acquiring an additional 270,545 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 13.5% during the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 148,970 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,545,000 after purchasing an additional 17,729 shares during the period. Gallacher Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Digital Realty Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $762,000. Finally, World Investment Advisors raised its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 412.7% in the third quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 11,003 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,902,000 after purchasing an additional 8,857 shares during the period. 99.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Insider Transactions at Digital Realty Trust In other Digital Realty Trust news, Director Mary Hogan Preusse sold 4,166 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.42, for a total transaction of $655,811.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth DLR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $184.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Weiss Ratings raised Digital Realty Trust from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Digital Realty Trust from $210.00 to $200.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 6th. Citigroup cut their price objective on Digital Realty Trust from $212.00 to $190.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Digital Realty Trust from $188.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $192.33. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on DLR Digital Realty Trust Stock Down 0.7% NYSE:DLR opened at $175.65 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $162.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $165.72. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $129.95 and a 52-week high of $184.79. The company has a market cap of $60.35 billion, a PE ratio of 48.79, a PEG ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a current ratio of 1.59. Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.73 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. Digital Realty Trust has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.900-8.000 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Digital Realty Trust, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a $1.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 135.56%. More Digital Realty Trust News Here are the key news stories impacting Digital Realty Trust this week: Digital Realty Trust Company Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU Free Report) by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 292,841 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 12,358 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF were worth $12,290,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Farther Finance Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the third quarter worth $46,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 24.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $73,000. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $124,000. Finally, Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the 2nd quarter worth about $137,000. 58.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF alerts: iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA EWU opened at $48.04 on Friday. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF has a 52-week low of $32.76 and a 52-week high of $48.16. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $45.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $43.26. The company has a market capitalization of $3.11 billion, a PE ratio of 15.42 and a beta of 0.71. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Profile The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI United Kingdom index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of British companies. It covers the top 85% of British companies by market cap. EWU was launched on Mar 12, 1996 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HighTower Advisors LLC cut its holdings in Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:PZT Free Report) by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 619,333 shares of the companys stock after selling 40,873 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.10% of Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF worth $13,775,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its holdings in Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF by 44.8% in the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 24,645 shares of the companys stock worth $548,000 after buying an additional 7,626 shares during the period. Wealthfront Advisers LLC raised its holdings in shares of Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF by 51.4% during the third quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 18,669 shares of the companys stock valued at $415,000 after acquiring an additional 6,336 shares in the last quarter. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $220,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF by 11.9% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 34,308 shares of the companys stock worth $763,000 after acquiring an additional 3,638 shares during the period. Finally, PFG Investments LLC lifted its stake in Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF by 17.3% in the third quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 11,785 shares of the companys stock worth $262,000 after acquiring an additional 1,742 shares during the period. Get Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF alerts: Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF Trading Up 0.0% NYSEARCA:PZT opened at $22.58 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $22.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $22.21. Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $20.19 and a twelve month high of $23.13. Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF Cuts Dividend About Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 20th were paid a dividend of $0.0684 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 20th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. (Free Report) The PowerShares New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond Portfolio (the Fund), formerly The PowerShares Insured New York Municipal Bond Portfolio, is based on The BofA Merrill Lynch New York Long-Term Core Plus Municipal Securities Index (Index). The Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that comprise the Index. The Index is composed of the United States dollar-denominated, investment grade, tax-exempt debt publicly issued by New York or any of the United States territory, or their political subdivisions, in the the United States domestic market with a term of at least 15 years remaining to final maturity. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PZT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:PZT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. News / National by Staff reporter The Zimbabwe has overcome attempts to derail its carbon market initiatives and is now regarded as one of Africa's leading nations in establishing a national carbon registry and developing land-based carbon offset projects.This emerged during a parliamentary session on carbon markets held in Bulawayo, where legislators heard that sanctions previously hampered progress in the sector by blocking access to critical funding.Acting Permanent Secretary for Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Washington Zhakata, told Parliament that the United Kingdom government had instructed Standard Chartered Bank to halt funding for a major emissions reduction project at a crucial stage of its development."Zimbabwe's carbon market development suffered significant setbacks after the British Government blocked Standard Chartered Bank from funding a key emissions reduction project," Mr Zhakata said.He explained that the project, registered under the Kyoto Protocol framework, focused on the abatement of nitrous oxide emissions. It had initially been sponsored during its development phase by Standard Bank United Kingdom. However, funding was reportedly stopped around 20092010 following instructions from the British government, leaving the project stalled for years.The initiative only resumed after the Germany government stepped in to provide the equipment that had originally been expected from the bank, highlighting the influence of geopolitical dynamics on climate finance flows.Despite these setbacks, Mr Zhakata said Zimbabwe has made substantial progress in developing its carbon market infrastructure. He noted that the country launched its national carbon registry in May last year, placing it ahead of many African peers.He added that Kenya only launched its national registry on 17 February, underscoring Zimbabwe's early positioning in the emerging carbon market space.Officials maintain that Zimbabwe's carbon market is steadily maturing, with expanding project sizes and improved regulatory systems positioning the country as a competitive player in continental climate finance initiatives. HighTower Advisors LLC cut its holdings in shares of Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV Free Report) by 4.4% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 85,461 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 3,892 shares during the quarter. HighTower Advisors LLCs holdings in Dover were worth $14,258,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of DOV. AdvisorShares Investments LLC acquired a new position in Dover in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its position in shares of Dover by 122.4% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 169 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Dover in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Harbour Investments Inc. boosted its position in shares of Dover by 51.7% in the 2nd quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 176 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Westside Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Dover by 100.0% during the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 228 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.46% of the companys stock. Get Dover alerts: Dover Price Performance NYSE DOV opened at $233.12 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.79. The stock has a market cap of $31.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.36, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.29. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $209.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $188.25. Dover Corporation has a 52-week low of $143.04 and a 52-week high of $237.54. Dover Announces Dividend Dover ( NYSE:DOV Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The industrial products company reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.48 by $0.03. Dover had a net margin of 13.52% and a return on equity of 17.87%. The firm had revenue of $2.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.20 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Dover Corporation will post 9.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. 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 dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Dovers dividend payout ratio is 26.20%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have weighed in on DOV. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Dover from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Barclays set a $206.00 price target on Dover in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of Dover from $228.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Robert W. Baird set a $255.00 price objective on shares of Dover in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane initiated coverage on shares of Dover in a report on Thursday, December 4th. They issued a neutral rating and a $195.00 target price on the stock. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $224.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on Dover Insider Transactions at Dover In other news, VP Girish Juneja sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $230.77, for a total value of $346,155.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 8,422 shares in the company, valued at $1,943,544.94. The trade was a 15.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Richard J. Tobin sold 76,997 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $232.70, for a total value of $17,917,201.90. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 217,979 shares of the companys stock, valued at $50,723,713.30. This represents a 26.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 86,754 shares of company stock worth $20,000,768. Company insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Dover Profile (Free Report) Dover Corporation is a diversified global manufacturer of industrial products, components and specialty systems that serve a wide range of commercial and industrial end markets. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, the company has built a portfolio of operating businesses that design, manufacture and distribute engineered equipment, aftermarket parts and related services for customers around the world. Dovers activities span several product and solution categories, including fluid-handling and pumping systems, material handling and processing equipment, refrigeration and foodservice technologies, product identification and printing systems, precision components and automation and sensing solutions. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dover Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dover and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM Free Report) (TSE:CM) by 1.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,184,871 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 19,134 shares during the quarter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce comprises about 2.9% of Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. owned about 0.13% of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce worth $94,659,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CM. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. acquired a new position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp bought a new position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 300.0% in the 3rd quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 400 shares of the banks stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new stake in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Institutional investors own 49.88% of the companys stock. Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Zacks Research downgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Barclays upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from an underweight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Raymond James Financial began coverage on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. They issued a market perform rating on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given 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 $107.50. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Price Performance Shares of NYSE CM opened at $99.56 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The business has a 50-day moving average of $93.41 and a 200-day moving average of $85.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $92.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.35, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.02. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a fifty-two week low of $53.62 and a fifty-two week high of $99.62. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM Get Free Report) (TSE:CM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The bank reported $1.57 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $5.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.23 billion. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 14.93% and a net margin of 13.57%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.91 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 5.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 28th. Investors of record on Monday, December 29th were paid a $1.07 dividend. This is a boost from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.97. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 29th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.25%. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile (Free Report) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE: CM), commonly known as CIBC, is a major Canadian financial institution headquartered in Toronto. Formed in 1961 through the merger of the Canadian Bank of Commerce and the Imperial Bank of Canada, CIBC is one of Canadas largest banks and provides a broad range of banking and financial services to retail, small business, commercial and institutional clients. CIBCs activities span personal and business banking, wealth management, capital markets and corporate banking. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM Free Report) (TSE:CM). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 43.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 127,886 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 38,435 shares during the period. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $9,522,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dilation Capital Management LP increased its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 4.4% in the third quarter. Dilation Capital Management LP now owns 170,269 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $12,683,000 after purchasing an additional 7,105 shares during the period. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the third quarter valued at $1,644,000. AGF Management Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 9.9% in the third quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 2,001,292 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $149,215,000 after purchasing an additional 180,419 shares during the last quarter. Nicola Wealth Management LTD. increased its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 46.8% in the 3rd quarter. Nicola Wealth Management LTD. now owns 141,500 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $10,539,000 after buying an additional 45,100 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,127,435 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $83,985,000 after buying an additional 14,916 shares during the period. 72.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Up 0.5% Canadian Pacific Kansas City stock opened at $85.14 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The firm has a market cap of $76.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.36, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.10. The business has a fifty day moving average of $75.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $74.72. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a twelve month low of $66.49 and a twelve month high of $85.56. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Announces Dividend Canadian Pacific Kansas City ( NYSE:CP Get Free Report ) (TSE:CP) last announced 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.85 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 27.49% and a return on equity of 8.88%. The companys revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.29 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 3.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 27th. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio is presently 20.43%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $124.00 price objective (down from $127.00) on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Wall Street Zen lowered Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Sunday, February 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $90.00 price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Evercore lowered their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $85.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $92.00. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Canadian Pacific Kansas City 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hypermarcas (OTCMKTS:HYPMY Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Thursday . Approximately 38,392 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 91% from the previous sessions volume of 20,073 shares.The stock last traded at $4.37 and had previously closed at $4.38. Hypermarcas Stock Performance The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The companys 50 day moving average is $4.45 and its 200-day moving average is $4.42. The company has a market capitalization of $2.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.13 and a beta of 0.71. Get Hypermarcas alerts: Hypermarcas Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hypermarcas SA is a Brazil-based consumer health and pharmaceutical company whose shares trade over the counter in the United States under the symbol HYPMY. Founded in the early 2000s and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, the company operates as a holding group for a broad portfolio of branded products in the healthcare and personal care sectors. Through its various subsidiaries, Hypermarcas develops, manufactures and markets prescription and over-the-counter medications, alongside personal care, baby care, home care and nutritional supplement products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hypermarcas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hypermarcas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund lessened its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Free Report) by 80.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,602 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 6,792 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Funds holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. were worth $496,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AJG. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 870.0% during the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 97 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 650.0% in the second quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 105 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the period. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division increased its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 40.6% during the 3rd quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 135 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Westside Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 136 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. Finally, Solstein Capital LLC bought a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 2nd quarter valued at $49,000. 85.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently commented on AJG shares. Mizuho set a $277.00 price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $283.00 to $280.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Truist Financial set a $271.00 price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a report on Friday, January 30th. Evercore lowered their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $353.00 to $334.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $284.12. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Performance AJG stock opened at $216.54 on Friday. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a one year low of $195.00 and a one year high of $351.23. The firm has a market cap of $55.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.21, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $246.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $268.33. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.35 by $0.03. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a net margin of 11.84% and a return on equity of 12.13%. The firm had revenue of $3.57 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.61 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.12 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 33.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 EPS for the current fiscal year. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This is a boost from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s payout ratio is currently 42.28%. Insider Activity In other news, VP Christopher E. Mead sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.11, for a total value of $1,032,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 17,327 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,472,271.97. This trade represents a 18.76% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Walter D. Bay sold 15,850 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $255.00, for a total value of $4,041,750.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 79,549 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,284,995. This trade represents a 16.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders sold 24,850 shares of company stock worth $6,364,440. Insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Company Profile (Free Report) Arthur J. Gallagher & Co is a global insurance brokerage and risk management firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Founded in 1927 by Arthur J. Gallagher, the company has grown from a regional broker into an international professional services organization that arranges insurance, provides consulting and designs risk-transfer solutions for commercial, industrial, public sector and individual clients. The companys core activities include property and casualty insurance brokerage, employee benefits consulting and administration, and a range of risk management services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AJG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO Get Free Report) SVP Kelvin Eugene Bennett sold 2,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.04, for a total transaction of $315,192.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 16,844 shares in the company, valued at $2,308,301.76. This represents a 12.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. AGCO Price Performance AGCO stock opened at $137.76 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $116.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $111.07. The stock has a market cap of $9.97 billion, a PE ratio of 14.13, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.19. AGCO Corporation has a one year low of $73.79 and a one year high of $143.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 0.67. Get AGCO alerts: AGCO (NYSE:AGCO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $2.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.85 by $0.32. The company had revenue of $2.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.67 billion. AGCO had a net margin of 7.21% and a return on equity of 9.39%. The firms revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.97 EPS. AGCO has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.500-6.000 EPS. On average, analysts predict that AGCO Corporation will post 4.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. AGCO Dividend Announcement Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. AGCOs dividend payout ratio is presently 11.90%. A number of analysts recently weighed in on AGCO shares. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of AGCO in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $127.00 price objective on shares of AGCO in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of AGCO from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a neutral rating 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $132.00 price objective on AGCO in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AGCO has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $122.73. View Our Latest Stock Report on AGCO Institutional Investors Weigh In On AGCO A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in AGCO in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,126,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of AGCO during the second quarter valued at approximately $817,000. Eisler Capital Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of AGCO during the second quarter valued at approximately $15,979,000. Level Four Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in AGCO by 3.0% in the second quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 81,011 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $8,357,000 after acquiring an additional 2,391 shares during the period. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. purchased a new stake in AGCO in the third quarter worth $802,000. Institutional investors own 78.80% of the companys stock. AGCO Company Profile (Get 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for AGCO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AGCO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sun Life Financial Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Philippines ETF (NYSEARCA:EPHE Free Report) by 39.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 168,832 shares of the companys stock after selling 110,168 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Philippines ETF makes up 0.2% of Sun Life Financial Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Sun Life Financial Inc. owned about 4.22% of iShares MSCI Philippines ETF worth $4,194,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI Philippines ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $30,000. Advisors Preferred LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Philippines ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Philippines ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $201,000. Amundi purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Philippines ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $222,000. Finally, Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Philippines ETF by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 8,674 shares of the companys stock worth $235,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI Philippines ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Philippines ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA EPHE opened at $27.16 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $25.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $25.55. The company has a market capitalization of $165.68 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.44 and a beta of 0.61. iShares MSCI Philippines ETF has a 12 month low of $23.17 and a 12 month high of $28.20. iShares MSCI Philippines ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI Philippines ETF (EPHE) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Philippines IMI 25\u002F50 index, a free float-adjusted market-cap-weighted index of the broader Filipino equity market. EPHE was launched on Sep 28, 2010 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Philippines ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Philippines ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Isthmus Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE Free Report) by 36.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 61,702 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after acquiring an additional 16,505 shares during the period. Isthmus Partners LLC owned approximately 0.13% of Haemonetics worth $3,007,000 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 business. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in Haemonetics by 11.6% during the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,461 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $109,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its holdings in shares of Haemonetics by 0.4% in the second quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 61,401 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $4,581,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its position in shares of Haemonetics by 3.9% during the second quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 7,636 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $570,000 after buying an additional 285 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP boosted its position in shares of Haemonetics by 9.0% during the second quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 3,492 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $261,000 after buying an additional 289 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CWC Advisors LLC. grew its holdings in Haemonetics by 7.8% during the third quarter. CWC Advisors LLC. now owns 4,551 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $222,000 after buying an additional 328 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the companys stock. Get Haemonetics alerts: Haemonetics Trading Up 0.9% NYSE:HAE opened at $61.24 on Friday. Haemonetics Corporation has a 12 month low of $47.31 and a 12 month high of $87.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. The firms 50 day moving average is $71.94 and its 200 day moving average is $64.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.85 billion, a PE ratio of 16.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.28. Analysts Set New Price Targets Haemonetics ( NYSE:HAE Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.04. Haemonetics had a return on equity of 27.32% and a net margin of 13.31%.The business had revenue of $338.97 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $331.90 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.19 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Haemonetics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-5.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Haemonetics Corporation will post 4.55 earnings per share for the current year. Several equities analysts have weighed in on HAE shares. Barrington Research set a $94.00 price objective on shares of Haemonetics in a report on Friday, February 6th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Haemonetics from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Haemonetics from $62.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $90.00 price objective on shares of Haemonetics in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC cut shares of Haemonetics from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $84.44. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on HAE About Haemonetics (Free Report) 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HAE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Haemonetics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Haemonetics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA (OTCMKTS:JRONY Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $48.28 and traded as high as $50.27. Jeronimo Martins SGPS shares last traded at $50.26, with a volume of 5,609 shares changing hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Kepler Capital Markets raised Jeronimo Martins SGPS from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Jeronimo Martins SGPS alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on JRONY Jeronimo Martins SGPS Trading Up 1.6% Jeronimo Martins SGPS Company Profile The company has a market cap of $15.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.24, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.91. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $48.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $48.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.58. (Get Free Report) Jeronimo Martins SGPS is a Portugal-based corporate group engaged primarily in food distribution and retail. Through its flagship Pingo Doce banner in Portugal, the company operates a network of full-service supermarkets and convenience outlets offering fresh produce, grocery items, and private-label products. In addition, its cash-and-carry arm, Recheio, supplies wholesale and hospitality professionals with a broad range of food and non-food goods. Beyond its home market, Jeronimo Martins has established a significant presence in Poland under the discount supermarket brand Biedronka. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Jeronimo Martins SGPS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jeronimo Martins SGPS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Equifax, Inc. (NYSE:EFX Free Report) by 27.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 767,982 shares of the credit services providers stock after acquiring an additional 163,866 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned approximately 0.63% of Equifax worth $197,018,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of EFX. Country Trust Bank bought a new position in Equifax in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Caldwell Trust Co bought a new position in Equifax in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Spire Wealth Management boosted its position in Equifax by 82.9% during the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 128 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in Equifax during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new position in Equifax in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.20% of the companys stock. Get Equifax alerts: Equifax Stock Up 1.0% Shares of NYSE:EFX opened at $197.34 on Friday. Equifax, Inc. has a 1 year low of $166.02 and a 1 year high of $281.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The businesss 50-day moving average is $209.29 and its 200-day moving average is $224.25. The company has a market capitalization of $24.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.55. Insider Buying and Selling at Equifax Equifax ( NYSE:EFX Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The credit services provider reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.05 by $0.04. Equifax had a return on equity of 19.27% and a net margin of 10.87%.The business had revenue of $1.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.12 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equifax has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.300-8.700 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.630-1.730 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Equifax, Inc. will post 7.58 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, EVP Jamil Farshchi sold 6,213 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $195.81, for a total transaction of $1,216,567.53. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 41,036 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,035,259.16. This represents a 13.15% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Mark W. Begor sold 37,791 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.89, for a total value of $7,629,624.99. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 230,506 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,536,856.34. This represents a 14.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 45,171 shares of company stock worth $9,079,441. 1.40% of the stock is owned by insiders. Equifax News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Equifax this week: Neutral Sentiment: Bank of America has initiated coverage on Equifax this brings institutional attention and trading liquidity, which can support the stock but may have mixed shortterm impact depending on BofAs stance. Bank of America Begins Coverage on Equifax Bank of America has initiated coverage on Equifax this brings institutional attention and trading liquidity, which can support the stock but may have mixed shortterm impact depending on BofAs stance. Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research cut multiple nearterm and mediumterm EPS estimates for EFX (Q1Q4 2026, Q2Q4 2027 and FY2026FY2027); notable moves include Q1 2026 from $1.84 to $1.72 and FY2026 from $8.69 to $8.33 small but broad downward revisions that may pressure sentiment given Equifaxs rich valuation. These rounds of cuts are the main driver of analystrelated negative news flow today. Equifax Stock: Analyst Estimates & Ratings Wall Street Analyst Weigh In EFX has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets set a $195.00 price target on shares of Equifax in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $220.00 target price on Equifax in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on Equifax from $271.00 to $266.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Equifax from $260.00 to $230.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Equifax from $253.00 to $235.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $240.33. Get Our Latest Research Report on EFX Equifax Company Profile (Free Report) Equifax Inc (NYSE: EFX) is a global data, analytics and technology company that specializes in consumer and commercial credit reporting, decisioning tools and identity solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax is one of the three major consumer credit reporting agencies in the United States and provides credit information and related services to lenders, employers, governments and consumers worldwide. The companys offerings include consumer credit reports and scores, credit monitoring and identity protection services, and a range of business-oriented products for risk management, fraud detection and compliance. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Equifax, Inc. (NYSE:EFX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Equifax Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equifax and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. News / National by Staff reporter The Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) has referenced its National Qualifications Framework to the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF), marking a significant step toward harmonising Zimbabwe's qualifications with regional and continental benchmarks.The move is expected to align assessment principles, credit systems, and qualification standards with partners within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, strengthening comparability and recognition across borders.The ACQF brings together countries and regions working to establish a sustainable common space of trusted qualifications and credentials, supporting inclusive mobility for learners and workers across Africa.Speaking at a strategic convention organised by HEXCO this week, Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, Simelisizwe Sibanda, stressed that the referencing process was substantive."We have referenced our national qualifications framework to the ACQF. This is not a ceremonial exercise. HEXCO must now lead the harmonisation of assessment standards, credit systems and qualification benchmarks with our SADC partners," he said.A key focus of the convention was aligning HEXCO's strategic plans with Zimbabwe's National Development Strategy (NDS2). Deputy Minister Sibanda emphasised that the development presents an opportunity for HEXCO to enhance its credibility beyond national borders."When a Zambian training authority seeks HEXCO support, it is our credibility that travels across the border. Let us ensure it arrives intact," he noted.As part of efforts to drive regional and continental qualifications alignment, HEXCO has partnered with the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education and the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council. The collaboration will focus on harmonising standards to ensure Zimbabwean qualifications are widely recognised and open opportunities across the continent. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. raised its position in Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA Free Report) by 62.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 930,230 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 357,087 shares during the period. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. owned 0.60% of Mueller Water Products worth $23,739,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Mueller Water Products by 66.1% in the second quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 5,535,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $133,061,000 after buying an additional 2,203,088 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in Mueller Water Products by 525.9% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,393,293 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $35,557,000 after acquiring an additional 1,170,683 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 19.4% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 5,825,366 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $140,042,000 after acquiring an additional 945,258 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Mueller Water Products by 21.8% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,449,896 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $106,987,000 after acquiring an additional 796,596 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 344.1% during the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 945,613 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $22,733,000 after purchasing an additional 732,669 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.68% of the companys stock. Get Mueller Water Products alerts: Mueller Water Products Stock Up 0.6% Shares of NYSE MWA opened at $29.96 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.77, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.17. Mueller Water Products has a one year low of $22.01 and a one year high of $30.47. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $26.53 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $25.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 4.02 and a quick ratio of 2.55. Mueller Water Products Announces Dividend Mueller Water Products ( NYSE:MWA Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.02. Mueller Water Products had a net margin of 13.83% and a return on equity of 22.34%. The firm had revenue of $318.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $315.26 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.25 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Mueller Water Products will post 1.24 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th were paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 10th. Mueller Water Productss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.22%. Insider Activity In related news, SVP Todd P. Helms sold 15,094 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.62, for a total transaction of $371,614.28. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 85,917 shares in the company, valued at $2,115,276.54. This represents a 14.94% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Brian C. Healy purchased 1,125 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 7th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $24.41 per share, for a total transaction of $27,461.25. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 17,925 shares in the company, valued at approximately $437,549.25. This trade represents a 6.70% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Mueller Water Products from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Robert W. Baird set a $33.00 price target on shares of Mueller Water Products in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $32.00 price objective (up from $30.00) on shares of Mueller Water Products in a report on Monday, February 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $31.33. Get Our Latest Report on Mueller Water Products Mueller Water Products Profile (Free Report) Mueller Water Products, Inc is a leading provider of water infrastructure and flow control products and services designed to help water utilities and municipalities manage, control and measure their water distribution systems. The companys portfolio includes a comprehensive range of products such as fire hydrants, valves, pipe repair systems, fittings and couplings, along with advanced metering and monitoring solutions. By combining traditional mechanical components with digital technologies, Mueller Water Products addresses the critical need for reliable and sustainable water distribution across North America. The companys operations are organized around two primary business segments. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MWA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mueller Water Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mueller Water Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in Ferguson plc (NYSE:FERG Free Report) by 62.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 57,633 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 22,186 shares during the quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Ferguson were worth $12,926,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of FERG. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. boosted its stake in Ferguson by 70.6% during the third quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 60,289 shares of the companys stock worth $13,540,000 after acquiring an additional 24,950 shares in the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 66.5% during the third quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 25,055 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,627,000 after purchasing an additional 10,004 shares during the last quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,964,000. Comgest Global Investors S.A.S. boosted its position in shares of Ferguson by 8.0% in the 3rd quarter. Comgest Global Investors S.A.S. now owns 68,883 shares of the companys stock worth $15,470,000 after purchasing an additional 5,109 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CenterBook Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,686,000. 81.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Ferguson alerts: Ferguson Trading Down 1.1% Shares of NYSE:FERG opened at $255.08 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.88 and a quick ratio of 1.01. Ferguson plc has a 1 year low of $146.00 and a 1 year high of $271.64. The company has a market cap of $49.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.77, a PEG ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.18. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $243.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $238.80. Ferguson Announces Dividend Ferguson ( NYSE:FERG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 9th. The company reported $2.84 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.77 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $8.17 billion during the quarter. Ferguson had a return on equity of 35.73% and a net margin of 6.28%.Fergusons quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.45 earnings per share. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.89 per share. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. Fergusons payout ratio is presently 35.96%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have issued reports on FERG. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Ferguson from $268.00 to $289.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Ferguson in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Ferguson from $237.00 to $246.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Ferguson from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $253.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on FERG Key Headlines Impacting Ferguson Here are the key news stories impacting Ferguson this week: Positive Sentiment: Ferguson plc declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.89 per share (record date Mar 6, payable Apr 30; ex-dividend Mar 6). The payout boosts shareholder income and supports the stocks yield profile (reported yield ~1.4%). Ferguson plc declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.89 per share (record date Mar 6, payable Apr 30; ex-dividend Mar 6). The payout boosts shareholder income and supports the stocks yield profile (reported yield ~1.4%). Positive Sentiment: Analysts maintain a favorable view: consensus rating reported as Moderate Buy, which may underpin demand from income and growth-focused investors. Ferguson plc Given Consensus Recommendation of Moderate Buy Analysts maintain a favorable view: consensus rating reported as Moderate Buy, which may underpin demand from income and growth-focused investors. Neutral Sentiment: Most headlines in the feed relate to Sarah Ferguson (ex-wife of Prince Andrew) a cluster of celebrity/royal scandal stories and business closures tied to her name. These are unrelated to Ferguson plcs operations and fundamentals but can create short-term name confusion in news/social feeds. Representative long-form coverage: Tainted by Scandal, the Former Princes Ex-wife and Daughters Keep a Low Profile Most headlines in the feed relate to Sarah Ferguson (ex-wife of Prince Andrew) a cluster of celebrity/royal scandal stories and business closures tied to her name. These are unrelated to Ferguson plcs operations and fundamentals but can create short-term name confusion in news/social feeds. Representative long-form coverage: Neutral Sentiment: Several outlets report dissolutions/closures of businesses linked to Sarah Ferguson; again, this concerns an individual and her private ventures, not Ferguson plc. Example: six businesses reportedly closing. Six businesses linked to former Prince Andrews ex-wife to close Several outlets report dissolutions/closures of businesses linked to Sarah Ferguson; again, this concerns an individual and her private ventures, not Ferguson plc. Example: six businesses reportedly closing. Neutral Sentiment: A separate local policy item mentions Ferguson and Republicans want a sales tax exemption on diapers in Washington. This appears to refer to a legislator or local actor, not Ferguson plc; relevance to the companys US operations is unclear. Ferguson and Republicans want a sales tax exemption on diapers About Ferguson (Free Report) Ferguson (NYSE: FERG) is a multinational distributor specializing in plumbing and heating products and related building supplies, serving professional contractors, builders and industrial customers. The company supplies a broad range of products used in residential, commercial and infrastructure projects, including pipes and fittings, valves and controls, HVAC equipment, waterworks materials, plumbing fixtures, pumps and accessories, as well as complementary electrical and specialty product lines. Ferguson operates a network of branches and distribution centers that provide inventory, logistics and value-added services to trade customers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ferguson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ferguson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 16.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 322,787 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 45,638 shares during the period. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $27,056,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in WFC. Norges Bank bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter worth about $3,990,551,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 54.9% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 16,635,681 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,332,851,000 after acquiring an additional 5,894,747 shares during the period. M&G PLC raised its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 320.3% during the third quarter. M&G PLC now owns 2,946,277 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $247,487,000 after acquiring an additional 2,245,307 shares in the last quarter. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 18.2% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 14,155,753 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,165,868,000 after acquiring an additional 2,180,693 shares during the period. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 8,010.7% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,973,730 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $158,135,000 after purchasing an additional 1,949,395 shares in the last quarter. 75.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: More Wells Fargo & Company News Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week: Insider Activity at Wells Fargo & Company Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth In related news, EVP Kleber Santos sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.72, for a total value of $2,193,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 79,876 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,006,722.72. This represents a 23.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. WFC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $85.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 13th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $102.00 to $100.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Truist Financial decreased their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $104.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $94.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $97.03. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on WFC Wells Fargo & Company Trading Up 1.2% Shares of WFC opened at $88.61 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $91.49 and its 200-day simple moving average is $86.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $278.17 billion, a PE ratio of 14.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.09. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12-month low of $58.42 and a 12-month high of $97.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.10. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.27% and a return on equity of 12.90%. The company had revenue of $11.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.63 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.43 EPS. Wells Fargo & Companys revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 6th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is 28.71%. About Wells Fargo & Company (Free Report) 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kidoz Inc. (CVE:KIDZ Get Free Report)s stock price was up 2.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as C$0.37 and last traded at C$0.36. Approximately 3,100 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 85% from the average daily volume of 20,877 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.35. Kidoz Stock Performance The business has a 50 day moving average of C$0.36 and a 200-day moving average of C$0.36. The company has a market capitalization of C$33.23 million, a P/E ratio of -28.09 and a beta of -1.69. Kidoz Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kidoz Inc develops and sells AdTech software products in Western Europe; Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe; North America; and internationally. The company also owns and develops mobile Kidoz safe ad network, the Kidoz kid-mode operating system, the Kidoz publisher SDK, the Rooplay edugames platform, and the Rooplay originals. In addition, it offers Rooplay, the cloud-based EduGame system for kids to learn and play. The company was formerly known as Shoal Games Ltd. and changed its name to Kidoz Inc in April 2019. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Kidoz Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kidoz and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. King Luther Capital Management Corp raised its position in Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 76.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 30,651 shares of the mining companys stock after buying an additional 13,279 shares during the quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corps holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $5,167,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AEM. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 13.4% in the third quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 1,133,384 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $192,951,000 after acquiring an additional 134,147 shares during the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd lifted its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 386.5% during the third quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 188,189 shares of the mining companys stock worth $31,703,000 after purchasing an additional 149,506 shares during the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 1,560.8% in the 3rd quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 48,677 shares of the mining companys stock worth $8,205,000 after purchasing an additional 45,746 shares in the last quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in the 3rd quarter worth about $23,958,000. Finally, Addenda Capital Inc. increased its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Addenda Capital Inc. now owns 724,231 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $122,076,000 after purchasing an additional 15,965 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.34% of the companys stock. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: Key Stories Impacting Agnico Eagle Mines Here are the key news stories impacting Agnico Eagle Mines this week: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded Agnico Eagle Mines from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $198.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating and issued a $280.00 price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Tuesday. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce set a $296.00 target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $189.00 target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research report on Sunday, December 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $234.91. Read Our Latest Stock Report on AEM Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Performance NYSE:AEM opened at $228.11 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $114.29 billion, a PE ratio of 25.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 0.63. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a fifty-two week low of $92.11 and a fifty-two week high of $229.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 2.02. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $194.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $170.83. Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM Get Free Report) (TSE:AEM) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The mining company reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.40 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 37.47% and a return on equity of 18.09%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 60.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.26 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 4.63 earnings per share for the current year. Agnico Eagle Mines Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. This is a positive change from Agnico Eagle Miness previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Agnico Eagle Miness payout ratio is currently 20.27%. Agnico Eagle Mines Company 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM Free Report) (TSE:AEM). Receive News & Ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD Free Report) from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report published on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has $335.00 target price on the stock. Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Lithia Motors from $358.00 to $355.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Lithia Motors from $385.00 to $399.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Lithia Motors from $390.00 to $380.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Evercore upped their price objective on shares of Lithia Motors from $440.00 to $500.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Benchmark reissued a buy rating on shares of Lithia Motors in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lithia Motors currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $386.00. Get Lithia Motors alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on LAD Lithia Motors Price Performance NYSE:LAD opened at $293.71 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $329.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $321.21. Lithia Motors has a 12 month low of $262.10 and a 12 month high of $363.78. The firm has a market cap of $7.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.14 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46. Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $6.74 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $8.09 by ($1.35). Lithia Motors had a net margin of 2.18% and a return on equity of 12.76%. The firm had revenue of $9.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $7.79 EPS. The businesss revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Lithia Motors will post 34.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Lithia Motors Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. Lithia Motorss payout ratio is presently 6.85%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Congdon Stacy Loretz sold 75 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $360.00, for a total value of $27,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 1,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $651,600. This represents a 3.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.87% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lithia Motors A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in Lithia Motors by 13.9% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 8,474 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,487,000 after buying an additional 1,032 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Lithia Motors by 67.6% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 113,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,272,000 after acquiring an additional 45,716 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 16.8% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 93,170 shares of the companys stock worth $27,349,000 after acquiring an additional 13,407 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of Lithia Motors by 79.7% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 381 shares of the companys stock worth $129,000 after purchasing an additional 169 shares during the period. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP increased its holdings in Lithia Motors by 27.9% in the 2nd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 881 shares of the companys stock valued at $298,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Lithia Motors Company Profile (Get Free Report) Lithia Motors, Inc is an American automotive retailer headquartered in Medford, Oregon. Founded in 1946 as a small auto body and glass shop, the company has grown through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to become one of the largest automotive retail networks in North America. Lithia operates dealerships across the United States and Canada, offering a broad portfolio of new and pre-owned vehicles from more than 40 different manufacturers. The companys core business activities include vehicle sales, financing, insurance, parts and service. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lithia Motors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lithia Motors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $660.55 and last traded at $650.6670, with a volume of 1349399 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $649.58. Key Lockheed Martin News Here are the key news stories impacting Lockheed Martin this week: Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently issued reports on LMT. Susquehanna reissued a positive rating and issued a $660.00 price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Thursday, January 15th. BNP Paribas Exane boosted their price target on Lockheed Martin from $550.00 to $570.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. DZ Bank cut Lockheed Martin from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $665.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. UBS Group raised their price target on Lockheed Martin from $580.00 to $663.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $605.00 to $695.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $612.50. Lockheed Martin Stock Performance The company has a fifty day moving average price of $563.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $501.83. The firm has a market cap of $151.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.05, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.94. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $5.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by ($0.53). The firm had revenue of $20.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.84 billion. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 108.53% and a net margin of 6.69%.Lockheed Martins revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $7.67 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 EPS for the current year. Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a dividend of $3.45 per share. This represents a $13.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. Lockheed Martins payout ratio is presently 64.22%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lockheed Martin Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in LMT. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.0% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,697,527 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $10,048,993,000 after buying an additional 214,565 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Lockheed Martin by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,638,936 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $4,178,399,000 after acquiring an additional 114,900 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its position in Lockheed Martin by 10.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,728,551 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,770,729,000 after acquiring an additional 527,523 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Lockheed Martin by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,884,954 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,256,147,000 after acquiring an additional 19,459 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Lockheed Martin by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,384,753 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,190,493,000 after acquiring an additional 79,491 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.19% of the companys stock. About Lockheed Martin (Get 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Lockheed Martin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lockheed Martin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Monaco Asset Management SAM bought a new position in YPF Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:YPF Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 20,000 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock, valued at approximately $486,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of YPF. North of South Capital LLP raised its stake in YPF Sociedad Anonima by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. North of South Capital LLP now owns 1,619,983 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $39,349,000 after acquiring an additional 69,634 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its stake in shares of YPF Sociedad Anonima by 55.7% in the second quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 3,379,408 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $106,282,000 after purchasing an additional 1,208,440 shares in the last quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of YPF Sociedad Anonima by 36.1% during the 3rd quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,017,000 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $48,993,000 after purchasing an additional 534,800 shares during the period. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of YPF Sociedad Anonima by 37.1% during the 2nd quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 128,502 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $4,041,000 after buying an additional 34,802 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fiera Capital Corp bought a new position in YPF Sociedad Anonima in the 2nd quarter worth $3,176,000. 10.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get YPF Sociedad Anonima alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets YPF has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Zacks Research cut YPF Sociedad Anonima from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of YPF Sociedad Anonima in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised YPF Sociedad Anonima from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, YPF Sociedad Anonima currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $41.67. YPF Sociedad Anonima Stock Performance NYSE YPF opened at $38.52 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.54. YPF Sociedad Anonima has a 1-year low of $22.82 and a 1-year high of $40.38. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $36.43 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $33.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.15 billion, a PE ratio of -32.64 and a beta of 1.43. YPF Sociedad Anonima Company Profile (Free Report) YPF Sociedad Anonima (NYSE: YPF) is an integrated oil and gas company headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The companys primary businesses encompass upstream exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, midstream transportation and storage, and downstream refining and distribution. YPF operates several major refineries and a nationwide network of service stations, supplying fuels, lubricants, and petrochemical products to both retail and industrial customers. Founded in 1922 as Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales, YPF was the worlds first stateowned oil company. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding YPF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for YPF Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:YPF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for YPF Sociedad Anonima Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for YPF Sociedad Anonima and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NewEdge Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 11,264 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $2,769,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in Installed Building Products by 3.5% in the third quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,265 shares of the construction companys stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank grew its stake in shares of Installed Building Products by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 6,589 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,625,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming increased its holdings in shares of Installed Building Products by 5.1% in the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,101 shares of the construction companys stock worth $199,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Installed Building Products by 31.8% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 224 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Installed Building Products by 14.0% during the 2nd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 439 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $78,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. 99.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Installed Building Products alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Evercore set a $265.00 price target on Installed Building Products in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an underweight rating and issued a $245.00 target price on shares of Installed Building Products in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Installed Building Products from $310.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a cautious rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Installed Building Products from $230.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Benchmark cut shares of Installed Building Products from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $239.45. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Michael H. Thomas sold 2,001 shares of Installed Building Products stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.28, for a total transaction of $536,828.28. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 8,373 shares in the company, valued at $2,246,308.44. This trade represents a 19.29% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 16.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Installed Building Products Price Performance IBP opened at $325.17 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $295.34 and a 200 day moving average of $271.52. The stock has a market cap of $8.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.00, a PEG ratio of 7.49 and a beta of 1.92. The company has a quick ratio of 2.28, a current ratio of 2.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. Installed Building Products, Inc. has a 52-week low of $150.83 and a 52-week high of $349.00. Installed Building Products Company Profile (Free Report) Installed Building Products, Inc (NYSE: IBP) is a leading national installer of specialty building products serving the U.S. residential construction market. The company partners with homebuilders and contractors to deliver a comprehensive range of interior and exterior finishing services, including insulation, drywall finishing, protective coatings and basement waterproofing systems. By offering a single-source solution, Installed Building Products helps streamline project coordination and ensures consistent service quality across multiple trades. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Installed Building Products has expanded from a regional insulation installer into a nationwide platform operating in nearly every state. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Installed Building Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Installed Building Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Notis McConarty Edward raised its holdings in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 38.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,304 shares of the payment services companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,472 shares during the period. Notis McConarty Edwards holdings in American Express were worth $1,762,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Gratus Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in American Express by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Gratus Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,712 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $1,233,000 after buying an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp grew its stake in shares of American Express by 10.0% during the third quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp now owns 308 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $105,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of American Express by 1.0% during the third quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,910 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $967,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of American Express by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,378 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $458,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sandy Cove Advisors LLC boosted its stake in American Express by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Sandy Cove Advisors LLC now owns 1,462 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $485,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the companys stock. Get American Express alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades AXP has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of American Express from $420.00 to $400.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Barclays upped their target price on American Express from $355.00 to $367.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on American Express from $385.00 to $375.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Wall Street Zen lowered American Express from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, November 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on American Express from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Express presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $352.73. Insider Activity In other news, insider Anna Marrs sold 27,425 shares of American Express stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.01, for a total transaction of $9,599,024.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 20,394 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,138,103.94. The trade was a 57.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Howard Grosfield sold 8,134 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $346.73, for a total transaction of $2,820,301.82. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 9,433 shares in the company, valued at $3,270,704.09. This trade represents a 46.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. American Express Price Performance Shares of AXP opened at $345.99 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $364.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $348.09. The company has a market capitalization of $237.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.14. American Express Company has a fifty-two week low of $220.43 and a fifty-two 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. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported $3.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.91 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.04 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. Research analysts predict that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current year. American Express Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd were given a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 2nd. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is currently 21.31%. More American Express News Here are the key news stories impacting American Express this week: 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 cobrand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express Company (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. News / National by Staff Reporter Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora reportedly told the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association annual conference in Victoria Falls last week that boarding schools can bar pupils from entering their premises if they have not paid fees for the term.The minister said the policy excluded day schools and only boarding schools were mandated to exclude pupils as they require the money for their day-to-day operations.Some boarding schools were yesterday turning away pupils for non-payment of fees ahead of today's opening of the second school term.In Bulawayo, pupils with no proof of payment were being turned away from buses transporting them from the City Hall car park to their respective schools.Some schools wanted pupils to have paid at least three quarters of the fees, with pupils being admitted on condition that their parents would have signed affidavits stating that the remaining fees would be paid by month-end.Some parents said the ongoing cash shortage and the late payment of salaries by some companies were making it difficult for them to settle arrears. oOh!media Limited (ASX:OML Get Free Report) insider Joanne (Joe) Pollard bought 18,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of A$1.08 per share, for a total transaction of A$19,887.50. Joanne (Joe) Pollard also recently made the following trade(s): Get oOh!media alerts: On Thursday, December 18th, Joanne (Joe) Pollard purchased 5,300 shares of oOh!media stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of A$1.33 per share, for a total transaction of A$7,022.50. oOh!media Stock Performance The stock has a market capitalization of $662.70 million, a P/E ratio of 19.49, a PEG ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 1.90. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 128.43. oOh!media Dividend Announcement About oOh!media The business also recently disclosed a Final dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.04 per share. This represents a yield of 376.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 24th. oOh!medias dividend payout ratio is presently 83.33%. (Get Free Report) 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for oOh!media Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for oOh!media and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its stake in shares of Two Harbors Investments Corp (NYSE:TWO Free Report) by 14.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 406,202 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 51,520 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Boards holdings in Two Harbors Investments were worth $4,009,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Two Harbors Investments during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. AlphaQuest LLC boosted its holdings in Two Harbors Investments by 240.4% during the 2nd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 3,370 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 2,380 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in Two Harbors Investments by 456.0% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,465 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 4,482 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP grew its stake in shares of Two Harbors Investments by 25.0% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 8,250 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $89,000 after acquiring an additional 1,651 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Two Harbors Investments in the third quarter valued at about $107,000. Institutional investors own 64.19% of the companys stock. Get Two Harbors Investments alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Two Harbors Investments news, insider Rebecca B. Sandberg sold 27,370 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.43, for a total transaction of $312,839.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 156,718 shares in the company, valued at $1,791,286.74. This trade represents a 14.87% 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, CIO Nicholas Letica sold 55,488 shares of Two Harbors Investments stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.42, for a total transaction of $633,672.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive owned 166,507 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,901,509.94. The trade was a 25.00% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 129,389 shares of company stock worth $1,483,046 in the last quarter. 0.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently weighed in on TWO. Zacks Research cut shares of Two Harbors Investments from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Two Harbors Investments from $13.50 to $12.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d) rating on shares of Two Harbors Investments in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Maxim Group downgraded Two Harbors Investments from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Two Harbors Investments from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average price target of $12.88. View Our Latest Analysis on TWO Two Harbors Investments Trading Down 3.6% Shares of TWO stock opened at $10.76 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $11.68 and a 200-day moving average of $10.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. Two Harbors Investments Corp has a 12-month low of $9.30 and a 12-month high of $14.28. The firm has a market cap of $1.13 billion, a P/E ratio of -2.20 and a beta of 1.19. Two Harbors Investments (NYSE:TWO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 2nd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.30 by ($0.04). Two Harbors Investments had a negative net margin of 109.90% and a positive return on equity of 12.00%. The firm had revenue of $182.18 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of ($15.44) million. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Two Harbors Investments Corp will post 0.81 earnings per share for the current year. Two Harbors Investments Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 5th were paid a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 5th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 12.6%. Two Harbors Investmentss dividend payout ratio is presently -27.81%. Two Harbors Investments Company Profile (Free Report) Two Harbors Investments Corp. is a mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) that primarily invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises, as well as non-agency residential mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights and credit risk transfer securities. The company seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its shareholders by employing leverage to enhance net interest income derived from its portfolio of high-quality fixed-income assets. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Two Harbors operates through a self-managed platform that combines portfolio management, risk-management and securitization expertise. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Two Harbors Investments Corp (NYSE:TWO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Two Harbors Investments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Two Harbors Investments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its position in shares of Centerspace (NYSE:CSR Free Report) by 14.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 65,352 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,287 shares during the quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Boards holdings in Centerspace were worth $3,849,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Centerspace by 307.3% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 184,051 shares of the companys stock worth $11,917,000 after buying an additional 138,861 shares in the last quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP purchased a new position in Centerspace in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $7,662,000. Strs Ohio lifted its position in Centerspace by 3,025.8% in the 2nd quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 96,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,832,000 after acquiring an additional 93,800 shares in the last quarter. Cbre Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC boosted its stake in Centerspace by 131.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cbre Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC now owns 133,241 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,020,000 after purchasing an additional 75,773 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Phocas Financial Corp. boosted its stake in Centerspace by 120.0% during the 2nd quarter. Phocas Financial Corp. now owns 122,028 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,345,000 after purchasing an additional 66,565 shares during the last quarter. 79.00% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Centerspace alerts: Centerspace Stock Performance Shares of CSR opened at $62.36 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 62.36 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.04 and a quick ratio of 0.18. Centerspace has a one year low of $52.76 and a one year high of $69.15. The business has a fifty day moving average of $65.08 and a 200 day moving average of $61.85. Centerspace Announces Dividend Centerspace ( NYSE:CSR Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The company reported ($1.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.21 by ($2.31). The firm had revenue of $66.62 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $69.77 million. Centerspace had a return on equity of 2.00% and a net margin of 6.25%.Centerspace has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.810-5.050 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Centerspace will post 4.94 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 14th. Investors of record on Monday, March 30th will be issued a $0.77 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 30th. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.9%. Centerspaces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 308.00%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have recently weighed in on CSR. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a neutral rating and issued a $65.00 price target on shares of Centerspace in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Centerspace in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Centerspace from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Saturday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Centerspace in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Centerspace from $60.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Centerspace has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $70.29. Read Our Latest Analysis on CSR About Centerspace (Free Report) Centerspace is an owner and operator of apartment communities committed to providing great homes by focusing on integrity and serving others. Founded in 1970, as of September 30, 2023, Centerspace owned interests in 71 apartment communities consisting of 12,785 apartment homes located in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Centerspace was named a Top Workplace for the fourth consecutive year in 2023 by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CSR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Centerspace (NYSE:CSR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Centerspace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centerspace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raiffeisen Bank International AG lowered its stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report) by 5.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 22,925 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 1,313 shares during the period. Raiffeisen Bank International AGs holdings in Mettler-Toledo International were worth $27,312,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 1.6% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 510 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $626,000 after buying an additional 8 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 42.1% in the third quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 27 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares during the period. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 4.0% in the third quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 207 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $254,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares during the period. Meridian Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 480 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $589,000 after purchasing an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Greenleaf Trust grew its stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 784 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $962,000 after purchasing an additional 9 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.07% of the companys stock. Get Mettler-Toledo International alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CFO Shawn Vadala sold 800 shares of Mettler-Toledo International stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,410.12, for a total transaction of $1,128,096.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 5,288 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,456,714.56. The trade was a 13.14% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider La Guerroniere Marc De sold 6,055 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,488.18, for a total value of $9,010,929.90. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 187 shares of the companys stock, valued at $278,289.66. The trade was a 97.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders sold 8,880 shares of company stock valued at $13,138,326. 1.94% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Mettler-Toledo International Stock Up 0.0% Shares of MTD stock opened at $1,377.04 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $1,413.42 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,367.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.00 billion, a PE ratio of 32.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.42. Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. has a 52 week low of $946.69 and a 52 week high of $1,525.17. Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $13.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $12.76 by $0.60. The company had revenue of $1.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.10 billion. Mettler-Toledo International had a negative return on equity of 495.07% and a net margin of 21.59%.Mettler-Toledo Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $12.41 EPS. Mettler-Toledo International has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 8.600-8.750 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 46.050-46.700 EPS. Analysts expect that Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. will post 42.71 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently issued reports on MTD. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,600.00 to $1,700.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,550.00 to $1,475.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Mettler-Toledo International in a report on Monday, December 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Mettler-Toledo International in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. They issued a neutral rating and a $1,475.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,600.00 to $1,550.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,435.42. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Mettler-Toledo International Mettler-Toledo International Company Profile (Free Report) Mettler-Toledo International Inc is a global manufacturer and distributor of precision instruments and services for laboratory, industrial and food retail applications. The companys product portfolio includes laboratory balances and analytical instruments, industrial weighing systems, process analytics and sensors, metal detection and x-ray inspection equipment, checkweighers, and a range of automated inspection and data-management solutions. Mettler-Toledo also provides software, calibration and lifecycle services intended to support compliance, quality control and operational efficiency across customer facilities. The company serves a broad set of end markets including pharmaceutical and biotech laboratories, chemical and food processors, logistics and manufacturing operations, and retail environments where accurate weighing and inspection are critical. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mettler-Toledo International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mettler-Toledo International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sava Infond d.o.o. grew its position in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 17.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 16,820 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,500 shares during the period. Sava Infond d.o.o.s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $3,119,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in JNJ. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 237,047,859 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,209,060,000 after purchasing an additional 3,085,180 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 2.1% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 60,609,476 shares of the companys stock worth $9,227,988,000 after buying an additional 1,225,676 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Johnson & Johnson in the second quarter valued at approximately $4,877,174,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 3.5% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 24,637,649 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,568,313,000 after acquiring an additional 835,146 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 18,951,337 shares of the companys stock worth $2,894,979,000 after acquiring an additional 52,074 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.55% of the companys stock. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 22,623 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $244.33, for a total value of $5,527,477.59. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 26,769 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,540,469.77. The trade was a 45.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total value of $1,508,287.83. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 23,003 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,598,700.17. This trade represents a 21.22% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock. Johnson & Johnson Stock Down 1.9% Shares of Johnson & Johnson stock opened at $242.27 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $583.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The business has a 50-day moving average of $221.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $199.04. Johnson & Johnson has a 1 year low of $141.50 and a 1 year high of $246.96. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current year. Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be given 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 dividend payout ratio is currently 47.06%. Key Headlines Impacting Johnson & Johnson Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week: Positive Sentiment: Clinical and regulatory wins for oncology: J&J reported strong Phase 1b/2 data for subcutaneous amivantamab (RYBREVANT FASPRO) in head & neck cancer and has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy attention and a separate monthlydosing approval that can improve patient convenience and commercial uptake. These outcomes support the pharma growth story and were cited as a reason for recent buying interest. RYBREVANT clinical results Clinical and regulatory wins for oncology: J&J reported strong Phase 1b/2 data for subcutaneous amivantamab (RYBREVANT FASPRO) in head & neck cancer and has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy attention and a separate monthlydosing approval that can improve patient convenience and commercial uptake. These outcomes support the pharma growth story and were cited as a reason for recent buying interest. Positive Sentiment: Potential strategic catalyst: reports say J&J is preparing a possible ~$20B sale of its orthopedics unit a deal could unlock value, boost cash for buybacks/dividends or speed a planned separation, which traders view as a material upside catalyst if executed. Reuters on orthopedics sale Potential strategic catalyst: reports say J&J is preparing a possible ~$20B sale of its orthopedics unit a deal could unlock value, boost cash for buybacks/dividends or speed a planned separation, which traders view as a material upside catalyst if executed. Positive Sentiment: Capital investment and dividend support: J&J announced a $1B investment in a Pennsylvania celltherapy facility and recently raised its quarterly dividend to $1.30 both reinforce the companys longterm growth capacity and income appeal for dividend investors. Fox Business on $1B investment Capital investment and dividend support: J&J announced a $1B investment in a Pennsylvania celltherapy facility and recently raised its quarterly dividend to $1.30 both reinforce the companys longterm growth capacity and income appeal for dividend investors. Neutral Sentiment: Options and sentiment flow: unusually high call buying (41,649 calls, ~45% above typical daily call volume) and amplified options chatter are increasing intraday volatility and can intensify moves without changing fundamentals watch open interest and directional concentration. Benzinga on options trends Options and sentiment flow: unusually high call buying (41,649 calls, ~45% above typical daily call volume) and amplified options chatter are increasing intraday volatility and can intensify moves without changing fundamentals watch open interest and directional concentration. Neutral Sentiment: Positive postearnings momentum: coverage (Zacks/TipRanks/others) notes JNJ is up since earnings as investors rerate pharma catalysts and dividends helpful for sentiment but incremental vs. material corporate events. Zacks on postearnings move Positive postearnings momentum: coverage (Zacks/TipRanks/others) notes JNJ is up since earnings as investors rerate pharma catalysts and dividends helpful for sentiment but incremental vs. material corporate events. Negative Sentiment: Analyst caveat: Rothschild & Co Redburn raised its price target to $210 but kept a neutral rating the PT sits below the current share price, signaling downside risk and giving traders a reason to trim positions. MarketScreener on Rothschild PT Analyst caveat: Rothschild & Co Redburn raised its price target to $210 but kept a neutral rating the PT sits below the current share price, signaling downside risk and giving traders a reason to trim positions. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: recent sales by senior executives (disclosed Form 4s) are prompting some investor concern about nearterm profittaking and are adding selling pressure. SEC filing on insider sell Insider selling: recent sales by senior executives (disclosed Form 4s) are prompting some investor concern about nearterm profittaking and are adding selling pressure. Negative Sentiment: Legal overhang: ongoing talc litigation and verdict coverage continue to create valuation uncertainty and cap multiple expansion despite operational positives. Yahoo Finance on talc risk Analysts Set New Price Targets JNJ has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup increased their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $232.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Guggenheim increased their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $227.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and set a $250.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $205.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Johnson & Johnson presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $232.70. View Our Latest Analysis on JNJ 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Siligmueller & Norvid Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report) during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor acquired 12,436 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,879,000. AbbVie accounts for approximately 1.3% of Siligmueller & Norvid Wealth Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Diversified Trust Co boosted its stake in shares of AbbVie by 23.6% during the third quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 57,076 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,215,000 after acquiring an additional 10,891 shares during the last quarter. Permanent Capital Management LP purchased a new position in AbbVie in the 3rd quarter valued at about $720,000. Railway Pension Investments Ltd boosted its stake in shares of AbbVie by 33.0% during the 3rd quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd now owns 853,949 shares of the companys stock worth $197,723,000 after purchasing an additional 211,800 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors grew its holdings in shares of AbbVie by 9.4% during the third quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 113,925 shares of the companys stock worth $26,378,000 after buying an additional 9,811 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Trust Co grew its holdings in shares of AbbVie by 93.4% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 32,105 shares of the companys stock worth $7,434,000 after buying an additional 15,502 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.23% of the companys stock. Get AbbVie alerts: AbbVie Trading Up 0.3% ABBV stock opened at $224.94 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $397.56 billion, a PE ratio of 95.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.35. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $224.04 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $221.89. AbbVie Inc. has a 12-month low of $164.39 and a 12-month high of $244.81. AbbVie Dividend Announcement AbbVie ( NYSE:ABBV Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. AbbVie had a negative return on equity of 4,184.47% and a net margin of 6.91%.The business had revenue of $16.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.39 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.16 EPS. The companys revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. AbbVie has set its FY 2026 guidance at 14.370-14.570 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 2.970-3.010 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that AbbVie Inc. will post 12.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 15th will be issued a $1.73 dividend. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 15th. AbbVies dividend payout ratio is currently 293.22%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently issued reports on ABBV shares. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of AbbVie from $235.00 to $230.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. DZ Bank cut AbbVie from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $237.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Evercore lowered their price objective on AbbVie from $232.00 to $228.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on AbbVie from $289.00 to $299.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on AbbVie from $240.00 to $230.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AbbVie currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $252.79. View Our Latest Stock Report on AbbVie Key AbbVie News Here are the key news stories impacting AbbVie this week: AbbVie Company Profile (Free Report) AbbVie is a global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company that was created as a spin-off from Abbott Laboratories in 2013 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois. The company focuses on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies for complex and often chronic medical conditions. Its operations span research and development, manufacturing, regulatory affairs and commercialization, with an emphasis on bringing specialty medicines to market across multiple therapeutic areas. AbbVies product portfolio and pipeline cover several major therapeutic categories, including immunology, oncology, neuroscience, virology and womens health. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABBV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AbbVie Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AbbVie and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Smead Capital Management Inc. lessened its position in shares of Macerich Company (The) (NYSE:MAC Free Report) by 7.1% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 14,931,924 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,142,078 shares during the quarter. Macerich comprises approximately 5.2% of Smead Capital Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 5th largest position. Smead Capital Management Inc. owned approximately 0.06% of Macerich worth $271,761,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Nordea Investment Management AB acquired a new stake in Macerich in the 3rd quarter valued at $5,326,000. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al lifted its stake in shares of Macerich by 35.0% during the third quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al now owns 724,233 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $13,181,000 after purchasing an additional 187,900 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Macerich by 39.2% in the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 388,219 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $7,066,000 after buying an additional 109,413 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its stake in shares of Macerich by 1,110.2% in the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 185,832 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,382,000 after buying an additional 170,477 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Macerich in the second quarter valued at about $18,368,000. 87.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Macerich alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently commented on MAC. Scotiabank boosted their price target on Macerich from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Mizuho set a $21.00 target price on shares of Macerich in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Macerich from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $21.00 price objective on shares of Macerich in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of Macerich in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $19.76. Macerich Stock Up 2.4% MAC stock opened at $20.25 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.19 billion, a P/E ratio of -26.29, a PEG ratio of 4.39 and a beta of 2.16. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $18.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of $17.93. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.01. Macerich Company has a twelve month low of $12.48 and a twelve month high of $20.65. Macerich (NYSE:MAC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 18th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.50). The company had revenue of $261.70 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $260.48 million. Macerich had a negative net margin of 19.44% and a negative return on equity of 7.32%. The companys revenue was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.47 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Macerich Company will post 1.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Macerich Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. Macerichs payout ratio is currently -42.77%. Macerich Company Profile (Free Report) The Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of regional shopping centers in the United States. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, the company focuses on high-quality retail properties, including enclosed malls, open-air centers and mixed-use lifestyle destinations. Since its establishment as a REIT in 1994, Macerich has pursued a disciplined strategy of investing in properties that serve strong consumer demographics and offer long-term growth potential. Macerichs core activities encompass property and asset management, leasing, marketing and redevelopment services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Macerich Company (The) (NYSE:MAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Macerich Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Macerich and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stevens Capital Management LP grew its position in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report) by 61.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 31,162 shares of the aircraft producers stock after buying an additional 11,819 shares during the quarter. Boeing accounts for approximately 0.9% of Stevens Capital Management LPs holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Stevens Capital Management LPs holdings in Boeing were worth $6,726,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Boeing by 1.7% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 66,773,360 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $13,991,022,000 after acquiring an additional 1,118,316 shares during the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd acquired a new stake in Boeing during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $192,734,000. Amundi increased its position in shares of Boeing by 75.5% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 1,776,634 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $376,700,000 after acquiring an additional 764,236 shares in the last quarter. Newport Trust Company LLC increased its holdings in Boeing by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Newport Trust Company LLC now owns 29,198,446 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $6,301,901,000 after purchasing an additional 707,490 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Boeing by 3,581.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 711,824 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $149,149,000 after buying an additional 692,489 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.82% of the companys stock. Get Boeing alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets BA has been the topic of several analyst reports. Vertical Research reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $281.00 price target on shares of Boeing in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Boeing in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Boeing from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Boeing from $245.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Boeing in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Boeing has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $246.14. Key Stories Impacting Boeing Here are the key news stories impacting Boeing this week: Boeing Stock Performance BA opened at $232.01 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $232.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of $219.90. The firm has a market cap of $182.21 billion, a PE ratio of 115.43 and a beta of 1.15. The Boeing Company has a fifty-two week low of $128.88 and a fifty-two week high of $254.35. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.37. Boeing (NYSE:BA Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The aircraft producer reported $9.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 in the prior year, the company posted ($5.90) earnings per share. Boeings quarterly revenue was up 57.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Boeing news, SVP Ann M. Schmidt sold 6,281 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.37, for a total value of $1,528,606.97. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 13,978 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,401,825.86. This represents a 31.00% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Howard E. Mckenzie sold 10,497 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 19,509 shares of company stock worth $4,629,316. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Boeing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boeing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sun Life Financial Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (NYSEARCA:EWS Free Report) by 20.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,462,159 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 252,559 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF comprises approximately 2.1% of Sun Life Financial Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Sun Life Financial Inc. owned 4.75% of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF worth $41,438,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Marvin & Palmer Associates Inc. acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $110,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 16.3% during the second quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 6,447 shares of the companys stock valued at $167,000 after purchasing an additional 903 shares in the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF in the second quarter worth about $207,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 27.2% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 8,598 shares of the companys stock valued at $244,000 after buying an additional 1,836 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. grew its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,467 shares of the companys stock valued at $268,000 after buying an additional 906 shares in the last quarter. 52.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get iShares MSCI Singapore ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Trading Up 1.4% iShares MSCI Singapore ETF stock opened at $29.43 on Friday. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF has a 52 week low of $20.08 and a 52 week high of $29.65. The stock has a market cap of $801.97 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.28 and a beta of 0.69. The companys 50-day moving average price is $28.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $28.20. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Profile iShares MSCI Singapore ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund (ETF). The Funds seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Singapore Index (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Singapore 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. The Funds investment advisor is BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (NYSEARCA:EWS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Surge Energy Inc. (OTCMKTS:ZPTAF Get Free Report)s stock price rose 1.4% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $6.00 and last traded at $5.74. Approximately 51,887 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 9% from the average daily volume of 56,839 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.66. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Raymond James Financial downgraded Surge Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Two 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, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Surge Energy alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Surge Energy Surge Energy Stock Down 0.1% Surge Energy Cuts Dividend The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $5.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.09. The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were given a dividend of $0.0309 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 717.0%. Surge Energys dividend payout ratio is 104.97%. Surge Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Surge Energy Inc is a Calgary-based oil and natural gas exploration and production company trading on the OTC Markets under the ticker ZPTAF. The company focuses on the development of light crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas assets across western Canada. Surges operations emphasize efficient capital deployment and cost control to optimize production from its resource plays. Surge Energy holds acreage in key western Canadian resource basins, including the Montney and Duvernay formations in Alberta, the Viking play in Saskatchewan and the Mannville group in Alberta. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Surge Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Surge Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. News / Regional by Staff reporter The government says the Victoria Falls International Airport will be operational by the end of November this year.This came out after a tour of the new airport terminal by government ministers and visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Zhang Xiangchen.Mr Zhang arrived in Victoria Falls late Wednesday afternoon and was met by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Joram Gumbo, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgar Mbwembwe, senior government officials and stakeholders in the tourism sector.The delegation immediately proceeded to a tour the new international terminal, where Gumbo revealed that the objective of Mr Zhang's visit is to inspect the airport expansion project which is now 95% complete."This work is being done with Chinese assistance so he is coming to have a look at what has happened so far, and also to make sure that the project is finished on time because there are many other projects that we would like to do with the Chinese," he said.The expansion project which includes a new international terminal building, a new 4-kilometre runway with associated taxiways, aprons, air navigation systems, control tower and fire station among other facilities was funded through a concessionary loan facility of $150 million by the China Exim bank. Temenos (OTCMKTS:TMNSF Get Free Report) is expected to announce its results before the market opens on Tuesday, February 24th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.27 per share and revenue of $304.8680 million for the quarter. Temenos Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:TMNSF remained flat at $82.60 during trading on Friday. Temenos has a 12 month low of $74.49 and a 12 month high of $96.80. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $85.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $85.71. Get Temenos alerts: About Temenos (Get Free Report) Temenos AG is a Swiss-based provider of banking software and services, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to meet the needs of retail banks, corporate financial institutions, private banks, microfinance organizations and credit unions. The companys flagship platform, Temenos Transact, delivers core banking capabilities, while Temenos Infinity supports digital front-office operations. Together, these systems enable banks to manage deposits, lending, payments, customer relationships, analytics and regulatory compliance on a unified, API-driven architecture. In addition to core and digital banking applications, Temenos develops specialized modules for risk management, revenue assurance, treasury operations, anti-financial crime and wealth management. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Temenos Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Temenos and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sava Infond d.o.o. grew its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report) by 22.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,390 shares of the medical research companys stock after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the quarter. Sava Infond d.o.o.s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $2,614,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Raiffeisen Bank International AG grew its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 48.7% during the 3rd quarter. Raiffeisen Bank International AG now owns 159,161 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $73,539,000 after purchasing an additional 52,118 shares during the period. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management boosted its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.7% during the third quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 5,107 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,477,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.6% in the third quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. now owns 2,388 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,158,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the third quarter worth about $1,924,000. Finally, Mendel Money Management boosted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Mendel Money Management now owns 11,413 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $5,536,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. 89.23% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Thermo Fisher Scientific alerts: Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Down 0.8% Shares of TMO opened at $510.96 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $579.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $545.43. The stock has a market cap of $191.97 billion, a PE ratio of 28.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 52-week low of $385.46 and a 52-week high of $643.99. Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The medical research company reported $6.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.45 by $0.12. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 15.05% and a return on equity of 16.92%. The firm had revenue of $12.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.95 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.10 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Thermo Fisher Scientific declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, November 6th that permits the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the medical research company to purchase up to 2.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently weighed in on TMO. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $583.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $696.00 to $683.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 30th. HSBC upgraded Thermo Fisher Scientific from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 1st. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $615.00 price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $660.00 to $685.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $633.68. View Our Latest Report on Thermo Fisher Scientific Insider Buying and Selling In other news, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $541.20, for a total value of $216,480.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 20,752 shares in the company, valued at $11,230,982.40. This represents a 1.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Frederick M. Lowery sold 6,913 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $597.68, for a total value of $4,131,761.84. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 14,367 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,586,868.56. The trade was a 32.49% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 108,996 shares of company stock valued at $63,355,935. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile (Free Report) Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, software, and services that support research, clinical, and industrial laboratories. The company supplies analytical instruments and laboratory equipment, life sciences reagents and kits, specialty diagnostics, and a broad range of consumables used by researchers, clinicians, and manufacturers. Its offerings also include laboratory information management and data-analysis software, as well as service solutions such as instrument maintenance, validation, and logistics that help customers run complex workflows efficiently. Thermo Fisher operates through multiple business areas that broadly cover life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services, including contract development and manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. reduced its stake in Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC Free Report) by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,240,809 shares of the companys stock after selling 140,087 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 0.10% of Encompass Health worth $1,300,788,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Encompass Health in the 2nd quarter valued at about $139,536,000. 8 Knots Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Encompass Health during the second quarter valued at approximately $78,644,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its position in shares of Encompass Health by 57.8% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 1,194,859 shares of the companys stock worth $151,544,000 after purchasing an additional 437,464 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in shares of Encompass Health in the 2nd quarter worth $34,719,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 31.5% during the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 1,143,642 shares of the companys stock valued at $140,245,000 after buying an additional 274,142 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.25% of the companys stock. Get Encompass Health alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Encompass Health from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, January 18th. Barclays raised their target price on Encompass Health from $150.00 to $153.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Encompass Health from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Encompass Health to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $143.29. Encompass Health Stock Performance Shares of EHC opened at $106.59 on Friday. Encompass Health Corporation has a 52-week low of $92.53 and a 52-week high of $127.99. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $103.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $114.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.73. Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $1.46 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.17. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 18.20% and a net margin of 9.54%.The business had revenue of $3.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.54 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.17 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Encompass Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.810-6.100 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Encompass Health Corporation will post 4.8 EPS for the current fiscal year. Encompass Health Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 1st will be paid a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Encompass Healths dividend payout ratio is currently 13.72%. Key Encompass Health News Here are the key news stories impacting Encompass Health this week: Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised several nearterm and multiyear earnings forecasts for EHC (multiple quarterly upgrades for Q1Q4 2026 and Q1Q4 2027 and FY2026$6.03, FY2027$6.32, FY2028$7.13), signaling better-than-expected profitability trends. This upward revision cadence supports higher future earnings expectations and is bullish for the stock. Zacks Research raised several nearterm and multiyear earnings forecasts for EHC (multiple quarterly upgrades for Q1Q4 2026 and Q1Q4 2027 and FY2026$6.03, FY2027$6.32, FY2028$7.13), signaling better-than-expected profitability trends. This upward revision cadence supports higher future earnings expectations and is bullish for the stock. Positive Sentiment: Encompass Health declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share (record Apr 1; payable Apr 15), a sign of steady cash flow and shareholder return policy; the yield is modest (~0.7%) but supports income-oriented investors. Encompass Health declares dividend on common stock Encompass Health declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share (record Apr 1; payable Apr 15), a sign of steady cash flow and shareholder return policy; the yield is modest (~0.7%) but supports income-oriented investors. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks maintained a Hold rating despite the estimate upgrades, indicating the firm sees upside limited relative to risk this tempering of conviction may blunt an otherwise stronger rally. Zacks maintained a Hold rating despite the estimate upgrades, indicating the firm sees upside limited relative to risk this tempering of conviction may blunt an otherwise stronger rally. Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary and postearnings analysis pieces are circulating (e.g., Q4 analysis and buy/sell/hold writeups) that could influence short-term flows as investors digest the Q4 beat and management guidance. Encompass Health (EHC): Buy, sell, or hold post Q4 earnings? Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Mark J. Tarr sold 150,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.64, for a total transaction of $16,746,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 377,070 shares in the company, valued at $42,096,094.80. The trade was a 28.46% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Encompass Health Profile (Free Report) Encompass Health Corporation is a leading provider of postacute healthcare services in the United States, operating a comprehensive network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health and hospice agencies. Its inpatient rehabilitation hospitals offer intensive therapy programs for patients recovering from conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cardiac and pulmonary disorders, and orthopedic procedures. Through its home health segment, Encompass Health delivers skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to patients in the comfort of their homes, while its hospice services provide endoflife care focused on symptom management and emotional support for patients and families. Founded in 1984 as HealthSouth Corporation and rebranded as Encompass Health in 2018, the company has grown organically and through acquisitions to serve patients across more than 30 states. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EHC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Encompass Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Encompass Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. reduced its stake in shares of DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE:DTM Free Report) by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 11,275,674 shares of the companys stock after selling 76,104 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 0.11% of DT Midstream worth $1,274,828,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of DT Midstream by 7.8% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 871,636 shares of the companys stock worth $98,538,000 after buying an additional 63,438 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in DT Midstream by 6.5% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 29,525 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,338,000 after acquiring an additional 1,802 shares during the period. Florida Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in DT Midstream by 39.0% in the 3rd quarter. Florida Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8,089 shares of the companys stock worth $915,000 after purchasing an additional 2,269 shares in the last quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. boosted its position in DT Midstream by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 15,066 shares of the companys stock worth $1,703,000 after purchasing an additional 438 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of DT Midstream by 32.7% during the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 8,807 shares of the companys stock worth $996,000 after purchasing an additional 2,170 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.53% of the companys stock. Get DT Midstream alerts: DT Midstream Stock Up 2.7% Shares of NYSE DTM opened at $135.96 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $13.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.77. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $123.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $114.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. DT Midstream, Inc. has a 52-week low of $83.30 and a 52-week high of $136.52. DT Midstream Increases Dividend DT Midstream ( NYSE:DTM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.11 by ($0.03). DT Midstream had a net margin of 35.48% and a return on equity of 9.16%. The company had revenue of $317.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $320.07 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.94 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that DT Midstream, Inc. will post 3.8 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be paid a $0.88 dividend. This is a boost from DT Midstreams previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. DT Midstreams dividend payout ratio is presently 82.83%. Key Stories Impacting DT Midstream Here are the key news stories impacting DT Midstream this week: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays increased their price target on shares of DT Midstream from $114.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $148.00 price objective on shares of DT Midstream and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday. UBS Group raised their target price on DT Midstream from $128.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of DT Midstream in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Mizuho increased their price target on DT Midstream from $108.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $130.82. Read Our Latest Stock Report on DTM DT Midstream Company Profile (Free Report) DT Midstream Inc (NYSE: DTM) is a midstream energy company that owns and operates infrastructure for gathering, processing and treating hydrocarbons and produced water. Its core business activities encompass natural gas gathering, cryogenic processing, natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionation, and produced-water handling services. These integrated operations enable the company to capture and transport multiple hydrocarbon streams from wellhead to market and to provide essential water management solutions. The companys asset footprint is concentrated in the Delaware Basin in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where it serves a diverse range of exploration and production customers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DTM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE:DTM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for DT Midstream Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DT Midstream and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NewEdge Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ Free Report) by 185.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 95,853 shares of the cell phone carriers stock after purchasing an additional 62,219 shares during the period. NewEdge Wealth LLCs holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $4,213,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in VZ. TruNorth Capital Management LLC increased its position in Verizon Communications by 95.3% in the 3rd quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 625 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 739.5% in the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 680 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Silicon Valley Capital Partners increased its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 52.4% in the second quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners now owns 782 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 269 shares during the period. Finally, Richardson Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the third quarter worth approximately $35,000. 62.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Verizon Communications alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently weighed in on VZ. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Verizon Communications from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Monday, January 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Williams Trading set a $54.00 price target on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $51.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $49.02. Insider Transactions at Verizon Communications In other Verizon Communications news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total transaction of $429,905.52. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 44,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,976,739.60. The trade was a 17.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Verizon Communications News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Verizon Communications this week: Positive Sentiment: Daiwa Capital upgraded Verizon, a bullish broker action that likely helped lift sentiment and buying interest in the stock. Daiwa Capital upgrades Verizon Communications (VZ) Daiwa Capital upgraded Verizon, a bullish broker action that likely helped lift sentiment and buying interest in the stock. Positive Sentiment: Brokerage coverage shows a constructive tilt: an aggregate Moderate Buy consensus helps validate demand among institutional investors and supports the stocks rebound. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Receives Average Rating of Moderate Buy from Brokerages Brokerage coverage shows a constructive tilt: an aggregate Moderate Buy consensus helps validate demand among institutional investors and supports the stocks rebound. Positive Sentiment: Dividend-focused coverage is highlighting Verizon as a reliable income name this year, which can attract retail and institutional dividend-seeking flows that support the share price. Retirees Are Winning Big in 2026: 3 Popular Dividend Stocks Are Soaring Dividend-focused coverage is highlighting Verizon as a reliable income name this year, which can attract retail and institutional dividend-seeking flows that support the share price. Positive Sentiment: Underlying fundamentals remain supportive: Verizon beat Q4 revenue and EPS expectations and set FY2026 EPS guidance near $4.904.95, which gives investors confidence in cash flow and dividend coverage. (Company Q4 earnings release) Underlying fundamentals remain supportive: Verizon beat Q4 revenue and EPS expectations and set FY2026 EPS guidance near $4.904.95, which gives investors confidence in cash flow and dividend coverage. (Company Q4 earnings release) Neutral Sentiment: Analysis pieces are debating whether the recent price rebound already reflects Verizons longterm value useful reading for investors weighing further entry points versus taking profits. Is Verizon (VZ) Pricing Reflect Long Term Value After Recent Share Price Rebound Analysis pieces are debating whether the recent price rebound already reflects Verizons longterm value useful reading for investors weighing further entry points versus taking profits. Negative Sentiment: Balance-sheet and liquidity metrics remain points of caution: debt-to-equity is elevated and current/quick ratios are below 1, which could constrain capital flexibility if macro or capex pressures rise. Verizon Communications Stock Performance NYSE:VZ opened at $49.24 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $42.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The stock has a market cap of $207.70 billion, a PE ratio of 12.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.33. Verizon Communications Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $38.39 and a fifty-two week high of $50.24. Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.43% and a return on equity of 19.03%. The firm had revenue of $36.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.20 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.10 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. Analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Verizon Communications Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be paid a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 10th. This is an increase from Verizon Communicationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. Verizon Communicationss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.88%. Verizon Communications Company Profile (Free Report) Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and information services. Its operations span consumer and business markets, with core offerings that include wireless voice and data services, fixed-line broadband and fiber-optic services, and enterprise networking solutions. Verizon is headquartered in New York City and operates a nationwide wireless network that supports consumer subscribers as well as business and government customers. The companys consumer products include mobile phone plans, unlimited data services, and Fios, its branded fiber-optic internet, television and voice service for homes and small businesses. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Verizon Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Verizon Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. OTTAWA The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a set of President Donald Trump's tariffs in a landmark ruling Friday but that decision didn't affect all duties on Canadian goods entering the United States. Trump on Friday signed an executive order imposing a 10 per cent global tariff and lashed out at Supreme Court justices hours after America's top court struck down his use of an emergency legal tool to realign global trade. Here's what you need to know about the ruling and the fallout for Canada. IEEPA tariffs are over, but impact on Canada is minimal In a 6-3 ruling on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court said tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, were illegal. Trump had justified using the tool for the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" he levied against countries around the world in April, as well as the earlier fentanyl-related tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. Those tariffs previously stood at 35 per cent on Canada, but most U.S. businesses were not paying those rates on imported Canadian goods in practice. Exports compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement on trade, or CUSMA, were deemed exempt from the IEEPA tariffs and have thus far been able to cross the border duty-free. "Most Canadian exporters won't see a difference at all," said William Pellerin, a partner in international trade at McMillan LLP. In a press conference Friday afternoon following the Supreme Court decision, Trump announced he would impose global tariffs of 10 per cent under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. Tariffs imposed this way can last only for 150 days unless Congress agrees to extend them. In a fact sheet Friday evening, the White House said the CUSMA exemption would remain under the new global tariff, meaning most Canadian goods would not be hit. Section 232 tariffs on steel, autos remain Other tariffs imposed under a separate authority are unaffected by the Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling. U.S. tariffs targeting Canadian goods such as steel, aluminum, copper, autos and lumber under Section 232 of the Trade Act remain active as of Friday. Industries that rely on the free passage of those goods across the Canada-U.S. border have been particularly exposed in the trade war over the past year. Striking a deal to end those steep tariffs as high as 50 per cent on key industries like steel and aluminum has been a focus of Canada's negotiating efforts with the United States. Some Canadian businesses could get refunds The Supreme Court ruling could open the door to affected businesses applying for refunds for tariffs paid to the U.S. government. By Kanishka Singh and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump will preside over the first meeting of his "Board of Peace," an initiative that has drawn praise from Trump allies but also criticism from countries worried that it will undermine the United Nations. WHAT IS THE 'BOARD OF PEACE'? Trump first proposed the board last September when he announced his plan to end Israel's war in Gaza. He later made clear the board's remit would be expanded beyond Gaza to tackle other conflicts worldwide, with Trump as its chair. Such efforts have traditionally been a role for the United Nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Member states would be limited to three-year terms unless they pay $1 billion each to fund the board's activities and earn permanent membership, its charter said. The White House in January named U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner as members of the initiative's founding Executive Board. WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE JOINED THE BOARD SO FAR? The board's official X account has listed over two dozen countries as founding members of the initiative, including Washington's main Middle Eastern allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They include Israel and Saudi Arabia, along with Egypt and Qatar, which helped mediate talks for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Others in the region include Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. From elsewhere in the world, there is Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, El Salvador, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE NOT JOINED THE BOARD? Washington's key Western allies as well as major powers of the Global South such as Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa have not accepted an offer to join. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders of Britain, the European Union, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden have said they will not join the board. Trump rescinded an invitation for Canada last month after he took issue with Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech in Davos. Brazil and Mexico have said they will not join the initiative, citing Palestinian absence from the board. The Vatican has not joined, saying efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations. China and Russia, both veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council, have not joined. WHAT POWER WILL THE BOARD HAVE? The U.N. Security Council passed a U.S.-drafted resolution recognizing the board in November, welcoming it as a transitional and temporary administration "that will set the framework, and coordinate funding for the redevelopment of Gaza" under Trump's plan until the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily reformed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution authorized the board to deploy a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza, while limiting its scope to only Gaza and only through 2027. The board is required to report on its progress to the 15-member Security Council every six months. China and Russia abstained, saying the resolution did not give the U.N. a clear role in Gaza's future. Beyond Gaza, it remains unclear what legal authority or enforcement tools, if any, the board will have or how it will work with the U.N. and other international organizations. Under the board's charter, it will undertake "peace-building functions in accordance with international law." Its chairman, Trump, will have extensive executive power, including the ability to veto decisions and remove members, subject to some constraints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHAT HAVE CRITICS SAID? Rights experts said that Trump overseeing a board to supervise a foreign territory's affairs resembles a colonial structure, and have criticized the board for not including a Palestinian representative even though it is meant to supervise the temporary governance of a Palestinian territory. Critics also pointed out Blair's inclusion, given his role in the Iraq war and the history of British imperialism in the Middle East. The board has drawn scrutiny for including countries whose human rights track records have been widely condemned by rights groups, such as some Middle Eastern powers as well as Belarus and El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has been particular criticism over the inclusion of Israel on a board meant to oversee Gaza's temporary governance, given the Palestinian territory has been left devastated by an Israeli military assault that killed tens of thousands, caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and led to accusations of war crimes and genocide. Israel has called its actions self-defense after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in a 2023 attack. WHO WILL ATTEND THE MEETING? Almost all nations who have joined the board will be at Thursday's meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 20 other nations will attend as observers, a senior U.S. official said. These include close Asian allies Japan and South Korea, along with India and Thailand from elsewhere in the region. Other observers include Britain and the EU, along with individual member states Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Norway and Switzerland will also participate in that capacity, as will Mexico and Oman. Topics to be discussed include Gaza's reconstruction, humanitarian assistance efforts and deployment of a stabilization force. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Menna AlaaElDin, Alexander Cornwell, Simon Lewis, Steve Holland and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Gareth Jones and Don Durfee) An under-fire Kristi ICE Barbie Noem is considering leaving President Donald Trumps Cabinet in order to return to politics in her home state of South Dakota, according to a report. The homeland security secretary is said to be weighing a challenge to Sen. Mike Rounds in the states June Republican primary, according to The Atlantic. The move would mean Noem might avoid being forced out of her role at the Department of Homeland Security amid intense criticism of her performance. She would also handily avoid any Democratic efforts to impeach her, should the Democrats regain control of the House in Novembers midterms, as widely expected. There have been calls for Donald Trump to fire Kristi Noem in the wake of two U.S. citizens being shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. / Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The suggestion that Noem, a former South Dakota governor, could leave the Cabinet to run for the U.S. Senate has sparked concern among Rounds allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources told The Atlantic that they are skeptical that Noem will actually go through with any attempt to oust Rounds from office, and an adviser for Noem also dismissed the idea. However, there are suggestions that Noem could use the growing calls for her impeachment as an excuse to resign from the Cabinet. Its something people are talking about across the state, one Republican involved in South Dakota told The Atlantic. And based on everything Ive been hearing, Mike Rounds would handily win that race. Noem would need to register for the GOP primary and collect 2,171 supportive signatures by the end of next month to enter the South Dakota Senate race. / Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images More than 100 House Democrats have expressed support for Rep. Robin Kellys articles of impeachment against Noem. The Illinois Democrat accuses Noem of obstruction of Congress for routinely denying lawmakers access to DHS facilities and for withholding congressionally appropriated disaster relief funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The articles alleged that Noem has permitted ICE to violate the First and Fourth Amendment rights of those they have detained under Trumps hardline immigration push. She is also alleged to have engaged in self-dealing over reports that she approved $220 million in contracts for a firm run by her outgoing chief spokespersons husband. A Republican strategist suggested that Sen. Mike Rounds is so unpopular among Republican primary voters that he would lose to a dead dog. / Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Noem has also been widely condemned for her handling of the ICE-led mass deportation push in Minnesota, including trying to paint Renee Good and Alex Pretti, U.S. citizens who were shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, as domestic terrorists. Noem has been given the nickname ICE Barbie for her cosplaying uniformed photo ops. / U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Trump administration appeared to lose confidence in Noems leadership last month, bringing in border czar Tom Homan to replace her in leading on-the-ground immigration enforcement efforts in Minneapolis. An unnamed source told The Atlantic that Noems position in the Cabinet is no longer secure, even if Trump has so far defended her publicly. The Atlantic also suggests that Noem may run again for the U.S. House seat she held from 2011 to 2019. The South Dakota at-large congressional district is currently being represented by Dusty Johnson, who has announced that he is running for governor in the Mount Rushmore State. The Daily Beast has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment. Capital Investment Counsel LLC lowered its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 6.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 33,800 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,266 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. accounts for 1.6% of Capital Investment Counsel LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest holding. Capital Investment Counsel LLCs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $10,661,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in JPM. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 2nd quarter valued at $10,295,209,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 28,813.7% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 16,785,584 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,866,309,000 after buying an additional 16,727,530 shares during the last quarter. Viking Global Investors LP raised its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 86.1% during 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 buying an additional 1,870,386 shares in the last quarter. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the second quarter worth about $485,802,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the second quarter worth about $458,104,000. 71.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Insider Buying and Selling at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In related news, insider Robin Leopold sold 432 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $307.14, for a total transaction of $132,684.48. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 65,353 shares in the company, valued at $20,072,520.42. The trade was a 0.66% 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, CFO Jeremy Barnum sold 2,892 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $306.42, for a total value of $886,166.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 23,804 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,294,021.68. This trade represents a 10.83% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 71,596 shares of company stock valued at $22,067,932 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.47% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have recently commented on JPM shares. TD Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Barclays reiterated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Friday, February 13th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, January 18th. DZ Bank reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $330.00 target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $339.73. View Our Latest Research Report on JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Up 0.9% Shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock opened at $310.75 on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 1 year low of $202.16 and a 1 year high of $337.25. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $315.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is $307.98. The company has a market cap of $838.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.53, a PEG ratio of 1.50 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last released its 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.35% and a return on equity of 17.16%. The firm had revenue of $45.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.98 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.81 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 18.1 EPS for the current year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, January 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 6th were paid a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.99%. More JPMorgan Chase & Co. News Here are the key news stories impacting JPMorgan Chase & Co. this week: Positive Sentiment: Chase will open 160+ new branches in 2026 to drive deposits, crossselling and fee income beyond net interest margin a tangible growth push that supports longerterm revenue diversification. Read More. Chase will open 160+ new branches in 2026 to drive deposits, crossselling and fee income beyond net interest margin a tangible growth push that supports longerterm revenue diversification. Read More. Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan filed to move/dismiss President Trumps $5B debanking lawsuit and argued CEO Jamie Dimon was wrongly named an aggressive legal defense that, if it succeeds, reduces headline/litigation risk. Read More. JPMorgan filed to move/dismiss President Trumps $5B debanking lawsuit and argued CEO Jamie Dimon was wrongly named an aggressive legal defense that, if it succeeds, reduces headline/litigation risk. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains constructive (average Moderate Buy); commentary noting potential mortgage share gains if capital rules ease provides a supportive backdrop for future fee and NII growth. Read More. Analyst coverage remains constructive (average Moderate Buy); commentary noting potential mortgage share gains if capital rules ease provides a supportive backdrop for future fee and NII growth. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan research raised its 2026 gold forecast sharply relevant for macro/trading desks and investor clients but not a direct bank fundamental driver. Read More. JPMorgan research raised its 2026 gold forecast sharply relevant for macro/trading desks and investor clients but not a direct bank fundamental driver. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan initiated coverage on TIC Solutions and published other sector/research notes (e.g., robotics opportunity flagged for other stocks) shows active research flow but limited direct impact on JPMs P&L. Read More. JPMorgan initiated coverage on TIC Solutions and published other sector/research notes (e.g., robotics opportunity flagged for other stocks) shows active research flow but limited direct impact on JPMs P&L. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Reports that JPMorgan is in talks to serve as banker for an international reconstruction vehicle (Board of Peace) are preliminary and speculative potential upside in advisory fees but uncertain at this stage. Read More. Reports that JPMorgan is in talks to serve as banker for an international reconstruction vehicle (Board of Peace) are preliminary and speculative potential upside in advisory fees but uncertain at this stage. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory hit in Europe: JPMorgans EU arm was fined 12.18M by the ECB for years of misreporting riskweighted assets and capital data signals control lapses in the region and raises compliance/reputational risk (fine amount is small relative to JPMs scale but the governance issue is noteworthy). Read More. Regulatory hit in Europe: JPMorgans EU arm was fined 12.18M by the ECB for years of misreporting riskweighted assets and capital data signals control lapses in the region and raises compliance/reputational risk (fine amount is small relative to JPMs scale but the governance issue is noteworthy). Read More. Negative Sentiment: Notable insider selling: CEO Troy L. Rohrbaugh sold 50,000 shares (~$15.4M) and reports show Jamie Dimon sold stock (reported ~$21M); several other insiders also trimmed positions. Large, highprofile sales are weighing on nearterm sentiment even if they could reflect diversification or tax planning. Read More. and Read More. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Profile (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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF (NYSEARCA:XMMO Free Report) by 65.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,574 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 4,178 shares during the quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLCs holdings in Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF were worth $1,430,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Get Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF alerts: A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of XMMO. First Financial Corp IN acquired a new position in Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF during the third quarter worth $25,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF in the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. bought a new position in Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Beacon Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF in the second quarter valued at about $50,000. Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF Trading Up 0.8% Shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF stock opened at $149.37 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.06 and a beta of 1.05. Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF has a 1-year low of $97.50 and a 1-year high of $149.82. The firms 50-day moving average price is $142.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $137.24. Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF Company Profile The Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF (XMMO) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P MidCap 400 Momentum (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of S&P 400 MidCap stocks selected by momentum and weighted by market cap and momentum. XMMO was launched on Mar 3, 2005 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dempze Nancy E raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 45.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,004 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,243 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company comprises 1.7% of Dempze Nancy Es portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position. Dempze Nancy Es holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $3,055,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 114.3% in the second quarter. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. now owns 77,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $60,253,000 after buying an additional 41,222 shares in the last quarter. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 189.6% during the 3rd quarter. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 17,408 shares of the companys stock worth $13,283,000 after acquiring an additional 11,396 shares during the period. Rede Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter valued at $487,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 25.8% during the 3rd quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 8,990 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,859,000 after acquiring an additional 1,843 shares during the period. Finally, Cidel Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 26.5% during the 3rd quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 26,726 shares of the companys stock worth $20,392,000 after purchasing an additional 5,591 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Key Stories Impacting Eli Lilly and Company Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance LLY stock opened at $1,008.47 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $1,054.83 and a 200 day simple moving average of $915.59. The stock has a market cap of $951.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.39. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $623.78 and a 1 year high of $1,133.95. 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 (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.48 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $19.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.85 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 31.66% and a return on equity of 102.94%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. 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. Research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $1.73 dividend. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 30.15%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts recently commented on LLY shares. Rothschild & Co Redburn raised their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $775.00 to $830.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Argus raised their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $930.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Guggenheim cut their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,163.00 to $1,161.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Loop Capital set a $1,200.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group boosted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,230.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,228.54. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Eli Lilly and Company 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its stake in shares of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 8.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 54,121 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,166 shares during the quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Managements holdings in Chevron were worth $8,405,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Chevron alerts: Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Perigon Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Chevron by 19.3% in the 3rd quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 73,448 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $11,406,000 after acquiring an additional 11,875 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System grew its position in shares of Chevron by 15.3% in the third quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 1,620,231 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $251,606,000 after purchasing an additional 215,345 shares during the period. Pictet North America Advisors SA purchased a new stake in shares of Chevron during the third quarter worth about $5,662,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its stake in shares of Chevron by 10.2% during the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 1,894,470 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $294,192,000 after purchasing an additional 175,439 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Chevron by 8.7% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,891,609 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $759,618,000 after purchasing an additional 389,694 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.42% of the companys stock. Insider Transactions at Chevron In other Chevron news, CFO Eimear P. Bonner sold 32,100 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.01, for a total value of $5,617,821.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 4,366 shares in the company, valued at $764,093.66. The trade was a 88.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael K. Wirth sold 320,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total value of $52,270,893.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 14,450 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,355,205.50. This represents a 95.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 534,898 shares of company stock valued at $89,543,711 in the last ninety days. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CVX has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Chevron from $174.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Chevron from $185.00 to $179.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 5th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Chevron from $160.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Wall Street Zen raised Chevron from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Finally, Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Chevron from $204.00 to $206.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $176.36. Read Our Latest Research Report on CVX Key Headlines Impacting Chevron Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week: Chevron Stock Down 0.6% Shares of CVX opened at $183.69 on Friday. Chevron Corporation has a 52-week low of $132.04 and a 52-week high of $187.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $165.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $158.48. The company has a market capitalization of $369.86 billion, a PE ratio of 27.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.23 and a beta of 0.70. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.08. Chevron had a net margin of 6.51% and a return on equity of 8.23%. The firm had revenue of $45.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.06 earnings per share. Chevrons quarterly revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 EPS for the current year. Chevron Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be given 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 of this dividend is Tuesday, February 17th. This is a boost from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is presently 106.91%. About Chevron (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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report) by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 53,950 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 5,476 shares during the period. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Managements holdings in International Business Machines were worth $15,223,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get International Business Machines alerts: A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in IBM. Winnow Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. acquired a new position in shares of International Business Machines in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of International Business Machines by 129.1% during the third quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC now owns 126 shares of the technology companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID lifted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 48.5% during the second quarter. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID now owns 147 shares of the technology companys stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. Finally, Davis Capital Management purchased a new position in International Business Machines in the 3rd quarter valued at $54,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.96% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of International Business Machines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, January 11th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a market perform rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. UBS Group set a $317.00 target price on International Business Machines in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on International Business Machines from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on International Business Machines from $315.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $330.07. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director David N. Farr purchased 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The stock was 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 approximately $2,814,432. This represents a 12.11% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock. International Business Machines Price Performance Shares of NYSE IBM opened at $257.20 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The companys 50-day moving average price is $294.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $284.00. International Business Machines Corporation has a 52 week low of $214.50 and a 52 week high of $324.90. The stock has a market cap of $240.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.07, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.69. International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The technology company reported $4.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.33 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $19.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.92 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. International Business Machines Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.68 per share. This represents a $6.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 10th. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio is 60.27%. About International Business Machines (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IBM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for International Business Machines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Business Machines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report) by 10.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 111,945 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 10,185 shares during the period. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Managements holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $13,302,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF alerts: A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of IJR. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP lifted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 197.6% in the third quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP now owns 244 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 85.4% in the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 254 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Curio Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 26,900.0% in the 2nd quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 270 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. New Millennium Group LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 105.3% in the 3rd quarter. New Millennium Group LLC now owns 308 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 158 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 306.6% during the 3rd quarter. WPG Advisers LLC now owns 431 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.92% of the companys stock. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA IJR opened at $131.63 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $126.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $121.04. The company has a market cap of $96.79 billion, a PE ratio of 16.52 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 12 month low of $89.22 and a 12 month high of $133.52. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Company Profile 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC boosted its holdings in Knife River Corporation (NYSE:KNF Free Report) by 103.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,486 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 7,866 shares during the period. Clear Creek Financial Management LLCs holdings in Knife River were worth $1,190,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get Knife River alerts: Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in KNF. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its position in shares of Knife River by 141.8% during the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 341 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Country Trust Bank acquired a new position in Knife River during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Quent Capital LLC bought a new position in Knife River during the 3rd quarter worth $47,000. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Knife River in the second quarter worth $48,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank lifted its stake in Knife River by 35.5% in the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 703 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 184 shares during the last quarter. 80.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Knife River Stock Performance Shares of NYSE KNF opened at $90.71 on Friday. Knife River Corporation has a 1 year low of $58.72 and a 1 year high of $103.18. The firm has a market cap of $5.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.87, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.47. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $76.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $75.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 2.54. Analyst Ratings Changes Knife River ( NYSE:KNF Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The company reported $0.56 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.15. Knife River had a return on equity of 10.27% and a net margin of 4.99%.The business had revenue of $755.06 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $726.60 million. The companys revenue was up 14.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.41 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Knife River Corporation will post 4.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Knife River in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. They set a neutral rating and a $83.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Knife River from $106.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Knife River from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Sunday, February 15th. B. Riley Financial assumed coverage on Knife River in a report on Thursday, January 15th. They set a buy rating and a $92.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Knife River in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $96.43. Check Out Our Latest Report on Knife River About Knife River (Free Report) Knife River Corporation, headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota, is a leading integrated construction materials and contracting company in the western United States. The company specializes in producing and supplying aggregates, asphalt mix, ready-mixed concrete and other heavy construction materials used in highway, commercial and residential projects. In addition to material production, Knife River offers a comprehensive suite of contracting services, including heavy civil construction, road building, underground and open-pit mining and logistics support. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KNF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Knife River Corporation (NYSE:KNF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Knife River Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Knife River and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) CEO Troy Rohrbaugh sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $307.11, for a total transaction of $15,355,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 111,279 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $34,174,893.69. This trade represents a 31.00% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Up 0.9% JPM stock opened at $310.75 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12-month low of $202.16 and a 12-month high of $337.25. The stock has a market cap of $838.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.53, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.07. The businesss 50-day moving average is $315.05 and its 200 day moving average is $307.98. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $5.23 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.93 by $0.30. The business had revenue of $45.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.98 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 17.16% and a net margin of 20.35%.The businesss revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $4.81 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 18.1 EPS for the current fiscal year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Announces Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 6th were issued a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 6th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.99%. A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on JPM shares. DZ Bank reiterated a neutral rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Robert W. Baird upgraded JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $280.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. CICC Research initiated coverage on JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $355.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $360.00 to $350.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $339.73. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan Chase & Co. News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting JPMorgan Chase & Co. this week: Positive Sentiment: Chase will open 160+ new branches in 2026 to drive deposits, crossselling and fee income beyond net interest margin a tangible growth push that supports longerterm revenue diversification. Read More. Chase will open 160+ new branches in 2026 to drive deposits, crossselling and fee income beyond net interest margin a tangible growth push that supports longerterm revenue diversification. Read More. Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan filed to move/dismiss President Trumps $5B debanking lawsuit and argued CEO Jamie Dimon was wrongly named an aggressive legal defense that, if it succeeds, reduces headline/litigation risk. Read More. JPMorgan filed to move/dismiss President Trumps $5B debanking lawsuit and argued CEO Jamie Dimon was wrongly named an aggressive legal defense that, if it succeeds, reduces headline/litigation risk. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains constructive (average Moderate Buy); commentary noting potential mortgage share gains if capital rules ease provides a supportive backdrop for future fee and NII growth. Read More. Analyst coverage remains constructive (average Moderate Buy); commentary noting potential mortgage share gains if capital rules ease provides a supportive backdrop for future fee and NII growth. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan research raised its 2026 gold forecast sharply relevant for macro/trading desks and investor clients but not a direct bank fundamental driver. Read More. JPMorgan research raised its 2026 gold forecast sharply relevant for macro/trading desks and investor clients but not a direct bank fundamental driver. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan initiated coverage on TIC Solutions and published other sector/research notes (e.g., robotics opportunity flagged for other stocks) shows active research flow but limited direct impact on JPMs P&L. Read More. JPMorgan initiated coverage on TIC Solutions and published other sector/research notes (e.g., robotics opportunity flagged for other stocks) shows active research flow but limited direct impact on JPMs P&L. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Reports that JPMorgan is in talks to serve as banker for an international reconstruction vehicle (Board of Peace) are preliminary and speculative potential upside in advisory fees but uncertain at this stage. Read More. Reports that JPMorgan is in talks to serve as banker for an international reconstruction vehicle (Board of Peace) are preliminary and speculative potential upside in advisory fees but uncertain at this stage. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory hit in Europe: JPMorgans EU arm was fined 12.18M by the ECB for years of misreporting riskweighted assets and capital data signals control lapses in the region and raises compliance/reputational risk (fine amount is small relative to JPMs scale but the governance issue is noteworthy). Read More. Regulatory hit in Europe: JPMorgans EU arm was fined 12.18M by the ECB for years of misreporting riskweighted assets and capital data signals control lapses in the region and raises compliance/reputational risk (fine amount is small relative to JPMs scale but the governance issue is noteworthy). Read More. Negative Sentiment: Notable insider selling: CEO Troy L. Rohrbaugh sold 50,000 shares (~$15.4M) and reports show Jamie Dimon sold stock (reported ~$21M); several other insiders also trimmed positions. Large, highprofile sales are weighing on nearterm sentiment even if they could reflect diversification or tax planning. Read More. and Read More. Institutional Investors Weigh In On JPMorgan Chase & Co. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. acquired a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Timmons Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 450.0% in the 2nd quarter. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 110 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. purchased a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.55% of the companys stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile (Get 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Louth County Council has given the go ahead for an extension at The Miracle Hand Church for The Redeemed Christian Church at the Castletown Road in Dundalk. Redeemed Christian Church Miracle Hand Church applied for planning permission in January 2025 for a ground and first floor extension to the front and side of an existing church building at the site. Plans for the ground floor include of a new entrance and entrance foyer. The planned extension consists of six new bible study classrooms, toilets and storage. It will also include a reception area, boardroom and offices with toilet facilities. The planned development also includes elevational changes to all sides of the existing church. The planned development also includes a new car parking layout with the introduction of footpaths, tactile surfaces, disabled parking, EV charging bay parking, and bicycle parking. The application also included the preparation of a Natura Impact Statement in relation to the development. Read also: Dundalk families struggle as just two rentals meet HAP limits Louth County Council made the decision to grant conditional planning permission for the development on 13 January 2026. Braganstown Farms Unlimited Company, a Larry Goodman controlled firm, is among the appellants listed in an appeal against Louth County Council's decision to permit a solar farm on a site of c.108.6 ha (268.4 acres), just under five kilometres from Ardee. Louth County Council granted planning permission in January to Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd, which is owned by British multinational oil and gas company, BP, for the development, on lands c.4.87km northeast of Ardee, Derrycammagh and Bawn, Co Louth. The applicant sought permission for a development consisting of a 10 year permission for a solar PV energy development with associated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) compound with a total site area of c. 108.6 ha (268.4 acres). The proposed development included solar panels mounted on steel support structures, associated cabling and ducting, inverters, transformers, switchgear substations, auxiliary transformer, permanent storage containers, monitoring houses, composting toilet, BESS customer substation, battery blocks, BESS inverters and Power Conversion System (PCS) twin skid, BESS interface cabinets (BIC), and backup generator. The planning application also provided for temporary construction compounds, tracks, boundary security fencing and security gates, CCTV, landscaping and ancillary works including a sheep pen, with a 40 year operational period. Read also: Ardee's exclusion from Living Cities initiative 'borders on discrimination' Construction access to the development was proposed via an upgraded and widened access point off the R166, together with a newly created access and a widened existing access off Derrycammagh Lane (south off L51774). Operation and maintenance of the development was proposed from an existing access point off Derrycammagh Lane, south of the L51774 local road. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) had been submitted by Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd to the Planning Authority with the application. Submissions were made by many in relation to the development, on both the application and in relation to the further information submitted by Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd. Loss of agricultural land, visual impact, additional traffic during construction were among the issues highlighted. Mid-Louth councillors, Cllr Pearse McGeough, Cllr John Sheridan, Cllr Jim Tenanty, and Drogheda councillor, Cllr Kevin Callan were among those who made submissions. Louth County Council granted planning permission for the development on 16 January, subject to 22 planning conditions, saying that the development shall be carried out in strict accordance with the plans and specifications submitted to the Planning Authority on 19th December 2024 and as amended by plans, details and specifications received as further information on 19th November 2025, save for the 22 conditions it laid out in its decision. A third party appeal against the decision was lodged with An Bord Coimisiun on 10 February, according to information on the planning authority's website. The third party appellants listed in the appeal are: Braganstown Farms Unlimited Company; Stephen O'Neill; Victoria Murray & Others; Breige & Barney O'Neill & Others; L.P. Goodman; Kevin & Sarah Sweeny. Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd is also listed as a first party appellant. It is not yet clear when the case will be heard but information on the Louth County Council online planning portal, says the submissions due date on the appeal is 12 March 2026. The Department of Humanities at Dundalk IT recently hosted Emilie Pine, Vice Principal for Research, Innovation & Impact at University College Dublin (UCD), to give the Fourth Annual Dorothy Macardle Humanities Lecture at DkIT. The lecture was titled 'Channelling the urge to write and the need to be seen. Pine spoke about both the invisible and visible legacy of Dorothy Macardle and other influential figures in building a stage for Irish literary culture. She also expressed her delight at being associated with a reinvigorated interest in the work of such an influential writer. Professor Pine was welcomed by Dr Patricia Moriarty and Dr Fiona Fearon from the School of Business and Humanities who stressed the importance of making Macardles legacy relevant to the modern audience and bringing someone from the pages of history alive. Professor Pine is internationally recognised for her scholarship and creative work. Her bestselling essay collection, Notes to Self, winner of the 2018 Irish Book of the Year, has been translated into 16 languages. Her debut novel, Ruth & Pen (2022), won the 2023 Kate OBrien First Novel Award. She is currently working on a new essay collection, On Being Seen, to be published by Penguin in 2027. Each year DkIT brings a leading academic to the campus to present a public lecture for students and faculty based on a theme related to Macardles many topics of interest, with a focus on identity, place and community in the area of humanities. Read Next: Public invited to share memories and memorabilia from Dundalk's Foresters Hall Dorothy Macardle, born in Dundalk in 1889, was a teacher, political activist, successful novelist, playwright, critic, historian and social campaigner for womens and childrens rights, with a particular interest in refugees. The lecture is once again kindly supported by Dundalk Credit Union. Click the 'Next >' arrow above or 'Next Story' below to go through the gallery Network Ireland Louth hosted another inspiring event in the Monasterboice Inn for their February event for members. It was an insightful and practical workshop on Lean and Six Sigma and was delivered by Annmarie McHugh of Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT). At the outset of the session, an audience poll revealed that over 80% of attendees had little or no prior knowledge of Lean or Six Sigma. Annmarie introduced the group to the five core principles of Lean and demonstrated how these can be effectively implemented within small and growing businesses. She emphasised the measurable financial efficiencies and productivity gains that organisations can achieve when Lean practices are properly introduced and continuously monitored. In simple terms, Lean focuses on creating greater customer value while using fewer resources. The session also explored Six Sigma, a data-driven methodology used to identify defects, improve processes, and maximise customer satisfaction. Members were introduced to the DMAIC framework (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) and gained a clear understanding of how structured problem-solving can drive consistent quality and long-term business improvement. Grainne McKeown, representing the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Louth, attended the event and outlined the current Lean for Business programme available to local enterprises, encouraging Network Ireland members to avail of this valuable support. The evening concluded with a follow-up poll which demonstrated a significant increase in attendees understanding of Lean and Six Sigma. Pauline Clarke, President of Network Ireland Louth said that members left not only with enhanced knowledge, but with practical, actionable steps they could immediately apply within their own businesses a true reflection of Network Ireland Louths commitment to empowering women in business through education, collaboration, and tangible support. The next event takes place on 5th March 2026 in the Gateway Hotel in Dundalk, and it is to celebrate International Womens Day and to celebrate women in business at every stage in their journey. It is a collaboration with Local Enterprise Office Louth and Network Ireland Louth and entitled From Start Up to Scale Up. Booking for the event is through www.localenterprise.ie/louth. Network Ireland is a progressive, dynamic organisation supporting the professional and personal development of women. With over 1,200 members and a strong nationwide presence, the group holds regular events, workshops, and networking opportunities that promote empowerment and leadership for women in business. They are always open to new members joining, who can avail of all the supports and benefits available. It doesnt matter if someone is an established businesswoman or just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey. To join Network Ireland, go to: www.networkireland.ie and become a member. A collection of works created by 16 disabled artists will showcase at Cork County Councils LHQ Gallery next month. The exhibition, entitled This is Ireland, explores how identity is shaped through storytelling, popular culture, local landscape, and shared rituals. Among the depictions of Irish culture included in the collection are members of Kneecap enjoying a pint, a pair of mummers wearing straw head-pieces, and familiar street scenes reflecting threads of connection and belonging. The exhibition aims to offer a fresh perspective on what defines Irish culture, created by 16 disabled artists from Crawford Supported Studios. Featured artists include Ide Ni Shuilleabhain, who has exhibited in Kilkenny, Columbia and New York; Yvonne Condon, whose artwork was exhibited on a billboard in Temple Bar; and Tom OSullivan, who was awarded the inaugural Visibility Bursary Award from Cork City Council and the Arts Council; along with Judit Bakos, Ailbhe Barrett, Angela Burchill, David Connolly, Brid Heffernan, Eoin OBrion, John Keating, Mary Rose Marshall, Rosaleen Moore, Nicola Moran, Stephen Murray, Marie Sexton, and Katie Whelan. Mayor of Co Cork councillor Mary Linehan Foley described the exhibition as featuring "playful, unapologetic, and brave pieces of work. We are delighted to present this exhibition at Cork County Councils dedicated exhibition space LHQ Gallery, said Ms Linehan Foley. We recognise the importance of the work that Crawford Supported Studios does for these artists and we celebrate an opportunity to bring their work to new audiences. This is Ireland presents playful, unapologetic, and brave work that we encourage all to see. An opening reception for the exhibition will be held at the LHQ Gallery on March 6 from 1pm, with members of the public encouraged to attend as a range of events will take place throughout the day as part of the Lifelong Learning Festival. The exhibition will remain open from March 6 until April 24, with the LHQ Gallery offering visitors the chance to enjoy it Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm, except for public holidays. Transport minister Darragh OBrien is to be urged to provide an orbital bus service in the biggest town in Co Cork, primarily to take school traffic off its roads, which is causing almost daily mayhem. Ever-increasing population growth in Carrigaline is leading to serious gridlock at peak times, especially around its schools as parents pick up and drop off their children. Residents in nearby estates are getting increasingly frustrated as parents park outside their homes when theyre doing the childrens drop-offs/pick-ups and clogging up traffic as homeowners commute to work. Fianna Fail councillor Patrick Donovan highlighted the issue at a Carrigaline Municipal District Council meeting and received unanimous cross-party support from fellow councillors for his call for Government to fund a pilot orbital route in the town. "Every morning roads are choked with traffic. While a lot is going to either Cork City or Ringaskiddy, particular roads leading to our schools are under pressure with long tail backs. Im requesting a pilot orbital bus route to be established around Carrigaline town taking kids to school. We've good connectivity from estates all over Carrigaline and the eastern and western relief roads, Mr Donovan said. If we got the go-ahead for a pilot scheme it would take cars off the roads and free our town from traffic congestion. From a climate change perspective, it'd be a very positive step forward." Mr Donovan said there's scope to get buy-in from schoolchildren, parents, and school authorities. In solving an issue like traffic congestion in Carrigaline, we need to think outside the box. Cork County Council continue to invest in active travel and footpaths which is really welcome. But we must do more if we're too free up our towns from traffic." Mr Donovan said such a new initiative could serve as a blueprint for other traffic-congested towns. Even on the first day of midterm in Carrigaline, we can see traffic is flowing much better around the town. This is because some of our schools are closed for midterm. "If we'd a number of buses replacing multiples of cars, our town becomes less congested with traffic, reducing bad air quality and it becomes safer at our schools for kids to enter them without a constant flow of traffic near the front door of the school, he said. Fianna Fail councillor Audrey Buckley said a town bus service would be a great idea as traffic is only going to get worse with the number of new houses being built there. She said councillors will write to the Department of Transport on the proposed initiative. Mr Donovan said he will also personally speak to Mr OBrien. Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatleys legal battle against his former solicitor will be heard by the High Court next month. The legal row between the entertainer and his former solicitor erupted amid allegations on both sides about legal fees and an alleged hold on files. Michael Flatley is seeking to compel Maxwell Mooney and Company solicitors, with offices at Maynooth, Co Kildare, to hand over the files relating to the proceedings about and linked to his Castlehyde mansion in Fermoy, Co Cork. In the High Court on Friday, Richard Kean, for Mr Mooney, said they were anxious to keep the temperature calm but that the case will be vigorously contested. They asked for four weeks to prepare documentation for the case and a bill of costs, which will involve liaising with costs accountants. Mr Flatleys new legal team Niall Buckley SC, instructed by solicitor Barry Creed in an ex parte application to the High Court earlier this week, was granted short service to serve notice of the proceedings on Mr Mooney. The matter was adjourned to Friday. The case, in which the Flatley side is seeking an order directing Mr Mooney to produce the client files relating to all legal services provided to Mr Flatley, will now be heard by the president of the High Court in mid-March. The Flatley side is also seeking an order compelling Mr Mooney to provide a copy of the Flatley client account. In the High Court on Friday, Mr Buckley said a timeframe of a four-week adjournment would pose difficulties. He said Mr Flatleys appeal against a 1.1m security for costs order, made in his 30m court action over works carried out at his Cork mansion, is also due before the Court of Appeal in March. Counsel said the relationship between Mr Flatley and his former solicitor had broken down last November, and that the issues between the parties had been known since then. High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville set deadlines for the affidavits to be filed by both sides in the case along with legal submissions. He will hear the case on March 13. In an affidavit to the High Court to ground his application last Friday, the entertainer said it was not correct that invoices relating to legal fees have not been paid to Mr Mooney. Mr Flatley said he could confirm the payments set out in the affidavit of his new solicitor Barry Creed which stipulated that a total of 487,837 had been paid by Mr Flatley or on his behalf between May 2022 and August 2025. Mr Creed said it was unclear whether 290,000 had been applied as fees or whether they remain held on account. Mr Flatley also alleged in the document before the court that there was a failure to provide all client account information, which he claimed he requested three months ago. This, Mr Flatley alleges, is impeding the orderly progression of his litigation. Mr Flatley also claimed in July last year that he was concerned about how his proceedings were being managed, in particular the many negative headlines which were published about me". He claimed: At all times I was informed that matters were progressing positively. However, the media depicted a very different picture." In an affidavit, Mr Creed said extensive correspondence was exchanged with Mr Mooney. Mr Mooney wrote that his office was exercising a general lien over all files and papers relating to Mr Flatley "until we and counsel are paid in full". Furious parents walked out of a K-Pop tribute show in Belfast on Thursday night, sparking hundreds of online complaints but Aiken Promotions has defended the event as a solid genre tribute. The show arrives in Cork on Tuesday for the first of seven sold-out shows, including two Live at the Marquee on June 10 and 11 They were grinding on each other at one point. There was one of the men in the background who looked like he was doing Magic Mike, said one parent. The K-Pop Forever! Tribute show opened at the SSE Arena on Thursday, with performances due to take place across the country over the coming months. K-Pop is characterised by elements of pop, hip-hop, and dance music filtered through a Korean lens, and has seen huge global success through acts such as BTS, Blackpink, and the Netflix film K-Pop Demon Hunters. The description of the K-Pop Forever! Tribute show says the concert features all-live performances of smash-hits including: Blackpink, BTS, Twice, Soda Pop, Golden, and many more, as well as songs inspired by the record-breaking film K-Pop Demon Hunters. The show did not live up to the expectations of some concert-goers, however, with a number of parents voicing their concerns about the quality of the performances, sound issues, and inappropriate dancing. Videos were posted online showing people walking out. One parent who attended the SSE Arena with her two daughters told RTE Radio 1s Liveline that the show as terrible. I just felt it was very inappropriate for kids. It should have been age-restricted. Younger kids shouldnt have been able to go to it, she said, raising concerns about the dancing and how the performers were dressed. Others claimed complainants hadnt read the concerts description and that it was never intended to be a K-Pop Demon Hunters tribute show, but rather a tribute to K-Pop as a genre. The dancing and the music and the atmosphere, it was all very fitting. We got exactly what we paid for. I see people giving out online that there wasnt as much of the K-Pop Demon Hunters in it, but if you do your research, you see that K-Pop Demon Hunters itself wasn't advertised; it was more the K-Pop itself, and that's exactly what you got, said one parent. Aiken Promotions, in a statement, said: "We are aware of some feedback received following the K-Pop Forever tribute show. The show played in Belfast tonight as part of a world tour, and the content, design, and choreography has been built to represent the full K-Pop genre, featuring songs from BTS, Blackpink, and Katseye, as well as eight hits from Demon Hunters, including 'Golden', 'Takedown' and 'Soda Pop'. Whilst the majority of customers enjoyed the show, we understand that this was not what some expected; however, we are content that the show delivered was an arena-standard tribute to the entire K-Pop genre. The show is also slated to take place at the 3Arena in Dublin, with three shows sold out, Leisureland in Galway, and Gleneagle Arena in Kerry. Gordon Deegan A judge has granted a woman a Protection Order after she showed him a video of her brother in a Church placing a carpet knife on a bible threatening that he would slaughter her if she proceeds to marry her fiance in the same Church. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett told the Clare woman that she needs to go to the gardai with the video that her brother uploaded to a social media site. Judge Gabbett said: I would like you to go and talk to the gardai and play that to the gardai. The woman said: He has been on social media this morning in the church where I am supposed to get married, and he has put a carpet knife on the Bible." The woman in the witness box handed her mobile phone to Judge Gabbett to show the video of her brother in the Church. Judge Gabbett played the video in court, and the man can be heard saying, I swear on that bible and I swear on my children, I am cutting lumps out of you - you will not get married inside in this Church He goes on: See this Church? You will not be getting married in it because I will come and slaughter you, and whoever wants to stand in front of you, I will slaughter them." Judge Gabbett told the woman that she may also need to apply for a Restraining Order against her brother. Judge Gabbett said that the circumstances in which the woman was seeking the Domestic Violence Protection Order are very unusual. The woman said that she lives with her brother in the family home. The woman told Judge Gabbett that as she was coming to court, her brother passed her in a car and was banging on the window of the car. The woman said that her wedding is due to take place later this year. Judge Gabbett said, Effectively, he is threatening you with violence because you are getting married to someone he doesnt like. The woman said that her brother doesnt know her fiance. The woman secured the Protection Order without the other side present, and Judge Gabbett has adjourned the hearing of the case to Jun,e where the brother can contest or consent to the making of a Safety Order. An insider close to Prince Harry has revealed that the Duke of Sussex feels annoyed at what he perceives as a "continued silence" from different parts of the royal institution, after the arrest of ex-Prince Andrew. The remarks, given to The Mirror, were made only a few days after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest, which was carried out on the occasion of his 66th birthday, was followed by the police thoroughly searching the properties associated with him in Sandringham and Windsor. Following the more than 11 hours in detention, he was released without being charged and, currently, an investigation is ongoing. According to the source, Harry addressed concerns about Andrew years ago in his memoir, arguing that he was criticized for speaking candidly when others remained quiet. The insider said, "Harry made his views about Andrew abundantly clear in his book three years ago, at a time when other parts of the institution remained silent." The source added that Harry was "vilified and ostracized by the institution, sections of the press and significant parts of British society for 'airing the family's dirty laundry' and challenging the status quo." The insider concluded, "I'm not surprised he isn't leaping up to start offering his two cents on this." Harry referenced his uncle in his autobiography, Spare, particularly when describing the removal of security for his family after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020. In the book, he wrote that despite Andrew being "involved in an embarrassing scandal, accused of having sexually abused a young woman, nobody had suggested removing his security." Harry also described how he had used Andrew as an example when reassuring his wife, Meghan, about security concerns. Following Andrew's arrest, King Charles issued a statement saying he had learned "with the deepest concern" of the news and that "the law must take its course." The King previously announced last autumn that Andrew's titles and styles would be removed. Andrew has rejected the accusations against him. He was featured most notably in the 2019 BBC interview that was severely criticized that led to a heavy backlash and finally to his stepping down from official royal duties. Extraordinary statement from King Charles III on the arrest of his brother. pic.twitter.com/BF4TeYxI4O Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) February 19, 2026 Read more: Sarah Ferguson Shuts Down Companies as Jeffrey Epstein Investigations Heat Up Royal Family Reportedly Forms Crisis Response Team Meanwhile, a royal expert has indicated that in the aftermath of the arrest, the royal family gathered for a private meeting. He likened it to a point of internal coordination or a family summit kind of moment drawn from their history. Ian Pelham Turner, a former royal photographer, told The Mirror, "None of the Royal Family, including King Charles and Prince William, were informed beforehand that the arrest was going to take place." Pelham Turner added that behind-the-scenes concern is significant, saying, "I am sure nerves will be on frantic keel behind the scenes with the Royal Family concerned about what explosive details may come out." He also suggested, "I think a war room may have been set up at Windsor with top current and previous royal consultants brought in for their advice." He described the situation as "the biggest crisis facing Buckingham Place and the Royal Family," and characterized the response as "the Royal Family showing the iron fist in the velvet glove." Pelham Turner also said Andrew has been given the nickname "blabbermouth," which he attributed to police protection officers, adding concerns that he may disclose information in court proceedings. Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct during his time as a U.K. trade envoy from 2001 through 2011. He has since been released from custody. Any decision on whether he will face charges will be made by the Crown Prosecution Service once police conclude their investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service operates independently from the royal family and is responsible for determining whether charges are brought. If you earn an average salary, early retirement can feel out of reach. Pension ages keep rising, and many people expect to work into their late 60s. However, a February 2026 report by trading platform Taurex shows that in some countries, you could step away from the 9-5 decades sooner. Below are five places where average earners can build financial independence the fastest. Denmark leads the early exit list Denmark ranks first for workers who want to leave traditional jobs early. The study shows that someone starting work at 25 could build a retirement fund in about 18 years. That means reaching financial freedom by 43, well before the official pension age of 67. Close-up of Danish flag at street (Johner Images via Getty Images) The average monthly take-home pay is about 4,295 dollars. After covering living costs, many workers can still save a solid amount each month. With steady investing at 6 percent annual growth, those savings can grow to roughly 737,000 dollars. Switzerland offers high pay and fast results Switzerland comes in second, and the timeline is even shorter. Average earners can reach financial independence in about 16 years. That could mean stepping away from work at 41 instead of waiting until 65. Geneva, Switzerland - September 12, 2025: Along the street, you can see historical houses with diverse architectural facades. You can also observe city traffic. (MarekUsz via Getty Images) Monthly salaries average 7,441 dollars after taxes. While living costs are high, the ability to save more than 3,000 dollars a month speeds things up. The required freedom fund is about 1.16 million dollars, but higher pay makes it realistic. Germany balances income and living costs Germany places third on the list. Workers here can potentially retire in about 20 years from the start of their careers. That means reaching independence at around 45, compared to the official pension age of 66. Bremen, Germany. 30-May-2025. A beautiful morning at the Bremen market square featuring the Haus Schutting building, Bremen Roland statue and Deutsches Haus (Amith Nag Photography via Getty Images) The average monthly salary is about 3,488 dollars. Living costs remain moderate compared to income, which allows consistent savings. Over time, building a fund of about 644,000 dollars becomes achievable with disciplined investing. Luxembourg combines strong salaries with opportunity Luxembourg ranks fourth despite requiring a larger savings target. Workers need close to 980,000 dollars to fund early retirement. Even so, many can reach that goal in under 20 years. Old buildings on fortification wall of The Fortress of Luxembourg on Saint-Esprit plateau in Ville Haute quarter in Luxembourg City historical centre (Aliaksandr Antanovich via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Monthly earnings average around 5,451 dollars. After expenses, workers may still set aside over 2,000 dollars monthly. Reaching independence at 45 gives about 20 extra years compared to the standard pension age of 65. Australia rounds out the top five Australia completes the top group of countries where early retirement looks possible on an average income. The study estimates about 23 to 24 years to build a freedom fund. That places financial independence at around age 48 instead of 67. Aerial View of Bundaberg (Shanenk via Getty Images) Take-home pay averages roughly 3,771 dollars per month. After regular expenses, many workers can save around 1,200 dollars monthly. Growing those savings to about 760,000 dollars becomes possible with consistent investing and patience. The remaining countries still offer an early edge The Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, and the United States complete the top ten. While they do not top the list, they still allow workers to retire years before official pension ages. For many average earners, that gap can range from 15 to almost 18 years gained. Laren, Netherlands - May 18, 2023. Street view from the town of Laren, the Netherlands. (DurkTalsma via Getty Images) In the United States, financial independence could arrive around age 49 instead of 67. Sweden and Finland show similar timelines, with retirement possible in the mid to late 40s. Belgium and the Netherlands take slightly longer, often placing independence in the early 50s, yet that still means leaving full-time work well before state pensions begin. Final thoughts Early retirement is not about luck, and it is not reserved for top earners. The study assumes savings are invested and grow at 6 percent annually, which reflects long-term balanced returns. If you focus on steady saving, controlled spending, and long-term investing, escaping the 9-5 sooner than expected may be more realistic than you think. Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High 39F. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 17F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. LIMA, Ohio The Ohio Pork Council recognized the 2025 recipients of its annual awards during the Ohio Pork Congress on Feb. 4 in Lima. Presented during the OPC Awards Luncheon, the honors celebrate individuals, families and organizations whose leadership, accomplishments and dedication to Ohios pork industry set them apart from their peers. Ohio Pork Industry Excellence Award The Ohio Pork Councils most prestigious honor, the Pork Industry Excellence Award, was presented to the Hord Family of Hord Family Farms, headquartered in Bucyrus, Ohio. This award recognizes a pork farmer or farm family whose long-standing commitment and leadership have made a lasting impact at the state and national level. Hord Family Farms is a multi-state pork production business guided by a hands-on leadership team that includes Pat, Janel, Duane, Colleen and Phil Hord, all of whom remain actively involved in the daily operations of the family enterprise. Together, they have built a culture rooted in integrity, innovation, sustainability and stewardship, which are values that continue to shape their business and influence the broader pork industry. Under the Hord familys leadership, the operation has grown while maintaining a strong focus on employee development, animal care, environmental responsibility and community engagement. Their commitment to empowering people and preparing future leaders has helped set a high standard for modern pork production in Ohio and beyond. Swine Managers of the Year The Ohio Pork Council recognized two recipients with the Swine Manager of the Year Award for 2025, honoring individuals whose expertise and leadership elevate daily farm operations and animal care. Chayo Rosario Salgado was recognized for her rapid advancement and measurable impact at farms operated by Fine Swine LLC. There, her leadership has improved sow care, reduced mortality rates and strengthened farm performance across multiple sites. Her dedication to mentoring others and raising production standards reflects a deep commitment to both people and pigs. Alan Adam, with more than 30 years of industry experience, was honored with this award for his steady leadership at Heimerl Farms, based in Johnstown, Ohio. Known for his reliability and problem-solving skills, Adam plays a critical role in herd health, pig marketing and mentoring the next generation of farm leaders. Other awards The Pork Promoter of the Year Award was presented to the Cardington-Lincoln FFA Chapter for its innovative and hands-on approach to educating students and the local community about pork production. Through its hands-on Pig Project curriculum and extensive outreach efforts, the chapter successfully connected classroom learning with real-world agriculture, generating enthusiasm and awareness well beyond Morrow County. The OPC Service Award was presented to Andreia Arruda, DVM, associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at Ohio State University. She is widely respected for her tireless service to producers, applied research in swine health, and leadership in disease preparedness and biosecurity efforts that directly benefit Ohios pork industry. Arruda also serves on OPCs Swine Health Committee and actively mentors the next generation of swine veterinarians and researchers. The Friend of Pork Award was presented to Jeff Karshner, vice president of United Producers Advanced Hog Marketing Division, in recognition of more than four decades of service supporting Ohio pork producers. His leadership in hog marketing and long-standing commitment to youth and industry service have made a lasting impact across the state. The Ohio Pork Council was established in 1968 by pig farmers dedicated to promoting and advancing Ohios pork industry. Today, OPC represents approximately 2,500 members. For more information, visit www.OhioPork.org. The NFU has called on the chancellor to deliver concrete backing for British farming in the spring forecast, warning that confidence in the sector is near historic lows. The intervention comes as farm businesses grapple with rising input costs, volatile markets and prolonged policy uncertainty. Confidence is widely regarded as being at or near historic lows, compounded by concern over planned changes to inheritance tax relief from April 2026, which many fear could undermine succession planning and long-term viability. In a letter to Rachel Reeves ahead of the spring forecast on 3 March, the union outlined what it described as practical steps to increase productivity and unlock long-term investment. These include the effective use of tax reliefs to support reinvestment such as capital allowances and measures that provide clarity over inheritance tax alongside a stable policy framework to encourage investor confidence. The NFU is also urging the government to maintain the current reduced rates of fuel duty for red diesel, warning that any change would significantly increase operating costs for machinery-intensive farm businesses. NFU president Tom Bradshaw said that although we have seen some common sense prevail on inheritance tax, the wider industry remains under severe strain. He said many businesses are operating on razor-thin margins and facing uncertainty that is stopping investment. British farming, he added, underpins the food and drink sector, worth 153 billion to the UK economy and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. To build on this and to continue to drive economic growth, we have set out our priorities clearly to the chancellor, he said. Mr Bradshaw argued that clearer tax incentives, stronger energy resilience and long-term policy stability would help create a more resilient, thriving and profitable farming industry. Such measures are essential, he said, to encourage the investment required to feed the nations 70 million people. With next weeks NFU Conference in Birmingham themed Building Farmings Resilience, Mr Bradshaw said the actions proposed would help create a positive climate where farmers and growers have the confidence to invest for the long-term and build resilience. The Treasury has yet to respond publicly to the NFUs proposals but has signalled its intention to prioritise fiscal discipline ahead of the Spring Forecast. All eyes will now be on the chancellors statement to see whether the government matches its growth ambitions with practical support for primary producers. The NFU Conference takes place on 24-25 February at the ICC in Birmingham. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2026) - Nuvau Minerals Inc. (TSXV: NMC) (the "Company" or "Nuvau") announces that, further to its news release dated January 30, 2026, it has amended the terms of its previously announced "best efforts" brokered private placement offering, co-led by Clarus Securities Inc. and Integrity Capital Group Inc. (together, the "Agents"), comprised of (i) the offering of up to 18,750,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.80 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $15,000,000 (the "Unit Offering") and the offering of up to 5,555,555 FT Shares (as defined herein) at a price of $0.90 per FT Share for gross proceeds of up to $5,000,000 (the "FT Offering" and together with the Unit Offering, the "Offering"). As amended, the Company proposes to issue up to 5,555,555 flow-through common shares of the Company (the "FT Shares") at an offering price of $0.90 per FT Share (the "FT Share Price"). All FT Shares will be common shares of the Company that qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec). The gross proceeds from the offering of FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the ITA), a portion of which may qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" and at least 30% of which will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" ("FTCMME") (each as defined in the ITA) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"). At the sole discretion of the Company certain subscribers of FT Shares may be allocated a higher percentage of Qualifying Expenditures that qualify as FTCMME. All Qualifying Expenditures will be incurred by the Company on or before December 31, 2027, and will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares with an effective date on or before December 31, 2026. All other terms of the Offering remain unchanged. Please refer to the Company's news release dated January 30, 2026, for additional information. In connection with the Offering, a director of the Company, plans to sell up to 400,000 common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") held, directly or indirectly, through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and intends to use the proceeds from such sales to subscribe for 400,000 FT Shares under the FT Offering. The sale of such Common Shares is expected to be effected pursuant to pre-arranged trades made through the facilities of the Exchange. Participation in the Offering by a director of the Company constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Closing of the Unit Offering is expected to occur on or about February 24, 2026, with the closing of the FT Offering expected to occur on or about March 6, 2026. Completion of the Offering remains subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the conditional approval of Exchange. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance thereof. The Agents will have an option (the "Agent's Option"), exercisable in whole or in part up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Unit Offering, to offer for sale up to any combination of additional Units (or any combination of their underlying components) and/or additional FT Shares, at their respective offering prices, to raise up to an additional $5,000,000 in gross proceeds. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Nuvau Nuvau is a Canadian mining company, incorporated under the OBCA, currently in the exploration and development phase. Nuvau's principal asset is its right to earn-in a 100% undivided interest from Glencore in the Matagami property located in Abitibi region of central Quebec, Canada pursuant to an amended and restated earn-in agreement dated January 28, 2026, among Nuvau, Nuvau Minerals Corp., and Glencore. Further Information All information contained in this news release with respect to the Company was supplied by the respective party for inclusion herein, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. Cautionary Statements 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 concerning the timing and ability of the Company to close the Offering on the terms announced, the proposed use of proceeds of the Offering, the Company's ability to incur Qualifying Expenditures and renounce the Qualifying Expenditures to subscribers, and the Company's ability to obtain exchange approval for the Offering. 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 Company, including expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the Matagami Property. 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 Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the management of the Company 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, the Company does not undertake 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. 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. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284780 Source: Nuvau Minerals Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2026) - Kadestone Capital Corp. (TSXV: KDSX) ("Kadestone" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Hoffman as its new CEO and as a director. Mr. Hoffman is the current Chief Development Officer of the Company and has a wealth of experience in developing large master-planned communities within the real estate sector. Kevin joined Kadestone in 2025 after a successful tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Vanprop Investments, where he spearheaded the redevelopment of a significant 50-acre mall site. Previously, as President of Aquilini Development and Construction, Kevin managed an impressive portfolio that included a variety of residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects, often collaborating with First Nations to foster inclusive communities. His career spans over two decades, with prior roles at Concord Pacific Group and as a founding partner of Bluestone Construction. Armed with a Master's in Business Administration and a strong dedication to community engagement, Kevin is well regarded for his innovative strategies and exceptional leadership in property development. Mr. Hoffman said: "I am honoured to become Chief Executive Officer of Kadestone. This is an exciting time for the organization, and I'm grateful to the Board for their confidence and support. I look forward to working closely with our team to build on the strong foundation already in place, deepen our relationships with our partners, and drive the next phase of our business. Together, I am confident we will create value and pursue opportunities that strengthen our position for the future." Dr. Anthony Holler, Chairman of the Company Board, said: "The Board is delighted to welcome Kevin as our next Chief Executive Officer. Kevin brings deep industry experience, a strong strategic vision, and a demonstrated ability to lead organizations through growth and transformation. We are confident that his leadership will guide our company into its next chapter. We look forward to working closely with Kevin and supporting him as he takes on this important role." Brent Billey, will retain the role of President and remain on the Company board of directors. "Brent has been fundamental to the development of the organization from founding to its current stage," said Dr. Holler. "On behalf of the Board, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Brent for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to our organization. During his tenure as CEO, Brent guided the company through its IPO and other significant milestones. We continue to appreciate the vision, dedication, and integrity he has brought to the Company." About Kadestone Kadestone was established to pursue the investment in, acquisition, development and management of residential and commercial income producing properties, and procurement and sale of building materials within major urban centres and high-growth, emerging markets in Canada. The Company operates five complimentary business lines spanning building materials procurement and supply, property development and construction, construction finance, asset ownership and property management. These synergistic business lines have solidified Kadestone's vision to become a market leading vertically integrated property company. Additional information can be found at www.kadestone.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD (signed) "Kevin Hoffman" CEO and Director 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 Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's objectives, goals and future plans, including the Company's ability to identify opportunities and secure additional investments in 2025 and the Company's vision to become a leading vertically integrated property company, may constitute forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), which can be identified by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "intend," "continue" or "believe" (or the negatives) or other similar variations. Because of various risks and uncertainties, including those referenced below, actual events or results may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. As a result, you should not rely on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to Kadestone's ability to receive sufficient financing to execute its business objectives or plans on acceptable terms or at all; Kadestone's ability to realize the anticipated benefits for its synergistic business lines; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Additional information identifying assumptions, risks and uncertainties relating to Kadestone is contained in Kadestone's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedarplus.ca. These risks include, but are not limited to, Kadestone's requirement of significant additional capital; Kadestone's ability to receive sufficient financing to execute its business objectives or plans on acceptable terms or at all; and those other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's final prospectus dated September 2, 2020, and in the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The forward-looking statements in this press release are applicable only as of the date of this release or as of the date specified in the relevant forward-looking statement. The Company has no intention and undertakes 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 applicable law. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284783 Source: Kadestone Capital Corp. Surrey, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2026) - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) ("Desert Gold" or the "Company") announces that it has accepted an arms-length subscription agreement that was submitted during the Company's recent $7,181,800 private placement closing but was missed due to clerical error. As a result, the Company will issue 375,000 units for a total of $30,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one half of a common share purchase warrant, each whole warrant exercisable for 2 years at $0.12. No finder's fees will be payable, the securities issued will be subject to trading restrictions of 4 months and a day, and proceeds will be added to general working capital. This placement is subject to TSXV approval. About Desert Gold Ventures Desert Gold is a gold exploration and development company which controls properties in both Mali and Cote d'Ivoire. This includes the 440km2 SMSZ Project in Western Mali as well as the newly optioned 297km2 Tiegba Gold Project in Western Cote d'Ivoire within the prolific Birimian greenstone belt. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Such forward-looking information is provided to inform the Company's shareholders and potential investors about management's assessment of the Company's plans and operations relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. More particularly and without limitation, the forward-looking information in this news release includes (i) expectations regarding the Company's financing plans; (ii) expectations concerning the Company's plans and objectives in respect of the Offering's net proceeds; (iii) final TSXV approval in respect of the Offering and the timing of receipt thereof; and (iv) expectations concerning the Company's future plans, objectives, strategies, and goals relating to its business. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions that have been used to develop such information, but which may prove to be incorrect and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the Company's current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs based on information currently available to the Company. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Contact Information For further information, please contact: 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. Not for distribution to US Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284787 Source: Desert Gold Ventures Inc. Tallinn, Estonia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 21, 2026) - Aithor, an Estonia-based AI technology company, today announced the launch of its AI Detector, a web-based tool designed to help users assess whether written content may include AI-generated text. The release comes as schools, universities, and workplaces continue to update policies around AI use, authorship, and originality in writing. Aithor AI Detector interface showing text analysis results with 99% AI-generated score, highlighting flagged passages in a web-based checker. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11790/284791_c82cdeaf04694b02_001full.jpg Aithor's AI Detector analyzes writing signals commonly associated with modern generative AI models, including ChatGPT, GPT-4, Gemini, and other large language systems. Users can paste text into the tool to receive an AI-likelihood score along with highlighted sections that may contain AI-generated patterns, supporting more informed review of written work. The tool is intended for students, educators, researchers, editors, and professionals operating in environments where authorship and originality remain essential. In academic settings, the AI Detector can support integrity checks for coursework and submissions. In professional contexts, it can assist editors and reviewers in evaluating content quality, originality, and disclosure expectations. "Our goal with the AI Detector is to provide practical, accessible insight into AI-generated writing patterns," said Alex Guyden, Head of SEO at Aithor. "As AI-assisted writing becomes more common, people need tools that help them evaluate text responsibly, not through assumptions, but through clearer signals and transparency." The AI Detector expands Aithor's broader AI writing and analysis toolkit, which focuses on helping users work with structured information and maintain responsible standards in AI-assisted content creation. Aithor expects continued development of new features that support transparency and ethical AI use across education and professional writing. About Aithor Aithor is an Estonia-based technology company focused on developing AI-driven tools that support accurate information gathering, writing clarity, and responsible content creation. The company's mission is to make AI a practical resource for individuals seeking trustworthy, academic-level answers presented in clear and understandable language. Through its suite of AI writing and analysis tools, Aithor aims to promote transparency, reliability, and informed use of artificial intelligence across educational and professional contexts. Media Contact To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284791 Source: AMRYTT MEDIA Bernard Charles announces stepping down from his Executive Chairman and Member of the Board positions, for personal reasons Bernard Charles intends to put his 43 years of industry experience, and his vision to transform, with AI, industrial creation and production processes, at the service of the Generative Economy Pascal Daloz is appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer by Dassault Systemes' Board, pursuing the 3D UNIV+RSES ambition to position Dassault Systemes as leader in Industrial AI Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) announces that Bernard Charles has informed the Board of Directors, today and with immediate effect, that he is stepping down as Executive Chairman and member of the Board, for personal reasons. The Board has unanimously decided that Pascal Daloz, Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Systemes, becomes Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in line with the recommendation of the Compensation and Nomination Committee, as of February 21, 2026. Pascal Daloz, Dassault Systemes' Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer commented : "I am honored to succeed Bernard Charles as Chairman of Dassault Systemes, in addition to my mission as CEO. I would like to thank Bernard for his trust, his unwavering support and his inspiration. We share the same vision: pushing the boundaries of science and imagination to change the lives of consumers, patients and citizens bringing "virtual worlds to real life". We also share a common conviction about the plan required to turn that vision into reality. As Co-Founder and CEO, Bernard guided our company from a startup to a world leader. The inspiration behind Dassault Systemes' leading technologies, he has instilled a culture of ongoing innovation within our organization. He has helped transform industries for a more sustainable world. I thank Bernard for his offer to remain available to help us accelerate the adoption of 3D UNIV+RSES powered by AI. Our ambition is clear: to lead the transformation powered by Industrial AI through 3D UNIV+RSES. This is a long-term commitment to further redefine how industries innovate, operate and compete in the Generative Economy. I am committed to ensuring that Dassault Systemes retains the freedom needed to remain a game-changer and to accelerating growth." Bernard Charles commented : "I have requested to be released, for personal reasons, from my duties as Executive Chairman of the Board of Dassault Systemes. As Co-Founder of our company, alongside Charles Edelstenne, I am truly pleased that Pascal Daloz succeeds me in this role. Pascal and I have worked side by side for 25 years, and he has my full confidence to both lead the company and organize the Board's work. This decision reflects the enduring continuity of the company's governance, which is a major source of trust for our large clients around the world. I am firmly convinced that this new configuration creates the strongest conditions for the continued and successful development of Dassault Systemes. I love and am deeply proud of Dassault Systemes its people, its teams, its customers, its purpose and values and what we build together. I am, at heart, a product and technology leader; this is my passion. I will remain fully available to the company to accelerate the adoption of 3D UNIV+RSES. Over the past 40 years, I have driven six generations of industry transformations, leading cutting-edge product innovation. "Gen7" is now well defined and architected. Pascal and his remarkable team will drive further this tremendous heritage for the success of our clients, partners and shareholders." "On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Bernard Charles for his relentless leadership to position Dassault Systemes as a world leader in PLM, which is recognized by all industries. His unique vision, endorsed by so many leading companies, has always been a competitive advantage. In the past 3 years, he has carefully prepared his succession: ensuring the 7th generation of our AI-based industry solutions is well engaged and transmitting his career legacy, constantly aiming for the highest quality standards. With Pascal Daloz, the company is in good hands for the future", added Charles Edelstenne, Founder and Honorary Chairman. Information on Conference Call scheduled February 23, 2026 Dassault Systemes will host a conference call on February 23, 2026, at 7.00 am London time 8.00 am Paris time. The conference call will be webcast live and available as replay on http://www.3ds.com/investors/. Please connect to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. FOR MORE INFORMATION Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com Connect with Dassault Systemes on Facebook LinkedIn YouTube ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTEMES Dassault Systemes is a catalyst for human progress. Since 1981, the company has pioneered virtual worlds to improve real life for consumers, patients and citizens. With Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 370,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, can collaborate, imagine and create sustainable innovations that drive meaningful impact. For more information, visit: www.3ds.com Dassault Systemes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the 3DS logo, the Compass icon, IFWE, 3DEXCITE, 3DVIA, BIOVIA, CATIA, CENTRIC PLM, DELMIA, ENOVIA, GEOVIA, MEDIDATA, NETVIBES, OUTSCALE, SIMULIA and SOLIDWORKS are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a European company (Societas Europaea) incorporated under French law, and registered with the Versailles trade and companies registry under number 322 306 440, or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. Use of any Dassault Systemes or its subsidiaries trademarks is subject to their express written approval. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260221090290/en/ Contacts: Dassault Systemes Investor Relations Team Marie Dumas: +33 1 61 62 70 92 investors@3ds.com Dassault Systemes Press Contact Pierre-Hubert Meilhac: +33 1 8524 0733 Pierrehubert.meilhac@3ds.com New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 21, 2026) - As users increasingly abandon legacy forums due to AI-generated spam and heavy-handed algorithmic feeds, a new community platform, Discusd.com, officially launched today to restore authentic, human-to-human discussion on the internet. Positioned as a modern alternative to platforms like Reddit, Discusd is engineered specifically to filter out generative AI noise and prioritize verifiable human consensus. The platform's architecture removes algorithmic engagement bait in favor of chronological, community-moderated discussions based entirely on user experience and shared interests. "We built Discusd because the modern internet feels like a ghost town of bots talking to bots," said the Founder of Discusd. "Users don't want another algorithm feeding them optimized engagement bait or shadow-banning nuanced conversations. They want actual human consensus, messy opinions, and raw lived experience. That's what legacy forums have lost, and it's exactly what we are bringing back." Key Features of the Discusd Platform: Human-Centric Algorithms: Feeds are strictly dictated by community voting and relevance, not hidden corporate engagement metrics. Feeds are strictly dictated by community voting and relevance, not hidden corporate engagement metrics. Anti-Slop Infrastructure: Built-in verification systems designed to detect and penalize high-volume, AI-generated spam accounts. Built-in verification systems designed to detect and penalize high-volume, AI-generated spam accounts. Transparent Moderation: A decentralized, user-elected moderation system that prevents power-tripping and ensures fair enforcement of community guidelines. A decentralized, user-elected moderation system that prevents power-tripping and ensures fair enforcement of community guidelines. Entity Consensus Architecture: Designed to make it easier for users to find the definitive, human answer to complex questions without digging through optimized affiliate links. The launch of Discusd taps into a massive shift in consumer behavior. In a digital landscape where zero-click searches and AI summaries dominate, internet users are actively seeking out "the scars of human authorship"-raw, unfiltered spaces where they can validate information with real people. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What is Discusd.com? Discusd is a next-generation social forum and community platform designed for authentic, text-based discussions, operating as an alternative to legacy sites like Reddit. Discusd is a next-generation social forum and community platform designed for authentic, text-based discussions, operating as an alternative to legacy sites like Reddit. How does Discusd handle moderation? Unlike older platforms that rely on opaque admin actions, Discusd utilizes a transparent, community-led moderation framework to maintain high-quality discussions. Unlike older platforms that rely on opaque admin actions, Discusd utilizes a transparent, community-led moderation framework to maintain high-quality discussions. Is Discusd free to use? Yes, anyone can create an account and join communities on Discusd for free. To join the conversation or create a new community, visit https://discusd.com. About Discusd: Discusd is a digital community platform founded in 2026, dedicated to hosting authentic, human-first discussions. By prioritizing user consensus and transparent moderation, Discusd provides a sanctuary from the AI-generated spam and algorithmic feeds that dominate the modern web. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284793 Source: Niche Ranker In 2019, after nearly two decades of silence, Rina Oh came forward about the abuse she endured at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein The controversy around The Epstein Files continues to intensify. Day after day, new names are dropping on social media, both that of the victims and the perpetrators. A new victim has come out of the dark shadows and made some shocking revelations. Her name is Rina Oh. Oh is a Korean-American multidisciplinary artist, writer, and survivor advocate whose work bridges visual art, storytelling, and activism. She is best known for transforming personal trauma into creative expression through her artistic alter-ego, Thirsty, a younger version of herself who represents the universal search for healing and justice. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2019, after nearly two decades of silence, Rina Oh came forward about the abuse she endured at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein. What Rina Oh revealed While speaking to NDTV when she was 21 years old, Oh was quoted saying, He psychologically harmed me by devaluing me after saying great things about me for a while. It took many, many months down the road. He started with insults. Criticising my body. Telling me what to do with my body. She added, And then I think the time when I heard him, and he said this more than once, he started telling me I was too old. A lot. I was 21. And he was 47 at the time. So you could just imagine a 21-year-old being told that shes too old. From an early age, when I was five or six years old, I was abused by an adult, and I was naturally a very silent person. And I didnt realise it was abuse because I didnt even know when I was younger. And it was very easy to manipulate me. I was already very damaged. Jeffrey saw that, and he took advantage of me," Oh continued. The story of Virginia Giuffre Virginia Louise Giuffre was an Australian and American advocate for survivors of sex trafficking and one of the most prominent accusers of Jeffrey Epstein. Giuffre provided detailed allegations to media outlets about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She first alleged that Epstein ran a trafficking ring, outsourcing girls for sexual services to other powerful men, in 2011. Games View All What Virginia Louise said This is not some sordid sex story, this is a story of being trafficked, this is a story of abuse, and this is a story of your guys royalty, Virginia Giuffre told the BBC in an hour-long documentary that aired in November 2019. Virginia Louise Giuffre was an Australian and American advocate for survivors of sex trafficking and one of the most prominent accusers of Jeffrey Epstein The shocking details around The Epstein Files continue to be dug deeper and as people are unearthing what all unfolded when the sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein was alive, they have discovered the name of Virginia Giuffre. Before we talk about what all she went through as per her own admission, heres what you need to know about her. Virginia Louise Giuffre was an Australian and American advocate for survivors of sex trafficking and one of the most prominent accusers of Jeffrey Epstein. Giuffre provided detailed allegations to media outlets about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She first alleged that Epstein ran a trafficking ring, outsourcing girls for sexual services to other powerful men, in 2011. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What Virginia Louise said This is not some sordid sex story, this is a story of being trafficked, this is a story of abuse, and this is a story of your guys royalty, Virginia Giuffre told the BBC in an hour-long documentary that aired in November 2019. She also told BBC that she was passed around Epsteins rich and powerful friends like a platter of fruit. She said she was trafficked to Prince Andrew three times in 2001 and 2002: once in London at the home of Epsteins girlfriend, once at Epsteins New York mansion and once on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein. It didnt last long, she said of the first of three alleged encounters with the prince. He got up, and he said thanks, I sat there in bed, just horrified and ashamed and felt dirty, Giuffre said. The advocate allegedly died by suicide last year in April but her father denied the allegations and stated somebody got to her. Games View All Giuffre s siblings on Prince Andrews arrest On behalf of our sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we extend our gratitude to the U.K.s Thames Valley Police for their investigation, and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The former Prince Andrew was arrested and held for hours by British police Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Jeffrey Epstein, an extraordinary move in a country where authorities once sought to shield the royal family from embarrassment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As US-Iran nuclear talks inch forward, Tehran is simultaneously fortifying nuclear sites, deploying forces near the Strait of Hormuz, and tightening internal security. With Donald Trump weighing military options, Iran is preparing for conflict while pursuing diplomacy to avoid escalation across the region An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of US President Donald Trump, in Tehran, Iran, February 17, 2026. File Image/WANA via Reuters Iran and the United States are simultaneously engaging in nuclear talks as well as preparing for the possibility that negotiations could fail and trigger direct confrontation. Washington has signalled that military options are being actively weighed, and Tehran is taking sweeping measures across its armed forces, nuclear infrastructure and internal security apparatus. How are US-Iran nuclear talks faring? Indirect discussions between Iranian officials and US representatives in Geneva have produced what Tehran describes as an understanding on broad guiding principles for a potential nuclear arrangement. Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said the exchanges with Washingtons envoys had clarified the framework of what might be possible, even as he stressed that this did not amount to a concluded agreement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Friday, he indicated that Iran was preparing a draft counterproposal for review by senior officials in Tehran, and suggested that further engagement could take place within days. Araqchi said diplomacy remained viable and that a settlement could be reached in a very short period of time, while also cautioning that any military action would complicate or derail negotiations. He told US television network MS Now that neither side had demanded a complete halt to uranium enrichment nor offered to suspend enrichment entirely during the Geneva talks. Instead, he said the discussions centred on mechanisms to ensure that Irans nuclear activities, including enrichment, remained exclusively peaceful on a permanent basis. According to Araqchi, these would involve technical and political confidence-building steps, paired with actions linked to sanctions. He did not provide details of the specific measures under consideration. The White House responded by reiterating Washingtons long-standing position that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons or the ability to build them, and that enrichment is not acceptable under a future deal. Donald Trump has said he is considering limited strikes if Tehran fails to conclude a deal within a short deadline and has warned of severe consequences if negotiations collapse. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The backdrop to this pressure campaign includes US and Israeli air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities in mid-2025, followed by renewed threats in early this year as Tehran responded to widespread protests with lethal force. Trump has also claimed that US threats prevented planned mass executions in Iran. Tehran has rejected his assertions, publishing its own casualty list and challenging the accuracy of foreign claims. US-based rights group HRANA has separately released higher figures for deaths linked to the unrest totalling 7,114, while acknowledging that another 11,700 cases remain under review. Amid this rhetoric, the United Nations has also warned that rising tensions and military deployments increase the risk of miscalculation. A UN spokesperson has called on both governments to prioritise diplomacy and restraint to prevent the dispute from tipping into open conflict. How is Iran preparing for a US strike? Restructuring its military posture Irans leadership is repositioning its armed forces and adjusting command structures in anticipation of potential US strikes designed to disrupt decision-making at the top. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced the revival of its so-called mosaic defence doctrine, a concept intended to decentralise authority so that field commanders can act independently if communications with senior leadership are severed, reported The Wall Street Journal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This approach is meant to reduce the vulnerability of the command chain during sustained or surprise attacks. Conducting military drills near US naval assets Iran is also conducting highly visible military deployments intended to demonstrate its capacity to retaliate against US interests and disrupt vital maritime routes. Naval units of the Revolutionary Guard have been positioned in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. State-linked media outlets have broadcast footage showing cruise missiles fired from mobile launchers along the coast and from fast boats operating in the strait, with oil tankers visible in the background. Revolutionary Guard naval commanders have said the waterway is under constant monitoring. The deployment is going on with the presence of US naval forces in nearby waters, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been operating off the coast of Oman. A Russian warship had also docked at Bandar Abbas ahead of a joint exercise involving Russian and Iranian forces. Iranian and Russian state media said the drills were designed to improve operational coordination and exchange military experience. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The exercises were being conducted in waters not far from US naval assets. Irans weapons & threat to Israel Irans Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has publicly framed US naval power as vulnerable to Iranian weapons, suggesting that the threat posed to American vessels extends beyond their visible defensive systems. Recent conflict with Israel also informs Tehrans posture. Israels 12-day war with Iran in mid-2025 exposed gaps in Irans conventional military capabilities and highlighted the limitations of allied militias such as Hezbollah in altering the balance of power. At the same time, Iranian forces used the conflict as a testing ground to refine tactics, particularly by improving the accuracy of longer-range missile strikes as hostilities progressed. Iran is assessed to possess around 2,000 medium-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israeli territory, along with substantial inventories of short-range missiles that could target US bases in the Gulf and vessels transiting Hormuz. The country also maintains significant stocks of anti-ship cruise missiles and operates fleets of fast attack and torpedo boats suited to swarm tactics in confined waters. In parallel, Iranian air defence units have conducted drills aimed at repelling drone and missile attacks on sensitive locations, including nuclear-related facilities. State-run media have reported that these exercises focused on detecting and intercepting aerial threats approaching critical infrastructure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nuclear sites being hardened Satellite imagery analysed by the Institute for Science and International Security shows extensive repair work and fortification measures at several core sites within Irans nuclear infrastructure. The Isfahan Nuclear Fuel Complex, located south of Tehran near the city of Natanz, plays a central role in Irans nuclear fuel cycle by converting uranium into forms suitable for enrichment. According to diplomats, parts of the facility include underground areas where enriched uranium has been stored. Satellite images captured between December 2025 and January 2026 show structural repairs at Isfahan and new efforts to bury tunnel entrances. At the Natanz enrichment facility, which houses Irans main enrichment operations, imagery indicates construction activity at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, a section of the site damaged during US and Israeli strikes the previous year. Approximately a mile from Natanz, a new installation known as Pickaxe Mountain, or Kolang Gaz La, shows evidence of tunnel excavation and reinforcement. Further south, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, built into a mountain near the city of Qom, sustained extensive damage during the 2025 strikes. Satellite imagery shows that entrances to Fordow were sealed shortly after the attacks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Military sites being reinforced The Parchin military complex, long associated in external reporting with past research related to nuclear weaponisation methods that Iran has consistently denied, has been covered in concrete, according to satellite images taken in January. Israel reportedly struck Parchin in late 2024, and the recent fortification suggests an effort to protect remaining infrastructure and sensitive materials from renewed attack. A combination picture of satellite images show the Parchin military complex before the Israeli strikes of October, 2024, in Parchin, Iran in this handout image dated October 20, 2024, (left), and concrete over the site at the Parchin military complex, in Parchin, Iran in this handout image dated January, 24, 2026, (right).- Reuters Additional satellite data indicate that Tehran is repairing and strengthening other complexes critical to its military and nuclear operations. These physical measures complement doctrinal changes such as decentralised command and air defence drills, reflecting a comprehensive approach to improving resilience against aerial and special forces operations. Irans maritime posture is also part of this hardening strategy. Joint Russian-Iranian naval drills conducted in January were launched from strategic locations including Larak Island and Shahid Bahonar Port, both of which play key roles in controlling access to the Strait of Hormuz and serve as major naval hubs, reported Sky News. Tracking data and satellite imagery have shown Iranian naval vessels operating off the coast of Bandar Abbas, including a drone carrier capable of deploying dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles alongside helicopters. Tightening internal security Iranian leaders appear concerned that external strikes could reignite widespread protests similar to those that erupted amid economic hardship and political discontent. The mass killing of protesters last month has left the government facing one of its most acute legitimacy challenges in decades. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To prevent any new wave of destabilising demonstrations during a confrontation with the United States, the Revolutionary Guard and intelligence services have expanded surveillance and control measures in and around Tehran. Guard commanders have said roughly 100 monitoring points have been established across the capital to block potential insurgents or foreign infiltrators. Rights groups and residents report that security forces continue to pursue individuals who took part in recent protests, including through searches in schools and by requesting hospital records that could identify people treated for protest-related injuries. Mapping shelters in Tehran Tehrans municipal authorities have mapped out metro stations, parking garages and other structures that could serve as shelters in the event of air strikes. Officials acknowledged public criticism following last years attacks, when many civilians said they were left without guidance or protection. The new planning aims to identify safe locations in advance and provide clearer options for residents during emergencies. With inputs from agencies India is turning up the heat on Pakistan this summer. Once the Shahpur Kandi dam on the Punjab-J&K border nears completion, the flow of surplus water from the Ravi to the neighbouring nation will be halted. We explain how this will add to Pakistans water woes and more in our weekly roundup A girl carries water from the Ravi river on the outskirts of Lahore. If India stops flow of excess water from the river into Pakistan, it will only add to the country's water woes. File photo/Reuters We are in the age of AI, and India is making its presence felt. The country hosted the India AI Impact Summit, one of the worlds biggest AI gatherings in recent years, and the first in the Global South. The whos who of the world descended upon New Delhi: heads of state, tech honchos, policymakers, and innovators. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the AI summit on Thursday (February 19) and unveiled the Manav vision for AI, which encompasses moral and ethical systems, accountable governance and national sovereignty. India has also been showcasing how it is involving this fast-evolving tech into everyday lives, from road safety to education and healthcare. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The gathering grabbed headlines for some controversial reasons: The furore triggered after Galgotias University, a Greater Noida institute, showcased Chinese robodogs as its own invention, and Bill Gates decision to cancel his speech. More from Explainers PM Modi, Netanyahu share car ride to tech exhibition, highlighting close ties The summit brought several world leaders to India, keeping PM Modi busy. French President Emmanuel Macron was among them; the two countries have elevated their ties to a special global strategic partnership. Defence was on top of the agenda, with India and France sealing the Hammer missile deal; New Delhi will also procure 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also attended the AI summit. He will hold a bilateral with PM Modi, with the focus on trade. As India strengthens its ties with allies, it has been tightening the screws on Pakistan. As the Shahpur Kandi dam on the Jammu and Kashmir-Punjab will be completed on March 31, excess Ravi river water flowing into the neighbouring nation will be stopped. This means a harsher summer for Pakistan. We talk about all this and more in our weekly roundup. 1. AI has been the buzzword this week. At the India AI Impact Summit, the Indian government and startups put their best foot forward, displaying innovations that improve lives. This story delves into how the technology is being integrated into sectors that impact the common man, from education and health to road safety. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 2. Until the AI summit, Galgotias University, a private varsity in Uttar Pradeshs Greater Noida, was not known to many. However, today the institute has been spoken about in the press not only in India but also overseas. It claimed that a Chinese robodog was its own invention. At the centre of this controversy is Neha Singh, a professor at Galgotias. Here is what we know about her. Visitors at the Galgotias University stall during the AI Impact Summit, at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi, on Wednesday. The private university was asked to vacate its stall at the summit after a controversy over the display of a made-in-China robotic dog as its own innovation. PTI 3. Bill Gates was scheduled to deliver an address at the AI summit. However, the Microsoft co-founder decided to cancel his speech. This came as Gates has been under fire for his links to Jeffrey Epstein. How close were the two? This story explains. 4. In a big step toward boosting technological partnership, India and the US signed the Pax Silica declaration. It is an America-led initiative aimed at securing AI and critical technology supply chains. The signing of the deal helps in strengthening ties in the new frontiers of technology, including AI and semiconductors. It will also attract significant investment from US companies to support Indias AI infrastructure. We explain where India stands to gain. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 5. French President Emmanuel Macron was among the high-profile visitors to attend the AI summit. But before he flew to New Delhi, he visited Mumbai, where he held a bilateral with PM Modi. The two leaders virtually unveiled the first private-sector helicopter assembly line with the inauguration of the Tata-Airbus facility in Karnataka. They also discussed the production of Hammer missiles in India. Our explainers tell you the significance of these developments. 6. With summer nearing, geopolitical heat is rising. India is planning to stop the surplus waters of the Ravi River from flowing into Pakistan. This is possible as the Shahpur Kandi dam on the Jammu and KashmirPunjab border is expected to be operational soon. The move comes after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the water-sharing agreement between the two countries, after last years Pahalgam terror attack. Under this framework, India has exclusive rights over the Ravi and has now decided to fully utilise its water. Will this leave Pakistan parched? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The delayed Shahpur Kandi dam on the J&KPunjab border is expected to be completed by March 31. File photo 7. Pakistan has been jittery ever since Operation Sindoor, which exposed the terror camps it harbours. Recently, Sergio Gor, the US envoy to India, and Admiral Samuel J Paparo, the US Indo-Pacific commander, visited the Indian Armys Western Command near the Pakistan border. This was the first such visit by a foreign delegation after the hostilities with the neighbouring nation last year. We tell you all about it. These are recommendations if you missed the big news impacting India this week. You can find more such explainers here. The US Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trumps sweeping emergency tariffs are illegal. In response, the president signed a 10 per cent global tariff on top of the levies already in place, calling the courts decision deeply disappointing. Uncertainty remains over trade deals and refunds A screen displays US President Donald Trump during a press briefing at the White House following the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs, at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City. Trump has imposed a new 10 per cent global tariff to replace ones struck down by the SC. Reuters In a big blow to Donald Trumps foreign policy, the Supreme Court struck down the US Presidents global tariffs. The court held that the president had overstepped his powers. While the court decision brings some relief, it also comes with uncertainty. After all, Trump is not the one to back down. He has imposed a new 10 per cent global tariff to replace the ones scrapped by the US top court. So what happens next? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why did US Supreme Court slap down Trumps tariffs? The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trumps far-reaching global tariffs on Friday (February 20), handing him a stinging loss that sparked a furious attack on the court he helped shape. In a 6-3 decision, the court held that the president had overstepped his powers. The White House had cited a 1977 law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which gives the president power to regulate trade in response to an emergency. The courts ruling found tariffs that Trump imposed under this emergency powers law were unconstitutional, including the sweeping reciprocal tariffs he levied on nearly every other country. The US Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, where justices released their opinion striking down US President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs. In a 6-3 decision, the court held that the president had overstepped his powers. File photo/Reuters Trump appointed three of the justices on the nations highest court during his first term, and had scored a series of short-term wins that have allowed him to move ahead with key policies. Tariffs, though, were the first major piece of Trumps broad agenda to come squarely before the Supreme Court for a final ruling, after lower courts had also sided against the president. The majority found that it is unconstitutional for the president to unilaterally set and change tariffs because the taxation power clearly belongs to US Congress. What are the new tariffs Trump has introduced after the SC ruling? Donald Trump says he has signed a 10 per cent global tariff on top of the levies already in place after the Supreme Court ruling. It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately, the US president wrote on Truth Social. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The new levy will take effect at 12:01 am ET on February 24 (10.30 am IST on February 25), according to a White House fact sheet. Earlier, the US president had said that he would enact the 10 per cent new tariffs under a trade law known as Section 122. This authorises him to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15 per cent for a maximum of 150 days to address what the law describes as large and serious US balance-of-payments deficits, situations where imports significantly exceed exports. After 150 days, a US congressional approval is needed for an extension. Does the SC ruling mean refunds for tariffs collected? The ruling sets up a long fight for tariff refunds, as the duties, now deemed illegal, generated some $133.5 billion from January 2025 to mid-December. However, the top court did not address the issue of refunds, and analysts say this will be decided by lower courts in the coming months. The US Court of International Trade is expected to manage this process, ING analysts Carsten Brzeski and Julian Geib were quoted as saying by AFP. Refunds wont come automatically, as any importer that wants its money back must sue individually, they said. This process has already kicked off, with over 1,000 corporate entities now involved in a legal fight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In response to a question at the White House, Trump said, Weve taken in hundreds of billions of dollars, and so, I say, What happens to all of the money that we took in? It wasnt discussed. Wouldnt you think they wouldve put one sentence in there saying keep the money or dont keep the money? I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years. So, they write this terrible, defective decision. Its almost like being written by not-so-smart people, he added. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers were quick to demand that the president repay Americans through tariff refunds. Donald Trump should return that money immediately. He has an obligation," California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Friday. $1,751 per family that were taxed by Donald Trump. He took hundreds of billions of dollars from working folks, from the ag community, from small businesses for this vanity play, this illegal action, and he finally was held to account. The rule of law won out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker sent a letter to Trump calling for refunds to families in his state. Your tariff taxes wreaked havoc on farmers, enrage our allies, and sent grocery store prices through the roof, Pritzker said in the letter. On behalf of the people of Illinois, I demand a refund of $1,700 for every family in Illinois. What could Trump do next? Apart from the new 10 per cent tariff on imports under an alternative authority, he has said there will be new investigations of unfair trade practices under Section 301, a path towards more lasting duties. Josh Lipsky, chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council, said Fridays ruling merely opens a new chapter in Trumps tariff policy. There will be more uncertainty, more volatility for businesses to navigate, and more fraught trade deals for countries to negotiate, Lipsky told AFP. However, the courts decision removes one of Trumps fastest tools for imposing broad tariffs, said ING. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Friday that tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were custom-made for President Trump to assert leverage against other countries. We were able to bring them to the table very quickly, he said. We will get back to the same tariff level for the countries, Bessent vowed. It will just be in a less direct and slightly more convoluted manner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What about trade deals? A White House official told CNBC that Trumps sweeping new 10 per cent global tariff will reset rates for all major trading partners, lowering duties previously set at 15 per cent for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, South Korea, the European Union and Japan, 20 per cent for Vietnam while leaving the United Kingdom unchanged at 10 per cent. For India, the reset effectively reduces US tariffs on its exports to 10 per cent from 18 per cent, marking another shift in trade terms between the two countries within weeks of a landmark bilateral agreement, News18 reports. With tariffs imposed via emergency economic powers forming the basis of recent trade talks, analysts warned that some partners may try to rethink their commitments. Lipsky expects economies that have already made deals to keep them rather than risk unravelling an agreement which at least has provided some stability. But those still finalising deals, like India, may have more leverage now. Asia Society Policy Institute senior vice president Wendy Cutler expects that walking away from announced deals does not seem to be in the cards for our partners They know all too well that such a step could end up leaving them in a worse position with the White House, she said. US trading partners, including India, that have reached tariff deals with the US administration before the Supreme Court verdict, will now face a 10 per cent duty. File photo/Reuters Where does India stand? India has agreed to enter an interim trade deal with the US. The two sides have decided to work towards finalising an intermin agreement with a view to reaching a Bilateral Trade Agreement. However, no deal has been officially signed yet. However, India is expected to be cautious. The Indian Express quoted government sources as saying that New Delhi would wait and watch the US governments action following the US Supreme Court ruling. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What has Trump said on the India-US trade deal? When asked if the Supreme Court verdict would impact the trade deal with India, Trump said, Nothing changes. Theyll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs. So the deal with India is they pay tariffs. This is a reversal of what it used to be, as you know, India and I think Prime Minister Modi is a great gentleman, a great man, actually, but he was much smarter than the people that he was against in terms of the United States, he was ripping us off. So we made a deal with India. Its a fair deal now, and we are not paying tariffs to them, and they are paying tariffs. We did a little flip, he said. The India deal is onall the deals are on, were just going to do it" in a different way. What does the SC ruling mean for US consumers? Businesses and consumers in the US have been paying more since Trumps tariffs. However, it is unlikely that the cost of goods will decrease after prices were hiked last year, since there is uncertainty over import duties. A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that nearly 90 per cent of the economic burden from the surge in import duties was borne by US firms and consumers. File photo/Reuters American consumers face an overall average effective tariff rate of 9.1 per cent, which remains the highest since 1946 excluding 2025, according to The Budget Lab at Yale University. This is down from 16.9 per cent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite Trumps plan to move towards more lasting duties, Navy Federal Credit Union chief economist Heather Long expects Fridays ruling will force a reset in tariff policy. She anticipates this is likely to lead to lower overall tariff rates and a more orderly imposition of future tariffs. With inputs from agencies After a US Supreme Court ruling struck down President Donald Trumps emergency tariffs, Washington imposed a temporary 10 per cent global duty and launched fresh trade probes. Indian exports now face reset tariff rates, even as Trump says the India-US trade deal framework remains intact United States President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House, February 20, 2026, in Washington, DC, US. File Image/AP The United States Supreme Court on Friday invalidated tariffs imposed under emergency powers, forcing the Donald Trump administration to reconfigure how duties are applied on foreign goods. For India, this development has recalibrated tariff rates on its exports to the US yet again, coming within weeks of a bilateral trade framework being announced between Washington and New Delhi. The ruling has also thrown into question the future of dozens of trade arrangements negotiated under the now-invalid emergency provisions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How did Trump & Co. respond to the Supreme Court ruling? The Supreme Courts decision to strike down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) forced the US administration to dismantle a central pillar of its trade enforcement strategy. In response, the White House moved rapidly to introduce a substitute framework that would allow tariffs to remain in effect while complying with the courts interpretation of the law. Late on Friday, Trump signed executive orders establishing a temporary global import duty of 10 per cent under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This provision, which had never been used before, grants the president the authority to impose duties of up to 15 percent on imports from any and all countries for a maximum period of 150 days when addressing what the administration described as a large and serious balance of payments deficit. Unlike other trade laws, this mechanism does not require prior investigations or extensive procedural steps. The executive orders also formally ended the collection of tariffs that had been imposed under IEEPA and were subsequently invalidated by the court. These emergency-based tariffs had ranged from 10 per cent to as high as 50 per cent, depending on the country and product category. The temporary nature of the Section 122 tariffs means that, once the 150-day window expires, Congress would need to approve any extension. Alongside the global levy, the administration initiated new country-specific probes under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. This statute authorises the US Trade Representative to investigate what Washington considers unreasonable or discriminatory practices by foreign governments that restrict or burden US commerce. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although the executive order did not identify the countries that would be targeted, the US Trade Representatives office already has ongoing investigations involving China and Brazil, and the administration has indicated that other large trading partners, including Vietnam and Canada, could come under the lens. Trump also signalled that his administration could rely on additional legal authorities, including Section 232 of US trade law, which allows tariffs to be imposed on national security grounds. These powers have previously been used to levy duties on steel, aluminium, and certain automotive products. The administrations pivot to these alternative statutes had been widely anticipated, though officials acknowledged that investigations under Section 301 often take around a year to conclude. Estimates cited by Penn-Wharton Budget Model economists suggest that approximately $175 billion in tariff revenue collected over the past year could become subject to refund claims. Speaking to business leaders in Dallas, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the absence of instructions from the court meant refund obligations remained contested, adding that the process could extend for an extended period through litigation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bessent has also sought to reassure markets that the transition to the new tariff framework would not materially alter overall revenue expectations. He stated that the 10 per cent global levy, combined with possible future tariffs imposed under Section 301 and Section 232, would likely result in tariff collections in 2026 that are broadly comparable to what the government would have received under the invalidated emergency duties. At the same time, he acknowledged that the Supreme Court decision had weakened the administrations bargaining position in negotiations with trading partners. Trump, for his part, has argued that the administration retains multiple avenues to maintain tariff pressure. We have alternatives, great alternatives, he said. Could be more money. Well take in more money and well be a lot stronger for it, he added. What has changed for Indian exports to the US in tariff terms? The latest developments have resulted in yet another recalibration of tariff levels applied to Indian goods entering the US market. Prior to the recent changes, US duties on Indian exports had fluctuated sharply over the past year. The escalation began in April last year when the US imposed a 26 per cent tariff on Indian goods. This rate was subsequently reduced to 10 per cent, before being raised again in August to 50 per cent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The August levy was structured as a combination of a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and an additional 25 per cent ad valorem duty linked to Indias imports of Russian oil. The Russia-related component of this tariff was removed on February 6 earlier this month through an executive order after India committed to curtailing its direct and indirect purchases of Russian crude, increase its procurement of US energy products, and expand defence cooperation with Washington over the next decade. Although the removal of the Russia-linked duty brought the effective tariff rate on Indian exports down to 25 percent, a subsequent bilateral trade framework announced earlier this month suggested that duties could fall further to 18 per cent once a new executive order was issued and the first tranche of a trade agreement was concluded. However, that reduction did not fully materialise before the Supreme Court struck down the reciprocal tariffs imposed under emergency authorities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As a result of the ruling, US duties on Indian exports were effectively reset to most-favoured-nation (MFN) levels. Before the tariff escalation, the average weighted duty on Indian goods entering the US stood at around 3 per cent. Under the new framework, most Indian exports now face this MFN baseline, layered with the temporary 10 per cent global tariff imposed under Section 122 once it takes effect on Tuesday. This places the effective near-term tariff burden on many Indian goods closer to 10 percent during the 150-day period covered by the executive order. Certain exemptions are expected to continue under the revised regime. Products such as mobile phones and pharmaceuticals, which were subject to zero duties under the reciprocal tariff arrangements, are likely to retain their exempt status. At the same time, sector-specific tariffs imposed under national security provisions, including Section 232 duties on steel and automobiles, remain in force. These measures operate independently of the temporary global levy and are not affected by the Supreme Courts ruling on emergency powers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The latest reset has altered the competitive landscape for Indian exporters. Under the bilateral framework announced earlier this month, India had secured a tariff rate of 18 per cent, which was lower than the rates applied to several South and Southeast Asian economies. Bangladesh and Pakistan were facing 19 per cent, Vietnam 20 per cent, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia 19 per cent each, and Sri Lanka 20 per cent. With the reciprocal tariff structure now invalidated and replaced by a temporary global levy, this relative advantage has narrowed, reducing the margin by which Indian goods were positioned against regional competitors in the US market. Does the ruling derail the India-US trade deal? Despite the upheaval, Trump has repeatedly insisted that the broader trade arrangement between Washington and New Delhi remains unaffected by the Supreme Courts decision. Nothing changes on Indian trade deal, we are not paying tariffs to India and India is paying tariffs to us. We did a little flip (from the earlier situation), Trump said, signalling that the reciprocal nature of tariff concessions between the two sides would remain intact in principle. Trump also linked the trade relationship to Indias recent commitments on energy and defence cooperation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I think my relationship with India is fantastic, and were doing trade with India. India pulled out of Russia. India was getting its oil from Russia. And they pulled way back at my request, because we want to settle that horrible war where 25,000 people are dying every month, he said. Reiterating that the trade understanding would proceed, Trump added, Nothing changes with respect to the trade deal with India, and later emphasised, the India deal is on all the deals are on, were just going to do it, while noting that implementation would occur in a different way. The Supreme Court ruling has also raised questions about the status of numerous trade agreements negotiated under the now-defunct emergency provisions. Trump has said that many of these arrangements would continue, while those that are abandoned would be replaced with tariffs imposed under alternative laws. This implies that bilateral agreements, including the one with India, may need to be restructured within the confines of existing trade statutes such as Section 301 and Section 232. From the US side, the Trade Representative has indicated that details of the new Section 301 investigations will be released in the coming days and has described these tools as legally robust. The current US administration has been reliant on Section 301 even using it during Trumps first term to impose wide-ranging tariffs on Chinese imports. How may New Delhi respond? In India, the response to the Supreme Court ruling and the subsequent US policy shift has been measured. Government sources told The Indian Express that New Delhi will monitor how Washington implements the post-ruling tariff framework before taking further steps on trade negotiations. Although India has agreed to pursue an interim trade deal with the US as a precursor to a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement, the interim arrangement has not yet been formally signed. Indian officials have stated that any concessions on market access from Indias side would only be offered once the agreement is officially concluded. Senior government officials have also indicated that delaying engagement with Washington was not considered a viable option, given that Trump personally initiated the outreach that led to the issuance of the joint statement outlining the trade framework. According to officials, any perception that India was attempting to wait out the legal challenge to the emergency tariffs could have had adverse consequences for the bilateral relationship, reported The Indian Express. Within New Delhi, there is also an expectation that the US administration will continue to rely on alternative legal mechanisms to impose tariffs, given the central role that trade pressure plays in Trumps foreign policy approach. This assessment has reinforced the view that India must prepare for continued volatility in US tariff policy, even as it seeks to advance the interim trade deal and work towards a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement. With inputs from agencies Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif has sparked outrage after a video showed him appearing to salute US President Donald Trump during the Board of Peace meeting on Gaza. The clip, viral optics at the summit, and Sharifs praise of Trump triggered online ridicule US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shake hands as they pose for a photo, at a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a US-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. File Image/Reuters Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is facing a wave of criticism and online ridicule after his appearance at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace convened by United States President Donald Trump in Washington, DC on Thursday. The backlash was triggered by the circulation of an unverified video on social media in which Sharif appears to perform what users described as a guard-style salute towards Trump. The clip rapidly spread across platforms and became a focal point for debates about optics, diplomacy and Pakistans standing on major global platforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Pakistan was represented at the Board of Peace meeting Opening the session, Trump announced that nine members of the Board of Peace had agreed to collectively pledge $7 billion for a Gaza relief package. In addition, five countries committed to deploying troops as part of an international stabilisation force intended to help maintain security in the conflict-affected Palestinian territory. Several officials at the gathering used their speaking slots to praise Trumps role in conflict mediation, with some contrasting his approach with the diplomatic record of his predecessor. In this context, Sharif publicly lauded Trumps outreach and described the Board of Peace as a meaningful step toward achieving a just and lasting settlement in the region. During his remarks, the Pakistani prime minister also referred to Trump as a man of peace and the saviour of South Asia, a phrase that immediately drew attention both internationally and within Pakistan. Sharif also chose to highlight Trumps diplomatic initiatives and his claimed role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The assertion that Trump had mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan has been firmly rejected by Indian officials. How optics fulled backlash for Sharif The controversy surrounding Sharif began when a video clip surfaced online showing him appearing to salute Trump in a manner that users characterised as resembling a ceremonial guard salute. The footage started circulating a day after the Board of Peace meeting and quickly drew sharp reactions. More embarrassment for Pakistan after PM Shahbaz Sharif caught doing 'gaurd salute' to President Trump This is how society gaurds salute pic.twitter.com/0vPrEfkWrn Frontalforce (@FrontalForce) February 20, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified, but its rapid spread on social media platforms turned it into a symbol of what critics described as awkward or overly deferential conduct. The video was not the only visual from the summit that attracted attention. During the official group photograph of world leaders, Sharif was positioned at the edge of the lineup, while Trump stood at the centre flanked by key allies. Despite all praises and hugs, PM Shehbaz Sharif was pushed in the back row while President Trump was giving briefing. pic.twitter.com/TIvuiDpl2N fq off (@saknscan) February 20, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The contrast in positioning was widely shared online, with commentators interpreting it as a visual representation of Pakistans marginal role at the gathering. Another moment that circulated widely involved Trump gesturing toward Sharif mid-speech and asking him to stand. Trump asks Pak PM Sharif to stand up, then starts talking about PM Modi At the Board of Peace Event, US President Donald Trump asked Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to stand up as he repeated his false claims about ending India and Pakistan war. As soon as Sharif stood up, Trump pic.twitter.com/YSV51fws5K Global intel (@SarkarSar11) February 20, 2026 The clip also prompted online mockery, with some social media users using the moment to question the power dynamics between Washington and Islamabad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What the Board of Peace appearance meant for Pakistan The optics of Sharifs appearance in Washington quickly reverberated back in Pakistan. In Islamabad, political opposition questioned his decision to join the Board of Peace without broader consultation and criticised what they described as an erosion of Pakistans established foreign policy principles. Critics argued that Pakistans participation in the initiative, coupled with Sharifs public praise of Trump, risked undermining Islamabads long-standing positions on Palestinian representation and opposition to Israel. The fact that Pakistan was not named among the countries expected to contribute troops to the international stabilisation force in Gaza also fuelled criticism. For many observers, this omission highlighted a gap between Islamabads desire for global relevance and its actual influence in shaping the outcomes of high-level diplomatic initiatives. Despite being formally invited to join the Board of Peace, Pakistan did not emerge as a central player in the financial or security commitments announced at the summit. While participation in multilateral forums provides visibility, it does not automatically translate into decision-making power or influence over the allocation of resources. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In this context, Sharifs presence at the meeting and the viral moments that followed became emblematic of the broader challenge facing Islamabad as it seeks to assert itself on international platforms dominated by major powers and key regional actors. Despite the controversy, Trump offered brief personal reassurance regarding Sharifs participation, saying, I like this guy. What next for Trumps Board of Peace The inaugural meeting drew a broad range of participants, with most countries sending senior officials. A handful of leaders travelled in person to Washington, including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Argentine President Javier Milei and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Members of the Board of Peace included Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, El Salvador, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Countries and entities that attended as observers included Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, South Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The United States also extended invitations to China and Russia. Trump stated, I would love to have China and Russia. Theyve been invited. You need both. Trump later told reporters that additional countries were still in the process of joining the board, with some requiring approval from their national legislatures before formally signing on. Beyond the immediate pledges, Trump also announced that the United States would contribute $10 billion to the initiative. However, no timeline or detailed breakdown of how the funds would be used was provided. It also remains unclear how the US government would secure such a large allocation, as any substantial financial commitment would require authorisation from Congress. Addressing the broader significance of the initiative, Trump said, Every dollar spent is an investment in stability and the hope of a new and harmonious region, adding that the Board of Peace illustrates how coordinated global action can help lay the foundation for long-term recovery. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The $7 billion pledged by board members is far below the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild Gaza after the devastation of nearly two years of conflict. With inputs from agencies Sources have told the news outlet that security agencies have issued an alert at the Red Fort and nearby areas about a possible explosion threat. They have also suggested that Chandni Chowk may also be targeted by LeT Policemen stand guard at the site of an explosion near the historic Red Fort in the old quarters of Delhi. Reuters Intelligence agencies have received inputs that Lashkar-e-Taiba has been planning attacks near Delhis Red Fort and key religious places across India, sources have told News18. Sources have told the news outlet that security agencies have issued an alert at the Red Fort and nearby areas about a possible explosion threat. They have also suggested that Chandni Chowk may also be targeted by LeT. Intelligence sources have indicated that the terror outfit is allegedly plotting an IED attack in the national capital and other cities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development comes three months after a deadly car explosion near the Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which killed 12 people and injured nearly two dozen others. The blast occurred when a vehicle packed with explosives detonated close to the Red Fort Metro Station, sparking fires in several nearby cars. According to DNA test results, the vehicle was being driven by Umar Mohammad, also known as Umar Un Nabi, a doctor at Al-Falah University. The occurred hours after the recovery of around 360 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate and a cache of arms and ammunition from a Kashmiri doctors rented accommodation in Haryanas Faridabad, near Delhi. Dr Muzammil Ganaie was arrested in the case from Faridabads Dhauj area. What was LeTs plan? The News18 report says that Jaish-e-Mohammed, in a rare coordinated effort with LeT, was targeting major Hindu shrines in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The sources say that the attack could be a response to Indias Operation Sindoor, where forces targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. Intercepted communication indicates that both the terror outfits view the strikes as a provocation and are seeking revenge against it. Intelligence intercepts from encrypted channels point to what officials describe as a rare operational collaboration between cells of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, allegedly overseen by handlers in Rawalpindi under a joint plan codenamed Zulm Ka Badla. Sources said some of those implicated are linked to JeM chief Masood Azhar, as well as associates of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sleeper cells used to surveil entry points Intelligence from Uttar Pradesh indicates that sleeper cells were being used in the areas of Ghaziabad and Dadri to surveil and identify possible entry points. Sources added that infiltration routes along the Nepal and Bangladesh borders are reportedly being used, with operatives allegedly crossing over under false identities and blending in as labourers or street vendors. Intelligence inputs also indicate that explosives may be transported along truck routes from Punjab, with some of the materials believed to have been traced back to suppliers in Pakistan. From craft-led reinterpretations to collectible design, this years India Design ID offered a snapshot of where Indias premium interiors, and the industry behind them, are headed. If you want to understand how Indias premium homes will look in three years, India Design week is a good place to start. The 14th edition of India Design ID brought together over 150 brands, architects, and design thinkers in Delhi this February. More than a trade fair, it operates as a cultural checkpoint where the industry collectively negotiates aesthetics, sustainability, craft and collectibility. The result is less about individual objects and more about the evolving idea of the contemporary Indian home. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The global look Walk through the exhibition halls, and a visual pattern quickly settles in: curved silhouettes, brushed metals, textured stone, sculptural lighting, muted palettes. Ornamentation has receded; tactility has taken centre stage. Brands such as KOHLER, Ligne Roset and Jaipur Rugs sat alongside Indian studios presenting carefully edited collections. The coherence was striking. Indian design today feels globally fluent: not derivative, but comfortable within the same aesthetic conversation as Milan or Paris. That fluency signals confidence. It also signals convergence. As Indian interiors increasingly mirror international luxury codes, the question becomes less about catching up and more about differentiation within a shared visual language. Craft, repositioned This years theme, The Age of Design Syncretism, framed the fair as a meeting point of tradition and technology. In practice, the syncretism was subtle. Craft appeared not as nostalgia, but as a strategy integrated into minimalist forms, re-engineered for contemporary markets. Director, Experience and Partnerships, Mohita Gandhi, underscored this continuity, Indias heritage influences contemporary creativity. From geometry to engineering, ancient principles continue to guide modern solutions, balancing aesthetics with environmental intelligence. It reflects a real shift. Indian craft is no longer being presented solely as heritage to be preserved, but as material intelligence to be deployed. That repositioning matters, particularly in a market that is growing more design-aware. Yet as craft becomes embedded within premium narratives, its structural realities remain largely outside the spotlight. Recognition is visible; reform is less so. The industry seems aware of this tension, even if it is still navigating how to address it. The collectors turn One of the most telling additions was ID Salon at Bikaner House, introduced as a dedicated platform for collectable design. Limited-edition furniture, sculptural objects and art-adjacent works suggested a maturing collector ecosystem. Collectable design shifts the conversation from function to authorship. The home becomes curated, not just furnished. Ownership becomes a statement. This evolution signals confidence in the market and a growing appetite for rarity. It also reinforces who this ecosystem primarily serves: a design-literate, upwardly mobile, culturally invested elite. India Design ID does not disguise that reality; it operates within it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Designing for longevity At the ID Symposium, speakers including Mateo Kries of the Vitra Design Museum, architect-designer India Mahdavi, British designer Max Lamb, and Indian practitioners such as Vinu Daniel and Sourabh Gupta addressed sustainability, pedagogy and material futures. Sustainability is no more a movement, it is a way of life as it should be, Gandhi noted, adding that India Design ID aims to foreground ideas of sustainability and innovation as design quietly leads the way. Sustainability is no longer a peripheral theme; it is embedded in design language. But luxury production by scale and by nature complicates the rhetoric. The fair reveals an industry conscious of environmental responsibility, yet still operating within aspirational frameworks that demand growth, scale and novelty. The contradiction is not unique to India. It is global, but it is increasingly unavoidable. Setting the tone India Design ID ultimately functions as calibration. Because its primary audience is industry-facing, the aesthetics validated here will ripple outward into luxury apartments in Gurugram, boutique hotels in Jaipur, and commercial spaces across Mumbai and Bengaluru. If tensions are visible between global alignment and local specificity, sustainability claims and material indulgence, they reflect the broader evolution of Indian design itself. The fair does not attempt to resolve them. It makes them legible. And perhaps that is its real significance. India Design ID 2026 is not merely about objects on display. It is about direction-setting. About how a rapidly urbanising, increasingly design-literate India imagines comfort, status, responsibility and beauty, all at once. The modern Indian home, as seen here, is no longer tentative. It is confident, curated and globally conversant. The challenge now is ensuring it is also distinct and accountable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Chagos issue lies at the crossroads of decolonisation, great-power rivalry, nuclear concerns, and Indo-Pacific security. How the UK, US, Mauritius, India, and other regional actors navigate the transition will determine strategic stability in the Indian Ocean amid rising Chinese assertiveness The Chagos Islands (which include Diego Garcia) are in the news of late due to their strategic location, the UKs transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius in 2025, US President Donald Trumps recent statements criticising the UKs move and its impact on other important stakeholders, including India and the Maldives. Strategic Location Officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Chagos Islands are located in the Indian Ocean about 5,799 miles (9,332 km) southeast of the UK and about 1,250 miles northeast of Mauritius. Also known as the Chagos Archipelago, there are around 60 individual islands, grouped together in seven ring-shaped coral atolls. Initially, the French controlled these islands from 1715 to 1810, which the UK later took control of in the early 19th century and detached the Chagos Islands from Mauritius. The islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965, when Mauritius was still a British colony. In the late 1960s, Britain invited the US to build a modern and advanced military base in Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease agreement, forcibly removing thousands of people from their homes in the process. Provisions were also made for the lease to be renewed for an additional 40 years after the expiry of the 99-year period and even for a further extended phase, if it was so required. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Significance of Diego Garcia Diego Garcia is the largest of the Chagos Islands. In the early 1970s, the UK and US had jointly operated a military base there along with air force facilities, advanced communications, surveillance capabilities and a deep-water port. It is nicknamed Footprint of Freedom by the US Navy due to its shape and strategic location in the central part of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is one of two major crucial US bomber bases in the Indo-Pacific region, alongside Anderson Air Force Base in Guam. During the US war on terror after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, aircraft were sent directly from the island to carry out missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. In recent times, Diego Garcia has been in the news for US operations against the Houthis in Yemen in 2024 and 2025 and also attacks against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Should President Trump order any military operations against Iran, the US Air Force may use Diego Garcia due to its vantage point. Mauritius Viewpoint When the UK purchased the archipelago for 3 million British pounds, Mauritius had argued that it was illegally forced to give Chagos away as part of a deal to grant independence, which Mauritius achieved in 1968. Since then, Mauritius has repeatedly claimed sovereignty over Chagos, maintaining that it is an integral part of its territory. Amid growing diplomatic pressure, the UK signed a controversial agreement to transfer control of the archipelago to Mauritius in 2025. Another sensitive area which is of concern to Mauritius has been the issue of placing nuclear weapons in the Chagos Islands, including that of Diego Garcia. In 1996, under the Treaty of Pelindaba, which creates an African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (ANWFZ) and which later on came into force in August 2009, the government of Mauritius had already signed and ratified the treaty. Mauritius is also a signatory to the NPT and IAEA safeguards. In the absence of any definitive information on the possible storage of nuclear weapons or warheads in Diego Garcia, it has been a matter of concern to Mauritius. Questions have arisen as the US, which has signed the Treaty of Tlatelolco that makes Latin America and the Caribbean a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, is yet to ratify Pelindaba, which applies in the case of the Chagos Islands, including that of Diego Garcia. US Stand The US position on Chagos has undergone a flip-flop under the Trump Administration. Initially, President Trump and his top Cabinet officials had welcomed the UKs deal as it was arrived at in May 2025 in handing over the sovereignty back to Mauritius, with the 99-year lease of Diego Garcia island as the US military base remaining intact. However, the US position changed in early 2026 when Trump termed the UK deal a big mistake and an act of great stupidity. Trump also stated that the Chagos Islands should not be taken away from the UK, and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. As a result of the changed US position, the transfer of sovereignty agreement from the UK to Mauritius is currently in a state of limbo and appears unlikely to be ratified in 2026. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indias Stake India is an important stakeholder in the Chagos Islands issue, as India has consistently supported the sovereignty of Mauritius and its claim to the Chagos archipelago, as was formulated in the 2025 transfer agreement with the UK. At the same time, India has maintained a balanced and nuanced view that US military bases in Diego Garcia provide a safe and secure asset in the Indian Ocean, facilitating surveillance, intelligence sharing, access to crucial logistical hubs, and oversight of overt Chinese maritime activities in the region. As India has been an ardent supporter of decolonisation, which ultimately led to Mauritius becoming an independent country in 1968, Indias credibility has been amplified due to its trustworthiness. Under Prime Minister Modi, India has launched the Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (Mahasagar), which is an upgrade from the Security and Growth for All in the Region (Sagar) maritime initiatives. India positions itself as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region through calibrated diplomacy and in consonance with its commitment to existing international norms as well as in ensuring robust partnerships with major powers. India takes its leadership role seriously, as it views order and stability as a very high priority objective in the Indo-Pacific and in the Global South. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Discordant Notes from the Maldives While Chagos and the Maldives have had close and shared ethnic, cultural and historical ties, no governments of the Maldives until the present one under President Muizzu in Male have claimed sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago. Muizzu is also on record stating that should the Maldives government be accorded sovereignty over Chagos, it will allow US military bases in Diego Garcia to continue their operations unhindered. From the Indian standpoint, the prospect of a foreign military base operating from Maldives territory under its sovereignty could have serious implications in a strategic context. Any miscalculation or escalation by the Maldives may create space for extra-regional powers to exert their presence in Indias coastal neighbourhood. Muizzus move may also entice China to expand its footprint in the larger Indian Ocean region, much to the detriment of Indias maritime strategy and operations. For India and Mauritius, Maldives rapid defence modernisation drive in recent times and its growing ties with countries such as China through the Global Strategic Initiative and Turkey through a $37 million deal for the procurement of military drones may also be viewed with some wariness in defence circles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Conclusion In the rapidly changing global and regional geopolitics, including in the Indian Ocean region with rival powers staking out to enhance their respective spheres of influence through overt and covert displays of hard and assertive military might, there is a compelling need for sober analysis as to how to manage and contain any possible fallout on the issues related to the Chagos Islands should the situation escalate and spiral out of control. The sooner it is handled deftly by all the relevant stakeholders, the better it is for maintaining strategic stability and predictability. (Mohammed Badrul Alam is Director of Research; professor and former head, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) Artificial intelligence has vast potential in reshaping military strategy, redefining operations, and revolutionising decision-making. The future of the battlefield is as much about algorithms and compute power as it is about arms India cannot afford to miss the chance AI is revolutionising warfare as the military uses cutting-edge technologies to become more effective and efficient in both offensive and defensive operations. Representational image Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Monday, February 16, 2026. He said India stands at the forefront of the artificial intelligence transformation, and its strides in AI reflect both ambition and responsibility, underscoring Indias commitment to responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence. UK Deputy PM David Lammy called the Delhi summit an important moment to unlock the full benefits of AI. It marks the fourth Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit after summits in the UK, South Korea, and France. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Global tech leaders Sundar Pichai, Bill Gates, and Sam Altman, along with leaders from about 20 countries, including Brazil and France, were among the participants from around 100 countries at the summit. The summit featured over 3,250 speakers and more than 500 sessions. The session Leveraging AI for Defence: Driving Innovation & Efficiency took place on February 17. The discussion highlighted AI as a key enabler of future military capabilities, emphasising secure and trusted defence AI ecosystems. AI Transforming Defence AI is transforming defence through autonomous systems, enhanced surveillance, and accelerated decision-making, acting as a critical force multiplier in modern warfare. Key applications include AI-guided drones/swarms, robotic vehicles, predictive maintenance, cyber-security, and data analysis for target identification. These technologies enhance speed, accuracy, and efficiency across all operational domains. AI powers Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), ground vehicles, and submarines for surveillance and reconnaissance. AI-driven loitering munitions (kamikaze drones) can identify and engage targets independently. AI analyses satellite, drone, and sensor data for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR). It also helps detect border intrusions. It aids in identifying patterns and forecasting potential conflicts. AI processes vast data for rapid target identification and battle damage assessment. It helps quicker and more accurate combat decision-making from a multitude of choices that are thrown up after analysing multi-sensor inputs. AI also helps create realistic simulations for training and war-gaming. AI systems detect anomalies in military networks, predict breaches, and deploy automated countermeasures and help in cyber security. AI helps predict maintenance needs for military equipment and optimises supply chains for more efficient logistics and maintenance, thus improving availability and reducing costs. Major Powers Investing in Military AI Major powers are heavily investing in AI, with estimates indicating significant expenditures by both the US and China on military AI research. European Union (EU) countries are also stepping up investments in AI for military use. Effective defence requires AI to work across different systems and allied forces, a key priority for organisations like Nato. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Global investments in military AI are rapidly expanding, driven by geopolitical tensions, with the market projected to grow from over $22 billion in 2026 to over $100 billion by 2034. Key investments focus on autonomous systems, surveillance, logistics, and intelligence analysis, led primarily by the US and its allies. Another forecast projects a CAGR of 20.7 per cent from 2026 to 2034. The key driver is the need for enhanced operational efficiency and the development of autonomous uncrewed platforms. The major investment areas include C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), predictive maintenance, cyber security, and target identification. The US leads in AI defence investment, with a 2023 private investment of $67 billion, 8.7 times that of China. The Pentagons Defence Innovation Unit is heavily engaged in contracting with tech startups. Major industry players include Palantir, Shield AI, Elbit Systems, Textron Inc, and Rebellion Defence. In 2026, AI is expected to be deeply integrated into the digital backbone of military operations, with a focus on reducing data redundancy by 4555 per cent and improving coordination by 3540 per cent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indias AI Mission and Vision Launched in March 2024 with a Rs10,372 crore outlay, the IndiaAI Mission aims to build a robust, inclusive AI ecosystem, positioning India as a global AI leader by 2035. The mission focuses on creating indigenous foundational models, deploying over 38,000 GPUs, and fostering startups to drive AI-driven socioeconomic transformation in healthcare, agriculture, and education. The key pillars and initiatives of Indias AI Mission include increased compute capacity by establishing a GPU-based, high-performance computing infrastructure, with 38,000-plus GPUs already deployed to offer affordable, scalable, and accessible AI resources, reducing reliance on foreign hardware. Innovate and focus on developing indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific foundational models. Promote AI applications with high social impact in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and governance, with 30+ applications already approved. Support deep-tech AI startups with funding and mentorship to foster innovation. Implement safe and trusted AI with ethical AI frameworks, including bias mitigation, algorithm auditing tools, and deepfake detection. Establish 27-plus Data and AI labs to improve data quality and support AI research, with hundreds more identified. And talent development by supporting over 13,500 undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students through skill development initiatives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD AI for All will ensure AI benefits every citizen, targeting economic empowerment and bridging social divides. As part of Viksit Bharat 2047, it will drive economic growth, with projections suggesting AI could add $1.7 trillion to Indias economy by 2035. Positioning India as a global leading voice in responsible AI is highlighted by the India-AI Impact Summit 2026. Focusing on accountability, safety, and transparency is outlined in Indias AI Governance Guidelines. Key projects within this framework include Bhashini for language translation, BharatGen for multimodal LLMs, and various startups developing Indian-language models like Hanooman. Indian Militarys Operations and AI Plans Indias armed forces are rapidly adopting indigenous AI for surveillance, logistics, and combat and are fast becoming a data-centric force. A joint services approach is being coordinated by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS). These steps include the formulation of an AI strategy, creating organisational structures, and bringing in new processes. Data handling and AI technology acquisition are being coordinated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Key initiatives, highlighted at the 2026 AI Impact Summit, include the EKAM (AI-as-a-Service), a secure, air-gapped indigenous cloud platform developed for data sovereignty. AI-enabled (SAM-UN) geospatial platform for situational awareness, mission planning, and disaster management. It supports autonomous drone/vehicle systems to enhance operational edge. Deployment of XFace for facial recognition and Nabh Drishti for real-time mobile telemetry for surveillance and identification. For logistics and safety, use AI for vehicle tracking and driver fatigue detection. For combat support, implementing AI-driven tools for deepfake detection, cyber security, and predictive maintenance. Development of AI-powered unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for counter-drone operations. Specialised AI cells are established in each service branch Army (Mhow), Navy (INS Valsura), and Air Force (Rajokri). The focus is on integrating AI to enhance speed in decision-making and developing autonomous, self-reliant systems. A central data repository is being developed to make data from drones, satellites, and sensors accessible and machine-readable. The Indian Armys AI Roadmap for 2026-27 emphasises deploying AI for border surveillance, drone swarming, and faster decision-making to secure high-conflict zones. The Indian Air Forces (IAF) Integrated Aerospace Command and Control System (IACCS) is constantly being updated with AI tools. Advanced data analytics help AI-enabled combat decisions and greatly shorten the OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop. AI in the cockpit will help the pilot take quicker combat decisions. AI optimises flight paths for fuel efficiency and manages air traffic in crowded, contested, or complex environments. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Locating the unique signature of a radio or radar signal thats emitted by a particular aircraft within the entire electromagnetic spectrum is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. In the past, sensors were recording broad frequency ranges, and specialists in labs were analysing them for hours or days before designing jamming systems to address each signal. Today, AI systems are being employed to help detect and identify signals of interest and to implement the appropriate technology to jam the signal or to help intercept the threat as needed. AI can also be used to help intercept incoming threats. When a ballistic missile launch is detected, its possible to determine the missiles expected trajectory and intervene before the missile hits its intended target. Predictive AI can be used to identify the missiles electromagnetic signature and to either jam the signal or redirect the missile or direct interceptors to destroy the missile before it reaches its target. An AI-based system may also be able to decipher any encrypted communications, providing valuable information about the oppositions capabilities or intent. AI will play a great role in embedded systems in electronic warfare. AI will also support directed energy weapon targeting and employment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Indian Navys marine domain awareness and submarine systems are seeing AI-based enhancements. Key military maritime AI applications include autonomous AI-driven unmanned surface vessels (USV/UUVs) and submarines for dangerous, long-duration missions like mine countermeasures, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare without risking human life. Logistics and maintenance management in all three services have a huge infusion of AI-based systems. The adoption of AI and new skills and a workforce requires an interface with private industry. Services are creating and curating training programmes to ensure that the workforce keeps pace with AI developments in the private sector. It must be understood that data and network security requirements are paramount and non-negotiable. Institutional Setup at MoD The Defence Artificial Intelligence Council (DAIC) is a high-level body established by Indias Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2019 to provide strategic guidance and policy framework and foster AI adoption for national security. Chaired by the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister), it works with the Defence AI Project Agency (DAIPA) to drive AI projects across the armed forces. The three service chiefs, the defence secretary, the national cyber security coordinator, and members from the DRDO, industry, and academia. The Department of Defence Production of the MoD constituted a task force to study the future use of AI in defence applications. The MoD allocated significant funds annually to the Defence AI Council (DAIPA) for AI projects and infrastructure, alongside similar allocations for each service. The DAIPA (set up in 2019) continues to drive AI adoption across services, with 61 AI-specific projects identified, 26 of which have been completed by DPSUs. AI will also cut down the military platform and weapon development cycle for DRDO, DPSUs and private industry. It will support Indias AMCA fifth-generation fighter aircraft development and testing. Partnership with the Industry and Academia In recent years, the civilian industry has led the way in AI development and implementation across various sectors. Tech companies are spending billions of dollars on AI, and many of the applications developed can be utilised in the military. These include image recognition, language processing, predictive analysis, autonomous systems, and robotics. The armed forces are engaging closely with the industry to pick up dual-use technologies that can be adapted for military use. Leading AI institutions in India include premier IITs (Madras, Bombay, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kharagpur), IIIT Hyderabad, IISc Bangalore, and top private universities like VIT Vellore, offering specialised B.Tech, M.Tech, and research programmes in AI, machine learning, and data science. These institutes are recognised for cutting-edge research, industry collaborations, and strong academic foundations. Indian Armed Forces are engaging with these. Issues Remain for Concern and Consideration While AI speeds up processes, military doctrine emphasises human oversight for ethical decisions and to prevent biases. Should it be Human-in-the-Loop with constant monitoring, or should it be Human-on-the-Loop for veto? What should be the level of autonomy, especially when it comes to Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and killer robots"? Could swarms of such weapons start killing like a pandemic? Can AI-based weapons go out of control and start attacking the originator? A shortage of specialised AI expertise and ethical considerations surrounding autonomous weapon systems are significant challenges. Some investors are reducing exposure to AI-enabled targeting systems due to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) concerns and ethical scrutiny. Conclusion AI is revolutionising warfare as the military uses cutting-edge technologies to become more effective and efficient in both offensive and defensive operations. Data is the new gunpowder. The quantum and speed of data generation have been exponential. AI with quantum computing supports handling such huge data for actionable intelligence and decision-making in split seconds. Warfighting is all about speed, range, and precision. Detect first, decide first, shoot first, neutralise first is the mantra. AI is already having a dramatic effect on the tools of warfare. It is now at a stage where militaries that do not adopt AI will be rendered technologically inferior. AI has been used for a variety of military and defence purposes for decades and will continue to play a major role in the way wars are waged in the future. As a result, the centralised data centres and embedded computing systems that enable AI will be required to provide unprecedented levels of computing power and bandwidth as new military applications of AI are developed and deployed. Future generations of fighter jets, submarines, and other military vehicles are being tested to operate with a swarm of unmanned vehicles. AI will be used to control the swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) while the pilot focuses on executing his mission. As the race to find new military applications of AI goes on, nations and government organisations are working to establish the guidelines and standards to help ensure that AI is applied ethically. Autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems will be designed to allow commanders and operators to exercise appropriate levels of human judgement over the use of force. AI may be used to help leaders and commanders make more informed decisions, but its ultimately a person, not a machine, that determines the final action. Most industries that use AI rely on ground-based, climate-controlled data centres where space for processing equipment is virtually unlimited. Defence and military applications of AI will also require ruggedised embedded systems that must function reliably and consistently in confined and potentially hostile environments on the ground, in the water, in the air, or in space. The accelerated progress in software and AI technology virtually guarantees that the defence industry will see tremendous advances and continue to find new applications for AI in the military. The Indian militarys AI-related funding has just begun to increase. Yet compared to our primary strategic challenger, China, which is spending more than 30 times this amount, it needs to go up much more. To not fall behind the technology cycle, greater investments will have to be made. The main advantages of using AI in defence are real-time situational awareness, faster threat detection, better coordination of autonomous systems, higher precision in target identification, reduced human deployment and exposure, improved battle damage assessment, and better logistics and maintenance management. Defence systems operate in adversarial high-risk scenarios, demanding extreme reliability, resilience and security. With human lives at stake, the costs of mistakes are high. AI global powers channel unprecedented resources into research and development because of the profound transformation it brings in modern warfare. (The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) Britain appears to have taken a calculated gamble: law over legacy. The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten, stemming from allegations tied to the Epstein files, represents crisis management at a civilisational level Prince Andrews arrest marks the first time one of the most symbolically powerful institutions in the West has been drawn directly into that reckoning through criminal procedure. File image- AFP On February 19, 2026, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once known to the world as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was arrested by the British police on suspicion of misconduct while in public office, linked to his dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including the recently released, shockingly graphic images of him in compromising positions. The arrest took place at his residence on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk as investigators searched properties tied to the case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is not merely another chapter in the long, sordid Epstein saga; it is something far more consequential. It is the moment the British establishment, monarchy included, was forced to submit, visibly and undeniably, to the rule of law. Not a conviction, but a constitutional shock. Let us be precise. Andrew has been arrested on suspicion, not convicted. The investigation centres on allegations that he shared sensitive or confidential information with Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy. Under British law, misconduct in public office concerns a serious and wilful abuse of official power and can carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment in the gravest of cases. Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing related to his Epstein association, yet the symbolism of the arrest eclipses the legal technicalities. Since Andrew is now described as the first senior British royal in modern history to be arrested, it is an earthquake in constitutional terms. For years, the Epstein scandal has exposed financiers, celebrities, and politicians across continents. But meaningful criminal accountability beyond Epstein himself and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell has remained limiteduntil now. Prince Andrews name had surfaced repeatedly in civil litigation and media scrutiny, leading to his withdrawal from royal duties and loss of titles. Yet, until now, the legal system had stopped short of physically confronting the royal at the centre of those associations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This arrest changes that psychological boundary. It signals that the Epstein scandal is no longer merely a transatlantic criminal story; it has become a test of Western institutional credibility. Britain, it seems, has made a calculated gamble: law over legacy. The British state understands symbolism better than most; it built an empire on it. So, this arrest is not accidental theatreit is assertion. The monarchy survives in 2026 only if it submits to the same law as everyone else. King Charles III has publicly expressed support for the legal process, emphasising that the investigation must proceed appropriately. This is crisis management at a civilisational level. The British monarchy is today not defending Andrew but itself. The timing is also geopolitically significant. Western democracies frequently lecture the Global South on transparency, accountability, and rule of law, yet they themselves face rising domestic scepticism, fuelled by perceptions of elite impunity. By allowing the arrest of a royaleven a disgraced oneBritain is making an argument not just to its citizens but to the world: institutions must be stronger than lineage, even if it is a centuries-old active monarchy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India, with its republican constitution forged in resistance to colonial hierarchy, has always rejected inherited authority as a basis for legal privilege. From our perspective, this moment is layered with historical irony. The empire that once insisted on deference to the Crown must now demonstrate equality before the law, a principle India embedded in its founding framework in 1950. For Indian observers, this is less a scandal than a validation of a long-held belief: no system, however ancient or dynastic, can endure unless it is accountable. Indias own democratic journey has repeatedly tested that idea, sometimes imperfectly, but persistently. There is no doubt that Britain has taken a real risk. Arresting a figure so closely tied to the monarchy was a considerably brave move involving real danger. Yet not acting would have been even worse. In the Epstein era, silence is interpreted as complicity. Now, what happens next will decide many things. An arrest only begins a legal story; it does not end one. Investigators are continuing searches and inquiries tied to the case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The world will now watch whether charges are formally filed, how independent the prosecution proves to be, and, most importantly, whether accountability will extend beyond a single individual. Should the case falter under pressure, it will only reinforce global cynicism. The Epstein scandal has always been about more than crimes. It has been about systems that allowed proximity to wealth and influence to dull scrutiny. Prince Andrews arrest marks the first time one of the most symbolically powerful institutions in the West has been drawn directly into that reckoning through criminal procedure. That is why this moment matters globally, and why it will be studied far beyond Britain. History rarely offers neat moral endings, and occasionally accountability. Now, it has arrived with a knock on the royal door. (The author is a freelance journalist and features writer based out of Delhi. Her main areas of focus are politics, social issues, climate change and lifestyle-related topics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As India grows more prosperous and urban comfort becomes routine, crises beyond our borders risk being reduced to headlines and hashtags. Yet Bangladeshs political upheaval is not a distant spectacle. It is a cautionary tale about radicalisation, institutional fragility and the illusion of stability one India must read carefully India has grown economically. While reminiscing about my last degree, my coursemates checked whether hostel rooms were equipped with jetsprays and geysers, slightly over a decade ago. Today, students check whether 10-minute delivery apps, working on a complex system of logistics, have their dark warehouses nearby. There is a level of comfort that was once aspirational that is now taken for granted by a very large population. The possibility of moving from poor to lower-middle and from lower-middle to upper-middle socioeconomic classes, due to increasing urbanisation, private job creation, and even increased governmental land acquisition, has made the common Indian more comfortable than ever before. So comfortable, in fact, that many have little cognition of what war and strife bring. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For many, experiences in a quickly urbanised setting have devolved from exposure to new knowledge, food, literature, language, and hobbies to virtual views of curated collections of some of these. The experiential dimension of life has rapidly shrunk into a handheld kaleidoscope that allows them to see what a large machine wants them to see, distancing them from the true emotion of a situation. While there are many issues with the world being experienced virtually, the reality of human strife occurring through economic destabilisation, political upheaval, and war are stark reminders of truths of human nature. The way everyday news is framed today showcases a lot of information but, at the same time, manages to make war seem like an accessible spectator sport. The idea of distant wars being engaged with through Instagram trends and flags on Twitter, much as memorabilia gets traded for team support, is astonishingly common, while those indulging in such acts treat them almost as intellectual self-care while depriving their minds of deeper knowledge through actual reading and counter-analysis. Blood Island, by Deep Halder, remains a cornerstone in recording the experiences of the Marichjhapi Massacre. Written in a journalistic, straightforward style, it still manages to evoke the utter helplessness of the victims of the refugee camps. Inshallah Bangladesh is another work in a similar strain. Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution. Authors: Deep Halder, Jaideep Mazumdar, Sahidul Hasan Khokon. Publisher: Juggernaut Now closer in time, covering events from barely 1.5 years past, the records in Inshallah Bangladesh of eyewitness accounts from both sides of the border are likely to be pivotal decades later when the 2024 coup of Hasina is discussed. Shahidul Hasan Khokon, another co-author, is now forced to escape to India, as journalists deemed unfriendly to the new regime are still hunted down and lynched while the police pretend at helplessness. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The book lays out the story of how a nation simmering with radicalism underneath a thick layer of economic optimism and administrative control imploded, catalysed through factors both internal and external. Revelations in the book are based completely on professional interviews and rarely veer into commentary without analysis. Bringing to the fore reminiscings of ministers of the Awami League who managed to survive the brutal chaos that was unleashed under the interim government of Mohammed Yunus, Inshallah Bangladesh lays out their opinions on betrayals and the many players in the small field. While Hasinas own impressions of who organised her downfall are backed up by her ministers, there is no political agenda that grants her a clean moral victory during her rule that saw revisionism of educational material, corruption and suppression of protests. The story of Bangladesh in itself is important. What is also of wider interest is the ways in which institutions responsible for upholding the integrity and sovereignty of a nation can find themselves manipulated to serve vested interests inimical to their nation while pursuing narrow political agendas. From the judiciary to the police to the army, each of these institutions plays an enormous role in maintaining the stability of a nation. Each of these can be corrupted if they disrupt the hierarchy of functioning. Bangladesh offers a case in point in a larger study of how these institutions affect extreme change and how each is responsible and requires committed leadership and responsibility for the lives of their citizens. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The radicalisation within the populace of Bangladesh, which has been remarkably less visible under every rule by Sheikh Hasina, who sought to portray Bangladesh as another haven for art and culture and economic opportunity, has always existed. The veteran journalist authors hark back to the Gulshan incident, which saw extremely educated, posh young men go on a murder spree on behalf of ISIS, taking hostage multiple foreigners and killing police and civilians alike. As Sahidul escapes his home to find refuge in India, he witnesses mass versions of the same, and this psychology of war that is brought forth when a radical population is frothing to end the other is the sad reality that has split the Indian subcontinent multiple times. As Tarique Rahman takes over the reins of the nation, there is talk of undoing the damage that Yunuss interim government wrought on the India-Bangladesh relations. Very immediate steps have seen Indian diplomats and even the Speaker of the Lok Sabha attend the Bangladeshi PMs swearing-in. While the Indian Prime Minister was invited and could not attend due to the previously scheduled AI Summit seeing multiple world leaders attend, his representatives hold high positions and honour the event. Jamaat-e-Islami, the shadow that has always loomed but looms much larger today after growing its electoral presence in this years election, has been understood to be a significant player, and its chief, Shafiqur Rahman, has been seen to meet Indias Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri. The attempt at a reset and rapprochement is clear. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the border boils still, and every day Hindus are killed in Bangladesh. The new regime can attempt to allow for Islamic radicalism to fester behind the curtains of administrative capability that Hasina has previously shown. However, Inshallah Bangladeshs deep coverage of the nation allows one to question the direction that any government installed in chaos can steer towards. The read remains the most sincere coverage of ongoing events, spanning decades that coalesce into the present day, and is as much a recommended read for the serious geopolitical analyst as for a casual reader due to its writing style and very human stories. (The author is Visiting Fellow at Chintan Research Foundation and a columnist at several Indian publications. She writes about international relations, public policy and history, and posts on X on her handle @sagorika_s. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Malaysian durian growers reaped large profits over the past decade as demand from China surged, but a shift in consumer preferences now leave farmers with mounting stock. Liew Jia Soon returned to Malaysia in 2018 after years abroad as his fathers durian farm in the hills north of Kuala Lumpur was set to generate record earnings, according to The New York Times. Durians are seen at a fruit distributor's operating center in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 17, 2025. Photo by Xinhua via AFP Eight years on, the plantation now spans twice the area it did a decade earlier, but its profits have been plunging. "We farmers have seen a 60% drop in profits during this season," he said while surveying hundreds of unsold durians last month at a collection center near his farm in Raub. Demand from Chinese consumers has not faded. The countrys strong appetite for durian has persisted despite an economic slowdown late last year. However, buyer preferences have shifted over the past year: instead of frozen shipments Malaysias traditional export format most now prefer fresh fruit. That shift has unsettled Malaysias durian sector. "We need to get the supply chain to cater for this change in exporting fresh durians," said Eric Chan, president of the Durian Manufacturer Association, which represents Malaysian durian farmers and distributors. "I am worried," he said. Only a limited number of flights from Malaysia to China are able to handle fresh produce shipments, he added. The change in market demand has resulted in a surplus for Malaysian growers, with some describing the situation as a "durian tsunami." Prices dropped in December to a 10-year low of MYR10 ringgit (US$2.56) per kilogram, roughly one-tenth of previous asking prices. Volatility is compounded by the nature of durian cultivation. Newly planted trees take between five and 10 years to mature and produce fruit, forcing farmers to forecast demand far into the future. In 2017, Malaysias frozen durian pulp and paste exports were gaining ground in China, prompting farmers to plant more trees in anticipation of continued growth. When China approved frozen whole durians from Malaysia in 2019, prices surged and growers expanded further. By 2024, government data showed national output reached 568,000 tons, nearly doubled from 2016. That rapid expansion is now contributing to oversupply. Lim Chin Khee, an adviser to the Durian Academy, which trains Malaysian growers, said Chinas recent economic slowdown has made buyers more selective and tougher in negotiating prices. Additional pressure has come from regional competitors including Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia increasing their own fresh durian exports. Ken Tan, whose family operates Durianhill Plantation in Penang, said shipments to China have declined 40% this season compared with last year. The drop in exports means Malaysians are able to enjoy durians at discounts. The sharp drop has left some growers selling directly from their orchards to consumers, cutting out intermediaries to keep their businesses afloat. Aminuddin Zulkipli, chairman of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority, said that the glut is largely the result of higher production and that local demand for the fruit remains robust, as quoted by Sin Chew Daily. The agency noted that the price pressure has largely been confined to lower-quality durians, not premium fruits. Authorities have stepped in by purchasing some of the surplus crop to support farmers. The agriculture ministry said it aims to help the industry recover partly by positioning Malaysian durian as a premium product rather than focusing on high-volume sales. Agriculture Minister Mohamad Sabu called the oversupply "temporary," saying the next peak season in June would provide a clearer measure. "I still believe that durians will be the economic boom for Malaysia," he told The New York Times. His belief is supported by Chinas growing appetite. Last year, Chinas durian imports rose 7% to $7.5 billion. The country accounts for more than 90% of global durian export destinations. The complexity of some premium Malaysian varieties, such as the Musang King, also distinguish them from the fruits produced in Thailand or Vietnam. "Even if only 2% of Chinese people want to buy durians, that's more than enough business," says Chee Seng Wong, factory manager of Fresco Green, a durian exporter in Raub, as reported by BBC. "Maybe in the beginning we only liked durians that were sweet. But now we look for things like fragrance, richness and nuanced flavors," says Xu Xin, a Chinese durian importer. Official projections indicate Malaysias output will increase further to 590,000 tons this year, while exporters are exploring alternative destinations such as Taiwan and Peru. However, farmers are still concerned about the high supply. Stephen Chow, who runs the Chow Kai Pheng Enterprise durian plantation, said production is expected to exceed demand over the next three to five years as many previously planted trees begin fruiting. What Malaysia is experiencing now "is just a preview," he said. Trump introduced a new 10 per cent global tariff hours after the Supreme Court struck down most of his previous duties, calling the ruling terrible and vowing to press ahead. The White House took to X to share the post. The White House took to X to share a post, Keep calm and tariff on, after the Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trumps global trade duties, prompting him to impose a new 10 per cent worldwide tariff within hours and sharply criticise the justices. Trump announced the measure shortly after the court invalidated most of the global tariffs introduced last year, describing the ruling as terrible and branding the judges who rejected his trade policy as fools. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Court delivers 6-3 ruling against tariff powers In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court found that the president had overstepped his authority in imposing the sweeping levies. The judgement- marked a significant win for businesses and US states that had challenged the tariffs. It opened the way for potentially billions of dollars in refunds while adding fresh uncertainty to the global trade environment. Speaking from the White House on Friday, Trump signalled that any refunds would face prolonged legal disputes, saying he expected the issue to remain in the courts for years. He also stated that he would rely on other laws to continue pursuing his tariff plans, which he has argued promote investment and manufacturing in the US. We have alternatives - great alternatives and well be a lot stronger for it, he said. Legal challenge The case centred on import taxes unveiled last year on goods from nearly every country. The tariffs first targeted Mexico, Canada and China before being extended to dozens of trading partners on what the president described as Liberation Day last April. The White House had relied on a 1977 statute, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which grants the President authority to regulate trade during a national emergency. However, the measures prompted strong reactions domestically and internationally from companies facing sharp increases in taxes on goods entering the US. Concerns were also raised that the levies would drive up prices. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During arguments before the court last year, lawyers representing the challenging states and small businesses said the law cited by the president did not mention tariffs. They contended that Congress had not intended to transfer its taxing powers or provide the president with an open-ended power to junk existing trade agreements and tariff frameworks. In his opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts agreed with that interpretation. When Congress has delegated its tariff powers, it has done so in explicit terms and subject to strict limits, he wrote. Had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs, it would have done so expressly, as it consistently has in other tariff statutes. Governor JB Pritzker demanded nearly $9 billion in tariff refunds from Donald Trump after the Supreme Court ruled the tariffs illegal, prompting similar calls from other state leaders. US President Donald Trump arrives for a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 20, 2026. (AFP) Illinois Governor pressed for nearly $9 billion in tariff refunds on Friday, sending an invoice to US President Donald Trump after a ruling by the Supreme Court declared the Presidents tariffs illegal. The demand, directed at the White House, followed the courts 6-3 decision that Trump had exceeded his authority by invoking emergency powers to impose duties that reshaped global trade and increased domestic costs. JB Pritzker urged officials to cut the check, saying in his letter: Your tariff taxes wreaked havoc on farmers, enraged our allies and sent grocery prices through the roof, while cautioning that further legal action could follow if compensation was not provided. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The letter, circulated to US media, sought roughly $1,700 for each Illinois household, reflecting estimates from Yale University experts on what the average US household paid in tariffs over the past year. Calls for refund Calls for repayment continued elsewhere. Earlier on Friday, Gavin Newsom argued that funds raised through Trumps tariffs had come directly from US voters and should be returned. Time to pay the piper, Donald. These tariffs were nothing more than an illegal cash grab that drove up prices and hurt working families, so you could wreck longstanding alliances and extort them, he said. Every dollar unlawfully taken must be refunded immediately with interest. Cough up! Pritzker and Newsom are widely seen as a potential Democratic contenders in the 2028 presidential race. Their demands add a populist flourish to a complicated legal and economic reality. Announced with fanfare last April, Trumps tariffs have raised more than $130 billion from importers, with a significant proportion of that extra cost passed on to consumers through higher prices. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed skepticism that ordinary Americans will see direct compensation. The scale of potential repayments is vast. The influential Penn-Wharton Budget Model has estimated that refunds could total $175 billion, though its unclear who would ultimately receive the money. Trump himself acknowledged that any refund process could take years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In his dissent, Trump-appointed conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted Fridays ruling says nothing today about whether, and if so how, the government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected from importers. New Yorks Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, called the Trump administrations tariffs an unlawful backdoor tax on hardworking families, farmers and small businesses, raising prices on everything from groceries to building materials without demanding refunds. (With agency inputs.) Four years after Russia-Ukraine war, over millions of Ukrainian families remain fractured across Europe. Displaced women and children face the agonising choice between safety abroad and the longing to return home. Four years into the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, millions of families remain suspended between a homeland under fire and fragile new lives abroad. For many, exile was meant to be brief. Instead, it has become an extended, uncertain chapter defined by separation, adaptation and fading expectations of return. Living out of suitcases in Poland Maryna Bondarenko, 51, keeps three suitcases permanently packed in her apartment in Poland. A journalist who fled Kyiv with her son and mother in February 2022, she believed they would be gone for only a few weeks. Today, she works in a Ukrainian-language newsroom serving a diaspora of more than 1.5 million Ukrainians in Poland. Waves of Russian air strikes and winter blackouts in Kyiv leaving tens of thousands without heating, power or water repeatedly forced her to postpone going home. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Her husband, Andrij Dudko, 44, remains in Ukraine, serving as a drone operator on the front line. Under martial law, men of military age are barred from leaving the country, meaning roughly three-quarters of refugees are women and children. While Polish cities such as Warsaw and Krakow have absorbed large Ukrainian communities, the social integration has not been seamless. Complaints over welfare access and jobs have occasionally stirred tension. Yet for Bondarenko, the greater strain is emotional: a longing for home overshadowed by concern for her sons safety. Her 11-year-old, Danylo, now barely remembers life in Ukraine. Though he has faced some hostility at school, Poland increasingly feels familiar, a sign of what prolonged displacement can mean for the next generation. Caught between worlds Further south in Istanbul, Iryna Kushnir and Olga Yermolenko high school friends from Kharkiv rebuilt their connection after fleeing Ukraine. Turkey hosts far fewer Ukrainians than Central Europe, but for them it has become a place of uneasy stability. Kushnir, 42, initially expected a swift end to the war. Four years on, she is married to a Turkish citizen and teaches at the Ukrainian department of Istanbul University. Her daughter chose to remain in Ukraine, a decision she respects but which underscores the familys divided reality. Yermolenko, 43, works remotely for Ukrainian clients while her 73-year-old mother stays in Kharkiv. She monitors real-time updates of missile attacks and calls immediately when alarms sound. The sense of being caught between a previous life and an uncertain future persists. Ukraines leadership has said it hopes a majority of displaced citizens will return once the war ends. But surveys suggest willingness to go back is declining over time, particularly among younger refugees. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the war grinds on, families from Kyiv to Warsaw and from Kharkiv to Istanbul remain bound by memories, separated by borders and united by an enduring question: when, and to what kind of country, can they finally return? A generation losing its roots As the war drags on, the Ukrainian governments hope that 70% of refugees will return is clashing with a fading sense of belonging among the youth. For children like Bondarenkos 11-year-old son, Danylo, Ukraine is becoming a hazy memory. Despite facing occasional friction in Polish schools, he identifies more with his current surroundings than his birthplace. I dont think that I will return, he says, a sentiment echoed in declining survey figures of those planning a homecoming. The between life: Adaptation vs. longing The struggle is not confined to Poland. In Turkey, childhood friends Iryna Kushnir and Olga Yermolenko have built new lives in Istanbul while their hearts remain anchored in Kharkiv. While Kushnir has adapted through marriage and employment at Istanbul University, Yermolenko describes a strange feeling of being caught between a past life and an uncertain future. For these families, the war is a real-time trauma monitored via Telegram channels. They watch missiles fly toward their neighbourhoods on smartphone screens, a digital tether that provides a constant, terrifying connection to a home that grows more unrecognisable every day. As social integration deepens abroad, the three packed suitcases represent less of a travel plan and more of a fading hope for a peace that remains elusive. With inputs from agencies German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will coordinate a joint EU response to new US tariffs ahead of talks with Donald Trump, as Washington raises import duties despite the Supreme Courts ruling. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Saturday he will hold talks with European allies on a joint response to US tariffs, ahead of a visit to Washington to meet President Donald Trump. We will have a very clear European position on this, because customs policy is a matter for the European Union, not for individual member states, Merz told the ARD broadcaster. I will be in Washington in just over a week, he added. And I will go to Washington with a common European position. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump on Friday imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on imports into the United States after after the Supreme Court had struck down many of his sweeping duties imposed last year. On Saturday Trump said he was raising the rate to 15 percent. While noting Trumps additional 10-percent tariff, Merz said he nevertheless expected German exporters to face fewer duties in the future and saw good news in the Supreme Courts ruling. For me, there is a reassuring element in yesterdays Supreme Court decision: the separation of powers in the USA still seems to be working, he said. That is good news. The court ruling was a stunning rebuke by the high court, which has largely sided with the president since he returned to office, and marked a major political setback in striking down Trumps signature economic policy that has roiled the global trade order. Saturdays announcement is sure to provoke further uncertainty as Trump carries on with a trade war that has cajoled and punished countries, both friend and foe. It is the latest move in a careening process that has seen a multitude of tariff levels for countries sending goods into the United States set and then altered or revoked by Trumps team over the past year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The new duty by law is only temporary allowable for 150 days. According to a White House fact sheet, exemptions remain for sectors that are under separate probes, including pharma, and goods entering the US under the US-Mexico-Canada agreement. On Friday, the White House said US trading partners that reached separate tariff deals with Trumps administration would also face the new global tariff. With inputs from agencies Members of the Palestinian terrorist group have already voted, while those who are in the West Bank or in Israeli jails are expected to cast their votes for delegates to the movements 50-member general Shura council A Palestinian Hamas militant stands guard as people gather to watch Red Cross vehicles transporting hostages, held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, following their handover as part of a ceasefire and hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in the central Gaza Strip. Reuters Hamas is reportedly holding internal leadership elections as it tries to legitimise its position amid the US and Israels push to rule a post-war Gaza. Reports by the BBC and other Gulf media outlets say that members of the Palestinian terrorist group have already voted, while those who are in the West Bank or in Israeli jails are expected to cast their votes for delegates to the movements 50-member general Shura council. The council is tasked with selecting the Politburo, which will, in turn, appoint an interim leader. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The new leader will need to determine the extent of cooperation with a US-backed peace initiative, decide whether to disarm and how much of the groups arsenal to relinquish, assess what to seek from Israel in terms of territorial withdrawal, and choose whether to pursue a role in a new Gaza government or step back from the political forefront. The elections are a result of Israels campaign to weaken Hamas by eliminating its core leadership. Leaders like Yahya Sinwar, Mohammad Deif and Saleh al-Arouri, among others, have been killed by the Israeli military, creating a power vacuum. Who are the frontrunners? There are two frontrunners in the leadership race: Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Meshaal, who both survived the Doha airstrike. Al-Hayya heads Hamass Gaza branch, although he is based in the Gulf. He is widely seen as Sinwars successor, a hardliner who does not come from the movements military wing and is regarded as the figure closest to Iran among Hamass foreign backers. Meshaal, a longtime Hamas figure and one of its founders, served as the groups overall leader for more than two decades. He now oversees its external operations and is believed to reside in Doha. He is generally viewed as being on the more pragmatic end of the Hamas spectrum, with closer ties to Qatar and Turkey. Hamas tightens grip Hamas is planning to tighten its grip over Gaza as Israel and the US eye the regions post-war governance. The group has started placing its loyalists in key government posts, collecting taxes and paying salaries to increase its legitimacy. Sources have told Reuters that Hamass continuing influence over key Gaza power structures has fuelled widespread scepticism about the prospects of US President Donald Trumps peace plan, which requires the militant group to give up its weapons in exchange for an Israeli military withdrawal from the territory. Hamas is advancing steps on the ground meant to preserve its influence and grip in the Gaza Strip from the bottom up by means of integrating its supporters in government offices, security apparatuses and local authorities, the Israeli military said in a document presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late January. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Authorities HK$8,000 per sq. ft. to HK$10,500 per sq. ft. to the owners of the homes. We believe the proposed price is sufficient for the affected residents to relocate and secure long-term housing, said Wong Wai-lun, Hong Kongs deputy financial secretary A general view shows the aftermath of a major fire that swept through several apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on November 28, 2025. (AFP) The government in Hong Kong has proposed to buy out the houses in the high-rise residential complex that was gutted by fire last year, killing over 160 people. Authorities HK$8,000 per sq. ft. to HK$10,500 per sq. ft. to the owners of the homes. We believe the proposed price is sufficient for the affected residents to relocate and secure long-term housing, said Wong Wai-lun, Hong Kongs deputy financial secretary. The government also offered an apartment exchange programme for the 4,600 affected tenants, who lived in nearly 2,000 housing units at the complex, Wang Fuk Court. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The total outlay, estimated at HK$6.8 billion, will drop by HK$2.8 billion from a contribution by a relief fund, and could go lower still after insurance compensation is factored in, the officials said. The estate, home to nearly 5,000 residents, had been undergoing extensive renovations linked to the fires cause. Public anger has intensified over alleged past safety violations by the construction company and lax enforcement of standards, with residents reportedly complaining about the renovations for over a year. As allegations of safety violations grew, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued multiple apparently unenforced warnings, residents asked why no officials had yet faced consequences. Instead, two civilians were reportedly arrested by national security police. Residents of Wang Fuk Court were told by authorities in 2024 they faced relatively low fire risks after complaining about fire hazards posed by the renovations, Reuters quoted the citys Labour Department as saying. The residents raised concerns in September, 2024, including about the potential flammability of the mesh contractors used to cover the scaffolding, a department spokesperson said. Hong Kongs deadliest fire since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze, has stunned the city, where legislative elections are due to be held this weekend. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hungary says it will block a 90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until Russian oil flows resume through the Druzhba pipeline, escalating tensions with Kyiv ahead of the wars fourth anniversary. Hungary has said it will veto a planned 90-billion-euro European Union loan package for Ukraine unless Russian crude deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline are restored, according to Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. Oil shipments from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia have been halted since January 27 after Ukrainian authorities said a Russian drone strike damaged the Druzhba pipeline, a key route transporting Russian crude across Ukrainian territory into Central Europe. Hungary and Slovakia both granted temporary exemptions from the EUs ban on Russian oil imports have accused Ukraine, without presenting evidence, of intentionally delaying the resumption of supplies. In response to the disruption, both countries suspended diesel exports to Ukraine earlier this week. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a video posted on social media on Friday evening, Szijjarto alleged that Ukraine was blackmailing Hungary by not restarting oil transit. He announced that Budapest would block the substantial interest-free loan approved by the EU in December to support Kyivs military and economic requirements over the next two years. We will not give in to this blackmail. We do not support Ukraines war, we will not pay for it, Szijjarto said. As long as Ukraine blocks the resumption of oil supplies to Hungary, Hungary will block European Union decisions that are important and favorable for Ukraine. Hungarys move came two days after suspending diesel shipments to Ukraine and just ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion, which began on February 24, 2022. While most European countries have sharply reduced or completely ended their reliance on Russian energy since the outbreak of war, Hungary and Slovakia both members of the European Union and NATO have continued, and in some cases expanded, their imports of Russian oil and gas. Hungarys 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 Kremlins 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. His government has frequently threatened to veto EU efforts to assist Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Saturday, Slovakias populist Prime minister Robert Fico said his country will stop providing emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil is not flowing through the Druzhba by Monday. Orbans chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said earlier this week that Hungary, too, was exploring the possibility of cutting off its electricity supplies to Ukraine. Not all of the EUs 27 countries agreed to take part in the 90-billion-euro loan package for Kyiv. Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic opposed the plan, but a deal was reached in which they did not block the loan and were promised protection from any financial fallout. With inputs from agencies PM Modi held talks with Brazils Lula da Silva on Saturday, with both leaders highlighting expanding trade, strategic cooperation and a shared push to advance Global South priorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday (February 21). Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, the Prime Minister said India and Brazil have benefited from their growing partnership and thanked President Lula for his continued commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. He described the relationship as a win-win partnership and said India is looking to expand bilateral trade beyond $20 billion over the next five years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I am grateful to the President for his commitment towards India, PM Modi said, noting that Brazil is Indias largest trade partner. He also expressed confidence that bilateral trade would soon surpass $20 billion and said stronger economic cooperation would serve the broader interests of the Global South. Focus on technology, minerals and defence The Prime Minister said the talks focused on cooperation across multiple sectors with shared goals and aspirations, adding that collaboration in technology and innovation would be significant not only for India and Brazil but also for the wider Global South. He said the agreement on critical minerals and rare earths marks a major step towards building a resilient supply chain. He added that defence cooperation between the two countries is steadily expanding, describing it as a reflection of mutual trust and strategic alignment, and said both sides will continue to strengthen the win-win partnership. Further highlighting the outcomes of the talks, he pointed to expanding defence cooperation as a sign of deepening strategic alignment and mutual confidence between the two countries. Healthcare cooperation and Global South priorities The Prime Minister said there is significant potential for collaboration in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. India, he said, will work to increase the supply of affordable, high-quality medicines to Brazil, while promoting Ayurveda and traditional medicine to support holistic healthcare approaches. He added that as vibrant and influential democracies, India and Brazil will continue to work together to advance the priorities and aspirations of the Global South on the international stage. Lula highlights shared strengths President Lula underscored the importance of bilateral relations, saying the two countries are not just the two biggest democracies of the Global South, and described the partnership as a meeting of the worlds pharmacy with the worlds barn, and a digital superpower with a renewable energy superpower. He added that both countries are mega-diverse societies and hubs of cultural industry, and that they share a commitment to multilateralism and peace. He said the invitation for the state visit, as well as to attend the AI Impact Summit, reflects the synchrony and mutual trust between the two nations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russia has warned South Korea against joining Natos PURL arms programme for Ukraine, with Maria Zakharova threatening asymmetric retaliation and damage to bilateral ties as the Ukraine war nears its fourth anniversary. People march at Independence Square for a "Heavenly Hundred" event commemorating those killed during the mass Euromaidan protests to mark the 12th anniversary of the uprising in Ukraine, on February 20, 2026- AFP Russia on Saturday warned South Korea against supplying weapons to Ukraine under a Nato-backed initiative, as the war between the two former Soviet republics nears its fourth year. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow would view any involvement by Seoul in the programme whether direct or indirect as damaging to prospects for ending the conflict. We would like to emphasise again that a possible participation of the Republic of Korea in such supplies in any form, direct or indirect, only postpones the prospects for a settlement of the conflict, she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Zakharova warned that Russia would be compelled to respond, including through asymmetric measures, if South Korea joined the PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) mechanism. Nato created the PURL programme in 2025 after the United States decided to halt the free provision of weapons to Ukraine. Under the arrangement, Kyiv outlines its military requirements, the European Union provides funding, and arms are purchased from the United States before being transferred to Ukraine at no cost. This will undoubtedly cause irreparable damage to the relations between Russia and the Republic of Korea and destroy the prospects for restoring a constructive dialogue on the Korean peninsula. In this case, we will be forced to use the right to retaliate, including asymmetric measures, Zakharova added. Zakharova noted that Moscow was surprised to hear reports about Seouls possible participation in this programme, since such steps would be at odds with the countrys official line of non-participation. She noted that on several occasions, South Korean officials had repeatedly said this, and Moscow appreciates this approach, considering it as a necessary basis for keeping Russian-South Korean relations from further collapse and prerequisites for the future restoration of a bilateral dialogue and cooperation. Even as peace talks with Ukraine, with the US mediation, continue, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reported to have presented his three-year plan to fight Russia and take back lost territories. Moscow, which launched its special military operation on February 24, 2022, has dim hopes of a peace agreement as the so-called Coalition of Willing of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Poland have reiterated their continued backing for Ukraine and want the Kremlins strategic defeat. With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that nothing has changed in the trade deal between India and the United States after the American Supreme Court ruled that his trade tariffs are illegal US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are pictured in a mirror as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, US, February 13, 2025. File Photo/Reuters US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that nothing has changed in the trade deal between India and the United States after the American Supreme Court ruled that his trade tariffs are illegal. The questions around the trade deal with India emerged after the apex court ruled in a 6-3 vote that Trumps reciprocal tariffs were unlawful. The remarks from Trump came during a press conference in which he slammed the Supreme Court justices who ruled against his tariffs. Trump insisted that he would take alternative routes to impose tariffs. Meanwhile, the court found that the American leader exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the legal instrument that enabled his reciprocal tariffs announced on April 2, 2025. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump also described his administrations relationship with India as fantastic and that his relationship with PM Modi is great. He also touched upon the claim that India had stopped buying Russian oil at the USs request. Trump claimed that he stopped the India-Pakistan War, largely by threatening each country with 200 per cent tariffs. However, New Delhi has denied such claims in the past, insisting that the ceasefire decision was bilateral. Theyll be paying, we will not: Trump When a journalist asked about what happens to the India-US trade deal after the Supreme Courts ruling, Trump made it clear that nothing changes. Nothing changes. Theyll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs, Trump said during a press conference shortly after the Court decision was out, when asked about the status of the deal with India. This is a reversal for what it used to be, as you know, he said, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a great gentleman. However, he went on to accuse the Indian Prime Minister of ripping off. So we made a deal with India, and its a fair deal now, and we are not paying tariffs to them, and they are paying tariffs. We didnt flip, Trump said. It is pertient to note that the two nations agreed on a deal that reduces the general tariff rate for Indian goods entering the US from 50 per cent (including a 25 per cent penalty rate for Indias energy trade with Russia) to 18 per cent. During the Friday presser, Trump said that he would sign into law on Friday (February 20, 2026), a broad 10 per cent global tariff across the board using Section 122 of the USs Trade Act (1974), which is expected to go into effect in three days. The tariffs in question would be valid for a maximum of 150 days. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One-way tickets on the upcoming Johor BahruSingapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link are expected to cost between S$5 and S$7 (US$3.95US$5.50), Malaysias Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced. Although they are unlikely to match the affordability of public transport in Kuala Lumpur, the cross-border rail service is expected to remain more cost-effective than driving to Singapore by car, Loke said, adding that final RTS fares will be announced in the second half of 2026, as reported by Channel News Asia. Currently, Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia face a toll charge of RM20 (US$5.10). Additionally, foreign-registered cars entering Tuas Checkpoint pay a toll of S$2.10, or S$0.80 when leaving via Woodlands Checkpoint, according to Singapores Land Transport Authority. A reciprocal charge of S$6.40 per entry is also levied on foreign vehicles entering Singapore. The RTS Link train. Photo from Facebook The RTS Link is expected to commence operations by year end, with a direct connection to Woodlands North MRT station on Singapores Thomson-East Coast Line. However, Loke emphasized that the Malaysian government will not subsidize Singapore commuters, making the implementation of monthly passes or discounts "difficult." Reactions to the fare range have been mixed within the Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers Facebook group, which mainly consists of Malaysians working in Singapore. While some members find the S$5 to S$7 fare high compared to bus services, which offer more stop options in Singapore, others argue it is necessary to manage demand and compete with alternative options, such as personal vehicles. The cost of entering Singapore by car is expected to rise, particularly with higher vehicle entry permit rates for foreign-registered vehicles from January 1, 2027. The RTS Link is expected to accommodate up to 10,000 commuters per hour in each direction during peak periods. On Feb. 12, the Malaysian Parliament passed the RTS Link Bill, which introduces a single immigration clearance concept designed to reduce travel time from Johor Bahru to Singapore to just five minutes. The ChatGPT maker said that it identified the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar via abuse detection efforts for furtherance of violent activities last year in June. OpenAI said that it was weighing whether or not it should relay the information about the 18-year-old shooter to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) A woman places flowers at a makeshift memorial for the victims after a deadly mass shooting took place at a school, in the town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. Reuters OpenAI had considered alerting the police about the individual who opened fire in a school in Canadas British Columbia that killed eight people in the worst shooting the country has ever seen. The ChatGPT maker said that it identified the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar via abuse detection efforts for furtherance of violent activities last year in June. OpenAI said that it was weighing whether or not it should relay the information about the 18-year-old shooter to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was ultimately decided that at the time, the account activity did not meet a threshold for referral to law enforcement. OpenAI, however, banned the account associated with Rootselaar. OpenAI said the threshold for referring a user to law enforcement was whether the case involved an imminent and credible risk of serious physical harm to others. The company said it did not identify credible or imminent planning. The Wall Street Journal first reported OpenAIs revelation. OpenAI said that, after learning of the school shooting, employees reached out to the RCMP with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy, an OpenAI spokesperson said. We proactively reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT, and well continue to support their investigation. Van Rootselaar killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother in the house before heading to the school, where she shot dead six more people five students and a teacher then killed herself. The shooters estranged father, Justin Van Rootselaar, sent a statement to the public broadcaster CBC offering condolences for a senseless and unforgivable act of violence. Officers released a photo of the shooter, who was known to have mental health issues. She is shown wearing a hoodie with an expressionless face. With inputs from agencies Over 85 countries have adopted the Delhi Declaration as the summit concluded, supporting Indias vision of AI for All. PM Modi visitig the AI Imapct Summit on day 1 of the event (X) The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said more than 85 countries and international organisations have adopted the Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. Guided by the summits theme welfare for all, happiness for all participating members committed to advancing seven core pillars, or chakras, of artificial intelligence development. The AI Impact Summit, held from February 16 to 21 at Bharat Mandapam, concluded with the adoption of the Declaration after six days of deliberations, demonstrations and international dialogue. Delegates from over 85 countries and organisations took part, marking one of the broadest multilateral engagements on artificial intelligence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Declaration presents AI as a public good aligned with human welfare and shared prosperity. Rooted in the principle Sarvjan Hitaye, Sarvjan Sukhaye, it describes AI as a defining force of the century and calls for global cooperation across governments, industry, academia and civil society. 7 pillars of AI cooperation The framework is structured around seven pillars: human capital development, social empowerment, trust and security, energy efficiency, AI for science, democratisation of AI resources, and the use of AI for economic growth and social good. Rather than proposing binding regulations, the Declaration emphasises voluntary cooperation while respecting national sovereignty. It highlights the need for equitable access to computing power, infrastructure and data to support inclusive AI adoption worldwide. Focus on access, trust and sustainability Participants underscored AIs potential across healthcare, agriculture, education, climate resilience and public service delivery. Open-source models and shared platforms were identified as key tools to expand access and scalability. The Declaration also stresses the importance of public trust, energy-efficient systems and resilient infrastructure. It calls for greater investment in skills, reskilling and scientific collaboration to ensure that AI benefits are widely shared. Broad global participation The Declaration has been endorsed by a wide coalition of countries and international organisations across regions, reflecting a shared approach to AI governance based on cooperation and human well-being. Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X that dozens of countries and organisations supported the Declaration, describing it as aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modis human-centric vision of artificial intelligence. The Declaration places particular emphasis on democratising AI resources by making them accessible and affordable so that all countries can develop and deploy AI for public benefit. Two Pakistani soldiers were killed and five militants neutralised in a suicide attack during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Bannu district on Saturday, the military said. Authorities said a vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted, preventing an attack on civilians and security forces. Two security personnel were killed in a suicide attack during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, the militarys media wing reported. The Pakistan army also said five militants were also killed in the attack. The Pakistani army said a convoy of security forces was targeted by the Fitna al-Khawarij group during an operation in Bannu district against suspected TehreekeTaliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Authorities said a vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the leading contingent, averting a planned attack on civilians and law enforcement personnel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the operation, security forces killed five militants in an intense exchange of fire. However, the attackers then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into one of the army vehicles, killing commanding officer Lt Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah. Fitna al-Khawarij: Pakistans homegrown terror threat Fitna al-Khawarij is the term used by Pakistan for its banned TTP militants. The TehreekeTaliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, is a militant Islamist group formed around 2007 by Pakistani insurgent factions in the Pashtun tribal areas. The TTP has carried out repeated attacks on Pakistani security forces, often triggering heavy counter-operations. Analysts claim that Pakistans army uses these operations to justify crackdowns, which have reportedly included human rights violations and enforced disappearances. Bannu: A long-standing flashpoint Bannu district has been a frequent site of armed violence, with repeated attacks on security forces, police checkpoints, and civilian targets over the years. Security officials have reported suicide bombings, armed assaults, and strikes on police installations. The violence in Bannu is part of a wider surge in armed rebel activity across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the Pakistani government in late 2022. The two leaders have maintained an open line of communication, with Lula calling Modi last month to discuss the Venezuelan situation after the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro by the US Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday as the two countries seek to strengthen ties in trade, critical minerals, defence, energy and digital tech. Lula will be on a state visit to India focused on Global South cooperation on the sidelines of AI Impact Summit. The Brazilian president is also likely to meet President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The two leaders have maintained an open line of communication, with Lula calling Modi last month to discuss the Venezuelan situation after the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro by the US. Whats on agenda? India and Brazil are expected to focus on expanding bilateral trade, which currently stands at roughly $1112 billion annually, with both sides seeing significant room for growth. Strengthening economic ties is likely to go hand in hand with closer coordination within Brics, where the two countries have often aligned on issues related to the Global South and reform of global financial institutions. Climate cooperation is also set to feature prominently, particularly around climate finance and the development of carbon markets. Defence collaboration and biofuel partnerships are emerging areas of interest, with Brazil keen to deepen cooperation on ethanol production and technology. Both countries are also expected to continue pressing for reform of the UN Security Council, reiterating their long-standing demand for a more representative and multipolar global governance structure. The big picture India and Brazil are attempting to position themselves as leaders of the Global South, especially after divisions between Western economies and the China-Russia bloc. Plus, this Lula visit and the meeting with PM Modi matter because Brazil currently chairs key Global South coalitions and India looks for alignment before the next Brics summit. As strategic partners, India and Brazil coordinate through a range of institutional mechanisms. These include the Joint Commission Meeting at the foreign minister level, the Strategic Dialogue between national security advisers, and Foreign Office Consultations at the secretary level. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Economic engagement is structured through platforms such as the Trade Monitoring Mechanism, the Economic and Financial Dialogue, and the IndiaBrazil Business Leaders Forum. Cooperation also extends to sector-specific forums, including the Joint Defence Committee, the Joint Committee on Science and Technology, and a dedicated Dialogue on Consular and Mobility Issues. Ahead of Prime Minister Modis visit to Israel from February 25, India is set to deepen strategic and defence cooperation, with focus on joint missile defence systems, laser weapons, and long-range stand-off capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi looks on during a signing of agreements ceremony at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, on January 15, 2018. Reuters File Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-day visit to Israel from February 25, New Delhi is set to significantly strengthen its strategic and defence partnership with Tel Aviv. The cooperation is expected to include joint development of anti-ballistic missile defence systems, laser weapons, and long-range stand-off missiles and drones, says a report. security cooperation framework While no formal defence deals are expected to be signed during the visit, both sides are likely to conclude an MoU on security cooperation. Long-term collaboration between the two countries is being advanced, with cooperation estimated at around $10 billion in the coming years, according to a report in Hindustan Times. The proposed agreement builds on groundwork laid during Defence Secretary RK Singhs visit to Israel last November, when an expanded framework for defence cooperation was finalised. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mission Sudershan gains momentum India is particularly focused on jointly developing advanced anti-ballistic missile systems under Mission Sudershan, aimed at protecting Indian territory from long-range missile threats. Israels expertise in layered missile defence across long-, medium-, and short-range systems positions it as a key partner. Its interception capabilities demonstrated in recent conflicts have reinforced this standing. In addition to missile defence, Israel has reportedly agreed to provide advanced technologies, including laser-based defence systems and high-precision stand-off weapons. Focus on long-range strike capabilities India is also pursuing long-range strike capabilities, including air-, sea-, and ground-launched missiles, along with loitering munitions designed to penetrate sophisticated air defence networks. Recent operational use of such systems has highlighted their strategic value. During Operation Sindoor, Indian forces deployed Rampage missiles along with Palm 400, Harpy, and Harop loitering ammunition to strike targets inside Pakistan, carrying out precision attacks that degraded Chinese-built air defence systems, with operations extending as far as Islamabad. Future acquisitions may include glide bombs, air-to-surface missiles, air-launched ballistic missiles, and extended-range naval air defence systems to strengthen fleet protection. expanding cooperation beyond defence Beyond defence, the visit is expected to expand cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, water management, and emerging sectors such as quantum computing. With strong political alignment and shared positions on counterterrorism, both nations facing persistent terror-related challenges are expected to further consolidate their multifaceted partnership. On Friday, Trump said he is weighing the possibility of a limited strike on Iran after ordering a significant naval buildup in West Asia to increase pressure on Tehran to reach an agreement curbing its nuclear programme A man walks past a mural depicting the US Statue of Liberty with the torch-bearing arm broken, painted on the outer walls of the former US embassy, in Tehran. Iran and the United States will hold a second round of talks today, with Washington refusing to rule out military action against the Islamic republic. AFP US President Donald Trump can decide to attack Iran at any moment as tensions between the two countries escalate over a nuclear deal. A senior Trump advisor told Axios that the president is keeping all his options open and that he can order an attack on Iran at any moment. The media may continue to speculate on the Presidents thinking all they want, but only President Trump knows what he may or may not do, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Friday, Trump said he is weighing the possibility of a limited strike on Iran after ordering a significant naval buildup in West Asia to increase pressure on Tehran to reach an agreement curbing its nuclear programme. Iran not accepting red lines 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. 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. 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. Military buildup The USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Mediterranean Sea, according to maritime tracking data, after he ordered the carrier strike group to the Middle East last week as he weighs possible military action against Iran. Maritime tracking websites showed that the USS Mahan, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and part of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, was crossing the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday morning. It is expected to take the aircraft carrier several more days to reach the Middle East and be poised to operate against Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Two US officials told the Reuters news agency that US military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage, with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by Trump. The visit will be the first in-person meeting between Trump and Xi since October, when they met in South Korea and agreed to the trade truce. US President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping greet each other as they arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport in Busan on October 30, 2025. (File/AFP) US President Donald Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2 for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the White House confirmed on Friday, just as the Supreme Court overturned many of the tariffs he imposed on imported goods during a global trade war. The visit brings together the leaders of the worlds two largest economies at a moment of renewed uncertainty in bilateral trade relations. Trade truce under renewed scrutiny Trumps extended stay in Beijing had been expected to centre on prolonging a trade truce that prevented both countries from escalating tariffs further. However, the Supreme Courts decision has raised fresh questions about US-China ties, which had recently steadied after Trump reduced tariffs on China in return for steps by Beijing. Those measures included action against the illicit fentanyl trade and a pause on export restrictions covering critical minerals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 20 per cent tariffs on Chinas US-bound exports had been imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. The Supreme Court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority under the law. The duties were linked to national emergencies concerning fentanyl distribution and trade imbalances. Other tariffs on Chinese goods remain in effect, including those introduced under legislated trade authorities known as Section 301 and Section 232. It was not immediately clear how many of the tariffs Trump would restore, but he said at a press conference that he would impose a new 10 per cent global tariff for 150 days. Trumps previous visit to China in 2017 was the most recent by a US president. Thats going to be a wild one, Trump told foreign leaders visiting Washington on Thursday about the upcoming China visit. We have to put on the biggest display youve ever had in the history of China. Administration stance on trade imbalance The Trump administration has said the global tariffs were necessary to address national emergencies tied to trade imbalances that it argues have weakened US manufacturing. Scott Kennedy, a China economics expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said Trump had already been playing defense in the trade war, pointing to Beijings threat to restrict rare earth supplies. The tariff defeat likely cements his weakness in their eyes, he said. They (Chinese officials) like the direction of travel of the bilateral relationship in which the U.S. is diminished and they want to keep things from re-escalating, Kennedy said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD First face-to-face talks since October The visit will mark the first in-person meeting between Trump and Xi since October, when they met in South Korea and agreed on the trade truce. Although the October meeting largely avoided the sensitive issue of Taiwan, Xi raised US arms sales to the island during a conversation with Trump this month. Washington approved its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan in December, including $11.1 billion in weapons that could be used to defend against a Chinese attack. Taiwan expects additional sales. China regards Taiwan as its territory, a position rejected by Taipei. The US, bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, maintains formal diplomatic relations with China while sustaining unofficial ties with Taiwan and serving as the islands most important arms supplier. During a February call, Xi said he would consider further increasing soybean purchases, according to Trump. China is the top soybean consumer, and struggling US farmers are a significant political constituency for Trump. Broader trade tensions remain Although Trump has defended several hawkish policy measures from Canada to Greenland and Venezuela as necessary to counter China, he has in recent months eased policy towards Beijing in areas ranging from tariffs to advanced computer chips and drones. The global trade war launched after the start of his second term in January 2025 has strained relations with other trading partners, including allies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Critics argued that imposing steep tariffs across multiple countries insulated Beijing from the impact of the measures and reduced incentives to shift supply chains away from China. Martin Chorzempa, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics, said Fridays ruling could indirectly increase pressure on Beijing if effective tariff rates on other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, fall more sharply than those on China. Unlike with many other countries, there is a well-established, much more legally durable mechanism for most of the tariffs on China that make them less affected than those on other countries, Chorzempa said. While the US Supreme Court declared Trump tariffs unlawful, it does not mean that we would go back to the pre-Trump 2.0 era. Heres why. A screen displays US President Donald Trump during a press briefing at the White House following the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs, at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City. Trump has imposed a new 10 per cent global tariff to replace ones struck down by the SC. Reuters Shockwaves were sent across the White House after the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping reciprocal tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The ruling stung the Trump administration since it was given by a Supreme Court that leaned conservative. The 6-3 decision, authored by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, provoked a furious reaction from Trump, who denounced the justices who ruled against him. Soon after the ruling, Trump announced a 10 per cent global tariff under a legal authority different from the one at issue in the case, over and above our normal tariffs already being charged. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But the ruling made many wonder if the US Supreme Court ruling would restore pre-Trump 2.0 levies. The short answer to this question is No. The Supreme Court did not cancel all tariffs. It only blocked the tariffs that were imposed by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. So what is still in play? With the Supreme Courts ruling, not all tariffs the US imposes on other nations have been scrapped; there are many that are still in force. This includes: Normal tariffs the US imposes are bound to the World Trade Organisations (WTO) obligations. Duties that have been approved by the US Congress Those targeted by anti-dumping duties Tariffs imposed under Section 301 - That targeted China National security tariffs have been imposed procedurally in the past. So whats gone? The court on Friday ruled that Trump exceeded his authority and should have got congressional approval for the tariffs. The Supreme Court, with the conservative-majority ruled six to three in the judgment, saying the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) the 1977 law designed to address national emergencies Trump had used to implement them does not authorise the president to impose tariffs. The decision was in line with the one delivered by the lower courts that the tariffs Trump imposed under the IEEPA were illegal. Hence, the court put an end to across-the-board tariffs on multiple countries, deficit-based tariffs and the blanket 10 per cent tariffs. However, Trump signed another executive order, imposing 10 per cent tariffs on all nations for 150 days. It remains unclear how this will come into play with the Supreme Court ruling in place. The geopolitical implications have not changed The Supreme Courts decision is significant because it redefines US trade governance. Before the ruling, the US trade policy could swing dramatically with presidential action. Meanwhile, after the ruling, such actions would require Congressional approval. However, not a lot has changed. The ruling does not rewind history to 2024 (Biden-era tariffs). However, it stops Trump from suddenly imposing a universal tariff wall against partners such as India, Vietnam, Mexico, the EU or Japan without Congressional approval. For India, the ruling is also critical. Indias biggest economic risk from the US has never been tariffs or sanctions it has been policy volatility. The court ruling effectively says that the US cannot weaponise tariffs overnight against friendly countries. The ruling significantly lowers the probability of an India-US trade conflict during ongoing supply-chain realignment away from China, and gives India more leverage as the two countries work on the fine print. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This also shows Indias waiting game has worked in its favour as the court ruling has not cancelled trade deals the Trump administration has struck with several countries, such as South Korea, Pakistan or Bangladesh, at higher tariffs than they were during Bidens time. Bottom line The ruling does not end the Trump administrations strategy of protectionism. It does not end US tariffs on foreign nations, and it does not stop the trade negotiation process. What it does is that the ruling removes the immediate threat of sweeping tariffs on Indian exports and even on other nations. For New Delhi, the outcome is almost as important as a trade deal because Indias export growth strategy depends heavily on stable access to the American market. In trade diplomacy terms, this is less a courtroom story and more a supply-chain stability decision. While Trump has said that nothing changes, a White House official hinted that now the tariffs would reset to 10 per cent temporarily. Hence, it remains uncertain how the tussle between Trump and the US Supreme Court would affect global trade. The US Southern Command (Southcom) on Friday confirmed that it had conducted a kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a designated terrorist organisation, killing three alleged narco-terrorists. Amid the brewing tensions in the Pacific region, the US Southern Command (Southcom) on Friday confirmed that it had conducted a kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a designated terrorist organisation. The news was confirmed in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, with Southcom sharing a video of the lethal strike. As per the statement, the strikes were conducted against an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Eastern Pacific and led to the killing of three narco-terrorists. The kinetic strikes were conducted under the direction of Southcom commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Feb. 20, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organisations, Southcom wrote in a post on X. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed, it furthered, sharing the video of the incident. It is unclear which terrorist group was operating the boat that was struck by the American military. In its post, Southcom made it clear that no US service members were injured in the attack. The video shared by the authorities was 16 seconds long, showing the lethal strike. The USs operations in the region It is pertinent to note that since September 2, the United States military has conducted a minimum of 43 strikes and has killed more than 147 alleged narco-terrorists in both the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. The US government has argued that it is taking out drug-trafficking vessels, helping to curb the flow of narcotics in the region. However, many experts insisted that the latest attacks by the American military are a violation of international law. On Monday, the US military blew up three boats, alleging that the vessels were being used for drug trafficking. Out of the three boats, two were in the Eastern Pacific, and one was in the Caribbean. The authorities noted that the strikes killed 11 alleged narco-terrorists in total. No American serviceman was injured at that time as well. The killing of 23-year-old far-right activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon has ignited a sharp diplomatic row, drawing a stern rebuke from the Trump administration. US administration labels killing of French activist Quentin Deranque as an act of terrorism US President Donald Trumps administration denounced terrorism in France and warned of left-wing violence after a far-right activist was beaten to death. Sarah Rogers, the State Department under secretary for public diplomacy, said the killing of Quentin Deranque showed why we treat political violence terrorism so harshly. Once you decide to kill people for their opinions instead of persuade them, youve opted out of civilization, she wrote on X. We will continue to watch this case, she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The State Departments bureau of counter-terrorism separately posted: Violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranques death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety. An official French X account, @FrenchResponse, replied to Rogers sarcastically by sharing statistics on the much higher homicide rate in the United States compared with France, quipping: We will continue to watch this case. Deranque, 23, died from head injuries after being attacked by at least six people on the sidelines of a protest against a politician from the hard-left France Unbowed party in the southeastern city of Lyon last week. His killing has already caused a diplomatic feud between France and Italy, whose right-wing prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has warm ties with Trump. She called the killing of Deranque a wound for all of Europe, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to criticize her for speaking on French domestic affairs. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday morning (local time) as part of his trip to Washington D.C. to attend the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace. The two sides discussed many aspects of cooperation between the two sides as well as regional and international issues of shared concern. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam (R) poses for a photo with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, U.S., Feb. 20, 2026. Photo by VNA/VNS General Secretary Lam congratulated the U.S. and President Trump on the successful organization of the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace. He affirmed that Vietnam was among the first countries to commit to participating in the Gaza Board of Peace, and stands ready to coordinate with the U.S. and other members of the Board to implement the peace plan. He reaffirmed that Vietnam always values and wishes to promote the Vietnam - U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to develop in a stable, substantive, and effective manner. The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with positive outcomes in politicaldiplomatic relations, economictrade cooperation, war legacy remediation, science and technology, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges. General Secretary Lam proposed enhancing delegation exchanges and high-level contacts. Highlighting economic and trade cooperation as a key pillar of the Vietnam - U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, emphasized the need for candid and substantive dialogue on outstanding issues, based on balanced and harmonized interests, in line with each sides legitimate conditions and interests, and for the benefit of businesses and people of both countries. President Trump congratulated General Secretary To Lam on his re-election as General Secretary of the 14th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and expressed his pleasure at welcoming him to the White House. The President expressed his affection for the Vietnamese people and reaffirmed the U.S.s commitment to supporting a "strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous" Vietnam. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam (L) poses for a photo with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, U.S., Feb. 20, 2026. Photo by VNA/VNS He welcomed and thanked Vietnam for announcing its participation in the Gaza Board of Peace, noting that the General Secretarys direct attendance at the inaugural meeting reflects Vietnams growing role and standing in the international arena, as well as its strong commitment to global peace, stability, and cooperation. The President also highly valued Vietnams efforts to balance bilateral trade and welcomed the valuable contracts signed during the trip. He responded positively to Vietnams proposals for cooperation in economic and scientifictechnological fields. He said that he will instruct relevant agencies to soon remove Vietnam from the strategic export control list. Reaffirming that the U.S. considers Vietnam an important partner in the region, President Trump praised Vietnams increasingly prominent role and voice at regional and multilateral forums. Three Iranian nationals who worked in Silicon Valley have been charged with stealing trade secrets, including Googles confidential processor data, and transferring the information to Iran Prosecutors allege the trio used their positions at companies working on mobile computer processors to obtain highly sensitive information. (AI Image) A federal grand jury in the US has charged three Silicon Valley engineers with secretly taking confidential technical information from multiple tech firms, including Google, and transferring the data to Iran, the US Justice Department said on Thursday. Court documents identify the three as Iranian nationals facing counts of conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, theft and attempted theft of trade secrets, and obstruction of official proceedings. Samaneh Ghandali, 41; Soroor Ghandali, 32; and Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40, were arrested on Thursday and appeared before a federal district court in San Jose, California. Both sisters previously worked at Google before joining another firm, while Khosravi was employed at a separate unidentified company. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prosecutors outline alleged data theft and transfer Prosecutors allege the trio used their positions at companies working on mobile computer processors to obtain highly sensitive information, including material related to data security, and then transferred it to Iran. Officials have not identified the specific recipients inside the country. Their alleged conduct, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani said, reflect a calculated betrayal of trust by individuals accused of stealing trade secrets from the very tech companies that employed them. More from World Zuckerberg set to testify in landmark social media addiction trial According to investigators, the Ghandali sisters stole hundreds of files, including confidential Google trade secrets tied to processors used in Pixel smartphones. Prosecutors say the material was copied to personal devices and third-party communications platforms. The former engineers allegedly attempted to hide their actions by deleting exfiltrated files and other electronic records. Googles internal security systems detected Samaneh Ghandalis activity, and the company revoked her access to its systems in August 2023. The Justice Department said Ghandali and Khosravi travelled to Iran in December 2023, and during that period a personal device linked to her accessed the stolen documents. The three defendants were scheduled to appear before a US Magistrate Judge on Friday. In a recent interview that has ignited fresh debate over Middle East diplomacy, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Tucker Carlson that it would be fine if they took it all regarding Israeli territorial expansion based on biblical interpretations. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee sparks debate after suggesting a biblical right for Israel to expand its borders across the Middle East. The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East remains a focal point of intense debate, particularly when ancient scripture intersects with modern diplomacy. Recently, a conversation between Mike Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, and media personality Tucker Carlson has sparked significant discussion regarding the territorial boundaries of the Jewish state. The dialogue, centred on biblical interpretations and the current political climate, highlights a deep ideological divide within American conservative circles and the broader international community. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Theological perspectives on land ownership During an interview released on Friday, Mike Huckabee addressed the concept of a divine mandate regarding Israeli territory. The former governor of Arkansas and Trump administration appointee engaged with Carlson on the interpretation of the Old Testament as understood by segments of the Christian nationalist movement in the United States. Carlson referenced a specific biblical passage where a promise is made to Abraham regarding land spanning from the wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River. When Carlson noted that this definition could encompass a vast portion of the modern Middle East, including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and parts of Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Huckabee offered a nuanced but firm stance. While he was hesitant to confirm the exact geographical extent, he noted that it would be a big piece of land. He further elaborated that Israel is a land that God gave, through Abraham, to a people that he chose. It was a people, a place and a purpose. When questioned directly on whether Israel possessed the right to such a vast area, Huckabee stated, It would be fine if they took it all." Friction at Ben Gurion airport The backdrop of this interview was a trip to Israel that was not without its own share of controversy. Carlson claimed that he was subjected to bizarre treatment and detained at Ben Gurion airport. However, these assertions were quickly met with pushback from both American and Israeli authorities. The Israel Airports Authority clarified via social media that Tucker Carlson and his entourage were not detained, delayed, or interrogated. They maintained that the group simply underwent the standard security procedures required of all travellers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Huckabee himself echoed this sentiment on the platform X, pointing out that EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions." The disagreement over this incident led to sharp words from former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who dismissed Carlsons complaints and labelled the host a phony for his portrayal of the event. Shifting dynamics within the MAGA movement The exchange illustrates a growing rift within the Make America Great Again movement. While Huckabee continues to champion a traditional, staunchly pro Israel conservative outlook rooted in faith, Carlson has become increasingly critical of American support for the nation. This shift has moved Carlson toward the periphery of a movement where support for Israel was once a cornerstone of consensus. This latest discourse serves as a reminder of how ancient texts continue to influence contemporary foreign policy and personal political identities. In a pivotal hearing for press freedom, a federal judge in Virginia has expressed deep concern over the governments seizure of devices from Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson, noting that she has effectively been deprived of her lifes work. In a significant courtroom confrontation in Virginia, a federal judge has delayed a definitive ruling on whether the government must return digital equipment seized from Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson. The case has sent ripples through the American media landscape, raising urgent questions about the protection of confidential sources and the limits of state power when investigating the press. During the proceedings on Friday, the court weighed the states need to investigate classified material against the fundamental rights of a reporter whose professional existence was effectively confiscated during a January raid on her home. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Judicial concerns over press freedom Judge William B Porter acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting the profound impact the seizure has had on the journalist in question. During the afternoon hearing, he remarked that Ms Natanson has basically been deprived of her lifes work. " The judge appeared hesitant to allow federal investigators to sift through the files to find information related to a contractor, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, who is accused of possessing classified documents. Highlighting the potential for long term damage to democratic institutions, the judge observed that Its not crazy to think that public confidence might be lost if the government gets to look at information that is protected. Legal arguments and professional harm The legal team representing the Washington Post argued that the continued possession of the devices by the government is a direct assault on the freedom of the press. The seized items included a phone, a Garmin watch, and two laptops. Counsel for Natanson, Amy Jeffress, emphasized that her client has suffered significant harm, both personally and professionally, as a result of the governments actions." She warned that the raid sets a dangerous precedent, stating that The shock of this unprecedented search has had lasting consequences and that Theyve done something here that opens the door to a lot of reporters homes being searched without a very good reason. Transparency and the Privacy Protection Act A major point of contention during the hearing was the governments failure to mention the Privacy Protection Act when originally applying for the search warrant. This federal law is designed to shield journalists from such intrusive searches. Judge Porter expressed visible irritation with the prosecution for this oversight, asking, Did you not do it because you didnt know, or because you decided not to tell me? and further questioned, How could you think it doesnt apply? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lawyers for the newspaper suggested that if the devices are not returned immediately, the court itself should oversee the review of the data rather than a government filter team. This is particularly sensitive given that Natanson had court sources among her many sources." Simon A Latcovich, representing the Post, noted the scale of the intrusion, stating that The government commandeered the entirety of reporter Hannah Natansons professional life." He added that Today, more than 1,200 confidential sources are following this very proceeding to see if their identities will be exposed to the government. A follow up hearing is scheduled for 4 March. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday the United States would refuse visas to three outgoing Chilean officials, in a parting shot at leftist President Gabriel Boric. Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren speaks during a press conference at La Moneda Palace in Santiago on February 20, 2026. AFP Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday the United States would refuse visas to three outgoing Chilean officials, in a parting shot at leftist President Gabriel Boric. Rubio, a Cuban American and fierce opponent of Latin American leftists, has hailed the election victory of Borics far-right successor Jose Antonio Kast, who campaigned like US President Donald Trump on promises of mass deportations of migrants. Kast takes office on March 11. Rubio said the three officials, whom he did not name, compromised critical telecommunications infrastructure and undermined regional security in our hemisphere, without specifying further. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In its twilight, the Boric governments legacy shall be further tarnished by actions that undermine regional security at the ultimate expense of the Chilean people, Rubio said in a statement. We look forward to advancing shared priorities, including those that strengthen security in our hemisphere, with the incoming Kast administration. Chiles foreign ministry said it categorically denies participating in activities that undermine the security of the continent or of third countries, and summoned US Ambassador Brandon Judd. Chile-China Express Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren said Washington had acted in response to two unidentified Chinese companies requesting authorization to lay a seabed cable connecting the South American country and Hong Kong. The United States government believes that this cable could somehow pose a threat to its security, van Klaveren said in a statement. According to local media, the project involves a proposed fiber optic cable dubbed the Chile-China Express and multinational wireless provider China Mobile. Van Klaveren said the proposal was in an early stage of evaluation. The Chilean government said it had not been informed of the identities of two of the three officials whose visas were rejected. But Transport Minister Juan Carlos Munoz confirmed Friday that he was one of the three. I deeply regret this, Munoz said in a video. During his tenure, Boric, a 40-year-old former student activist, carried out socialist reforms including reducing the working week. He had a warm relationship with Trumps predecessor Joe Biden. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since Trump returned to power, the United States has ramped up pressure on communist Cuba and initially on the elected leftist presidents of Brazil and Colombia although both have since moved to more civil relationships with Washington. Trump on January 3 ordered an attack in Venezuela in which US forces snatched leftist authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro, although the US administration has since been working with interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduros number two. Confusion surrounds US President Donald Trumps latest global trade tariffs, as a White House official provides clarity on what will happen to countries that already have a trade agreement with the United States. US President Donald Trump arrives for a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 20, 2026. (AFP) Confusion surrounds US President Donald Trumps latest 'global' trade tariffs, as a White House official provides clarity on what will happen to countries that already have a trade agreement with the United States. The officials who asked to remain anonymous told CNBC that Trumps sweeping new 10 per cent global tariffs will reset rates for all major trading partners. The new tariffs came shortly after the US Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the American leaders decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on all countries last year was unlawful. The clarification from the White House official to CNBC indicates that the latest move by Trump would lower duties previously set at 15 per cent for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, South Korea, the European Union and Japan, 20 per cent for Vietnam, while leaving the United Kingdom unchanged at 10 per cent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While India and the US are yet to sign the fine print of the trade agreement, the former can also see the reset effectively reducing US tariffs on its exports to 10 per cent from 18 per cent. However, the statement from the White House official came in contrast with what Trump said soon after the Supreme Court ruling. Trump says nothing changes' While speaking at a press conference immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, Trump confirmed that nothing has changed in the trade deal between India and the United States. Trump insisted that he would take alternative routes to impose tariffs. When a journalist asked about what happens to the India-US trade deal after the Supreme Courts ruling, Trump made it clear that nothing changes. Nothing changes. Theyll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs, he said. This is a reversal for what it used to be, as you know, he said, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a great gentleman. However, he went on to accuse the Indian Prime Minister of ripping off. So we made a deal with India, and its a fair deal now, and we are not paying tariffs to them, and they are paying tariffs. We didnt flip, Trump said. It is pertient to note that the two nations agreed on a deal that reduces the general tariff rate for Indian goods entering the US from 50 per cent (including a 25 per cent penalty rate for Indias energy trade with Russia) to 18 per cent. Trumps remarks on the matter came before he signed the latest 10 per cent global tariff order. Hence, it remains uncertain whether something changed after the order was signed. Overall, confusion remains on where the countries stand on the tariff saga. Interim authorities in Venezuela have approved the release of 379 political prisoners under a new amnesty law adopted after Maduros ousting Relatives of political prisoners, who staged a nearly weeklong hunger strike that ended on the eve, remain outside the Bolivarian National Police prison in Caracas. (AFP) Venezuelan authorities have approved amnesty measures for 379 political prisoners after a law adopted by the countrys National Assembly raised hopes of imminent releases. The announcement came as interim authorities moved ahead with the process triggered after the US-led toppling of Nicolas Maduro. National Assembly deputy Jorge Arreaza, who is overseeing the amnesty, said in a televised interview that the detained individuals must be released and granted amnesty, between tonight and tomorrow morning. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Requests have been submitted by the Public Prosecutors Office to the competent courts to grant amnesty measures, he said. Concerns over exclusions in the new law Opposition figures have criticised the legislation for excluding several offences that authorities previously used to prosecute Maduros opponents. The law does not apply to those accused of promoting or facilitating armed or forceful actions involving foreign actors against Venezuelan sovereignty. Delcy Rodriguez has levelled such allegations at opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who remains in the United States but hopes to return to Venezuela. Members of the security forces convicted of charges linked to terrorism are also excluded from the amnesty. Outside Rodeo 1 prison near Caracas, Hiowanka Avila, 39, said her brother Henryberth Rivas, 30, detained in 2018 over an alleged assassination attempt on Maduro using armed drones, was among those not covered. Arreaza said cases involving the armed forces would be handled by the military justice system and benefits where appropriate could follow. Families wait as releases begin nationwide Families have gathered outside prisons across Venezuela for weeks, hoping loved ones would be freed. Interim President Rodriguezs government has already granted conditional release to hundreds of detainees since the US raid that seized Maduro. Before the amnesty announcement, rights group Foro Penal estimated around 650 political prisoners remained, though it has not updated its tally. Foro Penal director Alfredo Romero said that receiving amnesty is not automatic and must proceed through courts that many view as instruments of Maduro-era repression. Rodriguez defended the process on state television, saying, We are building a more democratic, more just, and freer Venezuela, and it must be with the effort of everyone. US President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited military strike on Iran as the USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Mediterranean and tensions with Tehran and Israel escalated US President Donald Trump has been repeatedly warning Iran of military action if Tehran does not agree to a deal. (AFP) US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was considering a limited military strike on Iran to push Tehran towards accepting a nuclear deal on Washingtons terms, as the USS Gerald R. Ford, the worlds largest aircraft carrier, steamed into the Mediterranean. The threat came as Iran said it would be ready to present its draft of a possible nuclear deal to the US within two or three days but also maintained that a demand for zero uranium enrichment was not part of the discussions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israel on high alert amid rising tensions Amid the escalating situation, the Israel Defense Forces said it was on high alert amid expectations that Iran would attack and fire missiles at Israel should the US strike. The military reiterated that there were currently no new instructions or restrictions for the Israeli public. When asked by reporters on Friday if he was considering a limited strike after The Wall Street Journal reported as much, Trump paused and smiled before saying, I guess you can say I am considering it. However, as reporters were ushered out of the room at a White House event, he appeared to mock the question, indicating that he was not going to publicly telegraph his plans regarding Iran. Naval deployment continues Trumps remarks came as the USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Mediterranean Sea, according to maritime tracking data, after he ordered the carrier strike group to the Middle East last week as he weighs possible military action against Iran. Maritime tracking websites showed that the USS Mahan, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and part of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, was crossing the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday morning. It is expected to take the aircraft carrier several more days to reach the Middle East and be poised to operate against Iran. Advanced military planning underway Nevertheless, two US officials told the Reuters news agency that US military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage, with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by Trump. The military options are the latest signs that the United States is preparing for a serious conflict with Iran should diplomatic efforts fail. Reuters reported last week that the US military is preparing for a sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran that could include striking Iranian security facilities as well as nuclear infrastructure. The latest revelations suggest more detailed, ambitious planning ahead of a decision by Trump, who has in recent days also publicly floated the idea of regime change in the Islamic Republic. Bank Alliance JSC to hold shareholders' meeting on March 2 According to Fixygen, Bank Alliance JSC plans to hold a general meeting of shareholders on March 2, 2026. The information provided about the meeting does not specify the main issues to be put to a vote. Bank Alliance JSC is a Ukrainian commercial bank operating in the banking services market for corporate and retail clients. Photo: Eurosolidarity MP, leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko transferred seven Ai-Petri complexes for countering hostile intelligence to units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and announced that in the coming days another 15 complexes will be delivered to the defenders of Kyiv. "Today we are finally beginning the transfer of Ai-Petri systems this year. Seven units worth a total of UAH 60 million are heading to the military. From now on, they will operate under the combat command of the 421st Separate Battalion and one of the centers carrying out counter-reconnaissance operations ... Fifteen Ai-Petri systems will soon be protecting critical infrastructure in Kyiv. We plan to transfer them by the end of the month to units covering the sky over the capital," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook. He noted that the high-tech Ai-Petri systems are manufactured using Ukrainian-made components and can operate against both reconnaissance drones and strike drones such as Shaheds, adding that they have "already made quite a name for themselves at the front due to their effectiveness." "They are currently providing cover for artillery brigades, ammunition supply operations and the evacuation of wounded from the battlefield," Poroshenko said. According to the partys website, Poroshenko has invested more than UAH 200 million in the production of Ai-Petri SV systems since autumn 2023. The systems have successfully passed testing and are in use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In March 2025, Poroshenko announced a contract with the Ministry of Defense. In total, since the projects launch, the military has received more than 250 units. Each system consists of a counter-reconnaissance unit, a pickup truck, a charging station, a generator and necessary electronics. Xiaomi has confirmed the launch of Xiaomi 17 series, scheduled for February 28, 2026, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, after the phones were introduced in China last year. Billed as The New Wave of Imagery, this showcase is gearing up to be a defining moment for mobile photography, headlined by a radically deepened partnership with German optical legend, Leica. From Co-Engineering to Strategic Co-Creation The most significant storyline of the Xiaomi 17 series is the evolution of the Xiaomi-Leica alliance. In a joint letter signed by Leica CEO Matthias Harsch and Xiaomi President William Lu, the companies announced a major shift: moving from simple co-engineering to a deeply integrated strategic co-creation model. According to the letter, the goal is to return to the soul of Essential Leica Imagery. Its no longer just about putting a Leica badge on the back of a phone or tweaking software color profiles. Engineers from both sides have managed to incorporate the professional optics, design aesthetics, and tactile interface concepts of traditional Leica cameras directly into the new flagship. The ambition is clear: to build a device that doesnt just record data, but perfectly captures light and shadow to evoke emotion, tell stories, and preserve the poetic memories of life. What to Expect: The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Based on the dramatic teaser poster and the Chinese market release late last year, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will undoubtedly be the star of the Barcelona event. Here is what we expect to see: Commanding Optical Hardware: The teaser reveals a massive, prominent circular camera module that dominates the back of the phone. The 17 Ultra is expected to feature a next-generation 1-inch main sensor tailored for extreme low-light clarity, alongside an industry-first Leica APO-certified telephoto lens designed to virtually eliminate color fringing and chromatic aberration. The teaser reveals a massive, prominent circular camera module that dominates the back of the phone. The 17 Ultra is expected to feature a next-generation 1-inch main sensor tailored for extreme low-light clarity, alongside an industry-first Leica APO-certified telephoto lens designed to virtually eliminate color fringing and chromatic aberration. Flagship Powerhouse: To process this New Wave of Imagery, the global variant is heavily tipped to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, backed by a robust 6,000mAh battery to keep the camera firing all day. To process this New Wave of Imagery, the global variant is heavily tipped to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, backed by a robust 6,000mAh battery to keep the camera firing all day. A True Camera Feel: Following the promise to feel the soul of Leica in your hand, the device is expected to feature premium, dual-tone leather and matte finishes reminiscent of classic Leica M-series rangefinders. The Xiaomi 17 series launch event on February 28, 2026, starts at 2 PM Barcelona time (6:30 PM IST), and as usual, the company will offer a live stream.